What is darkness? Is it the bleak blackness that blots out blotches of light? We may find it fascinating that darkness has not the authority to outshine light, yet is revealed when light leaves. Light's revealing luster vacating literally leaves the vacuum of blackness. The singular definition of darkness is the absence, or reduction of light. Remove light and while there could be an entire universe of items surrounding you, without a glimmer of light you neither know they are present, nor can see the virtual plethora left to only feel, if anything, what immediately surrounds you.
Disorienting darkness, deepens as if plunged into ocean depths or in a coal mine thousands of feet below the earth's surface. As eternal blackness encroaches, solitude, silence and fear begin to overtake senses. Absolute separation from light, any hint of light would send our hearts trembling in turbid turmoil taking us toward insanity.
How often we take for granted that which we 'see'. The revealing nature of sight is dependent upon the light that lands on objects, and those objects absorbing and reflecting the essence and characteristics of the light. Some of the colors of light are absorbed, while the blend of the remaining colors are reflected and as such, we see objects, people and colors. Light is essential to light, essential to sight. While light is a form of energy, nothing shares its unique properties acting as both a particle and a wave. While man can 'create' light, he is only using existing energy in a directed fashion, taming it to change from another form of energy into light, and such light pales to the brute energy production of stars.
Jesus stated that He is "the light of the world." and that "No one comes to the Father except through me." The Father of light. The creator of light. The illuminator of all things. Think about it, we say we live in a time of enlightenment and as I examine the musings and cogitations of brilliant men and women of the past, it seems that our preoccupations and distractions have pressed us into dimming darkness. It is impossible to see the truth without light. It is impossible to have life without light. The dimmer the light, the greater the difficulty to discover or even detect an issue, a glory, a life, an understanding. We surround ourselves by an artificial representative of truth or light and it taints our sight with it's form of colors.
It is time to step out into the glorious light of The Son, allowing Him to reveal the true colors, the true life, the true vitality of His life in ours, His light in ours changing the dimming darkness to radiant, glorious light. I want to be like our moon, having the character and existence of my creator, battered by impacts of my existence, but reflecting only the glorious light of that which reveals His hand, His creation, His essence, for all to see.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
When Wild Winds Whorl
When life throws you a wild wind it certainly requires more effort and exertion to walk though the winds. When the wind whips, the requirement for rest rises and such has been my fate. Loosing two hours a day has severely slashed my productivity, impacting, yes, severely severing my soul searching. It is but a season, or so I hope, as my body gets used to yet another medicine and I another 'illness' to 'watch'...the only complaints, the need for far more under the covers respite from the wild winds which whorl through my days, and a foggy fray to my usually well honed musings.
The wish that this illness would only be a short-term house guest, like a bug, or flu or even common cold is not even available, and like my other health issues, must be a tenderly taken tenor, with balance and complete adjustment to my diet, along with the bitter pill I must swallow every day.
So when wild winds whorl, and until they stop, the blogs may distance themselves from one another until the short storm season is over (or so I hope). Suffice it to say that when wild winds whorl, we wait, we look to welcome their waning, but we walk on. I am ever grateful for the days that will come, and the day I have now. Weary I walk, but willingly I wait in wonder for I know my God has me in His hands.
The wish that this illness would only be a short-term house guest, like a bug, or flu or even common cold is not even available, and like my other health issues, must be a tenderly taken tenor, with balance and complete adjustment to my diet, along with the bitter pill I must swallow every day.
So when wild winds whorl, and until they stop, the blogs may distance themselves from one another until the short storm season is over (or so I hope). Suffice it to say that when wild winds whorl, we wait, we look to welcome their waning, but we walk on. I am ever grateful for the days that will come, and the day I have now. Weary I walk, but willingly I wait in wonder for I know my God has me in His hands.
Friday, April 16, 2010
The Sting Still Stirs. When Will the Sting Stop Stirring?
Have we relegated reason, resolve, right and wrong to reticence and retirement? Something is wrong, very wrong. When marriages of believers are failing and now equal the rate of non-believers, when professing believers are overcome and overwhelmed, submitting to sin and not selflessness, has not the glory of Christ been tarnished?
