Happy new year 2014-01-01 11: 03

Perhaps you have heard this saying.  If you have, it is likely your mother who has told you this.  She was trying to get you to take responsibility.

But as I watched the Robins this morning, I took note that they began to sing long before there was full light.  Just how early do they need to be to get the worm?

Is it that the Robins are the ones to search for worms while the other birds search for bugs or seeds?  In this case the saying is another name for Robins and their kind.  So much for a process of productivity.

My mother could just as easily have told me to become a Robin.  Though I do not give praise to myself in that I might have understood.

What strikes me more about the saying is that we use the vagaries to inspire one another.  By the nature of man's limit we reach for things that are untrue to teach what is true.  It is not this way in heaven.

Here we must teach a child or an immature adult by using stories and half truths.  They are not capable of consuming the fullness of truth.  And even those who teach in the ways of the world are not fit to teach the fullness of truth.

I am simply struck by the vast chasm of difference between the ways of Man and the ways of God.

They whisper together in inner rooms.  They carefully lay out the plan.  " We will keep this to ourselves.  When it has come to fruit then all will know.  But it will be too late for them, and we will gain."

Thus men conspire against the people and the Lord.  The people are caught unaware.  But the Lord has seen from its inception.

"Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord." (Jeremiah 23:24)

Do not be deceived all men will answer to God.  The wise consider these things with trembling heart.  The violent greedy give it no thought at all.

CS Lewis has said that in the way of salvation, on the day when all things are revealed, there will be surprises.  He was speaking of who will be saved and who will not.  But there will be stark surprises for many who thought their sins were hidden.   The sad thing is, those who plot in secret will never read this post.





The Ship of Humanity - 2014-06-25 07:08

I am the only man who knows what has made me.  It has taken a lifetime to write the book I have become.  And it will take the perfection of eternity to read it.  This is so for every man woman and child. 

I have been wickedness.  I have endured wickedness.  I have taught wickedness.  And with all this I have brought great destruction in my years.

Before I was saved I tasted some good things.  Some good things were done for me.  Some good things I did for others.  The difference between right and wrong was shown to me very clearly.  The perspective I hold was taught by unique variety of wickedness and truth.  Thus I have become a distinctly unique creature.

Regardless my head long plunge to death God has raised me up.  As he used Pharaoh to refine his children, so God uses the wickedness of men.  (If you do not know the story of Pharaoh you will find it in the account of Moses)

Many men believe that their wickedness belongs exclusively to them.  They think it is protection and gain.  They think they stumble about, wreaking havoc as they please.  But God steers the great ship of humanity.

Every man has become what he is.  Through a variety of sources he is made to be.  It is when he is awakened by the holiness of God, that who he has become becomes useful. 

The hardness of Pharaoh's heart grew from childhood.  There is no possible way he could know he was being used; or, if you will, set up.  Moses was sent to instruct him in the sovereignty of God.  And only God knows if Pharaoh finally understood before his death.

You, my friend, can be used by God.  He does not need what you have become.  But he can certainly put it to perfectly good use.

Perhaps you have been a gentle man.  God can use that.  Perhaps you have been a warrior against society.  God can use your rebellion.  Perhaps you have been one to fully involved yourself in the things of men, for the sake of perceived good for all.  God can use that.  Perhaps you have loved wickedness and inspired others to do the same.  You understand the ways of this wicked world.  God can use that. 

God is in control.  Regardless the chaos of men, God is saving souls.  Why not let him save yours?  You certainly need him.  And he can certainly put you to good use.

Now, it's not my habit to turn on the porch light when I let her out.  But darkness seemed really dark this morning.  And it's not my habit to go out and stand on the porch when she ventures to the grass.  But I did both this morning.

We stood there in the silence of 4am.  But a soft "huff" broke the silence.  I thought it was a deer, sounding her alarm.  Then it came again.  "That's not a deer."  It was too short and lacked the same thrust of larger lungs.  As I listened, four glowing eyes came racing across the tiny road and were headed down the drive way right toward my little dog.

It was the fox!  And not just one, there were two!  With their razor-sharp teeth and trained violence of a hungry warrior, they intended to consume my dog.  She wouldn't stand a chance.

Without a thought, I flew up my arms to out stretched position and gave a loud "huff" (somewhat like a growl).  I no longer saw the eyes.  They had turned faster than I could blink.  I heard that familiar scream they make.  Both of them screaming in fear as they turned like lightning and ran away.

No fear attended my dog.  Only a slight startle at their screaming retreat.  She came up to me and just sat waiting to go back in.  She was done.

