New Beginings

 16Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ accordingto the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5: 16 - 19 NKJV

It is the custom of many in those final days of each year to step back and take stock of not only the year past but also what is to come.  Some vow resolutions to do better or to achieve more in the year to come while others seek some spiritual guidance which may somehow make the upcoming year better than the last.  Any way you look at it, what we are ultimately seeking in the year ahead is...change.  Change from something, or someone, that we've decided we no longer needed.  However, I'll always be the first one to tell you that sometimes change isn't really a good thing.  What is it that we're running from?  Come to think of it, do we really need to change at all?  Sure, it's good to take stock of where we've been and where it is we're going, I have no problem with that if that's all we're doing.  However, I began to question when someone vows a radical life change.  I'm guessing that I should never assume that others out there see religion, Christ and God the same as I do.  What's the old saying of what happens when we assume?  You get the idea.  That being said, I'll take a step back to explain just how I see these new years predictions.  See, I used to be like most of the run of the mill christians out there.  I was that good christian soldier who walked into church each sunday, did my share praying and gave when I was asked to.  For all intents and purposes, I was living the christian life...or was I?  Not too long ago, a dear pastor friend of mine opened my mind to something I had been missing all along in my christian walk.  What I had been missing all along was Christ Jesus.  Oh sure, I knew that Jesus bled and died on the cross to wipe away my sins, but beyond that Jesus just someone who I knew by name.  I had no personal connection with the man who gave Himself for me {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  What did I care, I was a christian man.  Each new year I did the same thing so many do, I vowed to pray harder, pray more and to give till it hurt.  I did this because even though I was a christian, I was still but a sinner saved by my Lords grace...and I needed to change.

5For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.7For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.10For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6: 5 - 11 NKJV

That was the essence of my thinking as each year drew to a close.  I needed to change, I needed to do better than I had been doing.  How could I, a sinner, ever be in the presence of God.  I mean, God hates sin right?  It seemed I was doomed to a life on the spinning wheel of forgiveness and self condemnation.  I say self condemnation because that's excatly what it is.  God had never been condemning me for my past at all {Romans 8:1}.  The only condemnation I had came from my perpetual accuser who we all know so well {1 John 4:6}.  Indeed, that very same cat who deceived Eve into taking a bite of the forbidden fruit had been doing the same thing to me all along!  Not just me, everyone around me!  I came to realize that I was  not condemned but loved.  We are told that God is love, so how can He have anything less for His own children {1 John 4:8}?  God loves me, and I don't need to change!  God loves you, and you don't need to change!  I know that not everyone will be able to handle that truth of Christ Jesus as I have.  Of course, it took me awhile to come to grips with the truth that Christ Jesus is alive and well within me {Galations 2:20}.  Knowing this I will ask you, does Jesus need to change anything about Himself?  Can you see now just why I no longer need some new years resolution to somehow change what Christ Jesus has created in me?  Now, I have no issue with those resolutions aimed at curtailing certain behaviors, for I believe that this is not changing what Jesus has brought into us.  I believe that instead of so many new years resolutions that we should instead glory in who it is we are in Christ Jesus.  Satan can keep the change!

20“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

~Scott~

A Knock On The Door

19Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 20“For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greaterworks than these, that you may marvel. 21“For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. 22“For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23“that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him."
John 5: 19 -23 NKJV

I was listening to a few radio talk shows the other day, which I do whenever I need to catch up on some current events or just need a break from the normal media trash.  As I listened, a well known local broadcaster was interviewing a author of a recent book on...opportunities.  I forget the name of the author and the book, but what I didn't forget was the point that he made.  Be it by law or just our inherent human right, we are all entitled to equal opportunities for success.  What we are not entitled to, however, is equal success from those opportunities.  Now, I know that this statement may not be popular with many who desire to fan the flames of racial tension, but I believe that this man was onto something profound.  A child may have the opportunity for equal access under the law for schooling, but does that guarantee that they will succeed?  A man may have equal access under the law to employment, but does that guarantee that he is CEO material?  The answer to both of these is, of course, no.  Opportunities do not equal success, they never have.  Now, when the opportunity comes we may, through our determination and all that is within us, will ourselves to do well.  Still, our own success is  not at all guaranteed.  When I look at a successful businessman I am seeing someone who had the very same opportunites presented to myself, yet something within him drove him to be more successful.  I can't be mad at him, he's doing what he needs to do to make it.  So, what does that say about me and the opportunities I've had?  Well, like that businessman, some have suceeded and some haven't.  We're not all Donald Trump, but one thing we do have in common with him is that even we have succeeded in a number of our own opportunities.  One thing I can say for certain is that eventually opportunity will come knocking.  What will you do with it when it does?

24Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.26“But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28“And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29“My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30“I and My Father are one.”
John 10: 24 - 30 NKJV

Without getting too much into the weeds of this issue, one thing I feel that we need to understand from the get go is that whatever hopes, desires dreams that we may have, they are and always have been connected to Christ.  Indeed, if it is Jesus who lives through those who have accepted Him, then we share all that He is {Galations 2:20}.  So, can we then stake that claim that our desires are His desires as well?  I believe that you could present a pretty strong case for that very fact.  Jesus Himself claimed on more than a few occasions that He could do nothing by Himself, but did only did what He saw the Father do.  Those of us who have children of their own will surely understand this, as a child will surely see what his parents do and do likewise.  Christ Jesus is no different.  Jesus knew the will of the Father, He and the Father were one.  Of course, this pissed off the Jewish authorities who ridiculed Him for making Himself equal to God.  However, scripture tells us that Jesus was indeed the image of the invisible God {Colossions 1:15}.  So, if Jesus only did what He saw the Father do, what does that say for us who have His Spirit in us today?  Well, I believe that whatever hopes and desires we may have, that Jesus Himself definately has a hand in speaking them onto our spirit.  You could say that, like Jesus, we ourselves can do nothing of ourselves but what we see the Father do.  Yeah yeah, but the Father never messed up like I did.  The funny thing about our flesh is that it sometimes runs contrary to the Fathers desires for us.  That does not mean that Jesus has left us, just that we choose to follow a different leader at from time to time.  The apostle Paul himself recognized this as he realized that in his own flesh nothing good dwells {Romans 7:18}.  However, Paul realized that it was only through Christ Jesus that he lived.  So it is with us as well.  I would say that it is not opportunity that every now and then comes knocking, but Jesus Himself.  Will you answer Him?

