Thankful

Have I thanked You for the sunset?

Have I thanked You for the stars?

Have I expressed my gratitude

for all we count as ours?

Do I show how much emotion

I feel or sense in me?

Do I truly understand how much

Your Grace has affected me?

God I thank you for this world I see

I thank you for the land

I thank for the beauty

For the artwork of Your hand.

I thank You for my journey

For the life I lead each day

I thank You that You're always there

Even when I've lost my way.

How can I fully say,

How can I justly show?

How much You are appreciated?

Do I even know?

Can I comprehend Your riches?

Can I understand Your Grace?

Will I realize it someday?

Or will it be a constant chase?

I know that I can't fully grasp

The wonders You bestow.

I know I'll never say enough.

My gratitude to show.

I have so little I can give

So few words I can say.

What I have is nearly worthless

In this world of pain and strife

But it's all I have to give you

So to my Father,

Here's my life.

What Does it Matter Who God Is?

      How much does the truth matter?  Does it matter exactly what you believe about God?  Can't we all just have our own differing perspectives and still get along?  Well, yes and no.  We can get along with each other because as Christians we are told in scripture to live at peace with all men (Romans 12:18), but that does not mean that the truth doesn't matter.  Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but it is crucial that the opinion you hold to is correct.

One of the great things about Christianity is that it allows for so much wiggle room.  It makes it possible for people to have opinions and disagree on things without breaking fellowship.  We don't all have to have every little peg pushed firmly into every little hole to be Christians, but we do have to believe in Christ.  That's where the problem lies.  We can allow for variance of perspective and thought on much of what we believe but we absolutely must have our theology correct or we're simply not Christians.  That may sound harsh but remember, I'm not saying that everyone has to believe what -I- believe or what -that guy- believes, what I'm saying is that we all have to believe what God tells us and luckily the Bible is often quite clear; and when it doesn't confirm something definitively it usually shuts down the false thoughts rather completely.

If we believe in a Father that is not The Father, or a Jesus that is not The Son, or a Spirit that is not The Spirit than we are not believing in the Father, the Son, or the Spirit.  We may as well be worshiping golden cows in our living rooms.  Look at the early centuries of the church.  They fought against heresy so much that modern day scholars try and tell us they were just pushing down opposition and enforcing their own views; when really they were just stating more specifically what everyone already believed but perhaps hadn't put down succinctly until that point.  For example they debated the modelists who believed that God existed only as one but who showed Himself in three 'modes', namely as Father, Son, and Spirit but never at the same time and they were not distinct persons.  It became quite popular but the Bible again kills it due to several instances of all three persons of the Trinity appearing together; most notably at the baptism of Jesus (see Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:9-11, and Luke 3:21-22).

This isn't going to be a full description and defense of the Trinity, perhaps another time.  The point I'm making is that truth matters and if we're not worshiping in truth we're not worshiping properly.  God is not who we want Him to be, nor is He so vague that we cannot know Him with certainty.  We hear the old phrase used for Christian peace all the time “major on the majors and minor on the minors, namely that we shouldn't push so hard on the less specific things in scripture.  But how much time do we spend on the first half of that phrase, on majoring on the majors?  We need to study, to debate, even to argue with the people around us -always in love- but with the knowledge that how someone defines God will point them either toward or away from the one true God of the universe.

Recommended Reading:

The Nicene Creed

The Athanasian Creed

The Apostles Creed

The Madness of Methods

     We love a process don't we? Everyone has a twelve step program or three simple rules or five things you should know or whatever. People everywhere are constantly on the look out for the rules to follow to make their lives better. There is a problem with that though, namely that the Christian life isn't usually about following a process or sticking to a strict set of guidelines. There are rules of course and there are guidelines but the Bible actually gives us a tremendous amount of freedom in our daily lives.

     I've seen a few blog posts and articles both from Christians and non-Christians that lay the blame for bad things at the feet of some statue or ideology. One writer blames their youth for their failed marriage another blames the path they took to get there and others simply give up and say that the divorce rate is just the modern way. Well to be honest everybody is wrong. Not literally everybody of course but the point I want to make is that we love the process and the system because not only does it give us something to follow (we are sheep as you know - Isaiah 53:6) but it gives us something to blame when we screw things up. 

     For example, I read an article (http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2014/08/courtship-fundamentally-flawed/) where the author makes the case that the somewhat recent “courtship” movement is, as they put it, 'fundamentally flawed.' Now the author makes some good point and some not so good points but the thing I disagree with the most is that 'courtship' is blamed for the failed marriages that resulted in the lives of the people they knew and in the lives of others. I'm certain it contributed since what the author describes has some serious flaws but the reason those marriages fail -why any marriage fails- is because people allow it to. There are, of course, contributing factors but eventually the choice is made to end it. If we then narrow the field to marriages comprised only of two faithful Christians...what are you doing? Who told you to give up? Who told you that you could walk away? Does not the Bible tell us to make your yes 'yes' and your no 'no'? You vowed before God and man, you made a covenant, once you're in -you're in- and it doesn't matter what path you took to get to that vow or what your family was like before then or what baggage you bring to the party! The process isn't to blame, the steps aren't to blame, the rules aren't to blame, you are.

     We bring this desire for steps and rules into our general Christian walk as well. How many times have you lamented your lack of growth because you 'didn't know what to do?' What do you need to know? The process of sanctification is basically God changing you and you working with Him. It's somewhat straight forward, you pray and ask God to point out the things you should work on and then you read what His Word says you should work on and how you should be according to God and then you work on those issues! Excuse the wonky sentence but God has said that the Scriptures contain what is necessary for life and doctrine, why do we keep looking elsewhere for instruction? We aren't expected to perfectly understand everything, that's why we look for good teachers, but we needn't spend our lives trying to find the secret to growing in grace; read the Bible! It doesn't matter what devotional book you follow or whose teaching you study or what treatise you read if you're not reading God's Word and spending time in prayer.

