Walking In Spirit

2011-03-24T07:07:00.000-07:00

God, Revelation, and Authority

Written in a time when the theological pendulum had swung to the far left of liberalism, previous editor of Christianity Today and Baptist theologian Carl F. H. Henry produced this six volume work in order to challenge the authenticity of the beliefs and convictions of theologians and Christians. Insightful beyond the day it was written, readers will find that his predictions about trends in theology are not only directly relevant to the intended audience, but they still ring true thirty years later.

Summary

Adamant about the need for having Christ as the foundation of our faith and the Scriptures as the authoritative norm, Carl Henry begins this thesis with a comprehensive look at where modern men, Christians and theologians have aligned themselves theologically. Even at the time of this writing, you can sense the early whiffs of post-modern thought processes beginning to be fleshed out. Henry notes that not only has the modern man started to rebel against the authority of the Bible, but he has started rebelling against all authority in general (7). Henry points out that “Disbelief now stems from claims that finalities and objective truth simply do not exist; the good and true are declared to be only revolutionary by-products and culturally relative perspectives” (9). There is a cultural plea to have our own words and ideas become the authoritative norm over Scripture. The idea that everything we perceive as good or evil should be filtered based on the culture in which we live is at the very root of our rebellion and the subsequent attacks that stem from them. These very attacks started in the Garden and Henry lays out each of these attacks and offers a proper defense from Scripture.

Even though attacks on Scriptural authority ultimately still come down to the serpent challenging the word of God, there are four main areas that Henry focuses on for the attack of Scriptural authority. These four main areas are the authority of the apostles, the authority of the Old Testament prophets in relation to the New Testament, the authority of Jesus and, finally, the authority of the written words of God Himself. Each of these areas are attacked not from a biblical perspective, but from a perspective of man’s own thoughts as established by cultural norms, social norms, experience, invalid critical thought, or textual criticism.

Apostolic-Prophetic Authority Through Jesus

The first three attacks are on the very authority of Jesus, along with the apostles and prophets that are attributed as the inspired writers of the Old and New Testament. In all cases and at all times, no authority is self-derived. It all comes from God. As Henry points out, when we speak of authority and power, it is “authority and power that the living God alone can wield underivedly and unrestrictedly” (26). It is this same authority and power that is given to the Old Testament prophets, Christ, and His disciples, and it is the same authority and power “bestowed by Christ that alone enables anyone to enter the kingdom of God” (26).

Our only source for knowledge concerning Christ’s authority and that He conferred it to the apostles, comes from the New Testament (27). The recorded proof that the Old Testament prophets and the apostles were given authority comes from the acts and miracles that were performed through them. Although the miracles and acts of the prophets and apostles were recorded for proof of their authority, “Paul always emphasizes that the apostolic commission derives from God Himself and that the work of an apostle required authorization by the risen Jesus” (29). Says Henry, “God is the authority who renders Scripture authoritative; inspiration is the special phenomenon that imparts this character of divine authority to the writings and logically necessitates fulfillment of written prophecies” (75). Like the Old Testament prophets, the apostles were also bearers of divine revelation. It was “only because God has made them bond slaves and constituted them verbal mouthpieces is what the apostles proclaim binding upon us” (30). In all, we must remember that Jesus is the promised Messiah. “The same authority first delegated to the apostles for their oral proclamation was later carried over into their writing” (33). By being written down, it could spread more quickly to more places in a more accurate manner. He is the Christ and our redeemer that was promised by the prophets and proclaimed by the apostles at God’s appointment.

Scriptural Authority and the Written Word

The larger of the attacks usually come in the form of logic based attacks on the very written words in Scripture. Henry establishes that Jesus “entrusted the interpretation of His whole life and work to specifically designated apostles...” (36). John 14:26 tells us that the Spirit would bring all things to remembrance to the apostles. They would later write down those things along with the meaning of the events that followed the crucifixion. Also, Christ “dogmatically endorses the Old Testament Scriptures as the authoritative word of God” (35). Henry continues, “The New Testament, in short, fully endorses the authoritative significance of the Old Testament Scriptures as mediating the declaration of God’s revealed will” (34). Of the apostles, Henry says “In their view Scripture is authoritative, because divinely inspired, and as such, is divine truth” (68). The authority of Scripture lies within the written word, not men’s interpretation of it (36). And, written words tend to be considered as more permanent than the spoken word, especially, in a post-modern world hung up on self determination of truth (37). So, with the establishment of the Authority of Christ, the prophets and the apostles, Henry moves on to another area of attack on the authority of Scripture; the very written words themselves.

Throughout the thesis, Henry discusses the nature of culture and our own logical thought processes and it’s affects on our beliefs in the Authority of Scripture. Through the theology birthed from higher criticism, we end up with doctrines that have no authority from Scripture. Henry says “A God who speaks no truths but authoritatively demands obedience, or a Bible that is held to be divinely authoritative although errant, seems to our wary generation far too reminiscent of totalitarian tyranny or literary myth either to serve the cause of biblical authority in its canonical understanding or to elicit trust” (44). No man’s experience can establish the truth. Henry says “In brief, the meaning of truth of any claim must meet the test of rational intelligibility, noncontradiction and consistency or it can only remain suspect” (49). No other source except God’s Word can sufficiently be claimed to settle authority. It is only through faith that Christians can take the Word of God as truth and thus make it authoritative in their lives. If Scripture is then believed to be errant, then there is no longer clear authority to be trusted.

Lastly, Henry addresses our transcendent God’s ability to provide and preserve His revelation to us and whether its words are literally true. That we have the words of God are held in proof by our faith in them. Henry says that one “argument deployed against the literal truth of biblical teaching is that all language and knowledge are culturally conditioned and are therefore relative” (113). These claims, however, are not sufficient because the writers themselves were writing from direct revelation, and not through cultural lenses (115).

Another argument is raised “against the possibility of our knowing literal truth about God is that finite language is too limited to depict the Infinite” (115). This, however, could only be assumed if you were trying to fully explain something infinite. Henry says that “Christianity counters these claims by insisting upon incarnational theology. It teaches that the Word of God not only became flesh but is also conceptually given, verbally expressible, and verbally expressed” (115).

Significance for Baptists Today

Baptists today, as well as most denominations, are being affected more by men’s thoughts today through the bombardment of progressive media outlets and culture than at any other time in the history of mankind. With advent and use of more means than we can count, the ideas of men are flowing at rates so quickly, we cannot even respond to one area of critical attack before five more have expanded on the same thoughts and expanded on them as an authoritative standard.

As I mentioned previously, even though Carl Henry wrote this material more than thirty years ago, it still rings true today. The thoughts and the thought processes that he chose to combat in this work not only abounded in his day, but they continue to plague every aspect of our society still. Having seen the beginnings of the post-modern age, Henry’s insight and work provides a positive direction Baptists should lean towards combating these serious threats.

Today we live in the culture that Henry described as coming to the surface in his time. It is a culture that generally holds to a post-modern worldview where every scrap of knowledge is believed to be relative to each person’s experience and to the norm of their culture. The writings that Henry combats in this article prove two things. The first is that Satan still tries to move the governing authority of men from God to his creation and secondly that since this material was published, there is an active audience seeking to suppress the truth and wanting to rule themselves.
It is imperative that through faith, we bear in mind where all authority and power originates; it is with God Himself. We must have faith that the gospel that we have heard is indeed the truth and that, although they are the words written down by men, they are the words delivered to us from the living God who wishes to have a personal relationship with His creation.

Henry notes that Atheism is the theological starting point of a large portion of our population today in America, not the place where people end up after losing their faith. We must stand strong and repel the attacks we receive from men trying to reason away the Scriptures while bearing the standard of Christ and His cultural norms. We must constantly be on guard to prevent the culture of our world from taking over our congregations and ruling the educational demands of our children. We need to rebut every question of “Hath God said” with “Yes, it is written here” and point to the only source of God’s revelation to his creation, Scripture. Failure to do so will, at least temporarily, leave our societies at the mercy of their own imaginings and lead entire generations down the path of destruction. We cannot let even the smallest portions of Scripture fall to the wayside. The whole truth must be presented, not just the parts that we personally relate to and approve of. It is important that we realize that the authority of Scripture is important in everyone’s life, not just ours. Whether while witnessing, in intercession, or in stewardship of creation, all things fall under the authority of Scripture and our God would have us to live accordingly. After all, the revelation of God’s redemptive plan is our only hope.

2010-03-06T08:02:00.000-08:00

Since being thrown from the Garden, Man has sought to return in fellowship with his creator. Vital to our being is an unquenchable yearning to seek Him; all the while knowing that coming face to face with him would be our end. At the same time, God, in ever increasing and fuller expressions of His love, continues to provide us the way. It is daily that we multiply our transgressions and continue to show our unworthiness for such a gift. Yet God, from the beginning, has set in motion his redemptive plan.

When the Holy Spirit inspired the writers to copy down the Word, He was revealing to us the promise and hope of the Son and what was to come. After the cross, he directed the writing of the Gospels and it was sent to us as a helper and witness to the Son’s glory.

There once was a woodsman who cut down the tree which was made to be the cross of our Savior. We must never forget that God not only planted that tree, but he also watched it grow. All three persons of the Trinity knew full well what the sacrifice at the cross held in store. Do not think that all was coincidence.

When the Son became flesh and dwelt among us, it was to live perfectly before he was lifted up as our sacrifice. Each step he took on this earth was upon stones that groaned and cried out for mercy. In a carpenter’s abstract pride, the first blows of the hammer upon the nails, reminded the creator what it means to start something new; to finish something left uncompleted.

It has been said, that the cross is the full revelation of God. I would disagree. It may be the fullest revelation we have, but even still, there are things left unrevealed. We do not know yet what we will become, not until when we see Christ. Then we will know, for we will be like Him and can spend eternity learning of Him.

2010-02-04T12:13:00.000-08:00

Is it possible to understand the Trinity?

