Quick To Listen

 

"My sheep are hearing My voice, and I know them, and they are following Me"

John 10: 27, Concordant New Testament 

Much of what I learned about God early on I learned in the halls of the institutional church.  Therefore, when someone tasked me with listening to God, I figured that it would be a long, drawn out process.  After all, there was a lot that went into listening for the Lords voice.  Just the phrase "listening for the Lord" can indicate that it might be awhile before one hears from God.  Yet, this is what those engulfed in Christian religion are all too often told when it comes to hearing the Lord.  What would you expect from a system which preaches the separation of the Father and His children?  Of course, this is about as far from the reality of God as one could get.  Jesus tells us that His sheep are hearing His voice {John 10:27}.  So, obviously those who follow Jesus have come to know His voice.  How does that work?  Well, I believe that instead of "listening for the Lord" that we should listen TO the Lord.  I don't believe that we will be required to wait for an agonizing time when we truly wait upon the Lords voice.  I'm not saying not to be patient, but too many times we make listening to God harder than it needs to be.  First off, lets get rid of the religion created idea that we are separated from the Father.  That automatically puts a barrier between ourselves and the Lord.  This has never been what the Lord has desired for us.  From the beginning, God has desired to be among His children {John 17:21}.  We see this in the beginning of creation before Satan spoke the lie which was, of course, accepted as true by Adam and Eve {Genesis 3:4-6}.  This is the birth of the separation theology which the mainstream church continues to speak today.  From scripture, we know that the Father has provided for the redemption of His children through the death of His Son on the cross.  Despite some misguided teachings speaking the opposite of the truth.  God has never been separated from His children.  

Lo!  I stand at the door and am knocking.  If ever anyone should be hearing My voice and opening the door, I will also be coming in to him and dining with him, and he with Me. 

The Unveiling Of Jesus Christ 3: 20, Concordant New Testament 

I don't believe that the Father intended our conversations with Him to be a long process.  But how is it that we view the Father?  The apostle Paul spoke to the truth that in him, only Christ Jesus remains {Galatians 2:20}.  Paul knew that the man, the individual, was dead and gone.  What remains is Christ.  Therefore, we are absolutely able to have a conversation with the Father.  For it is the Father who resides in us.  It is the Father who, through Christ, has made us one with Him.  Dare I say that talking with God can be as simple as speaking to someone next to you.  It was never intended to be rocket science.  It was not Gods intent to overcomplicate things.  When the Father is revealed in us, a conversation is something which comes naturally.  We know Him, and we speak with Him.  The author of Hebrews calls upon us to speak with confidence with God {Hebrews 4:16}.  In my own life, I have daily conversations with the Father.  Why wouldn't I, who knows me better than He?  He has been with me from the beginning and will be with me for time eternal.  I know His voice, and I follow Him.  

~Scott~ 

Talking Jesus

 

Wherefore, also, God highly exalts Him, and graces Him with the name that is above every name, that in the name of Jesus every knee should be bowing, celestial and terrestrial and subterranean, and every tongue should be acclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God, the Father. 

Philippians 2: 9-11, Concordant New Testament 

A good friend reminded me the other day after posting my last page of just how we should speak of the Lord Jesus.  Of how it is that we should be talking of Him.  His advice to me was to speak of the Lord in a way that denotes that it is Christ who remains and not us.  I would agree with that.  As I've mentioned before, one of the hardest concepts to understand in the entire Christ in you realization is the fact that we...are no more.  Take a moment and ponder that truth.  Glance at your reflection.  Look at the way your fingers move.  Then, take in the words of the apostle Paul in Galatians who tells us that WE have indeed been crucified with Christ Jesus at the cross {Galatians 2:20}.  Paul understood and knew that he no longer existed, but that in his vessel of a body, Christ Jesus remained.  So, as you glance at your reflection in the mirror, remember that it isn't you, but Christ you are gazing at.  Of course, I still have my difficulties in speaking of the Lord Jesus.  In my writings, it is important that I speak of Jesus in the rightful way, knowing that others will be reading it as well.  My desire for those who read my posts is that they would come to know the truth of Jesus as I have.  My background growing up in the mainstream church has given me a unique perspective into how it is that Jesus is spoken of and taught by todays institutional churches.  I haven't abandoned God in any way.  What the Father HAS accomplished in me in the revelation of the truth of His Son in me.  Of course, saying that Jesus lives in me might denote that I (me) still exist?  I can understand the difficulty others have in accepting the reality of the indwelling Jesus.  All which we have been taught when it comes to Jesus is that He exists outside of us.  That we, as sinners, are separated from Christ and the Father.  Nothing could be further from the truth of Jesus.  You say that you fear your sin nature will keep you away from a life in Christ?  Not according to Paul.  Paul calls us to the realization that we are now dead to sin {Romans 6:11}.  How is it that Jesus could give His life on a Roman cross to wash away our sins yet we continue to worry and fret over sins which the Father has already forgiven?  Someone explain that to me.  The reality is, when the Father looks upon His children He does not see a sinner...but His beloved Son.  

