If you think that our current lives here on Earth have one purpose, and one purpose alone, then you are sorely mistaken....
Why are we here? Is it solely to learn the contrast between a miserable existence of running around struggling, tired all the time, and barely scraping enough in to feed your family and a life of pure joy, abundance and peace on the new heaven and new earth? Are we really only here on probation? Just sitting around twiddling our thumbs doing nothing but waiting for Christ to return? Is that what we are called to do? Sit and wait? Praying for this life to end so the new can begin? Or is there something else we should be doing.
I believe that we are to be investing this life. Investing this life into the next. Whether we be ruling and reigning with Christ or just enjoying the Kingdom of Heaven. Wherever our roles end up being, shouldn't we have something from this life to carry over into the next?
Paul tells us that we each will stand before the Dias of Christ, and we will each receive what is due from our works in the body, whether they be good or evil. In this life, it is good practice to start a 401k among other financial plans; savings accounts, etc. That way when you are ready to rest later on in life you have the means to do so. If you invest wisely enough, you can do more than just rest. You can ENJOY the rest of your life.
In Matthew, Christ urges people to store up for themselves treasures in heaven. Although this is most likely in reference to Israel's part in the Kingdom, it is still (I believe) sound advice for all of us. Paul's statement alone should show that we should strive to invest in the next life.
Yes, we are here to learn to appreciate God and Christ and the gifts he so graciously gives us. However, we are also given the opportunity in this life to invest in the next. No this life is not the only "chance" for Salvation, but it very well may be the only time we have to make deposits into our Heavenly Bank Account. Make a point to do good in someone else's life on a day to day basis. You won't regret it.
I love and miss you all.
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Counting The Cost
"For who of you, willing to build a tower, doth not first, having sat down, count the expense, whether he have the things for completing?"
Before anyone can call me out on this, yes I am going to use this verse out of reference; because I believe that, in doing so, I am not altering the meaning of the analogy, nor am I applying it to something non-applicable.
When Christ said this, he was talking to people who wanted to be His disciples. This is a statement made to them to teach them how foolish it would be for one to start something that they cannot finish. I believe this is a true matter for God as much as it is for man. If Christ was teaching men not to start something that they can't finish, don't you think that God would also know better?
Didn't Christ know that he would succeed before he ever uttered the words, "It is finished"? I don't believe that God would create the universe and everything in it, then introduce the sufferings and pains that we feel in this life, without knowing what it would all accomplish in the end. God counted the cost. He is willing and He is able to win the hearts, minds, and souls of everyone of His creatures.
He is starting on some of us early, we are amazingly blessed to be chosen to be dragged toward God here and know, be it "willingly" or kicking and screaming. One way or another Christ's love will compel us. Each and everyone one of us. So much so that at the name Jesus Christ every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father.
It is comforting for me to know that even though I struggle with it now, there will be a day where I love Christ with every ounce of my being.
(P.S. Alan, if you are reading this, I really could use some more Cheerwine)
Before anyone can call me out on this, yes I am going to use this verse out of reference; because I believe that, in doing so, I am not altering the meaning of the analogy, nor am I applying it to something non-applicable.
When Christ said this, he was talking to people who wanted to be His disciples. This is a statement made to them to teach them how foolish it would be for one to start something that they cannot finish. I believe this is a true matter for God as much as it is for man. If Christ was teaching men not to start something that they can't finish, don't you think that God would also know better?
Didn't Christ know that he would succeed before he ever uttered the words, "It is finished"? I don't believe that God would create the universe and everything in it, then introduce the sufferings and pains that we feel in this life, without knowing what it would all accomplish in the end. God counted the cost. He is willing and He is able to win the hearts, minds, and souls of everyone of His creatures.
He is starting on some of us early, we are amazingly blessed to be chosen to be dragged toward God here and know, be it "willingly" or kicking and screaming. One way or another Christ's love will compel us. Each and everyone one of us. So much so that at the name Jesus Christ every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father.
It is comforting for me to know that even though I struggle with it now, there will be a day where I love Christ with every ounce of my being.
(P.S. Alan, if you are reading this, I really could use some more Cheerwine)
Friday, March 27, 2015
Time
"Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered—
how fleeting my life is."