"And keep the charge of the LORD your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn”

(1 Kings 2:3)

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.”

(Psalms 19:7-14)

     Remember that we are not ruled by procedures, we are not enslaved to steps, we are not chained by guidelines, and when you mess things up it's because of the choices you made not necessarily because you didn't have the right instructions. We lose a great deal of understanding when we try and pass the buck or lay the blame outside ourselves and our sin, and that can actually lead us farther from the truth than we were to start. Read God's Word, seek wisdom and understanding and discernment and you'll be equipped to make the right decisions apart from any program.

Neither Slave Nor Free

     Christianity gets blamed for a lot of things in society. I think more than nearly anything else though, we get called out for being racist and homophobic and sexist and a whole variety of generally unkind things. Unfortunately there is some basis to these claims as many people over the years have sought to use the Bible as a club to beat down those they didn't like or to control the people around them. In other instances, such as with homosexuality, we have people reacting to a societal problem in an un-biblical way, thus distorting the public’s view of God's Word.

     The main problem we have is actually two-fold: people judging Christianity based on the actions of people not acting like a Christian should, and the public at large having a very poor understanding of what the Bible actually says. It's a standard rule that no one talks about, you cannot judge a belief based on what people do in it's name. You have to judge it based on what it says, what it teaches. For example, the Bible says “though shalt not kill”; specifically translated that means “though shall not murder.” Basically we as normal humans do not have the authority to decide when someone else dies. Knowing that, we can know that any person or government going around killing people in the name of God is -not- following His Word! (And for those of you who might want to bring up ancient Israel and the killing of the Canaanites etc., remember that they were directed by God and that His message to them was verified by numerous unmistakable signs and miracles.) It doesn't matter how many people run around acting like fools with Jesus' name on their lips, the only thing that matters is what the Bible actually teaches. This leads to the next problem, a profound lack of Biblical knowledge amongst the general populace. People think they know a lot about the Bible but all they really know is hearsay or rumor at best. People in general don't know or understand what the Bible teaches so that void is filled up by what they hear, and the world says quite a bit against God and His Word. It is our responsibility as Christians to make known the truth of Word of God to those around us and around the world; sadly many Christians lack a decent understanding of Scripture as well.

“For 'whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.' How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”

(Romans 10:13-14)

     The truth of the matter is that without these two problems, all the specifics I mentioned earlier clear up. We can't have misogyny and the rumor of it if Christians and Non-Christians understand that the Bible teaches men to love their wives as Christ loves the church and to care for their children. We can't have sexism or racism or any other 'ism' when we understand that God see's our souls and does not care about who or what we are externally!

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.

(Romans 10:12)

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

(Galatians 3:28)

     Let's talk for a moment now about homosexuality. We get hit by this a lot these days, and in a certain sense we deserve it. The Bible is quite clear that practicing homosexuality is a sin, (Jude 1:7, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, just to name a few verses.) But we are told as Christians to love our enemies and to love our neighbors (ie. everyone around us). To the world at large: I have to tell you that we cannot back away from the clear Word of God, we cannot except this “lifestyle”; and to the Christians living in this world: I say we have to remember to love these people like we should love everyone. One sin isn't any worse than another in God's eyes, all are equally damning. Let's do our best to work for the Kingdom and spread the truth -the real truth- of God's Word to the people around us and to do it in love and with a desire to save not to condemn.

“But even if you should suffer because of righteousness, blessed are you. Do not be afraid or terrified with fear of them, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame.”

(1 Peter 3:14-16)

"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”

(Matthew 10:16)

"Rape Culture"

     There seems to be quite a bit of talk lately about so-called “rape culture” in the world. People of every theological, spiritual, and intellectual stripe are throwing around all kinds of explanations for this heinous act of violence. More often than not however, it comes down to the blame game. Some people blame women for “putting themselves on display” or “being where they shouldn't be.” Others blame men for thinking sex is due them or looking down on women or not listening when she says no. The problem with any one step explanation is the fact that this issue is more complex than that. Every situation is different and every rape has its own causes and its own victims. I will say this; ultimately 'rape culture' is a necessary result of a 'sex culture.'

     Put down your pitchforks please and let me explain that statement. The camp that blames men generally tries to do two things: point out the wrong mindset and behavior of offending males, and make all non-offending males appear to part of the problem simply because of their gender. The camp that blames women tries to make men out to be some sort of automatic machines that can do nothing more than react to stimuli; thus a scantily clad women creates sexual desire which the man has no choice but to act upon. Both camps are wrong not because they are inherently wrong but because the problem is both more complex and more simple than they would claim. Men are to blame because they are the perpetrators (most of the time). Many men do in fact have a horribly skewed view of women and that viewpoint plays out in their lives. Women are not to blame but are not without responsibility either, you cannot have your social cake and eat it too in this case. You cannot flaunt your sexuality and expect no one to notice, you cannot go home with a man you only met that night in a dark bar and simply expect perfect safety. The rapist is still the only one to blame, and in many if not most instances the woman involved did nothing wrong or unwise; but not always. Like I said, ultimately you really can't blame the victim in this kind of thing, the blame simply can't go in that direction, but the responsibility gets on all of us. The real cause behind a “rape culture” where women are afraid and every man is seen as a potential attacker, is sin.

