We Need to Love as Christ Loves Us

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” -- John 13:34-35

 The world is watching you. How someone conducts themself is absolutely crucial in revealing the truth in the love of God. In psychology, this may be defined as observational learning. When, as pursuers of Christ, we love others unconditionally-- in the supernatural way God intended-- we reflect the love of Christ. But when we condemn people for who they are or what they do, people get the same impression of Christ. But how did Christ handle such matters?

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” -- John 8:1b-11

Love, according to Christ Himself, is the most important thing. And we are meant to love Him, and love others as ourselves. With love, we can change the world.

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. -- 1 Peter 4:8

And what about the unlovely? Surely we have all come across people we would rather not "deal with," and people that do us wrong and "deserve what they get." Believe me, there are many people in this world that can be described that way. But how should we respond, as people who are not of the world?

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil." -- Luke 6:27-35

"If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,

and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
for you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the Lord will reward you." -- Proverbs 25:21-22

Speech may be considered another matter. Perhaps we can grudgingly do something good to someone we consider an enemy, but does that mean we have to be kind to them? Sometimes we do as our parents ask, but shout bitter insults as we do so. What does the Bible say about that?

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." -- Proverbs 15:1

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offences. -- Proverbs 10:12

 You see, I have been ministering on YouTube quite a bit, and I cannot express how many "Christians" have called atheists "useless," "stupid," among many other insults. One girl in particular had a list of people she considered worthless and actually told me that atheists "aren't worth [her] prayers, but they're a good source of amusement." I contacted every person I could on her hitlist, discovered something we had in common on their profile, and began chatting with them. One person, in the first reply, actually thanked me for not being one of the religious people that persecuted him.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son to condemn the world, but to save it." -- John 3:16-17

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. -- Matthew 7:2

None of this, however, means that we should waver in where we stand. The Bible clearly states that homosexuality is wrong, that prostitution is wrong, among other sins. But we are all sinners, and none better than the others. Christ did not condemn us for our sins, but He came to rescue us.

If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. -- John 15:19

“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. -- John 17:13-19

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. -- Romans 12:2

 So, how was Jesus "in the world, but not of the world?" Well, He sought to befriend the lowest in society-- thieves, prostitutes, tax collectors, and even murderers. He spent His time not with kings, but with the most hated. He accepted these people without accepting the acts they committed or participating in them himself. He remained pure even in the dirt and grime of this world (James 1:27).

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? ... You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. -- Matthew 5:13-16

What are the purposes of salt? Many have used it as a preservative. We add it to our meals to bring out the best flavors. Some even use salt as a stain removal. Rinsing your mouth out with it heals wounds. Salt can even revive wrinkled fruits and keep roads from freezing. Salt can do a great many things, and perhaps preserving and bringing out the best are what we use it for the most.

And what does light do? Well, shine it into the corner of a dark room: Even a little light scatters a decent amount of darkness. Heck, it consumes the darkness and shadows physically cannot bear to remain in its path. Light also reveals the cobwebs and other messes that might be hiding in the corner. Sometimes light is difficult to look straight into, especially if you're hiding in the dark when Someone shines it on you. But am I wrong when I say we can only clean the messes we see, and we need light to see them?

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” -- Romans 10:13b-15

People need to hear the gospel. Some say that everyone has heard the name of Jesus, and in the United States, that may be true. But almost everyone I talk to has some wild misconception about Him, such as the idea that He allows evil in the world to watch our torture. They may have heard the name, but they do not know who He is. And still others outside this area have never even heard His name. Remember, Heaven and hell are for eternity-- this is our one shot to introduce our loves ones, strangers, and enemies to Jesus.

You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were no people but now you are God’s people; once you had not received God’s mercy but now you have received mercy. -- 1 Peter 2:9-10

I have to ask: Have a single person ever led someone to the love of Christ by condemning them and calling them names? I know those I spoke with never have. One man actually thought he could lead someone to salvation through shock value, by slamming them with the idea that they will soon suffer for eternity with no remedy and by insulting their intelligence. What got me was that he began to do this to someone I have been talking to about Christ for over a year now, and that person became upset at the idea of God in general and even grew annoyed with me, when we have generally been on good terms.

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." -- 1 Corinthians 13:1

But how can we claim to love Christ if we refuse the second greatest commandment (to love others as ourselves)? The love of the world was the priority of Christ, and should be our second (after love of Him).