-Psalm 39:4 YLT
This verse is especially important to me at this point in my life. As some of you are aware a few family members and loved ones of the body of Christ have entered in to rest, until they are resurrected. I am sure that you all have also noticed that I have not been writing nearly as often as I used to. I recently got a very full time job driving a cab from anywhere between 48-75 hours a week depending on what is going on in town that week. While is is great to finally be able to support my family better, I am faced with the flip-side of the coin. Now, I spend most of my time away from them. So although they are getting their material needs met, the emotional and spiritual needs are going unmet. Currently, I am driving 6 nights a week. However, since we are expecting another child in a few months, I will be dropping down to only driving 5 nights a week. This, I hope, will allow me to at least spend a little more time with my family. I also hope that it will allow me to study more of the Scriptures, and be able to share with all of you my discoveries and thoughts regarding what I read in them. This verse reminds me that making money is not the most important thing in this life. In fact, it is far from it. I need to focus on sharing the True Gospel with others that have been, or are, exactly where I was when God saved me from my misery. Had I never been revealed the truth about grace, my life would be nothing but fear and torment, until I found a way to justify releasing myself from this life, in a way that I didn't feel would send me straight to hell. Thank God for Jesus Christ. Thank God for the men and women that He used to reach me with the truth. I thank Him for Martin, Dan, Clyde, James, Regina, Heidi, Waylan, Alan, etc. etc...
It is sad to see any kind of division in the Body of Christ. It is also sad when someone feels personally attacked for thinking a slightly different way then the rest of the Body. I personally feel that instead of shunning someone for believing differently, which mind you sounds incredibly Amish. We should here them out and discuss where they are coming from. If after that we disagree would should just move on. There is no reason that it should cause such division. I feel like this kind of reaction to someone else's thoughts is what slows momentum and progress in teaching the truths about God. I love all of the men and women that I have learned so much from. Paul and Peter didn't get along for awhile in the Scriptures either, but they were able to reconcile their differences and get along. Time is fleeting and division like this makes it hard to bring anyone else into the rest that was provided me when God lead me to this group of amazing individuals. Had there not be a like-minded group of people already with the same thoughts (for the most part). It would have been harder for me to accept the things Martin had to say, given that he is a bit cuckoo.
Can't we just forgive each other for the way events went down and for the love of all thing good and holy, can we please hold another conference! I don't care if I personally have to set it up here. I need to see you guys and I want to learn more from what you all have studied. The longer I go without being connected to the Body the weaker I feel in this journey. Let's stop wasting time with silly playground bicker and unite again...
We don't have time for this. I love and miss you all.
Remind me that my days are numbered—
how fleeting my life is."
-Psalm 39:4 YLT
This verse is especially important to me at this point in my life. As some of you are aware a few family members and loved ones of the body of Christ have entered in to rest, until they are resurrected. I am sure that you all have also noticed that I have not been writing nearly as often as I used to. I recently got a very full time job driving a cab from anywhere between 48-75 hours a week depending on what is going on in town that week. While is is great to finally be able to support my family better, I am faced with the flip-side of the coin. Now, I spend most of my time away from them. So although they are getting their material needs met, the emotional and spiritual needs are going unmet. Currently, I am driving 6 nights a week. However, since we are expecting another child in a few months, I will be dropping down to only driving 5 nights a week. This, I hope, will allow me to at least spend a little more time with my family. I also hope that it will allow me to study more of the Scriptures, and be able to share with all of you my discoveries and thoughts regarding what I read in them. This verse reminds me that making money is not the most important thing in this life. In fact, it is far from it. I need to focus on sharing the True Gospel with others that have been, or are, exactly where I was when God saved me from my misery. Had I never been revealed the truth about grace, my life would be nothing but fear and torment, until I found a way to justify releasing myself from this life, in a way that I didn't feel would send me straight to hell. Thank God for Jesus Christ. Thank God for the men and women that He used to reach me with the truth. I thank Him for Martin, Dan, Clyde, James, Regina, Heidi, Waylan, Alan, etc. etc...
