So I was able to get a ride to church on Saturday night. I like the Saturday service as there are fewer people - and I like avoiding crowds - however well intentioned!
I was surprised when they announced the senior pastor was not to give the message, but one of my God-children was! I settled back to see what he had to say. About a third of the group got up and walked out during the opening prayer - including some good friends. So, I had to ask ...
"he has no business in pulpit!"
"he is not a pastor!"
"I don't believe his testimony!"
etc ...
These quotations were repeated by a close friend as well, whom has probably given 100 sermons through the years and has NO ministry background at all, but is gifted. Very hypocritical!
I did not want a fight so I kept my mouth shut.
Thanks to the organized church aka Roman Catholic Church, we have a completely skewed view of what a pastor is! The pastor is the ordained one. Even in the Reformation Churches speaking was limited to the elders, usually 10 to 12 of them!
Biblically, the only qualifications for a pastor or even elder all revolve around their character and commitment. Sorry 21st century church, you never were legitimate at least if you believe the Bible. And like so much in this generation, we call upon tradition of a corrupt church to defend our beliefs.
So my God-son, gave a valuable sermon on each of our responsibilities. Solid, Biblical, people were listening - and that is what God desires of each of us, and of him that day. He did well and I encouraged him afterwards.
Whether you witness to someone, help an old lady in the grocers or preach a sermon - you are called to perform all of these tasks (as God leads your spirit). We are to be servants to all - always with an answer for the faith within us!
Break Satan's hold over your Church, get involved, serve others, your community. Study, pray, witness - be the meekest of witnesses, learning to love others more than yourself!
Showing posts with label Heresy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Heresy. Show all posts
November 10, 2017
May 17, 2017
Biblical Literalacy
Back at the beginning of the month, I spied and interesting title and read it: http://thefederalist.com/2017/05/01/dont-take-bible-literally-neither-anyone-else/ ....
Literalacy, is that even what the Bible was ever intended for?
The Bible is a collection of religious writings, written for the western oriental mind of millennia ago. (I can already hear the howls!)
Now for the real howls! : No part of the Bible was written for Americans nor Europeans for that matter. There is no evidence any part was even intended for the Greeks (at large)! There uis stronger evidence that the New Testament was Aramaic, ot Hebrew, not Greek, not English, not German or any other claims.
We live in the results of a Greek culture - highly touted by philosophers and those happy with godless lives ... Literalism is a product of this culture and its infestion into our educational systems!
So, the above link arguing that the Bible can not be taken literal - and it must be true - the examples used are laughable to our Greek poisoned minds ...... The Bible is not literal, so by extension we can be comfortable knowing it is not reliable either. Comfortably discredited, we can now talk philosophically about the Bible and feel no compulsion to listen to its words.
But the Bible was written to the oriental mind, not a western one. The language is pictorial not literal! And this knowledge has already been know, just not popular to publish. It took World War II to decimate the remaining Aramaic world to remind the world of what many "troubling" passages meant. And no one listened..... the argument just recycles endlessly.
As for the article, it too flounders on the rocks of foolishness.
Of course God literally is not telling you to cut you hand off if you a thief.
God is not establishing a threat of hand losing.
God is not establishing hand loss as a purification act.
God does want you to not be a thief however.
Point by point the Aramaic would understand that the picture language of their culture - did not raise questions, as to the meaning, but rather as to truth to be followed.
The New Testament is filled with such examples.
The Old Testament is filled with such examples!
The language is picoral - symbolic - but it does have meaning for truth.
This means there were no dachshunds on Noah's ark, but dogs were.
There were no nails driven through Jesus' hands, the forearm is part of the "hand" to them.
Snakes do not talk, but Satan does.
How literal do you want? Is the Holy Spirit a bird? What kind of bird? Do peoples tongues erpt in fire? etc, etc, etc!
I am a literalist from the extent that I understand:
God is smarter than me
Aramaic languages are pictorial and truth must be discerened
And all truth is subject to all scripture
And I have tried to follow what I understand.
And I mess up quit literally.
Yup.
The Bible, remains before me, a tome of truth I have problems reading and connecting the dots. The brain damage rules the day. Yet, I continue to read, to study - two pages at a time! looking to apply literally what truths I find ...
Literalacy, is that even what the Bible was ever intended for?
The Bible is a collection of religious writings, written for the western oriental mind of millennia ago. (I can already hear the howls!)
Now for the real howls! : No part of the Bible was written for Americans nor Europeans for that matter. There is no evidence any part was even intended for the Greeks (at large)! There uis stronger evidence that the New Testament was Aramaic, ot Hebrew, not Greek, not English, not German or any other claims.
We live in the results of a Greek culture - highly touted by philosophers and those happy with godless lives ... Literalism is a product of this culture and its infestion into our educational systems!
So, the above link arguing that the Bible can not be taken literal - and it must be true - the examples used are laughable to our Greek poisoned minds ...... The Bible is not literal, so by extension we can be comfortable knowing it is not reliable either. Comfortably discredited, we can now talk philosophically about the Bible and feel no compulsion to listen to its words.
But the Bible was written to the oriental mind, not a western one. The language is pictorial not literal! And this knowledge has already been know, just not popular to publish. It took World War II to decimate the remaining Aramaic world to remind the world of what many "troubling" passages meant. And no one listened..... the argument just recycles endlessly.
As for the article, it too flounders on the rocks of foolishness.
Of course God literally is not telling you to cut you hand off if you a thief.
God is not establishing a threat of hand losing.
God is not establishing hand loss as a purification act.
God does want you to not be a thief however.
Point by point the Aramaic would understand that the picture language of their culture - did not raise questions, as to the meaning, but rather as to truth to be followed.
The New Testament is filled with such examples.
The Old Testament is filled with such examples!
The language is picoral - symbolic - but it does have meaning for truth.
This means there were no dachshunds on Noah's ark, but dogs were.
There were no nails driven through Jesus' hands, the forearm is part of the "hand" to them.
Snakes do not talk, but Satan does.
How literal do you want? Is the Holy Spirit a bird? What kind of bird? Do peoples tongues erpt in fire? etc, etc, etc!
I am a literalist from the extent that I understand:
God is smarter than me
Aramaic languages are pictorial and truth must be discerened
And all truth is subject to all scripture
And I have tried to follow what I understand.
And I mess up quit literally.
Yup.
