04.28.09
Posted in Firearms, Freedom at 8:47 am by
Christmas - the year I was 14. My brother and I both received a rectangular package that year. We tore into them and found that we were the proud owners of Daisy 880 BB/Pellet guns. This model would shoot either BB’s or .177 caliber pellets. BB’s as a repeater and pellets single loaded. They were duly packed up and included in our luggage upon the family’s return to Brazil, along with a generous supply of BB’s and a few pellets. Back in Brazil we found that the national brands of pellets were as close to useless as one could imagine. They were simple cup shaped pellets with skirts reminiscent of a gypsy queen - all ragged and uneven. About the only use I found for them was to load four or five in the barrel at once and proceed to shoot them as a shotgun. :) 10 pumps and they’d give a satisfying THUMP on the side of stray mongrels without breaking the skin. But I digress.
There were plenty of reasons for stress in my life at the time, as if the stress of teenage growth and maturation were not enough. And I found in that pellet gun a means of release. I could step out the back door with a fist full of pellets and commence to make the can I’d set up at the other end of the yard dance around. With constant practice I was able to hit about anything I so desired out to any reasonable (and even unreasonable) range. At one time I purposely left the sights offset, kind of like a carnival gun. I could hit anything I could see using “kentucky windage” but anyone else was hopelessly lost. :) One time I even plinked one of the family dogs. Two pumps in the old Daisy was not much velocity and the BB was light steel. And yet I was able to drop that BB right on old Bolão at a distance of close to a city block. The BB probably picked up more velocity as it gained speed dropping back to earth than it had when it left the barrel. Anyway, Mom saw that I’d broken one of the cardinal rules (DON’T point that gun at ANYTHING you do not intend to destroy) and the Daisy was confiscated for a month. Bolão was non the worse for the experience, just a bit startled - and I was a bit wiser for the punishment.
That old Daisy showed me that if you will take time to concentrate on centering your sights properly and squeezing the trigger correctly that you can consistently hit your target. And while you’re concentrating on this simple physical exercise your mind will focus on the task at hand rather than on the problems surrounding you. We also had a couple of firearms around and ammo as well. They were never locked up and they were loaded or the ammo was next to them at all times. At no time did I ever think of taking one of them and using it to vent my frustrations and anger by taking a human life. And even my experiment with Bolão was not a result of anger or frustration but rather the idle thought of “I wonder if…”. If I’d wanted to cause him harm I’d have used the full power of the Daisy at 10 pumps and I’d have gotten closer and put one in his head.
Children and firearms are not a problem - as long as those children are taught respect and discipline. We carried our Daisy 880’s all over the place, and never used them to harm anyone or anything. We hunted with them, it’s true, but we ate everything we shot - with the exception of the iguanas that raided the fruit trees and chicken pen. I skinned one once but the odor was so bad that it ended up fertilizing the garden rather than gracing the dinner table.
Now, all these years later, I find myself using the old “long range perforation” therapy from my youth. The local shooting club receives my monthly dues and when chance or necessity affords the opportunity, off to the range I hie myself with a Gamo CFX and a Crosman 1377 in tow. There I can set up out to 50 meters and the wonders of concentrating on the sites and the target and the trigger squeeze work their magic. After a few initial rounds to settle in a bit the groups start to tighten and the tension starts to ease. Since midweek is about the only time I can make it up there, the range is almost always deserted. This makes it even better since I can sit there and listen to the birds and read my Bible and talk to God between targets.
The world would be a better place if more folks would learn to use long range perforation to take out their frustrations and to concentrate their mind on something other than doing harm to others.
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04.11.09
Posted in Christian, Faith, Religion at 12:30 pm by
4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:4-5
23When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. I Peter 2:23-25
Today a carnal gospel is being preached around the world. Time after time I hear people declaring that God wants us to be prospered in that which is disappearing, that He wants us to be rich in that which will be destroyed. Today, Saturday of “Holy Week” here in Colombia, we are awaiting the celebration of Christ’s resurrection which we will have tomorrow. As we transition from remembering how He died and was buried to celebrating His return to life we have time to reflect on the simple question: “Why?”