It is sad to see any kind of division in the Body of Christ. It is also sad when someone feels personally attacked for thinking a slightly different way then the rest of the Body. I personally feel that instead of shunning someone for believing differently, which mind you sounds incredibly Amish. We should here them out and discuss where they are coming from. If after that we disagree would should just move on. There is no reason that it should cause such division. I feel like this kind of reaction to someone else's thoughts is what slows momentum and progress in teaching the truths about God. I love all of the men and women that I have learned so much from. Paul and Peter didn't get along for awhile in the Scriptures either, but they were able to reconcile their differences and get along. Time is fleeting and division like this makes it hard to bring anyone else into the rest that was provided me when God lead me to this group of amazing individuals. Had there not be a like-minded group of people already with the same thoughts (for the most part). It would have been harder for me to accept the things Martin had to say, given that he is a bit cuckoo.
Can't we just forgive each other for the way events went down and for the love of all thing good and holy, can we please hold another conference! I don't care if I personally have to set it up here. I need to see you guys and I want to learn more from what you all have studied. The longer I go without being connected to the Body the weaker I feel in this journey. Let's stop wasting time with silly playground bicker and unite again...
We don't have time for this. I love and miss you all.
Friday, January 30, 2015
Abundant Life
What in the world did Christ accomplish for us other than a promised resurrection? I mean, yeah that is awesome, but being human, I want instant gratification. What did Christ do that affects me now. He came to do the opposite of Satan. "The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it more abundantly."
When I was under the impression that "God so loved the world"*, I was always afraid that He was still mad at ME for not giving Him 110%. As if I could with-hold any part of me from Him. I was scared for my immortal soul, because I didn't want to burn in hell-fire forever and ever. Satan STOLE my joy, he KILLED my happiness, and he DESTROYED my peace of mind.
Bette Midler performed a song titled, "The Rose," and in this song there are the lyrics: "It's the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live." Now I understand that she wasn't exactly talking about dying and going to hell in this context, but for me it struck a chord. I was so afraid of DYING because of what was going to happen to me next, that I couldn't truly LIVE! In fact, I was barely alive at all! I was in a psyche ward weighing in at 110 lbs, being tranquilized and fed pills just to gain weight.
It wasn't until God removed the blinders from my eyes that I was able to TRULY LIVE. No more worrying about whether or not God would still love me if I stopped going to church, or if I said a PG rated word. No more questioning God's power and/or Love. But knowing, that If anyone can make a story truly end "happily ever after" it would be the creator of the universe. The One who intricately formed each and every one of us, completely unique in our own ways.
Satan steals, kills, and destroys us, and he uses the false image of "God" to do it. God will BURN you if you don't turn from your evil ways! God is angry because you had that extra candy bar! God only loves you proportionately to your love for Him! No, no, no. God loves you IN SPITE of your hatred of Him. "Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do." Will God listen to His Son?
True abundant life comes when you understand that you cannot out-sin grace. And despite what you may think, you don't sin more. You actually have a stronger and more genuine motivation to change others' lives. When God chooses to open your eyes to the amount of love He pours out into you, you can't stop it from overflowing and reaching others.
(* as long as you obey the 10 commandments, don't look at a girl ever, don't go over the speed limit in any circumstance, don't pop your gum loudly, chew with your mouth closed, pray only if you wash your hands, tell everyone else your sins, give me 10% of your money, go to church even if you are sick, etc. etc...)
When I was under the impression that "God so loved the world"*, I was always afraid that He was still mad at ME for not giving Him 110%. As if I could with-hold any part of me from Him. I was scared for my immortal soul, because I didn't want to burn in hell-fire forever and ever. Satan STOLE my joy, he KILLED my happiness, and he DESTROYED my peace of mind.
Bette Midler performed a song titled, "The Rose," and in this song there are the lyrics: "It's the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live." Now I understand that she wasn't exactly talking about dying and going to hell in this context, but for me it struck a chord. I was so afraid of DYING because of what was going to happen to me next, that I couldn't truly LIVE! In fact, I was barely alive at all! I was in a psyche ward weighing in at 110 lbs, being tranquilized and fed pills just to gain weight.
It wasn't until God removed the blinders from my eyes that I was able to TRULY LIVE. No more worrying about whether or not God would still love me if I stopped going to church, or if I said a PG rated word. No more questioning God's power and/or Love. But knowing, that If anyone can make a story truly end "happily ever after" it would be the creator of the universe. The One who intricately formed each and every one of us, completely unique in our own ways.
