Posts Tagged With: Love

Creation Comfort

Posted on August 5, 2013 by if4es

In the beginning …

Those words are like an invitation to a fresh start. God started fresh when He began this world. There is minimal information about what preceded the earth, other than that when it all began, it was formless and void. Devastation and ruin and in the mist of that time where the Spirit was at work, brooding. The Word was preparing to move out into action. The Bible does not give us any description of potential other beginnings; it says, THE beginning. This was the time when God created the heavens and the earth.

All God had to do was speak and things happened. God is awesome!!

God said, “Let there be light, and there was light.”

Simple. Everything you see is light reflected or refracted through the universe, or perhaps an immediate revelation of Jesus as The Light Himself.

God is light, so the first thing God did was make light. What he spoke was accomplished exactly as He spoken. Precision. Beauty. Excellence. Good. Sun, moon, stars, and later rainbows and snowflakes are all excellent presenters of light. If you are in Jesus, you too are the light of the world. If the King of Glory shines in your life, the worldd will see you and reflect on the goodness of God.

Okay, light, but there was also life: plants were formed on the third day, later birds and fish on day five. The Life of God grows and spreads and multiplies. The life of God reaches the depths. The life of God soars on the heights. The life of God moves across the earth. The life of God reproduces after its kind.

In the DNA of every living thing, is the message of that creature. The message of human life is contained not only on the 23 strands of DNA in our bodies. The 24th strand of DNA is the revelation of Scripture. It serves to correct the mutuations of our sinful and cursed lives. The Scriptures were sent to bring blessing.

Indeed, humans were blessed in the beginning. Male and female were made to love. Light, life, and love. This community is something that governs the world. How? Simply by receiving and reflecting the love of God in creation. The male and female parts of the human race speak of the giving and receiving that take place between God and man, the Lord and Israel, Christ and His church.

Throughout the ages, there is interwoven, a mysterious dance of duty and delight we meets in the the Divine-Human encounter. The glorious mystery is hidden with Christ in God.

Notice that throughout Genesis one, there remain differences and distinctions, male and female, varying kinds, different days, etc. Yet despite all of that, it is very good in the end as all obeys the command of God. Obedience and conformity bring blessing when Christ is the shape of our soul.

God said, Let us make man in our image, in the image of God he made him. Male and female He created them. And He blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and rule over the birds of the air, over the fish of the sea, over the beasts of the earth and over every living creature that moves on the face of the earth and order it. He gave them every green plant and every seed bearing plant for food … and God said, It is VERY GOOD!”

Order is good.
Family is good.
Food is good.

The goodness in the world is best enjoyed when people, male and female, live to reflect not on their own glory, but to reflect the glory of God. Family must follow the divine pattern of male and female meeting on the basis of the image of God and in graceful respect and loving-kindness. Only then will order, family, and the meals we share be very good.

God rested.

At the end of it all, God is not just wanting to create stress. God is wanting to bring about a walk in the park. God desires for people to parade in his presence, not in pride, but in perfect purity and meekness. Instead of strutting, we must acknowledge that all our strength is in Him.

Then, we will find peace.

Categories: Environmental Healing, Good News, Marriage, Rest | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jesus is not a Religion, Jesus is the Resurrected Person.

Posted on March 9, 2013 by if4es

Some object to all talk about Jesus in public life because they say Jesus is controversial. Actually, I don’t see how. Most people will say pleasant things about Jesus.

However there is the religion Jesus and there is the person Jesus. With the religion Jesus you have to do a-z to get in the right mindset. Sometimes this false Jesus just goes under the name mindfulness or muhammed or the book of mormon or some other amount of martyrdom (witnessing.)

The True Jesus is a person, fully God and fully human who heals. There is something about the True Jesus who cannot be contained within the bounds of law or religion. He heals when worthless physicians are off duty. He touches when others would wash their hands clean. He speaks up when others call for plea bargaining. He never tried to start a religion. He simply reminded people of what reality is all about: Loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and secondly about loving your neighbor as yourself.

