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Adorable Dispair, Abject Fear - 2014-03-24 11:08
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- To never leave - 2014-03-24 21:47
- "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.
- Stark differences - 2014-03-25 00:06
- Avert your eyes - 2014-03-25 10:33
- Instant revelation - 2014-03-25 11:24
- Unfounded complaint - 2014-03-25 12:15
- Personal wellness - 2014-03-26 12:03
- Be Not Ashamed - 2014-03-26 19:36
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- The island - 2014-03-27 11:43
- Personally - 2014-03-27 13:38
- Stocking the shelves - 2014-03-27 16:21
- My sinful nature - 2014-03-31 06:32
- "But I love sin!" - 2014-03-31 23:41
- "And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
- EEEWWW! - 2014-04-01 08:06
- On your own - 2014-04-02 00:31
- The greatest possible - 2014-04-02 18:48
- Useless Christianity - 2014-04-02 20:01
- The Bright and Morning Star - 2014-04-04 07:11
- Warnings vs The Power of God - 2014-04-04 08:23
- Arrant Chads of Wicked Men. - 2014-04-04 08:59
- on Zion, my holy mountain.”
- Mr. "No-Name" (Whos that) - 2014-04-04 09:40
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| Adorable Dispair, Abject Fear - 2014-03-24 11:08
I've observed that the world adores despair. They would certainly tell you differently. But nearly everything created by man is in response to despair. We live in a defensive mode all our lives. Thus the reason for all man's "advancements". I don't think they would know what to do with true freedom from fear. I saw a woman sitting in a small restaurant by herself this morning. All the while she sat there she was absorbed in her cell phone. In days past she would have been seen sitting there with nothing to do. Perhaps she would read a book. Maybe, just maybe, she would interact with others who were sitting there. But our need for freedom from despair and fear has brought us to a place where we strive with all our being to escape. Horror fills every moment we live without God. God offers escape from fear. But they won't take that because they don't respect God's Holy Son. And you can't have God by rejecting His Son. Even if they consider Jesus, the Son of God, they might end up dismissing God because of the heavy load of eternal law. But full freedom embraces the reality of God's eternal law and the offer of "learning" which comes from Jesus. God the Father is perfect eternal law. He must be pure of anything else in order to keep eternity intact. That's why nothing wicked or evil will ever enter the presence of the Most High God. The laws of God are not done away with in Christianity. We are instead entered into a friendship because of the Work of God the Father in His Holy Son. He is our "go-between" or buffer between God the Father and our wicked up bringing. It's the Father's will that we should learn the eternal laws of God. Nothing I've said here will help the world cope with despair. They're doing pretty good in that realm anyway. But these things are posted in the hope that some will filter into those who need to find release from fear. I encourage those folk to look into these things. You'll find all this and plenty more in the Bible. (I know, its been a very long time since you opened one.) May the Lord open your eyes and draw you to His Holy Son. May you find the release you aren't seeking now.
To never leave - 2014-03-24 21:47 Many Christians struggle desperately against sin. One day, perhaps one week, they are fine. They cling to righteous behavior and find their prayer life normal. Then a small miss step occurs and the tumble begins. With their consciences blackened, they bow before the Lord in prayer only once or twice a week. And when on their knees before the Most High God they can only mutter a few words and then must run. Perhaps some canned prayer is all they can lay their hearts to. But the problem is not the first missed step. It's all the steps that lead to it. Jesus tells us, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled."The opposite of that is also true. "Cursed to continue in sin are those who do not desire righteousness with a burning heart." You won't find that in the scripture. But you will certainly find that on the lives of those who constantly tumble. What would your life look like if you never left the Lord again? What confidence and joy would you have if your prayer life spiraled up to heaven itself? How would your understanding and witness be transformed? All this trouble can be so easily avoided. And all you have to do is fan your desire for God into flame. The Lord Jesus is watching and waiting. A continual crying out for mercy and righteousness will certainly bring a powerful response. By His Grace Stark differences - 2014-03-25 00:06 Non believers may live their entire life as an enemy of God. All the while fear dresses them like some dark shimmering light. The end of such a man brings him directly before the Most High God for judgment. Fully unaware and fully unprepared. If they had fear in this life while they were at such a great distance from God, how much more fear will they have before him at the judgment? And that with no place left to hide or ignore. The steady gaze of perfectly righteous eyes is no longer turned aside. There are many who have placed some measure of faith in Christ Jesus, but have never matured as God would have them. As the writer of Hebrews pointed out they are still sucking on milk. They have never considered the solid food of Christian maturity to be worth the effort. How do they plan to stand any stronger than the previous group? This post is therefore for both groups. I write with all hope to stir up a desire for freedom in Christ. I write this with the hopes that their fear may become dispelled. If maturing christians have a fear similar to the first