"...these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation become offended and fall away (Luke 8:13b)."
What did you expect? is more than the rhetorical question of an alleged cynic, but an axiom for determining just why you get so frustrated and disappointed with others. In every case, it is because you expect something from them that you did not get. If we were to love, as Christ, we would expect nothing, and be pleasantly surprised in the event we do receive "a little drop of kindness" in return. But such times are rare.
Jesus told us instead to expect persecution, excommunication, and tribulation. Since Christians today expect blessing, acceptance, and prosperity, it's easy to see why so many are setting themselves up for a big disappointment when GOD does not meet their expectation. Ultimately, you will apply the same expectations upon God as you do upon people, holding Him personally responsible for what THEY did or did not do to you. The seed for apostasy and falling away is planted in my heart, in your heart, in every Christian heart: that is, the unrealistic and unbiblical perception of how we expect God and other people to treat us.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Obedience out of Love..
"If you love me, you will obey what I command.”
If you love me, let it be evident as you fear, love, and trust in me above all things. If you love me, let it be evident as you use my name to sing my praises rather than using it to curse and swear. If you love me, let it be evident by the way you use the gospel in Word and Sacrament, make it a priority rather than a convenience. If you love me, let it be evident by the way you love and respect your parents and grandparents, pastors and teachers, leaders in the church and leaders in the government. If you love me, let it be evident as you protect and preserve my precious gift of life I’ve given to you and to others and to those yet to be born. If you love me, let it be evident by the way you love and serve your spouse, by living a pure and decent life in thought, word, and action. If you love me, let it be evident by the way you use the physical blessings I’ve given you, storing up treasures in heaven rather than storing up treasures on earth. If you love me, let it be evident by the way you speak up, defend, and protect the good names of others rather than gossiping about them when they’re not around. If you love me, let it be evident by being content with what I’ve given you, knowing you have what I want you to have, rather than spending countless hours coveting the stuff I’ve given to others and want them to have. If you love me, let it be evident by loving and serving others as I have loved and served you, forgiving others as I have forgiven you. And if you love me, let it be evident by caring for the orphans & widows in their distress.
And if you love me, let it be evident that you do not cherish the things that are in this world..the craving for sensual gratification, the greedy longings of the mind and the assurance in one's own resources or in the stability of earthly things--these do not come from the Father but are from the world. This world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever.
“The Holy Spirit will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
If you love me, let it be evident as you fear, love, and trust in me above all things. If you love me, let it be evident as you use my name to sing my praises rather than using it to curse and swear. If you love me, let it be evident by the way you use the gospel in Word and Sacrament, make it a priority rather than a convenience. If you love me, let it be evident by the way you love and respect your parents and grandparents, pastors and teachers, leaders in the church and leaders in the government. If you love me, let it be evident as you protect and preserve my precious gift of life I’ve given to you and to others and to those yet to be born. If you love me, let it be evident by the way you love and serve your spouse, by living a pure and decent life in thought, word, and action. If you love me, let it be evident by the way you use the physical blessings I’ve given you, storing up treasures in heaven rather than storing up treasures on earth. If you love me, let it be evident by the way you speak up, defend, and protect the good names of others rather than gossiping about them when they’re not around. If you love me, let it be evident by being content with what I’ve given you, knowing you have what I want you to have, rather than spending countless hours coveting the stuff I’ve given to others and want them to have. If you love me, let it be evident by loving and serving others as I have loved and served you, forgiving others as I have forgiven you. And if you love me, let it be evident by caring for the orphans & widows in their distress.
And if you love me, let it be evident that you do not cherish the things that are in this world..the craving for sensual gratification, the greedy longings of the mind and the assurance in one's own resources or in the stability of earthly things--these do not come from the Father but are from the world. This world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever.
“The Holy Spirit will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Joshua 5:8..
"God is the God of tomorrow's fresh plans, despite today's mistakes. It is what is left behind you after everything else is taken away that counts…and that is your relationship with God and His Son Jesus Christ - which brings a peace that surpasses all understanding…"
Although many of us are reborn children of God, we still somehow do not experience the fullness of that which God has purposed for us. How do we equip God's children as warriors in victorious living? If you are a reborn child of God you are automatically a warrior in God's army. However, do you know who your enemy is, what your weapons are, how to use them properly and effectively; do you have a strategy for the battle plan?
In Joshua 5: 8 we read the following: "and after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed." Not only were God's people preparing to go into battle, they were also circumcised. The Israelites had to remain in the camp until they were healed, and totally restored before entering into battle - wounded and bruised soldiers cannot enter into war. We as God's children, also need our hearts to be circumcised… before going into battle. We need to be clean before the Lord so that our enemy satan has no advantage or grip on us. Healing after circumcision does not happen overnight, it is a process, and so it is also with God's children…we as the Church, the Bride of Christ, not only need to be circumcised, but need to be healed, so that we can be warriors of stature, before entering the battle.
I believe that the main focus needs to be on the Restoration of the Bride of Jesus. Restoration will take place on all three levels of man - spirit, soul and body.
1) Restoration of the Spirit.
I believe we must teach the Hebraic principle restoring each individual to the heart of God - as Father. Once a commitment is made to dedicate their lives to God, we must emphasize God's plan of experiencing the fullness of His love as the person is released from the bondages of sexual, occultic and generational iniquities. We need to teach that serving God in loving obedience through the keeping of His commands and the leading of the Holy Spirit will cause us to grow in our role as a Royal priesthood.
2) Restoration of the Soul.
We need to understand and recognize that many believers have been bruised and wounded in their emotions, mind and will due to abuse / wrong parental broken relationships. We must teach the Hebraic principle that God came to bring us rest and peace and therefore a great deal of emphasis should be placed on the process of forgiveness, renewal of the mind from the Greco Roman model to the Hebraic roots where the father stands in the role of servant leader of a spirit-filled, blessed home.
3) Restoration of the Body.
We must teach and believe that Jesus has paid the full price for our physical restoration. We must minister to the body to accept responsibility to honour the physical temple through Godly principles of a healthy lifestyle. We pray for the healing of physical disorders by the laying on of hands and anointing with oil. We believe in a God of MIRACLES!
Although many of us are reborn children of God, we still somehow do not experience the fullness of that which God has purposed for us. How do we equip God's children as warriors in victorious living? If you are a reborn child of God you are automatically a warrior in God's army. However, do you know who your enemy is, what your weapons are, how to use them properly and effectively; do you have a strategy for the battle plan?
In Joshua 5: 8 we read the following: "and after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed." Not only were God's people preparing to go into battle, they were also circumcised. The Israelites had to remain in the camp until they were healed, and totally restored before entering into battle - wounded and bruised soldiers cannot enter into war. We as God's children, also need our hearts to be circumcised… before going into battle. We need to be clean before the Lord so that our enemy satan has no advantage or grip on us. Healing after circumcision does not happen overnight, it is a process, and so it is also with God's children…we as the Church, the Bride of Christ, not only need to be circumcised, but need to be healed, so that we can be warriors of stature, before entering the battle.
I believe that the main focus needs to be on the Restoration of the Bride of Jesus. Restoration will take place on all three levels of man - spirit, soul and body.
1) Restoration of the Spirit.
I believe we must teach the Hebraic principle restoring each individual to the heart of God - as Father. Once a commitment is made to dedicate their lives to God, we must emphasize God's plan of experiencing the fullness of His love as the person is released from the bondages of sexual, occultic and generational iniquities. We need to teach that serving God in loving obedience through the keeping of His commands and the leading of the Holy Spirit will cause us to grow in our role as a Royal priesthood.