The Bible, remains before me, a tome of truth I have problems reading and connecting the dots. The brain damage rules the day. Yet, I continue to read, to study - two pages at a time! looking to apply literally what truths I find ...
April 27, 2017
Enough
With too much free time, one has too much time to think ...
What does God expect of me?
What does God expect of any of us?
How much is ENOUGH?
Yeah, these past three years have been a mighty horrible.
And anyone would be a liar if they were not to wonder about what God expects of each of us ...
Of course, I am old German by upbringing - everything is viewed as being black and white.
As my father told me as a child, "There is definitely a God, and you must recognize that he exists, but he really is not nice and you really do not want to know him."
Well, as I was to understand decades later - his viewpoint was skewed as a troubled Swiss youth whom chose to join the Reich, it was the duty of every Germanic after all. His family, all strong Zwingli Christians, violently disagreed.
So, I do KNOW there is a God.
I do KNOW Him to be loving and personal.
And I have seen Him exacting His justice .....
Hence, I learned how He works ... so at least I know I am not under wrath (whew!)
But what does He expect of us?
How much are we expected to take in silence ..... ?
Well:
But through these thoughts I am reminded of the question I heard so long ago: "Which Jesus do you serve? The one of the Bible, the one of man's creation or the one in your mind?"
God has a really stringent requirement that you know whom He is and what He stands for.
He is the creator of all we can comprehend. He demands we place nothing in front of our worship of Him. I need go no further.
Intellectually, we discount God asthe creator, we question the why and the how of creation, we go out of our way to destroy His creation! We create laws to outlaw conflicting thought - we mock those whom we declare unenlightened. We have so many false gods it is almost an endless list which encompasses all of us! Just think of sports, sex, drugs, alcohol, our jobs, our families ...... our mostly pagan churches calling upon culture rather than Biblical values in their teachings and judgements! Accepting sin as normal or excusing it!
No, we never will have perfect anything! Not you, not me, not my friends, not my church. But it is possible to at least know and be able to discern where we fail - and repent our failure ..... and not repeat it!
So where does that leave me, in my frustration?
God is testing, God is teaching, it is the only way in which to view these many years.
So ya just gotta keep on, keeping on .....
What does God expect of me?
What does God expect of any of us?
How much is ENOUGH?
Yeah, these past three years have been a mighty horrible.
And anyone would be a liar if they were not to wonder about what God expects of each of us ...
Of course, I am old German by upbringing - everything is viewed as being black and white.
As my father told me as a child, "There is definitely a God, and you must recognize that he exists, but he really is not nice and you really do not want to know him."
Well, as I was to understand decades later - his viewpoint was skewed as a troubled Swiss youth whom chose to join the Reich, it was the duty of every Germanic after all. His family, all strong Zwingli Christians, violently disagreed.
So, I do KNOW there is a God.
I do KNOW Him to be loving and personal.
And I have seen Him exacting His justice .....
Hence, I learned how He works ... so at least I know I am not under wrath (whew!)
But what does He expect of us?
How much are we expected to take in silence ..... ?
Well:
- God exists (whether you acknowledge Him or not!)
- God is sovereign over your life (whether you like it or not!)
- God is molding you for your eternal life (whether you want it or not!)
- God will push you to your limits (until you submit to His Will!)
- God will sustain you through your shaping process
But through these thoughts I am reminded of the question I heard so long ago: "Which Jesus do you serve? The one of the Bible, the one of man's creation or the one in your mind?"
God has a really stringent requirement that you know whom He is and what He stands for.
He is the creator of all we can comprehend. He demands we place nothing in front of our worship of Him. I need go no further.
Intellectually, we discount God asthe creator, we question the why and the how of creation, we go out of our way to destroy His creation! We create laws to outlaw conflicting thought - we mock those whom we declare unenlightened. We have so many false gods it is almost an endless list which encompasses all of us! Just think of sports, sex, drugs, alcohol, our jobs, our families ...... our mostly pagan churches calling upon culture rather than Biblical values in their teachings and judgements! Accepting sin as normal or excusing it!
No, we never will have perfect anything! Not you, not me, not my friends, not my church. But it is possible to at least know and be able to discern where we fail - and repent our failure ..... and not repeat it!
So where does that leave me, in my frustration?
God is testing, God is teaching, it is the only way in which to view these many years.
So ya just gotta keep on, keeping on .....
October 20, 2016
Mark's Ending
The Book of Mark is one of those enigmas in the Bible. Heresy!, you say? Not really, even the ancient fathers of the Christian faith all knew of the problem ...
From verse 9 on, the entire remainder of Mark, was an addition.
We know if came out of the Eastern Church, some even think they know the abbey/monastery which did it.
However, in the Greek, the text ends in verse 8 with the word, "Gar" or "For" in English ... for what, for whom, "for"!!!!!?????
Something was lost, but it certainly was not what we know as verse 9 today .....
Read Mark 16:1-8
So, the cross is the end of Peter's story told to Mark?
Is there more?
Well, really verses 1 through 8 have quite a bit to think about
Women Were The Witnesses
In their culture women could not testify to anything!
Anything they say they saw was instantly suspect.
They were the worst possible witness to the Resurrection!
Yet, they were ...
The Resurrection Is Confirmed
The women were told by an angel.
Who looked like a man in white clothing.
Who announced what has happened.
Forgiveness Is Extended
Well, that was the point of Jesus death and resurrection!
Fear
The women reacted in fear.
The angel appeared to be a guy.
The angel was not Jesus!
This is generally how real people, whom have seen an angel, react that I know of -
all others are suspect in my mind!
The Ending
Is open.
It is unfinished.
This is now the time of the Gentiles being extended forgiveness.
Not to the exclusion of the Jew however - Jesus came for them first and foremost!
From verse 9 on, the entire remainder of Mark, was an addition.
We know if came out of the Eastern Church, some even think they know the abbey/monastery which did it.
However, in the Greek, the text ends in verse 8 with the word, "Gar" or "For" in English ... for what, for whom, "for"!!!!!?????
Something was lost, but it certainly was not what we know as verse 9 today .....
Read Mark 16:1-8
So, the cross is the end of Peter's story told to Mark?
Is there more?
Well, really verses 1 through 8 have quite a bit to think about
Women Were The Witnesses
In their culture women could not testify to anything!
Anything they say they saw was instantly suspect.
They were the worst possible witness to the Resurrection!
Yet, they were ...
The Resurrection Is Confirmed
The women were told by an angel.
Who looked like a man in white clothing.
Who announced what has happened.