Here is an excerpt from research done by the Barna group:
Divorce Is Widespread
Among adults who have been married, the study discovered that one-third (33%) have experienced at least one divorce. That means that among all Americans 18 years of age or older, whether they have been married or not, 25% have gone through a marital split.
The study showed that the percentage of adults who have been married and divorced varies from segment to segment. For instance, the groups with the most prolific experience of marriage ending in divorce are downscale adults (39%), Baby Boomers (38%), those aligned with a non-Christian faith (38%), African-Americans (36%), and people who consider themselves to be liberal on social and political matters (37%).
Among the population segments with the lowest likelihood of having been divorced subsequent to marriage are Catholics (28%), evangelicals (26%), upscale adults (22%), Asians (20%) and those who deem themselves to be conservative on social and political matters (28%).
Born again Christians who are not evangelical were indistinguishable from the national average on the matter of divorce: 33% have been married and divorced. The survey did not determine if the divorce occurred before or after the person had become born again. However, previous research by Barna has shown that less than two out of every ten people who accept Christ as their savior do so after their first marriage.
In fact, when evangelicals and non-evangelical born again Christians are combined into an aggregate class of born again adults, their divorce figure is statistically identical to that of non-born again adults: 32% versus 33%, respectively.
Thirty percent of atheists and agnostics had been married and subsequently divorced. However, the three-point difference from the national average was within the range of sampling error, suggesting that their likelihood of experiencing a dissolved marriage is the same as that of the population at-large. A representative from Barna also pointed out the atheists and agnostics have lower rates of marriage and a higher likelihood of cohabitation, a combination of behaviors that distort comparisons with other segments.
http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/15-familykids/42-new-marriage-and-divorce-statistics-released (click on link to take you there!)
I put the directly quoted article in my blog because many will not choose to 'check' the validity of my statement; yet another sad state of our current culture. (We tend to believe what we hear from usually credible non-primary sources...not good). I even put the link you can click on to take you there...will you check it out for yourself after you read this blog? In fact, I would love it if others would find valid research that confirms or denies this blog's premise.
There are plenty of 'gems' in the rest of this article and should be a must read for believers!!!
A previous blog addresses a lack of passion, another living life in defeat. A short while ago a friend shared that non-believers have little desire to join the ranks of the righteous because those who proclaim to be followers of the righteousness of Christ lack any demonstration of difference, power, passion or otherwise that would woo a person to be a part of His kingdom. The sting still stirs in my heart. Yet God has placed in my heart a desire to demonstrate the direct difference Jesus, with the power, presence and purification the Holy Spirit brings into my life. I deeply desire the true transformation that truth and trust in Christ can conquer my careless and contaminated heart. I am not assured in this life that the sting will stop stirring, but I long for it and press ahead, knowing that someday soon it will for some of us.
Here is an excerpt from research done by the Barna group:
Divorce Is Widespread
Among adults who have been married, the study discovered that one-third (33%) have experienced at least one divorce. That means that among all Americans 18 years of age or older, whether they have been married or not, 25% have gone through a marital split.
The study showed that the percentage of adults who have been married and divorced varies from segment to segment. For instance, the groups with the most prolific experience of marriage ending in divorce are downscale adults (39%), Baby Boomers (38%), those aligned with a non-Christian faith (38%), African-Americans (36%), and people who consider themselves to be liberal on social and political matters (37%).
Among the population segments with the lowest likelihood of having been divorced subsequent to marriage are Catholics (28%), evangelicals (26%), upscale adults (22%), Asians (20%) and those who deem themselves to be conservative on social and political matters (28%).
Born again Christians who are not evangelical were indistinguishable from the national average on the matter of divorce: 33% have been married and divorced. The survey did not determine if the divorce occurred before or after the person had become born again. However, previous research by Barna has shown that less than two out of every ten people who accept Christ as their savior do so after their first marriage.
In fact, when evangelicals and non-evangelical born again Christians are combined into an aggregate class of born again adults, their divorce figure is statistically identical to that of non-born again adults: 32% versus 33%, respectively.