two groups it will be found in continuing in the work of Christ. By this I mean they are painfully aware of the sinful nature's presence. They are painfully aware that they too are capable of falling. But their fear is mixed with a belief that Christ is willing and able to cause them to stand on the day of judgement. So the fear in maturing Christians is more a love for the gain of God, and a great respect for he who is able to make us stand. The difference being that the first two groups fear punishment. While the maturing Christian finds his heart yearning for God's honorable reputation among men. The first two are centered on themselves. The third is centered on God. Doesn't this fit the gospel perfectly; death to self, life for Christ. The honorable man will seek the better of the greater. He will give honor where honor is due. If you do not find yourself to be an honorable man, don't despair. Simply get on your knees and confess to the Lord that you need his help to become honorable. It must also be said that, there is not one aspect of maturity in Christ that a man can manufacture himself. Everything the Christian becomes is given to him by God. This last statement has got to fly like broken glass in the face of established religious practices. The Lord can heal those kinds of lacerations too. By His Grace Avert your eyes - 2014-03-25 10:33 A man wakes one morning to go and give thanks to God for his quickness of mind. With all he is capable of, the man realizes that everything he has comes from God. But even in this realization he is caught. How do you know you have quickness of mind? Everything among men is comparison. I don't know of one man who can speak without it. To assess one's mind and find we have a quick mind, is to compare ourselves with those of lesser quickness. The man even assesses what he has had to make that judgement. Perhaps it would be better to simply thank God for the moment of clarity he has allowed you to have. Our words reflect our attitude. Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. And I am right to consider this entire article foolish if I think I understand it. I am attempting to pull in some of the folly that causes so much chaos around us. When we assess ourselves to have something that others do not, we judge God's giving. He has given the living and the dead. He has given us poisonous plants as well as health giving plants. He has given places to men that they may live there. One who lives in the tropic will not do well in the Arctic. But the place he lives is no less of value. And men are not to be judged by where they live; whether by mind or by geography. Where then do we have any right to compare ourselves to others? Where will bullying find itself before the sovereign God? Where will the judgment of our brother fall? How will misguided assessments help us before the Lord and our brother? Consider the trinkets of man which separate us according to our perceived betterment. The rich man has, so he thinks himself better. The poor man enhances his ingenuity, so he thinks himself better. We say one is mentally retarded. By that assessment we think we are better. God has given separation by his wisdom. Do not consider yourself able to counsel the Most High God. I will confess that even writing this article I am using comparison between men. Assessing the situation may not be sinful. And refraining from judgement maybe a very fine line. But the line broadens considerably at some point. When we recognize the difference let us back away. Give thanks for what you have. Practice only that. If you consider someone else has a need, strive to make sure it is an actual need. To do otherwise is to place judgement on your brother. I know this article is difficult. It seems I have put puzzle pieces together in the wrong place. But the wisdom of God is greater than man. And to his understanding we struggle to rise. Ask the sovereign God by Jesus his Son and he will give you wisdom in these things. Turn your eyes as you walk by a house at night. Do not look in their window. What business is it of yours what another man has or does? If you must talk with them, go and give them honor by knocking on the door. In the same way, do not judge another by what you have. Accept him like he is. Accept yourself like you are. Revere God in all your thoughts. By this you will do well. I have written this as best I am able. The Lord has said much better with fewer words. But this is my house in the night of this world. I have displayed this in my window. I know that others look as they walk by. Knock on my door and ask me and I will try to explain. What I have written is true. Perhaps some who read this can do a much better job than I. But I have done what I am able. And I thank God for His mercy. May the God who gives all, also give understanding in these things. By His Grace Instant revelation - 2014-03-25 11:24 The sum of what we become in Christianity is built on many many teachings from the Lord. He can teach us in a heartbeat what it would take volumes of words to explain. We write to one another to try to describe what we have experienced. But the teaching and the sum of what we become, comes from a life lived in subjection to the sovereign God of life. Read if you will. Perhaps there is some great benefit to be had by the experiences of others. But no man can teach you in 10 years what the Lord can teach you in a millisecond. By His Grace Unfounded complaint - 2014-03-25 12:15 From insurrection against what is holy, to criticizing your own choice. Folly begins to play out. The economy tanks. Civil unrest is encouraged. Taxation threateningly looms as poverty builds. Unholy wickedness is celebrated long before holiness is even spoken. There are rumbles of War. Conspicuous spending is rampant among the leaders as well as the people. The