Forgiveness Is Extended
Well, that was the point of Jesus death and resurrection!
Fear
The women reacted in fear.
The angel appeared to be a guy.
The angel was not Jesus!
This is generally how real people, whom have seen an angel, react that I know of -
all others are suspect in my mind!
The Ending
Is open.
It is unfinished.
This is now the time of the Gentiles being extended forgiveness.
Not to the exclusion of the Jew however - Jesus came for them first and foremost!
August 31, 2016
Discernment
“Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong.
It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.”
— Charles Spurgeon
It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.”
— Charles Spurgeon
There’s a whole lot of almost right out there. And, boy, is it frustrating.
The only thing more frustrating is the number of professing Christians who line up to support an almost right idea with little or no thought.
The semi-truths are everywhere, our culture is riddled with it — politics, social debates, business — but they are particularly maddening in churches. This is especially important for Christians because, in a spiritual context, being almost right is often the same as being totally wrong. You are even warned about this in your Bible you never read!
But identifying almost right can be tricky.
You see, almost right sounds really good. It sounds so close to the truth that it can be easy to mistake it for the truth. It might even come packaged with Bible verses and sincere sermons or in speeches from the pulpit. It tickles your ears because it sounds Christian. And when it comes from a person in authority, such as a pastor or professor, it’s not questioned because, “Hey, he studies the Bible a lot more than I do.”
To be blunt: There are a lot of bad churches, places that are houses of worship in name only. They worship a god of their making, no the Creator God of the universe!
To be more blunt: Bad churches don’t care about the Bible. Sure, they all say they care, but really they only care about the parts that make them feel good, or that make them feel successful, or that make them feel superior to others. Actual study of the Bible is nonexistent. These churches preach love without truth and they preach truth without love. In either case, it’s ultimately a man-centered gospel, not the Jesus-centered Gospel.
And that’s bad news for people like you seeking truth (I hope!).
As Christians, we must acknowledge that Scripture is the only source of absolute truth. That truth may clash with your feelings.
It may clash with our friends.
It may clash with our upbringing.
It may even clash with what you hear from the pulpit every Sunday!
What does almost right look like in practice? It can take various forms. Here are a few examples you might find in churches today:
“Salvation comes through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and then doing your best to live out Christ’s teachings.” Almost right. (Read Ephesians 2:8-9)
“God blesses those He loves and wants us to be happy.” Almost right. (Read Matthew 5:10-12)
“As Christians, our priority is to fight for the oppressed and oppose injustice wherever we see it.” Almost right. (Read: Matthew 22:36-38; Matthew 28:19)
See? They sure sound nice, but ultimately they are spiritually dangerous half-truths.
How to spot a bad church, even yours - they:
— De-emphasize the sinful nature of man and the need for repentance and salvation.
— Preach salvation through works.
— Preach salvation through a combination of faith and works.
— Rarely preach salvation at all.
— Focus more on the social gospel than the actual Gospel.
— Share pastor’s personal stories and motivational speeches, with a sprinkling of the Bible.
— Use secular music during worship services.
— Emphasize feeling or experience over teaching the Word.
— Emphasize feeling or experience over teaching the Word.
That’s not an all-inclusive list, which is part of the reason why discernment is so important.
But discernment does not end when we leave church. We must keep it at the ready all day, every day. This extends to our dealings with friends and family. It also extends to the political candidates, issues and causes we support. There’s really nowhere it doesn’t exist for a Christian.
So the lesson here is simple:
— Be careful about from whom and from where you seek advice or guidance on spiritual matters.
— Be careful whose words you trust.
— Pastors, friends and family members are all fallible.
— The Bible teaches that there are many false gospels out there.
— They aren’t always obvious because many of them are, almost right.
So what do you do?
Test every claim about God, about salvation, about the Christian life through the lens of the entire Bible with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Bible is not meant to be selectively read. This can not be overstated. It should not matter whether we otherwise trust someone, or whether they have been right in the past. Test everything, always!
Don’t seek out verses to confirm a particular viewpoint, but consider everything God has revealed about the matter. Sometimes this requires more than a cursory perusal of Scripture.
You will never acquire discernment without study of the Bible and knowing what it has laid out as right and wrong. And yes, there is a spiritual gift of discernment, where the Holy Spirit is telling you something is right or wrong, but if you do not know the Scriptures you will never be able to know what or which it is!
Theologically speaking, an inch from the truth might as well be a million miles.
July 4, 2016
Which Jesus?
Many decades ago, I read a very odd book. I realized at the time that God was behind my even having a copy of that book - it WAS NOT a book I would have picked up or voluntarily read. Yeah, a God thing, you can see them coming a mile away and have no idea what it means, but if it is of God - well you better read and figure it out.
The story revolved around a young nurse working in the medical field as a volunteer in Mexico. A story you would expect and then came the miracles. Lots of them, always giving glory to God, never not pointing away from Him. Seems to be all on the up and up. But, I was compelled to then re-read, re-read again and yet again! Each time critically searching - questioning - studying. I am nothing if not cautious.
The eventually I could understand the book's main question:
Which Jesus do you worship?
Everything on the mission field pointed to Jesus, yet the nurse could not shake the feeling that this was not the real Jesus being presented, being worshiped, doing the miracles. But, why? Why would someone question Jesus from the standpoint of a successful ministry in the process, of results being found, of a solid message?
One of my early thoughts as a Christian was the tendency American Christians to comfortably put God in a box. 'God can do this, but never that!' Really? And here I thought He was the Creator of the universe and you are defining what He can and can't do? More interestingly, I observed that God, the real one, gave them exactly what they demanded and within the size of their box constraints! It took me long to learn that God will only do what you will allow Him to do. He will only use what you allow Him to use. The size of the box you give God to work out of , is the size of the god you will end up with!
And most Christians today have no clue what God is capable of, thanks to our "box" theology!
Mark 12:35-37
Takes on the question of Psalms 110:11, how can David's son be David's Lord?
It made no sense to the Greek mind.
The Son of David is supposed to be the Messiah, the military conqueror they wanted!
Is Your God Too Small?
How small of a box do you keep your god in?
Can He act freely?
Do you think He is controlled by you?
We limit God all of the time, because He is far greater than we can conceive.
Is Your Jesus This Great?
Son of God.
God, yet in the flesh.
God of all, for all, dying for all!
Romans 1: and Hebrews 1 both point the Hebrew reader back to Psalms 110.
