Raising The Dead (A Story Worth Telling)

 "The greatest decision I ever made was to give (Jesus) Lordship over my life"

Derek Carr (Quarterback, Las Vegas Raiders)

If you're a football fan, or sports fan in general, you might see them every week.  Those athletes who, when asked by the media who it is they thank for the win or their abilities will respond that they give the glory to the Lord and Him only.  I find it refreshing that those with such a big platform with which to speak their opinion choose to give glory to the Lord at every turn.  Admit it, we don't hear it that often from the people who surround us.  For the most part, we're surrounded by the negativity and sarcasm of the world.  I've seen fat too many sports figures who, instead of giving glory to the Lord, choose to speak to their next big contract or how they will spend their money.  Worse yet are those who speak to how it is they are being railroaded after their latest brush with the legal system.  What a awesome thing it is where someone feels so strongly about their walk with the Lord that want to tell the world of what they have experienced.  Well, the reality is, we can do just that.  We also have our own platforms each and every day with which to proclaim our heavenly Fathers glory.  You don't need to be a high priced athlete in order to speak of God and hopefully make a difference in the life of another person.  Telling the story of how it is God has worked in our lives is a gift every Christian has received.  I can only imagine that the desire of the Lord is that all would share their experiences with the world around them.  In most situations, this was not something I was comfortable with doing.  I was ok with having the glory of the Lord, but it had to be a special occasion if I ever shared that with someone.  Yet something changed over the past few years where I not find myself sharing with others via this page or in person just how much of a difference Jesus has made in my life.  This is a story worth telling.

Yet whenever that may be coming - the spirit of truth - it will be guiding you into all the truth, for it will not be speaking from itself, but whatsoever it should be hearing will it be speaking, and of what is coming will it be informing you. 

John 16: 13, Concordant New Testament 

Recently in the course of my work I came across a young lady named Heather who was in the process of using a intoxicant of the illegal kind.  As I watched her I said the first thing that came to mind, "You know that stuff is going to kill you, right?"  She simply nodded her head and continued.  Then, whether I realized my platform or not, I told her that "God doesn't want this for you."  I did manage to male a small connection with her and point her in the direction of people who could help her.  Then, I offered a prayer that God would watch over Heather.  I trust in my heart that He will do just that.  Through my job, I have discovered that I also have a platform with which to proclaim the glory of the Lord that I have experienced in my own life.  What is your platform?  It might be a job, a relationship or a talent as a speaker of writer.  Whatever it is, the word of the Lord and the gospel of Jesus will undoubtedly be spread far and wide by those who know Him.  Then, the more people who come to know Christ Jesus in their lives will also tell others of Him.  You can see how this goes.  This is how the gospel of Jesus originally spread, through the word of mouth of those who knew Him.  These are the recorded words of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, those who knew the Lord Personally.  Through their words we will come to know Jesus and tell of our own experience in Him.

~Scott~ 

A Pagan Hijacking

 

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are of God, for many false prophets have come into the world.  

1 John 4: 1, Concordant New Testament 

The ancient Romans had a festival which they celebrated this time of year.  The festival of Saturnalia honored the Roman god Saturn, and was held to celebrate the end of the autumn planting season.  A few of the activities which the Romans engaged in during this festival included gambling, giving feasts and the exchanging of gifts with others.  Does this sound even remotely familiar?  If you recognized that the behaviors of the Romans during this festival of Saturnalia were similar to those exhibited by so many over the Christmas season you are not alone.  So then the question arises, is the Christmas season the true season of the birth of Christ?  This has certainly been a question for scholars for many years.  Let's just say, after some brief research of my own, that the December birth of Jesus is in error.  Instead, let's place the birth of the Messiah in the month of September.  This would coincide with the time of year where shepherds would be out in the fields, a key factor in this story as the shepherds were alerted to the birth of Jesus by the angels as they watched over their flocks {Luke 2: 8-10}.  Obviously, being outdoors, these shepherds would have preferred milder weather.  Another factor historians use is the birth of John the Baptist in regards to that of Jesus.  We're told that Mary was visited by the angel in the sixth month of Elizabeths pregnancy {Luke 1:26-27}.  Taking into account the normal pregnancy cycles of Mary and Elizabeth, assuming they were both indeed normal, we arrive at a birth month for baby Jesus in September and not December as millions of Christians have been made to believe.  In a way, the birth of the Messiah has been hijacked by a bunch of pagans.  