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” -- Matthew 22:37b-40

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
 -- 1 John 4:7-21

We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. —1 John 3:14

So, what is love?

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." -- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

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Cure For Apathy With the Product of Adventure and Life

As a teenager among other teenagers, apathy seems common. Ask any teen what they want to do today and it's usually "I don't know. There's nothing to do here." Ask most people what they like to do, and they generally have to think before listing off a couple things like "Listen to music... cook..." Ask almost any teenager what direction they're headed in, and you get a blank stare. Ask most people what their strengths and talents are, and most will say they have no talent and many will have to carefully consider their strengths.
I have been curious about this lately. Why are we so apathetic and bland these days? Personally, I have found to difficult to conceive bordom in this world. Sure, driver's ed was pretty hard to sit through, but everything is full of different sights, sounds, flavors, and experiences. How could we be bored?
I have a theory on apathy: It becomes rampant when we are not living for Christ and focused on Him. We live in a world of beauty tarnished by sin, a constant battle of good versus evil-- one that we are knights in. More than that, as sons and daughters of the king, we are royalty and should live as such. I watched one of The Chronicles of Narnia movies today, and it reminded me of what it means to be royalty. We have lost sight of our identity by losing sight of Christ, and in doing so, have lost sight of ourselves. He is the one who gives us our personalities, strengths, gifts, etc. Don't believe me? Well, why would a talented Artist triumphantly present a blank canvas to the world and call it art? If you can't see what a beautiful creation you are, seek the source of beauty and start living for Him. Our spiritual muscles have atrophied. We need to stretch and use them again before we can be stong in Him and know what our strengths are. When we see the beauty in Him, we'll see the beauty in us. But we'll also see the wretchedness in our lives, which is what happens when we stand in the light. But we can't clean a mess on the floor until we can see it, right? Don't be afraid to look. "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." -- 2 Timothy 1:7.

O Lord, you have searched me

and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O Lord.
You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths,a you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
When I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
Your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious tob me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.
If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord,
and abhor those who rise up against you?
I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting." -- Psalm 139

Only you can be you. An eye can not be a foot or a nose. But do not be afraid to be you-- we need you. You are the missing piece to the puzzle. You are the one part of a body that the others rely on in some way. Know who you are and act like it!



There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?  Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. -- 1 Corinthians 12:4-31
Go out there and live an adventure!

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Prepare and Pray

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 Today, the world is in great turmoil. All is changing, and every country is going to be affected by it. Many are strapped for cash right now-- families are losing their homes, struggling to put food on the table, and fighting off debt. We should start preparing right now.  Food prices are rising, and will likely skyrocket. About a year ago, my Mom approached me and said something to the effect of "I'm pretty sure God has been telling me to prepare, and that I should store away food because hard times are coming." I was slightly skeptical at first, but as I was watching Glenn Beck about a week ago, he closed his show with something like "Be prepared. Hard times are coming. My family and I have been storing food since last year, and we purchased a year's worth of food." And a friend of mine, who has zero interest in politics, began to tell me five years ago (before we knew any of this was happening) that her school began a study on End Times. Among the things that were said to happen before Jesus returns is a global government with a global currency, much like what a man named George Soros is pushing today. We have the opportunity to reach for Jesus and make something great of our country again by restoring it to its roots, or we can abandom Him and crash much like Rome. But this time, the stakes are even higher-- this time, it's the world.

Many families have been stressing about meals and money, mine included. I have decided to promote an idea I've had: To sit down once a week with a provisional devotional. I am supposing it will look something like what is below here, and I hope you will consider using it:

Read: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. -- Matthew 6:26-34
Pray: "Thank You, God, for providing for us this last week. You have fulfilled your promises to us. We will put our trust in You again this week. We will give what You ask us to give and trust You to provide what we need. Please give us each day our daily bread, and show us how we may help others seek You as well. Help us to be responsible stewards of what You provide for us. We ask that You will help us learn to trust You as we should with all our needs and desires. We thank You and we love You. We pray this in Jesus' name, amen."
Read: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. -- Romans 8:28

Please pray for your country, and pray for the world around us. Pray for the love of Jesus to reach every person, and for each person to reach out to Him. Ask for a revival to spread like a wildfire, and an awakening to remind us that He exists and of who He is. The Bible says we will be "transformed by the renewing of (our) mind(s)." -- Romans 12:2. We need to be reminded of Jesus.

God bless!