Is Your Faith This Firm?
Heresies abound about Jesus.
- God saw Jesus and liked what He saw, adopted him
- Jesus as flesh is less than God in Heaven
- Jesus is divine but not human
- Mean God in OT, nice God in NT!
- Three modes of God - father, then son, then Holy Spirit
- We can do it all ourselves without God
- Jesus is less than God
- Three separate Gods
You have to discover the real Jesus and you will only find Him through study of the Bible (not books about the Bible!) and the Holy Spirit helping you out big time!
So, take a moment and think about what you know about Jesus and God. How powerful do you allow Him to be in your life? How regularly do you talk to Him - not demanding anything of Him? We were created to worship Him, not hit Him with never ending shopping lists!
In the end, there is a God, He is your Creator, He desires your worship, love and service. He also will use you to the extent of your faith in Him. But, never assume that He has not already told you who you are, whom you are to be, or where you are to be. But if you ignored Him, redefined what He told you, listened to others - do not expect retakes in the real world. (in the make believe Western christian Religion, yes retakes are without number!).
And the nurse of the book I was reading? She figured it out. Her testimony badly damaged Satan's work in Mexico. Of course, when you cut off one snake head, another will grow. But, you got the one and that is what counts in our war against Satan's claim on mankind's souls.
She was serving God, but had allowed herself to be drawn into a cult where miracles where expected and occurred. Unfortunately, like all cults, it really was not serving God, it was serving man - receiving the worship of man - glorifying the creation, not the Creator.
Such a terribly fine line! I could see how she got drawn in and then stopped to question, when the answers came easily and were "right". But, it was the failure in the laying of the base for the mission, it was not God, it was on attracting people with spectacle. And people love spectacular shows of power!
But, God, the real one, works in the quiet, without much fan-fare at all! Counter-intuitive to the expectations of man and our desire for showmanship to draw the crowds in. Yes, God can and does spectacular things but if someone is on the roof top heralding them - you know is it not of God - and more than likely a show being put on by the god of this Earth - Satan.
The story revolved around a young nurse working in the medical field as a volunteer in Mexico. A story you would expect and then came the miracles. Lots of them, always giving glory to God, never not pointing away from Him. Seems to be all on the up and up. But, I was compelled to then re-read, re-read again and yet again! Each time critically searching - questioning - studying. I am nothing if not cautious.
The eventually I could understand the book's main question:
Which Jesus do you worship?
Everything on the mission field pointed to Jesus, yet the nurse could not shake the feeling that this was not the real Jesus being presented, being worshiped, doing the miracles. But, why? Why would someone question Jesus from the standpoint of a successful ministry in the process, of results being found, of a solid message?
One of my early thoughts as a Christian was the tendency American Christians to comfortably put God in a box. 'God can do this, but never that!' Really? And here I thought He was the Creator of the universe and you are defining what He can and can't do? More interestingly, I observed that God, the real one, gave them exactly what they demanded and within the size of their box constraints! It took me long to learn that God will only do what you will allow Him to do. He will only use what you allow Him to use. The size of the box you give God to work out of , is the size of the god you will end up with!
And most Christians today have no clue what God is capable of, thanks to our "box" theology!
Mark 12:35-37
Takes on the question of Psalms 110:11, how can David's son be David's Lord?
It made no sense to the Greek mind.
The Son of David is supposed to be the Messiah, the military conqueror they wanted!
Is Your God Too Small?
How small of a box do you keep your god in?
Can He act freely?
Do you think He is controlled by you?
We limit God all of the time, because He is far greater than we can conceive.
Is Your Jesus This Great?
Son of God.
God, yet in the flesh.
God of all, for all, dying for all!
Romans 1: and Hebrews 1 both point the Hebrew reader back to Psalms 110.
Is Your Faith This Firm?
Heresies abound about Jesus.
- God saw Jesus and liked what He saw, adopted him
- Jesus as flesh is less than God in Heaven
- Jesus is divine but not human
- Mean God in OT, nice God in NT!
- Three modes of God - father, then son, then Holy Spirit
- We can do it all ourselves without God
- Jesus is less than God
- Three separate Gods
You have to discover the real Jesus and you will only find Him through study of the Bible (not books about the Bible!) and the Holy Spirit helping you out big time!
So, take a moment and think about what you know about Jesus and God. How powerful do you allow Him to be in your life? How regularly do you talk to Him - not demanding anything of Him? We were created to worship Him, not hit Him with never ending shopping lists!
In the end, there is a God, He is your Creator, He desires your worship, love and service. He also will use you to the extent of your faith in Him. But, never assume that He has not already told you who you are, whom you are to be, or where you are to be. But if you ignored Him, redefined what He told you, listened to others - do not expect retakes in the real world. (in the make believe Western christian Religion, yes retakes are without number!).
And the nurse of the book I was reading? She figured it out. Her testimony badly damaged Satan's work in Mexico. Of course, when you cut off one snake head, another will grow. But, you got the one and that is what counts in our war against Satan's claim on mankind's souls.
She was serving God, but had allowed herself to be drawn into a cult where miracles where expected and occurred. Unfortunately, like all cults, it really was not serving God, it was serving man - receiving the worship of man - glorifying the creation, not the Creator.
Such a terribly fine line! I could see how she got drawn in and then stopped to question, when the answers came easily and were "right". But, it was the failure in the laying of the base for the mission, it was not God, it was on attracting people with spectacle. And people love spectacular shows of power!
But, God, the real one, works in the quiet, without much fan-fare at all! Counter-intuitive to the expectations of man and our desire for showmanship to draw the crowds in. Yes, God can and does spectacular things but if someone is on the roof top heralding them - you know is it not of God - and more than likely a show being put on by the god of this Earth - Satan.
June 17, 2016
The Apostate German Church
Cardinal Woelki, is the Archbishop of Cologne, Germany. A country racked by rioting almost to the point of civil war. The Muslim masses are rioting, raping, murdering lone Germans and burning their camps. The Germans are rioting, beating the tar out of any Muslim they find in retaliation. The German government is trapped between the opinion of its people and the politics of the world and wealth they are being given to host these immigrants. Chancellor Merkel has got to be feeling the stress!
And Woelki gives a speech, yards from where hundreds of German girls were raped by the Muslims on New Years Eve and calls for tolerance for these immigrants.
And in a twisted allegory, Woelki compares Jesus call for us to care for one another, to that of the refugees plight.