To hear many preachers today, the “Why?” can be summed up as “Christ died so that you will have an abundance of earthly wealth and never suffer from a cold again.” To hear them preach one is left wondering “If Christ heals all my bodily ills - from what will I die?” Did Christ indeed die on the cross only in order to give us freedom from illness and disease? I think not. A careful examination of the scriptures above gives us a clearer picture of the answer to the question “Why did Christ die?”
In Isaiah the prophet gave clear reference to the healing ministry of the Lord Jesus, the Christ. He said “surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows” and this the Christ did. It is recorded that ALL who came to Him received full healing, unlike those who flock to modern “healers” and yet return home with the same illnesses more often than not. But then Isaiah says “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,and by his wounds we are healed.” The reason Christ was pierce was “for our transgressions” - not for our illnesses. The reason He was crushed was “for our iniquities”, not for our diseases. His wounds were a punishment, of which is written “the punishment that brought us peace was upon him” and “by His wounds we are healed.” The whole purpose of Christ going to the Cross and suffering humiliation, torture and death was to take our place and pay the price for OUR sins. That is the “Why?” we asked before, as in “Why did Christ die?” He died to take our place and to pay for our sins.
That is why the Apostle Peter wrote: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” Christ’s death on the cross healed us of our sin so that we can “die to sins and live for righteousness.”
Does this mean that Christ does not heal our bodies? Of COURSE He heals our bodies!!! But His healing is dealt out according to His will - not ours. And if He were to heal all our sicknesses - of what would we die? This corruptible flesh can not inherit incorruptibility - it must be transformed. Those who die in Christ will be raised up with a new body - one that is not bound up in corruption like the one they formerly dwelt in. Those who remain until He comes will be “transformed in the twinkling of an eye” - because this body we currently dwell in is destined to be destroyed!
However, our soul is the object of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. While our body must be transformed our soul is already ready for eternal life. All that is needed is for it to be cleansed by God’s redeeming power through the washing of Christ’s blood. And that is why He died. He went to the cross willingly - if reluctantly - in order to pay for the transgressions that we have committed against our God and Creator. That, my dear friends, is a far greater benefit than one’s corruptible body being relieved of one of a multitude of infirmities. This body will one day die or be transformed. We should care for it as it is the “temple of the Holy Spirit” - but we should always remember that it is merely a temporary arrangement and that it WILL pass on and be replaced at Christ’s coming.
Sin is what separates us from God - not physical infirmity. In fact, many people have come to God because of their illness. But it is sin that divided Adam from his Creator and it is sin that took Christ to the cross. That is why Christ died - so that we can live in unity with the Father because the Son took our place and was punished for our transgressions.
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03.20.09
Posted in Christian, Faith at 12:23 pm by
What takes first place in your life? What guides your decisions? What occupies your mind? The current economic situation has a lot of people thinking - hard - about how to provide for themselves and their families. Investments have tumbled and jobs have been lost and folks are scrambling to take care of basic needs. In the middle of all this it’s easy to lose sight of our priorities.
The Lord said, “25“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 important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look 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? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? ” (Matthew 6:25-27) It does no good to worry - and it goes against the Christian lifestyle that the Lord has taught us. What good does it do to worry when the Lord provides for His own?
And yet folks continue to look for ways to earn more money, turning “the almighty dollar” into their god. Night and day they slave away, forgetting WHY they are working in the first place. Earning more and more and gathering up earthly things which will be destroyed at the end of time takes priority in too many lives. Wives, husbands and children are abandoned on the wayside in the scramble to work, work, work, acquire, acquire, acquire. How much is enough? “Just a little bit more” says the minimum wage earner. “Just a little bit more” says the millionaire. They both are caught up in the rat race, forgetting their priorities in the struggle to gain “just a little bit more”.