Edit: Food Storage Guide

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! Have a great, fun night, and remember to test the spirits. Anything that does not confess Jesus Christ as Lord is not from Him and should not be a part of your life. Pray wherever you go, and pray for people you encounter. Remember this is the end of summer.

"... but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world." -- 1 John 4:3

You might live someplace where you encounter magic and wiccans often. I know we do here. Sometimes that might seem overwhelming. But while a third of the angels were cast out of Heaven with the devil and now reside on earth (His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. -- Revelation 12:4a), remember that He who is in You is greater than he who is in the world ("You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." -- 1 John 4:4). God created the devil as an angel, and the created is never more powerful than the Creator (http://www.gotquestions.org/Satan-fall.html). Satan would have you believe he is. He would also have you believe he doesn't exist, because who would wage war against something that doesn't exist? Be aware of these tactics. And remember that God cast him out of heaven for a reason (And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And He said unto them, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." -- Luke 10:17-19).

Happy Halloween!

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Remember September 11th and Pray

September 11th, 2001 was a dark day in the history of our country. We are constantly growing more complacent about what we lost that day, and what we could always lose again. Some of us lost loved ones in the attack and have that steady reminder of the lurking danger. Most of us moved on with our lives and have forgotten.

I watched a lot of footage of the attacks and the aftermath yesterday. It struck me how intense the attacks were. When the camera was a safe distance away, we could see smoke billowing from the towers and the voice of news reporters. But when you see the camera footage of the people who were actually there, you can see what a warzone this was. You can hear people groaning and see people drop from the towers. The smoke consumed everything in sight. People sobbed and shuffled through the debris for their loved ones.

How could we ever forget?

Remember what we are fighting for. Remember how precious our freedom is. Remember the people who sacrificed themselves to save others that day. Remember to pray for the victims, their loved ones, and this country.

You were born where you are, in this time period, for a reason. Learn why. Pray for this country and your part in its history because history is being made, and we are at a fork in the road.

Help us, Lord.

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Every Single Good Thing

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." -- James 1:17

Sometimes we forget this. We treat the good things that happen in life a little like the bad, perhaps sub-consciously thinking "I am so glad God allowed this to happen" as if all He did was step aside and let it happen on its own. But this verse says otherwise.
God is perfect. Every single thing God created is good because of that. After He created each and every aspect of creation, the verse concludes with "and God saw that it was good."
No evil can come from a purely good thing.
So if every single good thing comes from Him, every single good thing in your life is a special gift chosen by Him for you. Perhaps the words in His mind were something like "I will give him a close family," or "I will give her this beautiful house I know she will love." Even more specifically, "I know she will enjoy this sort of tea," and "I will make this rose flourish outside her window."
Every. Single. Good. Thing. Is. From. God.
And He takes pleasure in your pleasure.

"What a lovely thing a rose is! ...There is nothing in which deduction is so necessary as in religion," said he, leaning with his back against the shutters. "It can be built up as an exact science by the reasoner. Our highest assurance of the goodness of Providence seems to me to rest in the flowers. All other things, our powers, our desires, our food, are really necessary for our existence in the first instance. But this rose is an extra. Its smell and its goodness which gives extras, and so I say again that we have much to hope from the flowers." -- Sherlock Holmes, "The Naval Treaty"

Love Now!

 Sometimes it seems as though Christians lack the urgency as seen in places like the Book of Acts. As soon as Christ rose from the dead. Christianity was spreal like a wildfire. Despite persecution and the lack of modern press, people everywhere fell to their knees before the Lord. These days, it seems as though we put things off. We lose the nerve to speak to a friend. We assure ourselves they wouldn't listen, anyway. We avoid looking like a radical.
 But was Jesus not radical?
 And aren't we supposed to look like Him?
 The term "Christian" comes from the scornful nickname "little Christ," which early Christians took to as a compliment. If we are to look like Christ, we need that love and gentle boldness to speak and act Truth for our loved ones.
Who are our loved ones?
Luke 6:27-35 says that we are to love even our enemies. Proverbs 17:17 and John 15:12-13 speak about love for friends. Ephesians 5:25 commands husbands to love their wives. Titus 2:3-5 says that wives should love their husbands and children. Luke 17:3-4 says that one must love and forgive their brother. John 13:34-35, Romans 12:9-10, 1 Peter 4:8, 1 John 4:7-21, Proverbs 10:12, Luke 10:25-37, and 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 are only a handful of verses that all speak of love. So really, who are we not to love? We are to hate evil, we know that. But think about all the people who need to know love, who need to know Christ.
Those people who expect you to attack them with a Bible probably do not know Christ because they have not yet known love.
So think about who you need to love today. Send some flowers, or a card. Pick up a phone and call. What's this about having your whole life to get to something? Timothy was thirteen when he led his church. Everything shall happen in God's timing, but "do not put off for tomorrow that which you could do today" (Benjamin Franklin).

