Some days no thoughts come. Too much sugar in last night’s snack? Maybe. The Complexity of a man’s soul; body and spirit also, make for an exciting life of wonder. Victor Frankl defined some of the complexity as the tension between objectivity and subjectivity in a person’s inner being. He said we always battle back and forth between the two. I will say this, objectivity (freedom from bias, Merriam Webster) can only be attained from an un-biased source i.e. The Bible. Un-bias includes every person, considers every possibility, and explains every nuance or phenomena known to mankind. In contrast is the Subjective realm ( of or relating to the essential being of that which has substance, qualities, attributes, or relations: Merriam Webster). Subjective is extra-Biblical, however, it is explicitly described in the objective Word of God. Yes, the objective Word speaks of the Subjective in no uncertain terms — head sick,…
Healing at the Cross Posts
Belonging? to be suitable, appropriate, or advantageous, to be in a proper situation. to be the property of a person or thing to be attached or bound by birth, allegiance, or dependency to be a member of a club, organization, or set The very human desire to belong has been recognized since the garden of Eden, as our first parents forfeited ‘belonging’ for personal advantage. Enacting their ‘unbelonging’ experiment by defying their Maker, Adam and Eve discovered fear and hiding, a covert strategy for life. As their guilt filled nature developed under this false cover — through their offspring — so all of its malignancy’s many squirms and weasels came out. All of us have paid severely, victims of other’s deviations — victims of our own frightful hearts. James 4:1-2 explain this further: “What causes wars and contentions among you? Is it not the cravings which are ever at war…
1Samuel 18:6 says, “And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music.” Joy, joy joy erupted at the hero’s welcome ceremony following victories over their oppressors. A cause for great joy. 1Kings 1:40 teaches, “And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.” The occasion? Solomon anointed king in Israel. Joy at the inauguration of a great king and defender of the people. 1Chronicles 12:40 shows us, “Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat,…
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Matthew 18:1-6 Jason Gray wrote a song about Christmas : “They’re dressing up the city in a brightly lighted gown, They’re singing in the streets when Christmas comes to town. So let the spirit find you where ever you have been,…
Traveling this week to Africa for missions trip. I will be gone for two weeks. Many thoughts accompany me as I prepare. I think of Moses famous line in Exodus 33: “…If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.” Exodus 33:15 Moses had the assuring Word of God’s presence from the previous verses, nevertheless, he repeated back to God how much His grace was desired and needed. Moses was seeing that to have found grace in God’s sight means that God would surely accompany them on the journey. Something undeserving to Moses could not be compromised — otherwise — not going! I wondered about how much of this sense formed my mindset. Did I expect this grace? Could I leave without it? Funny that I would compare my little adventure with the great Moses. Regardless, deeply worked into Moses psyche, appeared a desparation — “without…
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils…” “Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron, ” 1Timothy 4:1-2 Sometimes I am taken mentally with a bombardment of regret. It seems, in these times, that I could easily emote remorse for every conversation, every activity of yesterday, even the day before or many days before that. Soon I am reviewing my whole life with a hyper-critical evaluation. The “over-run” results in one sad person. I slowly descended from carefree liberty in my thought life to an inward-turned mindset which reeks with inadequacy. I am being seduced. But, somehow the critical eval bears the flavor of truth; indeed some of it may actually measure up as accurate. O no! Friends, what has gone wrong? Perilous times, brothers and sisters, perilous…
“For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Galatians 2:19-21 Let’s be honest, the Law excluded us from it’s righteousness, which righteousness is the reward for perfectly following it. That Law could never make those coming with sacrificial offerings perfect, being weak through our fleshly nature. See Hebrews 10:1-3 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. Better Hope? “…(the law)…
“Now all the tax-collectors and notorious sinners were crowding around Him to listen to Him. And so the Pharisees and scribes continually grumbled, and said, “This fellow is welcoming notorious sinners, and even eating with them.”” Luke 15:1-2 “This man receiveth sinners.” KJV “He gives a welcome to notorious sinners, and joins them at their meals!” Weymouth translation Despised of the religious leaders, Jesus nevertheless persisted to company with those hated. Unintentionally, these uppity Scribes and Pharisees provided for current readers a precious commentary — “This man receives sinners.” Jesus invited sinners into His presence. The simplicity of Jesus’ actions provides definition to our application going forward. We are to tell how, “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not charging men’s transgressions to their account, and that He has entrusted to us the Message of this reconciliation” .2Corinthians 5:19 Think about it: “Christ was the offended party,…
“Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight.” ― Phyllis Diller A joke? Yes. By a famous comedian and told laughingly. However, anger reveals a huge plague in the souls of many. It’s a pit which drags us in to it over and over. Some Bible verses are telling: “A soft answer turns away wrath: but a grievous word stirs up anger.” – Proverbs_15:1 “A meek tongue is a tree of life; but perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.”- Proverbs_15:4 “A wrathful man stirs up contention; but he that is slow to anger appeases strife.”- Proverbs_15:18 Here’s some outside the Bible quotes: “The best fighter is never angry.”― Lao Tzu “Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.”― Ambrose Bierce “Anger … it’s a paralyzing emotion … you can’t get anything done. People sort of think it’s an interesting, passionate, and igniting…
We have received grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Ephesians 4:7 By faith we have access into this “gift of Christ” wherein we stand. Romans 5:2 This “gift of Christ,” in us, equals the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27 The life that we now live in the flesh, we live by the faith of the Son of God…Gal 2:20 Herein is our love made perfect, because as He is so are you in this world. 1 John 4:17 Paul said this in Colossians 3:4 “Christ, who is our life.” And again, “for me to live is Christ, to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21 Is Christ the source of everything we do in life? As a born again believer, yes. We are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. Friends, we want to think in these terms, “without Him we can do…