Designer clothes, a bigger house, a newer or bigger car - all are things that are not necessarily bad in and of themselves. They are, after all, just material objects which have no intrinsic value other than that assigned to them by their owner or the person who seeks them out. They will all be destroyed at the end of time when the Lord returns. It is people who hold great value in the Lord’s eyes. People are His priority. So why do we worry about signs of wealth here on this earth? ” 28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If 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, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:28-30)
Are we indeed His People? Are we indeed “sheep of His pasture”? Do we indeed trust in His love and provision? Or are we like those who do not know the Lord, worrying about the minor things of life? Have we been transformed by the renewing of our minds or are we still stuck in the daily grind of life? “31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” (Matthew 6:31-32)
As we learn to be transformed into the image of Christ we need to reset our priorities. Instead of thinking “Will this give me more $$$$?” let us ask if it will further God’s kingdom. Instead of asking “Give me a bigger house, a newer car, fancier clothes” let’s ask the Lord to teach us hospitality, to provide so that we can go where He needs us to be, to help us dress modestly so that we do not bring dishonor to His Name. As we set our priorities in order we need to ask the Lord to teach us what these words mean - and put them in action in our lives. “33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:33-34)
Priorities. Once we put the Lord’s Word in action - seeking what will further God’s Kingdom and bring about His justice - we will no longer have problems with deciding our priorities. As we renew our minds we will learn to think first, “What decision will bring the most glory to God?” Suddenly the things of this earth will grow dim in comparison to the glories of His Paths and His Kingdom.
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Posted in Christian, Religion at 8:34 am by
1“I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. John 10:1-6
There are many voices competing for our attention today. There are many who are promising all kinds of rewards if we will but follow them. So how does one recognize the Voice of the Master? How does one recognize the Voice of the Shepherd?
As I listen to and read the words of many who claim to be God’s shepherds I often do not hear the voice of the One Who gave His Life for me. They say, “Come, enjoy THIS life to the fullest. Receive those things which will be destroyed at the end of time. Fixate on your carnal body.” And it is not necessarily WRONG to be blessed in this life or for this body to be healthy - but the Voice of the Master called people to a deeper life. His Voice said “Come to me all who are weary and over burdened and I will give you rest.” He said “Your sins are forgiven. and “Go. Sin no more.” His emphasis was on a right relationship with God, on blessings that spring from living according to God’s will instead of our own.
So, who’s voice should we listen to? The voice that says, “It’s OK if you sin. Don’t worry about it. We all sin and God loves us anyway!”? Just like the voice that Eve heard in the garden - it tells only part of the story. Just as the voice said “Eat and you will be like God.” (and that was “true” in that God knows the difference between good and evil) but did not say “Knowing good from evil is only one small facet of the Creator.” so doe the voices say “God loves you anyway.” Yes, God does love us, tremendously. But He calls us to be Holy because He Himself is Holy. And He gives us grace and His Spirit to help us overcome our weakness and to become the sheep of His pasture. When we learn to hear His Voice we will be guided through paths of righteousness. Not self righteousness but rather Christ righteousness. We will know His Love and His Grace and His Mercy - and will walk in a new life.
Any voice that does not call us to repent and to live a new life is not a voice of God. Any voice that places emphasis on those things which will perish is not from the Savior. The blessings He gives us are first in the spiritual realm. Forgiveness of our sins and a new mind in Christ free us to live in a new way. And as we are freed from our sinful nature’s hold through Christ’s grace and mercy we begin to receive blessings on all levels of our life.
Too many people put the cart before the horse. They want physical, immediate blessings and don’t care that their very soul is in mortal danger. Too often people forget that it is far better for us to suffer in the flesh if that means that our spirit and soul prosper. What good are physical blessings when our very soul is in danger of Hell? Look at “the rich man” and Lazarus. When the rich man died he was sent on to torment and separated by an impenetrable chasm from the blessings of paradise. Why? Because in life he had enjoyed great comfort and many “blessings” - but had never turned his heart towards God. How much better off he would have been had he turned to God in life rather than focusing on the physical, temporary “blessings” of a rich and spoiled life.
Who’s voice will you listen to? The Voice of the Shepherd saying, “Come, eat from my pastures, drink from my streams of living water.” or the voice of the false shepherds who promise but can not fulfill?
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03.19.09
Posted in Christian, Faith, Religion at 5:24 pm by
15“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Matthew 7:15-23
This scripture makes it clear that not all who call themselves “prophets” ARE prophets in the Biblical sense. It’s quite evident - when one loves the truth - that not all who claim to be of God ARE of God. When our Lord said “Watch out for false prophets” it is clear that a false prophet is someone that one can spot. And by spotting him or her one is not judging, one is merely doing what the Lord said to do, “Watch out for false prophets.”
