Garden Party

 

Yahweh Elohim formed the human formed the human out of soil from the ground, and He blew into his nostrils the breath of life; and the human became a living soul.  Yahweh Elohim planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there He put the human whom He had formed. 

Genesis 2: 7 - 8 Concordant Version

Most everyone, believers and those not so much all know the story of the birth of mankind.  How God created man and woman and placed them in the garden paradise He had created.  That the Lord achieved these things in the creation of the heavens and the earth is not in dispute.  God spoke everything into being.  However, one part of the creation story has always puzzled me, probably because there is precious little scripture to be found on the subject.  What was life like for Adam and Eve?  What was their relationship to God?  Well, being a created in the Fathers own image, I would assume that Adam shared the same physical attributes as I do, more or less.  I'm sure that Adam had the ability to think and to reason as well as the emotions to feel all which surrounded him.  So, what was life like for Adam in the garden?  We're told that the purpose for his presence in Eden was to "work and keep it" {Genesis 2:15}.  Yet, I find that Adam and Eves presence in Eden was far more involved than simply being caretakers.  It would seem that Adam had responsibilities in the garden apart from the day to day landscaping and upkeep.  We're also told that the Lord brought unto Adam each and every variety of living creature which the Lord God had created for the purpose of naming the creature.  And whatever Adam chose to call the creature, that was it's name {Genesis 2:19}.  One has to wonder at this point in the story of Adam, did he give the serpent it's name as well?  One must assume that he did.  Upon his creation, the Lord instructs Adam to "be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth" {Genesis 1:28}.  So, here's Adam with God given authority to watch over the Lords creation on earth.  Talk about a heavy burden.  However, one must assume that at this point having authority over the creatures of the earth was really not such a difficult job.  The garden party was just beginning.  

Then they heard the sound of Yahweh Elohim walking about in the garden in the windy part of the day, and the human hid himself with his wife from the face of Yahweh Elohim among the trees of the garden.  Yahweh Elohim called to the human and said to him, 'Adam, where are you?'  He replied to Him, 'I heard the sound of you walking in the garden and I was fearful because I was naked, so I hid.'

Genesis 3: 8 - 10 Concordant version

As a up and coming Christian, my view of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden was one resembling a David and Goliath scenario.  We have Adam and Eve tending to the Lords creation while God moved freely among them.  Yet, in the interpretations, we're never told intimate details that might help us get a better view of what was happening.  What did God resemble?  How tall was the Lord?  So, looking a the creation story from my own human perspective, I presumed the Lord to be this gigantic being thundering through the garden.  I mean, we're talking about God, right?  God must be seen as being larger than life.  Or should He?  As I read the various versions of the old testament I am left with one conclusion.  Adam and Eve had a personal relationship with God the Father.  I believe that this relationship carried over to their everyday life as well.  I can see Adam tending the garden while talking with his creator about the different plants and animals he came across.  Who knows, perhaps Adam also came to his friend for advice on how to work the garden?  Perhaps Eve came to the Father with questions about Adam?  We're not given any indication until after the forbidden fruit is eaten that Adam and Eve feared the Lord in any way.  Why did they ultimately fear the presence of God?  Because of their disobedience they became aware of what they had done.  Yes, up until that point the garden party was going along just fine.  Then the serpent, which Adam most assuredly had a hand in naming, came along to crash the party.  Yet even though they were expelled from the garden, I believe that the personal relationship Adam and Eve shared with the Father continued in their new surroundings.  That bond has never been broken.  

~Scott~ 

The Christian Code

 

They are of the world.  Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.  We 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: 5 - 6 NKJV 

Growing up in the Christian church, I learned pretty well about things that were permissible and those which were not.  Ask someone a polite question and you were good.  Approach someone sarcastically and you were definitely not Christian material.  I assume that the fathers of the faith simply used these rules to keep the flock in line.  Let's face it, we can't have a bunch of foul mouthed people out there claiming to love God and representing Christianity right?  We need people who are honest, well behaved and well mannered.  That's the Christian code of conduct.  Well, somewhere along the way someone broke that mold.  Being a young believer, I recognized in others claiming to be Christians some of the behaviors I had been told were out of bounds.  Arguments, wrath and all sorts of behaviors I was certain God would deal with them harshly for.  As for myself, I did my best to adhere to the code of conduct, even when it was difficult to do so.  I must admit that I looked upon myself as pretty pious in those days.  How other believers around me were giving in to the urges of the world while I adhered, so I thought, to the Christian code.  Oh how proud I was.  Then one day while at a friends house I was introduced to something that would shake my world and definitely make me question if I was cut out to be one of Gods elect.  It was a magazine.  Not just any magazine, but a fresh copy of the coveted Sports Illustrated swimsuit special issue.  As we perused those pages with excitement, I had no idea what was in store for me.  For that swimsuit issue led to more magazines and videos which were definitely not a part of the Christian code.  The funny thing was, despite feeling guilty as hell, I continued to see myself as a believer.  I loved God despite my dabbling in the mud and mire of the world.  Yet I was troubled by one question, how did God see me?  I mean, I had broken the code.  Now I was like one of those blasphemers I used to see in church on Sunday claiming to be Christians.  Now I was that blasphemer.  