Knowing this, that our old humanity was crucified together with Him, that the body of sin may be nullified, for us by no means to be still slaving for sin, for one who dies has been justified from sin.  Now if we died together with Christ, we believe that we shall be living together with Him also, having perceived that Christ, being roused from among the dead, is no longer dying.  Death is lording it over Him no longer, for in that He died, He died to sin once for all time, yet in that He is living, He is living to God.  Thus you also, be reckoning yourselves to be dead, indeed, to sin, yet living to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Romans 6: 6-11, Concordant New Testament 

Although Paul's words in Galatians are a hallmark of our realization of Christ in us, I believe that his words in Romans are just as important.  For here, Paul lays out the truth of that sin which so many Christians continue to live in fear of.  We realize that we were crucified together with Jesus that this body of sin would be nullified {Romans 6:6}.  We learn that of we indeed died with Christ, that we will live with Him as well {Romans 6:8}.  And, here's the most important part, that Christ Jesus died to sin ONCE FOR ALL TIME {Romans 6:10}.  That's it, there are no do overs!  The truth is that Jesus became sin at the cross and that we died with Him.  Perhaps it easier for us to live in the fear of sin?  For me, I'd rather live in the confidence that Jesus lives, and that He lives in me.  So, when we speak of Jesus, we should speak in a way which recognizes the truth of who He is today.  He...is me.  The false narrative so often spoken by the mainstream church is that we ourselves are in charge, which simply isn't true.  For if we died with Christ, He is the only One who remains.  

~Scott~ 

Moments Of Improvisation

 

Major Powers ~ "Your man cheated"

Gunny Highway ~ "He improvised...he overcame!" 

It has been said that the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results.  I never really experienced this until I began my fitness journey.  Believe me, there are thousands of exercise addicts out there who deal in insanity each and every day.  They go out there and jump on their treadmills and walk/run their time away expecting things to change.  Well, cardio is a good exercise, and it certainly is a good thing.  However, it's not the be all end all of physical health.  Nutrition also has a lot to do with how our fitness journey pans out.  What does improvisation have to do with fitness anyway?  Well, on my journey I have had many forks in the road.  I have had to reevaluate my progress every so often.  If something wasn't working, I looked at what else I could be doing.  I improvised, I adapted.  I would say that improvisation is one of the keys to any fitness program.  So, this week I improvised once again.  I found that I was lacking in an area I've often struggled with, and I tweaked a few things along the way.  But what does all of this have to do with the truth of Christ Jesus?  What does improvisation have to do with knowing Him?  Well, bear with me here.  For many years I dabbled in what I will refer to as institutional church insanity.  I did the same thing over and over all the while expecting to come to know my Lord and savior.  Unfortunately, this never happened until the day that I improvised my beliefs and understanding of just who Jesus is.  Dare I say that the mainstream church deals with Jesus as He WAS.  I, on the other hand, have come to know Christ as He IS.  Jesus has never been the Savior who sits at the right hand of God watching over a sinful creation.  No, Jesus is here among us every day.  The apostle Paul referred to the truth of Christ Jesus more than a few times in his writings.  It had been revealed to Paul that he, in fact, no longer existed, but that all which remained was Christ {Galatians 2:20}.  Of course, this was not the Jesus I grew up hearing of.  

To whom God wills to make known what are the glorious riches of this secret among the nations, which is: Christ among you, the expectation of glory. 

Colossians 1: 27, Concordant New Testament 

If you have never heard the truth of Christ Jesus in you, perhaps you need to step back and improvise what you know about Him.  Most Christians have at least a basic understanding of the life and times of Christ.  Yet despite the fact that He died and rose again, the mainstream church seemingly is not interested in the modern Jesus.  That is, the truth of who He is today.  Of course, it is not Christ Jesus who has changed, but our own perception of Him {Hebrews 13:8}.  Jesus has always been just who He is.  During all of my years absorbing the mainstream church theology, Jesus was in the same place He has always been, in me.  However, my own revelation of Christ in me did not evolve until later in my life.  Like Paul before me, the Father brought forth the time in which His revelation would produce fruit {Galatians 1:15-16}.  Once I received His revelation of His Son in me through a dear friend, I indeed needed to engage in some improvisation from what I had been taught about Jesus.  A lot of things came into play.  Not only my own sin issues, but the realization of a dead guy living inside me.  And what about me?  Paul tells us that he indeed had died with Christ Jesus at the cross.  It is my belief today that I perished there as well.  What remains is Christ.  I did not learn of this truth through a sermon in church, but by the revelation of the Father.  You could say that I have overcome the theology of my early teaching.  Yeah, you could say that.  

So that, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: the primitive passed by.  Lo!  There has come new! 

2 Corinthians 5: 17, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

Thank The Lord

 

And everything, whatsoever you may be doing, in word or in act, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God, the Father, through Him. 

Colossians 3: 17, Concordant New Testament 

This time of year we're used to hearing of the struggles of a group of settlers who arrived from Europe many years ago.  Of the struggles they often faced in this new land.  How the friendly natives of the new world helped them adjust to their new home.  All of this is true, with a few exceptions.  The new settlers were indeed assisted by the native American tribes, however, relations with them were icy at first.  Many of the settlers often spoke of divine providence in their journey to the new world.  They firmly believed in this divine providence as helping them through their journey.  That is, they believed that the Lord helped them when they needed it.  I believe that this is the reason behind each and every turkey and dish of stuffing which we partake of this time of year.  It is a time in which the settlers celebrated their new harvest with their new neighbors the native American tribes.  Unlike todays family feasts, the settlers invited their neighbors to join in the rewards of their harvest.  Indeed, there are many families who continue to invite guests for this annual get together.  It seems that a few of the traditions created all those years ago have been carried over to our present day.  But what about the part about the divine providence?  Far too often, we forget to give credit where credit is very well due.  Our Catholic friends have a saying which a good number of families recite before each meal.  Bless us, Father, with these gifts which we are about to receive from your bounty.  I might not agree with everything in the Catholic church system, but I believe that they got this right.  After all, is it not from the Lords love and grace in which we have what we need to live?  Is it not by the divine providence that we find ourselves with what we need in our daily lives?  Lay aside your pride for a minute and think where we would be without the love and grace of the Father.  Our future, indeed, would be bleak.  But for God, we have more than enough reasons to be thankful.  