There is an argument there. If you spiritualize Jesus' teachings, we are to care for the world, but that was never said nor asked by Jesus. We are to care for one another, even the dogs of the faith, remembering that they are our brothers and sisters. We are to house, feed, clothe, and witness to them. Jesus never asked a Jew to do that for a Roman or a Scythian ..... Interesting.
That is the difference between knowing your Scripture and seeing it twisted for an end goal.
End goal?
Yeah, you had better believe he and/or Cologne are being subsidized by the UNHCR - the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which oversees the rescue and settlement in host countries of refugees. And these days no one is going to take 10,000 refugees without some Deutsche Marks attached to the deal .... Which by the way, more than likely came from your tax money paid to your government.
What follows is a translation of the address, read it - consider how reasonable it sounds - then put it into context and see how damning this propaganda piece really is.
*****
Transcript:
And Woelki gives a speech, yards from where hundreds of German girls were raped by the Muslims on New Years Eve and calls for tolerance for these immigrants.
And in a twisted allegory, Woelki compares Jesus call for us to care for one another, to that of the refugees plight.
There is an argument there. If you spiritualize Jesus' teachings, we are to care for the world, but that was never said nor asked by Jesus. We are to care for one another, even the dogs of the faith, remembering that they are our brothers and sisters. We are to house, feed, clothe, and witness to them. Jesus never asked a Jew to do that for a Roman or a Scythian ..... Interesting.
That is the difference between knowing your Scripture and seeing it twisted for an end goal.
End goal?
Yeah, you had better believe he and/or Cologne are being subsidized by the UNHCR - the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which oversees the rescue and settlement in host countries of refugees. And these days no one is going to take 10,000 refugees without some Deutsche Marks attached to the deal .... Which by the way, more than likely came from your tax money paid to your government.
What follows is a translation of the address, read it - consider how reasonable it sounds - then put it into context and see how damning this propaganda piece really is.
*****
Transcript:
| 00:02 | In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. | |
| 00:09 | Amen. May peace be with you. — And with your Spirit. | |
| 00:19 | Dear sisters, dear brothers, I wholeheartedly welcome you | |
| 00:23 | to the celebration of our Feast of Corpus Christi here in the Roncalli Square. | |
| 00:30 | A boat, a refugee boat from the Mediterranean sea. | |
| 00:37 | What business is that supposed to have with Corpus Christi? | |
| 00:41 | Both, monstrance and this boat, they have carried Christ. | |
| 00:51 | The monstrance carried Christ in the form of the Eucharist bread. | |
| 00:59 | The boat carried Christ in the form of the poor. | |
| 01:05 | That is why it is dear to me that this boat today is our altar. | |
| 01:11 | This boat, with hundreds of refugees, with women and children, and elderly people, | |
| 01:19 | that was drifting in the Mediterranean sea, until it was detected, and the people were saved. | |
| 01:25 | “Did you recognize me?”, Christ will ask us one day. | |
| 01:30 | “Did you recognize me in the form of the transformed bread; | |
| 01:35 | did you recognize me when I was a refugee and came to your country?” | |
| 01:50 | Dear sisters, dear brothers. | |
| 01:55 | Nothing unusual for a town by the Rhine, such a ship. | |
| 02:02 | For 737 years now in our town the feast of Corpus Christi has been observed with special festivity. | |
| 02:14 | In this long history, the procession of 1945 is unforgotten, | |
| 02:25 | Which paraded through the ruins of our inner city, almost completely destroyed by war. | |
| 02:32 | Trusting that God’s love outlasts all vicissitudes of history, and human distress, | |
| 02:41 | the citizens of Cologne back then professed their belief in the steady presence of Jesus Christ | |
| 02:50 | in the sacrament of the Holy Communion. | |
| 02:54 | The misery and the loss of loved ones were impossible to overlook. | |
| 03:00 | The consequences of the catastrophe of the Nazi dictatorship were impossible to overlook, | |
| 03:06 | and with it the consequences of the war. | |
| 03:10 | In this hour such, or similar, catastrophes take place. | |
| 03:19 | These days it is easier for us than back then, after the war, to distance ourselves. | |
| 03:28 | Today, one can simply close the newspaper. | |
| 03:35 | One can simply skip over reading certain things. | |
| 03:39 | One can switch off the TV, not open the social media. | |
| 03:46 | See nothing, hear nothing, say nothing. | |
| 03:52 | Therefore, dear sisters and brothers, we must be careful at our Feast of Corpus Christi today | |
| 04:00 | at the gold, the beauty, and the dignity of the monstrance, | |
| 04:06 | not to close our eyes to what it is truly about. | |
| 04:12 | So when we carry the Lord through the streets of the city now, | |
| 04:16 | then, dear sisters and brothers, we must — in the monstrance, | |
| 04:22 | in the Eucharistic form of the bread — | |
| 04:26 | recognize and heed his maltreated body, his maltreated face, his wounds, | |
| 04:36 | in the faces and in the bodies of the people of today. | |
| 04:44 | And we must act accordingly! | |
| 04:47 | We will not let ourselves be prohibited from speaking! | |
| 04:50 | It is nearly a year ago that on this wonderful square, in the shadow of our cathedral, | |
| 04:57 | in pouring rain, we remembered with 23,000 bell tolls the dead | |
| 05:04 | who have since the year 2000 lost their lives on their flight across the Mediterranean Sea. | |
| 05:12 | 3,327 deaths have since been added to that, according to the refugee relief organization UNHCR. | |
| 05:25 | Drowned and murdered. | |
| 05:28 | Whose hopes, whose sorrow, whose dreams and grief, | |
| 05:33 | whose families and stories God alone knows. | |
| 05:39 | The waves of the Mediterranean Sea have closed over them. | |
| 05:43 | 3,327 people have perished in boats like this! | |
| 05:54 | The pictures that you can now see in newspapers and on TV, | |
| 06:00 | overcrowded and keeling over, they strike right into the center of the heart. | |
| 06:06 | They must strike the heart | |
| 06:09 | of European society, dedicated to peace and human rights. | |
| 06:17 | The people who were in this boat, hardly conceivable, a hundred of them, | |
| 06:27 | who set out across the sea, they were found and saved, a coincidence, a blessing. | |
| 06:39 | This boat becomes our altar today. | |
| 06:44 | The altar is an allegory, a symbol, of the Lord himself. | |
| 06:51 | He is right there in this boat! | |
| 06:54 | In this boat that trafficked people, young and old, women and men, across the Mediterranean sea. | |
| 07:01 | So when, in a few moments, we carry the body of the Lord, that was sacrificed on the cross, | |
| 07:08 | in the monstrance through the streets of our town, | |
| 07:12 | then it is the same body | |
| 07:17 | that we meet in the streets, in the poor, in the torrents of the sea, | |
| 07:24 | in the unaccompanied minor refugees, | |
| 07:27 | in the terminally ill, in the traumatised children from regions of civil war, | |
| 07:35 | in their desperate mothers, and abducted fathers, | |
| 07:39 | in every woman, in every man, in every child that hopes for a future. | |
| 07:46 | Their cry for justice, their cry for dignity, their cry for freedom. | |
| 07:55 | It is God’s cry! | |
| 07:58 | Let us hear it! | |
| 08:01 | Because, dear sisters and brothers, whoever lets people drown in the Mediterranean sea, lets God drown. | |
| 08:09 | A hundred times, a thousand times! | |
| 08:12 | Whoever tortures people to death in camps, tortures God to death! | |
| 08:17 | A thousand and a many thousand times! | |
| 08:21 | Every death, a death of God! | |
| 08:25 | That is why one day, Christ will ask us: | |
| 08:28 | “Did you recognize me? Did you truly recognize me? | |
| 08:33 | In the body of the transformed bread.” | |
| 08:37 | “Did you recognize me? Truly recognize me? When I was a refugee and came to your town, your country.” | |
| 08:45 | “Did you recognize me? Truly recognize me? When I needed your help as I was drowning in the sea.” | |
| 08:53 | And, dear sisters and dear brothers, when we do this, then the Evangel will become alive, today. | |
| 09:02 | And what happened back then, happens today, too: | |
| 09:07 | “They all ate and were satisfied.” | |
| 09:12 | Amen. |
January 13, 2016
An Armed Camp?