7“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” 8Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” 9Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
10“Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11“Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves."
John 14: 7 - 11 NKJV

~Scott~

That Old Ball And Chain

13And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. 16So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
Colossions 2: 13 - 17 NKJV

I was reminded once again this week of something long ago, something whose time has more than come to be put away for good.  I'm talking about the church killer we know as christian legalism.  I say church killer because I call it for what it is.  For legalism and tradition in the modern church are just a few of the things people cite as reasons for leaving the church.  Now, most people don't simply "leave" the church but just find a congregation which will be more hospitable with fewer regulations and requirements.  Bro, if I wanted requirements and regulations I'd join a club!  Personally, I don't see the need for some of the same old song and dance routine which most modern churches have become.  I know that I've said it before, but I'm pretty sure that I can predict the course of almost any church service around given the chance.  See, you have the intro music festival, this draws you in and is meant to get you pumped up for the Lord.  Then the fun statrts, you'll have a prayer session and tithing plate passed around before you get to the encore performance of the pulpit pounder telling you what you need to be doing.  Sound familiar to anyone?  That's the old ball and chain of christian legalism.  Now, I have a few close friends who bristle at the fact that some of my writings are directed against the modern institutional church.  My answer to them would usually be, what are you afraid of?  What are we afraid of?  Brother, if some guy stopped me on the street and demanded money from me and then tried to justify it all by making me feel guilty for not listening to him, he and I would definately have a problem.  So, why is it that we tolerate this same behavior from our churches?  Especially when we no longer need to.  Yes, those days are gone thankfully.  Or, should I say that they've never left us?

1Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. 5One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.6He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; aand he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.
Romans 14: 1 - 6 NKJV

I recall a conversation I had with a pastor in a church I used to attend.  It seems that a few of the elderly in the congregation, including my mother, were uncomfortable with the volume level of the sunday morning praise and worship music service.  As I addressed these concerns to the pastoral music leader I was informed that the "younger" church goers liked it that way!  Really?  I guess this was my first introduction into the world of church politics and christian legalism.  I can do without it.  From the looks of the ever shrinking congregations around the country, so can a lot of other christians.  We are told in a few places in the new testament that those days of the old church are over and done with.  Yet we still cling to them by means of our own traditions.  The apostle Paul tells us in Colossions that it is through Christ Jesus that many of these so called requirements which were against us were put to death by Jesus Himself {Colossions 2:14}.  Once again, in the book of Romans, Paul tells us that God is able to make the man who observes religious rituals to stand as well as he who does not observe them.  Imagine that.  So, when did it become more about rituals and less about Christ?  Probably when mankind hijacked religion from God.  Does God make His home in a church building?  NO {Acts 7:48}.  Yet we are told repeatedly that we are to gather in "Gods house" each sunday like good christian soldiers do.  Why?  Because our own traditions tell us that it's the thing to do.  All too often God is lost in the shuffle.
I have often been inspired by the words of the physician Luke as he describes the early church of the followers of Jesus in Acts 2.  Here we see early christians meeting in each others homes worshipping Jesus while living in true christian community.  Giving to those in need while coming together and breaking bread in happiness in the name of the Lord.  Yeah, I'd take that over any modern institutional church.  What you don't see in this example of the early church is a central place of worship (chruch building), loud music nor a pulpit pounder telling the people they needed to be more like Jesus.  The truth is, we already have Jesus in us{Galations 2:20}.  What is interesting is that that early church was nothing like we see today, and yet the Lord "added daily those who were being saved."  Imagine that.

44Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added qto the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2: 4 - 7 NKJV

~Scott~

The Best We Could

23And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.
Colossions 3: 23 - 25 NKJV

We've all had that experience before.  That experience where we feel that the job we're working is well below our talents and abilities.  "I should be in charge by now!" we all too often tell ourselves.  Hey, bro, I've been there.  I can recall taking a walk one night after getting home from work and going over in my own mind just what I was going to tell my supervisor the following day when I went into that office and quit my job.  What I should have been more worried about was why I was abandoning one job before I had secured a replacement for it.  Fortunately, I never quit that job and I went on to have a good little stint there.  Why didn't I quit when I was so damn sure that the job wasn't for me?  Well, someone told me not so long ago stuck in my mind.  "Are you doing the best that you can?"  Granted it's not the single most motivational speech of all time, but it got me thinking.  Was I indeed doing the best that I could?  If I was, then no matter what happened I could rest in the assurance that I had done all that I could.  However, if I had left some stone unturned in my endeavor, then didn't I owe it to myself to do better?  Perhaps, but all too often we don't give ourselves the luxury of the discomfort of going through something that will test us.  I mention luxury and discomfort in the same sentence to make a point.  Far too often, change comes as a result of doing something we may enjoy or dislike repeatedly.  They say that in order to develop a habit that it takes a good thirty days.  That's thirty days of doing whatever it is that you're trying to develop into a habit.  Be it exercise (come on, it's time for those New Years resolutions once again), work habits or our own daily scripture reading, it takes repetition to create and develop a habit.  Yes, you may be trying to develop a habit for something you don't like doing.  Do you have what it takes to endure the discomfort you'll face as you develop that habit?  For me, I dislike exercise.  That doesn't mean that I hate it, I just dislike it.  So, in order for me to cross that Rubicon and create a habit which was good for me, I had to endure some discomfort.  I still have my moments where I doubt that decision.  As I say, there is no luxury without at least some discomfort.

17And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Colossions 3: 17 NKJV

Unless you're Donald Trump, you more than likely know the discomfort of saving for something you need or desire.  That is the discomfort that will eventually bring the luxury.  We endure the discomfort of saving because we see the end goal of purchasing something we desire.  Like I said, unless you're the Donald, you're probably used to shopping for big ticket items that way.  So, am I ultimately doing the best that I possibly can in this life?  Well, that is for my heavenly Father to decide.  However, I feel like I haven't done all too bad.  How many of us can say that with confidence?  I can tell you of one man who could claim with the utmost confidence that He was doing the best that He possibly could and that is Christ Jesus.  See, Jesus knew He was doing the right thing because He was only doing the will of His own Father who sent Him.  How can a man go wrong with doing what God Himself desires?  Did Jesus have discomfort?  Consider the mocking, insults and scourging that He ultimately endured.  Why would a man endure this punishment for me? { 2 Corinthians 5:21}  What was, or is, that luxury of the punishment endured by Jesus on our behalf?  Yes, He died to cleanse our sins, but there was something more at stake here.  I believe that the luxury Jesus claimed for the punishment He received was that those He gave Himself for would be one with The Father as He was {John 17:21}.  So, how is it that we can see the discomforts which we so often go through.  Well, we can either view them as our permanent station in life or as our stepping stones to a greater glory which we shall partake in.  It's taken a long time, but I do not see the discomforts of my own life as a indication of who it is I am or how my own life has played out.  On the contrary, this vessel which Christ Jesus lives through in me today is but a temporary dwelling {2 Corinthians 5:4}.  A temporary dwelling, one that we shall one day gladly shed for the revelation of our true image in Christ {Galations 2:20}.  This is the luxury we have through the discomfort of Christ Jesus.  For He did not endure this for His own benefit, but for ours.  We did the best we could.