2) Restoration of the Soul.
We need to understand and recognize that many believers have been bruised and wounded in their emotions, mind and will due to abuse / wrong parental broken relationships. We must teach the Hebraic principle that God came to bring us rest and peace and therefore a great deal of emphasis should be placed on the process of forgiveness, renewal of the mind from the Greco Roman model to the Hebraic roots where the father stands in the role of servant leader of a spirit-filled, blessed home.
3) Restoration of the Body.
We must teach and believe that Jesus has paid the full price for our physical restoration. We must minister to the body to accept responsibility to honour the physical temple through Godly principles of a healthy lifestyle. We pray for the healing of physical disorders by the laying on of hands and anointing with oil. We believe in a God of MIRACLES!
Jeremy Camp
"My Desire"
You want to be real
You want to be empty inside
You want to be someone laying down your pride
You want to be someone someday
Then lay it all down before the King
You want to be whole
You want to have purpose inside
You want to have virtue and purify your mind
You want to be set free today then lay it all down before the King
[Chorus:]
This is my desire
This is my return
This is my desire to be used by you
You want to be real
You want to be emptied inside
And I know my heart is to feel you near
And I know my life
It's to do your will
It's to do your will
This is my desire, this is my return
This is my desire, to be used by You
Oo yea This is my desire, this is my desire
To be used by You
All my life I have seen
Where You've taken me
Beyond all I have hoped
And there's more left unseen
There's not much I can do
to repay all You've done
So I give my hands to use
This is my desire, this is my return
This is my desire, to be used by You
Oo yea This is my desire, this is my desire
To be used by You
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
"For we walk by faith, not by sight" (II Corinthians 5:7).
The question for us remains: what do we see? Many people look, but do
not see. They look at the world and believe everything it says.
Others have their eyes opened to see as the Lord sees. This
revelation, or unveiling, is what enables us to live in the world
while being apart from the world. This seeing enables us to overcome
the world and demonstrate Christ as All in All. We do not have to
live according to what we see or feel, but according to the Law of
the Spirit of Life in Christ.
May God show us who we are, and may God raise us up to walk worthy of
the calling He has given us.
not see. They look at the world and believe everything it says.
Others have their eyes opened to see as the Lord sees. This
revelation, or unveiling, is what enables us to live in the world
while being apart from the world. This seeing enables us to overcome
the world and demonstrate Christ as All in All. We do not have to
live according to what we see or feel, but according to the Law of
the Spirit of Life in Christ.
May God show us who we are, and may God raise us up to walk worthy of
the calling He has given us.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Victory..
"Having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them
openly, triumphing over them in it" (Colossians 2:15).
The Overcomer demonstrates the preeminence of Christ over sin, self,
and satan. How is preeminence demonstrated if we are still trying to
fight our way to victory? We must stand in victory, not battle for
it. If we do fight, we fight FROM victory, not FOR victory. It must
be to us an accomplished fact, not a future hope, and just there lies
the difference between those who are still waging warfare and those
who are quietly resting in Christ and steadily praying His Will into
the earth.
openly, triumphing over them in it" (Colossians 2:15).
The Overcomer demonstrates the preeminence of Christ over sin, self,
and satan. How is preeminence demonstrated if we are still trying to
fight our way to victory? We must stand in victory, not battle for
it. If we do fight, we fight FROM victory, not FOR victory. It must
be to us an accomplished fact, not a future hope, and just there lies
the difference between those who are still waging warfare and those
who are quietly resting in Christ and steadily praying His Will into
the earth.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Prophecy
Today we hear a lot about Bible prophecy. Prophecy can be found throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament. Prophecy is a foretelling of future events. When God revealed to men prophetic truths, it was a statement of future events, instruction, warnings and doctrine. Prophecy is a revelation of God's will in relation to man. Those whom He communicated with and revealed His purpose to in the Old Testament, are called prophets.
And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. (2 Peter 1:20) Prophecy is a light shining in a dark place because it is revealing. Until the day dawns is the light before the sunrises or is the day the Lord returns. The morning star is our Savior and the morning star rises in your hearts represents a resurrection. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:20,21) God says, "I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come." (Isaiah 46:10) Those who apply their minds to God's prophetic word will have insight and foreknowledge of the present times. The Gospel is filled with God's promises (prophecy) and His intentions for all generations including this one.
Not all messengers of God are human. In the end time events, His messengers will include the winds (hurricanes), lightning and thunder (storms), rain (floods), the sea (tidal waves), the ground (earthquakes), and whatever else He chooses. The media announces nature is breaking all kinds of records as, coming in Biblical proportions.
The Old Testament includes history, the prophecies and the rehearsals of future events. God says, "Remember the former things those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please." (Isaiah 46:9-10) Hidden within the Scripture are deeper truths and insights of understanding. We don't have to be a Bible scholar, a minister or the Pope to have discernment. To understand the Spiritual teaching, the help of the Holy Spirit is necessary (2 Corinthians 2:1-5).
All the prophecies written in the Bible have occurred except the end time events. Our generation will be witnesses to the end time prophecy being fulfilled. We are all participants in the end time events, no nation or race of peoples will be excluded. It will be devastating for some and glorious for others; nevertheless all will participate, the living and the dead. Jesus gives us foresight to the end time events, "For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now -- and never to be equaled again." (Matthew 24:21)
The plan of salvation is in place, everyone is given the opportunity to be a part of that salvation. By doing so there is nothing to lose and everything to gain. The consequence of not living the life outlined in the Bible is eternal damnation. Who can afford to take that chance? It is better to live a life that will guarantee you eternal life than eternal damnation. God's Word tells us there will be a separation into these two groups as part of the end times prophecy (Matthew 25:31-46).
And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. (2 Peter 1:20) Prophecy is a light shining in a dark place because it is revealing. Until the day dawns is the light before the sunrises or is the day the Lord returns. The morning star is our Savior and the morning star rises in your hearts represents a resurrection. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:20,21) God says, "I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come." (Isaiah 46:10) Those who apply their minds to God's prophetic word will have insight and foreknowledge of the present times. The Gospel is filled with God's promises (prophecy) and His intentions for all generations including this one.
Not all messengers of God are human. In the end time events, His messengers will include the winds (hurricanes), lightning and thunder (storms), rain (floods), the sea (tidal waves), the ground (earthquakes), and whatever else He chooses. The media announces nature is breaking all kinds of records as, coming in Biblical proportions.
The Old Testament includes history, the prophecies and the rehearsals of future events. God says, "Remember the former things those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please." (Isaiah 46:9-10) Hidden within the Scripture are deeper truths and insights of understanding. We don't have to be a Bible scholar, a minister or the Pope to have discernment. To understand the Spiritual teaching, the help of the Holy Spirit is necessary (2 Corinthians 2:1-5).
All the prophecies written in the Bible have occurred except the end time events. Our generation will be witnesses to the end time prophecy being fulfilled. We are all participants in the end time events, no nation or race of peoples will be excluded. It will be devastating for some and glorious for others; nevertheless all will participate, the living and the dead. Jesus gives us foresight to the end time events, "For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now -- and never to be equaled again." (Matthew 24:21)
The plan of salvation is in place, everyone is given the opportunity to be a part of that salvation. By doing so there is nothing to lose and everything to gain. The consequence of not living the life outlined in the Bible is eternal damnation. Who can afford to take that chance? It is better to live a life that will guarantee you eternal life than eternal damnation. God's Word tells us there will be a separation into these two groups as part of the end times prophecy (Matthew 25:31-46).