"Kris, what do you think about this idea? I want to bounce this off you before I go to the church's eldership ..."
And so came his idea of having armed members or a security force to watch over the church during services. And we had a LONG discussion about the idea that it is wise to turn the church into an armed camp ... You have to admit that with the fear and paranoia running rampant in our society right now, it is hard to argue against his idea.
Of course, this is a paranoia based on fear due to the events across the world brought on by the corrupt leadership in this world today, whom sought to remove all non-democracies throughout the Middle East and North Africa, funded and supplied those willing to overthrow those governments. Unfortunately, they chose hard line Islamist as their allies, whom have since turned the tables on those whom originally empowered them. No, I am not going into a political rant here - just background to the situation.
Around the world, these Islamist are now feeling empowered to move against Christians everywhere. It really does not matter the country, it is happening. Even in hard line China and North Korea, abortive attempts have been made! Freer societies are of course choice pickings. And, churches are very soft targets to move against. The bigger the church, the greater the impact terrorist can generate. It is numbers that count here, not ones-twosies!
Are you worried? Go search for church attacks before you say no - the data exists, at least last week it did! But, as I have found numerous times across the past month, someone is "cleaning" up the internet of data which would be unsavory to those in power. Interesting, but I don't really care, my path is far different than theirs ...
Fear is the keyword here and fear is not something which comes from God, it does however lay completely in the realm of Satan. So, when we let fear dictate our decision, no matter how good the cause - we get black eyes in the world's view. And Jesus does not bless black eyes.
It would be well and good to desire to protect our loved ones at church ... but not by playing the fear game. If you want an armed camp, to turn churches in to safe houses against "them" - uhm, what did you just say about your faith in God and His ability to control your days?
You are not going to die one second sooner than God designed for you. Conversely, Jesus told his followers to arm themselves (Luke 22:36). Depending upon your personal convictions, this can mean or not mean that you are to be armed and know how to PROTECT yourself. Of course, you are also told not to kill (Mark 10:19) ... well actually, it is commit MURDER you are not allowed to do. Self defense is not murder. And let us not forget that "those whom live by the sword, die by the sword" (Matthew 26:52) - again another twisted scripture. If your way of life is by the sword, if you take up the sword in offensive action (as the disciple had done in this passage), then you are condemned to die that way. Yeah, think about that one!
And now is a good time to pause and reflect on the Book of the Revelation or John's Apocalypse (depending upon your translation of the Bible). You as a Christian, at any point in time since 31 AD +/- are guaranteed that the future is bleak and war will be waged at some point or continually against you and yours - as Satan lashes out at God and Jesus. Hmmmm.
And, remember, I am at my heart a Hutterite. I believe in pacifism, I believe in the sanctity of human life. I believe that to kill someone is to remove their last possible moment of decision to repent before God, in Jesus name of course.
Yet ... when war is declared upon your friends and family, how can one not choose to defend? Note, I did not say hunt down or strike before they become a threat to you!
In my mind, I see the solution as simple: I am often armed, not for self defense, because I want to be in God's presence and to know lasting peace. But, to stop problems which do occur which can injure or kill my friends or family. (You really do not want to touch my family!) The day may come, I do not know, when I have to make that decision again - to squeeze or not - to aim high or low - to kill or not. I have had to make that choice before and I have never killed anyone - and I would like it to stay that way. But, would I put myself between my pastor and a jihadist? Unfortunately, I think that answer would be yes.
Does my church need to make public or semi public decisions about being a safe house or armed? That would only draw flies for the feast. You do not advertise such things!
To take up arms in self defense is completely between you and God. But, if you choose to, then by all means put in the practice to know how to use your choice of weapon! Nothing sickens me more than seeing someone with a knife and no idea how to use it, much less a Rambo wanna-be, sigh ... Remember that even Bear Spray will stop any and all threats (well, unless they are on meth - but then they are not likely to be threatening you!).
Sticky subject, practical subject and you have to choose wisely and for the correct reasons. Nothing is easy but through much prayer - you will come to the correct decision.
Just like everything else in this life! Prayer and more Prayer! Only more is at stake here: God witness through you and His reputation ....
And so came his idea of having armed members or a security force to watch over the church during services. And we had a LONG discussion about the idea that it is wise to turn the church into an armed camp ... You have to admit that with the fear and paranoia running rampant in our society right now, it is hard to argue against his idea.
Of course, this is a paranoia based on fear due to the events across the world brought on by the corrupt leadership in this world today, whom sought to remove all non-democracies throughout the Middle East and North Africa, funded and supplied those willing to overthrow those governments. Unfortunately, they chose hard line Islamist as their allies, whom have since turned the tables on those whom originally empowered them. No, I am not going into a political rant here - just background to the situation.