1For we know that if our earthly ahouse, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5: 1 - 7 NKJV

~Scott~

Mama Tried

Despite all my sunday learnin'
Towards the bad I kept on turnin'
Till mama couldn't hold me anymore
~Merle Haggard~

I had a conversation not so long ago with a young lady who had been close to my mom before she passed.  Although we shared little in common, there were still memories to share.  One of her memories of my mom was of a particular sunday morning when my mom came into her bible class ready to tell anyone who would listen just how proud she was of her son.  Although today I cannot for the life of me recall just what I had done to make her so proud, it made me feel good that one of my final memories of her was a possitive one.  But, as they say, things were not always smiles and sunshine for her youngest son.  In fact, I can recall many a time growing up where I was sure that my own mother would abandon me for a more well behaved kid.  Still, mama tried.  I guess I'm not the only kid who ever pushed those limits of parental authority, nor will I be the last.  It's these memories that have stung me the most since her passing.  In my mind I had done my absolute best to push her buttons and make her life miserable.  Still, mama tried.  I will say that one thing that my mother taught her two sons which in some way seemed to stick with me during my rebel years was her faith and belief in God.  This would be the cornerstone which seemed to keep me from wandering too far into a life of being a young thug.  Keep in mind that one of my role models growing up was my older brother.  A older brother who would rather me stay at home than wander the streets with him and his friends.  Thank goodness for small blessings I guess.  Mama tried.  So, instead of wandering the streets and coming home God knows when as my brother and his freinds would do so often, I would be the son who would stay at home and listen as mom would tell bible stories, boring right?  That's what I thought at the time believe me.  Still, mama tried.

14“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15“As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16“And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. 17“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.18“No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
John 10: 14 - 18 NKJV

One of my memories of my mom while growing up was of her on her knees praying whenever things got rough.  One thing about my mom, when the storms of life came upon her family she knew immediately who to turn to.  So it is that whenever I would come home and see my mother on her knees in prayer I would often wonder what it was I had done.  It might be my own guilty conscience or the fear that she had somehow discovered my latest escapade, but from a young age I learned that God was not someone I wanted to mess with.  I actually envisioned waking up some morning and being pelted by fire, brimstone and lightning on my way to school.  Indeed, my mother put the fear of the Lord in me.  Never in a violent manner, that wasn't her way.  However, she wasn't above reminding me that despite all that I had done, that there was one who knew all I did.  There were no secrets with God.  You can imagine just how much of a damper this would put on a young hell raiser.  Despite my best efforts, I had come to the realization that I couldn't get away with anything.  There was always someone watching my every move.  Of course, as I got older I would all too often turn a blind eye to the Lords vision.  I pretty much didn't care what it was that He saw me do.  It is these times that I know hurt my mom the worst, and it is these times which still haunt me today.  For even though I was focused on living my life my own way, one thing that I always carried with me was that I never wanted to hurt my mother in any way.  Things don't always work out the way we want them to however.  This is exactly why I cherish the memory which my mothers friend shared with me recently.  Despite all I have been through, all that I put her through growing up, she still carried in her heart pride in her youngest son.  Despite my best efforts to the contrary, mama tried.

~Scott~

Open Our Eyes

15And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”16So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”17And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.”Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
2 Kings 6: 15 - 17 NKJV

Elishas servant must have been beside himself.  For all around the Isrealite camp  stood the assembled armies of the Syrians.  Obviously there was no escape from the armies surrounding them...or was there?  As the prophet Elisha prayed, he prayed not for protection, but that the young mans eyes would be opened to what was in front of him {2 Kings 6:17}.  Indeed, as the prophet had predicted, "Those who are with us are more than those who are against us."  The young man stood amazed as standing on those hillsides before him were legions of angels of the Lord God of Isreal.  I have turned to this scripture many a time when my circumstances have more than assured me that the gig was up, that I had finally come to a point where even God could not save me.  My eyes were not yet opened.  Somewhere behind the scenes my heavenly Father was once again orchestrating all which He desired for me.  I guess that by now I should be used to being blind to all that the Lord is accomplishing in my life.  We are indeed visual creatures, we tend to trust and believe only what we see before us.  Yet all about us are the examples which our Lord has put before us to remind us of His work behind the scenes.  The apple falls from the tree only because of the gravity which our Lord has made possible.  The sun rises each day not because of some eco energy source man has discovered, but because of our Lords creation.  Indeed, all around us the world testifies to His creation.  Somewhere back in time before I was even a thought in anyones mind, my heavenly Father assured of His presence.  Long before my eyes were yet opened.

14in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or eprincipalities or fpowers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
Colossions 1: 14 - 17 NKJV

Only my closest friends know of the struggle I had in realizing the truth of Christ Jesus in me {Galations 2:20}.  Sometimes it felt as if I would never get it.  How could I ever trust in one I could not even see for myself?  This man, this Jesus was asking the impossible so it seemed.  There were times where I felt like that young servant staring at the armies of the Syrians assembled against the Isrealites on the hillside before him.  Like him, my own eyes were yet to be opened to what was before me.  Indeed, behind the scenes my heavenly Father was working that I might see Christ in me with my own eyes.  For even though I struggled to see Jesus in me, that in no way means that it wasn't true.  It just means that my eyes were yet to be opened to see Him in me.  Consider that the apostle Paul may have never even met Jesus, yet he spent a good portion of his life opposing him.  By Pauls own admission, it was only when "it pleased God" that his own eyes were opened and Christ was revealed in him {Galations 1:15}.  Why should it be any different for me?  When my Lords timing was right, he opened my own eyes that I would see Christ Jesus in me. I have no idea as to why my eyes couldn't have been opened earlier, but that's not for me to debate.  I only need to see today what my own eyes have been opened to.  That is, Christ in me.  For His own reasons, God did not reveal His Son to me until I my eyes were opened.  That doesn't mean that He wasn't already there, only that my eyes did not see Him.  I wonder at times what other things I have not yet seen.