James 1
1I, James, am a slave of God and the Master Jesus, writing to the twelve tribes scattered to Kingdom Come: Hello! Faith Under Pressure
2-4Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
5-8If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.
9-11When down-and-outers get a break, cheer! And when the arrogant rich are brought down to size, cheer! Prosperity is as short-lived as a wildflower, so don't ever count on it. You know that as soon as the sun rises, pouring down its scorching heat, the flower withers. Its petals wilt and, before you know it, that beautiful face is a barren stem. Well, that's a picture of the "prosperous life." At the very moment everyone is looking on in admiration, it fades away to nothing.
12Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.
13-15Don't let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, "God is trying to trip me up." God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one's way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer.
16-18So, my very dear friends, don't get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.
Act on What You Hear
19-21Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God's righteousness doesn't grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.
22-24Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.
25But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.
26-27Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.
2-4Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
5-8If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.
9-11When down-and-outers get a break, cheer! And when the arrogant rich are brought down to size, cheer! Prosperity is as short-lived as a wildflower, so don't ever count on it. You know that as soon as the sun rises, pouring down its scorching heat, the flower withers. Its petals wilt and, before you know it, that beautiful face is a barren stem. Well, that's a picture of the "prosperous life." At the very moment everyone is looking on in admiration, it fades away to nothing.
12Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.
13-15Don't let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, "God is trying to trip me up." God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one's way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer.
16-18So, my very dear friends, don't get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.
Act on What You Hear
19-21Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God's righteousness doesn't grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.
22-24Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.
25But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.
26-27Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Old Fable - real application
And old fable says that swift-footed Atlanta challenged her suitors to race her, with herself as prize or death as penalty. Many competed, and lost their lives; until a certain Hippomenes, secreting on his person three golden apples, entered the contest. Atlanta swiftly passed him, and he threw an apple: she, amazed, stopped to pick it up. But again Hippomenes felt himself failing, and again he threw an apple; and a second time, caught by its glitter, Atlanta delayed to seize it, and fell behind. Once again, as they neared the goal, and she was rapidly passing him, Hippomenes threw the last golden apple; and Atlanta, lured by its charm, swerved, and lost the race. Three golden apples! - "the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life" (1 John 2: 16) - are sidetracking from their prize countless multitudes of the children of God. "LET NO MAN ROB YOU OF YOUR PRIZE" (Col. 2: 18).
Monday, December 18, 2006
Spurgeon again...
The great theologian, Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) wrote the following in his Morning and Evening devotional. He could have been writing to any of us.
"Human wisdom delights to trim and arrange the doctrines of the cross into a system more artificial and more congenial with the depraved tastes of fallen nature; instead, however, of improving the gospel, carnal wisdom pollutes it, until it becomes another gospel, and not the truth of God at all. All alterations and amendments of the Lord's own Word are defilements and polluting . . . There is among Christians far too much inclination to square and reconcile the truths of revelation; this is a form of irreverence and unbelief. Let us strive against it, and receive truth as we find it."
"Human wisdom delights to trim and arrange the doctrines of the cross into a system more artificial and more congenial with the depraved tastes of fallen nature; instead, however, of improving the gospel, carnal wisdom pollutes it, until it becomes another gospel, and not the truth of God at all. All alterations and amendments of the Lord's own Word are defilements and polluting . . . There is among Christians far too much inclination to square and reconcile the truths of revelation; this is a form of irreverence and unbelief. Let us strive against it, and receive truth as we find it."
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Tribulation and The Cross
Jesus said we would have tribulation in this life.
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16: 33).
Jesus also said the narrow way was the only path to life. The word "narrow" in the Greek also means "affliction, pressure and suffering tribulation". Throughout the Bible words like "strait" and "narrow" were used to express affliction, oppression, sorrow, and trouble.
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).
It's no wonder that few find the narrow way and the strait gate. None of us wants suffering. The truth is that we suffer whether we want to or not. Most of us are confused by it. It is only made worse when we deny it and resist it. When we surrender to God in the midst of our trials, He will squeeze us through the narrow way. In the process, we will leave the old man behind and find ourselves brand new on the other side. Death to self will work in us so that the life of Jesus may work in others (2 Corinthians 4:12). Then we will truly be His witnesses.
It is "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). Going through tribulation to its finale is overcoming. And "He that endureth (stays under or through suffering) to the end shall be saved (healed, delivered, made whole)" (Matthew 10:22).
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16: 33).
Jesus also said the narrow way was the only path to life. The word "narrow" in the Greek also means "affliction, pressure and suffering tribulation". Throughout the Bible words like "strait" and "narrow" were used to express affliction, oppression, sorrow, and trouble.
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).
It's no wonder that few find the narrow way and the strait gate. None of us wants suffering. The truth is that we suffer whether we want to or not. Most of us are confused by it. It is only made worse when we deny it and resist it. When we surrender to God in the midst of our trials, He will squeeze us through the narrow way. In the process, we will leave the old man behind and find ourselves brand new on the other side. Death to self will work in us so that the life of Jesus may work in others (2 Corinthians 4:12). Then we will truly be His witnesses.
It is "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). Going through tribulation to its finale is overcoming. And "He that endureth (stays under or through suffering) to the end shall be saved (healed, delivered, made whole)" (Matthew 10:22).
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Idolatry..Part 2
Col 3:5
So kill (deaden, [a]deprive of power) the evil desire lurking in your members [those animal impulses and all that is earthly in you that is employed in sin]: sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetousness, for that is idolatry (the deifying of self and other created things instead of God).
Eph 5:5
For be sure of this: that no person practicing sexual vice or impurity in thought or in life, or one who is covetous [who has lustful desire for the property of others and is greedy for gain]--for he [in effect] is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
So kill (deaden, [a]deprive of power) the evil desire lurking in your members [those animal impulses and all that is earthly in you that is employed in sin]: sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetousness, for that is idolatry (the deifying of self and other created things instead of God).
Eph 5:5
For be sure of this: that no person practicing sexual vice or impurity in thought or in life, or one who is covetous [who has lustful desire for the property of others and is greedy for gain]--for he [in effect] is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Turning from Idols
We will never again say "Our gods" to what our own hands have made, for in you the fatherless find compassion. (Hosea 14:4)
The book of the prophet Hosea concludes with a challenge to the people to return to God. Through Hosea God provides the people with the details of what returning involves. This includes a commitment to never again worship idols along with an acknowledgement that our deepest needs are only truly met in God.
The history of the nation of Israel in the Hebrew Scriptures is designed as an example of what any nation would be like when called into relationship with the God of the Universe. Through the centuries Israel was continually drawn to idol worship or , according to Hosea's terminology, the work of our hands. Idol worship was common in the days of ancient Israel as it continues to be in much of the world today. When God rescued Israel from slavery in Egypt, he began to teach them his ways. As the rest of the world remained in spiritual darkness, God instructed his people in the way of truth and life.
But since the hearts of the people were not yet transformed, the work of their hands continued to draw them. On one hand it might sound strange to think that anyone could reckon something that we ourselves have made as a god. But think about it. God is the source of life, and as the source of life, he is also the source of meaning, of comfort, of healing, and of hope, but do we not often tend to look to material things (that which our hands have made) to be all this for us?