Around the world, these Islamist are now feeling empowered to move against Christians everywhere. It really does not matter the country, it is happening. Even in hard line China and North Korea, abortive attempts have been made! Freer societies are of course choice pickings. And, churches are very soft targets to move against. The bigger the church, the greater the impact terrorist can generate. It is numbers that count here, not ones-twosies!
Are you worried? Go search for church attacks before you say no - the data exists, at least last week it did! But, as I have found numerous times across the past month, someone is "cleaning" up the internet of data which would be unsavory to those in power. Interesting, but I don't really care, my path is far different than theirs ...
Fear is the keyword here and fear is not something which comes from God, it does however lay completely in the realm of Satan. So, when we let fear dictate our decision, no matter how good the cause - we get black eyes in the world's view. And Jesus does not bless black eyes.
It would be well and good to desire to protect our loved ones at church ... but not by playing the fear game. If you want an armed camp, to turn churches in to safe houses against "them" - uhm, what did you just say about your faith in God and His ability to control your days?
You are not going to die one second sooner than God designed for you. Conversely, Jesus told his followers to arm themselves (Luke 22:36). Depending upon your personal convictions, this can mean or not mean that you are to be armed and know how to PROTECT yourself. Of course, you are also told not to kill (Mark 10:19) ... well actually, it is commit MURDER you are not allowed to do. Self defense is not murder. And let us not forget that "those whom live by the sword, die by the sword" (Matthew 26:52) - again another twisted scripture. If your way of life is by the sword, if you take up the sword in offensive action (as the disciple had done in this passage), then you are condemned to die that way. Yeah, think about that one!
And now is a good time to pause and reflect on the Book of the Revelation or John's Apocalypse (depending upon your translation of the Bible). You as a Christian, at any point in time since 31 AD +/- are guaranteed that the future is bleak and war will be waged at some point or continually against you and yours - as Satan lashes out at God and Jesus. Hmmmm.
And, remember, I am at my heart a Hutterite. I believe in pacifism, I believe in the sanctity of human life. I believe that to kill someone is to remove their last possible moment of decision to repent before God, in Jesus name of course.
Yet ... when war is declared upon your friends and family, how can one not choose to defend? Note, I did not say hunt down or strike before they become a threat to you!
In my mind, I see the solution as simple: I am often armed, not for self defense, because I want to be in God's presence and to know lasting peace. But, to stop problems which do occur which can injure or kill my friends or family. (You really do not want to touch my family!) The day may come, I do not know, when I have to make that decision again - to squeeze or not - to aim high or low - to kill or not. I have had to make that choice before and I have never killed anyone - and I would like it to stay that way. But, would I put myself between my pastor and a jihadist? Unfortunately, I think that answer would be yes.
Does my church need to make public or semi public decisions about being a safe house or armed? That would only draw flies for the feast. You do not advertise such things!
To take up arms in self defense is completely between you and God. But, if you choose to, then by all means put in the practice to know how to use your choice of weapon! Nothing sickens me more than seeing someone with a knife and no idea how to use it, much less a Rambo wanna-be, sigh ... Remember that even Bear Spray will stop any and all threats (well, unless they are on meth - but then they are not likely to be threatening you!).
Sticky subject, practical subject and you have to choose wisely and for the correct reasons. Nothing is easy but through much prayer - you will come to the correct decision.
Just like everything else in this life! Prayer and more Prayer! Only more is at stake here: God witness through you and His reputation ....
January 4, 2016
Religionless
I finished my reading of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's, Letters From Prison. I marked a few pages to go back to and think about after I was done. Terms we have today in Theology really were not in wide usage in the 1940's - much less to a German in a prison awaiting death.
Religionless is one of those terms. Bonhoeffer had seen during the war, the falling away of a people rich in Christian tradition and he had no way to describe the status of this new people other than religionless. From April 30, 1944:
" ... What is bothering me incessantly is the question what Christianity really is, or indeed who Christ really is, for us today. The time when people could be told everything by means of words, whether theological or pious, is over, and so is the time of inwardness and conscience - and that means the time of religion in general. We are moving towards a completely religionless time; people as they are now simply cannot be religious any more. Even those who honestly describe themselves as "religious" do not in the least act up to it, and so they presumably mean something quite different by "religious".
.....
Are there religionless Christians? If religion is on a garment of Christianity - and even this garment has looked very different at different times - then what is a religionless Christianity? ... "
Of course, the issue Bonhoeffer had stumbled across was that society and culture was turning away from God and becoming atheistic. A thought which would have confounded him mightily. His beloved German had indeed turned from God. Well rot starts at the top and the National Church (Lutheran), as well as, the Catholic priesthood had openly accepted National Socialism and the powers that be were more than happy to have lots of photographs taken showing the church leaders all in stiff arm salutes to Hitler.
How would you have reacted? Your pastor, priest, bishop - what have you, is openly accepting evil in the open. Your faith is weak because the National Church has no requirement that you have any faith in God what so ever. Yeah, you are going to abandon that faith and stay home from now on - you become religionless aka an atheist.
Bonhoeffer's predecessor at the head of the Church, Karl Barth, had noticed this falling away as well, but had no solution. The people had fallen into secularism, they needed to be called back into the congregations ... but ... outside of saying they needed to be restored, there was no wisdom passed on.
Today, we see this problem clearly. We understand that it is the Holy Spirit's responsibility to call people as well as call them back in the event they fall. But just as in Bonhoeffer's day, we see that "faithful" using God as nothing more than the impersonal "deus ex machina" - the problem solver to save our bacon when we go astray, foul up, we have no other options to fix the problem ...
Of course, God is the best problem solver, He is even better at helping you avoid those problems in the first place as well - but that requires a personal relationship with Him, not a superficial one! And well, mankind anymore seems to think a superficial relationship is just fine. God exists to serve man and his desires.
So, it seems that the ultimate end to the problem Barth and Bonhoeffer saw 70 years ago is not a drawing back of the believer but rather paganism. We now create gods to be what we want, that serve us, deride those whom are not willing to do so and go our merry way - ignore those whom care about us and desire to turn us back to the one true God.
Yeah, my reading of Bonhoeffer this time really cleared up the very same questions for me as well - only this time I could see the parallel as well as the ultimate goal Evil has brought mankind to. And I will address this next month ... lots more thinking to do!