In a quick response to the question, we would have to quickly say “no”. Because of the very nature of God being Infinite we may spend an eternity trying, but will never be able to understand him fully. We could, however, say that there are things revealed to us in scripture that allow us understand certain aspects or ideas about the Trinity. When viewing something, even by the sight of our own eyes, we suddenly realize that even though we can understand the thing within our focus, closer examinations usually only raise more questions.

To illustrate this, look into the night sky. When you view into space with the naked eye, there many factors that limit your observations such as location, the weather and your own eyesight. You could take those observations and say that you fully understand what you see within the limits of your existing knowledge. Once you have seen the same view through a telescope, your previous understanding will suddenly seem narrow and limited. This is because the focus has shifted to the need for understanding the smaller details that were unseen by the naked eye. If we can’t understand the nature of the creation that surrounds us, how ignorant would it be to state that we can understand the triune nature of the Creator Himself? The list of things that we understand about an Infinite God will always be shorter than the list of questions we raise.

However, within the view of what God has revealed about the Trinity to us through our relationships in creation, the Holy Spirit and the written word, there are certain things that we can understand about the Trinity. We need to be careful in how we approach these understandings and try not to idolize them. When men start believing they can understand more about God from other men than they can learn from God himself, they have placed their trust in men.

2010-01-27T06:03:00.000-08:00

A discussion on Amos 2

The Israelites, being the covenant people of God, were not only guilty of tarnishing the image of men who were made in the image of God but, they were guilty of tarnishing the very image of the Creator Himself. They broke the covenant agreement between themselves and Yehweh; even to the point of selling out the righteous people and trading them for sandals that they would use to walk in the ways of their idols/gods. The weak in this land were oppressed further; and the virtues of the humble were no longer cherished but instead their ways were perverted, even to the point of enticing their most holy of people set aside by the religious vows of the Nazirites.

The very act of propagation was distorted in the land. God had given them this act to “Multiply and fill the Earth”. As part of the covenant people of God, they were promised to become as numerous as the stars of the sky. Instead they created idols/gods and used the act of sex to worship created things, on foreign altars, that are placed in a land that Yahweh had given to them.

To be in this covenant relationship, the Israelites were to be yoked with God, walking alongside him and carrying their portion of the load. Instead, they are found walking along another path and no longer pulling their share of the load and progress is stunted. If they had only known that the yoke was easy and the burden was light, especially, when bringing in the sheaves with God.

Prophets had obviously come along at various times. They were silenced as the people surrounded themselves with teachers that taught perverted things to those with itching ears.

Yahweh will respond to breaking this covenant in ways that had already been laid out. In Leviticus 26, Yahweh lays out the blessings and curses that will come upon the people based on their obedience to the covenant. Numerous times throughout the OT we see the Israelites being disobedient and then subsequently chastised for it. In the early parts of this book, we see God laying out the charge to a disobedient and rebellious people which are told they will receive the very curses Yahweh promised them for failing to “Walk together” with him. All the courageous will flee naked in that day even when no “man” chases him. It’s the story of all men. Walk with God, or flee from him trembling.

2010-01-18T16:05:00.000-08:00

All manners of heresy are allowed to bloom without a proper view on the doctrine of the Trinity. A Lamb, which is not believed to be divine, merely produces wool which will be pulled over the eyes of men who are simply watching another Jew fighting for breath on a Roman tree. It justifies the actions of desperate men asking for a Son of fathers instead of the Son of God. It also strips the deserved authority and majesty earned to make the Lamb worthy of breaking the seals.

A Lamb which is not believed to be divine makes for an abundance of red-lettered heresy for men to thrust themselves upon. The damage done by a dull sword has a similar effect of causing men to lose life. It will not, however, pierce to the heart and recreate him.

A Lamb which is not believed to be divine leaves men created in the image of some other “US” which is yet to be revealed. This lack of divinity destroys inspiration and attacks the very binding of the Scriptures. The result leaves a loose-leaf collection of morality held together only by glue and the thoughts of men.

Without the doctrine of the Trinity, the fiery tongues of the Holy Spirit that filled those who would form the church would be as forked as the serpents’ and just as corrupt. What is the significance of the doctrine of the Trinity you ask? The accuser can whisper subtle heresy and point his finger where he wants. Father, Son, Spirit, however, would collectively answer “I Am.”

2009-08-25T06:47:00.000-07:00

Day 30 – Isaiah 61:1-6

Today is the last day for this study. It has been 30 days of scriptural dessert that could nearly cause a spiritual diabetic coma. The passages I have entertained here for our study are richer than any earthly delight, and the truth ringing within leads our hearts to a common purpose, being servants of the King.

Coming now to this last passage, I am planning to take the advice of our mission’s director and continually look over these passages until the time for this particular trip to Romania is upon us.

1 Peter 2:5 says: “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

All too often, we fail to see that God has called each of us to be ministers of Jesus. These bodies of flesh are to be his temple and the Spirit is to Abide within us. All of us are also called “Priests” and with that, comes many responsibilities.

We live in a lost and dying world. We are to preach the gospel to those who are poor in spirit; Spread the news of a Blessed Hope to the afflicted and brokenhearted; To proclaim the Liberator to those in sin’s bondage; To proclaim the return of our Lord and Savior; and to comfort all those who have cause to weep for the state of this fallen world.

All you who are meek should consider all that the Lord has promised and bear witness to his truth till his return. There is a day coming when all will be made whole. Till then, continue in God’s Grace and run the race set before us.

2009-08-22T04:36:00.000-07:00

Day 27 – John 21:15-21

Here, three times Jesus asks Peter if he loved him. The same number of confirmations is given as was his denials on the night that Jesus was arrested.

In love God sent his son. In love, Jesus came and gave his life for us. There is no greater love than for a man to lay down his life for his friends. Jesus asks no less of Peter. He tells him “Peter, if you love me, feed those who would become part of my flock.” “Peter, if you love me, then watch over my disciples and keep them from the evil one.” “Peter, if you love me, feed my disciples who hunger and thirst after righteousness.”

Jesus had already told the disciples that he was “The Way” (the only way) and that they should walk in it. He had told them that he was “The Truth” and they should believe in him and have everlasting life. He had also told them that he was “The Life” and all who fell short would perish. Now he at this resurrection meeting with his disciples he is telling them to carry on his ministry.

During their time with Jesus, he was the one who sought the lost, taught his disciples, kept them from the evil one and laid his life for all of us. Now he is asking them to do the same. Don’t worry about the ministry that he gives to others. Serve him just as he calls you. In love he served us and it is in that same love that he asks us to serve others.

2009-08-21T06:25:00.001-07:00

Day 26 – John 15:1-16

As a Christian, I have often found myself walking down a hard road and wondering how “I” could possibly ever make it through the situation. To my discredit, many times I have failed to make it down that road only to find that I keep coming back to it over and over.

There are trials placed before us that we must complete in order to grow in holiness. One type of these trials is placed before us to stretch our understanding, to make visible our weaknesses and to challenge our faith so that it increases. This is continual increase in holiness is sanctification.

There is also another type of trial however that moves beyond the norm but is probably the most precious. This is a trial that you can’t complete on your own. There is a saying that says “God will never put anything on you that you can’t handle.” This is unbiblical. God does tell us that there will not be any temptation upon us that we can’t find an escape from, but it doesn’t say that we can handle anything that is thrown at us. You see, this most precious trial that I am speaking will force you to rely on God to get through it. It may take 10 years, it may take 10 minutes. If you are truly a child of God, know that this trial will come upon you.

When this trial is upon you, you will realize what Paul meant about praying in the spirit with groanings which cannot be uttered. In this time, God is pruning you. The only way through this is to die to self and abide in Jesus and let him abide in you. We need to realize that it is only because of his strength that we can even take the next breath.

“For by him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And he is before all things, and in him all things consist.”

Friend, look over your life. If there is anything in your life besides Jesus that you can’t live without, CUT IT OFF. Otherwise, he may do it for us. We need not our own strength to reach our destination. He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world.

2009-08-20T05:42:00.000-07:00

Day 25 – John 9:1-7

Last night was the culmination of our youth crusade and we had over 1200 students packed into our church building. 97 of them left having made commitments to Christ. God is good. As awesome as that is, there is still work to be done in this city.

I believe it was Adrian Rogers that once said that it “is getting gloriously dark”; meaning of course, that the end appears to be coming and the world is getting more and more sinister.

There should be a sense of urgency in us to spread the Gospel that Jesus preached to the world. We are preaching however to people that are mostly blind. Paul said “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age (Satan) has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”

Like the man in this story, we were all spiritually blind from birth. We must work while it is still day to reach others. The night is coming when no one can work. We must spread the gospel.

Oh Jesus, come and shine a little light on your subjects. Take the dust of the earth and make new eyes for us and then open them so that we might see.

2009-08-19T05:25:00.000-07:00

Day 24 – Jonah 4

Lord,

There are days when I get so wrapped up in myself and my own desires that I forget what my purpose is here on this earth. I forget that your ways are not my ways. I forget that your plans are not my plans. I can only learn a small part of what has happened before my days, and only see limited amounts of the present. How can I ever question any of your actions?

There is a day coming that you have planned since the beginning when all of your actions will manifest into the return of our Savior. Looking back, we will know that your plan was perfect. Looking around at such a great cloud of witnesses, we will know how perfect your love is.

I fear that I fail constantly in practicing your compassion in the lives around me. I fear that some may needlessly suffer because of my fear and hard heartedness. Father, give me your eyes to see those who struggle so that I may share their burden. Give me your ears to hear the suffering cries so that I may comfort them. Plant in me your truth that I may pass it on. Let them hear you when I speak. Let them see you when my actions come to their attention.

Protect my heart oh God and make it yours.

2009-08-18T05:25:00.000-07:00

Day 23 – Psalm 103

I sat for a while this morning reading this passage several times. How rich were the words that David wrote. The heights that he climbed in his writing, amazes me.