We are of God.  He who knows God is hearing us.  He who is not of God is not hearing us.  By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.

1 John 4: 6, Concordant New Testament 

I don't place the blame for the mistake of the birth season of Jesus squarely on the non believer.  If you think about it, it was all done rather discreetly.  The Romans were the occupiers of the region of Judea at the time of the birth of Jesus, and had been for some time.  Knowing this, one can rightly assume that a good portion of the customs of the Roman occupiers could have taken hold in the societies of the territories they occupied.  After all, the Roman Centurian, far from home, would have certainly engaged in those celebrations he knew so well from home.  So, we definitely would have seen scenes of the Roman festival of Saturnalia in the streets of the occupied cities of the region of Judea.  Granted, not everyone would have partook in these celebrations, but over time, the predominant Roman influence would have overtaken the influence of the Hebrews of that region.  Over time, many of these Roman  ceremonies would have become seen as being a part of everyday life.  Therefore, what many knew as the birth of Jesus in the month of September would now become a part of a Roman festival in December.  Of course, there are historians out there who know the truth, but one can assume that over the course of time, the acknowledgement of the true birth month of Jesus has shifted to what we now celebrate as our Christmas season.  It is now very much a part of our society.  Imagine how difficult it would be to suddenly proclaim that we need to move the birth of Jesus to another date.  Suddenly Santa Claus, Christmas trees and candlelight services would never be the same.  So, it would seem that the pagans won this one.  However, one thing that will never change is the very reason for the birth of Jesus.  His very name speaks to our heart of His purpose...God with us.  

~Scott~ 

A Stirring In Bethlehem

 Now, at Jesus' being born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, Lo! Magi from the east came along into Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who is brought forth King of the Jews?  For we perceived His star in the East, and we came to worship Him."  Now, hearing of it, King Herod was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with Him. 

Matthew 2: 1-3, Concordant New Testament 

It is hard to imagine quite what it was like a few thousand years ago this week in Bethlehem of Judea.  Sure, we're told the story from the narrative of the scriptures, but can they be trusted to be accurate?  Was there, in those days, the telling of the birth of a child who would soon leave His mark on history?  Well, it seems that there were quite a few in Jerusalem who were uneasy about this prophesy coming to fruition {Matthew 2:3}.  We know that the prophesy of the birth of Jesus was known to many in the region of Judea, given the population of the Lords people in that area.  Indeed, if you were Jewish, then you most assuredly knew of the coming birth of the Messiah.  Depending on how strong your belief was, you might even see the coming birth of the Christ as that of a magnificent military leader who would deliver the Lords chosen people from the hated Roman occupiers.  However, scripture does not back up these assumptions.  What the scriptures do tell us is more along the lines of the reason for the coming Messiah.  That being, that He would save His people from their sins {Matthew 1:21}.  It is hard to imagine that, knowing this passage, that the Jews of the time would choose to equate Jesus with a powerful military leader.  Perhaps that had been under the boot of Rome for so long that they were seeking any belief that God would ultimately deliver His people from this bondage.  Whatever the belief of the population of Bethlehem, we're told that those within the city were disturbed.  This was the backdrop for the birth of our Lord and Savior.  That King Herod inquired of others concerning the birth of the Messiah tells us that His birth was not meant to be a secret.  Despite the uneasiness of those in Jerusalem, the birth of Jesus was told to be an occasion for joy among all people {Luke 2:10}.  

Now when the full time came, God delegates His Son, come of a woman, come under law, that He should be reclaiming those under law, that we may be getting the place of a son.

Galatians 4: 4-5, Concordant New Testament 

Every year the question is asked, what is the true meaning of Christmas?  Well, I believe that I know that true meaning, and it does not lie with trees and gifts.  It doesn't even reside with candlelight services of our brick and mortar churches.  The real meaning of Christmas, I believe, is our heavenly Father saving us from ourselves.  For we are the ones who chose to accept the lie of the accuser in the garden {Genesis 3:4-6}.  As a result, man was moved from the garden which the Lord had prepared for him {Genesis 3:23-24}.  Obviously, it was never the Lords intent to leave his children in the broken state in which their own choices had placed them.  We were in need of a Savior, and in this lies the true meaning of Christmas.  I was never uneasy about knowing Jesus.  In fact, I often wonder what took me so long to hear His call to me.  Yet, just as the residents of Jerusalem were uneasy over the birth of the coming Messiah, there may be those today who are just as uneasy at the thought of turning their lives over to the Lord.  I've heard many people mention that they simply do not want to give control of their life to someone else (i.e. Jesus).  This could definitely produce some uneasiness in people.  But if we see and know Christ the way He desires us to, it may ease our hearts.  We do well to recall that the desire of Jesus is that all would be one with He and the Father {John 1:21}.  The prophesy of the Messiah is not one who would banish the oppressor with fire and brimstone.  No, the promise of the Messiah is that He will save us from the oppression we have already endured {Romans 6:6}.  I have no uneasiness about that at all. 