Thirty percent of atheists and agnostics had been married and subsequently divorced. However, the three-point difference from the national average was within the range of sampling error, suggesting that their likelihood of experiencing a dissolved marriage is the same as that of the population at-large. A representative from Barna also pointed out the atheists and agnostics have lower rates of marriage and a higher likelihood of cohabitation, a combination of behaviors that distort comparisons with other segments.
http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/15-familykids/42-new-marriage-and-divorce-statistics-released (click on link to take you there!)
I put the directly quoted article in my blog because many will not choose to 'check' the validity of my statement; yet another sad state of our current culture. (We tend to believe what we hear from usually credible non-primary sources...not good). I even put the link you can click on to take you there...will you check it out for yourself after you read this blog? In fact, I would love it if others would find valid research that confirms or denies this blog's premise.
There are plenty of 'gems' in the rest of this article and should be a must read for believers!!!
A previous blog addresses a lack of passion, another living life in defeat. A short while ago a friend shared that non-believers have little desire to join the ranks of the righteous because those who proclaim to be followers of the righteousness of Christ lack any demonstration of difference, power, passion or otherwise that would woo a person to be a part of His kingdom. The sting still stirs in my heart. Yet God has placed in my heart a desire to demonstrate the direct difference Jesus, with the power, presence and purification the Holy Spirit brings into my life. I deeply desire the true transformation that truth and trust in Christ can conquer my careless and contaminated heart. I am not assured in this life that the sting will stop stirring, but I long for it and press ahead, knowing that someday soon it will for some of us.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Ready to Reveal the Rainbow
What kind of life are we living? Is it one of defeat? One of disdain? Distrust? Are you feeling powerless and puny as if poked, prodded and punched down in spirit? The longer the economy sags, the more the enemy sings. People pursue hope when hopeless, help when helpless, happiness when hapless. The pursuit of these seem like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow; while we can see the glorious rainbow and it's end, when we try to approach that spot, discovering the pot of gold, the end eludes us. Even the Preamble to Constitution of our nation 'gives us the right' to pursue happiness. But a life lived in pursuit of hope and happiness may never find it.
Hope, help and happiness is the product of living a life that invests in lives. The pot of gold is at the end of the rainbow, but the focus can only be on the tangible, becoming the rainbow itself. How do we become this life? This rainbow?
John 14:11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. ;He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
If you read carefully, this passage does not open the floodgates to our selfishness and give us the power to consume to our heart's desire, asking God to provide and do what we want. Jesus did and asked what His Father did and asked of Him. He had to go away so that our sins would be covered by His sacrifice, but even more so, so that the Holy Spirit could come and help us be the rainbow all over the world.
He states, "anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing." A popular quote among His followers is "What would Jesus do?". The problem with this statement is that it is in the past. My pastor has often said, we should be asking the question, "What is Jesus doing now?". You see, Jesus, my Jesus is still alive today! Following his statement about doing what He has been doing, Jesus follows it with, "He will do even greater things than these" pointing to the power that would be, should be unleashed as we continue the powerful ministry He began. Over 2000 years later, should not His ministry be exploding with more miracles, more majesty, more moxie?
It is the pursuit of God, the doing and living Jesus today that remains the rainbow revealing the pot of gold, hope, help and happiness. Pursuing the pot of gold is futile, but we could be living the life that has two pots of gold, one at each end, if we were to be the rainbow, revealing the glory, majesty and power of Christ through our lives as we live in Him, with Him and for Him. What is Jesus doing now in your life? What is Jesus calling you to do with your life. Are you ready to reveal the rainbow, letting God provide His pot of gold, His glory, His guilding? Pursue Him and His hope, His help, His happiness will pour into our pots.
Hope, help and happiness is the product of living a life that invests in lives. The pot of gold is at the end of the rainbow, but the focus can only be on the tangible, becoming the rainbow itself. How do we become this life? This rainbow?
John 14:11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. ;He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
If you read carefully, this passage does not open the floodgates to our selfishness and give us the power to consume to our heart's desire, asking God to provide and do what we want. Jesus did and asked what His Father did and asked of Him. He had to go away so that our sins would be covered by His sacrifice, but even more so, so that the Holy Spirit could come and help us be the rainbow all over the world.