This chapter sets my mind in motion and reminds me to thank God for all that he has given to me. I thought that I might attempt to write down all of the material things but it would be boisterous and futile since it all belongs to him.

In a fleeting thought I decided that I might possibly list some of the things that He has not given me which could be both a blessing and blasphemy depending on what was written.

I then debated on writing down the non material things that He has given to me but I realized there isn’t near the time in my life to do so.

I have decided instead to list my top item from each of these lists. In these three items I hope you see the reason I can serve him with such gratitude.

1. God gave me a Savior. His name is Jesus and he died for my Sins.
2. He did not give me Hell, which I deserve.
3. He gave me forgiveness and salvation that I might dwell with him eternally.

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. Thank you God! Blessed be Your name.

2009-08-17T04:54:00.001-07:00

Day 22 – Psalm 100

Looking down through the days that are remaining in this study, all but the last day focuses on serving. Today’s topic simply says “Serve with Gladness”.

I find these days that I may get nervous or fearful about serving God, but it is with all joy and gladness. We serve a risen Savior that bore all of our sins on the cross at Calvary. Regardless of how difficult the task I am given, I know that the cost is not comparable to the suffering that was poured out on him.

James told us to count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. All of our experiences are found to be trials, and like James we are to count it all joy to be part of the process. Why God uses men to be part of his redemptive process, we many never fully understand.

We are to know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. The potter is still forming the clay.

2009-08-16T10:24:00.001-07:00

Day 21 – Jonah 1:1-3, 3:1-10 and 4:1-3

While I was in Washington DC this past week, I visited the Smithsonian Museum of American History. As I walked around through the various exhibits, I came across one that displayed the typical life of slaves prior to the civil war. There were pictures of everything from the lifestyles they lived, to the agonies that they endured.

In one section, there was a family that was gazing at some of the pictures of the worst scars imaginable on the back of one of the men. The father of the family looked up directly into my eyes when I came into the exhibit and said “I don’t see how anyone could ever think that they could own another human being.” The words he said, I doubt any would argue with, but the hatred that glared in his eyes towards me was undeserved. At making the comment, his children stared up at him and then followed his eyes to then stare into mine; their hatred too flashing back behind them.

This story in Jonah reflects a similar hatred that Jonah had towards the people of Nineveh. Jonah it is certain had taken issue with these people over their deeds of the past. Undoubtedly either he or his family had in the past been captive or persecuted by these people and he was prejudiced against them.

When we have these thoughts that the world rotates around us (as men), we suddenly end up with wrong views of God’s providence. The apostle Paul said “ …we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. “

There are evils that men do and they will one day have to make an account of their actions to God. God is their creator and God will be their judge.

When you next see someone undeservedly prospering or being given opportunities that they haven’t earned, remember the last verse in Jonah:

God was speaking and he said “ Should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left… ?”

There is more I want to write on this, but it would take a chapter. Perhaps I will revisit this topic sometime. God is in control. It is his desire to show give drops of mercy on whom he has mercy; showers of blessings on whom he will reign.

2009-08-15T04:08:00.000-07:00

Day 20 – Matthew 21:18-19 and Galatians 5:22-23

This same illustration is used over and over throughout the New Testament by at least five different writers. I think my favorite account is from in Matthew 7:15-20. Here, Jesus is referring to anybody who says they are proclaiming God’s truths and precepts.

Matthew 7:15-20

You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

These passages can chill you to the bone. In Galatians 5:22-23, we read that the fruit of the spirit is seen as love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Be careful though. Don’t use this as a checklist to model your life by. Instead use this as a checklist in your past actions to determine the state of your heart.

You can take a Maple tree and hang the best apples on every branch. Someone who knows nothing about trees may even come by and pick those apples and marvel at how good they are. If an apple farmer came across this same tree in his orchard, he wouldn’t be fooled for even a second because he would be able to see its true nature. Knowing that it was a Maple tree, he would cut it down and destroy it because he knows that it doesn’t belong in his orchard. An evil man can outwardly show all of these signs of the fruit of the Spirit; but in the end God knows the heart and the difference. In Proverbs it says that even the plowing of a wicked man is sin.

Lord, allow me this day to see beyond the leaves and branches of my outward appearance so that I may look upon my heart and the true motives of my actions. Let your Spirit rest on me and truly change me to a fruitful tree for your glory.

2009-08-14T04:34:00.001-07:00

Day 19 – Luke 10:25-35

We are all walking on a dangerous path. It may be a path littered with distractions and forks, or it may be that some are just on the wrong path.

Jesus said that he is the “way” the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through him. The word that Jesus used for the “way” ( hodos ) actually meant “road” or “journey”. This is the same word that Jesus uses in this parable when it said that there was a priest and a Levite who came down that “road” where the fallen man was laying. Both of them saw the man, but passed on by.

There are many of us who are on this same road; that are in the “way”. There are however many who have started down the road but have fallen or ran into unfortunate circumstances. When we come across those who have fallen, it is our duty to help our neighbors get back on the road even if it means getting a little dirty or denting our wallets. We would wish that our neighbors would also be so kind to us if it were us lying battered in the ditch.

The primary goal of having this passage in our study actually wished that we would focus on an aspect of this story that is often overlooked; If not overlooked then at least not discussed often.

We notice in the parable that the Samaritan departed before the man was completely well. He may have had urgent business or an appointment to keep. Regardless of the reason, he had gotten the man to a point where he was reasonably safe and left him in the care of the inn keeper. He didn’t stop there though. Since he couldn’t stay, he provided for the needs of the man.

There are times when we see our neighbors straying or fallen on the way. So after the priests and Levites have passed by, it is our duty to help them back up and to provide for them till they are back on their way. In its very essence, that is what being a neighbor is all about.

2009-08-13T05:39:00.002-07:00

Day 18 – Acts 15:36-41

In the endeavors that purpose our days, there often arises strife and contention with those that work with us. It often is because of the methods that each individual wishes to follow.

As the old adage goes, “There’s more than one way to skin a cat.” I am not sure when the great “Cat Skinning” debate began, but apparently there cropped up several different skinning methods that were fairly well known. (Back off PETA, I have Jesus and he’s not afraid to use me.)

This passage today reminds us that any endeavor will usually have opposition. It may be opposition from the world, and it could even be opposition from within. No one is immune to pride, not even the great men like Paul and Barnabas. I am certain that both had what they thought were valid reasons, but such division should be uncommon to us as Christians.

Jesus said that we are to forgive our brothers as many times as they sin against us; even seven times seventy is the number he used. We should be just as willing to forgive others that God is. If we were to count each time that we have sinned against God, the numbers would stagger us. Even more staggering is the fact that he is willing to forgive us for such sins through the blood of Jesus. Oh that men could carry their own cross and forgive so abundantly.

O Lord, walk with us on our Journey and give us strength to forgive each other when the trials come.

2009-08-13T05:39:00.001-07:00

Day 17 – Matthew 20:20-28

The truest measure of a man isn’t measured by men, but by the God he serves. Greatness cannot be achieved by merely asking, this is a faith of action.

Learn from the great men of the past. Take for instance Martin Luther King JR and Abraham Lincoln. Both are not known for the great things they did for themselves, but for the great things they did for others. The highest example of this of course is Jesus dying on the cross for us. No love could be greater than for a man to lay down his life for a friend; much less for all of them.

2009-08-13T05:38:00.000-07:00

Day 16 John 11:39-40

I spent the afternoon walking around in Washington DC today. It is rare when I travel that I ever get to see anything but occasionally the timing fits. I started out at the Lincoln Monument. For some reason, I felt like that was the place to start. I stood and read some of the things that are written there; some inspiring and some dissapointing.

When God speaks to us, we should faithfully do as he asks. Sometimes it may be that there will be a great stench unleashed, but that shouldn't be suprising in a world full of dead men. When Lincoln took his first term in office, there was a threat of Civil War in the air. He too would soon have a stone to roll back regardless of the stench behind it. As promised, there was great Glory to God shown from it. I think Lincoln summed it up pretty well in the last part of his second address after the war was over.

"The Almighty has his own purposes. "Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!" If we shall suppose that American Slavery is one of those offences which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South, this terrible war, as the woe due to those by whom the offence came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a Living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope—fervently do we pray—that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-man's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether"
With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan—to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations." - Abraham Lincoln

God is calling..... Roll back the stone.

2009-08-10T04:28:00.001-07:00

Day 15 – Numbers 13:25-33

I come to the midway point of this study today and find that the tone of this passage reflects my mood. I have and am still struggling with my place in God’s plan. Like the people of Israel, I feel like a grasshopper within my own sight and within the sight of our people.

Today’s passage reminds me that I have been called by God and that He will be my strength for his purpose. With that strength, I will be able to stand and proclaim the word of God. Whether it is leading the people through God’s calling to preach or the more daunting task of continually exhorting the people like Joshua and Caleb, I will serve Him.

This people that we live among are very much like the Israelites. They too are a people who have been led to a Land of Milk and Honey, but refuse to cross over. The Giants are different, but the temptation of the world outside remains. Such abundance they have had in this world that there is not a sense of longing for better things. They have never known the wilderness and hunger. They simply want to stay in the world and then die.

I fear however that they too will soon discover that their fears will soon enough be realized. There will come a day when God will close the doors and the opportunities to enter the Promised Land will no longer be open. All can walk up to the gates of the land but only the children of God will be allowed to enter.

This world truly is a land that devours its inhabitants and all the opposition in this land is truly of great stature. We have been commanded however to subdue it. So come let us follow the words of Caleb “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” If God is with us, who can be against us.

2009-08-10T04:27:00.000-07:00

Day 14 – Psalm 85

I find this morning that it is no coincidence that I received an E-mail yesterday from a friend regarding this very same topic.