We may not literally bow down to money and what money buys in the same way that some bow down to idols, but do not our hearts bow down just as much? If we would examine what in our lives chiefly determines our decisions, would we not find that it is usually some human-made thing?
When we give our hearts to things, we become servants to them. It may be difficult to accept that inanimate objects have the power to make us do their bidding, but is this not what happens? And material things are ruthless taskmasters. They will hold us in their clutches and show no concern whatsoever for our well being. They will use us until death, all the while making us think that we were the ones in control.
Understanding this helps us to see why God contrasts idols with the acknowledgement that it is only in him that the fatherless find compassion. The reason for our being easily drawn into the worship of things, is that we long for something to satisfy the deep longings of our hearts. Being fatherless is one of the most profound negative foundational experiences people can have. So many of our problems have been traced back to our relationships to our fathers. But whatever our relationship might be with our earthly fathers, all people share some level of spiritual fatherlessness, due to our separation from God.
Our fatherlessness drives us to find satisfaction in the things of our own making. God's desire through the nation of Israel was to teach all nations that only he could satisfy the longings in our hearts.
Even when we accept Micah's admonishment, turning away from idols and acknowledging God as our only true Father, we still have a tendency to not always look to him to meets our deepest needs. It takes a lifetime to be fully free from idolatry. We shouldn't be surprised when we find ourselves still giving ourselves to the works of our own hands, whether they be material objects, our relationships, our traditions, our jobs, and so on.
Yet the verse that follows gives us hope:
I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them. (Hosea 14:5)
When we turn away from idols and turn to God, he is involved. He will heal us of our waywardness and pour out his love upon us. God's involvement becomes our motivation to continue to put away our remaining idols and look to him more and more for everything.
The book of the prophet Hosea concludes with a challenge to the people to return to God. Through Hosea God provides the people with the details of what returning involves. This includes a commitment to never again worship idols along with an acknowledgement that our deepest needs are only truly met in God.
The history of the nation of Israel in the Hebrew Scriptures is designed as an example of what any nation would be like when called into relationship with the God of the Universe. Through the centuries Israel was continually drawn to idol worship or , according to Hosea's terminology, the work of our hands. Idol worship was common in the days of ancient Israel as it continues to be in much of the world today. When God rescued Israel from slavery in Egypt, he began to teach them his ways. As the rest of the world remained in spiritual darkness, God instructed his people in the way of truth and life.
But since the hearts of the people were not yet transformed, the work of their hands continued to draw them. On one hand it might sound strange to think that anyone could reckon something that we ourselves have made as a god. But think about it. God is the source of life, and as the source of life, he is also the source of meaning, of comfort, of healing, and of hope, but do we not often tend to look to material things (that which our hands have made) to be all this for us?
We may not literally bow down to money and what money buys in the same way that some bow down to idols, but do not our hearts bow down just as much? If we would examine what in our lives chiefly determines our decisions, would we not find that it is usually some human-made thing?
When we give our hearts to things, we become servants to them. It may be difficult to accept that inanimate objects have the power to make us do their bidding, but is this not what happens? And material things are ruthless taskmasters. They will hold us in their clutches and show no concern whatsoever for our well being. They will use us until death, all the while making us think that we were the ones in control.
Understanding this helps us to see why God contrasts idols with the acknowledgement that it is only in him that the fatherless find compassion. The reason for our being easily drawn into the worship of things, is that we long for something to satisfy the deep longings of our hearts. Being fatherless is one of the most profound negative foundational experiences people can have. So many of our problems have been traced back to our relationships to our fathers. But whatever our relationship might be with our earthly fathers, all people share some level of spiritual fatherlessness, due to our separation from God.
Our fatherlessness drives us to find satisfaction in the things of our own making. God's desire through the nation of Israel was to teach all nations that only he could satisfy the longings in our hearts.
Even when we accept Micah's admonishment, turning away from idols and acknowledging God as our only true Father, we still have a tendency to not always look to him to meets our deepest needs. It takes a lifetime to be fully free from idolatry. We shouldn't be surprised when we find ourselves still giving ourselves to the works of our own hands, whether they be material objects, our relationships, our traditions, our jobs, and so on.
Yet the verse that follows gives us hope:
I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them. (Hosea 14:5)
When we turn away from idols and turn to God, he is involved. He will heal us of our waywardness and pour out his love upon us. God's involvement becomes our motivation to continue to put away our remaining idols and look to him more and more for everything.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
BREAKING FREE
Breath of Life, breathe on me...
Wind of God, blow through me...
Spirit of Truth, rebirth me...
pull back the covers of my practical, logical world
and baptize my knowledge with the mystery of faith.
help me to believe and to stop trying to understand.
after all, how could I ever wrap my mind around something--
someone--
greater than the universe itself?
your presence doesn't make me comfortable,
but it comforts me.
your light isn't easy to look at,
but it reveals me.
the spiritual life is an absurd mystery.
help me to enter it,
as it enters me.
the first step isn't one of reason, but one of faith.
help me to take it. even now. even here. today.
amen.
Wind of God, blow through me...
Spirit of Truth, rebirth me...
pull back the covers of my practical, logical world
and baptize my knowledge with the mystery of faith.
help me to believe and to stop trying to understand.
after all, how could I ever wrap my mind around something--
someone--
greater than the universe itself?
your presence doesn't make me comfortable,
but it comforts me.
your light isn't easy to look at,
but it reveals me.
the spiritual life is an absurd mystery.
help me to enter it,
as it enters me.
the first step isn't one of reason, but one of faith.
help me to take it. even now. even here. today.
amen.
This is a re-post...
The Father's Love
There's a story of a father and his two beloved sons.
He loved them both and gave them all he had.
Well, the younger went off searching
For what cannot satisfy.
Took the treasure and he threw it all away.
With a broken heart, the father let him go,
Praying all the while that someday he would know....
That the Father's love is for the wayward
And the lost,
For the hopeless and abandoned, broken ones
Full of shame for all he'd done,
Will he kneel before the One
Who offers everything, offers everything,
A Father's love.
In this story of a father and his two beloved sons,
He blessed them both and gave them all he had.
Well, the older stayed home working
For the prize that can't be earned;
Missed the treasure that was with him all the time
With a broken heart, the father let him go,
Praying all the while that someday he would know....
That the Father's love is for the one
Who never strayed, yet who needs His grace
And mercy just the same.
Full of pride for all he'd done,
Will he kneel before the One
Who gave him everything, gave him everything,
A Father's love.
There's a story of a Father
And His only begotten Son.
The two were one, united in their love.
Well, the Son, He left home ready
To offer up His life,
Took the treasure and He gave it all away.
With a broken heart, the Father let Him go,
Praying all the while that someday we would know....
That the Father's love is for the ones who will receive;
Who will let themselves be found and loved by Him
Full of thanks for all He's done,
Will we kneel before the One
Who gave up everything, offers everything,
A Father's Love, an endless Love, a perfect Love.
There's a story of a father and his two beloved sons.
He loved them both and gave them all he had.
Well, the younger went off searching
For what cannot satisfy.
Took the treasure and he threw it all away.
With a broken heart, the father let him go,
Praying all the while that someday he would know....
That the Father's love is for the wayward
And the lost,
For the hopeless and abandoned, broken ones
Full of shame for all he'd done,
Will he kneel before the One
Who offers everything, offers everything,
A Father's love.