Knowing 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.  For he who has died has been set free from sin.  Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more.  Death no longer has dominion over Him.  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God.  Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6: 6 - 11 NKJV 

Even back then, I saw my sin as a divider between myself and God.  Sin was the roadblock issue that only the strongest Christian could overcome.  Yet, each day I witnessed the Christian victims of sin pile up like some supernatural killing field.  Those who I assumed had been strong in the faith fell by the wayside.  Now, when I walked into church, it seemed like the Christian code was something of the past.  Soon, it was difficult to tell a believer from someone who wasn't.  To me it all seemed like a dog and pony show, performing my best to please God.  That is, until I came across a passage from the apostle Paul that reminded me of the true nature of my salvation.  For it was indeed by Gods grace that I had been chosen, not by anything I had done myself {Ephesians 2:8-9}.  The dog and pony show wasn't much of one at all.  I looked at the man Saul and I saw a zealot who took it upon himself to persecute the early church.  What did God see in him?  What did He see in me?  What did God see in this rough talking idolizer of women?  Well, He saw Himself.  For I have been created in His own image {Genesis 1:27}.  It was the Lord who breathed life into me {Genesis 2:7}.  He has been a intimate part of me from the very beginning, despite myself.  This is no more evident in the revelation which Paul introduces us to in Galatians.  That of Christ Jesus in us {Galatians 2:20}.  It turns out that I didn't break the code after all.  In fact, with Christ in me there was no Christian code to break.  Now, we may talk rough or act in a way that would make the world proud, but does that really define who it is we are?  Not at all.  For we are defined by He who lives in us.  We are Jesus. 

"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."

Galatians 2: 20 NKJV

~Scott~ 

I Have Seen God

 

Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. 

1 Corinthians 15: 28 NKJV 

How many people can say that they have seen God?  In fact, scripture tells us that nobody has seen God at any time {John 1:18, 1 John 4:12}.  I would say, however, that even though we may have never seen the Lord, there is more than enough evidence out there that He does exist.  A few years ago, while on a hike together, a good friend of mine pointed out that the presence of God was indeed all around us in the nature that we were seeing.  Indeed, the Lords fingerprint was on the trees and the rocks as well as the air we were breathing.  For if we agree that God created the heavens, the earth and all things, then we cannot escape the reality that God is in all which we see.  God is all in all.  Of course, there are those scientific minded folks who adhere to the idea that some sort of big bang created a cosmic soup from which all life evolved.  I've never bought into that line of thinking.  To me, creation is too precise to be left to chance to some random set of events.  I look at the way our own bodies were so intricately woven together.  How the atmosphere around us came together to support what we need to live.  I'm sorry, but some random big bang cannot be responsible for such precision.  All the more evidence of God all in all.  I've always maintained the notion that God, being the creator of the universe and all that we see, can not help but be present in all which we see.  Is the farmer separate from what he has planted, maintained and harvested?  No, that is his crop.  Although, the Lord did provide for him to grow that crop.  I believe that there is absolutely nowhere we can go where we will ever be separated from our heavenly Father.  This is what makes the lie of the enemy that we are somehow separate from God completely false.  How is it that we can ever be separate from He who created us?  Indeed, it is God who breathed into us the breath of life {Genesis 2:7}.  From this scripture alone, we can see that we have never been separated from God.  God who is all in all.  

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.  Amen.

Romans 11: 36 NKJV 

Despite the fact that nobody has ever seen the Lord, we are surrounded daily by His presence.  The apostle Paul spoke to this with his claim that it is Christ Jesus who is now in us {Galatians 2:20}.  It is Jesus who lives through us.  Does this sound like we are somehow separated from God?  To me it is just more proof of the Lords presence in His creation.  As I share a part of my earthly parents, God also shares His presence with me.  After all, He created me.  It doesn't stop there, either.  For God is in all which we need to survive.  From the food we eat to the water we drink to the air we breathe, God is all in all {Acts 17:28}.  I mentioned before that Gods fingerprints are on all of His creation, but it goes deeper than that.  For I believe that His presence is in all which He has created.  Therefore, we are never very far indeed from Him who created us.  What of our day to day lives?  What situation will we ever face that God is not a intimate part of?  As I said, the enemy's lie that we are separate from God is just that, a lie.  We have never at any point in our existence been separate from the Lord.  Of course, the truth is that Satan, our enemy, is also but a creation of the Lord.  God all in all.  