 15But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
Galations 1: 15 - 17 NKJV

~Scott~

Artificial Acceptance

20“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Galations 2:20 NKJV

I have to hand it once again to Wayne Jacobsen for providing me with yet another platform with which to expound on.  This week ol' Wayne was decrying the predominant use in our society of facebook and other social media.  Now, I have known of the evils of social media in our society for some time, but to speak out against it is like crying out in the wilderness.  Indeed, it seems that people are so involved in online relationships that face to face interactions may soon become a thing of the past.  I regret the day that happens.  It's gotten so bad the one of the founders of facebook has recently bemoaned what this social feedback loop has done to our population.  We get a feeling of happiness and acceptance when someone "likes" us on facebook.  At the same time, we feel rejected and sad when we are not accepted by our social media contacts.  Really?  This is artificial acceptance, and it in NO way is a indication of who it is we are in Christ.  I know a thing or two about the whole social media thing because I've been there.  There was a time when it seems that I was addicted to online social chat rooms back in the stone ages when they were popular.  People today may not know a chat room from a like or follow, but they were as harmful as any facebook social media of today.  Don't get me wrong, social media has it's uses, but I feel that we've made it into more than it should be.  We've linked our social media to our very own self worth and emotions.  No social engineering program ever designed could have created a following of zombies as well as facebook has.

Life takes a bit of time and alot of relationship
William Paul Young ~ The Shack

I mentioned my dabbling into online chat rooms for a reason.  I do it as a warning to those who would base their worth, importance and life upon a false acceptance.  At the time, I found that it was easier for me to communicate with others via a chat room than in person because there was less pain involved...or so I thought.  I was looking for acceptance, validation and for others to see and accept me for who I was.  The trouble is, I was looking in the wrong places.  I was tying my self worth into the opinions of others.  This is a slippery slope that once one starts down its road can lead to a boatload of pain and self doubt.  If I were to give any advice to someone concerned about not being "liked" on facebook it would be simply...count your blessings.  Why would you link your self worth to what others think of you?  Why would I do the same?  Simple, for the feeling of being accepted by others.  However, if there is one thing I have learned it's that people are people and will have that tendancy to let you down every now and then.  One who will NEVER let us down is Christ Jesus.  Why would I need a facebook like to validate who it is that I am?  I already know who I am, and my validation is not tied to some social media social engineering project.  No, who I am is a child of God.  Who I am is a vessel in which the Spirit of Christ Jesus lives through today {Galations 2:20}.  It is not about validation but realization.  That realization that it is Christ Jesus who defines me.  Jesus has given me the only "like" I will ever need.

~Scott~

Something More

Sunday morning church

Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24“God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25“Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26“And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27“so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28“for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’
Acts 17: 23 - 28 NKJV

I had a interesting conversation with an old friend this week as I ventured for my morning coffee.  I have known him for some time after we first met at the same church we both used to attend...religiously.  Well, it seems that we both have in some ways traveled the very same road in that we are no longer in regular church attendance.  I'm not sure what caused my friends disconnect with the institutional church, but I'm guessing that it may similar to my own.  For me, I was looking for something more than the usual sunday sermon could offer up.  Each week I was being told that I needed to be "closer to God."  Well, I was looking for God.  To me, God could not be limited to one location or one denomination of worship.  Somewhere, somehow someone had missed the boat.  Like my friend, I desired something more than I was getting.  Now, I could turn this discussion into just another anti institutional church diatribe, but that would not help others who, like me, were simply looking for something more out of their church experience.  I'm not here as a guiding light into a better life nor as a guru to lead a new belief.  I just want something more.  More than a few things I had been hearing didn't mesh with what I already knew about God.  That I needed to ask His forgiveness each and every day.  That I needed to "do better" if I was to stay in His good graces.  This is performance based christianity, and it doesn't jive with the life we already have through Christ Jesus {Galations 2:20}.  It's funny that in all of my time sitting in a sunday morning pew that I never heard a whisper of a refernece to Galations 2:20 and how it relates to our life today.  I think that's a shame.  There are plenty of christians out there who, like me, are longing for something more.

47“But Solomon built Him a house. 48“However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: 49‘Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the LORD, Or what is the place of My rest? 50Has My hand not made all these things?’
Acts 7: 47 - 50 NKJV

One of the comments my friend made as we talked was that he "had gone to church for over 30 years and needed a break."  That spoke volumes to me and my situation.  I had began to look church not as a celebration of worship to God but as a solem duty which I had been ordered to perform.  If we are placing blame for the downfall of the church here, then I will gladly accept my part of it.  For it was my decision not to partake in the weekly institutional dog and pony show any longer.  Again, I'm sure there are many out there who may find themselves in the very same situation as I did.  Knowing what I now know, I would be the first one to tell anyone that we've lost our own focus over time.  The worship and oneness we experience when we are in our Lords presence is not something mechanical which we must be ordered to dutifully partake in.  This is not what God desires from His children.  On the other hand, when we come together as a community without the trappings of the institutional church something different happens.  Instead of a wandering mass of christians looking for a ordained pastor to guide them in what good christians should do we get a look at what true fellowship and worship is.  Many people today would not even recognize the early church of the followers of Christ if they were to see it for themselves.  To these early christians who gathered not in temples but in each others homes it was more about a community of believers than a formal song and dance performance.  There was a reason for this, as the Roman authorities of the day were not too fond of the message which had sprouted with the life of Christ.  The message that God was not a God of punishment but of love and grace.  I made the comment some time ago after I had left the church to another friend who was still doing church off and on of how I wished for a church of the type that we find described in Acts 2.  His response was typical of his belief...if we desired that type of church then our society as a whole would need to change.  It really is something different to come together as a community of believers to be in His presence free to worship Him as only we can.  I know because I've been there.

44Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45and osold their possessions and goods, and dividedp them among all, as anyone had need. 46So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2: 44 - 47 NKJV

~Scott~

Voices From The Wilderness

27“You have heard that it was said ito those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28“But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.29“If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30“And if your right hand causes you to ksin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell."
Matthew 5: 27 - 30 NKJV

It's hard to watch the news lately and not see another report of some high profile celebrity or politician being accused of some sort of sexual misconduct.  These accusations have run across both party lines as numerous women have now come forward to tell their stories of how they have been treated by men in power.  That old phrase that absolute power corrupts absolutely may have never been more true than in todays political climate.  So what is it that has suddenly caused these victims to release their years of silence and come forward?  Well, I compare it to a person in a group of people who remains silent until someone else opens up.  Indeed, once a few people came forward with accusations, the floodgates opened and we were awash in the news of men behaving badly.  Of course, this type of behavior is nothing new to many people.  We've always suspected that it was there, we just didn't see the proof until now.  It remains to be seen just how the behavior of a few men will affect the male and female relationship dynamic in the future.  In my opinion, I think we'll be ok in that regard.  I can say that because not every person has engaged in the behaviors which these few have engaged in.  I won't get into the entire pornography issue, but make no mistake it has had a huge impact on how people view women.  At least it did for me.  Some people bristle at the suggestion of pornography being a addiction, but I can personally say that it may asw well be.  How else would you describe a industry that puts people, our wives and daughters, to only have a purpose for the pleasure of a man?  Too deep of a thought for you?  Well, that thought is worth millions of dollars a year to the adult entertainment industry.  So, keep thinking the way that you do.  I'm by no means proud of what I have done in the past, but I've struggled to overcome it.  If there is one thing that I am sure of, is that this is not who I truly am.  Of course, if you want to accuse Jesus Himself of being a abuser of women, then you are accusing me as well.  For it is Christ Himself who lives in me {Galations 2:20}.

So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Ephesians 5: 28 - 33 NKJV

One thought that a dear friend shared with me some time ago in regards to my dabbling into pornography was that these women whom I was desiring were someones wife and daughter.  You might as well have thrown a brick on my head when I heard this.  See, all too often we fail to personalize the women we see in this media.  Yet, at the same time we are ready to jump in to defend our own wives and daughters to the very death should someone view them simply as objects for anothers gratification.  Can you say hypocrite?  For this is exactly the message we are sending when we do not personalize the very images we are using for our own enjoyment.  That in a nutshell is what it comes down to, who's wife or daughter are you using for your own gratification?  Tell me that doesn't cut you to the core as it did to me.  Now, not everyone will be affected by this reality and will continue to view our wives and daughters as simply objects of their own desires.  I can only speak to the changes I have been through with the help of a few trusted friends.  Friends who saw something else in me that just didn't jive with what it was I was doing.  Can a christian be caught up in such behaviors?  Absolutely!  Does this define who it is that we are in Christ Jesus?  Definately not, it only means that we are reverting back to the spirit of error which once dominated our lives.  The good news we have today is that we are dead to that now {Romans 6:6}.  What would I say to one of those politicians who has been caught up in his own bad behavior?  I would tell him that very same thing that my friend told me as he pointed out my wrong behavior.  "Nor do I condemn you."

~Scott~

Breaking Habits

4“For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5“But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6“They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7“greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’8“But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. 9“Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10“And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11“But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12“And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Matthew 23: 4 - 11 NKJV

We all have bad habits that we wish we could break.  Lately I've been making a concerted effort to go to the gym on a more regular basis.  See, I had gotten into the habit of putting it off.  It's easy to get sidetracked by something we seem to enjoy more than what is right for us.  They say that it takes but thirty days to form a habit.  Thirty days to get into the habit of doing something beneficial.  Or, thirty days to set ourselves into yet another destructive habit.  As I was going through Matthew 23 the other morning my thoughts turned to a friend of ours.  Our friend, despite his growing knowledge of Christ Jesus in him, is seemingly finding it difficult to overcome the teachings of the catholic church of his youth.  I get it.  My own feelings for the catholic church aside, I can sympathize with my brother in Christ.  I mean, it must be hard to overcome all which you have been taught about God and religion and embrace a new concept of Jesus.  A Jesus who you've been taught was so far out of reach of any mortal man.  A Jesus who you have been taught could never be in the presence of such a sinful man as yourself.  Knowing this, how is it possible that we can ever embrace the truth of Christ in us which Paul relates in Galations 2:20?  Can it be as simple as changing that habit which we have formed?  Perhaps, but I feel that it goes deeper than that.  I believe that the more that we see Jesus as being in us and not aprt from us then we have taken a huge step in overcoming centuries of teachings.  I believe that this is the place my brother now finds himself in, torn between two competing teachings.  Thankfully, he seems to be begining to see who he truly is in Christ.  I guess I can relate, for I traveled this same pathway to my understanding of Jesus in me.  I've sat through many a sermon preaching the seperation of God and man.  I don't fault the church in this.  As I've said, we all choose which path we follow.  I'd like to believe that sooner or later God will whisper into our own hearts just loud enough of the truth we have in His Son.

15But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
Galations 1: 15 - 17 NKJV

I was told this week that our friend had phoned one of our brothers to inform him that he had "ruined his prayer" which we had prayed over him this past week.  I got a laugh out of that.  See, he had come into our weekly gathering seeking prayer for a friend of his in her dealings with government agencies.  I guess I should mention here that our friends idea of prayer and our own differ in a few ways.  To him, prayer is a request for protection and provision, of his love, grace and presence.  Well, we already have all of that.  I look back to the conversation (prayer) which Jesus shared with the Father in the garden.  What is it that Jesus sought from the Father?  Grace?  Provision?  No, what Jesus asked from the Father above all was that we (you and I) would be one with the Father as He and the Father were one.  Think about that for a minute, Jesus could have asked for anything but He chose to seek only that we would be one with He and the Father.  Sort of like a homecoming if you will.  Of course, this might just fly in the face of what our local pulpit pounder has been speaking on lately.  Again, this is that habit we follow.  In this case, a centuries old habit.  Of course, that does ot make it right.  It only means that it is something we have chosen to follow on our own.  I hate to use the term blindly follow, but if the shoe fits.  Remember, I was once among that crowd that took each sunday sermon to heart.  I had to perform my best in order to be that christian that God wanted me to be.  Of course, I eventually realized that I was chasing something I could never achieve.  Not only that, I din't need to pursue a relationship with my heavenly Father, I already had that.  We can look at our prayers as Jesus did, as simply conversations with our Father in heaven.  I can also say that that prayer of Jesus for me in the garden has already been answered.  For that I am thankful.  Another habit broken.