Satan steals, kills, and destroys us, and he uses the false image of "God" to do it. God will BURN you if you don't turn from your evil ways! God is angry because you had that extra candy bar! God only loves you proportionately to your love for Him! No, no, no. God loves you IN SPITE of your hatred of Him. "Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do." Will God listen to His Son?
True abundant life comes when you understand that you cannot out-sin grace. And despite what you may think, you don't sin more. You actually have a stronger and more genuine motivation to change others' lives. When God chooses to open your eyes to the amount of love He pours out into you, you can't stop it from overflowing and reaching others.
(* as long as you obey the 10 commandments, don't look at a girl ever, don't go over the speed limit in any circumstance, don't pop your gum loudly, chew with your mouth closed, pray only if you wash your hands, tell everyone else your sins, give me 10% of your money, go to church even if you are sick, etc. etc...)
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Friend of Saints?
When you go to church and church related events, most people put on their best mask so no one will see what they really are. Or in some cases, church-goers genuinely are very clean people with little visible sin in their lives. That is because church is all about trying to fix you up enough that you are presentable to God. To make you good enough to deserve to talk to Him, when in reality you have already been made perfect. Christians warn about being associated with the wrong kind of people in nearly every youth service I have ever heard! I find this incredibly ignorant... First of all if every one that knows the gospel only kept to themselves about it, how would the good news travel? How could we bring peace to others? Secondly, in Matthew 11:19 Christ is called a FRIEND of sinners. He isn't referred to here as someone who associates with sinners, no, he is referred to as their FRIEND. To me being a friend is a lot more than just caring about someone. You hang out together, have fun together, laugh and cry together. Jesus was said to eat and drink with these sinners. Not cool-aid either, Jesus drank wine! Christianity is more moral than Christ!
Should you go out and get trashed, snort crack off a stripper, and then have your way with any woman in town? If I have to answer this for you then you need more help than I can provide. Obviously that would be stupid. That isn't what Christ was doing. However, he was FRIENDS with these people. I am willing to bet (Oh no, did I just mention gambling? Forgive me God!) that if Christ had a Facebook, his friends list would contain thousands of the earth's "scummiest" people in the eyes of the religious. And if he had Myspace, his top 8 would include the likes of Dirty Steve, Drunken Bob, and Anthony Kiedis. It sure as heck wouldn't have the pope, John Hagee or Kirk Cameron. Does he love them? Yes. Would he hang out with them and drink a couple glasses of wine with them? No, because they would think they were hurting God's feelings by enjoying life.
Don't avoid people just because they seem to not care about the choices they make. Some of the best people I know drink, smoke pot, eat more than the suggested serving size, and even roll through stop signs. You will be surprised at how much more they will receive the message of pure grace.
Should you go out and get trashed, snort crack off a stripper, and then have your way with any woman in town? If I have to answer this for you then you need more help than I can provide. Obviously that would be stupid. That isn't what Christ was doing. However, he was FRIENDS with these people. I am willing to bet (Oh no, did I just mention gambling? Forgive me God!) that if Christ had a Facebook, his friends list would contain thousands of the earth's "scummiest" people in the eyes of the religious. And if he had Myspace, his top 8 would include the likes of Dirty Steve, Drunken Bob, and Anthony Kiedis. It sure as heck wouldn't have the pope, John Hagee or Kirk Cameron. Does he love them? Yes. Would he hang out with them and drink a couple glasses of wine with them? No, because they would think they were hurting God's feelings by enjoying life.
Don't avoid people just because they seem to not care about the choices they make. Some of the best people I know drink, smoke pot, eat more than the suggested serving size, and even roll through stop signs. You will be surprised at how much more they will receive the message of pure grace.