So, what is the sign of a false prophet? That is a fairly easy task, especially when the “prophet” claims to speak for God. The Bible is clear on this:
21 You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD ?” 22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.
Deuteronomy 18:21-22
Someone who claims to speak for God and yet his word falls to the ground (does not come true) is not from God. It matters not that occasionally they “get it right” - what matters is that even one time they didn’t get it right. God is 100% accurate. The practice of speaking about signs and wonders and dreams and visions that never took place is not a new one. From time immemorial people have sought influence by claiming some kind of special connection to the Lord. Here’s what the Lord said to Ezekiel about this practice:
1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: ‘Hear the word of the LORD! 3 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! 4 Your prophets, O Israel, are like jackals among ruins. 5 You have not gone up to the breaks in the wall to repair it for the house of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the LORD. 6 Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. They say, “The LORD declares,” when the LORD has not sent them; yet they expect their words to be fulfilled. 7 Have you not seen false visions and uttered lying divinations when you say, “The LORD declares,” though I have not spoken? Ezekiel 13:1-7
Does this mean that God is not active today like some claim? This is not so. God is just as active as He has always been. He heals, He directs, He protects and demonstrates His power in many ways. But just because someone CLAIMS they have a “direct line to heaven” does not mean that it is so.
The Lord was not favorable towards those who came to Him seeking signs and wonders. He performed many miracles and signs and wonders but when folks came seeking those signs He had something to say about it:
29As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. 30For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. Luke 11:29-30
38Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.” 39He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matthew 12:38-40
4A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away. Matthew 16:4
The sign of Jonah. The resurrection of Jesus the Christ on the third day. That should be enough for us to believe in Him. In fact, the apostle Paul said that the resurrection of the Christ from the dead is the pivotal point of the Christian faith. If it didn’t happen then we’ve nothing to believe in at all.
12But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. I Corinthians 15:12-19
So what is the mark of a true disciple of Jesus the Christ? Is it the ability to cast out demons? Is it the ability to heal? Is it the ability to speak in some language that they’ve never studied? Or to translate a language they’ve never heard before? Interestingly enough, that’s not what the Lord said about the matter. He said:
34“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
Oh, it’s not as “sexy” as some gifts the Spirit may give, but it’s the true mark of a disciple. Love. Simple, pure, not easily counterfeited. That is what He said would set aside His disciples “if you love one another.”
When I hear folks stressing physical blessings it saddens me. There’s nothing wrong with being blessed in this life - but that’s not why Christ died! What is it that separates man from God? Is it not the sin that so easily entangles? Adam and Eve lost the daily communion with God not because they got a cold - but because they disobeyed His command. The greatest benefit of the Christian life is not physical healing and material blessings. That does not mean that God does not heal and that He does not provide for His children - it means that those who emphasize those aspects of the Christian life over the REAL blessing of the New Life have missed the whole point of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross! After all, this body we live in is GOING TO DIE! No one gets out of this life alive in the same body that they were physically born in. The Bible is clear that even those who remain until the Lord comes will be transformed - because this body is not designed to live forever.
22“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. I Peter 2:22-25
Beware of those who preach health and wealth and ignore the true benefit of Life in Christ - the forgiveness of our sins. His wounds healed us - from our sins. He bore our sins on the cross, not our virii, bacteria and physical ailments. His wounds heal us of the most deadly illness of all - SIN. His Grace is bestowed on the faithful so that they can enjoy a New Life in Jesus the Christ - free from the deadly effects of sin.
This doesn’t mean that we’ll never sin again - it means that we are free to live in Christ and to be cleansed by Him. It means that He helps us to overcome sin so that we can live a new life of victory over evil.
5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
1My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 3We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. I John 1:5-2:4
As Christians we are called to renounce sin and allow God to cleanse us from sin. The Christian who claims never to sin is in effect calling God a liar. God expects His children to be truthful and open so that He can transform them into the image of Christ by renewing their minds. And once you learn to follow His paths and to allow His Spirit to fill you - you’ll realize that God’s blessings are far greater than mere material things. God’s greatness is indeed made manifest in weakness. And His true power is shown through those who allow Him to govern their lives.
Yes, beware of those who claim to be prophets. Hold them to strict account for the words they utter in the name of God. And beware of those who emphasize the material over the spiritual. Both are important but the spiritual takes precedence over the material every time.
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02.24.09
Posted in Christian, Faith, Religion at 8:31 am by
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippian church, “Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus”. That simple phrase gives a lot of food for thought and study. What exactly WAS the attitude that Christ Jesus had? How can we ourselves have that same attitude?