Seeking God Through Creation

Sometimes God speaks through unusual subjects. Using the jawbone of a dead donkey is a good example. In my case, there are a few movies I can name that He has used to speak a novel's worth of insight. One is the Chronicles of Narnia, one is Amazing Grace, and another is Faith Like Potatoes. I know, it sounds like Veggie Tales. I promise it's not. The first time I watched this movie, God rattled several things I never noticed about myself. For one thing, I have been recently seeking more of the Holy Spirit. With the Holy Spirit, all things are possible. All things. And several weeks ago, during a church sermon, our associate pastor said something along the lines of "And if you were sitting out on your front porch during that thunderstorm on Wednesday, you are probably seeking more of the Holy Spirit!"
Guess who was sitting on her front porch that Wednesday afternoon?
That's right.
Me.

"It was when I was happiest that I longed most... The sweetest thing in all my life has been the longing... to find the place where all the beauty came from." -- C.S. Lewis

Anyway, the first time I sat there watching the movie, God specifically talked to me about beauty. I already knew He is the source of all beauty because He Himself is beauty. All the beauty in the world is a reflection of Him, sort of like a pond reflects the moon. It is an imperfect reflection, as we live in a fallen world, but through the waves and the algae, we can see it.

"The books or the music in which we thought the beauty was located will betray us if we trust in them; it was not in them, it only came through them, and what came through them was longing... If they are mistaken for the thing itself, they turn into dumb idols, breaking the hearts of their worshippers. For they are not the thing itself; they are only a scent of a flower we have not found, the echo of a tune we have not heard, news from a country we have never yet visited." -- C.S. Lewis



I have asked myself many a time recently why some rather random things have captivated my attention while I have failed to seek God. This last year or two has been a time where I could really seek Him more and it would do a world of good. And yet, I have met a facination with thunderstorms, rain, fire, roses, peacock feathers, stars, eyes, spider webs, and butterflies. Strange assortment, right? Well, God pointed out that I have been seeking Him through these things. After all, art reflects its creator. Have you ever realized how passionate fire is? The way it's relentless, consumes all as if it were starving? Has it ever occurred to you how perfect it is that when crops need water, rain falls out of the sky? Has thunder ever struck you as ominous and mighty? Roses, with their rich aroma, are charming and beautiful. Spider webs are delicate, intricate, invisible, and purposeful. The eye complex and attention-grabbing.  Peacock feathers are similarly complex, beautiful, and deliberate. Stars are vast and glorious. Butterflies, perhaps a metaphor for Christians, start as worms and, after a difficult and painful metamorphosis, become the butterfly you see flying across your garden. And you know what's funny? These things have been popping up a lot, like reminders. We have actually had a male peacock in all his colors strut up our street one day. A peacock feather popped up in a flower basket at church. Someone walks by with rose perfume. And if you have ever read The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald, you can imagine the surprise I got in a chapter somewhere near the middle. If you have not read it, I recommend it. One can even see His various attributes through music, as I mentioned in a previous post. Perhaps the platypus is His sense of humor. What does a kitten say about Him? What about the river? Wild horses?

"It is curious that I remember well time when the thought of the eye made me cold all over, but I have got over this stage of the complaint, and now small trifling particulars of structure often make me very uncomfortable. The sight of the peacock's tail, whenever I gaze it, makes me sick!"-- Darwin, Charles correspondence 8, 140pp


And now I will take a moment to possibly creep out any of my friends who read this blog: The best reflection of God is when people love one another. I always enjoy watching how friends act around one another. When one team mate helps another up, or moreover, helps the opposite team member to his feet. The effect a simple clap on the back has on a solemn teen. Words spoken to a wallflower. I love noticing these things, because they are a glimpse of our Creator.