Giving thanks always for all things; In the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5: 20, Concordant New Testament 

When I was young, I had a habit of going to sleep each night by thanking God for all which He had helped me with that day.  Yes, there were times when things did not always work out with what I had asked Him, but I was taught to always be thankful for what I had been given.  It seems a bit confusing that I am thankful for what I have been blessed with while there are so many others out there who for one reason or another are not as fortunate as I.  Indeed, this has often been a rallying cry for those who would deny the existence of God.  How is it that God could pour blessing on some, yet leave others in need?  I remember my mother struggling to pay bills.  I remember her on her knees as she knelt in front of that old, faded couch in our living room.  I remember her pleading with the Lord as she prayed.  I might have been too young to notice, but the Lord often answered her prayers with provision.  This lesson was not lost on her son.  When I was in a bad spot.  When I needed help and there was nobody to help me, I prayed.  Back then, I looked upon God as my last line of defense.  When all of my own efforts failed, I turned to Him.  These days I see this as a backwards idea.  We should be talking and praying to our Father continually {1 Thessalonians 5: 15-16}.  We do not live a life where we need to request permission to speak to God.  We do live a life where He remains in us {Galatians 2:20}.  We live a life with a close, personal relationship in the Father.  Turkeys and sweet treats are not the reason for our coming together during this season.  For it is through the gift of the Father that He enables us to come together.  Thank the Lord.  

Be rejoicing always.  Be praying unintermittingly. 

1 Thessalonians 5: 15-16, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

Not My Own

 Or are you not aware that your body is a temple of the holy spirit in you, which you have from God, and you are not your own?  For you were bought with a price.  By all means glorify God in your body. 

1 Corinthians 6: 19-20, Concordant New Testament 

I have been asked more than a few times from those who are in the Christ in us crowd why it is that I devote so much time and efforts to my fitness journey.  I mean, if our flesh bodies are simply vessels which contain the Lord Christ within us, why even try to salvage this flesh of ours?  In the end will not the flesh simply wither away like the grass in summer?  Yes, but there is a good reason as to why I continue to improve my health.  The apostle Paul lays it out for us in 1 Corinthians when he speaks to this body of ours being a gift from the Lord {1 Corinthians 6:19}.  Not only that, it is a temple of the spirit of Christ Jesus who is in us.  It is not in temples of stone which Jesus dwells, but in the Fathers children {Acts 17:24}.  I find it funny that man spends all kinds of money and resources on the most elaborate church brick and mortar buildings while ignoring the truth of Christ Jesus in us.  I used to think that the biggest and most elaborate church buildings were the most favored by God.  Why wouldn't God desire to be in such ornate surroundings?  Well, for starters, in those big and beautiful buildings, God is seldom the focus.  Second, the larger the building, the more it costs to maintain it.  For example, as of 2023, the Catholic church had an estimated yearly income of 30 BILLION dollars.  Yes, 30 billion.  It's not surprising that the Catholic church also continues to be one of the main builder of ornate churches as well.  Some of the most well known cathedrals in the world are houses of worship in the Catholic faith.  My point is, if we spend billions of dollars maintaining stone temples which do not house the spirit of the Lord, why would we not invest that much and more in the temple of the body in which He dwells?  At least that is my thinking.  Paul tells us that we should "Glorify God in your body" {1 Corinthians 6:20}.  My own fitness journey is simply my way of honoring the Lord within me.  This flesh body is not my own, I have zero ownership rights to it.  All which I have is a gift from the Father.  Still, there are those who will wonder why it is that I try to maintain something that will soon pass away.  Remember, that it is through the children of the Father that the world will come to see and know Jesus.  As Christ Jesus works through us, the world will come to see Him firsthand.  

"You are the light of the world.  A city located upon a mountain can not be hid.  Neither are they burning a lamp and placing it under a peck measure, but on a lampstand, and it is shining to all those in the house.  Thus let your light shine in front of men, so that they may perceive your ideal acts and should glorify the Father who is in the heavens. 

Matthew 5: 14-16, Concordant New Testament 

It is Jesus Himself who calls upon us to "Let your light shine."  It is most certainly the desire of the Father that we should let the light of Christ shine forth from us.  If we are in good health, does that not present more opportunities for the light of Christ Jesus within us to illuminate the world?  Of course, as Paul has proclaimed, we are not our own, and it is ultimately the Fathers decision how our days are numbered.  So, knowing this, is it a losing battle knowing that our days are numbered?  Not at all.  My intent has been that I shall glorify the Father in my flesh body as Paul has proclaimed.  One of the best ways I can do that is by devoting time and effort to my fitness journey.  This body I inhabit is a gift from the Father, so why wouldn't we do our best to honor and take care of it?  Of course, this has not always been my thinking, but as I grew in my knowledge of Christ Jesus in me I began to see things differently.  I have also been blessed to share my experiences with a few of my gym partners I see during the week.  The light of Christ shining from me.  

~Scott~ 

In The Name Of God

 

"Not everyone saying to Me 'Lord! Lord!' will be entering the kingdom of the heavens, but he who is doing the will of My Father Who is in the heavens." 