“...although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man; and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”

(Romans 1:21-32)

     Part of the world's fallen state is the idea that we can rightfully engage in sexual activity outside of the confines of marriage, outside of the limits that God has put in place. We want the reward without the risk, the pay check without the work, the benefits without the responsibility. You see it everywhere in movies and music and books and TV and in the minds of the people you know, sex is a natural part of a romantic relationship. Even that definition doesn't work today as many people see it as just a recreational activity at best that requires no special relationship between the individuals involved. Sex was meant to be a benefit to marriage and a means by which a husband and wife bonded even more closely. Taking it from the marriage bed and putting on public display has destroyed what it was meant for and opened the gates for a host of issues that we now have to deal with as a society.

     When you have a population of people with no set moral compass, a people who believe that sex is something with no boundaries, no rules, and without even a final definition, you will have those who choose to simply take what they want. Rape is a horrible vivid picture of a very simple problem. Humanity is fallen and wants to remain as such. Ultimately the reason that some people are raped is the same reason someone steals or murders or cheats-they want it. They want it and they don't give a second thought to the idea that taking it might be wrong. The thief takes what they want, the cheat says what they want, the murderer takes the life they want, and all because of pride and sin.

     Women should not have to think of every man as a potential attacker because male society should be on the look out to protect those (of any gender) that are weaker than themselves. Men shouldn't have to walk on egg shells trying to appear safe and non-threatening at all times and in all ways; we cannot sustain that kind of life. Sin destroys what it touches, branching out and infecting everything connected to it. Our explanations will always fall short if they fail to address the simple obvious fact that humanity is desperately in need of a Savior.

**Note**

     For those of you who may disregard my thoughts because of my gender, after all what can a man say about this, know that I have a source for my perspectives. Someone who taught me what I believe and who has a very real understanding of it. Someone who shall go unnamed here but has every right to talk about it.

Poem: Sometimes, Often, Always

Sometimes

I can feel that infinite void

That separates God from man.

Sometimes

I find it hard

To understand His plan.

Often

I feel so lost

And confused by what I see.

Always

I can feel His hand

Guiding and comforting me.

Faithless

And fallen

And useless I am at heart.

But Perfect

Is the love of God

Who chose me from the start.

Never

Will I fully understand

The scope of His Grace

But someday

I'll worship in truth

And see Him face to face.

This world

Is harsh

It's breaking, broken,

Full of suffering and strife

There is every reason

To just give up

But more to search for Life

This God

I serve imperfectly

Is all I will ever need.

This world

Will fade eventually

With all it's lusts and greed.

I

Will hold to that which lasts

And kneel before the throne.

He

Will keep His every Word

And prove He is God alone.

by. me

True Good and What Matters Most -Part 2-

(This is the part two of my discussion of the article found here: http://sojo.net/blogs/2014/08/18/what-saved-my-faith

You can read part one >here< 

From the Article:

“My faith was threatened as I began to question what else had been wrong about what I had been taught. As I edged closer to the perimeters of the church, all the time being drawn and inspired by the beauty and unconditional love (which I was told only existed within Christianity) I saw outside of her, the light from beyond cast even more shadows on the church. Darkness existed in the forms of misogyny, empire-building, anti-intellectualism, and systematic marginalization of GLBT persons; they were injustices coated with spiritual language — wolves in sheep’s clothing. I suffered through severe storms of righteous rage. I wept with the pain of marginalized peoples against the church’s exclusion”

     I'm bothered by the phrase “what I had been taught.” A Christian is taught things, of course, but we come to know more as we commune with God in His Word. I can't really know, but it just doesn't feel like the author has a relationship with God. The language of the article speaks as if Christianity was simply an organization or a movement (She even calls it a movement at one point). Everything we see, every feeling we have, every idea that is presented to us or pops into our minds needs to be taken to Scripture and analyzed. The author constantly refers to “the church,” but doesn't ever mention the Word or God. The church, its membership, and its activities are not what we reference for truth and they are not what we hold up as our standard. God has revealed in Scripture and through His Son what we are to be. It is through that light that we look upon the world.

     “The light from beyond cast even more shadows on the church.” Satan was an angel of light, and he works in distractions and misinformation. He deals in lies and untruths. That light may cast shadows but it's a pale sickly light when understood. You say you see misogyny? The Bible speaks against that. You see 'empire-building' and 'anti-intellectualism'? God tells us to love Him with all of our mind, soul, and strength and think of others more than ourselves. You see the church marginalize the 'GLBT' folks? Well what do you mean by that? Do you mean that we exclude them from church? Do you mean that we refuse to allow what is clearly a sinful life, one repeatedly denounced by God in His word into the body of Christ? Then yes, that is there and it will remain for everyone who holds the Bible to be true. We must love these people, they are no different and no more fallen than any others but sin is sin and we do no one any favors by playing nice and trying to 'reinterpret' the Bible.

From the Article:

“You see, I want all of the beauty. I want the irreverent, gritty honesty out there AND the deeply mystical sacred prayers in here. I want the pragmatic, scientific solutions for the world’s problems out there AND the earnest faith for the impossible in here. I want the big, huge tent that welcomes everyone out there AND the narrow road of life giving sacrifice in here. I want to glean the wisdom of the world AND own Jesus’ beautiful vision.”

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

(1 John 2:15)

“Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

(James 4:4)

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

(Proverbs 9:10)

Co 1:20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

     What honesty does the author think she'll find in a world of lies? Not that everyone is constantly telling lies but the prince of this world is the father of lies and humans speak his native language! Furthermore that 'big, huge tent that welcomes everyone' does not welcome true Christianity, it never has. Try it, go to that tent -so to speak- join in the hand holding and smiling, and then tell everyone that there is ONE way and one way ONLY that man can be saved from his sin. Tell them that the ONE true God CONDEMNS their sin and is right to PUNISH them. Tell them that despite that He sent His Son to die on their behalf and all we need to do to enjoy His grace is repent and OBEY. See how long they welcome you. This world hates us, some more than others, but all of it the same. We are not of this world and should not seek inclusion in it. We desire a oneness, we desire unity, but unity in Christ and oneness of Spirit. The kingdom of God is not one that exists on earth, at least not yet. The kingdom is not one we bring about, it is not one we help at all. God will do His work and we have the privilege of coming along for the ride. We do not seek a “better world” or a utopia, we seek Christ and Christ alone.