We live in a country and a time when Romans 1:18-32 would appear to apply directly to us. As a country, we have created a god that suits our needs. We have traded the truth for the lie by twisting what people “think” it means in order to live in the flesh and burning with lust. There are people in this country that follow the teachings of men and women who are far from the truth and are teaching and preaching to itching ears.

Woe to this country if God doesn’t shed his grace on us. He is our only hope of revival. Even as much wickedness rules, there have been times past when the Lord has awakened this sleeping country and revived his people that are within.

Like in this Psalm, I pray that God would not remove his favor on this country. Instead I pray that He would grab it by the blue collar and shake it awake. Open eyes and ears because they will not see or hear unless He does. There is glory to be received from this people and a land that needs to be healed.

2009-08-08T04:10:00.000-07:00

Day 13 - Acts 4:1-19

I got home from my trip to Minneapolis yesterday. Although I have traveled regularly for over 10 years, the routine of going out on the road has never settled in. Regardless of how much I like the area or how nice the hotel is, it isn’t home.

When an unbeliever hears the Gospel, no amount of words that we say could ever convince them of the truth. They will use anything they can to deny it. They can/will argue the points of scripture that we present. They can’t however explain/deny the testimony of a changed life; it could be when they see the shy behaving boldly in the name of God; the addict free from his addictions; the drunk now sober and functioning in society; the healed family of a once broken home; perhaps even the body of someone miraculously healed. As with all of these examples, there is no argument against a changed life.

When God enters our lives, there is a marked difference. We should be visibly set apart from the rest of the world. Perhaps they will even marvel at the change. Like John and Peter, people should be able to know that we have been with Jesus. When they ask why we are different, we should be ready with the answer. “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

2009-08-07T05:45:00.000-07:00

Day 12 Matthew 4:1-42

This study again takes me to this same passage. You could probably camp here for a lifetime with so much content. The header for this passage in yesterday’s study simply said “The unlikely witness”. The intended focus was to show that once cleaned, any vessel could carry the Living Water as well as have the source within them.

The header today reads “The Expected Result”. Jesus intentionally went into Sychar because there was as specific purpose. There was a woman there which Jesus could use to reach others and he sought her out. It was no accident that Jesus just so happened to be resting at this point when she appeared at the well.

God sends rain upon the Earth for both the Wicked and the Righteous. There is grace abounding in every action and only providence can see the purpose with clarity.

As we go forth, know that in God’s eyes we already stand before Him with a stone in our hands. Upon this stone is the name he has given us which no other yet knows. Look upon this rock and see it written. No more will there be Smith, Cooper or Miller. Gaze at your name and realize what it means. Perhaps it is Faithful, Loving, Joyful, Peacemaker, Meek, Pure, Patient, Broken, Merciful, Gentle, Temperate or simply Son. Regardless of the name, it has been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. When you gaze upon your stone it will have been written there too. Now, go live up to it because we were sought out for a purpose too.

2009-08-06T06:33:00.000-07:00

Day 11 Matthew 4:1-42

When she came to the well for water, she didn’t realize exactly what she was missing. All she knew was that she had a thirst, and it would temporarily be satisfied by the water from the well. Unfortunately, the pot that she had would only hold so much water and she would need to return for more when it ran out.

This was a woman which most Jewish men wouldn’t even associate with because she was not only apparently rather friendly with men, she was also a Samaritan. Here however, we have Jesus not only going out of his way to meet up with this woman, but he also draws her into a conversation.

After coming face to face with her, she left eager to tell everyone of this man that she met and who she thought he was. Notice however that she left her water pot behind. She now had the knowledge of the living water springing up within her. She was now the water pot. Being such, she went into the city and spread the living waters around. By doing so, many more came to Jesus and believed in him because of the testimony of the woman.

This is so true for us all. There was a time that we were once just common clay vessels only using ourselves to go from one thirst to the next. We need to become Christ’s water pot and carry the living waters to the nations.

2009-08-05T17:15:00.000-07:00

Day 10 Matthew 28:16-18

I have spent the entire day today in meetings. I want to thank the Lord that I have a job where I normally work from home without all of these distractions. It can be very overwhelming. I am going to keep this days entry short and sweet because I have been up since 4am and I am mentally exhausted. I should practice what I preach and give God what is right; not what is left.

Reagardless of whether you worship him whole heartedly or with some reserved doubt, all authority has been given to Jesus. He resides at the right hand of God. It is inn your name, I will "Go". Here I am, send me.

The Love of God - Old Hymn sung by Mercy Me.

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell
The guilty pair, bowed down with care
God gave His Son to win
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin

Could we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies of parchment made
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade

To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song

I thank you Lord for the blessings you have given me even in the smallest of measures for I know each has a single heavenly purpose. May the lamb that was slain receive the reward of his suffering. I am eternally grateful and I will eternally thank you.

2009-08-04T17:14:00.001-07:00

Day 9 Matthew 28:19-20

As I write from my hotel room in MN, please excuse my grammer and spelling as I am without the luxury of spell and grammar check. To make matters worse, I am trying to transcribe my handwritten notes from the plane trip here this morning.

"To be or not to be" isn't the question. The question, is "To go or not to go".

It is not merely enough to sit idle within a congregation and never contribute to the great commission. However, this participation may look differently for each individual. Does this merely mean visiting or contributing monetarily towards local and global missions? No... "Missions", starts at home and it has been commanded since the beginning. "The beginning?" you ask? The great commission was neither new to the New Testament nor is it commanded firstly in this context by Jesus.

The great commission has been repeatedly commanded through the ages. Take the first instance we have recorded in scripture:

Genesis 1:28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Over and over this same command is repeated throughout scripture. Genesis 9:1, Genesis 17:20, Genesis 35:11, Exodus 1:7, Isaiah 60:22, Jeremiah 23:3 Malachi 2:13-15 and then here again in Matthew 28:19. The chief end of Men was/is to Glorify god. So again I say, Missions begin in the home. As parents it is our duty to raise Godly children, respecters of men and observers of God's glory. We should prepare them to walk along the mission fields. Preparing them to also raise their own Godly children. Feeding them from the abundance of the table for the wedding feast.

We are to help create disciples in our homes and within our community. We are also to teach them to build up disciples of their own and support them when they move out on their own. This is not a mission that ends. Even when our children are out on their own, perhaps God will bless them with their own children. We then must help support them and continue on in the area of missions that God gives us. There is a need for light in such a dark world. Be the salt of the Earth.

Remember that Christ was to be called Immanuel, "God with us". Even to the end of the Age.

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

The end of the age will come. The word must be preached/taught till it reaches all the nations. Failure to participate in the commission is the spirit of anti-Christ. It delays the preaching of the Gospel and works against bringing saints into the Kingdom.

Don't give them a choice over hearing the Good news or the Bad news... Go, and give them the Good news first.

2009-08-03T04:45:00.000-07:00

Day 8 – John 6:1-14

A lad comes forth holding his meager lunch. A Hebrew Happy Meal some have called it. It was only five small loaves of bread and two small fish. I have heard people ramble on continuously about the type of bread and the size of the sardines that a typical lad for this region might have had, but I think the focus should stay on Jesus and those willing to serve him.

Items to note. (Some of these come across more as sermon outlines…. So be it)

• Jesus let the disciples realize that they could not feed these people with their own possessions.
• Jesus sought someone willing to supply everything they had without reluctance. Do you find it unusual that there was a child near enough to the group that he was singled out? The children always tend to come closer to God.
• The lad didn’t have much, but he gave it all to Jesus. What was given to Jesus was then multiplied.
• Everyone near to God shared in this blessing, regardless of what they believed about Jesus.

Jesus sought. Jesus received. Jesus multiplied. Oh how often is the circumstance ripe for the same to happen in our lives? “What we give him” isn’t as important as the motive and intent from our heart. If we give all for the glory of God, then he will surely use it according to His will.

How often too however are we the “Phillip” in the bunch? Notice what he says in verse 7. He is basically saying that they do not have enough money to feed so many. They just don’t have the resources. When he was counting their resources, he forgot to include Jesus in the equation. Sometimes being too practical is a negative. Faith in God can stretch everything we have when he sets out to bless us. I notice also that Jesus didn’t ask him “How” we might afford enough bread to feed the multitude; he was asking “where” they were to get it.

When we see/know the will of God in different situations, we must work to see it through. Just like the lad, we need to make ourselves available to God and give him everything we have. It may be something meager like the a few loaves and fishes, but he already owns it, how could you possibly deny him of it.

Lastly I notice that when God sets out to bless a people, there is more than enough to go around. When I think of what the Lord has done for me, I can only sit amazed and wonder why.

2009-08-02T03:47:00.001-07:00

Day 7 – Ephesians 5:1-15

When I was growing up, my dad would often take us to caves. Caving was a passion he had, and he helped to map many caves within our area. Inevitably, we would end up deep within the cave to stop and rest and we would all turn off our lights and sit amazed at the darkness. With no light whatsoever from the sun penetrating into the Earth, you can see absolutely nothing; not even the faint movement or shadow from a hand passing in front of your face.

Eventually someone would be the first to relight their carbide light or an electric head lamp. With the light on, the first thing you see is not the person that is wearing the light, but the beam of light being projected out from the reflector of their light. Their lights are not focused on themselves; they are focused on their surroundings and the people in your midst. Then you notice every particle of dust in the path of the beam. Slowly afterwards as your eyes begin to readjust, you can start making out the faces of the people with you.

We live today in a world filled with darkness that is in dire need of light. Unlike a cave, the darkness of this world will destroy but the light we possess can light the entire face of the earth. The problem falls back to men. If they choose, they can still close their eyes and be in darkness; regardless of how much light surrounds them.