In this story of a father and his two beloved sons,
He blessed them both and gave them all he had.
Well, the older stayed home working
For the prize that can't be earned;
Missed the treasure that was with him all the time
With a broken heart, the father let him go,
Praying all the while that someday he would know....
That the Father's love is for the one
Who never strayed, yet who needs His grace
And mercy just the same.
Full of pride for all he'd done,
Will he kneel before the One
Who gave him everything, gave him everything,
A Father's love.
There's a story of a Father
And His only begotten Son.
The two were one, united in their love.
Well, the Son, He left home ready
To offer up His life,
Took the treasure and He gave it all away.
With a broken heart, the Father let Him go,
Praying all the while that someday we would know....
That the Father's love is for the ones who will receive;
Who will let themselves be found and loved by Him
Full of thanks for all He's done,
Will we kneel before the One
Who gave up everything, offers everything,
A Father's Love, an endless Love, a perfect Love.
Monday, December 11, 2006
from our friend Vicky - missionary in China..
I received a newsletter from Vicky just yesterday. What I read really amazed me. Here is an exerpt from her newsletter..Keep in mind that Vicky is in her mid-twenties...
...there is a reason why this year I am drawn to the Joy of Christ, more than the years before. This semester, as I took on a new leadership role, I took on many responsibilites, which I knew would either leave me tired & frustrated as I relied on my own abilities, or humble and joyful as I depended on Christ as my sufficiency. So, I decided to make it my priority to hear from Him and follow Him every day. As a result, I experienced more and more joy in my life. Even when I was sick for 2-3 weeks, when I was food-poisioned, when I was tired from a busy week, when I was facing mini-crisis in my relationships with teammates and friends, even when I couldn't seem to see God working in my life for a stretch of time, ..even then I would be "surprised by joy"...
One day a young friend shared with me her definition of happiness. She said that if she graduates from university, gets a decent job with decent pay, marries and has a family, and can make them happy, she would be happy. I smiled and said to her, "Do you know what kind of happiness I desire?". She shook her head. "What?" she asked.
"The happiness I want is one that I can experience even when things are tough. Even if I'm sick and dying, paralyzed or in a coma, even if I'm poor and hungry, even after I lose my loved ones...I can still be happy. That is the kind of happiness I want. And it's possible to possess such happiness. The Bible calls it joy". The joy Jesus talks about is abundant in quantity, indestructible in the face of the worst suffering and persecution, eternal and absolute in reality....
I am humbled to read this...and amazed at her insight and desire to follow the Lord even in suffering. This type of faith is so uncommon these days. She serves as an example to me!
Dear Lord: I pray for Vicky that she would know you more and more..and that she would experience the love of God --the height, depth, and breadth of the love of Christ for her...and that you would sustain her and keep her and make your face shine upon her. May your grace and peace abound toward her..and fill her with your peace!
God bless you Vicky. You are an inspiration!
...there is a reason why this year I am drawn to the Joy of Christ, more than the years before. This semester, as I took on a new leadership role, I took on many responsibilites, which I knew would either leave me tired & frustrated as I relied on my own abilities, or humble and joyful as I depended on Christ as my sufficiency. So, I decided to make it my priority to hear from Him and follow Him every day. As a result, I experienced more and more joy in my life. Even when I was sick for 2-3 weeks, when I was food-poisioned, when I was tired from a busy week, when I was facing mini-crisis in my relationships with teammates and friends, even when I couldn't seem to see God working in my life for a stretch of time, ..even then I would be "surprised by joy"...
One day a young friend shared with me her definition of happiness. She said that if she graduates from university, gets a decent job with decent pay, marries and has a family, and can make them happy, she would be happy. I smiled and said to her, "Do you know what kind of happiness I desire?". She shook her head. "What?" she asked.
"The happiness I want is one that I can experience even when things are tough. Even if I'm sick and dying, paralyzed or in a coma, even if I'm poor and hungry, even after I lose my loved ones...I can still be happy. That is the kind of happiness I want. And it's possible to possess such happiness. The Bible calls it joy". The joy Jesus talks about is abundant in quantity, indestructible in the face of the worst suffering and persecution, eternal and absolute in reality....
I am humbled to read this...and amazed at her insight and desire to follow the Lord even in suffering. This type of faith is so uncommon these days. She serves as an example to me!
Dear Lord: I pray for Vicky that she would know you more and more..and that she would experience the love of God --the height, depth, and breadth of the love of Christ for her...and that you would sustain her and keep her and make your face shine upon her. May your grace and peace abound toward her..and fill her with your peace!
God bless you Vicky. You are an inspiration!
Hebrews 12:18-29
A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken
18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly [3] of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly [3] of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
The Happy Execution: Cyprian of Carthage (c. 195 – 258)
This puts most of us to shame! Thanks Jack for this one..
On September 14, A.D. 258, Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, was executed for refusing to perform pagan religious rites. The Roman proconsul, Galerius Maximus, had commanded him to worship Roman gods or die. The faithful bishop did not submit, nor did he plead for his life; he simply responded, “I will not.” He then gave Maximus the following instruction: “Do as you have been ordered . . . In so just a matter there is no need for deliberation.”1
Cyprian’s execution epitomized the troubled times in which he lived. He was born in an affluent family in Carthage, North Africa, and was converted in 246. Two years later he hesitatingly accepted the post of bishop at Carthage.2 During the earliest years of his ministry, he hid from persecution by the Roman Emperor Decius, who tried to stamp out Christianity. Decius required all citizens to officially certify their worship of Roman gods. After numerous church members capitulated to Decius’ demands, Cyprian found himself at the center of a debate: should these Christians who “lapsed” be allowed back into the communion of the Church? In general, Cyprian took the middle road; he allowed idolaters to be restored but only after they sincerely repented. This Solomonic solution bolstered his growing reputation.
Cyprian was also respected as a pastor, because he was both heavenly minded and of earthly good. His preaching exhorted people to look beyond “the storms of this distracting world and to find a firm anchorage in the harbour of salvation.”3 His humanitarian efforts, however, helped his city to see that their pastor lived in the real world. When a plague struck Carthage in 252, he mobilized his church to help the victims.
Such godliness offended the civil authorities. When Maximus told Cyprian he would die by the sword, the bishop’s response was joyous: “Thanks be to God!”4 Escorted behind the proconsul’s home, he removed his own cloak and even attempted to tie a handkerchief over his eyes. In his last moment, Cyprian asked one of his deacons to give the executioner twenty-five pieces of gold. Why this generous act? Cyprian believed his executioner was doing him a favor by hastening his voyage to heaven. When it became clear his life was over, he was happy to go onto glory.
Cyprian refused to be intimidated by the world. He clearly knew the words of Christ: “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28). Likewise, neither the world nor the devil should unsettle today’s servant of God. Anchored in the “harbor of salvation,” he is perfectly equipped to weather the fiercest of storms.