Matthew 7: 21, Concordant New Testament 

I have seen it far too many times, someone with a cause will proclaim the name of God and feel their cause justified.  The current conflict in the Middle East rages between two populations who each proclaim that the Lord is on their side.  One side kills in His name while the other seeks revenge while seemingly under the Lords guidance.  This leaves me with one question, who would God kill?  Jesus calls upon the Lords children to turn the other cheek when we're struck by another {Matthew 5:39}.  Does turning that  other cheek somehow involve taking revenge in His name?  Don't get me wrong, I support the right of Israel to defend itself as I support the right of my own country to do the same.  But, why is it that we feel the need to get the Father involved in our battles?  Certainly there were times in scripture where the Lord stood with the Israelites as they battled the enemies of the One true God, but this is not that.  Of course, invoking the name of the Lord is not limited to times of war.  I have seen people declare their cause justified in the eyes of God in everything from politics to religious arguments.  I often wondered, how does God view these situations?  Does He sit in heaven and cast lots between who He considers worthy of His support?  I doubt it.  Jesus also proclaims that not everyone who calls upon His name will enter the Fathers kingdom {Matthew 7:21}.  According to Jesus, those who do the will of the Father will be entering into heaven.  Of course, I am of the belief that the desire of the Father is that ALL shall be saved {John 3:16-17}.  However, that's a discussion for another day.  As near as I can tell, mankind are the only ones using the name of the Father to suit their agendas.  Somehow, slapping Gods name onto something makes it that much more believable.  There used to be a beer brand which proudly proclaimed that it was brewed in "Gods country."  Really?  So, despite the Lord creating all which we will ever see, that part of the nation is Gods country?  Just one more example of using the name of the Father for our own means.  

I am Yahweh; that is My name, And My glory I shall not give to another, or My praise to carvings. 

Isaiah 42: 8, Concordant Old Testament 

How many of us Christians believe that taking the Lords name in vain is an abomination to the Father?  I was told from a young age that using the Fathers name for anything besides His glory was forbidden.  Of course, as I got older, these early life lessons had less of an effect on me.  There are times when a thought is emphasized with the use of His name.  Does this somehow make my point more legitimate?  Hardly.  Yet, I believe that we have lost the idea that the name of our heavenly Father is indeed holy and deserving of glory.  He created all which we see.  He chose us before we were even born.  He has proclaimed that the name of Jesus is above all names {Philippians 2: 9}.  Yet, we all too often toss around the name of Jesus indiscriminately as well.  Are we not aware that the very name of the Lord is deserving of glory?  Like I said, I believe that we have forgotten a good many things over time.  Now, I'm not referring here to the calling of the Father in prayer.  Nor to the calling of the Father in our praise to Him.  No, what I am referring to is the indiscriminate use of the name of the Lord in common everyday slang language.  I know that this might hit home with a few people, and maybe it should.  Does proclaiming that God is on our side give Him the glory He deserves?  Or, does it give our desires and causes more legitimacy?  Are our actions doing the will of the Father?  That is indeed the question we need to be asking ourselves.  The Father is indeed worthy of our praise because we feel led by our hearts, not because we want to make a point.  

~Scott~ 

To Live Is Christ

 

For me to be living is Christ, and to be dying, gain. 

Philippians 1: 21, Concordant New Testament 

I had a dear friend the other day pose the question if there were things which we regretted in this life of ours.  He had just read a article which detailed the common wishes among dying patients.  What is it that they wish they would/could have done?  What are those things which they regret?  I cannot speak for everyone, but as for myself I often wish that I would have started living healthier at an earlier age.  Of course, I have begun to do just that in the past few years.  What are the things which I regret?  Not having a family of my own.  Not finishing my college education.  These things now seem like simply dreams unrealized.  Others may speak of their own regrets.  Wishing they would have traveled more.  Longing to repair that strained relationship.  But would we continue to dwell on the past if we were to realize the true purpose of our life?  The meaning of life has been a question asked by many.  If we ask different people this question we may definitely get an assortment of answers.  But I'm concerned in this writing with asking one particular person their feelings on the meaning of life.  That being the apostle Paul.  What would Paul's response be were we to inquire of him the meaning of life?  Well, he's already told us his answer, and we can find it in Philippians.  See, for Paul, to live was Christ Jesus.  That is, his life long devotion was to Christ.  It seems that Paul was not concerned with longing for the material things in life.  Now, we know from the scriptures that Paul did concern himself from time to time with his relationships with those around him, but these things were not his focus in life.  For Paul, the main focus of life was his devotion to Christ Jesus.  This might sound weird coming from a man who spent a good portion of his life persecuting the followers of Jesus.  Yet somewhere along the road to Damascus the man Saul had an awakening.  From that point forward, Paul lived his life for Christ Jesus.  Jesus was his life.  

With Christ have I been crucified, yet I am living; no longer I, but living in me is Christ.  Now that which I am now living in the flesh, I am living in faith that is of the Son of God, Who loves me, and gives Himself up for me. 

Galatians 2: 20, Concordant New Testament 

I remember sitting in the hospital with my mother in her last days and attempting to reassure her that God was waiting for her.  Can you imagine trying to explain the truth of Christ in you to someone who only understood the physical world in front of her?  I have more than a few regrets from this portion of my life.  Wishing I could have explained the love of the Father better to her.  However, I was attempting to explain the love of the Father to someone who spent a good portion of her life explaining the love of the Father to me.  I have no doubt that I will see my mom again in that day.  It is clear to see that Paul lived his life for Jesus.  I believe that he was living the example of the Christ centered life for us.  Did Paul have worries and difficulties?  Absolutely!  He inquired of his companions to bring him things as he languished in a Roman prison.  He longed to be reunited with his brethren.  Despite all of this, Paul knew for certain that his very life...was Christ.  He understood that the old man Saul had been put to death on the cross with Jesus.  He understood that he...no longer existed.  What remained was not Paul, but Christ Jesus within him {Galatians 2:20}.  Knowing this, for Paul to live was Christ.  In the end, Paul did not fear his own death.  In his mind, Jesus had overcome death once and for all at the cross {Romans 6:9}.  For Paul, to die was to be free of the constraints of this world and united with the Father.  Can it be said that we can learn from the example which Paul gives us and eagerly await our departure from the constraints of this physical world?  If we live for Christ Jesus, this is exactly what we wait for.  