20“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who jwill believe in Me through their word;21“that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22“And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23“I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 24“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.25“O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26“And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
John 17: 20 - 26 NKJV

~Scott~

Derailed

31Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32“Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
John 16: 31 - 33 NKJV

Many of us were captivated this week by the story of a amtrak train that derailed near Seattle.  Apparently said train was traveling well above the rated speed on the turn it was negotiating.  Being a model railroad enthusiest, I know full well the importance of reduced speed in turns.  The focus on the Seattle crash now will turn to the conduct of the engineer as well as any track defects that may have affected the trains progress that day.  One theory being floated out there is that the train engineer was possibly distracted as he drove into the turn in question.  I can relate, for there has been many a time when I have become distracted by those events around me.  See, I grew up believing that if only I trusted in Jesus that everything in my life would be roses.  Well, sorry to say, but even Christ Jesus Himself would disagree with that thinking.  The word sof Jesus in John 16 should be a red flag warning to all who believe that simply trusting in Christ will guarantee us a good and trouble free life.  For Jesus tells us that in this world "you will have tribulation" {John 16:33}.  Indeed, instead of smooth sailing we will all too often find a rocky path in life.  Now, that isn't to say that all of us will discover tribulation throughout lifes journey, but we are by no means immune to it simply because we have chosen to place our trust in Jesus.  On the contrary, it is BECAUSE we have chosen to trust in our Savior that we will encounter rough times in life.  I recall being asked by a coworker some time ago as I was going through a troubling time just how well that trust in God was working out for me.  I couldn't answer him without feeling some pain of rejection.  Here I had placed my trust in God and He had somehow thrown me under the bus...or had He?  Whenever I choose to have a pity party over my situation in life, I often think to the life of Christ and all that He endured for me.  Did the Father throw His beloved Son under the bus?  Certainly not.  However, there are those christians who continue to believe that as His Son was suffering on the cross that the Father somehow turned His back on Him.  I refuse to fall into that school of thought.  No, I believe that He was with Him throughout His ordeal.  To believe otherwise would be to believe that there is a seperation between the Father and His children and that simply isn't true.  Believe me, if anyone could have been derailed by His lifes events it was Jesus.

"Will you at least consider this: when all you can see is your pain, perhaps then you lose sight of me."
William Paul Young ~ The Shack

Consider the engineer on that fateful train.  What was it that his eyes were focused on at the momemt of the accident?  What was it that he was concentrating on instead of directing his attention to where it should have been?  Even though I was not involved in this tragedy, I know full well the feeling of having my attention diverted from where it should be.  Many a time I have found myself wading through the circumstances in my own life instead of trusting in Him who IS my life {Galations 2:20}.  Through my pain, I'd lost sight of God.  What's important is not what I'm going through but WHO is with me on my life journey.  Everything else is simply background noise we needn't pay attention to.  I feel that there is a good reason that Jesus warned us of lifes struggles, that we would not lose our focus on what is truly important.  The apostle Paul certainly knew where his focus was on his journey.  For Paul, "to live is Christ, and to die is gain" {Philippians 1:21}.  One thing I have noticed as I have grown in my trust of Christ Jesus in me is how differently I have come to see those times in my own life when troubles do come.  Where in the past I wondered to myself why God would allow such trouble in His childs life, I now wonder what He is doing in my life.  It is never Gods intention to punish me or to cause distress, even though that in itself is no guarantee that I won't face turmoil.  Our question should never be why me God...but what are you doing through me, Lord?

19For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. 21For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Philippians 1: 19 - 21 NKJV

~Scott~

Our Moral High Ground

26If anyone eamong you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
James 1: 26 - 27 NKJV

I heard some radio pulpit pounder this week bemoaning the fact that many christians still lacked the moral aptitude to be a christian in todays society.  Of course, I turned the radio off upon hearing his comments.  What would make a so called man of the cloth suddenly speak out against the children of God?  Simple, our moral high ground.  We've all seen it, in others more likely than ourselves.  Make no mistake, many of us have taken this high moral road at one time or another.  Whenever we dictate good behavior in others while not engaging in it ourselves we are advocating that moral high ground.  When we are placing unrealistic expectations of conduct on others we are taking the moral high ground.  Here is why I think that this tactic is a false expectation.  We are all Gods creation, created in His own image.  However, along with this also comes those human behaviors and tendencies which we all turn to every now and then.  Make no mistake, our heavenly Father also blessed us upon our creation with all that we are, our own human emotions and behaviors included.  Knowing this, how is it that we can place perfect expectations on imperfect behaviors?  Make no mistake about it, sooner or later we will all fall into misbehavior.  Does that make us bad people?  When we behave badly does that somehow nullify our own salvation or our own standing with our Lord?  Not at all.  See, Jesus handled all of that at the cross.  Tell me what sins that Christ somehow missed when He shed His blood for us.  Why did Jesus need to die to redeem us?  Well, because we were not perfect and we needed the sacrafice He freely gave.  It is Christ Himself who became sin on our behalf {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  Jesus took that bullet that we would no longer carry that punishment for our own sins (misbehaviors).  Sin has now been put to death and we no longer dwell in it {Romans 6:6}.

6knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.7For he who has died has been bfreed from sin. 8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.10For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6: 6 - 11 NKJV

One of the phrases a good friend of mine uses when we refer to sin is that "we're dead to that."  You know, he's right.  The apostle Paul assured us in Romans 6 that not only did Jesus put sin to death oncce and for all, but that we were put to death on that cross with Him.  That is, our old sin nature died with Him.  Too many of us get caught up in the centuries old institutional church thinking that our Lords forgiveness is conditional, that we need to continually seek His grace and forgiveness.  My friends, we ALREADY have these.  Once Jesus put sin to death once and for all, we were no longer slaves to those sins which enslaved us for so long {Romans 6:6}.  So, if we are dead to sin, can we still continue to sin?  If a slave has been freed is he still a slave?  If a sinful person has been put to death does he still continue to sin?  Get the picture?  I spoke of the moral high ground, but what I should have mentioned is that we no longer have a need to hold others accoutable for something they are no longer alive to.  For when that preacher spoke of christians continuing to live in the sins of the world he obviously had not read Pauls thoughts in Romans 6.  So, what is left if we who have known Jesus are now dead to sin?  Well, as Paul claims, we are alive to Christ Jesus our Lord {Romans 6:11}.  Not only are we alive to Christ, it is Jesus Himself who lives through us today {Galations 2:20}.  The old has been done away with, replaced by the new.  This is what Paul meant when he claimed that we are new creations in Christ Jesus {2 Corinthians 5:17}.  Others might talk of that moral high ground I need to take to contradict my sinful behavior...but I'm dead to that now.