"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.  Nor is He worshipped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things."  

Acts 17: 24 - 25 NKJV 

~Scott~  

Angels Among Us

 

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels'

Hebrews 13: 2 NKJV 

My mother would sometimes tell me the story of that day.  Of how, on a busy afternoon she faced the dangerous prospect of attempting to cross the street near our home.  For most this would only be an issue of patience, but with my mothers limited mobility, it was suddenly a safety concern.  As she waited for a break in the rush hour traffic, a man suddenly appeared and motioned for my mother to cross.  Grateful for the gesture, she made her way across the street.  However, as she turned to thank the man, he was nowhere to be seen.  When she first told me of her experience, my mom was convinced in her heart that she had been visited by a angel that day.  I tend to agree.  For we, as believers, are never to know exactly when we will be visited by these heavenly hosts.  Of course, not every situation we face is a result of the interaction of angels, yet I am convinced that Gods children do in fact interact with them.  When I refer to Gods children I am referring to believers and non believers alike.  For I am of the mind that the Spirit of the Lord dwells not only in believers but also in those who have spurned the Lord for whatever reason.  Those who do not believe simply have not recognized themselves for who they truly are.  So, what situations have you faced where you may have been visited by angels?  World War Two P-51 pilot Don Gentile once attributed angels to saving his life over enemy held Europe.  Lost in a deadly dogfight, Gentile was certain he would need to bail out as a German fighter closed in behind him.  Suddenly, he heard over his radio the command "Break Right!"  Nobody's fool, Gentile did as he was told just in time to see the German fighter spiral into the ground in flames.  As Col. Gentile scanned the skies for his rescuer...he saw nothing.  Angels among us?  Only the Lord knows for certain.  However, scripture assures us that our interactions with angels is not merely coincidence.  We're told that God has commanded His angels for our protection {Psalm 91:11}.  That they minister to those in need {Hebrews 1:14}.  What of those unbelievers who do not recognize the Spirit of the Lord in them?  Well, we're told that there is "Joy before the angels of God" when a unbeliever repents {Luke 15:10}.  There is no doubt, therefore, that there are indeed angels among us.

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.  All things were created through Him and for Him.

Colossians 1: 16 NKJV 

Whether we share in the belief that we have or will have interactions with angels, we must agree on just one thing.  When we speak of angels we are speaking of another of Gods creations.  That's right, as we were created in Gods own image, the angels were created by Him as well.  That we cannot deny.  Where we might disagree on the subject of angels is what their ultimate purpose is.  That should be a no brainer in my opinion.  The apostle Paul reminds us that the angels were created "For Him" {Colossians 1:16}.  That would be Christ Jesus.  I believe that the ultimate purpose of the angels is to achieve the will of the Father.  If that is to be done through interaction with His creation then so be it.  We're told throughout scripture that angels have been tasked to warn, inform and speak to Gods children.  It is a angel who foretold to Mary that she would have a son.  It was a angel who warned Joseph to flee his home when the authorities were seeking to kill newborn children.  Our interactions with these created beings has been well documented.  It is not my belief that each and every situation we face is a angel working in our life.  But I do believe that each and every situation we face is the opportunity for the angels to interact once again with Gods children.

Then he said to me, "These words are faithful and true."  And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place.

Revelation 22: 6 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

A Book For All Occasions

 

"But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.  You search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me."

John 5: 38 - 39 NKJV 

There has been a debate going on in our circle concerning the importance of bible translations.  That is, which translation we choose to use in our daily readings.  For my preference, I've used the New King James Version for some time now.  I find the wording to be more user friendly.  However, apparently that isn't all we're supposed to consider when we choose a translation to read.  We cannot forget that we need to seek a translation that closely resembles the Greek, Latin or whatever dialect people spoke back then.  Only then, they say, can one truly understand what the authors of the texts were trying to get across.  I agree, to a point.  One thing I do understand is that each and every bible that we will ever come across has at some point been looked at and translated by man.  Now, take this into consideration, what do we know about the translators of the bible we're reading?  Were they God fearing men?  Did they believe as we do?  How is it that we can trust their translation to be trustworthy?  Anyone who knows biblical history knows that there are precious few original manuscripts that have ever been found containing the original writings of James, or John or whoever.  We have had the discovery of the Dead Sea scrolls, which at the time was a ground breaking event as far as biblical translations go.  However, precious few other original manuscripts have been located.  So it is that we must rely upon the integrity of the original writers of the biblical texts.  I'm sorry, but I cannot place that amount of trust in a human translation.  You will never hear from me that we should get rid of the bible because of a faulty translation.  What I will say is that we should choose our biblical translations wisely.  For it does seem that, at times, there is indeed a translation to fit any occasion.  We have study bibles.  We have children's bibles.  We even have bibles geared towards drug addiction recovery.  Which of these translations is the most accurate to the original text?  As I said, we must be careful.  