No fear attended my mind or heart.  The Lord had given me immediate wisdom, strength and peace.  He had waken me for this display.  He had wakened my dog's desire to go out.  She doesn't always want to go with me on those early morning excursions.

He had brought us to the place of confrontation.  The foxes were ready and hungry enough to challenge the presence of a man.  My little dog was ignorant of their bloody intent, enough to remain still.  He caused me to know exactly what to do and at what moment to do it.  Then He dressed me with understanding as I peacefully sat to consume my first cup of coffee.

There is a hungry bunch of foxes who prowl throughout the world.  As He has protected me and my dog this morning, He protects all His children all night and day long.  HE  IS FAITHFUL.

Praise came from me as understanding came from Him.  Fearlessness is the outcome of such teachings.  But it is not the fearlessness of a warrior.  It is that lack of fear a child has when daddy is walking with him.

Praise God for Jesus, His Righteous Christ!  Let all creation praise the One who has overcome.  God alone is good and true.  His Holy Living Word is fully dependable, true, faultless in righteousness, full of mercy and love.  The Living Word is the very meaning of "Grace".  May His Holy will be done forever.  Amen!





Love of self - 2014-06-28 16:59

Man does not have to love God.  You're more than welcome to consume the things of this world that he has created for your benefit.  And no one can force you to thank him. 

You're more than welcome to live your entire life without thinking about him and pondering eternity.  You can choose to live in the deepest of wicked behavior, or the greatest of social graces.  You are not forced to consider your life before his Holy eyes.

You don't even have to think about your own death and what will happen after.  There is an eternity.  But you don't have to ponder that.  It will come and take you when the time is right.

But if you hate him now, what will you do after this life?  Have you scoped out heaven and found yourself a place to live where God is not?  Perhaps you plan to purchase a piece of land on the edge of heaven, far away from his throne.  Have you thought that there may not be such a place?

For now you can ignore him.  You can thrive just fine with what he supplies, for he sends rain upon the just and the unjust.  But what will you do when the entirety of heaven and eternity contains the vibrant, glorious and radiant beauty of God?

Everyone you will meet will be singing beautiful songs about the God they love.  But you would hate them.  The song of selfishness you sing now is the song you want to hear.  But no one there will understand your words.  And the melody would be like a squeaking hinge or fingernails on a blackboard.

It's okay, don't worry.  God has reserved a place for those who hate him.  But the provision is made up of things you now despise.  No delicate banquet for you to attend.  No fine clothing to attract attention.  No loving family to support you in your folly.  No beautiful parties to attend.  No entertainment to distract you from your hours. And no possible hope of release.

You don't have to love God now.  But that won't change when you die.  If you don't love him now you won't love him then.

You can fill up your life with selfishness.  Its ok.  He has prepared a place for such as you.





It Matters Greatly - 2014-06-30 04:43

When one stumbles openly he does not stumble alone.  A sin is done in the presence of many, ( small or great) and the great clamor arises.  A spiritual noise is heard.  A frothing of the water comes to be.  Many who were watching stumble also.  Our foolish example has caused the fall of many.

It is wise to watch ourselves for the sake of many.  Some believe it is their choice to obey or disobey.  In one sense they are correct.  But every unholy disobedience that is done in public is sure to cause many others to stumble.

One may say this is not new, this is well known.  If that is true then why do so many cause such an uproar?   Why is there such turmoil in the family of God?  Every man is not his own keeper.

Love does no injury to his neighbor.  Love considers his brother's welfare as primary over his own.  Selfish behavior does not care.  Selfish behavior does not even consider.  And so it is necessary to speak of these things.

This is not an attack against anyone.  I mean only to waken understanding.  The age we live in is full to overflowing with wicked behavior.  Many Christians have adopted such teachings as their own; as they have received the teaching, so they do.

Consider those who once made the good confession.  (No names or actions are necessary here.)  You saw them stumble.  You felt the sorrow in your soul.  And if it did not cause you difficulty, you knew well, it did not land so softly on others.

The obvious admonition is to watch ourselves.  What we say matters.  Where people can find us matters.  What they see us doing matters.  What music we listen to matters.  What we let our eyes see matters.  As a man is, so he teaches.





2014 - 07

What Time is it? - 2014-07-01 12:46

The group, "Chicago"  sang, "Does anybody know what time it is", in 1969.  The world didn't know what time it was in 1969.  I would doubt the world is any closer to figuring it out now, 45 years later.  To be honest, even Christians won't know what time it is till the Lord returns.  But that doesn't mean we shouldn't check the "errant" clock from time to time.