He states, "anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing." A popular quote among His followers is "What would Jesus do?". The problem with this statement is that it is in the past. My pastor has often said, we should be asking the question, "What is Jesus doing now?". You see, Jesus, my Jesus is still alive today! Following his statement about doing what He has been doing, Jesus follows it with, "He will do even greater things than these" pointing to the power that would be, should be unleashed as we continue the powerful ministry He began. Over 2000 years later, should not His ministry be exploding with more miracles, more majesty, more moxie?
It is the pursuit of God, the doing and living Jesus today that remains the rainbow revealing the pot of gold, hope, help and happiness. Pursuing the pot of gold is futile, but we could be living the life that has two pots of gold, one at each end, if we were to be the rainbow, revealing the glory, majesty and power of Christ through our lives as we live in Him, with Him and for Him. What is Jesus doing now in your life? What is Jesus calling you to do with your life. Are you ready to reveal the rainbow, letting God provide His pot of gold, His glory, His guilding? Pursue Him and His hope, His help, His happiness will pour into our pots.
Listen, Learn, Lead and Love
An old humble hymn harbored in my heart tells us to "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" and to look full in His wonderful face, and the things of Earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace. These simple, salty lyrics speak volumes. So many hymns, now lost in most churches, are embedded with deep theology and testimony lost in many of today's modern praise music. Now before any fur flies, all of these offerings to our Lord are blessings and have their place in worship, this heart believes that we have abandoned some of the defined, dynamic, deep entreaties of hymns because they seem 'old school'.
Often, I think that these blogs will go mostly unread, and disappear into oblivion as well, because the nature of my musings are the result of my defined, dynamic, deep entreaties with my Lord, with my heart's hope to hold hard to His help and hope, somehow serving a few who might choose and be encouraged by His work in this wayward soul.
Often too, I feel more like a chunk of iron on the anvil of life, rather than a hunk of clay on the Master's pottery wheel. It seems God needs to stick me in the fire, extract me before its heat consumes me, finally hammering me into submission and shape. Oh how this soul longs to be more like clay, less resistant to His hands and shaping!...and hopefully soon, that time will come!
When thinking of the things of earth, my mind meanders to my less than year old 52 inch plasma television that has been waiting service. It hasn't worked for nearly a month and while we have another smaller television in the family room, I find myself enjoying silence, and blogging more that I do frittering my time in front of that media god. I didn't really want to purchase such a t.v., but my wife and son wanted one. Finding it for $600 made its purchase a no brainer. Having purchased the warranty (because it was an open box model) and because my son, who works as Geek Squad encouraged us to do so, after numerous calls trying to get the media god fixed, I find no hint of anger or frustration at its continued lack of service to me.
Tussling with the one true God, turning to Him, trusting in Him, has truly made the things of earth grow strangely dim, compelling me to listen, learn, lead and love. I have found the supreme soother of my soul, the pinnacle of passion, the holder of hope, my answer to angst. We will worship something or someone. For me, I relish and revel in my renewed ardor and worship for the only one deserving such. Jesus Christ, His holy Father and the Holy Spirit. Are you with me? Will you encourage me to continue as I, in this blog do you? Listen, learn, lead and love, not directed by the world, but as directed by Jesus.
Often, I think that these blogs will go mostly unread, and disappear into oblivion as well, because the nature of my musings are the result of my defined, dynamic, deep entreaties with my Lord, with my heart's hope to hold hard to His help and hope, somehow serving a few who might choose and be encouraged by His work in this wayward soul.
Often too, I feel more like a chunk of iron on the anvil of life, rather than a hunk of clay on the Master's pottery wheel. It seems God needs to stick me in the fire, extract me before its heat consumes me, finally hammering me into submission and shape. Oh how this soul longs to be more like clay, less resistant to His hands and shaping!...and hopefully soon, that time will come!
When thinking of the things of earth, my mind meanders to my less than year old 52 inch plasma television that has been waiting service. It hasn't worked for nearly a month and while we have another smaller television in the family room, I find myself enjoying silence, and blogging more that I do frittering my time in front of that media god. I didn't really want to purchase such a t.v., but my wife and son wanted one. Finding it for $600 made its purchase a no brainer. Having purchased the warranty (because it was an open box model) and because my son, who works as Geek Squad encouraged us to do so, after numerous calls trying to get the media god fixed, I find no hint of anger or frustration at its continued lack of service to me.