focus is on the Earth and the body with no thought given to the soul. And many have the audacity to complain! You wanted this man to be king over you! You willingly and happily rejected the Son of God as your king. What does God care that you receive the fruit of your own desire? He has provided One that could lead you in a peaceful and responsible holy life. But you will still have none of it. Instead you turn all your energy to complaints. You ridicule the one you said you wanted to rule over you. God has given you your desire and he supports your choice, to the surprise of many. No harm will come to this man until he has succeeded in that for which he was sent. Even now you do not turn to the Holy Lord that you may live holy lives. You call on God to intervene. But you do not call on him to transform you into a people who receive the kingship of Jesus. Honestly, what do we rationally expect? You will have your desire now. But you will not receive the pleasure you expected. Now you will receive the reward of your rebellious insurrection. So the Lord has warned us, so it has come upon us. May His Holy will be done forever. Amen By His Grace Personal wellness - 2014-03-26 12:03 I just heard an advertisement on an AM radio station. They are suggesting we should tune in to the next episode of a teaching. The episode is sponsored by a Presbyterian Church. The gist of the teaching has to do with selection of a physical therapist to enhance your muscular structure. They refer to it as a training in personal wellness. I have not listened to the program, nor will I. The focus of the government these days is on personal wellness. I make it a point not to listen to them. The focus of the godless these days is on personal wellness. I make it a point to preach the gospel to them. Even if the program couches this teaching in Christian thinking they are only duplicating the work of the godless. What business is it of God's people to duplicate the teachings of the godless? The Presbyterian Church wastes its money, effort and time. While they should put all their resources into teaching the gospel, evidently they prefer to teach personal wellness of the body. Precious little time, energy and money is in our hands to dispense. With so many souls dying everyday and headed to destruction, what right do we have to ignore the gospel? I know their arguments, they are not shrouded. "I am my brother's keeper" is the first. This is a child of the social gospel which is so prevalent today. In this gospel, the power of God is minimized. While the love of man for his brother is maximized. This teaching turns the gospel inside out. The twin of this child is the idea that we will lure people to us by tickling their ears with what they want to hear. The idea is, when we have their attention we can secretly slip in Christian ideas. And why do they want to keep the gospel secret? I give them credit for being crafty. But I give the devil the same credit. By cloaking some aspect of the gospel of Christ Jesus, they confess their Shame of his glory. And they strive to avoid the confrontation the gospel will surely bring. They have introduced their plan. May it fail miserably. May the Lord confront them so that they do not share in the sins of this world. For their efforts do not bring the fullness of God's glory in Jesus Christ to a world dark and perishing. They have mixed in poison to the healthy food of God. May God have mercy on them and confront them in this folly. By His Grace Be Not Ashamed - 2014-03-26 19:36 From his rightful and lofty place above all creatures, the Lord rules with joy. He is the definition of Good. Therefore it is His right to define what is good. He gives life generously to all who set their heart toward Him. His righteousness is life. All His laws are righteous. Therefore his laws are joy. He gives the right of righteousness to all who receive the life in His Son Jesus. And as many as will listen to the Son, will find their lives transformed. Wicked men attribute their own nature to the living God and His Son. They think that because they are corrupt, even God must be corrupt. Because of their depravity they cannot imagine something pure and fully Good. Still the Holy Lord holds off the end day. His compassion and His patience are evident among us. For now, the wicked are encased in a dark, pathetic and unholy accusation. For it is impossible for them to give glory to a creature such as themselves. If this is how they perceive while they are here, they are not likely to be able to change their mind when they appear before Him. If any man will only believe that God lives and is Good, he will open the door for the Lord to come in. The Great Physician cannot heal a wound if a man will not let Him near. No matter how great the Lord's desire, such a man remains in death. All these things that are written here are true. Therefore I am not ashamed to testify. I do not testify as a man who has become righteous by his own strength. What righteousness now covers me has appeared from the Lord Himself. Moment by moment He has taught me how to live so that I could please the Holy Father's righteous demands. More than just forgiveness, the Lord teaches us how to live so that forgiveness need not be constantly considered. The freedom of righteousness now takes the place of wickedness. He is wise, compassionate and patient with His people. He allows His people time to learn. And he teaches us how to love His Father's ways. What we once perceived as an angry and corrupt God now appears as Good! Little by little we begin to live righteously. Little by little joy overtakes despair. Strength overcomes weakness. What is holy destroys what is unholy. Thread by thread we become dressed, prepared for a great wedding feast. And the dread of judgment is replaced by a great joyful hope!