There is no independent, self-operating self in the universe, except the One who calls Himself the I AM {Ex 3:14} and says, "I am the Lord and there is none else, there is no God besides Me" {Isa 45:5}.  

Norman Grubb ~ No Independent Self 

~Scott~ 

An Incredibly Selfish Belief

 

And according as they do not test God, to have Him in recognition, God gives them over to a disqualified mind, to do that which is not benefitting.  

Romans 1: 28, Concordant New Testament 

I read with interest the story of women's soccer player Megan Rapinoe who seemed so disheartened by her recent injury that she took to proclaiming that she believed that her injury was proof that there is no God.  Now, Ms. Rapinoe is by no means a religious person, so this should not come as a shock to anyone who has been subjected to her woke, progressive politics in the past.  Honestly, the first thought that came into my mind when I read this story was of how selfish a statement that it really was.  So, you get injured in your final game of your career and that is proof that God does not exist?  Yeah, good luck with that.  Obviously, people have the choice to believe whatever they want to believe.  That is one of the freedoms we enjoy in this great nation which Ms. Rapinoe has lambasted in the past for being hateful and intolerant.  Perhaps she might reconsider, but I'm not holding my breath on that.  It is my own belief that not only does God exist, but that He lives in us today.  The apostle Paul speaks to this truth in Galatians {Galatians 2:20}.  Paul knew that the Father was closer to him than any religion had ever spoken to.  Even today, our institutional mainstream churches do not speak to the truth of Christ Jesus in us.  What we do hear from the pulpits is often a theology of separation from the Father who desires His children to be one with He and Jesus {John 17:21}.  Yet, I don't believe that Megan Rapinoe's declaration has anything to do with her discovering this while attending her local church.  To me she has always seemed to be an agnostic, one who refuses to believe the proof of the Father we see before us each day.  Many Christians see the sunrise each day as proof that the Lord has given us another day among His creation.  I wonder how it is that Megan Rapinoe would explain the wonders of the earth around us.  The vast mysteries of the universe or the miracle of creation.  Perhaps all which we see simply appeared one day?  Perhaps that big bang somewhere out there in the universe created all which we see today?  That's all fine and good, but what created the big bang?  At the end of the day, there had to be a start to creation.  Matter simply does not create itself.  Depending on which side of the fence you're on, you either accept the loving creation of the Father, or you deny His existence.  

"I thought about it a little bit.  I mean, I'm not a religious person or anything, and if there was a God, like, this (her injury) is proof that there isn't.  This is f_ _ ked up."

Megan Rapinoe 

I recall a time in my life when I was REALLY angry with God.  A time where I questioned if He really and truly cared for me.  I had been praying for my mother and her health for more than a few years.  I know that others in our local church were in prayer for her as well.  When the people in the hospital attempted to talk to me about making arrangements for end of life care, I disregarded their words.  I was praying for my mom, and God always answers our prayers, right?  So, you can imagine my reaction when I received the notice that my mother, whom I had been praying for hours earlier, had passed away.  Didn't God hear my prayers?  Was He somehow angry with me?  For the first time in my Christian life I was angry with my heavenly Father.  I mean REALLY angry.  I questioned His promise that He would be there when I came to Him (He was).  I was both hurt and angry at the same time.  It took some time, but I God finally revealed to me just why He took my mom away when He did.  See, she had been in pain for some time, and she often spoke of being free of it.  Through my love for her, I wanted her to live.  Through His mercy on her, the Father chose to take her home.  In my own selfishness, I did not see that what the Father was doing was taking my mothers pain from her.  Could it be that in her moment of pain and disappointment, Megan Rapinoe chose to speak what was on her heart?  Well, I've been there.  In my time of hurt I looked at my own pain instead of that of another.  I am thankful that the Fathers will overcame my own objections.  In His own time, He revealed to me the love and mercy He showed for not only my mother, but upon me as well.  I may have been angry with God over my circumstances, but that was an incredibly selfish belief on my part.  

Perceive what manner of love the Father has given us, that we may be called children of God!  And we are!  Therefore the world does not know us for it did not know Him. 

1 John 3: 1, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

The Jesus Life

 For me to be living is Christ, to be dying, gain.

Philippians 1: 21, Concordant New Testament 

Have you ever wondered just what it would feel like to live in the presence of Jesus?  Has it ever been your desire to be with Him forever?  As a church going believer, I was taught that the only way I could be in the presence of the Lord would be if my life ended here on earth.  Until that point I would be tasked with preparing myself for that day when the Lord would welcome me with open arms.  This would entail living my life right being as close to holy as I could.  After all, how could Jesus ever accept a sinner into His presence, right?  This is the institutional church theology I grew up believing.  As a result, I came to accept from an early age that being in the presence of Jesus was reserved for only a few devout Christians.  How could I, a sinner, ever be worthy of Jesus?  The closest I could ever get is to "Be like" Him.  Of course, being like Jesus isn't being Jesus.  However, one day I was introduced to the words of the apostle Paul by a dear friend.  In the words of this apostle of Jesus, the Lord was closer to me than I had ever known.  It is Paul who tells of the indwelling Christ in our lives {Galatians 2:20}.  Either I missed the Sunday where this was preached, or the mainstream church has yet to speak to this truth of Christ Jesus in us.  Either way, I now know that I do not need to settle for simply being like Jesus.  I now know that it is Jesus who, as Paul points out, is my life {Philippians 1:21}.  Using the logic of the mainstream church, I believe that we can accept this revelation brought forth by Paul.  After all, isn't Paul considered one of the most influential of the early writers?  Are not Paul's writings used as examples of Godly living in the years following the death of Jesus on the cross?  What I'm saying here is that the words of Paul can be trusted as being true.  Therefore, if Paul speaks to the indwelling spirit of Christ in us, then that is where Jesus is.  Yet, sadly, the institutional church has missed the boat on Paul's message of the truth of Christ Jesus.  The church is quick to point out that these words of Paul are simply related to Paul and he alone.  It was Paul's revelation that the spirit of Jesus remained in him, yet that has no bearing on the rest of us.  Therefore, we accept the words of Paul as part of the gospel, but only those we agree with.  Anyone else see something wrong with this approach?  This is how the mainstream church pushes aside the truth of Christ Jesus in us.  