Tussling with the one true God, turning to Him, trusting in Him, has truly made the things of earth grow strangely dim, compelling me to listen, learn, lead and love. I have found the supreme soother of my soul, the pinnacle of passion, the holder of hope, my answer to angst. We will worship something or someone. For me, I relish and revel in my renewed ardor and worship for the only one deserving such. Jesus Christ, His holy Father and the Holy Spirit. Are you with me? Will you encourage me to continue as I, in this blog do you? Listen, learn, lead and love, not directed by the world, but as directed by Jesus.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
We Willingly Worship...Decision, Discussion, Debate and Destiny
We will worship something or someone, people or things, even this very life itself; it remains a remnant of human regalia. Think of the things you value in life, all of them. These are the things that consume your thoughts, your actions, your very fiber of fulfillment. Face it, pagans pursed of passion for a god, willingly worship something or someone; placing on the pedestal of pursuit, some act, some artifact, some attribute. These are the things that purpose our passions, consume our commitments, hold our heart.
What will these things or people do for us? Of what lasting value do they truly add to our lives lived? What of these will walk with us, carrying the chords of comfort when we breathe the last of this life's lure?
Why do we worship, willingly worship as we walk through this world?
What will we worship with wonder and wist?
Where would we want to walk when we wander away from this world?
1 Peter 4 tells us:
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (New International Version)
What will we worship? Whom will we worship? Where will we worship? Why do we worship? Could our desire to worship point with power to the creator of the creature? Is this the evident evidence of the fingerprints of God's faithfulness? The decision, discussion and debate directs our destiny.
What will these things or people do for us? Of what lasting value do they truly add to our lives lived? What of these will walk with us, carrying the chords of comfort when we breathe the last of this life's lure?
Why do we worship, willingly worship as we walk through this world?
What will we worship with wonder and wist?
Where would we want to walk when we wander away from this world?
1 Peter 4 tells us:
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (New International Version)
What will we worship? Whom will we worship? Where will we worship? Why do we worship? Could our desire to worship point with power to the creator of the creature? Is this the evident evidence of the fingerprints of God's faithfulness? The decision, discussion and debate directs our destiny.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Eternal Establishment of Elation
For the first time in my life, reading Ecclesiastes has not been an exercise of fruitless futility. While standing still, scrutinzing the sweeping simplification of meaninglessness and ineffectual life of a man, striking is the soberness and nonexistent is the man, or woman, whose life remains a topic of profound inspiration and conversation for all of humanity for all of time. Yet remains one, the possible exception of Jesus Christ. Our time line was affected by his life, and, it seems that only his life has the possibility of giving us some hope for something more than just getting through this life to it's end.
No matter how you believe, the cycle of life has been circling for thousands of years or millions. There have been hundreds of billions of people who have come and gone and when you examine the big picture, have we escaped the depravity of the human condition? Does not yet remain senseless extinguishing of lives by others, illnesses consuming, pain and suffering remaining, and joy fleeting with catastrophic calamities still abounding in our world? Have we removed all the barbarous and 'uncivilized' acts of human nature from our midst? Is the world truly improving, or does it continue impoverished with the nature of the evil mutating into some different mask of evil?
At the beginning of chapter 5 and the end of chapter 12 of Ecclesiastes, stands the only hope for the ails of aging, the plight of personal persecution, the response to the ravages of the world we walk within. For, just as the book honestly portrays the bane and uneventfulness of my life among the masses, it does point to the only qualities of my life that will have eternal benefits; if I can uncover and communicate the complete hope, unveiling to others the dissipation of debauchery and disillusionment by destruction of dishonesty, dissatisfying decadence and depravity. If I can clearly share the kingdom of God, eternally existing, exposing it in such manner so we experience it together; it's riches, reserves and resources filling our lives today as part of the eternal establishment of elation, the ending of evil within each of us; then maybe, just maybe my life will count for the cause of Christ, participating in His glory empty of the meaninglessness of me.