On September 14, A.D. 258, Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, was executed for refusing to perform pagan religious rites. The Roman proconsul, Galerius Maximus, had commanded him to worship Roman gods or die. The faithful bishop did not submit, nor did he plead for his life; he simply responded, “I will not.” He then gave Maximus the following instruction: “Do as you have been ordered . . . In so just a matter there is no need for deliberation.”1
Cyprian’s execution epitomized the troubled times in which he lived. He was born in an affluent family in Carthage, North Africa, and was converted in 246. Two years later he hesitatingly accepted the post of bishop at Carthage.2 During the earliest years of his ministry, he hid from persecution by the Roman Emperor Decius, who tried to stamp out Christianity. Decius required all citizens to officially certify their worship of Roman gods. After numerous church members capitulated to Decius’ demands, Cyprian found himself at the center of a debate: should these Christians who “lapsed” be allowed back into the communion of the Church? In general, Cyprian took the middle road; he allowed idolaters to be restored but only after they sincerely repented. This Solomonic solution bolstered his growing reputation.
Cyprian was also respected as a pastor, because he was both heavenly minded and of earthly good. His preaching exhorted people to look beyond “the storms of this distracting world and to find a firm anchorage in the harbour of salvation.”3 His humanitarian efforts, however, helped his city to see that their pastor lived in the real world. When a plague struck Carthage in 252, he mobilized his church to help the victims.
Such godliness offended the civil authorities. When Maximus told Cyprian he would die by the sword, the bishop’s response was joyous: “Thanks be to God!”4 Escorted behind the proconsul’s home, he removed his own cloak and even attempted to tie a handkerchief over his eyes. In his last moment, Cyprian asked one of his deacons to give the executioner twenty-five pieces of gold. Why this generous act? Cyprian believed his executioner was doing him a favor by hastening his voyage to heaven. When it became clear his life was over, he was happy to go onto glory.
Cyprian refused to be intimidated by the world. He clearly knew the words of Christ: “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28). Likewise, neither the world nor the devil should unsettle today’s servant of God. Anchored in the “harbor of salvation,” he is perfectly equipped to weather the fiercest of storms.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Times & Seasons..
It is "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). Going through tribulation to its finale is overcoming. And "He that endureth (stays under or through suffering) to the end shall be saved (healed, delivered, made whole)" (Matthew 10:22).
There are seasons we think of as "negative" and seasons we think of as "positive" in the Christian walk. The seasons we call "negative" are a necessary part of the process for our growth. I place the words negative in quotes, because there really is nothing negative about God's ways. It is in part our own lack of understanding that causes us to perceive them to be good or bad times. They may be difficult or tragic, but they are not bad.
I've had my share of both and know full well the deep pain and sorrow of heartache, disappointments and broken dreams. I thank God for both. They are in truth both times of great blessing.
Spring and Summer are seasons of birthing, planting, healing, building, laughter, dancing, gathering stones together, embracing, getting, keeping, sewing, speaking, loving and peace. It is warm and sunny in the spring and summer. These are resurrection times. Everyone loves these times (Ecclesiastes 3:2-9).
It is cold, dark and rainy in late Fall and Winter. Even so, the stark leafless trees have a beauty all their own. These are my favorite times of the year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are things I can only
learn about myself
in the dark seasons of my life.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The short cold days and long dark nights of these seasons in our lives help us see things in ourselves we never knew were there. We see things we don't like about ourselves. We also see things lovely about ourselves (surprise!). More importantly we learn things about the Lord we can learn no other way. Our old formulas don't work at these times. As we squint into the darkness of despair, we behold the ever waxing light of His countenance and we are transformed into His image from glory to glory by His Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
God loves us just the way we are.
And He loves us too much
to leave us that way.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These are times of dying, plucking up what is planted, killing, breaking down, weeping, mourning, casting away stones, refraining from embracing, losing, casting away, rending, keeping silent, hating and war (Ecclesiastes 3:2-9). These are the times of the cross. These times are not easy for any of us. If we allow the Lord to prune and break us, they are, however, very fruitful times.
There are seasons we think of as "negative" and seasons we think of as "positive" in the Christian walk. The seasons we call "negative" are a necessary part of the process for our growth. I place the words negative in quotes, because there really is nothing negative about God's ways. It is in part our own lack of understanding that causes us to perceive them to be good or bad times. They may be difficult or tragic, but they are not bad.
I've had my share of both and know full well the deep pain and sorrow of heartache, disappointments and broken dreams. I thank God for both. They are in truth both times of great blessing.
Spring and Summer are seasons of birthing, planting, healing, building, laughter, dancing, gathering stones together, embracing, getting, keeping, sewing, speaking, loving and peace. It is warm and sunny in the spring and summer. These are resurrection times. Everyone loves these times (Ecclesiastes 3:2-9).
It is cold, dark and rainy in late Fall and Winter. Even so, the stark leafless trees have a beauty all their own. These are my favorite times of the year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are things I can only
learn about myself
in the dark seasons of my life.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The short cold days and long dark nights of these seasons in our lives help us see things in ourselves we never knew were there. We see things we don't like about ourselves. We also see things lovely about ourselves (surprise!). More importantly we learn things about the Lord we can learn no other way. Our old formulas don't work at these times. As we squint into the darkness of despair, we behold the ever waxing light of His countenance and we are transformed into His image from glory to glory by His Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
God loves us just the way we are.
And He loves us too much
to leave us that way.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These are times of dying, plucking up what is planted, killing, breaking down, weeping, mourning, casting away stones, refraining from embracing, losing, casting away, rending, keeping silent, hating and war (Ecclesiastes 3:2-9). These are the times of the cross. These times are not easy for any of us. If we allow the Lord to prune and break us, they are, however, very fruitful times.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Ozzie
"We are ill-taught if we look for results only in the earthlies when we pray. A praying saint performs far more havoc among the unseen forces of darkness than we have the slightest notion of." Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)
"And Jacob was left alone and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day."
It is not in some favored vacation spot, where the setting seems perfect, that we have our best season with the Lord. We do not find our Bethels where we recharge our spiritual batteries in some ideal retreat. It was in desperate loneliness at Jabbok that Jacob met the Lord and gained power with God and men. At the backside of the desert Moses came to the mountain of God. It was in the year that King Uzziah died that Isaiah saw the Lord. Do not forget that John wrote Revelation on Patmos, that Pilgrim's Progress came from Bedford jail, and precious hymns from Fanny Crosby's blindness.
Our choicest art and literature came out of poverty and suffering, and God does His best work with us oftimes when it seems that the time and place are most unpropitious. We do not come to know the deeper things by rocking on the porch or some lazy rest spot, sipping lemonade, reading a novel.
You cannot set the stage and arrange the scenery and then work up the experience you need - have it made to order. That is man's way. The Spirit does not work that way. "The wind bloweth where it listeth." It may be in the unlikeliest place and on the darkest day when you are "left alone" that God will come down to wrestle until daybreak.
Our choicest art and literature came out of poverty and suffering, and God does His best work with us oftimes when it seems that the time and place are most unpropitious. We do not come to know the deeper things by rocking on the porch or some lazy rest spot, sipping lemonade, reading a novel.
You cannot set the stage and arrange the scenery and then work up the experience you need - have it made to order. That is man's way. The Spirit does not work that way. "The wind bloweth where it listeth." It may be in the unlikeliest place and on the darkest day when you are "left alone" that God will come down to wrestle until daybreak.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Your relationship with Father God is only as good as your relationship with your natural father!
1) The first commandment with a promise (Duet. 5:16, Eph. 6:2,3): Honor your Father and Mother that it will go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth. We dishonor our parents through judgements.
2) Judge not that you be not judged(Matt. 7:1,2). for in the same way you judge others you will be judged, and the same measure you use will be measured unto you.
3) We reap what we sow ( Gal. 6:7) But not just what we sow, according to Hosea 8:7; We sow the wind and reap the whirlwind! This is the law of increase.