In this was manifested the love of God among us, that God has dispatched His only-begotten Son into the world that we should be living through Him. 

1 John 4: 9, Concordant New Testament 

One amazing fact about the apostle Paul is that he was raised in the laws and texts of the Jewish faith.  He was, in fact, a zealot determined to rid the land of the early followers of Jesus.  He was, in his own words, a "chief" of sinners {1 Timothy 1:15}.  In my opinion, no better man could have been chosen to spread the word of redemption we have in Christ Jesus.  Imagine the reaction of the man on the street when this former critic of the early church began speaking of the love and forgiveness of Jesus.  Only the Father could have produced such a turn around in the life of Paul.  What can we learn from this?  You might consider yourself unworthy in some way.  You might not believe that you could ever be in the presence of Jesus.  Neither did I believe.  Then I was introduced to the words of Paul and the revelation of the Father was revealed in me.  This is the same revelation which the man Saul received on the road to Damascus {Acts 9:1-8}.  This is the revelation that the Lord desires for all of His children {John 17:21}.  The Jesus life is about living with the knowledge that we have been put to death on that cross with Christ.  All which remains is Jesus.  Paul realized this truth as he spoke of his own life being Christ {Philippians 1:21}.  It's that simple.  That is the Jesus life.  Our realization that we, as individuals, no longer exist.  Our realization that all which now remains...is Jesus.  

~Scott~ 

The Failure Of Systems

 

"If , then, they should say to you, 'Lo! In the wilderness is He!' you may not be coming out'  'Lo! in the storerooms!' you should not be believing it. 

Matthew 24: 26, Concordant New Testament 

I read with some interest the recent page put forth by author Wayne Jacobsen this week.  It seems that Wayne and his cohort were speaking to a college based program which I'm assuming spoke to college age students concerning the realities and misconceptions of sex.  Now, my own past has been scarred by my own misconceptions of sex, but that's a story for another time.  What I want to speak to here is something most all church going Christians have experienced at one time or another.  That is, the mainstream churches ability to use a class or study session in order to solve some of life's major issues.  From alcoholism to sexual purity, the church seems to have a class to answer any and all questions concerning life.  For my part, I have been involved in more than a few of these dog and pony shows.  The basic setup of these situations is that a group of people who are already carrying the guilt of their situation like a weight on their shoulders get together and are asked to describe just why they have fallen victim to this temptation.  Of course, rarely does this approach succeed in ridding the person suffering through their situation of the guilt and/or shame of whatever it is they are struggling with.  I believe this is because the truth of the Lord is rarely taught, nonetheless spoken to in these times of need.  Too many times, the individual is left with the impression that God is somehow angry because of their sin.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  The apostle Paul speaks more than a few times of the knowing he received of the indwelling Christ within him.  For Paul, to live is Christ and to die is gain {Philippians 1:21}.  That is, our life is in Christ Jesus.  This isn't simply Paul proclaimed as if to say, 'Look what I have!'  No, this indwelling Jesus is something we all share in.  It is Jesus who calls on us to bring our burdens to Him {Matthew 11:28-30}.  Jesus never instructed those who were hurting to go to the local synagogue for relief from their guilt and shame.  He IS our relief.  Of course, if this were spoken to in mainstream church classes, eventually we would have zero need for them.  Just one more example of the believer sustaining church system.  

"Hither to Me, all who are toiling and laden, and I will be giving you rest.  Lift My yoke upon you and be learning from Me, for meek am I and humble in heart, and you shall be finding rest for your souls, for My yoke is kindly and My load is light."

Matthew 11: 28-30, Concordant New Testament 

Is there something that you are struggling with?  An addiction?  A bad situation?  When you boil it down , there is one thing for certain.  Man will always disappoint you in the end.  The apostle Peter spoke to this in Acts as he proclaimed his trust in the Lord {Acts 5:29}.  Many believers are familiar with the iconic scripture we find in proverbs of trusting in the Lord {Proverbs 3:5}.  The question I have is this, what can the church give you that God somehow cannot?  For if we continue to engage in these institutional church self help groups are we not pushing God aside in favor of the works of man?  You can claim all day long that you follow the Lord, but where does your heart?  Do you follow God or man?  Well, I know for a fact that one of those will NEVER disappoint you.  There is One who will NEVER turn His back to you.  He is our heavenly Father.  It is God who knows intimately whatever it is that you are going through.  It is Christ Jesus who resides in you {Galatians 2:20}.  Each and every day we find ourselves in the presence of the Lord.  What problem will you ever face which God can not remedy?  There is a reason in which Jesus called those who were hurting to Him.  Jesus knew the church system and its hold upon the people of His day.  It is Christ Jesus who proclaims that we will not find rest in the man made church, but in Him only.  Bring what troubles you unto Him, for His load is light.  

Yet answering, Peter and the apostles say, "One must yield to God rather than to men." 

Acts 5: 29, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

A Different Kind Of Ministry

 How, then, should they be invoking One in Whom they do not believe?  Yet how should they be believing One of Whom they do not hear?  Yet how should they be hearing apart from one heralding?  Yet how should they be heralding if ever they should not be commissioned?  According as it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those bringing an evangel of good?  