No matter how you believe, the cycle of life has been circling for thousands of years or millions. There have been hundreds of billions of people who have come and gone and when you examine the big picture, have we escaped the depravity of the human condition? Does not yet remain senseless extinguishing of lives by others, illnesses consuming, pain and suffering remaining, and joy fleeting with catastrophic calamities still abounding in our world? Have we removed all the barbarous and 'uncivilized' acts of human nature from our midst? Is the world truly improving, or does it continue impoverished with the nature of the evil mutating into some different mask of evil?
At the beginning of chapter 5 and the end of chapter 12 of Ecclesiastes, stands the only hope for the ails of aging, the plight of personal persecution, the response to the ravages of the world we walk within. For, just as the book honestly portrays the bane and uneventfulness of my life among the masses, it does point to the only qualities of my life that will have eternal benefits; if I can uncover and communicate the complete hope, unveiling to others the dissipation of debauchery and disillusionment by destruction of dishonesty, dissatisfying decadence and depravity. If I can clearly share the kingdom of God, eternally existing, exposing it in such manner so we experience it together; it's riches, reserves and resources filling our lives today as part of the eternal establishment of elation, the ending of evil within each of us; then maybe, just maybe my life will count for the cause of Christ, participating in His glory empty of the meaninglessness of me.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Opulent Opportunity
Did you sense a drawing of spirit, hauling of heart, or tender tug on your soul to enter the house of Jesus Christ yesterday? Did you follow and find yourself in a place of opulent opportunity, or did you cave and let the other cares of the world crush the quiet calling?
The world and all its cares can effortlessly crush the calm, quiet voice of the King, creator of the cosmos and His counter for all the corruption and calamity that contain us. The astounding, ardent advocate will not abduct your soul or beat you into capitulation. He will not clamor, cry or compel your compliance just as He did not clamor, cry or compel His rightful consign among us, as God, allowing Himself to be beaten, bruised, humanly broken; the calm, quiet voice of the King momentarily extinguished by the clamor of the crowds crying to crucify Him.
It seems as if time has tried to tarnish the true temper, the foundational forging of the unleashed authority rising in opposition to the cajoling; calling to kill the King, completing the task. What wings it's way into my wayward heart? What man, God or not, would willingly, willfully walk with resolve in ridicule, to His death in such a manner as Christ? The earth quaked, the sky grew dark, as He breathed His last. Who could order such things? Who could hang in such opposition to the depravity with us? Surely, as the Roman centurion pronounced,
"Surely He is The Son of God."
Indeed, an opulent opportunity has come and gone. And for many, the clamor of our world will overwhelm the gentle tugging call of the powerful, purging, purifying servant, who gave His life for us all. With whom will we walk today? Will we be established in His house next week? Will our lives wander, weave, waver and willingly wax over this washing of our souls? Give us eyes to behold the beauty of our Savior, the opulent opportunity for our hearts to serve You, oh God, every day, and yes, for Sundays to come.
The world and all its cares can effortlessly crush the calm, quiet voice of the King, creator of the cosmos and His counter for all the corruption and calamity that contain us. The astounding, ardent advocate will not abduct your soul or beat you into capitulation. He will not clamor, cry or compel your compliance just as He did not clamor, cry or compel His rightful consign among us, as God, allowing Himself to be beaten, bruised, humanly broken; the calm, quiet voice of the King momentarily extinguished by the clamor of the crowds crying to crucify Him.
It seems as if time has tried to tarnish the true temper, the foundational forging of the unleashed authority rising in opposition to the cajoling; calling to kill the King, completing the task. What wings it's way into my wayward heart? What man, God or not, would willingly, willfully walk with resolve in ridicule, to His death in such a manner as Christ? The earth quaked, the sky grew dark, as He breathed His last. Who could order such things? Who could hang in such opposition to the depravity with us? Surely, as the Roman centurion pronounced,
"Surely He is The Son of God."
Indeed, an opulent opportunity has come and gone. And for many, the clamor of our world will overwhelm the gentle tugging call of the powerful, purging, purifying servant, who gave His life for us all. With whom will we walk today? Will we be established in His house next week? Will our lives wander, weave, waver and willingly wax over this washing of our souls? Give us eyes to behold the beauty of our Savior, the opulent opportunity for our hearts to serve You, oh God, every day, and yes, for Sundays to come.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Enfold, Endear, Enrobe
Its not easy to fully comprehend the fullness of what these days, now over two thousand years old, commend and celebrate. This potent act, and our commemoration of it will draw people to dawn some of their finest, and head off to church as part of their bi-annual visitation of the momentous sacrifice and the other, His birth.