1- Be imitators of God as dear children. Lead by example. Raise up the flocks like Abel and seek out your people to dwell among.
2- Walk in love. Show your love to God by giving your life to him.
3- Strive to be blameless in the sight of others. When others are among such a great cloud of witnesses, you should be showing them light, not rain.
4- Quit looking like the world. Be set apart.
5- Only Children receive the inheritance of the Father.
6- Guard your heart. Test what you’re taught and the things you understand against the Word of God.
7- Do not keep the company of fools nor partake in their folly.
8- Don’t walk like an Egyptian. You are a child of God.
9- There is good fruit upon every good branch. Prune off the dead and dying limbs.
10- Don’t just read the word, study it and follow it’s truth. Take delight in pleasing the Lord.
11- Shine the light into the darkness and expose what is hidden behind it.
12- Don’t even speak of evil. You may unknowingly entice another with it’s lusts.
13- Look upon the dark when you have shined the light upon it. You will discover that there was something more sinister lurking in the darkest parts.
14- Don’t have the light? Wake up. Arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.
15- Narrow is the way and straight is the path. Let the Word light your path; take one step at a time.

God has made nothing that will sit before/upon the table which isn’t fit to serve. In the meantime, go shine your light.

2009-08-01T03:52:00.001-07:00

Day 6 – Isaiah 6:1-12

I sit to write this morning at what on our calendar is the beginning of a new month. Today, Second Baptist Church is holding the first game of the season for our “Upwards” flag football ministry. All of the kids will be excited and many hours of hard work will start to be realized as unforgettable memories are made. Last year we had an entire family come to the Lord as a result of this ministry, and I pray that this year will also be as fruitful. Even the planting of one seed towards repentance of a lost soul will be more than worth all the work that has gone it by all of the coaches, referees and other staff that helped with the administration and planning.

Isaiah briefly had a vision of the Lord in all of his splendor and glory. Although only a vision, Isaiah came face to face with the Lord and was suddenly overwhelmed by his presence. Confronted by pure holiness, he realized that there was no way that he could consider himself as anything other than wretched.

Then, he heard the voice of the Lord. The Lord wasn’t crying out like the Angels that surrounded him. The same small still voice that accosted Elijah was calling out to Isaiah and it asked “Whom shall I send, and who will go for US?” This same voice cries out to each of us daily.

There may be different levels of service and different measures of need, but we must all answer the same way. This answer need not be given verbally to God. Just responding to a question doesn’t mark your obedience. Whether one at a time or before crowds, we must stand before the people and proclaim, “Here I am, GOD sent me! He is Holy, Holy, Holy. The Earth is full of His glory.”

There are precious souls out among the crowds that need to hear word of God. He is speaking to them but they refuse to hear. God’s glory surrounds them, but they refuse to see. He gives them understanding, but they refuse to apply it.

There is coming a day when the cities will be uninhabited and laid to waste. There will be empty homes and desolate lands. The spiritual famine is already upon us and the forsaken places are many in our midst. There is still time, GO………

God grant me the strength, wisdom and knowledge to effectively stand before your creation and proclaim your good news. Show me my cross daily and direct my paths. Open eyes so that they may see; grant hearing so that they may hear and draw hearts to your understanding. Here I am Lord, send me.

2009-07-31T04:23:00.001-07:00

Day 5 – 1 Kings 19:1-18

Every since I was a child, I have read of all these things that God has done in our lives. Such a great cloud of witnesses surround me. They are in the inspired words of men about our God. They are just as evident in the lives of men and women that we know.

Elijah in the chapter previously had trusted God and not only called down fire on the sacrificial altar, but had also trusted that God would send rain to end the drought. All these things were witnessed by the false prophets (who later didn’t fare well) and also by Ahab.

Now granted, I have never called fire down on the altar to consume a sacrifice in front of devil worshippers, but you would think Elijah would be spiritually “on top of the world” about right now. Instead his experience is short lived and he gets depressed. Maybe it was because a woman says she is going to have him killed but I rather think it was because Ahab had given the Glory of all the events to Elijah instead of God. Either way, when Elijah heard about it, he ran for his life and even prayed that God would take his life.

When we cross the highest mountains we must at some point pass through the valley below. Some journeys require supernatural strength and the Lord will provide the nourishment, but we have to eat.

From inside the mountain of Horeb, Elijah was still depressed and perhaps a little angry. When God asked him why he was there, he responded that he alone was still a follower of God and everyone else was against him.

I’ve been in that place before. I’ve been through a spiritual Samaria where nobody wants to give God glory and just like James and John I wished that God would call down fire them; how naïve to think that you alone are within the will of God.

That’s what God was telling Elijah. “See the wind tearing the mountain apart Elijah?” “Do you feel my power throughout all the Earth in this earthquake?” “See this fire I sent upon the mountain to consume everything?” God is telling him that nothing can stay his hand if that is way he chooses to work in the world.

And then….. There is that small still voice. “Listen for me Elijah.” “This is the way, walk in it” “Stay on the path, walk in the way.” God is here telling Elijah to quit worrying what the world is telling him. Jezebel has no power over God. Did Elijah so easily forget the strength of the Lord’s arm? No mortal man could so much as lay a hand on Elijah unless God had allowed it. Listen for the Lord Elijah.

Apparently Elijah got the point eventually. When he had learned the lesson, God revealed some things to Elijah. God had providentially set aside seven thousand in Israel. A remnant was held back. There always will be.

When things get tough, I too must sit back and remember that have believed in Christ. Just like the smoke from the sacrifice on the altar that Elijah has built, I have seen Jesus rise to the clouds and sit at the right hand of God. I have seen the drought come and go. I will trust in his providence and give him the glory. God give me strength.

2009-07-30T06:57:00.000-07:00

Day 4 – Acts 1:1-12

I am feeling a little distracted this morning after I got my long awaited news from the Orthopedic Dr yesterday. I was hoping that there would be some kind of small surgery and a short recovery time to relieve the pain I have had, but instead the options that he gave me were not quite that simple. I am in a different brace for now that might help things. I will be praying about the other options.

As a born-again Christian, there is a gift that was given to us by God that enables us to carry out those tasks set before us. The Holy Spirit within us is the strength we claim, but only through our weakness can it be seen.

These truths were promised to us by Jesus, and we hear them now as men who were once deaf. Such sweet sounds are the words heard by a man who was once deaf. Even so there is much more beauty to be seen by men, who are all born blind, when they first see.

We don’t know the time when the end will come. We only know a few indicators and that certainly it will.

There is power when you receive the Holy Spirit. Just as the smallest measure of faith in our Infinite God is able to move mountains, there is also an infinite power in the work of the Spirit. Don’t think however that this power is yours to command at will. This power still originates with God and will thus be governed by his will. God doesn’t typically call the equipped; he will however equip those who are “Called” according to his purpose.
We shall all be witnesses to Jesus. This may be manifest in many different ways, but undoubtedly opportunity will be presented. I pray that I will see those opportunities and have the strength and guidance to act according to God’s will.

As the burnt offering rose to the throne room of God so that he might smell the sweet aroma of repentance, so also did Jesus rise up to be seated at the Father’s right hand. He is become our Sacrifice and High Priest. It’s only through this name can I come in prayer before God and it’s only through the same that I am seen justified.

I find myself looking to the heavens occasionally knowing that someday he will return the same way. When I gaze upwards during the day, a part of me expects to hear the trumpet blow and see the Lord coming on the clouds. However, it is not yet morning and there is still work left to do; even to the end(s) of the earth.

2009-07-29T07:34:00.002-07:00

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Day 3 – Psalm 119:2, 19, 105, 165

Love, they say, should be reciprocal and for the most part I would agree. I take issue however with some of the teachings that I have seen/heard lately. To keep things simple, let this be stated:
We love Him, because he first loved us. We have a Blessed Hope because He gave us Jesus, what more could we need? If you’re looking for your best life now, you’re nearsighted. Be careful that you don’t trade your birth right for a bowl of soup.

I am blessed, because I try to keep his testimonies and seek him with my whole heart. I am crushed when I fail Him. “I’d rather have Jesus than anything that this old world affords me”.

I am just a Sojourner in this earth. Although princes and principalities may oppose me, He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world.

Don’t we get it? Do we not realize that even though Satan and some of the angels fell, that God never sent them a redeemer?

God, who am I that you are mindful of me? Hold me accountable always. Help me to hear the words in my ear when you say “This is the way, walk in it.” Whenever I turn to the right or left, bring me back to the path. Narrow was the Gate, but the path is also. Illuminate this way. Keep my feet secure as the hind feet of the deer. Do not hide your commandments from me. Keep your precepts before me. Get glory from a wretch.

2009-07-29T07:34:00.001-07:00

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Day 2 – Mark 1:35-45

These first two texts that have been given are so rich one hardly knows where to begin in a journal. It’s like sitting down to a table for a feast that is covered with nothing but deserts. I am trying to limit myself to each of these texts as they come up each day. After all, “It is not good to eat much honey….” I think in this case that eating too much of the word of God isn’t always a bad thing, but I will definitely agree that once digested it can make for some bitter gall.

Slowing down and savoring each bite seems more prudent. I suppose I will have to look for other snacks during the day. A little meat to nourish the body is in order I think. I haven’t read through Ephesians in a while………….

To today’s text –

It is not yet daylight; Jesus is still risen and he sitting at the right hand of God interceding for us.
Everyone is still looking for a Savior. Make sure it is Jesus. How can two walk together lest they agree? When you think of Heaven, it should include Jesus. Otherwise it is still just Hell.
The people looking for him were instead looking for the “Man” that could heal them and cast out demons. Some perhaps only came for the spectacle. This is not a picture of a three-ringed-circus.

What “Purpose” did Jesus come for? It was later revealed, but you should look into the early days of his ministry and see what he is speaking of here. We all too often neglect the full purpose of the Gospel. Go back to Mark 1:15 and read what Jesus said. “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel.” Don’t think that the “Gospel” only includes the records in the New Testament. This “time” that has been “fulfilled” was prophesied in the Garden of Eden. The Messiah has come to crush the head of the serpent. You can’t neglect what happened “In the Beginning”. Only after wandering around in the woods for hours will you realize that you are lost.