From the Article:

“The paradox in my spiritual journey is that beautiful people, ones who are overly kind, extravagantly generous, yet remain unassuming and humble — they threaten my faith and simultaneously save it. My faith, it teeters on again and off again, never secure, keeping me on my toes.

I will never stop being drawn outside of the faith circle, because selfish person that I am: I need to have all of the beauty. I can’t ever go back to the safe kind of faith, the one that is full of certainty and claims beauty only for itself. I want my faith to be fragile and vulnerable and dangerous, because without the risk of losing my faith, there would cease to be any need to save it.”

     The beauty she claimed to see outside, as if it only exists out there, is a facade. It's a remnant of the fact that as God's creation we can never be fully removed from the evidence of His work. I would ask why seeing people do good threatens her faith? Why does an atheist at a soup kitchen drive her to doubt? Is it because they're not a Christian? Is it because they're doing things she, for some reason, thought only Christians could do? The Bible tells us that all of our righteousnesses (apart from Him) are as filthy rags. It does not say we have no 'goodness', it only says that our 'goodness' is not ultimately good and by comparison is not very good at all. Frankly I'm concerned for her, with her faith so fragile as she says. We should not allow doubts to linger. When we doubt we need to use that doubt to drive us to deeper understanding. We need to strive for the death of doubts, not hold to them as some sort of indicator of higher truth. Our faith does not require saving. We do. I feel as if the author needs to be reminded that we hold to a faith that is sure in the storm, steady on the sea, and firm as a house built upon stone rather than sand. We cannot be led astray by the beauty of this world; a lost man can be confident but following him still gets you nowhere.

“For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.”

(2 Peter 2:20)

True Good and What Matters Most -Part 1-

     So I came across a blog post the other day, like we all do; someone I know posted it on Facebook. It sounded good, the title anyway, so I clicked away and started reading. Unfortunately the article made very few accurate points and quite a few doctrinal miss-steps. You can find the article here:

http://sojo.net/blogs/2014/08/18/what-saved-my-faith

     First the good. The author truthfully states that Christians ought to be aware of 'social issues', that we should be doing what we can to care for the poor and the needy. It's sadly true that in the modern age many evangelicals seem to be more interested in staying inside our castle walls and shouting than actually going out to the battlefield and lending a hand. We tend to vilify people and forget to love the sinner we see on the street. We've developed a “we are right and you are not” mentality that is far from helpful. That's true of course to an extent; there is only one way to God and we have been blessed by Him to be able to see it, but we forget that we didn't get here on our own. It is only the unmerited favor and grace of God that separates us from the unsaved. We as Christians need to be more loving and more caring towards those around us, we need to remember that the people pushing the world's agenda are lost, they need help and God will see about their eternal destiny.

“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

(James 1:27)

     Unfortunately that little bit of truth was only the backdrop used to almost vilify our faith and to promote a skewed view of God, Scripture, and of Christianity. The very first mistake made is in the second sentence.

From the Article:

“Through seminary, I learned to grapple with justice being at the heart of the Christian Gospel — dignity, equality, and right to life for all...”

     While these are certainly a component of Christian life, they are not the heart of the Gospel. The Gospel is founded on the idea that we don't have to receive justice, we can be mercifully freed from the punishment we deserve! The 'justice' the author promotes throughout the article is a good thing, seeking to help others around us, but is not the point of Christianity! The point of the Gospel is to see people saved, ultimately it matters very little how easy or how hard your life is here on earth. God cares for our lives, He doesn't want us to suffer, but if that's what it takes to make us more like Him He will pour out destruction to the fullest extent necessary. Our Holiness is what matters, not whether we have a roof over our heads or shoes on our feet or if we can read or if we can write or if others beat us down.

From the Article:

“It disoriented me because for so long I believed it was only through Christ that one can walk in righteous paths; that without the Truth (which had been so narrowly summed up for me in John 3:16), everything was meaningless. I didn’t have an interpretive lens to categorize beauty that existed outside of the vessel I was told contained the only beauty to be found: the evangelical Christian church.”

     The problem here is this, that beauty that you see in the world, those nice people who do what they can to help others? It's all fallen and apart from God. You say that you were taught that apart from the truth of God everything is meaningless? That's because it is! We live in a fallen, broken, evil age and nothing that springs up from inside of it can be ultimately good. It's not all horrible, it's not all sins and sinners, we see people trying to do good but it's all a painting on a dirty canvas. We don't need to be saved to “do good”, but we need to be saved if the good we do is to truly be good because only when things are done for the glory of God are they done correctly! What good does it do to teach impoverished children to read if they never read God's Word? What good is it to fight that others might be free from slavery if you leave them a slave to sin? There is no point in purely earthly endeavors, our help is only helpful if it points them to God who alone can truly save.

“And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

(1 John 2:17)

(See part two tomorrow)

What You Say and What You Do

     It's the big thing these days, you'll hear it everywhere in Christian circles. “I don't need to talk to people about Christ, my life is my witness.” People everywhere are giving up on actually witnessing to those around them and simply trusting in the 'power of a transformed life.' Now I'm not saying that your life shouldn't reflect your faith, or that the people around you shouldn't be able to tell that there is something different about you. What needs to be said however, is that a silent choir doesn't get many listeners.