4) The most difficult I saved for last! This is the most important aspect of the deliverance. It starts the healing process!
Without it there can be no healing; Without it, you can not receive forgiveness;
Without it; Don't bother to pray, sacrifice, or worship!
It encompasses love, humility, and obedience.
Matt.6:12 Forgiveness. If you don't give it, you can't expect to get it!
2) Judge not that you be not judged(Matt. 7:1,2). for in the same way you judge others you will be judged, and the same measure you use will be measured unto you.
3) We reap what we sow ( Gal. 6:7) But not just what we sow, according to Hosea 8:7; We sow the wind and reap the whirlwind! This is the law of increase.
4) The most difficult I saved for last! This is the most important aspect of the deliverance. It starts the healing process!
Without it there can be no healing; Without it, you can not receive forgiveness;
Without it; Don't bother to pray, sacrifice, or worship!
It encompasses love, humility, and obedience.
Matt.6:12 Forgiveness. If you don't give it, you can't expect to get it!
Monday, December 04, 2006
What is Truth?
Love the truth
though it may do you harm;
hate the lie though it may please you. ~Arabian Proverb
Truth has no responsibility
to make us comfortable. ~ David L. Russell
Truth is Integrity
Deception is a sneaky thing. Few of us would choose to be deceived, nor
would we remain in deception if we clearly knew we were mired in it. The problem lies in our lack of love for the truth. Some would rather hope in a
lie than die for the truth. This is what happened in the Book of Judges. Everyone determined truth according to their own eyes instead of the
whole counsel of God. When Jesus is not Lord over our belief system, we
will believe what is right in our own eyes and worship the created rather than the Creator.
A heart of integrity, a heart of truth, humbly says, "Lord, I lay down my life for you. Not my will but thine. Correct me Lord where I am wrong. Shine your light on the darkness within me. I don't want to be right in my own eyes, I want to be right according to Your Truth. I surrender to your gracious and loving hand to do with me as you will all the days of my life. Conform me to your image."
To walk in integrity is to walk in a commitment to Truth at any cost. No price is too high. We all have blind spots and areas of deception. With a commitment to integrity and truth, God will, little by little, cleanse the spots and blemishes from our souls.
Truth from the Word of God will always integrate into our being and manifest through who we are. It manifests as humble, heartfelt honesty and sincerity in all of our interactions with ourselves, God and others. Beyond our actions, however, Truth will reverberate from deep within our being as the very nature of Christ without saying a word. These are the good works of the believer. It is either in us or it is not. Truth manifested in us should be our greatest desire and most fervent prayer.
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).
Deceived people beget deceived disciples. Honest, sincere, broken people beget true disciples.
"And He also spoke a parable to them: "A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit? A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher" (Luke 6:39-40).
We may fool others. We may even fool ourselves, but we will never fool God.
Until we allow Him to expose the lies and deceptions in our hearts, we will not mature in truth. Until we walk in the truth we know, God will not give us more.
"For whosoever hath (truth), to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not (truth), from him shall be taken away even that he hath" (Matthew13:12).
Jesus' intent is clear in His statement. Whatever truth we have and obey, will be increased abundantly. If we are unfaithful in the truth we have, He will take away even what we do have, and we will be left believing and suffering the consequences of half-truths and lies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is small chance of truth at the goal where there is not a childlike humility
at the starting post.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
(1772-1834)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This has less to do with going to heaven than it does with walking in the grace and manifested presence of the Lord in this life. If we want to dwell on His Holy Hill, we need to repent and expose every lie and deception we know is in our hearts to Him and preferably another believer.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us" (1 John 1:8-10).
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much" (James 5:16).
We need to make amends to those we have wronged. We need to ask the Lord to forgive us. We also need to ask Him toferret out and reveal every lie and deception buried too deep in our hearts for us to see. This is what integrity before God requires. The Lord will be thrilled to honor this kind of radical commitment to truth.
"But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for every- thing that becomes visible is light" (Ephesians 5:13). And everything that is light is truth.
These are painful steps to take. The rewards for taking them are infinitely beyond our highest hopes, thoughts, prayers and dreams.
though it may do you harm;
hate the lie though it may please you. ~Arabian Proverb
Truth has no responsibility
to make us comfortable. ~ David L. Russell
Truth is Integrity
Deception is a sneaky thing. Few of us would choose to be deceived, nor
would we remain in deception if we clearly knew we were mired in it. The problem lies in our lack of love for the truth. Some would rather hope in a
lie than die for the truth. This is what happened in the Book of Judges. Everyone determined truth according to their own eyes instead of the
whole counsel of God. When Jesus is not Lord over our belief system, we
will believe what is right in our own eyes and worship the created rather than the Creator.
A heart of integrity, a heart of truth, humbly says, "Lord, I lay down my life for you. Not my will but thine. Correct me Lord where I am wrong. Shine your light on the darkness within me. I don't want to be right in my own eyes, I want to be right according to Your Truth. I surrender to your gracious and loving hand to do with me as you will all the days of my life. Conform me to your image."
To walk in integrity is to walk in a commitment to Truth at any cost. No price is too high. We all have blind spots and areas of deception. With a commitment to integrity and truth, God will, little by little, cleanse the spots and blemishes from our souls.
Truth from the Word of God will always integrate into our being and manifest through who we are. It manifests as humble, heartfelt honesty and sincerity in all of our interactions with ourselves, God and others. Beyond our actions, however, Truth will reverberate from deep within our being as the very nature of Christ without saying a word. These are the good works of the believer. It is either in us or it is not. Truth manifested in us should be our greatest desire and most fervent prayer.
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).
Deceived people beget deceived disciples. Honest, sincere, broken people beget true disciples.
"And He also spoke a parable to them: "A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit? A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher" (Luke 6:39-40).
We may fool others. We may even fool ourselves, but we will never fool God.
Until we allow Him to expose the lies and deceptions in our hearts, we will not mature in truth. Until we walk in the truth we know, God will not give us more.
"For whosoever hath (truth), to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not (truth), from him shall be taken away even that he hath" (Matthew13:12).
Jesus' intent is clear in His statement. Whatever truth we have and obey, will be increased abundantly. If we are unfaithful in the truth we have, He will take away even what we do have, and we will be left believing and suffering the consequences of half-truths and lies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is small chance of truth at the goal where there is not a childlike humility
at the starting post.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
(1772-1834)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This has less to do with going to heaven than it does with walking in the grace and manifested presence of the Lord in this life. If we want to dwell on His Holy Hill, we need to repent and expose every lie and deception we know is in our hearts to Him and preferably another believer.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us" (1 John 1:8-10).
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much" (James 5:16).
We need to make amends to those we have wronged. We need to ask the Lord to forgive us. We also need to ask Him toferret out and reveal every lie and deception buried too deep in our hearts for us to see. This is what integrity before God requires. The Lord will be thrilled to honor this kind of radical commitment to truth.
"But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for every- thing that becomes visible is light" (Ephesians 5:13). And everything that is light is truth.
These are painful steps to take. The rewards for taking them are infinitely beyond our highest hopes, thoughts, prayers and dreams.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
The Cleansing Fires
The fires of God purify our hearts of all pretensions and wrong motives. We experience the fires in the depths of our soul as deep emotional and sometimes physical pain. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 tell us that there will be a day when we stand before the Lord. In that day our works and our words will be tried by fire. These fires will manifest our works as dead works of the flesh or as good works of the Spirit.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I owe more to the fire and the hammer than to anything else
in my Lord's workshop.