If you are not loving your neighbor, you are not following Jesus … No matter how much you claim to love God. If you are not loving God, you cannot truly love your neighbor because you may not tell them the historical realities of the resurrection. If you are not telling others about Jesus, you neither love God nor your neighbor.

Jesus is God, so if you love God you will talk about Jesus. Jesus loves your neighbor more than you do, so if you love your neighbor, you will tell them about the One who loves them more than you do.

Some would say that love is religious. So do you call it a religious act when a man loves his wife? Do you call it a religious act when a mother loves her children? Do you call it a religious act when a manager genuinely cares for the welfare of those under their supervision? Do you call it a religious act when government officials show mercy and do justice in their realms of influence?

Perhaps these are all religious acts, in which case, there should be no law against religion or the free exercise thereof (which, by the way, is what the first amendment to the United States Constitution is all about). However, most people around the world see religion as a bunch of rituals done in order to gain favor with god/gods.

Christianity cannot be constructed as a religion by this measure though. The very suffix to the word indicates that it is Christ-like -character-. There can be no law against certain characters or other characters just as there should be now law against honest, compassionate speech.

Let honest and loving speech be freely available to all. And let all the false ideologies and -isms perish. Let the kingdoms of this world become the Kingdom of our God.

False testimony is telling lies about true events which you have observed is wrong. Thus anyone who denies the historicity of the resurrection is guilty of false testimony. The resurrection of Jesus has never been disproven. So to speak of the resurrection of Jesus is a historical act with legal ramifications. It implies that all governments must submit to Jesus as the King of kings, Prime Minister of prime-ministers, President of presidents, Boss of bosses, Lord of lords, etc. He is in charge.

As we anticipate celebrating Resurrection Day around the world, prepare to be a martyr: a witness.

If you are in court during this time, take your day in court to speak of Jesus the great Judge over all the earth. If you speak with a stranger, mention the resurrection of Jesus.

We are, after all, simply talking about historical facts that have humane, daily implications.

Please comment and share stories of how you have spoken freely of King Jesus and what the results have been.

Categories: Evangelism, Good News | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

My Companions

Posted on October 13, 2012 by if4es

They patiently wait to be read while sitting on wood, under the back seat of a car, or at a friend’s house. They stay just where I put ’em and remind me of things. They don’t bite, hit, spit, jump out at me, or run away. I can bend their backs and mark them up so that I can hear their words better.

I’ve heard them in English, Greek, Hebrew, Spanish, and learned a little from some in Indonesian, German, French, Arabic and Russian. I’ve even burnt a few (heretics mostly), but they never complained. I buy them eagerly and house them at home, but I do not sell my companions quickly. I may need their words of wisdom one day. I’d rather give them away.

I learned to stay inside with them when it rains; they become rotten and distorted if I leave them outside too long. A few are colored or international or even multidimensional, but most are black and white and from America. Yet, those from here have taken me farthest: to solar systems light years away, to natives in Irian Jaya, to ancient China, and to the squalor of New York City. I’ve explored the beginnings of the universe with them and their contents have enabled me to grow in a new life.

I’ve seen my insides in them and some tell me what’s on my mind, but I don’t mind. When I’m finished with one I may give it to a friend or to schools. I have many companions, but my favorite ones all say the same thing: Jesus loves you.

Categories: Book Review, Good News | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Path to Persecution

Posted on September 22, 2012 by if4es

Persecution is least easily received when from those you love. Yet continuing to love the persecutor is crucial to learning obedience, hence enjoying God’s love. Jesus learned obedience through the things he suffered at the hands of his own people for:

1. Healing on the Sabbath as well as other days.
2. Loving, not condemning, the nations.
3. Forgiving sin.
4. Not going through the ritual of cleansing off the “defilement of the world” for common meals.
5. Associating with sinners.
6. Clearing out the temple and condemning the temple hierarchy.
7. Acknowledging that he was the Son of God.
8. Receiving unfaithful followers.