Genesis 1, Genesis 2, Psalm 19, Psalm 29, Psalm 139, Isaiah 42:5, Isaiah 40:12, Isaiah 42:9-10, Isaiah 65:17-25, Mark 4:37-41, John 1:1-5, Romans 1:20-23 and 25, Romans 8:22-23, Colossians 1:15-20, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Revelation 4:11, Revelation 21:1-5, Revelation 22:1-2

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Who I Am-- A Sinful Being

 So many of  us rattle off a list on sins when we confess our transgressions to Christ. That would be me. But witin a recent sermon at my church, our music minister mentioned how we should not do this, and instead confess our very nature to be sinful. We should admit that we are sinful, not simply what we do.

We always hear that we are sinful beings. We know it. We realize we commit many sins, but how many of us really consider our very selves to be sinful? Perhaps we have heard it, but do we believe it?
I'm not so sure I did. That is, until I realized I could sin in my sleep and not even realize it until later. I stomped my foot at how unfair it was that I could sin without conscious thought until I realized how natural it was for me to sin.I could even do it in my sleep! Without thinking, without resistance.
Yup, I'm sinful.
And this is coming from something with a relatively high level of self-confidence. Let me tell you, praying for humility has made clear where my faults lie. Suddenly, the same stupid things I always do are in the light and I can see them. This made me realize how very naturally I sin.
It's not only that I'm sinful because I have sinned. Perhaps that's how it started with Adam and Eve, but not me. I have sinned because I'm sinful.

God above, have mercy.

"We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do -- this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it." -- Romans 7:14-20

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Worship

Worship: A state of the heart characterized by absolute knowledge of and gratitude toward God for who He is and what He has done for us, from which grows fruits of the spirit, as well as songs of praise, acts of love, amplification of one's individual design and gifts, and a generally Christ-centered life and behavior. A verb, and some form of adjetive and tangible like a noun.

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The Light of the World

 What does it mean to be the light of the world? When a little girl cowers in fear beneath her covers in the middle of the night, she is imagining all the evil things that could be hiding in the dark. The dark hides evil things, be they evil deeds of those who manage to keep them secret, or the evil intentions of someone waiting to ambush another, or the truth when its covered up by another, or the unsung misery of an abused woman, or the evil within the heart of her abuser.
 The sun is a small percentage of God's light. The darkness is banished and whatever lies within, be it good or evil, is revealed. Often times, the evil will scatter and find some dark corner to cower in fear. But with light, the truth is exposed-- whatever it may be. Light banishes the fears of the little girl, exposes the evil within hearts, and reveals the beauty all around.
We live in a fallen world with dark places. Some cities and towns are like caves, dark and saturated in treachery and witchcraft. Sometimes Christians see this darkness as overpowering, but imagine a candle in a cave. No matter how small it is, the light consumes the darkness. Even that small flickering flame spreads throughout the cave.
I remember in driver's ed hearing that all the grime one a person's headlights can block up to 95% of the illumination. So what does that mean for us? When we let sin creep into our lives like a disease, we cannot shine the light of God as well as we should. We need to ask Jesus to clean us off so that we can shine for all men.

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." -- Matthew 6:14-16

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Music God Loves

"It was when I was happiest that I longed most... The sweetest thing in all my life has been the longing... to find the place where all the beauty came from." -- C.S. Lewis


I have heard a lot of criticism regarding Christian music that does not specifically reference Jesus Christ and how it is just like all the other mainstream junk, doesn't really glorify God, and even that it is from Satan himself. Likewise, I have seen criticism of Christian music that falls under the genres of metal, screamo, hard rock, rap, etc. I have wanted to address this for a while and for many reasons.

God is the Source of all that is good and beautiful. Because He created all the world, we can see elements of His beauty in all things. I believe this is the same case with music. God made us in His image, and thus, we are also creative beings. We use a variety of instruments to praise Him, and I believe He appreciates that. Only singing Him one genre of songs is enough to bore anyone. Just as He created a variety of flowers, He created a variety of music. To say that God only wants to be praised with traditional hymns is to say that He only created roses, pushing aside all the lilies, pansies, tulips, daisies, clovers, and missing a whole lot of beauty. The God who created such a variety of animals and people must surely appreciate a variety of music.

All the things that God creates reflect some of His personality. I see His passion and consuming love and desire for us in fire. We should be on fire for Him-- passionate, hungry, enthusiastic, white-hot. I can see His fire reflected in some hard rock and metal music. I love to use the band Red as an example-- they have a song called "Breathe Into Me" is a song shouting out to God, pleaing for His Spirit. "Let Go" reflects the rage and hatred toward sin, the thing that kills us.