     First let's look at that life of yours. Were you once a criminal? Did you come from horrible circumstances? Do you live in a really bad part of town? No? Then I'm sorry but you're life of 'goodness' is not going to seem much different to those around you. Oh sure, they will think you're a nice guy, or that you're rather conservative, or maybe even kind of a prude but I doubt very much they will be floored by your holiness and virtue. Our lives can say a lot, they can tell people that we don't agree with what is around us or that we hold ourselves to a higher standard. Our lives can tell others that we respect them or that we had good parents or that we just want everyone to get along, but our lives alone won't tell anyone about Jesus. Simple actions can only ever tell anyone about you. We need to be more expressive. We need to explain the pattern that people see in our lives.

     Don't get me wrong, that life you live is important, it's just isn't enough. Our lives should be transformed and we should be different from the world. Our every action should be feeding through the filter of God's Spirit. What we say, what we do, what we think; how will these affect the world's view of God? We cannot live as the world and expect the people around us think that our faith is anything special.

“Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Christ did.”

(1 John 2:6)

“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”

(1 Peter 4:1-2)

     As I said before, our lives -by themselves- only tell the story of us. It's when we speak to those around us that they see the whole picture. If all my co-workers see that I don't work on Sundays they can think of any number of things. They might even assume it's because I'm at church, but if I tell them why and explain that the day is set apart for God and His praise, what will they think then? I can treat others with respect and be seen as a nice guy, but if I tell people that God is no respecter of persons and holds no one in higher regard than anyone else, if I tell them that He loves us all so much that He sent His Son down to die on our behalf, what will they think of that? When we tell people what we believe, when we show them the Word, our lives will serve as the proof, as the substance to what they may see as just more words. It's all fine and good to hear that God loves everyone, but it's another thing entirely when you see His people actually out there loving people! They may see that I behave differently than those around me, but if tell them of my Redeemer they can see that I'm not just a different, better man, I'm a saved man! I'm one who has been changed!

“...'whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.' How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”

(Romans 10:13-14)

     My life has to back up my words and my words have to reflect my life. I need to walk the walk, but I also need to talk the talk. If we do one to the exclusion of the other we will be weak witnesses and poor missionaries. Don't think that your life will draw others to God like flys to honey, or that your words don't matter. Don't think that you can talk people into the Kingdom or that no one is watching you. Life the life that God has prepared for you and do your best to tell people of the hope that is in you.

Respect and Honor

“Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.”

(Titus 3:1-2)

“Bond-servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”

(Colossians 3:22-24)

     We don't like to obey and we do not like to listen. We modern folks think we have got it all worked out and that we are free first and foremost. It's my life and my choice, right? Well yes and no. I'm not really going to talk about the whole free will issue today, nor am I going to talk about obeying authority really; I'm talking about how we treat authority. How we deal with authority tells a lot about us, perhaps even more than our obedience.

     In the modern world and workforce there is a profound belief in the incompetence of leadership and a general lack of respect for those in higher position. When you're at work and the boss turns the corner do you and your coworkers immediately start to tear him or her down? I think this can be at least partially traced to the general sense of mistrust and even outright hatred for 'companies' and 'corporations' that exists in western culture. I think we also fail to show respect because we want to blame things that annoy us at work on somebody specific and out of a simple sense of jealousy. After all they make more than we do and have more power to boot. Who among us hasn't joked about the incompetent supervisor or the lazy manager or the overbearing executive? Should we though?

     Look at the verses above, Titus says “...to speak evil of no one...”, and in Colossians we are told to “obey in all things your masters...not with eye service...but in sincerity of heart...” In those verses we are shown a standard for dealing with authority. Note especially Colossians, sincerity of heart, we're are specifically commanded to do more than simply follow through on orders but to willingly and energetically serve! The Word reminds us that ultimately we are serving God, albeit through an intermediary. When we fill out that expense report, or send that fax, or clean that fryer, or take out the trash we have an opportunity to serve God in a practical ordinary way and be an example to the world as well. If every one of your coworkers is snarky and barely working and you have a smile and work joyfully, what does that say about you? More importantly what will that say about the God you claim to serve? An honest, sincere, and earnest life when accompanied by an outspoken and loving faith can be a powerful testimony to the world around you.

     Another thing to consider, as I said before, do you mock that boss of yours when they're not around? I don't even care if they are incompetent or lazy or not terribly intelligent, their the boss and God commands that we show the position honor! Titus tells us above not only “...to be subject to rulers and authorities,” but to “...speak evil of no man.” What kind of witness are you showing to your coworkers when you tear down that authority and do you think that the command to speak no evil extends to everyone except your annoying manager? I'm not saying that we shouldn't work to fix incompetencies or be insufferable brown-nosers, it's just that we are to live noble and peaceful lives while we walk this earth, and above that to be project the image of the invisible God to the eyes of men. Take care and think about how your behavior reflects on God and yourself. Maybe showing that frustrating boss some honor will inspire others to do the same and maybe that boss will work to be worthy of that honor you show. Ultimately though, we are commanded to show honor and to obey as to to God so to men. Remember we were all sinners and we are none of us perfect, don't look down on someone for their imperfections as if you were sparkling clean.

**Final note**

     Don't think that to obey authorities we should simply do anything and everything we are told to do. We are not slaves to men. Even those who were (or are in some places of the world) are first beholden to God. We obey up until the point those orders conflict with the express will of God.

“Peter and John, however, said to them in reply, "Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges. It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard."