I call it an errant clock.  It's not errant because it's always wrong.  It's errant because it is written in the language of The Most High God.  It doesn't signify hours or minutes.  It signifies the end of this age.  The current time is expressed in "happenings" on earth. It's errant because we perceive with the flesh, and are not privy to the activity of heaven.  It's errant because it is written by a spiritual hand, in a spiritual manner.  If we could see it, we couldn't perceive its meaning, form, or message.

Certain aspects of our world can help us unravel the "hour".  The praise of wickedness, for example, can denote nearness to the end of this age.  Yep, we see that.

A subjection of Christianity to the status of non-relevant by the entire world.  Yep, that can be witnessed.

Protection for world religions; elevation of man's interpretation of the meaning of holiness.  Yep, we can point clearly to the rise of Islam.

A means of subjection for all Peoples of the world under one leader.  Yep, technology is running ahead of that plan.

All things point to a really late hour on that spiritual clock.  Nobody has heard a chime out of it.  No one has even seen it, that they might describe it.  The clock is in the mind of God.

But look around.  Read the Bible.  Pray earnestly and see how God answers you; pay attention to what is.  There is a stress upon the world.  Like an orange being squeezed, it will "Pop" when the time is just right.

 





The Mind is Slave to the Soul - 2014-07-02 07:48

The mind is a very fertile and powerful organ among the members of our body.  Regardless our state of affairs, it is able to rise to the occasion.  Though it is not the source of decision.

If a man is depressed, the mind can drive him to death.  If a man is joyful, no Depression can touch him.  If a man strives to accomplish a task, within the reach of his body, his mind will quicken.  If he determines to say, "No I will not", his mind will shutdown possibilities.  The man is soul.  The body is the place where the soul lives.  The mind is therefore, the slave of the soul.

Within the boundaries of man (within the nature of constraints God has placed on this world), the mind is able to accomplish the things the soul desires.  This can be bad or good.  For if a man's soul is darkened, so his mind will be darkened.  But if a man's soul reaches for God, his mind also will reach for God.

God will respond to the soul who desires him.  Though the mind is full of wickedness, God can cause righteousness to grow.  But let the man, in his soul, first search diligently for what is God.  Let him also continue in this searching as he sees the fruit of God appear.

If I go to an apple tree, in its season of fruit, I do not expect to find skunks growing on it.  If I have planted the apple tree I will be quite miffed at its produce.  I will cut it down and burn it to ashes.  It will not matter if the tree has produced apples for years.  I have no use for skunks.  There is no place for them among my things.  And though they do exist, independent of my orchard, I will not grow them willingly.

Can we expect less of God who plants righteousness?  If a soul has once desired the holiness of God, receives what God graciously gives, then turns to embrace wickedness, can we expect God to embrace that soul?

The righteousness of God will cease in our things.  Though they will continue for a little while, as we have developed a habit, they will dissipate overtime.  In the place of the righteousness of God, we will find the fruit of wickedness.  How can we expect that to be received by God?

Let us be wise and press the mind to accomplish.  What our soul desires, the mind is forced to endure.  Therefore if we desire God, let us continue to desire more of God.  If he has blessed us with a crop of righteousness for a small desire how much more for complete desire?

Man is not body.  Man is soul clothed in a body.  The deception is complete enough to keep the fool a fool. 

No man has seen his soul.  But any man can readily see his body.  Most people believe the body is who they are.  They have not noticed the subtle difference between the decaying nature of the mind and the eternal nature of the soul.  They are caught in a deception, and there they will remain eternally.

The body cannot do the will of God if the man's soul is in rebellion.  But let the man look up and desire his maker, and he will see marked difference in his life.  The problem is, most people do not understand this.  So when they once receive the grace of God, they fall back to the desires of the body.

If a man's body is healed by God, men consider it a miracle.  But the real miracle happens when a man's soul agrees with God, and of the body is forced to obey.  The mind will do as the soul commands.  Will the soul do as God commands?

For intensely being bright.

I cannot blame the moon

For shining through the night.

I cannot blame the wicked

For hating what is right;

For embracing all that is not God,

In his blazing Holy Might.

God Himself ordained the Sun

And gave it a place to remain.

The moon remains and serves him well,

Despite its shifting name.

God has given truth to man;

Displayed abundantly.

Account we'll give on bended knee,

When his face we all will see.

This land is shadow and now proclaims:

"Your wickedness will end!"

When shadows cease and God appears,

No longer means to mend.

Malicious thoughts against the Lord;

A taunting threat displayed.