3and every spirit that does not confess athat Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. 4You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.5They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
1 John 4: 3 - 6 NKJV

~Scott~

Eyes Of A Child

13Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.14But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15“Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 16And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
Mark 10: 13 - 16 NKJV

Out of the mouths of babes.  Many have sung the praises of those little ones around us.  One of my friends recently commented on how innocent and uncorrupted children are.  I would have to agree.  Christ Jesus Himself treasured the children around Him enough that He was displeased when others sought to prevent them from being brought before Him.  Who could blame Him?  As Jesus said, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter into it {Mark 10:15}.  Does that mean that only a child will enter into Gods kingdom?  Well, in a matter of speaking.  For if we do not RECEIVE the kingdom of God as a child, we may just be in danger of not doing so at all?  We must think of the mind of a child when we contemplate this verse.  We must go back to that place where, as adults, we all too often wish we could once again return to.  To those carefree days of our youth.  We often marvel at just how trusting children are.  This can be a blessing as well as a cause for caution.  A child will rarely question the words of their parents.  Well, that is until the onset of the teenage years and then all bets are off.  If we look closely, we can see just why Jesus spoke to those who receive the kingdom of God as a little child.  One who hears of the kingdom of God and follows that path without wavering.  These are the eyes of a child.  Complete trust in what they have been taught.  How great would our own faith be if we were to approach it a child...trusting and following?  Is it any wonder that Jesus would Jesus would suggest that those who choose to enter the kingdom of God should do so as one of these little ones?  Personally, I often wish that my own faith was as strong as that a child.  To trust and live in what I know to be true in my heart.  However, if there is one thing that our own lives have taught us as we get older is that life happens.  A life where the trust and faith of our youth may very well be shattered by disapointment, tragedy and those around us.  To be honest, life is by no means fair, and we all will one day be stopped dead in our tracks by this reality.  That's called growing up...and we all go through it.

11When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I
put away childish things. 12For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13: 11 - 13 NKJV

At times I long for those carefree days of my own childhood.  Those days when I was free to wander and discover all that there was in the world around me.  Then agian, there were many times when I was held back from my own curiosity...and that's a good thing.  A recent commercial for satalite television refered to those people who still enjoy cable tv as those who still enjoy touching a hot stove and banging their heads against a wall.  I get it.  Indeed, this was why I was held back from my own curiosity.  For what good are lifes lessons if we keep on making those same mistakes over and over?  The very difinition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different result.  So many of us were taught these life lessons when we were young.  Granted, there are a few stubborn people out there who hold fast to learning lifes lessons at their own pace.  Hey, you do you buddy.  There is a reason that we teach our children not to touch a hot stove and never to trust strangers.  This is part of our own efforts to protect them from themselves and their own natural curiosity.  Personally, I don't want to be that grown adult who never learned those life lessons we all learn growing up.  One way or another, we WILL learn them.  I'd rather get them out of the way early.  Is this truly innocence lost...or experience gained?  I'd take the latter.  When Christ taught that we should receive the kingdom of God as a child it was definately for our own benefit.  This is the essence of a faith which will stand the test of lifes lessons.  To live our life knowing who we are {Galations 2:20}.  To see the kingdom of our heavenly Father and know without question in our own hearts that we will one day be with Him.

"Truly wonderful the mind of a child is."
Yoda

~Scott~

Blasphemers And Outcasts

7“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” 8Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” 9Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?10“Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11“Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves."
John 14: 7 - 11 NKJV

A good point was brought up in our Sunday group this week.  We were discussing our usual truth of Christ in us when it was recalled just how much resistance that Jesus Himself had received when He confidently proclaimed Himself to be the Son of the living God {John 10:30}.  In fact, the Jews of Jesus' day were in fact ready to take up stones to stone this blasphemer.  Who could blame them?  Can a mere man be God?  Let me take another path, can a mere man be Christ?  Indeed, if Jesus and the Father  are one, what does that say for we who have accepted the truth of Christ today?  What is the truth of Jesus today?  Well, I believe that it goes back to the many discussions which our own group has had in the past.  The fact that we, as followers of Jesus...are Christ.  Before anyone takes up stones against me for such a blasphemous proclamation, consider the apostle Paul.  For it was Paul himself who declared himself dead and yet alive to Christ Jesus who lived in him {Galations 2:20}.  Do we discount these very words of Paul simply because we find what he was telling us too outlandish to believe?  Yet this is the reaction many who know Christ have gotten as they proclaim their belief.  This is the same reaction I myself have received when I have shared with others that it is Jesus who lives through me.  We have a running joke among out group that we have been kicked out of every decent church in our immediate area for our blasphemy.  Of course this is far from the truth, but at times I do indeed feel like an outcast among christianity.  However, this in no way has diminished my faith the words of Paul are true and that Jesus Himself lives through me.  I get plenty of strange looks every time I tell the story, but the truth of Christ remains.

31Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. 32Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?” 33The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.” 34Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods” ’? 35“If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 36“do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37“If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38“but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and fbelieve that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.”
John 10: 31 - 38 NKJV

In John 10 we are given a example of how the Jews of Jesus' time reacted to His revelation that He was the Son of God.  In fact, had Jesus stuck to that claim the Jews may have had an easier time swallowing His words.  However, when Jesus made the claim that He and the Father were one, that was too much for them to handle.  This man Jesus of Nazareth was a blasphemer!  For simply revealing to all who would hear Him that He was the promised Messiah, the Jewish authorities plotted to have Him arrested.  Was He lying?  Of course not, but these Pharisee school leaders of Jesus' day could and would not tolerate such statements from a mere man.  They couldn't wrap their mids around His words.  I won't get into the fact that we have scriptures that proclaim the truth of Christ in us which the church refuses to teach even today, but I may once again be branded as a blasphemer.  After all, I am a sinful man and Jesus cannot be in the presence of sin {Romans 3:23}.  So tell me mister Pharisee school scholar, which of my sins did Jesus refuse to wipe away on that cross?  We cannot so gladly accept that scripture which sounds good to us and yet discount that which we do not yet understand.  It just doesn't work that way.  The fact is, Jesus bled and died that my sins past, present and future would be wiped away to be remembered never more.  I have no need to continue to come to my heavenly Father for forgiveness, for He has already accomplished that through Christ Jesus.  So I will go on making my blasphemous statements while knowing in my heart that it is Christ Himself who lives through me.