By His Grace O' Worker of Death - 2014-03-27 07:06 By His mercy we are sent. We are from the wicked. He dresses us and sends us back. Even while we serve, he dresses us all the more. We are no longer from the wicked. We are now sent from God. All men are just like me. Arms, legs, eyes, mouth, head, body, fingers, desires, dislikes, and frailty are the sum of our freshly days. And they are startled faces touch my heart. Pity strikes me. I see the difference because God has shown it to me. But I dare not let my pitiful eyes close up the word I have been sent to speak. Where is love to let them die without warning? This is why they are urged me to be quiet. "You are just like us why do you speak so harshly?" With their fleshly eyes they cannot see that I have been sent. But my soul knows the truth. Get behind me, you worker of death! You have only man in mind. You are my slave you are not my confidant. You are my body, my sinful nature, and you have nothing to say. I will have pity on man. I will speak the words I am sent to say. With this I love them, that I tell them the truth. By His Grace The island - 2014-03-27 11:43 In the pitch like darkness of the deep ocean a rumbling of silt and sand occurred. The slime of refuse gave way to molten rock. Without approval, a mountain began to grow in the darkness. The place had been desolate and quiet. Though it had been a place of gathering for refuse, peacefulness and quiet had attended upon it. But now violence erupted where once there was nothing but filth. The lord was pleased to cause a new place to grow. And in his pleasure he spoke growth and life. Lava forced upward the plate of rock that had once been the bottom of the ocean. Months of great pressure and violence pushed the plate of rock toward the top of the sea. Light began to touch the surface of the rock and it cringed at the new world it was being forced to inhabit. Convulsions shook the plate and the edges curled around its new support. "I am to perish! Surely I am dying!" "What are you doing Oh Lord Great God? Did I not serve you well in the place where I was? What is my sin that you should rip me from my rest?" But the plate heard no reply. Soon the sound of waves crashing at the edge stirred the plate into near panic. How deeply it desired to return to its former place. "This is no place of peace! It is a place of torture! What have I done to deserve this horrific uprooting? Was I not content and faithful to support what the world no longer needed?" Again, there was no sound from the Living God. Only the frightening roar of water at the shore. The tumult threatened to rip the rock apart. In the years of a rock, very little time passed before the silt upon it top begin to produce. Shrubs and rough grass filtered in to begin the final transformation. Seeds had appeared by virtue of the birds who came to visit. All the while the little island was frightened to see his surface so abused. As the Island got use to its new place it began to see the beauty of the violence. The Sun would rise and set, warming the rock in a new place called day. The moon would bathe him in glorious shimmers; not at all like the darkness he had known. And the sound of the waves often put him into peaceful sleep. The wind of God shaped him into smooth and various form. And the storms which came and went were a wonderous delight of activity. One day, still a great mystery to the island, an animal set foot on his soil. With great interest he watched this one. It was not at all like the others who had come to visit. Nor was it like those who had been a part of his previous world. For the first time since his peaceful slumber of filth, the island felt pure joy. "I like this one Lord." The island was heard to say. "He tickles and scratches at my surface. And now I am pleased for what you have done. The pain and memory is receding and now there is joy." Centuries passed, and the island was a happy place of thriving life for a multitude of creatures. What he had been before, he no longer desired to remember. Joy filled his days and his new place produced great fruit for the Sovereign God who had caused him to be. "Give thanks to the Lord and be faithful for He is good. His mercy endures forever! Be faithful and joy filled. Give thanks and praise to God." The island had come to sing a new song. "Do not be discouraged at the tumult which now attends your days. For soon you will be thankful for the violent uprooting." By His Grace Personally - 2014-03-27 13:38 Personally I would rather die with my hands upon the wheel of the ship where God has placed me than some pleasure here to steal. Let old bones embrace me while his course I hold so tight. May his Holy will entice me As I work with all my might. Let others put away the things that brought them now delight. For I would rather perish In a storm of Holy Light. By His Grace Stocking the shelves - 2014-03-27 16:21 "Go out there and stock the shelves. People are buying stuff and we gotta know what it is so we can replace it!" The wild eyed store manager was beside himself. He barked his order to his only employee and the little guy scurried off. The store manager was busily pouring over marketing programs when the little dude returned. "Sir, I looked through everything and found nothing missing. Everything on the shelves is messed up! They, like, rummage through it but they take nothing!" Slowly it dawned on the little guy that's his job may be in jeopardy. It seemed like it took a long time for the manager's eyes to come up out of his work. When they met eye to eye, the little employee couldn't understand what kind of message his boss' eyes were telling him. Fear, astonishment, peace, and even a hint of joy, all gathered in those tiny pupils. The managers lips opened like he was going to say something. But they just drifted back together. He let his eyes drift back to the papers. "What are we going to do sir?" The little guy heard his voice crack. A tear formed at the edge of the managers eye. But when he looked up the little employee saw a big smile. "He's finally gone mad", the little buddy thought to himself. The managers lips opened finally. But then they would slam shut. This went on for a little while in rapid succession. The little guy stepped back a couple of paces