The passage goes on to say, ” 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. 7 Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, 8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:6-7)
Now right there is enough to meditate on for some time to come, to say the least. What exactly did Christ Jesus give up? Knowing what His state was before coming to earth as a tiny infant helps us to understand what “He emptied Himself” means. And if He emptied Himself from all that He was before coming to earth to live amongst us - what do we have to hold on to? Why is it so hard for us to empty ourselves of the filthy scraps of humanity that bind us?
All too often we want to tell God “Do things OUR way!”. Today there is a movement around the globe of folks who think they can tell God what to do. They say that it’s “faith” when they “declare” things in the name of Christ. And yet they are so full of their own preconceived ideas that too often they don’t stop to ask, “What exactly IS God’s will?” By thinking with worldly and carnal minds they believe that God is so concerned with our physical well being that our spiritual well being is of little or no importance.
Is it so hard to know the will of God? No, not really. Not if we offer up our bodies as a living sacrifice, not conforming ourselves to the world’s way of thinking but being transformed to God’s way of thinking by renewing our minds. People get so caught up on physical needs that they forget that Christ came to heal us from our spiritual sickness. Does this mean that God doesn’t care about our physical needs? OF COURSE NOT! It DOES mean, however, that He is MORE concerned with our spiritual sickness, with our sin. It is our sin, after all, that separates us from Him.
Does God heal our bodies? Yes He does. Can He provide abundantly for our physical needs? Yes He can. Does He have power over evil spirits? There is no doubt! And yet - folks get caught up chasing after these things and forgetting that the most important thing of all is to restore a right relationship with the Creator. It isn’t our ill health or poverty that separates us from God - it is our abject spiritual failure that opens a chasm between God and man.
If we would live like Christ then we must think like Christ. If we want to think like Christ we have to learn to look upon the world like Christ did. Did He heal the sick? Yes. Did He feed the hungry? Yes He did! Did He give sight to the blind? Many times! But what brought Him to tears? What caused Him to weep and lament? Two times stand out in my mind as I type this little note. One was at Lazarus’ tomb. Two words that so many kids have recited for VBS over the centuries because they are the shortest verse in the New Testament. “Jesus wept.” - and He was standing outside of the tomb of Lazarus, knowing that He was about to raise him from the dead. And yet He wept. Why? I believe it was because of the pain felt by those around Him. And perhaps it was because they did not yet know of the hope of the resurrection. At any rate, He shared their sorrow - even as He prepared to bring Lazarus back to his family for a time.
And the other time was when He lamented over Jerusalem - knowing that they would soon be calling for His blood, and knowing that they would NOT turn to God but would continue to their destruction because they refused to seek God’s paths instead of their own. Their very religiosity caused them to shun the One who had come to them. They did not recognize Emmanuel because He didn’t live up to their expectations - expectations based on THIS world that is doomed to destruction rather than on hope of new life in God and a right relationship with Him which will prepare us for the new place He is preparing for us in which we can live with justice.
Living the Christian life is not about just the physical. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but [only] the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name? ‘ 23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23) So we see that merely prophesying, performing miracles and casting out demons is not what the Lord is looking for. He’s looking for the those who “do the will of My Father in heaven.” The two things are not necessarily exclusive. The Scripture is clear about the power that God has in our lives by means of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. But prophecy and miracles and casting out demons are not evidence of the indwelling of the Spirit. And that is where so many go wrong. They seek miraculous manifestations rather than settling down to produce fruit - the Fruit of the Spirit. I’ve seen the Lord work in marvelous ways. I’m not confused when He heals or does things I can not explain. But neither do I rely on those things for evidence that He is with me. It is when I see His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness and self-control growing in my life I know He is with me - transforming me into the image of Christ as He renews my mind, my way of thinking.
If you would live the Christ like life - think Christ like thoughts. Allow your heart to break over the sin and depravity of mankind. Seek not just to heal the sick and provide for the needy - bring people into a right relationship with God through Jesus the Christ Who is the only Way to the Father.