These were more fair minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.  Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as man.

Acts 17: 11 - 12 NKJV 

One thing I'm assured of is that when I have needed to look at a scripture in my own translation, I trust that it is the Spirit who leads me to the understanding of that passage.  Although I agree that different people looking at the very same scripture will somehow come up with a totally different meaning, I also agree that looking a the scripture through the eyes of Jesus will help us a lot in our understanding.  How do we find the perspective of Jesus?  The apostle Paul leads us into this understanding in Galatians.  It is here where Paul speaks to the reality of Christ in us {Galatians 2:20}.  If indeed Christ Jesus is in us, can we continue to look upon scriptures the same way?  Will Jesus not speak to us the meaning of the words?  I believe so.  Although we may have different translations, the story is the same.  I recall a bible translation not so long ago that was geared towards the Island people of Hawaii.  This "Pidgeon bible" translation used a lot of the heavy dialect and words of the people of the Islands, so I found it a bit difficult to read.  Yet what I didn't find that hard to understand was the story of Christ Jesus.  The Pidgeon bible had one purpose, to introduce the Island people to Christ Jesus.  In that I feel it was successful.  So what of the other translations that we see?  The drug addiction bible, the children's bible or the study bible?  I won't argue that they have their place.  However, I will mention that the overall importance is not found in the translation of the book, but in the truth of the message it speaks to. 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:1 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

Singing Ourselves To God

 For even if there are so called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. 

1 Corinthians 8: 5 - 6 NKJV 

I was reminded once again this week of one of the reasons why I left the world of the mainstream church.  The other day a good friend forwarded me a article from Crosswalk written by a pastor who posed the question "Is your church worship more pagan than Christian?"  Immediately I was once again reminded of the issues I had with the praise and worship ministry in my former church.  For one, why was it elevated to ministry status at all?  The author, despite his church roots, does a good job in questioning the concepts of modern praise and worship music in the church.  I guess that I'm more than a bit biased, as I grew up singing traditional hymns in Sunday service.  Believe me, I would take How great thou art over some modern rock and roll version of amazing grace any day!  Yet, for many Christians, this is the new way of bringing people closer to God.  This is the experience that will open the believers eyes to the reality of the Father.  Yeah, yeah, I've heard it all before.  The very idea that music can bring someone "closer to God" smacks of a man made system.  How about this, friend, try getting to know Jesus before you learn the verses of that next Christian rock tune.  I can sing all day long (not very well I might add), and still not be closer to Jesus than I've been all along.  See, it wasn't some flashy praise and worship music that brought me to the realization of Christ Jesus in me.  As a matter of fact, I don't believe that there are any modern praise and worship songs that speak to the reality of Christ in us.  My own realization of Christ in me was born out the Fathers revelation to me of His truth.  It was God who revealed His Son in me {Galatians 2:20}.  The very idea that a song can take the place of Jesus in bringing us to the Fathers presence should border on heresy.  For we are told that there is but one mediator between God and man, and that is Christ {1 Timothy 2:5}.  Jesus also tells us that it is He Himself who brings people to the Father {John 14:6}.  I don't ever recall Jesus singing a song to draw near to God.  

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

2 Timothy 4: 3 - 4 NKJV 

The apostle Paul had a warning for young Timothy.  He warned his apprentice to be aware of those believers among them who might desire for themselves another gospel.  A gospel more in tune with what they wanted to hear.  Sound familiar?  The author further sounds the alarm by stating that in many Christian houses of worship, the importance of hearing the written word has become marginalized, replaced by the banging guitars and flashy light effects of modern praise and worship music.  Somehow, this music is supposed to instill in believers that feeling that they are "being close" to God.  Again, nothing about Christ in us is taught, or sang about for that matter.  And what of the leaders and band members of these Christian rock bands?  Well, they become even more popular than the pastor in most cases.  Again, I've seen this unfold with my own eyes in my former church.  Indeed, this was one of the reasons why I gave up on organized church.  Notice that I never gave up on Christ Jesus, just on those who were representing Him badly.  