(Acts 4:19-20)

"We gave you strict orders (did we not?) to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man's blood upon us." But Peter and the apostles said in reply, "We must obey God rather than men.“

(Acts 5:28-29)

The Importance of Knowledge in a World That Knows So Much

     I see a lot of articles and blog posts lately from so-called “ex-Christians” denouncing the horrible things taught in the Bible. The authors of these articles range from sexually repressed young women to domineering men to battered house wives and more. We hear over and over again the preaching of people now free from the grip of their families and churches who tell us that all of this religion stuff is so very very wrong. We hear all the stories of patriarchal worlds where men rule and can do what they want, where women are held to ludicrously high standards and men are free, where the church authority dictates our life, and where the Bible is used to back all of this up and push everyone down. I hear all of this, and it saddens me.

     To all the people beat down by religion, to everyone who's life has been crushed and manipulated by a tyrant wielding scripture, I am sorry. Sorry that you may never know the truth of God because these people have so warped your view of Him. Sorry that so many of you never thought to really read that Bible that was shoved in your face and see that they were wrong! There is so much sin in this world and so much hurt and so much wrong and none of it is worse than the pain caused by false teaching and warped ideology. The most horrible mask that the devil can wear is the one that smiles and looks like god. I pray that you would realized that just because someone says something is Biblical doesn't mean that it is. That merely quoting scripture doesn't mean you understand it. I hope you see that just being in authority doesn't mean you're always right. I pray that you can see past the false god shown to you and see the real Jesus.

     I pray for those tyrants too. Those people that we all love to hate, God simply loves. He's angry with them and they are headed for an eternity in hell, but He loves them. Those people who are leading so many astray and whose actions keep so many from God are themselves lost and astray. The father who dominates his family is not only missing out on God but he's missing out on his family. He is not loving his wife as he should for the Bible tells men in Ephesians 5:26 to love their wives as Christ loved the church. What does that mean? Jesus left the glory of heaven, he left that perfect place to come here, and live a life where so many despised Him, and then He died. He gave up His life unto torture and murder, for us. That's how Christ loved the church. He didn't just die for it, He lived every day for it. That man is missing out on his children. The Bible tells us in Ephesians: “fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” Not only are you domineering fathers not training your children properly when you present a false God and wrong understanding, you are instilling wrath and anger and bitterness in them.

     We as Christians need to know Gods Word so that when we see these things, when we hear people talk about their horrible lives in the world of 'christianity', we can respond with the truth. We can show them that yes, what they went through was wrong and the Bible says so! We need to be ready to defend the faith, not because God needs our help but because what people think they know informs their actions and if all of their facts are lies how will they make the right choices? Why would that young girl give herself to God if all she's ever heard is that God wants her to be pure so she can be the property of some man who doesn't have to meet the same standard? Why would that man seek to love his wife and be worthy of her when she's only property or a source of 'satisfaction'? How will the world see the goodness of God if it's hidden behind the evils of men? The world thinks that it knows so much. Most of us run around with a head full of headlines and blog titles and pithy quotes that we think are true but couldn't be farther from it! You can do better than that Christian, you have to. For the sake of those that don't want to listen to you, be sure you speak the truth.

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;” (1 Peter 3:15)

Justified, Sanctified, Glorified

     The Christian life is one of progress, one of movement. We don't stand idly waiting for the end of all things. At one point we were all sinners, and rebels, and enemies of God; and then there was a moment, and instant where we transitioned from foe to family. When we accepted the free gift of salvation we were brought 'into' Christ, we were justified before God. Essentially, the perfect life lived by Jesus and His death on the cross were ascribed to us. Our relationship with God was essentially fixed though it still requires work and improvement. This alone is an amazing thing! That God would make righteous those who were headed to the gallows, that He would even consider it! This amazing gift, this unspeakable mercy wasn't even necessary, and by that I mean that God did not HAVE to save us. Now is necessary in the sense that God has proclaimed that it is so and thus it shall be, but there was no necessity forcing God to do this.

“For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

(Titus 3:3-7)

     The next step along the path, and the longest, is “sanctification.” So you're saved, and that's fantastic, but God is not done yet! Now He has to deal with all those little 'issues' within you. You've got to stop lying and start working harder, being nicer, reading the Bible every day, praying all the time, and a million other things that will get progressively more and more acute and specific. Every moment you'll have the choice -that you didn't have before- to live either for God or for the world, the spirit or the flesh. You're not alone though, with salvation comes the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; God himself residing within you and helping you with all these decisions.

One of the great things about sanctification is that it's guaranteed! God's will must come to pass in all things and He has ordained that His people progress in Him. The Bible is filled with evidence for this, that God will continue and complete a work in His people. He paid for you, now He want's you sharp!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

(Hebrews 13:20-21)

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

(Philippians 1:6)

     Finally, after a lifetime of struggle and of fighting for every inch, we will reach eternity. In that day, either through the transition of death or the translation of rapture we will find ourselves free from even the presence of sin. In that great and wondrous moment we will be glorified! Every last spot of sin removed, every ailment and disease, every failing every flaw; reconnected to eternity and in perfect union with God at last! With the Spirit within us and no more temptation we will finally be wholly free from sin and with our bodies restored to how they should have been before the fall and probably better, we can look forward to eternity by Jesus side. No more struggle, no more sorrow, no more fear, only peace and joy forevermore.

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

(Romans 8:29-30)

And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.

(Revelation 21:3-7)

     The Christian life is one of progress, one where we understand that all of life has a goal. We do not wander aimlessly on an endless path cast randomly before us. Everything that was, that is, and will be is bound together in an intricate tapestry that proclaims the glory of God and mercy toward Men! Take a look at your life today. Do you know God? If not then find someone who can lead you to Him. If you know God, are you living for Him and making every effort to move a little closer each moment of each day? Are your eyes ever upward, yearning for the wonder of eternity with Him? Find where you stand and take steps to move forward, pray and He will show you where to go and how to get there.