As I prepare to attend this morning's weekly meeting with my Lord, I find myself rejoicing in the powerful resurrection arising after such an intense and violent act of disrespect and evil...for truly this unique act demonstrates the power of my Lord. Yet I am also faced with another challenge from the same Lord. Those attending today, including myself and all those occasional visitors, what of the fullness of Christ will they see in the service and in me today? Would it not be true, that if they came to understand, as I, the fullness of the depravity within, and the absolute glory, beauty and grace of the one who alone can rescue us, that they not desire to return and re-enter the place where they can be reminded of, and worship the one who has accomplished this for us?
I know for myself, that I will be attending this morning with a new call, asking Jesus how I can enfold, endear, enrobe these people, all of them, with that which I desire consume me; His glory, His majesty, His sacrifice, the power of His redemption for such a poor soul as I.
As I prepare to attend this morning's weekly meeting with my Lord, I find myself rejoicing in the powerful resurrection arising after such an intense and violent act of disrespect and evil...for truly this unique act demonstrates the power of my Lord. Yet I am also faced with another challenge from the same Lord. Those attending today, including myself and all those occasional visitors, what of the fullness of Christ will they see in the service and in me today? Would it not be true, that if they came to understand, as I, the fullness of the depravity within, and the absolute glory, beauty and grace of the one who alone can rescue us, that they not desire to return and re-enter the place where they can be reminded of, and worship the one who has accomplished this for us?
I know for myself, that I will be attending this morning with a new call, asking Jesus how I can enfold, endear, enrobe these people, all of them, with that which I desire consume me; His glory, His majesty, His sacrifice, the power of His redemption for such a poor soul as I.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
To Honor My Savior Who Blesses and the Bride of My Soul
As I rise this morning, my heart is awash with the sweetness of praise for not only my Lord and Savior whose redemptive sacrifice allows me to see the glories of all He places before me, but also for the incredible lady He has placed in my life as a helpmate, lover and friend. For surely my heart has arrived at this place partially by the amazing sacrifice of her honor and commitment to reel in a challenging, untempered heart, holding us up before our Father, and living the love of Christ as a sacrifice unto me.
After years of seeking selfish pleasures and 'stuff', ever so slowly Carrie and Christ have forged in me a more selfless, tempered, resilient heart of worship and care infusing our world with more of God's grace and deep love. She would never take credit for her part in this transformation, but indeed, she has been crucial to my arrival and, I pray, will remain with me for decades to come.
I have come to realize that my greatest pleasure comes not from my possessions or 'stuff', but from honoring the bride of my soul and the Savior who blesses me with more than I could ever deserve or imagine. No journey, no venture could have ever been more trans-formative, rich, powerful, wonderful, beautiful, priceless, perfect, or redemptive than to be on this one, with whom I hold dearly in my heart today; My Savior who blessed and blesses me with His redemptive love, sight and wisdom to honor the unfathomable blessing of a tremendous wife and best earthly friend.
After years of seeking selfish pleasures and 'stuff', ever so slowly Carrie and Christ have forged in me a more selfless, tempered, resilient heart of worship and care infusing our world with more of God's grace and deep love. She would never take credit for her part in this transformation, but indeed, she has been crucial to my arrival and, I pray, will remain with me for decades to come.