Monday, November 24, 2014
The Point Is To Live
When I believed in eternal conscious torment, I believed that my purpose in life what solely to help save as many people as I could from ending up there. The thing that kept me from feeling useless was the idea that I was somehow able to save a person's "soul" form being damned to hell for all eternity. Well now, you can see how this became a problem when I realized that God didn't need me at all to save His creation because, in fact, He did it all on His own. When I realized that I was completely useless to God when it came to saving people, I lost my purpose in life. But, then I realized, I have an even greater purpose in life now. Before I was giving people not good news, no not at all, I was giving them an ultimatum, I was selling them fire insurance for something that is yet to happen. I was promising them happiness in the future. If, and only if, they themselves put faith in Christ. But now, oh man, now I am able to bring happiness even in this current evil age! Why? Because now I proclaim GOOD NEWS! The true gospel! That all is taken care of and there, in fact, will be a happily ever after. That is a glorious expectation indeed. Now not only do I have a reason to live, I have the drive to actually proclaim the gospel. Whereas before, I dreaded telling someone that their loved ones could possibly be burning in hell and that they too would end up in hell unless they did something about it. I truly have good news. Our purpose is to tell others this news so that they to can enjoy life to the fullest. Remember when we thought we had to please God by our actions? Wasn't it terrible? Never knowing if you did well enough that day to even talk to God. Thinking He is ashamed of you and upset at you for something you did or didn't do? Ugh, that weight is just awful. You can't enjoy life at all feeling like you have to measure up. But thank God that we do measure up because of what Christ did. We can't screw it up, and that is the Gospel. That is the point. To live freely and fully is the point. Grace is so simple that people think it is too good to be true. When know that God is good, and we know that He is true. Grace will always super-abound.
Monday, November 3, 2014
Past Regrets
Awhile back I did a blog about free will and prophecy. I made the point that if something at all goes out of order in God's plan, then prophecy would not come true. If you are off by the smallest degree while going from point A to point B, you will end up at point WTF.
The reason I bring this up is because I know a lot of people who either regret their past or feel like they aren't doing things correctly right now. Let me put it this way. If you regret your past, then you are not trusting God's plan for the future. Everything that you have done in this life, everything you are doing, and everything you will do is in accord with our Creator's absolute will. Is this fatalistic? Sure, if you want to call it that. Clyde Pilkington calls it God-ism rather than fatalism, and I 100% agree with that.
There is nothing at all fatal about our Sovereign Creator and Father being in control. Fatalism should be what we call the idea of free-will. If the clay were in control of forming itself into a pot, what would be the outcome? It would still just be a lump of clay at the end of the day. Clay does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to contribute to itself being formed into a vessel of any shape or form. The Potter is the One that takes care of that.
We are all just clay in the Potter's hand and we cannot do a single thing to change what God is turning us into. Sometimes it seems like life is spinning out of control. Well maybe that is just the wheel we are on and God is turning up the speed so He can smooth us out.
Listen if there is anything at all you can say to someone to bring comfort, it should be that God is in control. This was used so many times by my church "family" growing up to try to comfort me. If only I had known it was actually true, oh the relief it would have brought. Sadly though, I thought that God only had a mere influence on humanity and that we could easily thwart his will.
Fatalism is believe that God's will can be stalled and/or thwarted. Find comfort knowing that this isn't so, and that He will do ALL His good pleasure and one day EVERY knee will bow and EVERY tongue confess. God will be ALL IN ALL.
The reason I bring this up is because I know a lot of people who either regret their past or feel like they aren't doing things correctly right now. Let me put it this way. If you regret your past, then you are not trusting God's plan for the future. Everything that you have done in this life, everything you are doing, and everything you will do is in accord with our Creator's absolute will. Is this fatalistic? Sure, if you want to call it that. Clyde Pilkington calls it God-ism rather than fatalism, and I 100% agree with that.
There is nothing at all fatal about our Sovereign Creator and Father being in control. Fatalism should be what we call the idea of free-will. If the clay were in control of forming itself into a pot, what would be the outcome? It would still just be a lump of clay at the end of the day. Clay does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to contribute to itself being formed into a vessel of any shape or form. The Potter is the One that takes care of that.
We are all just clay in the Potter's hand and we cannot do a single thing to change what God is turning us into. Sometimes it seems like life is spinning out of control. Well maybe that is just the wheel we are on and God is turning up the speed so He can smooth us out.
Listen if there is anything at all you can say to someone to bring comfort, it should be that God is in control. This was used so many times by my church "family" growing up to try to comfort me. If only I had known it was actually true, oh the relief it would have brought. Sadly though, I thought that God only had a mere influence on humanity and that we could easily thwart his will.
Fatalism is believe that God's will can be stalled and/or thwarted. Find comfort knowing that this isn't so, and that He will do ALL His good pleasure and one day EVERY knee will bow and EVERY tongue confess. God will be ALL IN ALL.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)