The Christian Geek

     I'm a Christian first and foremost, that's who I am beyond any other distinction, but that one title is not the only moniker that applies to me. I am also a son, a brother, a husband, a writer, an artist, and a 'geek'. I mean that of course in the modern cultural definition. Webster's dictionary defines a geek as “a person who is very interested in and knows a lot about a particular field or activity”. That's delightfully vague isn't it?

Oddly enough I've been asked this question countless times: “How can you be a geek and a Christian?” So many people think there is some kind of disparity there or some insurmountable wall that should bar me from entrance into either one camp or the other, but in reality the two parts of myself co-exist quite well. You see the first part of the answer is what I started this post with, I am a Christian first. That means I am a Christian geek not a geek who is a Christian. My faith informs my geekiness and defines the parameters of those interests. When it comes to my love of fantasy in either movies, video games or books; my faith has led me to create a set of criteria that I use to decide which things I will enjoy.

<>If the world of the story contains magic it must meet the

 following:

-the world must not set itself up as existing in this current, existing, reality.

-The magic contained in said story cannot be of the 'real world' kind, ex: sacrifices and intricate spells that contact demons and what-not.

<>Regardless of the world/story the actions of the main characters,

those presented as the 'good guys' must be in fact good. I will not partake of a world where the good guys aren't at least mostly 'good' at heart.

-The setting and storyline must also be 'worth' whatever result we are headed toward. I have started reading books in the past that have asked you to go through far too much filth for far too little reward at the end.

The point is that I cannot enjoy in a fantasy what would be wrong in reality; and as I've said, the same rules apply to video games, books, movies, TV shows, etc. Notice that my rules tend to lean heavily on what the heroes are doing and little on the villains. I personally give the villains some lee-way because, well, they're villains! Their actions aren't being lauded, their being denounced.

     People often accuse the world of fantasy literature and gaming to be “practice in the occult” or even of just being sneaky means for occult people and groups to seduce us into their world. In response to that I love the following quote from “The Christian Gamers Guild” FAQ page, speaking of the critics of RPG's and tabletop games specifically. This particular quote isn't talking about playing 'evil' characters, something I think we should avoid, but it makes an excellent general point about “magic” in games.

“... a critical point that is missed, or worse, intentionally ignored even by those who have browsed through them (the game manuals) is that there is a constant distinction between the players and their characters. If C. S. Lewis creates in one of his books a senior devil named Screwtape writing advice to a junior tempter named Wormwood, no one for a moment believes that Lewis is confusing himself with the actions of that demon. Nor do we accuse him of summoning demons because some of his characters in Perelandra and That Hideous Strength do so. Likewise, no one feels that the church members who play Pontius Pilate, Judas Iscariot, and Caiaphas in the church passion play are at any risk of condemnation for doing so. There is distance between the player and the character. When it says that the character must swallow a bit of bitumen and a live spider to do the spider climb spell, there isn't any bitumen or spiders anywhere near the player. He doesn't actually do anything--he just says that his character is going to swallow the spider and the bitumen (or more usually, he just says that the character is going to cast the Spider Climb spell, and if there's any question about whether he has the materials they look them up to see what he needs to do it--in the same way that if a novice chess player were to announce that he is going to take his opponent's pawn by en passant we might need to pull out the rules to determine how that works and whether it can be done in this circumstance). Even in LARP (Live Action Role Play) there is always this distance, with the bulk of the action still in the imagination. Critics have confused the player with the character.”

-For more on this topic and a great treatment of Christians as gamers/geeks head over to-

http://christian-gamers-guild.org/faq.html

     Essentially being a geek is no more than any other hobby. No different than your father's bowling night, your mother's scrap-booking nights, your brother's obsession with football or anything else that we do in our free time to relax. The traditional spheres of 'geekness' are the things which draw me and so many others to not only enjoy but to create. It drives me to write, to draw, to imagine whole other worlds and the many adventures that happen there.

     One last thought. As a Christian, I believe in a number of amazing things: that there is an all powerful being who cannot be seen but controls all of reality, that there are spirits that inhabit a whole other world essentially parallel to our own, or that in certain instances the whole of natural reality has been circumvented. Maybe it's just me, but I feel that being a geek makes me more able to believe in these things. A man who has never ridden the back of a dragon or watched the hero cast down his enemy with a bolt of lightning may just find it more difficult to believe that God brought down a torrent of flame to consume a water-logged alter when Elija prayed, or that the Red sea once split down the middle, or that a Man once walked on water.

A Plea

     Father, may You hear this prayer. I'm sorry. Sorry. How hollow is that word and so small. When weighed against my sin how little that one word means. How can I be sorry, how can my regret mean anything at all when I understand so little of what I do; when the enormity of my sin I cannot even start to comprehend? I need you oh God! These hands are filthy and I cannot scrub them clean, neither palms, nor wrists, nor even one single finger. All around me are smiles and welcome and much esteem. Would they love me if they knew me? Knew me as You do? As the man who chooses the wrong again and again and AGAIN, who fights a battle against himself and seems to so often lay his sword aside and present his neck to the blade. If on some lonely night a screen were erected on which to project my life and thoughts and deeds done in solitude how many would speak to me again? How many would break off all ties? How many would forgive? How many would take pity? How many would help? Anyone? Anyone at all? Would anyone at all look on me with pity or with love? Would I find one sympathetic soul to take my hand? Would you? Would anyone?

     Father, may You hear this prayer. To You alone can I turn to in the night that is myself. From You alone can I seek forgiveness and grace. For You alone have provided a way for salvation. I am weighed down with guilt. Every lie, every half-truth, every wayward thought, every flash of lust, every selfish action, every MOMENT that I have spent on the flesh and it's fallen desire pulls me to the floor and I CAN'T BREATHE from the weight of it all! Yet you are there with me. Lord Jesus you are there with me, under the mountain of crushing evidence and crime. It is Your back that bears the burden now, YES, I can feel the burden lifting! In Your blood stained hands my sin lies crucified forever on the cross of Calvary! The weight, that crushing force that held me down is rising now and I can stand and breathe and see another day!