Romans 10: 14-15, Concordant New Testament 

A friend recently shared a quote by the author J Preston Eby which proclaims that the scriptures never show us the right way in which to minister to the Lords creation.  We do find that Jesus Himself called upon His followers to make disciples (followers) of all the nations {Matthew 28:19-20}.  Yet is this the correct way to minister to those in the world around us?  Those within the institutional church might agree that it is.  I recall many ministry programs while I was actively involved in the church.  However, the majority of these ministry pop up groups were nothing more than gatherings for those already in the church.  Very seldom did I see a church sanctioned ministry group branch out into the community and proclaim the truth of Christ Jesus.  It simply wasn't done.  So, at the end of the day, all that we were left with were a few extra classes to fill space on a Sunday morning.  Were we making disciples?  Perhaps, but I'd say no.  This begs another question, how is it that a world desperate to hear the words of the gospel of Christ Jesus ever hear of Him?  I suggest that the world will never hear of the Lord Jesus through a church sanctioned ministry class.  It goes much deeper than that.  The apostle Paul lays it out for us in Romans.  How should someone believe in Him Whom they do not hear {Romans 10:14}?  How is it that someone can be hearing apart from one heralding {Romans 10:14}?  I believe that what the apostle is attempting to say here is that the evangel of good will come from those who know it, who have experienced it first hand.  Who else could explain the wonders of the realization of Christ in us but someone who themselves have experienced it?  Who better to proclaim the truth of Christ than one who in whom that realization has been revealed?  Some years ago, I could not have spoken to the truth I had found in Jesus because I had yet to experience it for myself.  So it is that the world will come to know the truth of Christ Jesus through the words of those who truly know Him.  Could this be why so many people are abandoning the mainstream church?  They came seeking Jesus but were disappointed that He could not be found within the walls of their local church.  Sadly, this is the misconception many people follow.  The idea that Jesus will be found in the brick and mortar buildings of the church.  Now, that's not to say that many have not been led to accept Christ in the church, but we're talking here about knowing the truth of Christ as the Father desires {John 17:21}.  This Jesus will not be proclaimed in any church.  

The God who makes the world and all that is in it, He, the Lord inherent of heaven and earth, is not dwelling in temples made with hands, neither is He attended by human hands, as if requiring anything, since He Himself gives to all life and breath and all.  Besides, He makes out of one every nation of mankind, to be dwelling on all the surface of the earth, specifying the setting of the seasons and the bounds of their dwelling, for them to be seeking God, if, consequently, they may surely grope for Him and may be finding Him, though to be sure, not far from each one of us is He inherent, for in Him we are living and moving and are, as some poets of yours also have declared, 'for that race also are we.'

Acts 17: 24-28, Concordant New Testament 

You will never find a ministry class which teaches the correct way to speak the truth of Christ Jesus.  They simply do not exist.  So, how is it that one will bring the evangel of good unto the world?  First off, it needs to come from our own realization which the Father has revealed in us.  I did not learn of the truth of Christ in me from a ministry class.  No, I was introduced to this truth through conversations with a dear friend of mine.  This will be how the world comes to know the truth of Jesus, from those of us who know Him intimately.  For there are many Christians out there who know OF Jesus yet do not truly know Him.  Jesus is more than a few stories in the bible.  A good friend once described the bible to me as the Fathers love letter to His children.  I agree.  For from the pages of scripture we see the Fathers ever present love for us described in detail.  How He loved us enough to dispatch His Son that He would take upon Himself our sin burden {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  He loved us enough to proclaim us as sons {1 John 3:1}.  I never learned of the truth of Christ Jesus in any ministry class I ever attended.  Traditional ministry, as we've always been taught, does not apply here.  Jesus proclaimed to His disciples to make followers of all the nations.  Who better to speak this evangel of good than from those who knew Him so well?  

Lo!  I stand at the door and am knocking.  If ever anyone should be hearing My voice and opening the door, I will also be coming in to Him and dining with Him, and him with Me. 

The Unveiling Of Jesus Christ 3: 20, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

The Real Jesus

 

With Christ have I been crucified, yet I am living; no longer I, but living in me is Christ.  Now that which I am now living in the flesh, I am living in faith that is of the Son of God, Who loves me, and gives Himself up for me. 

Galatians 2: 20, Concordant New Testament 

One of the most difficult realizations of knowing Christ Jesus in us is having the faith to know that we remain in Him even when our lives get complicated and messy.  The author Wayne Jacobsen speaks of sticking to Christ like principles such as responding with love when those around us seek vengeance, or living with Christ like integrity while those around us seem to be loosing the morals we know to be right.  This line of thinking, of course, leads the believer to strive to exhibit these Christ like attributes.  I mean, who wouldn't desire to live as Jesus lived?  To be holy, upright and true?  Isn't this the goal of all who desire to follow the church narrative and "Be like" Jesus?  But hold on, aren't we human after all?  As humans, aren't we susceptible to those same questionable behaviors which we see in others?  We may be believers in Jesus, we might also have that realization that we are in Him, but how does that work out when life gets complicated?  Well, if we're smart, we realize that despite all that life brings us, we still remain in Him.  That Jesus remains despite all we go through, or put ourselves through.  The apostle Paul recognized this as he declared his iconic passage in Galatians.  Paul realized that it was not he who lived, but Jesus.  Knowing this is key to understanding our own life in Christ.  No matter what life throws at us, Jesus remains.  Now, for those who have not the realization of Christ in them this might sound a bit far fetched.  How could Jesus ever reside in sinful man?  Eventually we're going to mess up, right?  Again, we turn to the realization which Paul received.  Paul, undoubtedly one of the most sinful men of his time by his own admission {1 Timothy 1:15} understood that the old man he once was had been crucified upon that cross with Christ.  The church narrative loves to preach that ALL have sinned and fallen short of His glory {Romans 3:23}.  However, my concordant translation describes this verse a bit differently.  According to the concordant translation, all have sinned and are WANTING of the glory of God {Romans 3:23 Concordant Translation}.  Yes, I once was a sinner.  However, it is Christ Jesus who became sin on my behalf that I should no longer be a slave to it {Romans 6:6}.  