from the desk. "We're gonna sell selling!" The words came out rather loud. "Sounds good sir. Um, just what does that mean?" "We're not going to charge the people. They don't buy anything anyway. Instead will charge the producer for advertising his product." "All we have to do is keep track of how many people come and go. You take notes of what kind of people they are and what they go look through. I know this is useful to the producer. Just keep straightening the shelves." So it is with my blog. I don't sell anything. Its all free to come and peruse. What is here is valuable to the One who provides. He determines what to display. And the hearts of men are tested. I just keep restacking the piles of paper By His Grace My sinful nature - 2014-03-31 06:32 I would hate to be my sinful nature. Nothing he desires is right, so he is always wrong. And if by chance he comes close to something decent, he cannot be praised. For He desires to spend it on his pleasure. The only reason patience covers him is to wait slyly for an opportunity. So even while he appears somewhat godly, an animal lurks behind his skin. He is always in turmoil. Not knowing his left hand from his right, he does not know what to do next. Yet pride will not let him admit his weakness. And if given a choice between one or another, he will always choose the wrong. The only time he is right, by any sense at all, is when he is heard fretting over his imminent death. But even in this he has no understanding. He must die so that the one he carries will live. If he is tired and hears his soul speak of taking time for prayer, he begins a multitude of complaint and reasoning. It is not that he hates God. He simply loves himself. God is no more a consideration to him than the rings on his fingers. Yes, I would hate to be my sinful nature. But isn't that what I was before the Lord Jesus released me from his shackles? Yes! The only value I had before the Lord Jesus released me was to be fuel for the fire of hell. Praise be to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! For we who are learning to love the Lord are free from the law of sin and death. Grace has come but the sinful nature hasn't even noticed. By His Grace "But I love sin!" - 2014-03-31 23:41 A man may say to me, "God cannot save me. I am too vulgar. I am too grounded in the things that are wicked. I adore the pleasure of the body. And though I would like to be saved, I cannot imagine why God would want me. I cannot imagine that he would even want to try." My friend, by what you say I see two things. The first is that you know God is Holy, and that he expects holiness from his people. And the second is that you do not understand the gospel of Jesus Christ. You understand well enough that you are sinful and hopeless as you live the way you do. Good. Then begin where you are. That awareness is the very first step a man must take. In regard to the holiness of God we will say these things. Holiness does not only have to do with righteousness; as if we speak only of judgement. The holiness of God has first to do with love. The love of God is not defiled by opinion. Nor is it subject to a change in attitude. He is the very definition of all that is pure and lovely. If you admire those who are able to love the unlovable, this ability finds its unceasing fulfillment in the love of God. He loves without ceasing. Along with this love comes judgement righteousness patience and mercy. The love of God is what sustains all life for eternity. If there is the slightest lack in the love of God eternity will cease. So we are able to trust without fear. God is love and he is eternal. In regard to the gospel we will say these things. What you lack is what you desire. What you desire has come to us long before you were born. Jesus is the perfect representation of the love of God. God's love compels him to be merciful. Just as surely as his love compels him to protect eternity from wickedness. God has sent His Son to be the sacrifice for all who desire life. Those who run to him will be transformed. God's love has so desired you that He has given his son over to death for your sake. How precious then are you? For now, you perceive the love of God as law and judgment. But if you are willing, he is willing to show you differently. This is why it is written, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled." That it's all God requires from you. He has heard your confession of sin. He knows that you love wickedness more than life. And his love has already provided you what you need. Approach him with these truths that you have told me. Do not be so ashamed of your ailment that you refuse to go to the doctor. He has it in his hand to be able to heal you and cause you to become a righteous man. He is willing and able to teach you how to live so that your life is pleasing to God the Father. The wise will understand what has been written here. Reach deep within yourself and find strength. Do not look for strength to be a righteous man. Simply look for the strength to fall to your knees in prayer. For now you stand with pride. That is the strength that will lead to death. But a humble acknowledgment of these things will lead you to life. He is waiting for you. He is not waiting to judge you. He is waiting to help you. I will add this. You see that I write these things. You consider that I am a godly man. But you do not know who I was. If any man was evil I was his equal, quite likely even more so. What I have described here is the very path I have taken. And over the years this is what I have come to be. Not one ounce of my strength was spent to arrive in this place. The only model I have fun is to retain a desire for righteousness. Everything good that I have has been given by Jesus the Son of God. If you will only trust him you will rise far above the place where I stand. This is the firm and trustworthy promise of the Most High God in His Son Jesus his Christ. By His Grace 2014 - 04 What's My Line - 2014-04-01 03:08 There used to be a game show on television. Three men would sit at a desk. It was proposed that one of them was in a certain unusual occupation. The contestants would ask one question at a time trying to determine which one was the real thing. At the end of the show the moderator