Thank you.

.

.

thank you.

Two words. They too sound hollow. How can two words, and two syllables, and eight letters, and one language, and one mind, and one soul, and one lifetime be enough to convey my gratitude? How can I show my joy? I have not the words to say, nor the songs to sing, nor the tears to shed to express it! How can I thank You? How can I say I'm sorry? How can I convey such meaning that even my heart cannot contain? How can I?

     Father, may You hear this prayer. This life is Yours now, as it was before but now by more than right of Lordship. Now You have paid for it with the blood of Your Son. This life that was meaningless and stained and broken, this life that had no worth and no point is suddenly more valuable than all the jewels, and all the gold, and all the precious things of all the worlds combined because You have set the price. You have shown what You would pay...for me. I cannot understand why You would do such a thing. Why You would pay so great a price, for me. For us. For anyone.

     So many words. So many songs. So many lives and so many souls given to the worship and praise of Your name, and it's not enough. There will never be enough singing, never be enough dancing, never be enough stories told, or poems written, or dramas played out across the stage to encompass what should be said. I cannot say enough, I cannot even begin. So I will say what I can.

I'm sorry

I love You

.

.

.

Thank You.

I Believe in Miracles

     I guess it is time to talk about miracles and creation. With the news of another popular Christian artist renouncing their belief in a literal creation (along with the flood by the way) it seems more and more people are turning away from the Word. This is an argument that has been gone over and dissected and discussed a million different ways so lets just focus on one aspect. Miracles.

     More specifically lets talk about whether they can be honestly believed in by the discerning mind. Very often we hear that people reject the miracles of the Bible because their too far fetched, to spectacular, that they just don't jibe with what we understand of the modern world. I suppose that makes a certain amount of sense, these actions by God are simply beyond our understanding, completely outside anything we understand about nature and the laws of reality.

…......

…...

….

..

THAT IS THE POINT!

     God is GOD! His ways are not our ways, His thoughts are not our thoughts. Doesn't it make total sense that His actions would be far beyond us? The idea that miracles cannot be because they defy physical law is a major flaw in logic and thought. The detractors say that miracles go against every physical law we know of and are completely impossible. That being said, miracles are only impossible if God does not exist and act within His creation! The Bible begins with “In the Beginning God,” and that sets the tone and setting for the rest of scripture. The Bible assumes from the beginning that God exists. These arguments against miracles are denying the Bible's first premise!

     To some that may seem like a cop-out. It may seem that we're just excusing it by saying “God did it.” The problem there is that it is not a excuse if it is the actual reason. God has the power to create all of existence, He certainly has the power to manipulate that creation. It's like saying that I can only manipulate my Lego bricks in the way my Lego bricks perceive and understand themselves. Let me rephrase that: if I build a car out of Lego than within the world my imagination has made that Lego construct is a car and obeys the rules of “car-dom.” That car stays on the ground and from it's own perspective all it can do is drive around and maybe beep it's horn and flash it's lights. I however, don't live in that reality. I'm above it, in point of fact, I made it! If I want to, I can make that car jump or fly, I can take it apart and put it back together, I can even make it talk! (For instance like a donkey under a certain prophet.) I don't have to obey any of the rules that govern that tiny little existence. If we had the same perspective of the Lego car when I did these things we would be amazed and confused and would be unable to explain any of it. Our perspective is limited to the world we inhabit.

     God is in no way bound by our perception of reality. He made the laws, so He can break them, or more accurately suspend them temporarily (though He can break them if He chooses). Those laws that people say drive them from belief in the miraculous were created by and are upheld only by the will of God. Without His sustaining influence nothing exists! So don't get bogged down by this idea that we need to understand everything. We don't understand God, We won't understand God, and we never will understand God. At least not fully, and not for a very, very, very long time.

Near or Far

Does it matter if He listens?

Does He hear us cry?

Is He present in our laughter?

Does He watch us when we die?

From on His grand celestial throne,

Does God see all we are?

Does His gaze extend to the lands below the sky and and sea of stars?

I say it makes the difference.

If He's near or far away.

I know that my redeemer lives,

and that He guides my way.

If God is some just some grand magician

Making puppets dance

Then our lives are nothing more than show.

A pointless circumstance.

If God creates but doesn't guide

He has no right to condemn

For how can we be loyal

to a shadow of a whim?

If God exists but doesn't make

His presence known to us.

Then why bother with creation?

Why all this mess and fuss?

But we have a God who listens.

Who hears our every cry.

Why else would Jesus come to earth

As man to live then die?

How can we say

He doesn't hear

Or care for our lament

When it was his back that bore our sin

and God's own blood was spent.

Though trouble seems

at times too much

for anyone to bear.

Though the trials we endure

Go on for longer than we care.

God's purposes are higher

They aim for something more

than earthly happiness or joy.

He has much more in store.

Eternity awaits us,

and we don't understand,

just how much we need Him,

Or the rightness of His plan

He listens when we cry out

He's with us in our pain

He walks with us in sunshine.

Stands closer in the rain

His strength is all we'll ever need

To make it through this life.

His hand is always on us

To lead us through our strife.

I for one will trust Him

I'll trust His guiding hand

I'll follow where He leads me

Though it be through foreign lands

I'll walk with Him forever.

Because He knows the way.

I'll walk along the path He lays,

From night unto the day.

by. Jonathan E. Schaefer

08/07/2014