If we follow Jesus in these, at some point, we will likely be persecuted. It will not be easy, but we can proceed in the confidence that Jesus has gone before us.

This year, join in praying for the persecuted church:

http://www.idop.org/

November 11, 2012. Vote for the Kingdom of God!

Categories: Cross, Good News | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Missionary of Hope

Posted on August 28, 2012 by if4es
The resolution of morality based on force of will is why the Post-Christian culture is not very critical of Islam as the source of the problem (or when it does, it does so to accuse and excuse, rather than in a confessional manner): The west also adores power. Left or Right, few are willing to take up the cross. And when we must take up the cross, we are too often embarrassed.
 
Forgiveness is powerful. I need more power, the power of forgiveness that is.
 
I wonder how many times we just treat the trauma of abuse in Islam but never minister healing to the heart because the full power of forgiving and being forgiven is not understood.
 
Abuse is also present in America, even in the churches. But it goes by different names. In need of revival, the shame is the same. The guilt is the same in both cultures. It is just when the trauma gets so intense, as is the case in Islamic cultures of people clamoring for status, honor, pleasure, goods, etc., when the oppression intensifies, the only way to protect the soul is by being ashamed of being a victim and pretending to be a victor.
 
I must confess, I often feel beaten but not defeated. I think I can understand Paul the apostle in this regard. True victory comes in persevering in the midst of trial and difficulty because of what Jesus has already accomplished. I will be forever thankful for what I have learned from the persecuted church: to count it all joy and to be honest about the struggles-because otherwise I too would be a pretender. As it is, I am the worst of sinners, and the least of the saints, and …I am a missionary, a missionary of hope.
 
This much like telling a blind man that there is light … until the sighted saint sees that better glasses will not do. The blind man has no eyes. Only by faith can the blind be healed. Only by faith can Muslims be saved. So I am also a missionary of faith.
 
Because doubt demands power, but trust enables kindness to be given and received, I would suggest that we should also be missionaries of love and loving missionaries. This is an impossible task. In this life there is so much trouble, it is not funny. Yet we rejoice because the little love we show points to a Greater Love, a Perfect Love, revealed through what Christ Suffered. He knows what it is like to be in a power-conflicted society and to answer demons of abuse and isolation and arrogance and confusion with the wisdom and grace of His Word. Oh, how precious is His blood which speaks a better word than the blood of Abel!
 
Life is not easy for me.  So thank you for letting me pour out my heart. And thank you for praying with me in view of the redemption.
 
Peace in Jesus, the Fount of all hope,
– MertH., everyday saint
 
I believe in one holy universal-Christian church.
I believe in the resurrection.
I believe in the forgiveness of sins.
Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Prayer is Work

Posted on July 24, 2012 by if4es

When we pray in love for all and with passion, we are offering up a fragrant incense before God.

Prayer is hard work. Not because you get paid for it, but because of the effort required to set aside all other priorities and focus on the Kingdom Agenda at hand. It may seem more boring than a board meeting, but that would only because your board (you, any angels or friends you may invite) have lost sight of the vision or have displaced the Chairman of the Board of prayer: Jesus. Wiithout Jesus chairing the meeting and the Holy Spirit leading the discussion, you are bound to accomplish nothing. The Father is waiting to hear your requests.

So ask!

And keep asking and focus!  Focus means that when something distracts you from asking, you set the distraction aside and ask again for the same thing, though perhaps with different words. You address the same issue until it is resolved.

You are on a long journey in prayer: You want God to accomplish something. You cannot do it on your own, so do not pretend that you can! You MUST seek. Look intensely for what God is doing. Don’t lose heart if at first it doesn’t seem to be revealed where God is at work. Keep looking. Keep searching.  If you don’t find food in the fridge, you go to the cupboards. If it is not in the cupboards, you go to the store. If the store is too expensive, you go to the food bank. If the food bank is closed, you ask your neighbor. YOU MAY FAST FOR A WHILE BUT YOU WILL DIE WITHOUT FOOD.  AND GOD DOESN’T WANT YOU TO DIE, SO HE WILL FEED YOU … WITH MANNA IF NECESSARY! Likewise, you must seek God for His answer to your present situation.