always said, will the real 'Mr Jones' please stand up." I remember that we were always surprised. Today many religions present themselves as did these men in the game show. They leave it to the public to ask questions. The end of the game is yet to be seen. But billions will be surprised. What is the difference between the Son of God, Jesus, and all these other religions? The answer we are all looking for is summed up in one word: Eternity. We are all looking for the one who has answers toward the eternal God. We are looking for the one who has the authority to speak. The impostors will say they know. But they will refer to a writing or some earthly teacher. Many will accept such men because they have some measure of truth. But if these contestants were to consider exactly what they need to find, they would abandon these Impostors with haste. Jesus is the only man, ever to have lived among us, who can rightfully make a very special claim. He not only knew what was written about the Father. And he not only had the full measure of the Father's Spirit upon him. He had lived with the Father for eternity before he appeared to us in flesh. Consider the following words of the Lord Jesus. "And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began." ( I would give you the verse, but I think we learn more when we have to go find it ourselves) By writing this post I have asked the question for all of us before the show is over. "Will the real Jesus please stand up." By His Grace EEEWWW! - 2014-04-01 08:06 Have you ever poked a hole in a lemon and sucked the juice out? Before you read the rest of this you might wanna go give it a try. It will make you seriously appreciate a strawberry. _______________ Life is sour. We can be injured and hundreds of thousands of ways. And if you let it happen, you can develop a serious distaste for waking up in the morning. To counteract the natural horror of this place, man has developed a multitude of additives. If applied correctly, any man may experience a rather pleasant life. In the end, however, we face the greatest horror of all. The effectiveness of our additives comes to an abrupt end. We say we don't care. We may wear the additive of "I'm strong enough to deal with it." But there will be no dealing with death. We make plans for a pleasant casket. Gold handles, mahogany wood, polished stainless steel trim, and fancy white satin, make a real nice last house. But getting into that sucker is no pleasant task at all. And once we're there we have left behind another need for additives. Nevermind. You'll deal with that later. There is another place where additives are well applied. And apparently they have some great success in dulling down the sour. But just as in the rest of life, they do not change reality. They only change our perception. And in society, perception is everything. Just ask Hollywood. To make sure we're all on board, please allow me to give you a short tour of some additives. I don't have time to write them all, and no one would take the time to read that list. So I'll just pick a few at random. 1. Easter has more to do with a bunnies and eggs and candy than the living God raised from the dead. But it's not appropriate to talk about such things outside of the church building. 2. If you leave a Bible on conspicuous display people will consider you a good man or woman. You don't need to have a clue what's in it. 3. If you get dressed up real nice, put on a sweet face, talk pleasantly about inconsequential things, and be completely cordial when you go to church, you don't need to consider the state of your soul or your relationship with the living God. (I realize that's a very long sentence. You can't see it, but I wear a big sign on my back that says, "Does not play well with others".) Water it down. Water it down! Water it down, until the gospel has no apparent effect on anyone. Keep using additives to mask the truth! We'll deal with all that when we have gotten into that very tight casket. Go ahead! Water down the Lord Jesus Christ! But the Lord is a consuming fire that no Fire Department in the universe can put out. But by all means, go ahead and water it down. By His Grace On your own - 2014-04-02 00:31 What is the difference between the tears a believer in Christ and the godless? What is the difference when a believer in Christ is afraid or the godless know fear? What difference is there when the child of a believer dies or the child of a godless man dies? If you would cry or be afraid or lose your loved ones, why would you try to do so on your own? You will cry. You will be afraid. You will lose your children to death. You yourself will inhabit a life of hopelessness. So what is the difference whether you inhabit that life alone or with the living God's help? Do you know what keeps you from him? Do you know why you reject the gospel? It's not because God is invisible. And it's not because this world is so wicked. You simply reject the gospel because you are simply proud. You have to face life alone. You exercise faith every moment of every day. Why not put your faith in Jesus? Why not allow humility to take the place of pride? My heart aches for you. I know what is coming upon the world. You will cry. You will be horribly afraid. You will lose your children and your loved ones. Some will starve to death. Others will die from hideous disease. Earthquakes and Wars will kill and maim at random. Why would you face this? Most men and women will curse God to his face. Why would you be one of them? Humble yourself. Why is this too much to ask? By His Grace The greatest possible - 2014-04-02 18:48 It is impossible that a man should find himself standing anywhere other than where he puts his feet. What he has done and what he is doing is where he is. All the while the man has traveled to be where he was he was always where he found himself. Whether he traveled in righteousness or wickedness, there he traveled. All the while the Holy Lord has remained where He is. It is man's to wander and to do. And everywhere he has wandered the Holy Lord has been aware. According to a man's faith, according to what he believes is true, the Holy Lord has either been the greatest of possible friends or the greatest of possible enemies. The sovereign God does not move