"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."

Galatians 2: 20 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

The Worlds Jesus

 

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." 

Revelation 3: 20 NKJV 

I was listening this week to a non believer describe who he thought that Jesus was.  Well, his description went along the lines of a man who was kind, forgiving and just.  I can't be certain, but I think this unbeliever stole a peek at the bible because this sounds kind of like the Jesus I've come to know.  It's funny, but the world view of Jesus is more or less the same as someone who has been a believer most of their life.  I've heard Jesus described as the worlds greatest man and the ultimate peacemaker, all true by the way.  Even in television and movies, Jesus is depicted as being one who is merciful and kind.  Yet I recall a conversation I had with a coworker a few years back who was by no means a believer.  One day, somehow, our conversation turned to the topic of Jesus.  Now, he knew that I was a believer, and he made sure on occasion to mock me for blindly following a cult.  However, once our conversation turned to Jesus, we suddenly came to a agreement about my belief.  As he gushed his praises of Jesus the man, I smiled and agreed with him.  Then I told him, Jesus is all of these things, and more.  Then he asked me, 'What's the catch?'  'Catch?' I asked.  "Yeah, that part where you tell me that Jesus commands me to go to church, tithe and lord over my wife?"  It was then that I realized the bad rep that Jesus has gotten through the years had claimed another victim.  I told him that he was confusing the man Jesus with the religion of Christianity.  Yes, all of the attributes that he had attributed to Jesus were true.  Jesus is kind.  Jesus is merciful and just.  However, I also hear that Jesus wasn't too big on organized religion.  Especially when it came to a religion that placed men over others.  Jesus was no friend of the scribes and Jewish Pharisees who were the leaders of the Jewish faith.  It was Jesus who publicly shamed these men for their deeds done seemingly in the name of the Lord.  Could Jesus the man be the same Jesus we've been taught for so long?  

"But woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you devour widow's houses, and for a pretense make long prayers.  Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much  a son of hell as yourselves." 

Matthew 23: 13 - 15 NKJV 

How much do we associate Jesus the man with the Jesus of Christianity?  Is there a difference in the two?  Honestly, I never knew the man Jesus until after I had left the mainstream church.  Yes, through years of teaching and sermons, I knew OF Him.  Yet I truly did not come to know the man Jesus until He was revealed in me.  Now, so we don't get lost in translation here, my own revelation of who Jesus truly is came in the same form experienced by the apostle Paul on that road to Damascus.  Paul realized that it was the Father who had, in His timing, revealed Christ Jesus in him {Galatians 1:15-15}.  Remember, this is coming from the guy who would later refer to himself as the chief of all sinners {1 Timothy 1:15}.  Jesus wasn't the guy who told Paul that he was condemned because of his sin.  No, Paul was saved through all which Jesus has accomplished.  Knowing this, Paul gives us one of the most important messages in scripture, that of Christ in us {Galatians 2:20}.  Christianity tells us that Jesus was crucified and buried then rose again three days later.  However, it's here where religion takes one road while the truth of Christ Jesus lies down another.  We're told that Jesus, after His resurrection, ascended unto the Father to be seated at His right hand {Mark 16:19}.  Fortunately, this isn't where the story of Jesus ends.  For we know, through Paul, that it is Christ Jesus who now lives in us.  So, which would you rather have, to know OF Jesus or to know the man Jesus?  

"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."

Galatians 2: 20 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

Free To Be Me

 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."

Galatians 2: 20 NKJV 

Freedom was the conversation of the day yesterday.  Not only because we celebrated the birth of our nation, but because we once again celebrate the freedom we have in Christ Jesus.  The freedom for the forgiveness of our sins {Ephesians 1:7}.  The freedom in knowing that our sin issues are non longer an issue for us {Romans 6:11}.  This is the freedom that we have in Christ.  This is why I can say with confidence that I am free to be me.  Free of the fear of judgement that I once lived in.  Wondering if I was good enough to be counted as one of the saved of Jesus.  Wondering what else I needed to work on to bring me closer to Jesus.  Well, it is through Jesus that I am no longer condemned {Romans 8:1}.  There is something to be said about living a life of Christ in you.  Knowing that those things that used to worry you are no longer an issue.  But it's more than that.  To live as Jesus is to live in the knowledge that you share your life with Him.  Everything I do, no matter how good or bad, I do as Christ who is in me.  A good friend of mine shared recently his struggles with staking claim that he himself is Jesus.  I get it.  I was there once as well.  However, if Jesus is indeed in you, can you be anything but Him?  This is not a issue of trying to gain personal glory by saying that I am Jesus.  I say that I am Jesus because I AM.  I am Jesus because it is Jesus who lives in me.  The same way that I am part of my earthly Father, Jesus is forever a part of me.  How can I be so assured of this?  The apostle Paul, himself a late in life convert to knowing Jesus in himself, assures us that Jesus indeed lives through us {Galatians 2:20}.  Now, I don't expect everyone to jump on the Jesus bandwagon and immediately come to knowing that He lives in them.  For myself, I had more questions than answers when Christ was revealed in me.  Most of the questions were centered on traditional church teachings and beliefs which I had been raised on.  How can Jesus live in a sinner?  Are you comparing yourself to God?  It took some time, but eventually I came to realize the freedom to be me.  