20“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Galations 2:20 NKJV

~Scott~

A Part Time God With Full Time Benefits

Rerun Brown

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not acomprehend it.
John 1: 1 - 5 NKJV

I was thumbing through some fake Facebook news the other day when I came across a flash news story where California governor Jerry "Rerun" Brown was accusing president Donald Trump of not having a "fear of God."  My first thought upon reading this was of the old pot calling the kettle black.  For if there were any man who did not fear nor respect Christ Jesus it would be Jerry Brown.  For ol' Jerry, I believe that God is but a part time entity but with all of the full time benefits of any devout christian.  You might ask how it is that I know this, and I'll be glad to tell you.  See, I notice people not for the many words they speak, but by their actions.  Jerry Brown can shout from the highest rooftop that he is indeed a christian, but what do his actions tell us?  Honestly, I have seen more behavior from Donald Trump that would tell me that he is a man of faith than I have ever seen from rerun Brown, but that's just me.  So I will ask the question which arises from this, is God only with us in the good tmes and not when we so desperately need Him?  I would say not at all.  The apostle John tells us in John 1 that ALL things were made through Christ {John1:3}.  We cannot fall into the trap of human thinking that the story of Jesus begins with His birth in Bethlehem.  No, Christ has been with us from the begining.  Not only that, He will always be with us and we with Him {Galations 2:20}.  So, it is safe to say that we do not serve a part time God.  Yet some believers cotinue to hold to this belief.  These people are fine with walking with our Lord on a part time basis when they need Him, yet celebrate their independence from Him when they don't.  To me, there is no half way with God, you're either all in or your not.  The false belief that we are independent from our heavenly Father is a road paved with a false belief.  Do we believe that God created all which we see, or just all that WE think He created?

12No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
1 John 4: 12 - 16 NKJV

I was asked the question the other day that if we were all millennial christians, then from where is it that we receive free will from?  Of course, this was a trick question.  Indeed, if our Lord has created everything about us, then our own free will was included in the mix.  Now, how is it that we will choose to exercise that which He has given us?  That's the question of the million dollar question we must ask ourselves daily.  If I know in my heart that Christ Jesus is in me, then it is my CHOICE to accept His truth.  On the other hand, if rerun Brown CHOOSES not to accept the reality that he shares the same gift of Christ as I do, then that's on him.  What hasn't changed in all of this is the reality of Christ.  Through our Lords love and grace through which He breathed life into His children, we have all that make us who we are today {Genesis 2:7}.  Now, I am not a Pharisee school educated theologian who chooses to answer questions on faith and religion with still more questions, so I am not an authority on scriptural matters.  However, I am assured by my own choice that it is not I who controls my own destiny.  Nor is it I who stands alone against the world.  My heavenly Father who created me has given me the freedom to choose Christ or to choose...myself.

20“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Galations 2:20 NKJV

~Scott~

Millennial Christians And The Old Ball Coach

9Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11“The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12‘I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13“And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14“I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 18: 9 - 14 NKJV

I heard a graduation speech from Lou Holtz recently that got me to thinking.  In his speech the old ball coach told those graduates assembled before him that they would indeed face challanges in life, that was to be expected.  However, one line from his talk stuck with me.  In telling the students to keep a possitive attitude, Holtz that not only would 90% of the people they would come across not care about that their problems, but that the other 10% would blame God!  Now, Lou Holtz is neither a prophet nor a mind reader, but he damn sure can coach football.  However, I know these words of his to be true because I have seen them in action in others and in myself.  When that rubber hits the road, when the storms of life come raging we all too often feel like Jesus is in the back of our boat sleeping oblivious to all we are experiencing!  Of course, I know this to be false, but back in the day I had no problem seperating Christ from my own life.  I can recall many a time when my first response to lifes troubles was to question my heavenly Fathers motives.  Folks, this is something I have began to refer to as "millennial christianity."  We all have heard of these millennials, and some of us may even know a few of them.  That dude sitting in the local coffee shop waiting for that million dollar a year job to knock on his door...millennial.  That person who places the blame for all of the nations problems upon the wealthy and corporations...millennial.  I wish that I would be invited at some point to make a graduation speech.  After laying some truth down, I'm afraid I wouldn't be invited back.  What is the truth?  Well, for starters, life is inherently unfair...deal with it.  Yes, there will always be those who make more money than you, know more than you and, in most cases, get away with more than you ever will.  Does this mean that God is somehow punishing you for your position in life?  NO!  First off, that whole idea of a angry God who punishes His children for the slightest mishap is rooted in old covenant thinking and we're dead to that now.  These are the days of the new covenant of Christ Jesus living through those who have accepted Him {Galations 2:20}.  Yes, we ARE Jesus.

3For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
Romans 12: 3 - 5 NKJV

In Jesus' parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector we find in Luke 18, the Pharisee stands proudly in the temple while praying, "God, I thank you that I am not like other men - extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even this tax collector."  I'm thinking that we could rename the prayer of this Pharisee the millennials prayer.  God, look at me and all that I've accomplished!  Really?  This is the error in the thinking of the independent self which is what seperates us from God.  It is not God who created His seperation with us, He's always been there.  On the contrary, we ourselves created our own seperation with God by our false belief in our independent selves.  That belief that we ourselves are responsible for all that we do, accomplish and experience.  Really?  Tell me again where the creator of ALL the universe fits into this way of thinking.  The very resaon that the independent self thinking is in error is because it is false.  For everything we will ever be we have from God.  To me, pride runs rampant in the millennial ranks.  Some are foolish enough to believe the lie perpetrated by satan {Genesis 3:4-5}.  I would suggest that we stop making ourselves more important than we ought and start seeing God as He is.  It's not about us, but all about Christ Jesus in us.  Of course, we may just offend a few millennial christians along the way.

"Don't tell other people about your problems.  Ninety percent don't care and the other ten percent will blame God."
Lou Holtz

~Scott~