between wickedness and righteousness. This belongs to men. Either we embrace the Holy Lord and all His righteousness, or by measure upon measure we remain wicked. Jesus has been sent to draw us to what is righteous. He has been sent to cause us to cease our wandering. He has been sent to bring righteousness to where we stand. So that when we perceive our location we find a friend in the Holy Lord. When and where will a man submit? When will he stop and find himself at peace with the Most High God? He will find himself arriving when he learns to listen to and obey the Son of God. Either the living God is your greatest of possible friends, or he is your greatest of possible enemies. Jesus has appeared at the will of the Father to bring us into friendship. We began as enemies. By His grace we end as friends. By His Grace Useless Christianity - 2014-04-02 20:01 The kingdom of heaven seems infinitesimally small to the man of the world. What is important to him is to gain the things he can hold. The natural man has no desire for the promises of God. "These are things that have no use among those who desire to be useful. I would rather profit by the work of my own hands than to become so heavenly minded that I am of no earthly use." So says the man of the world. But the one who enters into the kingdom of God says no such thing. This one says to himself, "I perceive that men die. I have faith that God is, and that he rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Therefore I would rather be your fool among men and embraced by the living God, than to gain 10 pounds of the world's riches. I will become so heavenly minded that I am no longer of any worldly use." The one who sets his mind on the things of God will be come a son of God. All the steadfast righteousness of God rises up within the man. By rejecting the usefulness of the world. The man becomes indispensable to the world. What the world counts as useless is exactly what it needs. By His Grace The Bright and Morning Star - 2014-04-04 07:11 "Praise the Lord, for He is good! His Mercy endures forever. Who is His Mercy? Jesus the Christ is the Mercy of God. For by Him we live and move and have our being in the Heavenly Father. By Him we have strength. By Him we are bold. By Him we sing a new song; a song of great strength and hope. By Him we have warmth; the warmth of the Bright and Morning Star. By Him we are fed with food which does not come from this world. By Him we thrive as we were intended to thrive." So sings the vibrant Robin in the morning. Let man consider the faithful and unashamed song of the Robin. He wakes to hunt. He wakes to proclaim the faithfulness of the Most High God in the Lord Jesus. He wakes, and opens his mouth to sing praises for the Life he Lives. Yes, let us consider the purity of the Robin's song.
Warnings vs The Power of God - 2014-04-04 08:23 Christians are warned, all day long, to abstain from a variety of worldly delights. "Don't watch questionable movies. Don't listen to ungodly music. Don't read the books printed by godless souls. Don't dress to entice or to display your wealth. Don't purchase necessities that are ornamented to promote your position in life. Watch your tongue, lest you speak filthy words. Love everyone with a godly love." On and on it goes. Warnings are spouted day and night. And even I have warned against many such things. But do the warnings work? Or do they do more harm than good? Take a look at the members of your church. Consider those you know who profess themselves to be Christian. I'm not asking you to judge them. I'm asking you to assess the viability of warnings. Do you see holy living appear in most professing Christians? There is a distinct difference between obeying the words of another, and becoming obedient yourself. If you are doing simply because someone told you to do, you are falling short of the possible height to which God can raise you. Those who warn you are doing so from two possible sources. Either they have heard or read that such warnings are useful. Or they have come to understand the Christian life personally. To read about the life of a saint is a good thing. But to use the writings to create your own Christianity is not a good thing. "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builder builds in vain." Don't only emulate what is good. Come to know the Living God through Christ Jesus yourself. Then you will begin to see His Holy hand create the things of Christ within you. When He is your God (and you cease from allowing the understanding of others be the power of God within you) you will see a transformed life that requires no work from you. For now, you work hard to remember how to act and do righteousness. But when the power of the Spirit dresses your soul, your heart becomes transformed to emulate the Living God. Warnings no longer apply to you. Now you see possibilities. Your mind is freed from concentration on the words and lives of others. Now you become one of those whose life can be an example of all that is holy among men. Arrant Chads of Wicked Men. - 2014-04-04 08:59 "He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, 6 'I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.'” (Psalm 2) They hate the Lord and perceive Him as a wicked task master because their ways are wicked and arrant. They are blown about by every wind of desire that enters their wicked mind. They do not know His Holy commands. They do not know His salvation in Jesus. Therefore they cannot obey. God dresses the humble in righteous desire. But His opposition is forward at the proud. He steadfastly denies hope to all who lift their chin in rebellion. Let them humble their hearts. Let them consider their sins. Let then admit that they have not known the Path of God in this "Place of Testing". Let them come to know that the Lord is Good, by fear of God. Let the terror of punishment fill their hearts to over flowing. Then the Lord will show kindness. Then, and only then, will they perceive rightly the beauty that is God the Father. And if they continue in that manner, perhaps the Father will draw them to His Holy Son. By continuance in the humble posture of heart the wicked learn that loving God is proper. And their continuance provokes the Mercy of the Most High God.