I sometimes question
whether I have ever learned
anything except through the rod."
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
(1834-1892)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Now if any many build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved: yet so as by fire" (1 Corinthians 3:12-13)
Gold, silver and precious stones are, in this context, the good works of the Spirit. Wood, hay and stubble are the dead works of the flesh.
My prayer has always been, Lord, let me and my works be tried with fire in this life so that there will be no wood, hay and stubble when I stand before you in heaven.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The only things that
burn up in the fires of testing
are those things
which have us bound.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fires Deliver Us From Bondage
There is no clearer demonstration of the principle of deliverance from bondage through the fires of the narrow way of the cross than Shadrach, Meschech and Abed-Nego. They were thrown into the fiery furnace, because they took a righteous stand. They refused to bow in worship to Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel 3:24 tells us that consequently they were bound and thrown into the furnace.
To Nebuchadnezzar's great amazement, when he looked into the furnace, He saw Shadrach, Meschech and Abed-Nego walking around in the midst of the fires. And they were not alone. There was One walking with them in the fire Who could only be the Lord Himself. Neither were they burned. When they exited the furnace, there was not even the smell of smoke upon them. The only thing that was burned in the fire was that which had them bound.
" . . . Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God" (Daniel 3:25).
Just like the three Hebrew children, when we go through the fires, we are not alone. The Son of God goes through them with us. And the only things burned are those things which have us bound.
The Blessings of Tribulation
We all come to the Lord with a heart encapsulated in stone and engraved with all kinds of rules and laws. Through the trials and tribulations of the cross, God chisels away that stone from our hearts as well as our bondage to it.
"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26).
The Christian life is not one of magic but of process. The following scriptures speak of the many blessings of the tribulations of narrow way of the cross. My favorite is James 1:2-4 (Phillips Version).
"When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don't resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become men of mature character, men of integrity with no weak spots."
" . . . Tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God is poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5:3-5 NAS).
"For [our earthly fathers] verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but [God] for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised by it" (Hebrews 12:10-11).
"See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less shall we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven. And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying,' Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.' And this expression ‘Yet once more,' denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, in order that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:25-29 NAS).
" . . . reproofs of instruction are the way of life; to keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman" (Proverbs 6:23-24).
"Turn to my reproof; behold I will pour out my spirit upon you, I will make known my words unto you" (Proverbs 1:23).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I owe more to the fire and the hammer than to anything else
in my Lord's workshop.
I sometimes question
whether I have ever learned
anything except through the rod."
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
(1834-1892)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Now if any many build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved: yet so as by fire" (1 Corinthians 3:12-13)
Gold, silver and precious stones are, in this context, the good works of the Spirit. Wood, hay and stubble are the dead works of the flesh.
My prayer has always been, Lord, let me and my works be tried with fire in this life so that there will be no wood, hay and stubble when I stand before you in heaven.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The only things that
burn up in the fires of testing
are those things
which have us bound.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fires Deliver Us From Bondage
There is no clearer demonstration of the principle of deliverance from bondage through the fires of the narrow way of the cross than Shadrach, Meschech and Abed-Nego. They were thrown into the fiery furnace, because they took a righteous stand. They refused to bow in worship to Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel 3:24 tells us that consequently they were bound and thrown into the furnace.
To Nebuchadnezzar's great amazement, when he looked into the furnace, He saw Shadrach, Meschech and Abed-Nego walking around in the midst of the fires. And they were not alone. There was One walking with them in the fire Who could only be the Lord Himself. Neither were they burned. When they exited the furnace, there was not even the smell of smoke upon them. The only thing that was burned in the fire was that which had them bound.
" . . . Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God" (Daniel 3:25).
Just like the three Hebrew children, when we go through the fires, we are not alone. The Son of God goes through them with us. And the only things burned are those things which have us bound.
The Blessings of Tribulation
We all come to the Lord with a heart encapsulated in stone and engraved with all kinds of rules and laws. Through the trials and tribulations of the cross, God chisels away that stone from our hearts as well as our bondage to it.
"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26).
The Christian life is not one of magic but of process. The following scriptures speak of the many blessings of the tribulations of narrow way of the cross. My favorite is James 1:2-4 (Phillips Version).
"When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don't resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become men of mature character, men of integrity with no weak spots."
" . . . Tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God is poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5:3-5 NAS).
"For [our earthly fathers] verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but [God] for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised by it" (Hebrews 12:10-11).
"See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less shall we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven. And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying,' Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.' And this expression ‘Yet once more,' denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, in order that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:25-29 NAS).
" . . . reproofs of instruction are the way of life; to keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman" (Proverbs 6:23-24).
"Turn to my reproof; behold I will pour out my spirit upon you, I will make known my words unto you" (Proverbs 1:23).
Saturday, December 02, 2006
When you rely on yourself you will be let down.
by Jon Campbell...thanks Jon..
This is something i have been figuring out a lot lately. if i put my faith in Jon, Jon will mess up or drop the ball. Jon isnt that reliable or trustworthy or all powerful. Jon cant change anything but the channel on the tv. But God, he is capable of doing everything and anything that he feels like doing without breaking a sweat. I can spend my life trying to move each grain of sand with all my own strength and might or I can depend on God to move the whole beach at once. He is that big. The more i rely on Him the more i realize i need to rely on Him more and the more i come t see how shallow and pitiful i am without Him. Jon Campbell - God = dust.
Whatever is happening in your life i beg you and hope that you can depend on God and not yourself to get you through it. Dont try to answer your own prayers or make your own road through the forest, God is so much better at this than us.
This is something i have been figuring out a lot lately. if i put my faith in Jon, Jon will mess up or drop the ball. Jon isnt that reliable or trustworthy or all powerful. Jon cant change anything but the channel on the tv. But God, he is capable of doing everything and anything that he feels like doing without breaking a sweat. I can spend my life trying to move each grain of sand with all my own strength and might or I can depend on God to move the whole beach at once. He is that big. The more i rely on Him the more i realize i need to rely on Him more and the more i come t see how shallow and pitiful i am without Him. Jon Campbell - God = dust.
Whatever is happening in your life i beg you and hope that you can depend on God and not yourself to get you through it. Dont try to answer your own prayers or make your own road through the forest, God is so much better at this than us.
The real gospel..
Years ago, when I was pastor of the old First Baptist Church in Charleston, South Carolina, I preached the commencement sermon once and conducted chapel several times at the Citadel, the military college. The Commandant was General Summerall, once Chief of Staff, a fine old soldier. I remember that he turned to me after one of the services and said simply, "You get under these boys "skins." I have wished many times since to be the kind of preacher who would always do just that. Too much preaching nowadays pats the back and tickles the ear but does not get under the skin. There is no conviction and therefore no conversion. I am thinking not only of the ministry of reproof and rebuke but also of the message of inspiration, of encouragement, of comfort. People go out of church at noon with the depths unstirred, the heart untouched, the conscience unpricked. Of course, it is dangerous preaching at times. When Stephen preached, the people were cut to the heart and he died for it. He got under the skin. Paul was good at getting under the skin and world gave him no plaques or dinners in his honor. And the Greatest of all got under so many skins that the crowds crucified Him. He set the example and His gospel does no good until it gets under the skin.
~ Vance Havner
~ Vance Havner
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