Preaching in their synagogues and throughout all Galilee, Jesus had a message. Look at the Sermon on the Mount for the people. Look at the parables for both the people and the leaders. Look at Paul’s theology for the scholar.

I find it necessary to point out too that there were demons to be cast out. Some were even cast out of those who were in the Synagogues. Choose the word you hear carefully.

40-45

Bring your needs before God. To realize you have needs is to be poor in spirit. We are all spiritual lepers, tainted with sin. Sin has crept in. It has become full grown and will lead to death. Jesus Wept.

Great faith draws men to healing. They are imploring God to heal them. Most men seek the right source, they usually fail however to see the true need. God is willing that none should perish. Their suffering may be used to draw them near. Their leprosy may be intentional. A blind man would never yearn for sight if he never knew it was something to be had.

“And God said” such powerful words. “I am willing; be cleansed.” He is always willing, but some purposes are greater than Leprosy. A little rain is more enjoyable after the drought.

Go, give God the glory. There was an appointed ritual to give God the glory for the healing of Leprosy. (Leviticus 14:3) Yet the man instead told others about the man that had healed him.

Guard your heart. Give God the glory when it is due. Like a sheep we often run past the Shepherd and start eating the lush green grass of the field.

There is bread and wine at the table but I came for the company.

2009-07-29T07:33:00.001-07:00

Monday, July 27, 2009

Today, I start on a spiritual journey in preparation for our Sept 28th mission trip to Romania.

Over the past month I have struggled significantly with the person I am, and my position in Christ. It all came to a head yesterday and I am now seeking God to help me through my dry season.

For the past 2 years I have studied non-stop, but just realized yesterday that I was doing it all for the wrong reasons. I have little doubt that I have a calling from God to teach/preach, but my study and preparation was done for the purpose of knowledge and not for the worship of God. So much time I have spent trying to fill the void between my ears and neglecting my duty to foster the relationship that God wishes me to have with him. My search for knowledge bloomed into an Idol. I went from worshipping the magnificent Word of God to worshipping the knowledge I had of him.

I look back on the days of my studies and see all the times that God has pressed my heart into a personal time of worship and regret the opportunities that I have undoubtedly missed because of my short sightedness.

Using a list given to me by our Mission’s Director, I will postpone the systematic studies that have enveloped me over the past year and begin a 30 day spiritual prep study.

Pray for me. Times are tough.

Day 1 - Psalm 51

What a place to start and oh so appropriate. This is the text I used for the 2nd sermon I ever preached. I should practice what I preach.

God sees no difference between Lust and Adultery and it applies to more than flesh and blood.
David laments here over his sin. His spirit is broken and the conviction of Sin obviously unbearable. His bones are broken. God broke them. Blessed are those who are poor in spirit. He has a need and knows it. He has sinned against God alone and is need of cleansing.
Isaiah 1:18
Matthew 5:3
Only the Blood of Jesus can cleanse us white as snow. Only the poor in Spirit realize the absence of his presence. Like Cain we often leave his presence, even if it’s not intentional.
Justified in the blood, but we must put on Christ to continually be sanctified. The sacrifice of the Lamb means nothing without the broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart. Isaiah 1:11
You can carry a cross and it just be manual Labor.
The Lamb can be killed, but you must have placed your hand on its head. The herbs are bitter, but you must eat it all before the day dawns. The skin goes to you, you are now a priest and its memorial should not be a thing to be arbitrarily displayed. You must throw off the old man and put on Christ.
Not a knock-off North Face Jacket. Not the knock-off Reboks. We need to put on the heir of God, not an air of resemblance. Know God, cast down your Idols.

It was in sin that my mother conceived me, but Oh God make me hear joy and gladness of your thoughts about me. Let me read those words on a white stone in my name. Search out all the hidden parts of me also. Even if they need to cry out within my soul, leave no stone left unturned. Let every part of my stony heart cry out Your name.

Create a clean heart me God and renew a steadfast spirit. Restore to me the Joy of Your salvation. By your grace, lift my heart to you.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways and sinners will be converted. It’s the need to give you Glory that drives me to work for you. You are the God of my salvation.

Do good, in your good pleasure. Keep clean this temple. Declare Holy ground within this heart and abide there till we meet face to face.

2008-11-27T15:00:00.000-08:00

The Fine Print

There is a sign at the top of this hill and I stand and read. Under the main script, there is additional print so small that even in all their abundance they merely appear to be a smudge. They are written in blood and are the deeds of men, past and present.

In what was more than a cursory glance, my eyes focus on what appears under my own name and the deeds listed there-on. In shame I read those words of my failings. Recalling each account and finding no excuse for a single one.

At the top of the sign, I focus upon the larger script. It is in all languages, and tongues and cries out “Behold the Lamb of God, This is Jesus The King of the Jews!” and with it, my deeds were nailed to the Cross. Colossians 2:13-15

I am thankful today for a lot of things. But this Love I have found in Jesus is beyond all measure.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-14T07:28:00.000-08:00

Acts 27:18-22

When we are amongst the tempest all may seem lost. It is at such times that we must clear out of our lives the things that weigh us down so we can ride higher in the Living Waters that flow from Christ. Standing at the rudder, we must throw out the tackle of our own dependence and remain constant to steer our ships towards the salvation that will save our souls.

Sometimes however, the tempest is too much. We look at our situation, and God say's "I told you so but fear not for there will be no loss of life for you, even if the ship is destroyed."

If in mercy we are delivered then perhaps next time we will listen. Learn to seek shelter before the storm and from the cleft will we watch it pass.

However, forget not that we are sometimes placed in the storm so that others might hear the truth by reason and also be saved.

2008-11-09T10:05:00.001-08:00

The Lord has been raised up just outside the city. His words still echo in my ear. I can hear him now as if he were still standing within my site and speaking. I hear the truth of the Word pouring out as freely as his blood did from Mt Calvary. Every drop is so precious. It is only his blood that can cleanse us. His sacrifice alone is the only sufficient substitute for our own. So much was taken for granted while he was with us.

At the foot of the altar, we fall to our knees. The veil has been torn exposing all that was considered Holy. Seeing nothing beyond the torn veil, it is proven that this house has been left totally desolate. There is no need to ever return here for sacrifices.

I build for my Lord now a Tent, a tabernacle for his presence. He dwells within this tent as in the days of the Exodus when he delivered his people from Egypt. His cloud by day marks my direction to travel midst the trouble in the world, but his fire by night lights up the darkness in which we live.

In this frame of mind I walk ever closer as he guides me to cross the Jordan. I am now carrying the Ark and within him is held the Covenant. Knowing that with the power of the Lord within, the waters that I was borne of parted as soon as my feet touched them. When I walk with the Lord, I am always on solid ground. My rock is He, and He is my shelter. When centered within me, He will spring forth a river of living water that flows out to all who would thirst.

The Lord has chosen this tent so that Word might travel beyond the wilderness and into a world that is in need of a promised land. At every turn I see the blind and the deaf trying to enter Eden while yet here on Earth. It seems that all my efforts to warn them are wasted. They can not hear me plead nor see me trying to wave them away. Instead they follow the direction of those that are speaking the language of the world who only tells the traveler what they want to hear. In horror I watch as they blindly approach the Cherubim and are then hacked to pieces by those flaming swords, dismembered eternally in fire. Oh that they could see.

2008-10-28T07:04:00.000-07:00

Open Doors

I sit in a room this morning amazed at how many different doors there are around me. No decoration. Very little comfort in the waiting. Only His words and patience to keep me company. To only sit here feels wrong, but I have no place to go. So silently, I wait.

Some time ago, I checked each door. In the beginning, they were all locked. When I knocked, there was no response. Every morning I still walk up to each door and try each one. Only recently did I discover that indeed there are now several doors that I could open myself but the blessed hope that I seek was not in there. There is no reason to enter unless He opens it for me.

My soul yearns for the day when after prayer I shall open my eyes and see that open door. To see the Master in the doorway waving me inside. Calling for me to follow. In my preparation, I hear him moving just outside. I know it won't be long. Trusting that His timing holds a purpose. He is surely making preparations of his own both outside this room, and within.

Echo'ing the Revelation, I close my eyes again and pray "Even so, Come, Lord Jesus."

2008-09-04T07:36:00.000-07:00

Every Day

I come to my senses and again find myself standing in the open space of a judges court. Although no one is here with me, I still hear the crowds. The condemning words of a blinded people. Their hatred and fear driving their words, spurning each other on. No mercy is given, and the judgement comes. As every morning, I now hear him calling my name. I won't refuse. I will go. I always do.

As you can guess, I've been here before. I face this each morning and each day it is more powerful. The tears roll down my face and I drop my head and stare down at my feet, already knowing what to expect. There it is, the trail I have followed, the path I will take. Today it is more worn than yesterday, less worn however than you would expect it to be. It seems that fewer people are walking this path lately but the path is always clear.

Almost weary this morning, I head up the path. On the way out of the court, I take up my burden and follow the crimson path out of the city. My burden is light this morning but walking the path is still long. It takes a concious effort for us to do this daily. Sore feet begin to crack open again, adding my blood to the path. It's OK though, it's not my blood nor my pain that matters. I must answer the call.

I reach the foot of the hill and instinctively look up at the tree. The majesty washes over me, catching me off gaurd again today. From the hill, blood flows freely down. Nothing can impede it. Nothing can redirect it. It is a redemptive force unto it's self and the call resounds even louder now. Heeding the call, I have to reach the top, so I step into the flow. As soon as I enter the flow, the blood washes over me and I know that there is no way I can simply walk up against the current. I fall to my knees and crawl the rest of the way, the blood washing over me as I go.