Knowing 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.  For he who has died has been freed from sin.  Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more.  Death no longer has dominion over Him.  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.  Likewise 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 biggest obstacles I faced in my knowing of Christ in me was the sin issue.  How could Jesus live in a sinner?  Indeed, the drum beat which every Christian hears throughout their life is that ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  I agree.  We're told that we're sinners saved by the Lords grace.  We're told that the best that we can hope for is to "Be more like" Jesus.  It is against this backdrop that I struggled to accept Christ living in me.  So, when I hear of someone else facing the very same struggles I once faced, I know what they are going through.  I believe that it was never the Lords desire to have Jesus simply die on that cross to forgive our sins.  No, something needed to be done about the issue of sin itself.  When Paul tells us that our "old man" was crucified along with Jesus on the cross, he was referring to that man I used to be {Romans 6:6}.  This was the sin I was born into, but it is not the sin I remain in.  For it is through Jesus that I am now a new creation {2 Corinthians 5:17}.  This is how Jesus can live in me.  For He is not living in a sinner, but a new creation in Him.  This is why I am free to be me.  Free to be Christ who is in me.  

And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having 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. 

Colossians 2: 13 - 14 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

A Voice In The Wilderness

 

For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.' "

Matthew 3: 3 NKJV 

I've used the phrase "voice in the wilderness" in the past when someone would tell me that they got some understanding from one of my writings.  After all, that is what I am, a voice for Jesus in the wilderness of the world.  Most believers see Matthew 3:3 for what it is, as speaking of the man John the baptizer.  What makes me similar to he?  Well, John and I both speak the Lord to a world where far too few people know Him.  A good friend of mine who continues to remain nameless mentioned the other day of how we will use the revelation of the Jesus we know.  The Jesus we know as Christ in us {Galatians 2:20}.  In my last post I mentioned my friend Larry, who has retired after many years of service and stress.  I always knew Larry as a God fearing man, but now he has chosen to take his love for the Lord unto those around him as a chaplain.  Despite the fact that he has yet to receive the revelation of Jesus in him, the world needs more people like Larry.  More people who will step up and sound off about the living Christ.  I like to think that my use of this blog page does just that.  Through my writing, I am sharing the Christ Jesus that I have come to know.  Now, most believers are still not going to accept the Jesus I speak of.  For many continue to be locked in the traditional teachings of the institutional church, where Jesus died, rose on the third day and is now seated with the Father in heaven.  As I spoke to Larry this week, I was once again reminded of the strength of the church narrative.  He shook his head as I attempted to explain to him how it is Jesus who lives in us.  I'm fine with that, because now the seed for his future revelation has been planted by one voice in the wilderness.  My own revelation of Jesus in me did not come until later in life as well, so I do not expect my friend to be different.  As it was with the apostle Paul's revelation, so it is with us.

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles. 

Galatians 1: 15 - 16 NKJV 

What I see in my friend is the excitement we often see in new Christians.  Those who are excited to have come to know the Lord and be among those who are forgiven.  Of course, once we come to know the Lord, we are often ensnared by the teachings and traditions of the church, which can water down our enthusiasm.  However, I won't beat that dead horse just yet.  For now I would rather focus on the question my friend wondered this week.  How will we use the revelation of the Christ Jesus we now know?  That is, the Jesus who lives in us.  Well, the obvious thing to do would be to tell as many people as we can about the freedom of living as Jesus.  This was never more obvious than a few years ago when we gathered at a friends home with a few fellow believers who all testified of the freedom they had found once they were away from the traditions and requirements of the church.  Now, I want to be clear that these people did not walk away from Jesus, only from those who were representing Him badly.  That seems to be the case in many of our houses of worship as church memberships are declining.  I haven't been inside a church in over ten years, yet I still believe in God and trust in Jesus who lives in me.  It seems that the only things I have given up are the requirements and traditions of the mainstream church.  I'm ok with that.  For in all of my years in the church, I've never come closer to knowing Jesus than I do today.  So, how is it that we will use the revelation of the Jesus we know?  Good question.  I believe that we can learn something from my conversation with Larry.  That planting the seed of Christ Jesus into someone's heart could very well lead to their own revelation.  At the end of the day, it is God who decides when that will happen.  