So that, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: the primitive passed by.  Lo! There has come new!

2 Corinthians 5: 17, Concordant New Testament 

Is there such a thing as the phantom pain of being in sin?  Well, apparently the mainstream church does not believe in such things.  For those who are unaware, a phantom pain is a medical condition which afflicts those who continue to feel as if they are sick when in reality they aren't.  The best way which I can describe this phenomenon is with the example of one who has for one reason or another lost the use of a arm or leg.  This person may continue to feel as if there is a pain in the affected limb even though it no longer exists.  Welcome to the reality of sin.  Sin is a phantom pain.  Paul speaks clearly that Christ Jesus has given Himself that sin would be defeated {Romans 6:6}.  It is through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross that our sins have been erased from our history.  If we were to come to the throne seeking the Fathers forgiveness (Yes, many continue to do just that) we might be surprised when the Father asks, "What sin are you referring to?"  The answer, of course, is the phantom pain of sin.  As I have said, the institutional church loves to preach that we need to seek the Lords forgiveness for whatever sin we feel we might have.  When I was still in the church, I would literally spend time in prayer thinking of what sins God might recognize in me.  Sin was a real deal issue.  When a dear friend introduced me to the revelation of Christ in me I had more questions than answers.  How could Jesus ever be in a sinner?  Would He leave me at my first screw up?  I have no doubt that all who attain the revelation of Christ Jesus in them will have similar questions.  The reality is that Jesus died to deal with the sinner I once had been.  What remains is the child of God who dwells in Christ each day.  No matter what twists and turns our lives may take, this reality never changes.  

Now if Christ is in you, the body, indeed, is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is life because of righteousness.  

Romans 8: 10, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

Achtung!

 The personification of the devil as the symbol of all evil assumes the living shape of the Jew.

~Adolf Hitler~ 

It began with the posting of signs upon businesses.  Innocent enough for the local population to contemplate being implicit in the hatred.  On every street the signs declared "Der Jude."  The signs of antisemitism were everywhere, yet precious few of the German locals did nothing to stand against it.  It was, however, the Jew who ultimately stood alone against the ideas of a lone madman.  I recall watching World War two programs while growing up and seeing the crowds of undesirables herded onto railway cars.  I recall seeing the shock on the faces of the allied soldiers as they liberated the death camps.  I remember.  Yet, it seems that those who have preserved the memory of the holocaust and German persecution of the Jewish people grow fewer with each passing year.  So much so that when modern day antisemites such as Minnesota Representative Rashida Tliab rail against Israel and the Jewish people few question her rhetoric.  When hundreds of protestors gather in the streets to burn Israeli flags and chant anti Israel slogans I don't see them.  Instead, what I do see are crowds of Nazi stormtroopers doing the bidding of one who chose the Jewish people as his convenient scapegoat.  The similarities are haunting.  As the German economy tanked, Adolf Hitler drew attention away from his domestic problems by blaming the Jewish people.  Not to be outdone, as Joe Bidens economy tumbles into oblivion, democrats swarm to draw attention away from the freefall by pointing fingers at Israel.  See, Israel is the enemy.  Israel is the oppressor.  Forget the fact that for over sixty years the Arab world has tried and tried again to wipe the Jewish state off the map.  One could make the argument that Israel was born into war.  From its inception in 1948, the nation has been at a constant state of military readiness out of necessity.  To not be prepared to fight is to invite the destruction of their nation.  Therefore, on August 7th as Hamas terrorists attacked, Israel immediately responded.  As I write this, Israeli forces are pushing deep inside the Gaza strip to eliminate those who would use hate to defeat them.  Our president has called for a cease fire in this conflict which Israel did not choose.  Around the world Israel is condemned for defending itself once again.  Are we that far removed from the Nazi hatred?  

In whom there is no Jew nor yet Greek, there is no slave nor yet free, there is no male and female, for you all are one in Christ Jesus. 

Galatians 3: 28, Concordant New Testament 

There is little doubt that the Jewish people and state share a long history with the Lord.  Her enemies often refer to her as Zionists.  There are those who would point out that Israel has been anointed as the Lords chosen people.  If this were true, then only the Jewish people would benefit greatly from the mercy and grace of the Father.  However, as the apostle Paul points out in Galatians, in the Fathers eyes there is no Jew.  Not only that, there is no Greek, Arab or American either.  God does not identify His children by nationality.  God does not identify His children by region.  What the Father has declared is that all of His creation are one in His Son Christ Jesus {Galatians 3:28}.  For it is God who has scattered the population of the earth that we would inhabit different regions {Genesis 11:8}.  It is God who has confused the languages of His creation so that not one is alike {Genesis 11:9}.  As I mentioned, it has never been our nationality which has defined us.  Nationality is something world leaders use to drum up support for conflict.  Our one true identity lies in Christ Jesus{Galatians 2:20}.  So it is that those who practice hate are not attacking their enemies, but Jesus Himself.  Of course, the majority of the human world is unaware of this truth found in Christ.  Hate is easy, realizing that all are one in the Father is hard.   Who would God tell you to kill? 

If anyone should be saying that "I am loving God," and should be hating his brother, he is a liar; for he who is not loving his brother whom he has seen can not be loving God whom he has not seen.  

1 John 4: 20, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~