The great proud smiles of those who hate,

Their filthy lips, like tattered strings;

Unravel and are frayed.

Who has ears to hear these things?

Who has eyes to see?

Let him acknowledge Jesus Christ,

And bow his wicked knee.

Even so Lord Jesus come!





The Way it is - 2014-07-03 07:19

The gravel lays where it is placed and is forced to be ground to powder.  Once a majestic singular mountain, it is now but blowing dust in the open space.  Dust that is now forced to mingle and no longer be singular.

Raindrops fall by orders from creation.  They take their place together to create a body of water that was not before.  What was taken away is giving back.  A brief independence is forced to reunite.

Tree roots split dirt and rock to produce obedient fruit.  In its proper time the fruit appears and does not fade until ordered to fall.  With a crash the limbs shatter on the ground.  What was once tall and magnificently beautiful becomes rot for the growth others.

Three specimens to show God's will dictated.  He alone is life, there is no life apart from him.  Yet what shall be said of man?

His body follows the dictates of God: to grow, to do, and to die.  But man is not faithful, as all creation endures.  He contrives means of rebellion.

How many ponder these things as they sit in open places?  How many allow themselves to be struck by the nature of sin?  And how many of those will fall on their face and beg for mercy?

Salvation belongs to our God and to the lamb.  What errant creature is able to save himself? 





Preparation - 2014-07-03 08:15

Is there a sane man who will go out to cesspool, cover himself with filth, then go immediately to be seated as a royal guest at a royal banquet?  Don't men go through all pains to clean themselves in the best of possible ways?  Don't they make every effort, lest even a hair be out of place?

The royalty of men is not to be compared to the royalty of the living God.  Many men think they will be seated at the royal banquet of God; the wedding banquet at which no sin will sit.

"Come and let us reason together, says the lord."  There is a promised dressing for the most earnest of men.  For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  But how shall a man dress himself today?

There is a Royal Proclamation to be made in this place.  How shall a man proclaim what he is not willing to hear?  And if he has not allowed himself to be dressed for royal proclamation in this place, how shall he expect to be dressed in the royal garment of the Royal Banquet?

Preparation is now.  Preparation does not begin at culmination.  They are two distinctly different times and places.  Is there more that can be said?





Pliablility, Willing Capitulation - 2014-07-03 09:41

I'm sitting at warehouse waiting to the time I can leave.  The engine is turned off and the windows are open.  The doors to the warehouse are also open.

I can hear a radio playing as they work.  The sweet sounds of an emotional song drift through the air.  And a thought surprises me at its appearance.

I don't listen to the radio except when I come near someone else.  I do not let music effect my emotion.  And when I do, it is not the music to grabs my attention.  The lyrics hold far more value to me.  The music is the gift wrap for the message.  What's inside is rarely godly.

That's just the way it is with me whether good or bad.  But the striking thought is, that is not the way it is with America (perhaps the entire world).

It is as though man needs music like he needs water, sleep, shelter, clothing and food.  Lacking or void of the promise of God, they search desperately to be filled with anything of perceived value.   Even most Christians find it difficult to be inspired without the sound of Christian music.  To me it is like audible pornography.  Once a man learns to love it, he cannot seem to find the strength to cease.

I am not boasting of my situation.  I am who God has caused me to become.  But I recognize that the striking diffirence would not be seen if I too allowed myself to inspired by music.  Again, God has done this in me.

I am also struck by the awareness that men cannot turn away from music.  And I cannot understand why silence is such an abomination.  But that's the way it is, isn't it.

What does that mean?  It means that because of man's compulsive behavior with music he is vulnerable through that door.  Whatever the song says, he thinks.  Tell me that's not exploited. 

Would silence lend itself to conscious prayer or introspection?  Is that what's going on?  Has anyone else even thought this through, that they may have answers?

If you would be free then be free!  Put away all the things that manipulate your mind.  If today's music is not of men, what is it?  And if it is of men, can it be of God?

Where is strength?  Is it found in the testimony of others, whether good or bad.  Do we really have such little strength that we require the manipulation of others?   Are we really afraid to think for ourselves?  Are we terrified of the unveiling judgment of God?

To find out, just shut off the music for a month.  Then you will know what YOU are made of, and not what everyone else tells you you must be.

Perhaps I read this wrong.  Perhaps the music was sent by God.  What do you think?





Good Feet - 2014-07-03 11:55

If he is blessed whose feet brings Good news, what do we call the feet of those whose feet do not?

From where does Good news come?  From where does "the other" originate?

You have never touched it, or so you think.  You have never seen it, or so you think.  You have never heard it, or so you think.  You do not know its dimensions or what it contains, or so you think.