"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." 

Galatians 2: 20 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

Being Real

 

Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.  So 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, praising 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 

I ran across a question the other day that I feel deserves a closer look.  That question is, what is authentic Christianity?  What does bare bones Christianity look like?  Is this something we believers need to work towards?  Does God desire us to be authentic Christians?  Indeed, as I pose these questions I feel as if I am back in church listening to a sermon from some pulpit pounder who is trying to rally his congregation.  First, what is it that we think of when we think of authentic Christianity?  People will, of course, have differing views on this.  For me, mention authentic Christianity and I think of worship bands, hymns, full pews and collection plates.  Someone else might see Christianity as worship.  However, I believe that we cannot do justice to this question until we define what Christianity is.  Wikipedia describes Christianity as a "Monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth."  There you have it, Christianity is a man made religion based on the teachings of Jesus.  The issue that I have with the entire authentic Christianity question is that it is based upon something that distorts the truth of Christ Jesus.  I was reminded of this this past week when I ran into my old friend and co worker Larry.  Larry is retired now, but spends most of his time in the role of a chaplain.  I have no doubt that he loves the Lord, but as I listened to him speak I could hear the thousands of years of church teachings in his stories.  Maybe I'm jaded or maybe I've been away from church for too long, but listening to Larry talk about the Lord made me feel like I was watching a Oral Roberts special.  So, I asked him a question.  "Larry, do you believe in the truth of Christ Jesus which Paul speaks to in Galatians 2:20?"  After looking up the verse I quoted, Larry looked at me with a blank stare.  I could tell that he had not seen that scripture in the way I was showing him before.  He walked away refusing to believe that Jesus could ever live in the lives of sinners. 

Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually 

1 Corinthians 12: 27 NKJV 

I'm not surprised that Larry walked away without even taking the time to consider what I was asking of him.  I get that a lot.  Larry is one of those believers who would embrace authentic Christianity and all of the traditions and teachings that go along with it.  Even I once walked in the halls of Christian churches.  I started out in Sunday school learning the stories of the bible.  From there I graduated to learn the traditions and customs every authentic Christian needs to know.  What made me walk away?  The very teachings of the Christian church.  Whether God had revealed to me a new way of seeing Him or not, I knew that listening to the church doctrine was not for me.  The doctrine the pastor asked me to swallow that day was a look inside the teachings of the church.  After hearing a sermon on the death and resurrection of Christ and how He had died to forgive my sins, the pastor invited all who had sins to confess to come forward.  I was done with the dog and pony show.  In that moment, Christianity became just a series of laws and regulations to me.  What should I expect from a man made religion?  Not much I'm guessing.  So, what do I see as authentic Christianity?  Well, take away the fancy church building and all of the traditions associated with it and you'd be pretty close to how I see authentic Christianity.  I see authentic Christianity as knowing who Jesus is in me {Galatians 2:20}.  After all, I follow Jesus, not someone's rendition of who Jesus is.  

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another

Romans 12: 5 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

Patton's Prayer

 

Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech thee, of thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend.  Grant us fair weather for battle.  Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon thee who armed thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies, and establish thy justice among men and nations.  Amen. 

George S. Patton

14 December, 1944

Being a history buff, I've probably seen most war movies that have been made.  One of my very favorites is Patton, with the venerable George C, Scott in the lead role.  For me, this film brought out the human side of a man you either loved or hated.  Whether you loved him or hated him, history will show that he was the right man at the right moment in time.  One of my favorite scenes from this movie came as Patton's third army was besieged not only by their German enemy, but by bad weather as well.  Weather so bad that American air forces could not provide cover for our ground troops.  It was here where Patton commissioned his chaplain to write a prayer for...favorable weather.  While most people will dismiss this as Hollywood dramatics, there is no doubt, and history will record, that the weather soon cleared and the third army continued their advance across France.  I have always wondered, what would make a great military mind such as George Patton resort to the power of prayer?  Of course, I have no doubt that Patton understood that there is power in prayer.  We now know that Patton was indeed a deeply religious man who prayed often and certainly lived with a faith in God.  Many people will point to Patton's often vulgar language and claim that he could not have possibly knew the Lord.  However, the old generals often offensive talk was nothing more than a tool he used to motivate the men in his command.  In his heart, he knew the Lord.  Knowing this about Patton, is it any wonder that as he was faced with bad weather and a determined German enemy that he would resort to praying for victory?  In my own experience, when I have had my back against the wall, I have all too often prayed for deliverance from my circumstances as well.  Prayer has at times been called the last vestige of the damned.  Meaning, that when the chips are down and the end is near, prayer may be our only last resort.  While I choose not to look at prayer in such a way, I can understand how those who do not know the Lord as I do might use prayer as a get out of jail free card.  