Maybe your dreams have been deferred. Maybe you seem to have conquered nothing. Maybe your speeches are the summaries of silence. Go knocking on doors. Pound the pavement! Hit the road! DON”T GIVE UP! God will answer when you knock on His door. The gates of hell themselves shall be opened before you and you will be able to see captives go free, but you must ask and ask and ask and ask and ask … and keep on asking until God shows Himself mighty on your behalf!

So what about those Gates of Hell? What if you are knocking in Jesus Name and you happen to be knocking on the gates of hell? Guess what, the Good News is that God will not loose snakes and scorpions on you.  No, He will tame them and enable you to trample on them. Beasts will submit to you. You will marvel at the Lord’s doing.

You say, ah, I have a few neighbors whose doors are surely the gates of hell. I should go trample on them. I’ll pray that my neighbors will submit to me & my ways.

Watch out! In the same way you judge others you will be judged. The moment you go trying to trample on them you will find yourself being trampled upon. and that would be no fun.

No, we must bless others in our prayers and actions … and then we ourselves will be blessed. Give and it will be given unto you. We are called to live in a mutual benefit society.

Love.

How sweet life smells when offered up in prayer!

Categories: Missions, Prayer | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hope Deferred & Marriage for Former Muslims

Posted on July 9, 2012 by if4es

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

I think of Islam as hope deferred and Christ as desire fulfilled. Christ in His Reign is living water on dry ground, causing the seed of the Gospel to sprout. But those sprouts which first shoot up must be cultivated and continually watered. 

I see the garden in our back yard which we entrusted to the Lord’s care for  a few days while we traveled to Canada for their day. They Lived!  How much more must we trust our souls into the care of our Maker that we might live and enjoy the fullness! 

I think of the many singles who used to be Muslims and who now follow Jesus who long to be married to a saint from their own culture. Their hearts ache and cry out. Hagar groans to be married fully. Sinai seeks her Savior, but is told, “Islam or else!”

Loneliness could have made the garden a desert, were it not for love that brought Adam someone to love. He had to sleep.  I remember all too well the loneliness I once experienced and the turmoil & sickness of soul it brought.

Love is costly. Let us pray for some who are already married to change their allegiance to Jesus (wives & daughters especially) so that future generations will be raised in the nurture & admonition of the Lord, from cradle to beyond the grave. Love never fails. If we love our brothers & sisters in the Muslim majority part of the world, we will pray for them to be put into families of saints (saved sinners).

Categories: Marriage | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Beginning of Wisdom

Posted on July 3, 2012 by if4es

When I was about 6 or so, I heard a preacher talk about hell … and I realized that I did not want to go there. I went home and cried & cried. As time went on, I came to enjoy going to church, but I also developped a deep regret everytime I would sin. To this day, one of the biggest reasons I avoid things that violate my conscience is that I do not want to go to hell.

Does that mean that I fear hell? No.

I do not want to be separate from God who give me peace, joy, and accomplishes justice in my life. The fear of the Lord is a delicate balance between trusting him for life and having a deep distaste for all the death associated with alienation from Him. One who fears God will flee to Jesus as a refuge. Jesus becomes the shelter for our hearts and our hopes.

JESUS NEVER FAILS. Love NEVER fails. God is Love. Jesus Never fails because His love is perfect. Following Jesus means seeking to duplicate His love in my life, even the suffering, as I endure difficulty and abuse for and from those I love. If a Muslim despises me or insults me, it is a blessing. If an animist curses me with his idols, it is an honor.

Jesus is my defense and my castle. My cleansing and my soap are found in the blood of Jesus. He is my hope.

Categories: Evangelism | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Blog at WordPress.com.