Water might reflect the patience of God. Perhaps that is one thing He had in mind when he poured the cool ponds into their holes in the ground. When a man works hard and spashes water onto his hot red face, surely he appreciates what God has made. Sometimes it's peaceful to praise God with slow, calm music. One of the best examples that I know of is "Overjoyed" by Jars of Clay.

And what if the music that does not specifically mention Jesus? I suppose that depends on the song. Some lament of friends who have strayed away from Jesus, such as the DC Talk songs "It's Killing Me" and "So Long, My Friend." Another song I once heard criticized was "Catchafire (Whoopsie-Daisy)" by TobyMac, a song about reigniting the fire for God. Some songs are not specifically about the resurrection, but are written and sung by Christians. Some may say that this is not Christian music. But the day we seperate Christian from secular is the day we declare it impossible to glorify God in all we do (1 Corinthians 10:31). Even Jesus Himself attended a wedding party. He gave children laughter, designed the deliciousness of chocolate, and gives us time to think during solitary walks. If we should glorify Him in all we do, and experience Him in all things good, then why should we not express these things through music (Colossians 1:16, Exodus 15:20, 2 Samuel 16:14, Psalm 100)?
And we must not mistake the beauty we recognize in music for anything but the beauty of God. When you listen to music, seek Him. It may not be the top song on the Christian charts, or one of the songs you sing in church, but you might just catch a glimpse of Him as you listen.
 
"The books or the music in which we thought the beauty was located will betray us if we trust in them; it was not in them, it only came through them, and what came through them was longing... If they are mistaken for the thing itself, they turn into dumb idols, breaking the hearts of their worshippers. For they are not the thing itself; they are only a scent of a flower we have not found, the echo of a tune we have not heard, news from a country we have never yet visited." -- C.S. Lewis

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The Heart of God

Last year, something triggered within me a massive anxiety attack. I was especially sensitive to the problems in the world and the struggles of others, perhaps the foremost among them being the seperation of loved ones, both by death and by choice. It tore me up inside for weeks, and I could not put my finger out why. But then I had a spiritual epiphany and wrote a lengthy note on it. This is what it was:

"Puzzling is the fact that the things that are bothering me truly are sad things, but my sensitivity to them (which is high anyway) seems to have been magnified, as if through a microscope. None of these triggers are irrational, but the amount of my reaction is.

This made me think. A lot. God has such deep emotions and sensitivity because He loves so deeply. He is not only the source of love, He is love. So if His love is so deep, His emotional reactions must be as well. He is sensitive to our problems and sins because He cares for us so much. And if He is sensitive to all that we do, and He knows all that we do, how must He feel all the time?

To be able to perceive all the cries of unborn children, and the starving in the slums of Africa, the people lonely in a hospital bed, the shouts of arguing parents, the cries of a child hiding behind the sofa, the wrath of hatred within a heart, screams of the tortured and persecuted, confusion of the non-believer, the last thoughts of everyone living, the brokeness of the living, and the eternal suffering of the dead in hell... how must He feel all the time? If His heart breaks for the living, will it also break for the condemned for all eternity? I know I could never handle it.

Parents, I know you hurt for your children when they hurt. How much more would God hurt for us? We are His children, both close and astray, and He is never cold, never apathetic...

And He even came to live among us, in this broken and fallen world, for thirty-three years before becoming Himself one of the lonely and despised hearts, mourning the death of a friend, tortured and humiliated at the hands of His enemies... He came down to the slums. He experienced the same pain, hunger, loneliness, desires, and needs that we have. He not only sympathizes, He empathizes.

"Abba." A phrase used by Hebrew children to their father when they want to be held; a term of endearment. "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” — Romans 8:14-15

Sometimes it's easy to see God as some distant Being, Someone who dictates with rules and regulations instead of Someone who desires foremost to have a relationship with us. We are His long-lost sons and daughters, and He searches for us like a shepherd searches for that one missing lamb. Because He is our Father, He guides us with rules within that close relationship. He stands in the mud with that hungry child in the slums, holds the child crying behind the sofa, stands between a man and that eratic car, douses the fire wrath of an enemy's heart, grips the hand of the person in the hospital bed, and speaks to the hearts of the lonely.

I had the desire a couple years ago to try and save a very special mare who suffered and died. I was stressing out because I imagined her terror and loneliness. In the midst of this storm, God gave me this verse: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." -- Psalm 23:4. And it has meant the world to me since."

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