You mock what is holy, without knowledge.  All the while you, who live in the land of shadow, unjustly refer to heaven as shadow.  By this you speak your own language.  By this you use false accusation against He who is Holy and true.

You contrive your own vision while ignoring what can be seen.  You invent sounds of your own to replace what can be heard.  You relegate the space of a building, that you have erected with your own hands, and call it holy.  There you have placed God.  And you will not welcome him in your streets or homes!  God is driven from your business for the sake of money and power.

You dress yourself with glory among men.  But you push God of as a popper and a beggar.  You promote what is vile, while you call what is holy vile.  How shall you be received?

The glory of God can be seen in the things that were made without your hands.  All creation testifies to life and faithfulness but you close your eyes.  "These cannot be truth they are not built by man."  So you say.  And by this saying you retain your own condemnation.

The Word of God is present among the people but you refuse to listen.  You prefer the sounds of shadow.  And you sin against the Lord by calling the shadow good.  You refuse to listen to the words of life.  Therefore you remain a shadow.

The dimensions of your world end at the sight of your eyes.  What is within your world is not holy and good.  You know this but prefer to ignore.  Therefore you are blind.

Holy is a blazing, eternal life.  When it appears the shadows are dispelled.  Your eyes cannot stand the intensity of what is true.  Your ears cannot interpret the sounds of heaven.  And though you live your life of shadows within the holy God, you cannot perceive his dimension or nature.

Who are you?  Who are you to love what is shadow and ignore what is pure light?  You hinder yourself.

The door approaches.  Even as you live this day, it has come that much closer.  Soon it will engulf you.  And you will permanently leave this place of shadows.

Allow yourself to wake up.  Now is the day of salvation.  The sights, sounds, dimensions, and nature of eternity will confront you.  If you remain in shadows you will not perceive correctly on that day.   Though you will stand in the presence of heaven you will be locked eternally with blindness deafness and no ability to perceive.

Salvation is near.  You live in eternity.  For God lives forever, and this place of shadows is in his presence.

By his great wisdom he has created this place of blindness.  Frustrated by he who accused, it has become a land full of shadow and sin.  By this place he will know the heart of all men.  By this place he has proved his faithfulness.  By this place his Holy Son sits enthroned forever.

Will you mock him?  Will you continue to contrive your own heaven?  Will you remain apart from him?  Will you invent your own God?

Or will you stop?  Will you humbly ask for eyes that see?  Will you humble yourself and ask for ears that hear?  Will you throw away your pride and receive the knowledge his wisdom is willing to give?

A cloak is placed over what is holy, in this realm of shadows.  It is not to be perceived nor movable by man, without the mercy of God.  But to those who will humble themselves, and ask with consistent and earnest heart, the Lord reveals what is true.

The land of shadows today says, "We are better than those who came before".  Prove to me then how you are dissimilar to all men!   You elevate yourself!

If you point to your toys I will call you a liar.  Your toys are not you!  This is a lie you embrace willingly, which is spawned from those who live in the land of shadows.

If you show me what is called the modern God, I will call you a liar!  For Jesus Christ is the exact representation of the Heavenly Father, and he is the same yesterday, today and forever.  Your modern God is nothing more than some rock you have carved.  With great pride and a lifted chin, you look down on what is true. This idol is a spawn of those who live in the land of shadows.

Testify!  Prove to me that you know the living God, and I will remove these words from before your face.  I have eternal confidence these words will never move.

You punish a man who in endangers others and himself.  You restrain him for his safety and that of others.  You chastise the rebellious among you liberally. Yet you balk at these words.

You consider these words harsh.  They are but the tip of a feather against the skin.  These words a testimony from a man.  On the day you are engulfed the approaching door, you will hear these words from the Holy One himself.  Do you think you will balk then?





Gird Yourself with Strength - 2014-07-04 04:52

Is the strength of the gospel to be at peace with the world,  or is it to be at odds?

Is the strength of the gospel strength to stand and testify?  Or is it only strength to hide?

There is death to self.  There is death to temptation.  There is the death of the body.  And there is death to the acceptance of the world.

Who will testify with power, who has not testified before?  Who will embrace their fear with a death grip; restrain themselves for the sake of His holy name, and fight like a dog over a bone, mindless of injury to themselves?

The strength of the gospel is a sound mind and fearless heart.  You don't have to ask for it.  Just take it!  He will generously guide those who step out to fight. 

This is the strength of the gospel you have received.  Do not be deceived by those who drink from the fountain of: "let's all just get along."