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11.30.08
Posted in Family, Freedom at 12:01 pm by
The shop. It sat out back of the house. At first, in our case, it was an old wooden shed that my dad had built for storing our household goods while we were out of the country - back up north on “home service” or “furlough”. When we returned and then built our place the shed first provided living quarters for one of the workers who was helping dig the well and then other such labor. Then when we moved in it was where the generator that provided our electricity and water pumping capabilities was kept. It was full of tools and miscellaneous scrap wood and metal and old bolts and nuts and “junk” that gave us many hours of entertaining occupation as we fabricated one thing or another. Later it was replaced by a brick and mortar building that had proper wiring and a concrete floor that was easier to find things on than the old wooden boards that would let stuff drop through to the dirt below.
My uncle had one too. His had a few things that ours didn’t. Like a drill press and a vise. That was where we made some key parts for our waterpipe muzzle loaders. And that’s where I “got” my cousin when I walked in to see him tightening up the vice to ease the primer down on top of the nail that was to serve as an anvil in the exploding (hopefully) projectile that we’d been working on. Never before or since was I able to get such a “rise” out of him as when I loudly clapped my hands and saw him sprawl backwards - just knowing he’d popped the sensitive primer.
Later on dad got a Shopsmith Mark V multi tool and we too had access to some pretty cool accessories and tools to do all kinds of things with. There was oodles of scrap mahogany and “pau louro” and other amazonian hardwoods to play with and dad had plenty of accessories and fittings and tools that allowed us to learn to do some fun and even useful things.
We learned which way to tighten a bolt - and that if you OVER tighten one then you’ll just pop the head off or maybe even bust the wrench - depending on which was made of cheaper material… We learned that if you don’t watch your fingers around moving machinery that you’ll get them nicked - or worse. We learned how to look at how something came apart so that it could be put back together again. We learned that proper fitting tools make things work better and last longer. And we learned “african american engineering” - the fine art of “making do” when proper tools or materials are not to be found or are out of reach financially.
Yes, the shop taught us a lot. And having reasonably unfettered access to it allowed us to learn things on our own - and we even survived many experiments that would give today’s do gooders a heart attack if they knew of some kid venturing down that road. There were the home made “mortars” for launching huge firecrackers high into the air. There were the “pipe bomb” cannons we tested our muzzle loading barrel material with. (increase powder charges until there is a failure - then use only 25% of the last successful load was our way of “ensuring” safety) There were the cast projectiles (made in wooden “mould blocks”) of molten car battery lead (WAY before the time they started adding all the calcium and who knows what else that can make such things a lethal endeavor now) And there were also the various “things” we built for fishing or hunting or just goofing around.
I miss the shop. Oh, I’ve a few tools and such around the office, but living in rented quarters in a metropolitan area of the Colombian andean region doesn’t allow for one to have a full blown shop. I manage to piddle around with this and that, but when I start hoarding scrap wood the wife tends to get a bit testy - there’s simply no place it can be stored that doesn’t get in the way. Having observed a few “modern” teen agers I feel sorry for them. Most of them have never had a shop to play in. Most don’t seem to know how to turn a bolt or take apart something, fix it and put it back together again. Yes, there are exceptions to this - but I’m talking about the kids who live in the modern day MTV and video game world. It is sad, to me anyway, to see that so much creativity is lost since kids aren’t encouraged to think for themselves or to provide for their own entertainment. I really don’t recall being “bored” - back when we had access to the shop…
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11.29.08
Posted in Freedom, Friends at 5:10 pm by
Here’s an interesting (to me anyway) take on Thanksgiving Day. It comes from my friend Hobie’s blog “Lady Liberty Defended” and was written by Old Ironsights, another internet friend. I like the following statement especially, “I’m a carnivore, not a scavenger.” I can share that sentiment, although circumstances have lead me to the place where I more often scavenge than hunt my own food - more’s the pity.
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11.23.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:42 pm by
Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter. I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. Psalm 118:19-21
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 118:29
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Yes, we are once more at that time of year in which families will travel many miles to gather together to eat large meals and then sit stupefied before the “one eyed monster” hoping their alka-seltzer will kick in soon. Somehow the focus on the giving of thanks has gotten lost in the idea of “turkey day”, “t-day” and televised parades.
And yet, the idea of taking time to give thanks to the Divine Being has been a part of our history from the beginning. George Washington declared a day of thanks and so have many others over the past couple centuries. And it is fitting indeed that we set aside time to give thanks for the myriad blessings we have received. Yet I wonder, will folks remember the blessings received even in the face of the many trials of the year past? Will people remember to give thanks or will we as a people focus only on troubles and supposed perils before us?