Still on my knees, I reach the top and marvel again that the tree has became a throne. Looking up on the throne sits my God and Saviour. Reaching out to me with his hands, he says "Rise my good and faithful servant." and I wonder if today will be the day. As I stand, I am suddenly back in my bedroom knowing that this ins't yet the day. The early morning light welcoming me through the window. Even though today wasn't the day I yearn for, some day I know that after I stand he will ask me to sit with him. For now however, I thank him for everything he gives us and begin a new day.

2008-09-04T06:21:00.000-07:00

Future"tense"?

Time is a consumable possession invented by men with limited amounts of it left. Constraints to it are limited by our knowledge and understanding of it. A lifetime, is our invented measure for the space we occupy. We can no more imagine what an eternity is than we can imagine what it means to "be" God.

From limited amounts of scripture, Men build a picture of the place where we will spend an eterninty. Then we take those scriptures and conform Heaven to our world. Trying to limit it to our knowledge of past and present. Even the very senses we have, (sight, sound, smell, touch etc..) may be mere reflections of a totally unknown set of senses we may yet have to come.

Be wary of expecting to use Heaven to complete anything we started here on this Earth. Our only thing left for completion when we leave will be our perfection in Christ and that will be done for us. Do not try to limit the mind of God over such matters. Those expecting to sit on clouds while playing harps have yet to fathom even a hint at what God has in store. Do you not have the word of God to convince you of what great things will surely come? Are you so wrapped up in this present world that even Heaven must conform to it? Would you really limit such blessing to what you know of life here? Is the flesh so desirable that you really want to continue in it?

What must we seek in order to be perfected in Christ? Then how much more should we anticipate our pleasure when it is found for an eternity? Ahh, the Blessed Hope is not Elusive. Searching eagerly and consitently we will find it. Knocking, seeking and asking is our instruction. Eternity with God is our expectation. Don't limit what will come, and don't require more than being with God.

2008-06-30T14:01:00.000-07:00

Lifesong

I stepped outside onto the porch, and sat down on the steps which lead out into my backyard. Although my hearing is limited, I instantly key'ed in on the sound of several birds singing in the surrounding trees. Each different type of bird having only one or two songs that it sings, we rarely realize that their songs are voiced perfection. Unlike the songs we sing, theirs are truly given from God. Each Melody pleasing for their mates and to their creator. I am not sure exactly what they are singing, but it must be good if it is the only song that they need. I too would sing it if I knew all the words.

With all we create, our songs and voices should ring louder and more true. Especially if they come from an abundance of the Heart.

Psalm 71:8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.

2008-06-20T07:21:00.000-07:00

Although the majority of this was written over a year ago, it holds a special place in my writings because of later circumstances that greatly affected my life. The original version of this verse was printed on numerous memorial prints for the friends and family of Jason Williams since it was a verse that he enjoyed, and was written with him on my mind.

I still have a flood of emotion from his death which was a year ago today, but I find that on top of the loss and regret there is also a deep sense of joy and gratefullness. Since Jason's death the Lord used those circumstances to work in my life more than most will ever know, but could never deny.

With Jason in mind, I revisited the verse below and have changed it to reflect the changes in my own life that were sparked from his death. As I mentioned earlier, this verse was originally written with him in mind, and it seems prolific in nature that I change portions now with him on my mind again.

Retrospect Revisited

On the rocky shores of youths barren wasteland, I found myself dreaming in the vast space of time and reality that lies between my ears. In retrospect I view the past as a moment in time with nothing but the future ahead and the wind at my back. I can hear the memories as they blow past and smell the carnage of the wasted days and nearly insufferable nights.

Although clearly I know how it all should have went, it can no more be changed than this that I have become. It was the path of fate and the desire of my Lord that led me here and it is the same path I must continue to follow. Is it of my own accord? Did I seek to destroy everything that I feel so that I may feel nothing? No, that was not my fate. Only the illusion of facing the future makes the path seem traveled. This path has never been tread, but I don't walk it alone. My Lord is with me. Many roads will I cross, which I take towards my destiny. It could be no other way.

Cling not to this life, for it is merely an audition for an eternity. Do not forget the path you travel lest you circle around to it again. Live for Lord and tommorow but not for the day you hope it will be, for tomorrow can not be known till it becomes yesterday. Only know that it is part of the Lord's plan and it's outcome has been designed for his Glory.

Missing ya brother,

2008-04-18T08:19:00.000-07:00

I stand amazed as I look outside. Spring has sprung and this time of year God's visible majesty is rarely more radiant. In everything I see, the Artist's signature is always there. Always evident, and always comforting. Within us all, there is an appreciation for the beauty that surrounds us.
To the obedient, it is God's presence that comforts us. Like standing in the sun on a spring morning, the brilliance warms us on the outside and the peace within gives usa hint of the blessed hope that we so diligently seek.

But as a sinner there are those times when sin, like a cloud that passes between us and the sun, seperates us from that brilliance. As the light is blocked from the cloud, so is the sin seperating us from our creator. When you are used to that warmth and peace, the lack of it is unbearable.

Little do those that are lost realize but hope, no matter how small is within them. They recieve it from the same source as I do. They just fail to accept more of it and bow to it's majesty. That hope keeps them going, it is there in there deepest dispair. If only they would seek out it's source.

There will be a day when we all will stand before the source, the blessed hope filling them. The comfort abounding. The peace overwhelming. The perfect good that is our God. Few will continue to dwell in what can only be described as nirvana or bliss in our blessed hope, but sadly there are masses more that will not. In the Divine Comedy, Dante wrote about the Hell. Over the gates, he wrote that there is a sign that says "Abandon all hope, you who pass!". I have to say however that when you stand with in the presence of God you know what that blessed hope is and how perfect love could never be more true, you will not need a sign to tell that you have lost it. The moment you sent out of God's presence and you no longer feel him, you will have already abandoned all hope.

To be seperated from God for a moment is hard. To be seperated for an eternity, would be an unbearable burden beyond my grasp. Within us all there is atleast that glimmer of hope. Within the expanse of the universe there is a majesty that we can see. And when we stand in the Son our blessed hope will abound. Seek the source, go find that blessed hope. Like the still small voice that Elija heard from God, you will never hear it over the wind unless you get close.

2008-03-14T10:57:00.000-07:00

Fruit Trees

Genesis 2:15-17 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Back in the Garden, Adam and Eve were set up to live out life in paradise. They had the perfect relationship with God. The only restriction they had, was not to eat of the fruit of the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil". Then in comes the serpent into the picture. "Eat of the fruit" he says "You surely won't die." God is just trying to hold you back from being as wise as he is." So she took the fruit and ate it and then after, so did Adam. Original sin.... We were poisoned.

History repeats itself. We find ourselves today standing in front of another tree. This time, the fruit that was hanging from that tree was our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To be free of that original sin, we need to eat of his fruit. (John 6:53) .Now, in comes the serpent again and asks "Do you really think you will have eternal life?" "Surely you will not live forever?" "Knowledge is good." "Live for the moment, go enjoy the world." This time, it's not only acceptable to reach for the fruit and eat it, it is necessary.

Knowledge of Good and Evil.... From that moment in the garden, mankind knew the difference between right and wrong. It is something embedded into our hearts. When we fail to do the right thing, it is sin. The punishment for it, is an eternity seperated from God. There is still a paradise at stake. We were poisoned to keep us out, but Jesus is our antidote. Then only antidote, for there is no other way to the Father except through him.

2008-03-04T08:37:00.000-08:00

X marks the spot.

Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

When Jesus was still with us here on Earth, he woke us up to a many number of things. Throughout time, some things have never changed. The search for power, glory, domination and money are timeless. With our sinful nature, these things will always be in the true nature of our being. Jesus taught us that all of the things of this world will pass. Nothing will remain behind not even the Heavens and the old Earth. Seems kinda pointless to worry about wealth here on Earth. We can however build up treasures in Heaven.

Apryl has a Great Grandmother (Alva) that is still living. She has lived a wonderously full life, and walked with God through out it. There are times when I look at her, and watch her moving around. I see the pain of her arthritis, the frustrations of requiring others to help her to simply walk but most importantly, I see the love she has for everyone around her. In John 13:34, Jesus says "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." When I look at Alva, it is obvious that she lives by this.

I truly try to love everyone that I know. Sometimes it is more difficult to show that love and interact with them, but I can honestly say that I do love them and want to be with them for all eternity. I truly abhor the thought of not having even one of them for all Eternity. (I pointed out the scripture so they couldn't deny me...) Although it has taken me some time to see things for how they really are, I now know what my true treasures are. It is the Friends and Family that I have, and love. THEY are my treasure!

Think about those that you count as your treasures, and pray for them. Pray that they too will be drawn to God and recieve eternal salvation. Then when we, like Alva, get old and gray with most of our friends and family having passed on, we may truly understand Matthew 6:21. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

2008-03-03T16:28:00.000-08:00

Eternal Hunger

In all four of the Gospels in the New Testament,is the story of Jesus feeding the 5000. (Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:1-15)

The multitude, having heard about the works that Jesus had done, sought him in the Desert. Jesus had come to this place with his disciples for some rest but the multitude followed him. When Jesus saw this multitude of people, (about 5000 men, perhaps with their families), we read that he was moved with compassion and healed thier sick and preached to them of the kingdom of God. Once this was done, Jesus took 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish and distributed them out to the men to feed them. Once the men had eaten, Jesus told the disciples to pick up everything that was left over. There were leftovers, about 12 baskets full.
Although this was truly a miracle worth repeating, there is more to the story. Jesus did more that day than offer them bread and fish to fill their stomachs, he offered them the Bread of Life. After being "Moved by compassion" our Lord and Savior was there healing the sick, and preaching to them about the Kingdom of God (Luke 9:11). Feeding them, was only something that he did afterwards.