~Scott~ 

God With Us

 

Therefore Yahweh Himself will give a sign to you:  Behold, the damsel shall be pregnant and bear a son, and you will call his name Immanuel. 

Issaiah 7: 14, Concordant Old Testament 

It's been called the greatest story ever told, but I prefer to think of it as the greatest gift ever given.  As we inch closer and closer to this Christmas day, it gives us chance to step back and consider the true meaning of the greatest gift ever given.  Growing up, I'd heard that God was a loving Father, and sometimes I wondered what birthday or Christmas gift my Father would give to me.  While my earth bound parents presented me with gifts such as model airplanes and electronic games, it took some time before I realized the gift that my Lord has given me.  This gift which He has given to us.  What is this gift?  Well, it's one that we might not realize for some time depending  our own relationship with the Lord.  Like I said, my own realization of my gift occurred later in life.  So, what is this gift presented to us by our heavenly Father?  We find it spoken of in the prophesy of the birth of Jesus.  It is in His name...Immanuel.  Which is translated "God with us."  This is the greatest gift ever given.  The first realization I had of this gift didn't come from the greatest story ever told, but from the apostle Paul.  It is the apostle Paul who speaks to us in Galatians of Christ Jesus living in him {Galatians 2:20}.  Paul was speaking to the truth of the prophesy, God with us.  Every day I walk as Christ Jesus who is in me, this is the gift which God has given me.  Yet not just to me, but to all of His children as well.  You may never realize the gift which you have been given, but make no mistake it is there for you to have.  The greatest gift ever given.  

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 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 find it disheartening that more people know of the Christmas birth of Jesus story than know of the truth of Christ in us.  This does not take away from the truth of Jesus in us, but illustrates one of the shortcomings of our Christian religion.  The fact that few pastors, priests or leaders speak to the truth of the indwelling Christ.  People might have their own opinion as far as why this occurs but, again, it does nothing to take away from the fact that Jesus lives in you.  Just because few people speak of it does not make it false teaching.  Perhaps instead of referring to it as the greatest gift ever given, we should refer to it as the greatest gift ever accepted?  For indeed there are those who will not accept nor realize the gift they have been given.  But God is loving, and He does not withdraw His gift offering despite the fact that one does not accept it.  His desire is that all will accept His gift and come to the knowing of God with us.  Of His Son in them.  I am thankful that my own realization of His gift to me did not go unheeded.  I do not walk this life alone, but with God with me.  

And we know and believe the love which God has in us.  God is love, and he who is remaining in love is remaining in God, and God is remaining in him. 

1 John 4: 20, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

Raising The Dead (The Cost Of Resurection)

 

"For I hunger and you give Me to eat I thirst and you give Me drink; a stranger was I and you took Me in; naked and you clothed Me; infirm am I and you visit Me; in jail was I and you come to Me,'  "Then the just will be answering Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we perceive Thee hungering and nourish Thee, or thirsting and we give Thee drink?  Now when did we perceive Thee a stranger and took Thee in, or naked and we clothed Thee?  Now when did we perceive Thee infirm, or in jail and we came to Thee?  "And, answering, the King shall be declaring to them, 'Verily, I am saying to you, in as much as you did it to one of these, the least of My brethren, you did it to Me.' 