Mr. "No-Name" (Who's that?) - 2014-04-04 09:40 Imagine living your life without any name. It might be impossible to us to imagine that. For we are named from our birth. And even at our death, out name is placed on our grave. But unless you receive the Mercy of God in Christ Jesus His Holy Son, your name will be utterly blotted out of eternity. You will not be mentioned or thought of ever again. You will cease to be of any importance at all. For now a man might be important by causing trouble. If he is incapable of any righteous behavior, at least he can be known for wickedness. How many wicked men have bragged that others will remember them by their violent behavior? But that "name" will be taken away. Even your opinion will not be honored with thought at all. This is the promise of God toward the unholy, unrighteous, rebellious, those who love false religion, those who love pleasure of the world more than the Righteousness of God, and those who worship anything other than the Living God. Perhaps you have not considered this. It is likely. For it is impossible to imagine living our entire life without a name. You may say, "I don't believe any of what you've written here. You're simply a self-righteous bigot who hates the freedom of man." What is such boasting to me? If you continue in that way, your name will cease. You will find your end. You won't cease because I have told you these things. The Holy Lord will establish His eternity. No wicked thing will be allowed to continue past that point. A new "age" of righteous men made perfect will appear. And all who have despised the Lord will simply vanish. "You will look for them but they will not be found." The Lord has prepared a staggeringly beautiful place for all who love Him. Do you seriously think you will be of any importance at all when His people enter the place the Lord has prepared for those who love Him? No. You will know your own death. You will cease to be. What will that be to those who serve the Living God forever? Why would you point your finger at such as me? Why would you chose to blame others for the unholy faults you now embrace?
Another Religion? - 2014-04-05 05:36 Why do Christians preach to man? What right do we have to firmly believe that we have the answers? Men will say to us, "You are just like us. We see your sins. We perceive your faults. There are plenty of religions among us. What need do we have for yours? By some reason, you think what you believe belongs in the belly of everyone. You are no different from any other cultish behavior of any other obnoxious religion." We are just like you. Therefore we know the extent of man's rebellion against God. We too are sinners with plenty of faults among us. And what we preach presents itself faultlessly as the final answer to all man's troubles. From without, you cannot understand what we say. But if you would enter Christianity the Lord would prove His words to you. However, your problem is that once you enter you will find yourself compelled to stay. By your questions you prove you are not ready or willing. But neither were we. We do not preach fables. We do not believe as we do because a man has told us. We believe because the Heavenly Father has drawn us to His Holy Son. Because of the rebellion of man against the Holy One, there are plenty of religions, indeed! But we have found that man's need is not satisfied by opinion. We have found that Christ Jesus fulfills every need of every religion. He leaves no stone unturned. He is Holy Truth embodied. For this reason (That the Lord Jesus is the embodiment of truth) we are obnoxious to you even as the Lord Jesus was once obnoxious to us. The pride of man will refuse to believe that he is nothing. The pride of man builds his own answers, as if a man can say he has seen the Holy Living God. But as we believe, the Lord strips that rebellious spirit from us. Humility comes to understand. Humility fears the Living God. Humility is the necessary first step in understanding what is Holy and Good.Jesus proves to His people that He has every right to claim the singular title of "Son of God". We are not tossed about, as are other religions, by every desire and fabrication of man's mind. Yes there are many who claim to be Christians yet offer a seriously blemished testimony of God's perfect commands. And the best of us will falter from time to time. But Christ Jesus remains the same in His Holy command to, "Be holy, even as your Father in Heaven is holy". And He teaches His people to understand these things. You may find fault with us. But you will also find absolute truth within us. Ask. Provoke the testimony within us. Keep asking questions. The Lord will testify from within His people. We willingly confess our lack before all who ask. But you will not find fault with the Son of God. You will say, "How can you be sure that what you believe connects with Heaven?" We know it by the living words of the Bible. And it is confirmed within us by the Holy Spirit He gives; the Spirit which is sent from the Living Lord Jesus Himself. Though it is by faith, this faith is not like that faith a man holds in things unseen. The faith we have is given to us from the Heavenly Father. He confirms His Lovely Son's position before Him. There is a leading from the Lord. There is a "proof", which over time, confirms without doubt those things we preach to the world. Directory: 2014 2014 -> For want of a nail 2014 -> The Global Warming that Wasn’t 2014 -> Assembly, No. 3901 state of new jersey 216th legislature 2014 -> Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act of 2014 2014 -> Ihbb asian Championships 2014 middle school bowl Round 4 First Quarter 2014 -> Unit: Automotive and Auto Body 2014 -> Ihbb european Championships 2014 Bowl Round 4 First Quarter 2014 -> International History Bee and Bowl 2013-14 Asian Division Question Set Bowl Round Six 2014 -> United states patent and trademark office 2014 -> Walnut creek, ca branch executive committee meeting minutes Download 2.54 Mb. Share with your friends:
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