What a lesson for life that is. We have people begging for our help all the time. Being Christians, we should follow the example that Jesus gave us. If someone comes to us hungry, we should not only feed them but show them how they can seek the Bread of Life. If they come to us Thirsty, we should not only give them something to drink but also show them how they can seek out a Fountain springing up within them that is the Living Water. If they need clothing, we should not only give them something to wear, but show them how they can seek to be clothed in Rightousness. If they come to you poor, give them money but also show them how to seek the their own treasures in Heaven. In Matthew 25:40, Jesus made it pretty clear. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

2008-02-27T08:12:00.000-08:00

Hebrews 13:11-13
"11The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore."

When Jesus was crucified on the cross he bore the price for all of our sins, past and present, not one being overlooked. I am not saying that he bore only the sins of those who choose to follow him. He bore all of the sins for each and every person. This gift, by his grace, he gives us freely. All we have to do, is accept it.

In the days of the Old testement, the Jews were required to make offerings as atonement for their sins. This process as described in Leviticus, included one practice that I want to point out. When an animal sacrifice was brought forth, the person making the sacrifce had to physically place his hand on the animals head. This ensured that the person making the sacrifice had a personal relationship with the animal that was becoming your sin. No one else could bring this sacrifice to the altar for you. YOU, had to have that personal relationship.

Today, nothing has changed in regards to that sacrifice. Jesus was our sinful sacrifice. He too seeks our personal relationship. All we have to do is reach out for him. No one else can do that for us, it is all up to us. Your salvation is at hand. It is the perfect Gift from Jesus. Allowed only by his sacrifice and our personal relationship with him.

2008-02-26T15:30:00.000-08:00

Galatians 5:19-25 (KJV)
" 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. "

After being threatened by death in the previous verse, in Luke 13:33, Jesus said "Nevertheless, I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following:". An eerie premonition of the mission towards his resurrection that Jesus was on. He was out doing his Father's business and was at that time heading towards Jerusalem for the Passover. At the same time that Jesus was walking towards Jerusalem, so also were many other Jews (the entire Jewish nation) traveling there also for the Passover feast, and to offer their sacrifices at the temple.

Jews came to Jerusalem for the Passover so they could not only Offer the Lamb of the Passover as a sacrifce, but also to make any other necessary sacrifices for atonement and thanks. These sacrifices were brought to the Temple, and then handed over to the Priests for the rituals on the Altar. When any of the "Blood" Sacrifices were made, all of this blood would be spilt upon the altar by the priests. Once the sacrifice was done, either the priests or their helpers would then pour water across the altar, to wash away the blood. According to writings in the bible and other sources, the blood would then flow down into the Kidron (Cedron) Valley below the temple. From there, the Kidron Valley stretches all the way to the Dead Sea. Year after year, the sacificial blood would keep flowing down that valley. Atonement never complete.

After the Last Supper, where the disciples had prepared the Passover Meal, Jesus laid aside his garments and washed his disciples feet. Peter asked Jesus in John 13:9, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head." In John 13:10 we read "Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all." (not all referring to Judas). In verse 7, Jesus told them that they wouldn't know what he was doing now, but they would soon enough.

After Jesus had washed the disciples feet, he lfted his eyes to heaven and prayed for us all (John 17). He prayed that God should not yet take us from this world (verse 15-20) but to instead keep us from Evil, to sanctify us through his God's truth. For just a little longer, were we destined to continue in the world. Jesus however would soon be crucified so that we might be able to be saved.

When Jesus had finished his prayer, he walked towards the Garden at Gethsemene at the foot of the Mount of Olives. Now during this walk, Jesus had to cross the Brook Kidron (Cedron) John 18:1. This is just speculation, but I would imagine that when Jesus crossed the Kidron Brook, he would have looked down at the blood stained waters that flowed down the valley. All of that blood. Blood from Sacrifices of Atonement. Blood from countless Passover Lambs/Goats. All flowing down that valley. Staining the rocks and carrying away the sins of the people while it made it's way towards the Dead Sea. Don't think that Jesus didn't know what all off that blood signified. Don't think that Jesus didn't know that all of it was to no avail. Unless he continued to the cross, blood would continue to flow down that valley forever. He walked on to Gethsemene...

After being arrested, Jesus was ultimately led to Ponteus Pilate. In John 19, we read that he was scourged, a crown of thorns placed on his head and then mocked and beaten as he was brought back before the Jews. Now, to be scourged in those days was nothing to take very lightly. The amount of damage done the the human body during a scourging was commonly known to kill a man. That scourging along with the thorns gouging into your head would produce large amounts of blood. Being brought back before the Jews, they finally provoked Pilate to have Jesus Crucified. From that courtyard, Jesus (walking) carried his cross to Calvary. All along the way drops of his blood falling to the ground from the wounds he had already recieved. Then raised up on a cross that Jesus was nailed to, the last of our saviours blood ran out onto that hill.

I find myself standing at the foot of that hill. Looking up at his cross and suddenly realizing that his sacrifice was for every man, even me. All of the sin that I have comitted placed him on that cross. He went there for me.... for me...

I look back behind me and all I see are my bloody footprints from where I trampled (Hebrews 10:29) this man underfoot for so many years. Looking down at my hands I see all of the blood of others on them. The blood of the lost people I have known were lost, and just silently passed by. (Ezekial 3 and 33). Like Peter, I not only want my feet washed, but my hands and head while he is at it. (John 13:9)

Look behind you guys. Are you Walking in God's path, or are you trampling the son underfoot and leaving the bloody prints? That innocent man did nothing to deserve his agony. But thank god that through grace, he did EVERYTHING on account of our inequity to preserve us.

As we have read in Galations 5:25 "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." Just like Christ, we too must walk in the way of the Spirit for "today, tomorrow and the day after" and all the way untill our deaths or till our ressurection.

2007-12-18T07:48:00.000-08:00

Ok, I am feeling a little old here.

I am always the one cracking jokes with the kids on how old someone is. Want some examples? (If you don't just quit reading) Ok, They have been told that Nanny is so old, that Dirt was clean when she was little. Or Nanny is so old that when God said "Let there be light", she flicked the switch. Either way, I guess I deserved what happened the other night.

So, there we were Sarah (one of the twins) and I, playing the game Connect Four. It was just another Father/Daughter moment that I have come to appreciate more these days. While we were playing, the following conversation came up.

Sarah: Wow dad, your really good at this.

Dad: Well, I have had lots of practice.

Sarah: Really? Did you and mom used to play this?

Dad: No, I used to play this all the time when I was little. As a matter of fact, I was probably your age.

Sarah: Really? They had this game when you were little?

Dad: Yep

Sarah: I guess they were made out of wood though?

Dad: No, it was plastic just like this one.

Sarah: But, you could buy one made out of wood?

Dad: I don't think so.....

The conversation was completely innocent on her part. It really makes you wonder how your kids see you, and what they think about you. Everything that our kids are exposed to, creates who they are and who they will become. Take advantage of it.

Psalm 78

Oh Christmas Tree

2007-12-14T10:46:00.000-08:00

Tis the season, and I dare say that I spent quite a long time finding the "PERFECT" tree for Christmas. I looked everywhere, and finally found it on a hill at Golgotha. It was a very expensive tree, yet it was given to me. Although probably not as pretty as the one in your home, I would consider this the best tree I have ever found.

On the tree there are only a few simple decorations. Some thorns, an inscription, some streaks of bright scarlet to light it up and probably the prettiest angel that you have ever seen. (The angel had to be nailed on.) I can't bring myself to put lights on it, I think simple is better.

Pooled up at at the base of the tree is only one present. It is suffucient for us all.

Forgive me when I flinched when you asked me if we had put up our Christmas tree. Like it or not, we all already have.

Holidays

2007-12-14T10:40:00.000-08:00

Christmas? What can I say? I have never been much more than the "Bah Humbug" type, but none the less it serves many important reminders for us. First and foremost, it should remind us of the Birth of our Savior.

Several weeks ago I was sitting on a plane on a long flight from Calgary Canada and had a revelation of sorts. It was something I will never forget as long as I live. On the opposite side of the plane from where I was sitting, there was a women traveling with a baby. The child couldn't have been more than several months old. Like most children on a flight, they tend to cry a lot when ascending or descending due to their ears hurting from the pressure changes. Everyone else's ears were hurting from the little child's cries.... I however found myself sympathizing with the little guy's dilemma. Due to a childhood illness I have issues with my ears on flights, and I have felt like screaming during a rapid decent myself....

Once the plane reached "It's normal cruising altitude", the child settled down and went to sleep. I found myself looking over at the child. They are so peaceful and cute when they are sleeping. So innocent and helpless, and so trusting. I started wondering where this child would be when it grew up. How he would love. How he would live. Who he would be and the things he would accomplish. It was the same thoughts that I had every time when I hold my own children.

I started thinking, about my own heavenly father and the Christmas nativity. There Jesus lay in the manger. An innocent and helpless child. His Earthly mother and father watching over him. Joseph and Mary had the same thoughts as I did for sure. They knew this child they looked upon was God's son but I can't help but believe that they had the same questions as I did. His heavenly Father and all the Angels were also looking down upon him. Then all of the sudden, something hit me like a ton of bricks.

God and the Angels KNEW what would happen to the Christ that lay there in that Manger. That mere child laying there, would be the Savior of this World. That he would be beaten and whipped, then die on a cross for all of OUR sins. The pain and suffering he felt......... As a father my self, all I could do is sit there and cry just as God and the Angels must have. To say the least, I got some strange looks from other people around me, but it didn't matter. In the end, nothing but God will matter.

I believe that from that day onward I will never be able to look at a nativity scene and think of anything else. Everyone else might look at a nativity scene and hear "Joy to the World", "Silent Night" or "The First Noel". I will look at the same scene and hear "Amazing Grace" and "Oh Come all ye Faithful".

As I have painfully learned this year, our time on this Earth is relatively short. We are children of God, not just creatures of this world. We never know when we will reach the end because we each have our own finish line. Don't just be a spectator, come run the race.

Happy Holidays Everyone!