Matthew 25: 35-40, Concordant New Testament 

It has been a constant part of this cities budget battle over the past few years.  What, and how much, do we allot to fighting the cities homeless issue?  Recently, the county denied the mayor of Portland's request for more funding for the homeless, choosing instead to allot the funds into rent relief for low income people.  The term robbing Peter to pay Paul could not be more appropriate than this in this situation.  Both sides need help, both sides need a way out of their situation.  Yet, in the blink of an eye, it seems that low income people are deemed more important than no income people.  And so the cycle continues as it always does.  So I pose the question which I'm sure more than a few others have in the past...what price do we put upon a homeless person?  Granted, in this city there are social service programs in order to assist the housing impaired.  However, if these programs were truly capable, we would be able to judge their success by the decreased numbers of homeless people on the streets.  Sadly, this has not been the case.  On the contrary, with each and every dollar given to help the homeless population, more and more get sucked down this financial black hole.  To me, it is the definition of big government, with millions of dollars being thrown at an issue that never gets resolved.  Can anyone really put a cost to this issue?  Did Jesus Himself put a cost to the issue of helping the helpless?  No, Jesus tells us in no uncertain terms that what we do to those in need...we do to Him as well {Matthew 25:40}.  If we give generously to those in need, we give to Jesus.  If we turn a blind eye to one who asks for help, we might just be turning our backs on one who is in Christ.  Many believers will not understand this comparison because they do not understand that it is Christ Jesus who lives in them {Galatians 2:20}.  

For ritual clean and undefiled with God the Father is this: to be visiting the bereaved and widowed in their affliction, to be keeping oneself unspotted from the world. 

James 1: 27, Concordant New Testament 

The concordant translation of the New Testament is interesting, and I refer to it often.  For this writing, my interest was piqued by the translation I found in the book of James.  The concordant translation refers to James chapter 1, verse 27 as "Ritual clean and undefiled."  What does the New King James record this verse as?  "Religion that is pure and undefiled."  So, the Lords brother is speaking to us about pure religion and its practices.  I'm not talking about rock band praise and worship music or feel good in the moment sermons that end up putting you to sleep.  I believe that what James is referring to here is our belief and faith in what we believe in.  Do we trust that giving unto others is exactly what Jesus desires for us?  Do we embrace what Jesus desires for us?  Living the desire of Christ, I believe that THIS is our belief pure and undefiled.  Anything less than that could be construed as plain old fashioned religion.  As believers, we know and understand that doing good unto others is something the Lord desires for us.  God has never put a price tag upon kindness.  There is no budget for His love and mercy upon us.  The fact that our salvation is the free gift of His grace is testament to this {Ephesians 2:8-9}.  We cannot earn our salvation nor can we ever lose it.  This is all due to the love and mercy of our heavenly Father.  To whom no price is too great when providing for His children.  

For in grace, through faith, are you saved, and this is not out of you; it is God's approach present, not of works, lest anyone should be boasting. 

Ephesians 2: 8-9, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

Through The Stained Glass

 

"Now she shall be bringing forth a Son, and you shall be calling His name Jesus, for He shall be saving His people from their sins."  Now the whole of this has occurred that that may be fulfilled which is declared by the Lord by the prophet, saying: "Lo! The virgin shall be pregnant And shall be bringing forth a Son, AND they shall be calling His name 'Emmanuel,'" which is, being construed, "God with us."

Matthew 1: 21-23, Concordant New Testament 

Christmas is a special time of year.  A time where we take time to think more of others instead of ourselves.  A time where we reflect on the deeper meaning of this life.  I now know that the Christmas season is upon us because of the blitz of Christmas specials I've been seeing on television.  It seems that everyone and their brother has a unique interpretation of what the true  meaning of Christmas is.  One You tube influencer threw out the possibility of creating the first openly gay holiday over the Christmas season.  For me, my own vision of the meaning of Christmas is something between the mainstream church and the Jesus I have come to know.  Yet, before I could celebrate my knowledge of the birth of Jesus, I needed to take another look into the stained glass windows of the brick and mortar church.  This is where I learned what they told me was the true meaning of Christmas.  How Joseph and Mary huddled in a outdoor manger because there was no room for them at the local boarding house.  It seems holiday travelers dealt with this issue even back then.  How a star in the sky guided three wise guys to said manger where they dealt gifts to and worshipped this newborn child.  Here's something interesting, a portion of the gifts the three wise men gifted to the baby Jesus were...spices used in that day for the embalming and burial process {Matthew 2:11}.  Indeed, frankincense and myrrh were often used in Jesus' day during the burial process.  Were these three men prophets?  Is there some sort of inner message we should be seeing through their gifts to the Christ child?  Through all of my years looking through the stained glass nobody ventured to ask that question.  So, Jesus is born in a manger in Bethlehem.  We're told that His is a humble birth, possibly signifying His later years.  Interestingly, this is where the story of the boy Jesus comes to an abrupt end.  The next time we see Jesus He is almost grown and about to begin His ministry.  My, that kid grew fast.  