As we come to this special day, the fourth Thursday of November, let us not focus only on the food and family traditions - let us focus on He Who gave Himself up for us so that we can stand before the Father in holiness and humility. Let us give thanks to our God and Redeemer for He has indeed blessed us with many blessings in the midst of troubles and trials. May His Name be praised for ever!
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11.01.08
Posted in Christian, Faith, Freedom, Politics, Religion at 9:56 am by
Since I’m messing around with the blog today I thought I’d take time to say a little something about the voting process. As a US Citizen the privilege of voting is something I take seriously. I know that many of my country men do not. In fact many of them will abstain from participating this year. But I urge any of you who take the time to read my comments to take the time to express your opinion at the voting booth.
Voting is about expressing ourselves and proclaiming who our choice of representative is. It’s not about a contest between the “Two Parties”, because the US was not set up as a two party nation - even though we have mostly had two parties to choose from for the most part throughout our history (although different parties at different times). Do you know who the candidates are? And I mean ALL the candidates. The mass media has forced upon us a false paradigm in that they insist that there are only two candidates. Bob Barr, Cynthia McKinney, Chuck Baldwin and Ralph Nader are all on the ballot in many states across the nation. The media has sold us the idea that “there are only two candidates” - and it’s a lie. Some would say “Yes, but there are only two VIABLE candidates.” - but why would that be? That’s because as a nation we’ve allowed the media to control our way of thinking. I sure wish we’d turn back to the old paths and seek REAL leaders from amongst ourselves, men of character and wisdom. They still exist, but we need to seek them out and encourage them to join in the battle to retake our country from the grip of encroaching enslavement to humanistic socialism.
Dr. Del Tackett has a blog called “Truth Observed” and recently he posted some thought provoking articles on it. It looks like ol’ Noah Webster knew more than just how to write a dictionary… 
Political Wisdom From Dr. Noah Webster: How To Vote
Political Wisdom From Dr. Noah Webster: Political Evils
Political Wisdom From Dr. Noah Webster: Remedy For Political Evils
Political Wisdom From Dr. Noah Webster: Defining Politics
Choosing The Lesser Of Two Evils
So now the big question is: “What are we as Christians going to do?” Are we going to give up the battle to those who wish to destroy our nation? Some maintain that they “keep their religion separate from politics” - assuming that the two can be separated. But that is only true if you do not live your faith actively. If you are truly on fire for Christ you can NOT call evil “good” nor can you call good “evil”. If you are TRULY on fire for Christ you can NOT say that those who support the murder of unborn babies or the equating of abnormal, deviant sexual behavior with God ordained marriage are representative of your ideals - IF you are on fire for Christ. We are told that we are not to be conformed to the world - we are called to be transformed. That means that we as christians are neither Democrat nor Republican - that we will vote for those who support Godly ideals rather than those who actively promote submission to the corruption fleshly desire. This doesn’t mean that we seek perfect people to represent us. It means that we seek out those who strive with us to achieve God’s design for man kind.
One of our great failings as a church has been in relinquishing our call to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and lift up the fallen to the government. That is not government’s sphere of expertise or duty - it is the church’s. The first hospitals were founded by christians. The first orphanages were too. Hmmm… come to think of it, even education was in the hands of the church for generations prior to government moving in to teach kids that 2+2 does not necessarily equal 4.
It is time for us as a people to take back our land. It is time to say “No more humanism - turn back to God.” Yes, there are great problems in our land and around the world, but no human government has the answer. It’s time for us to say “Quit muddying up the waters, get out of the way and let us show you the way.”
Psalm 81:13-34 says
13 “If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways, 14 how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!
And in 1 Chronicles 7:14 it is written:
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Now although these words were written for the jewish people, they can be applied in principle to christians as well - because like the jews we are too often eager to follow our paths rather than God’s. BUT when we turn away from our stubborn evil ways to follow His paths - He WILL bless us, and also those around us.
So if you are a US Citizen, dig deep in your heart and seek to know the way that God would guide you. Go to the polls on November 4 and choose the options that are most like God’s paths. Do not vote for those who support policies that go against the Holiness of God. Send forth a loud cry “No MORE!” and lets start taking back our nation for the Glory of God.
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