I have come to realize that my greatest pleasure comes not from my possessions or 'stuff', but from honoring the bride of my soul and the Savior who blesses me with more than I could ever deserve or imagine. No journey, no venture could have ever been more trans-formative, rich, powerful, wonderful, beautiful, priceless, perfect, or redemptive than to be on this one, with whom I hold dearly in my heart today; My Savior who blessed and blesses me with His redemptive love, sight and wisdom to honor the unfathomable blessing of a tremendous wife and best earthly friend.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Mostly, I Like My Coffee Black
There are many subtle and not so subtle differences in brewed coffee. Changing the coarseness of the grind alone produces variety in flavor of coffee brewed, however, if cream and sugar are added, the nuances are completely overwhelmed. So powerful the masking that even when a completely different coffee is infused the coffee takes a backseat to all the other ingredients. For many of us, we like our day's experiences to be overwhelmed by the addition of things that mask the waves of incidents that flavor our day. Some might seek alcohol or drugs, others a toxin to speed the ensuing of the end, and even others the sugar and cream to cover the bitterness of life. These could be the ignoring, avoidance or even denial of fully entering into the painful assaults life brings, or even the brilliant, alluvial joy as well.
Yet, for me, I have come to relish the bitter side of life for it forges a strength and character that seems to come no other way. Indeed, often I get overwhelmed with emotion as a wave untempered overwhelms me drinking deeply of the pain and suffering it adds to my journey; but it is my God who brings me His strength helping me to the other side. How often it is that the most dripping, decadently profound moments are those found on the other side of near calamitous experiences. Yes, there I find life affluent and full. In the same way, when the joys and glory of life overwhelm me, the pinnacle of it's glory washes over me with resplendent cleansing of the deepest pain, resetting my soul, refreshing it to continue on.
In Acts 27, Paul embarks on a voyage, joining a ship already bound for Crete, seemingly headed in direct disobedience to the place he was called. 276 lives were aboard and working together toward their destination. It all began smoothly, sailing as expected to various ports, yet Paul was informed that the seas would turn and do so with violence. The captain ignored this warning and sailed on toward destructive waves that would take the life of his ship, but none of the men on board. Yet even in their darkest moment, by miracle, all the men were fed and refreshed before the utter destruction of the vessel that carried them through the storm to the final destination. God promised Paul that all would survive, and so he remained on the journey. My guess being that we will see many of these men in heaven because of Paul's faithfulness.
Each of these storms and even the quiet, blissful passages on my voyage bring the touch of the Master into my life, each of these and everything in between. I desire no drug, no poison, no cream and sugar to 'temper' the peaks and troughs of the waves in the seas of my voyage. I want to fully relish the calm and glorious seas between the storms. For mostly, I like my coffee black, to taste the nuances of each glorious moment that fills my day, each meeting, each pain, each joy and all the details that are...life. With Christ in my life, I am able to drink deeply and allow myself to taste the richness of life. I trust you will seek Him and join me in the richness of the adventure.
Yet, for me, I have come to relish the bitter side of life for it forges a strength and character that seems to come no other way. Indeed, often I get overwhelmed with emotion as a wave untempered overwhelms me drinking deeply of the pain and suffering it adds to my journey; but it is my God who brings me His strength helping me to the other side. How often it is that the most dripping, decadently profound moments are those found on the other side of near calamitous experiences. Yes, there I find life affluent and full. In the same way, when the joys and glory of life overwhelm me, the pinnacle of it's glory washes over me with resplendent cleansing of the deepest pain, resetting my soul, refreshing it to continue on.
In Acts 27, Paul embarks on a voyage, joining a ship already bound for Crete, seemingly headed in direct disobedience to the place he was called. 276 lives were aboard and working together toward their destination. It all began smoothly, sailing as expected to various ports, yet Paul was informed that the seas would turn and do so with violence. The captain ignored this warning and sailed on toward destructive waves that would take the life of his ship, but none of the men on board. Yet even in their darkest moment, by miracle, all the men were fed and refreshed before the utter destruction of the vessel that carried them through the storm to the final destination. God promised Paul that all would survive, and so he remained on the journey. My guess being that we will see many of these men in heaven because of Paul's faithfulness.
Each of these storms and even the quiet, blissful passages on my voyage bring the touch of the Master into my life, each of these and everything in between. I desire no drug, no poison, no cream and sugar to 'temper' the peaks and troughs of the waves in the seas of my voyage. I want to fully relish the calm and glorious seas between the storms. For mostly, I like my coffee black, to taste the nuances of each glorious moment that fills my day, each meeting, each pain, each joy and all the details that are...life. With Christ in my life, I am able to drink deeply and allow myself to taste the richness of life. I trust you will seek Him and join me in the richness of the adventure.
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