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4: 6 - 7 NKJV 

Why did George Patton offer a prayer for good weather?  Because I truly believe that he knew that what he asked would come to pass.  I believe that this is the basis for most institutional Christianity prayers as well.  Do we pray with the assurance that what we are beseeching God for will come to pass?  I'll take it one step further, is prayer simply our way of getting what we want from God?  Do you honestly think that God does not know what you need?  How is it that Jesus viewed prayer?  Did Jesus use His prayers to get what He desired from the Father?  No.  More often than not, the prayers of Jesus were His private time communing with the Father.  We are often told that Jesus sought out a private place in which to pray.  Understandably, He desired a atmosphere which was uncluttered with everyday life while He talked with the Father.  I think I would be remiss if I didn't mention what the apostle Paul tells us about the truth of Christ Jesus in us {Galatians 2:20}.  Why is this important?  Because far too many Christians live with the mistaken belief that Jesus is separated from us.  As Paul tells it, nothing could be further from the truth.  With Christ in us, our prayers, our conversations with Him take on a more personal perspective.  Despite what the church might teach, we are not praying to a far off God hoping that He will hear us.  Jesus hears us.  Jesus understands us.  Above all, Jesus knows us.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11: 1 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

If I Were God

 

And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM."  And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I am has sent me to you.' "

Exodus 3: 14 NKJV 

What kind of changes would you make if you were the one making them?  What would you do differently?  Would you learn from mistakes, or would you stay with what you knew?  While I'm not trying to dabble in blasphemy, I've often wondered what I would do if I were God.  Granted, my own bloodline is pretty close to the Lord Himself.  The apostle Paul assures us of this in Galatians when he rolls out the truth of Christ in us {Galatians 2:20}.  But being God?  While Jesus told His disciples that if they had seen Him they had seen the Father {John 14:9}.  He also taught them that the Son does only what He sees the Father do {John 5:19}.  So, what would I do if I were God?  What would I do if I had the ability to make everlasting change to my own creation (assuming that I was God, I would be the creator as well)?  Well, one of the first things I would do is rid the world of pain and suffering.  having gone through enough of it myself, I don't believe I'd want my children to endure such things.  Next, I would make it so that my children all got along, for this would surely end many of the conflicts we have seen in our lifetime.  Next I would create a lovely sanctuary for my children and all of my creation to live and a place where I could commune with them.  I'm thinking a beautiful garden.  There is now no suffering, no conflict and my children and I are able to live together in the paradise I created.  But wait, what if one day a serpent came along to convince my children that they could be exactly like me?  Really?  I thought I was God.  Well, believing the deceivers lies, my children accepted the idea that they could be like their creator...like me.  What do I do?  Obviously, the serpent needs to be punished, but what about my beloved children?  How do I express my love and forgiveness for them while letting them know that bad behavior is not acceptable?  Do I punish them physically?  Do I remove from their lives some of which I have provided?  This is one part of being God I would not desire. 

If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God who he has not seen?

1 John 4: 20 NKJV 

Although it is interesting to contemplate what I would do differently if I was God, I fear that I am far from qualified for that position.  For if I were God, each and every decision I would make would be tainted by my human experiences.  As I said, I am definitely in the bloodline of the Lord God through the finished work of Christ Jesus, but being God?  I'm thinking that this may possibly be up for much debate once one knows the truth of Christ in me.  As Paul tells of Christ in us, we are assured that the Spirit of Jesus lives in us.  As I am my earthly father who is in me, so I am in Christ.  So, if when we look upon Jesus we see the Father, am I then God?  I still can't buy into the story that if I am Christ then I am the Father as well.  We know that Jesus is in the Father {John 14:20}.  So, if Jesus is in the Father, then I indeed share in that.  However, I will suggest that Jesus is the very image of the Father {Colossians 1:15}.  It is Jesus who is the image of God {Hebrews 1:3}.  So, I live as He who is the expression of the Father.  That is my connection to God.  I believe that were it not for Christ, that nobody would ever know the Father.  I think I'll allow God to do in me what He desires, and I'll follow Him in my life.  It just works better that way. 

Who being the brightness of His glory and express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Hebrews 1: 3 - 4 NKJV 

~Scott~