And the messenger said to them, "Fear not, for Lo! I am bringing you an evangel of great joy which will be for the entire people, for today was brought forth to you a Savior who is Christ, the Lord."

Luke 2: 10-11, Concordant New Testament 

What my life behind the stained glass of the mainstream church failed to introduce me to was the REAL Jesus whom I had heard so much about.  The Jesus that did not vanish from our reality once He rose from the grave.  On the contrary, in the story of the birth of Jesus we're again introduced to a few revelations of scripture that reveal to the reader that there is something more to His birth.  We're told that His birth will be of great joy for all of the people {Luke 2:10}.  That it is He who will save His people from their sins {Matthew 1:21}.  Yet most important of all are the words of the prophet Issaiah who proclaimed that the child's very name would remind us of His purpose {Issaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23}.  Yes, Jesus saves people from their sins, but I believe that the most important scripture concerning His birth is that which proclaims His name.  Immanuel, which is translated to mean "God with us."  This is the meaning of the birth of Jesus.  Jesus did not come to simply wipe our sin slate clean and then return to His Fathers side.  No, Jesus came to BE WITH US.  As Issaiah predicted, the true meaning of the Christ child is God with us.  No, God in us {Galatians 2:20}.  As I said, this is the story of the birth of Jesus I never learned in the mainstream church.  This is the revelation which I received from the Lord.  The revelation of Christ Jesus in me.  This is the reason He came.

"That they may all be one, according as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us, that the whole world should be believing that Thou dost commission Me."

John 17: 21, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

Our Jesus Body

 For our realm is inherent in the heavens, out of which we are awaiting a Savior also, the Lord, Jesus Christ, who will transfigure the body of our humiliation, to conform it to the body of His glory, in accord with the operation which enables Him even to subject all to Himself.

Philippians 3: 20-21, Concordant New Testament 

For the past few years I have been on a journey to transform this body of mine from unshapely to one of muscle.  Anyone who knows me will tell you that my gym sessions have become somewhat of an addiction for me.  It all began back in 2012 when my doctor recommended physical therapy after a work injury.  It was there that I met two of the best physical therapists I have ever me before or since.  These two ladies showed me the healing power of not only better nutrition but also a program of weight training to avert future injuries.  It wasn't long before I had the weightlifting bug.  Now I'm dead set on changing this body of mine.  Yet this body which I speak of is but an earthly body present only in this day and age we live in.  This is our fleshly body.  We can indeed make changes to our bodies for the good or bad, it's up to us and our efforts.  But as a believer I eagerly await that body which I will inherit on that day of the Lords choosing.  This is the body which the apostle Paul prepares us for {1 Corinthians 15:44}.  As Paul tells us, we are born with our natural bodies intact, but there is also a spiritual body for which we eagerly await {Romans 8:23}.  This is the body which will be revealed on the day of Christs return.  Not only do we who endure here on earth await the redemption of our bodies, but those who have passed before us do as well.  Before her passing, my mother was plagued by more than a few health issues which caused her pain.  She endured.  I can rest assured that even now she eagerly awaits her new body which will be revealed to her as well.  A body of glory and not of pain and struggle.  

Yet not only so, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruit of the spirit, we ourselves also, are groaning in ourselves, awaiting the sonship, the deliverance of our body.

Romans 8: 23, Concordant New Testament 

As a new believer, my understanding was that my body would be the same after death as it is now.  Yet I have since grown to understand that this is not the case.  If this were true, why would so many be eagerly awaiting new bodies?  It is no secret that I have been created in the image of the Father {Genesis 1:27}.  Again, my first introduction to the meaning of this passage was...elementary.  My understanding was that this physical body of mine resembled the Lord.  I failed to connect the reality that my TRUE identity and appearance belongs to Christ Jesus {Galatians 2:20}.  For it is Jesus who chose me.  It is Jesus who chose to live in this body of mine.  Therefore, it is my body in Christ which resembles the Father.  The temporary skin and bones that I toil away at each day will soon pass from this world.  It will be replaced by an entirely new body in the true image of Christ {1 John 3:2}.  This is the body we await so eagerly.  I can make all of the changes in the world to this flesh body of mine, and none of it will compare to the glory which I soon will become.  The glory of Christ Jesus my Lord.  

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it was not as yet manifested what we shall be.  We are aware that, if He should be manifested, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him according as He is.  

1 John 3: 2, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~