Religionless is one of those terms. Bonhoeffer had seen during the war, the falling away of a people rich in Christian tradition and he had no way to describe the status of this new people other than religionless. From April 30, 1944:
" ... What is bothering me incessantly is the question what Christianity really is, or indeed who Christ really is, for us today. The time when people could be told everything by means of words, whether theological or pious, is over, and so is the time of inwardness and conscience - and that means the time of religion in general. We are moving towards a completely religionless time; people as they are now simply cannot be religious any more. Even those who honestly describe themselves as "religious" do not in the least act up to it, and so they presumably mean something quite different by "religious".
.....
Are there religionless Christians? If religion is on a garment of Christianity - and even this garment has looked very different at different times - then what is a religionless Christianity? ... "
Of course, the issue Bonhoeffer had stumbled across was that society and culture was turning away from God and becoming atheistic. A thought which would have confounded him mightily. His beloved German had indeed turned from God. Well rot starts at the top and the National Church (Lutheran), as well as, the Catholic priesthood had openly accepted National Socialism and the powers that be were more than happy to have lots of photographs taken showing the church leaders all in stiff arm salutes to Hitler.
How would you have reacted? Your pastor, priest, bishop - what have you, is openly accepting evil in the open. Your faith is weak because the National Church has no requirement that you have any faith in God what so ever. Yeah, you are going to abandon that faith and stay home from now on - you become religionless aka an atheist.
Bonhoeffer's predecessor at the head of the Church, Karl Barth, had noticed this falling away as well, but had no solution. The people had fallen into secularism, they needed to be called back into the congregations ... but ... outside of saying they needed to be restored, there was no wisdom passed on.
Today, we see this problem clearly. We understand that it is the Holy Spirit's responsibility to call people as well as call them back in the event they fall. But just as in Bonhoeffer's day, we see that "faithful" using God as nothing more than the impersonal "deus ex machina" - the problem solver to save our bacon when we go astray, foul up, we have no other options to fix the problem ...
Of course, God is the best problem solver, He is even better at helping you avoid those problems in the first place as well - but that requires a personal relationship with Him, not a superficial one! And well, mankind anymore seems to think a superficial relationship is just fine. God exists to serve man and his desires.
So, it seems that the ultimate end to the problem Barth and Bonhoeffer saw 70 years ago is not a drawing back of the believer but rather paganism. We now create gods to be what we want, that serve us, deride those whom are not willing to do so and go our merry way - ignore those whom care about us and desire to turn us back to the one true God.
Yeah, my reading of Bonhoeffer this time really cleared up the very same questions for me as well - only this time I could see the parallel as well as the ultimate goal Evil has brought mankind to. And I will address this next month ... lots more thinking to do!
October 5, 2015
Which Jesus ...
It was 1983 and God was about to take me on a trip into the realm of total insanity, from my viewpoint. Sister Becca had been broken, Satan had utterly destroyed her. None of us could understand how but the damage was obvious to all. I hopped on a plane and flew to a place near where her mission station was. I met with her sister and brother-in-law and planned the kidnapping to take place that night ...
This week was to be where God SHOWED me the REALITY of angels, demons and Satan. None of which I wanted to know, I was there to rescue a dear sister from my early days as a Christian. The reality of the powers of evil and the existence of real angels were the furthest things from my mind or desire! And, that is a story for another time.
Somewhere in this week, I met a young lady in Fresno and over coffee (tea for me!) we had a long discussion about her time on the mission field in Mexico. As she talked her language became more and more confusing to me. She kept dwelling on the thought that there was more than one Jesus. It made no sense to me, but I let her spin her yarn ... and I thought on this concept mightily. It troubled me that there could be fake Jesus' running around - no I am not talking about people proclaiming themselves to be the Messiah - those will always exit. I am talking about our ability in our hearts and minds to serve the wrong Jesus and God, thinking completely otherwise about it!
How do you serve God and yet not be serving God at all? It just made no sense.
Oh, make no mistake, God was going to remove that confusion from my mind rather rapidly - and scare that woollies off of me in the course of events that week! It there was a fog over my vision, it was about to be permanently removed!
Jesus, but not Jesus. Hmmm, so I do something for God, but it is not for God at all. God does something and everyone is in praise mode, but it is not God at all whom did whatever. God, but not God - a false God - a God whom we define but not the divine One.
Across the week I was to see amongst far flung brethren I was interacting with that superstition and pragmatism had replaced God in reality. Yeah, they were doing for God, they were serving God, they were praising God but it was not God at all it was the false god of their imagination. They were defining whom god is and how god works and putting him in their little boxes and then worshiping this self-serving god in the box they had created. And that was how Becca was destroyed, Satan created a hole for her to fall through ... and she did.
This understanding terrified me!
Was I guilty of this? Had I stuffed God in a box and said, "This what you can do, this is how you can act, this how I am going to worship you."? I am sure, since my Christianity at this point was the product of what I now know to be a pagan Christian church, I had to make some changes instantly to my personal understanding of God. You can not put God in a box or place limitations on Him without creating a false god. And my desire has always been to be wholly committed to Him and Him alone - the one and only true God.
So, when I watch a Christian movie, read a Christian book, listen to Christian teaching - I ALWAYS ask the question, "whom is getting the glory here?" Is it God or is it man? If man, then we are talking about the false god, the false Jesus, you are being misled. There is no excuse, no exceptions. Sorry.
As the old expression goes, "The road to Hell is paved with the best of intentions". Indeed, Christianity fails when we do not put God first in all of our pursuits. When our interests or agenda become the goal of whatever the activity, you just left God in the dust and the result will show.
You do not know what to do with your life so you are going to become a missionary, naturally. Cool, grandma even coughed up the dough for school for you to serve in India, praise the Lord, He answered. Cool, but why? I have had this conversation so many times it is uncountable. Only once did the answer point to an actual call by God (and yes she did eventually lose her life but made a tremendous impact on the small group she witnessed to). Most were called by grandma's money, the desire to travel, to not work, in one case to not have to do housework because servants were cheaply hired and worked into the monthly budget! Sorry, but in all of those cases, save for the martyred one in Indonesia, it was the fake god of their own making they were serving and the results showed it.
It exists even in real Christian undertakings. You want to build a church. Why? Give me an answer that is not because you want to, you feel led to, you have the truth no one else does, etc. Huge egos (I, Me, Mine) build churches, servants of God deal within the realm of what exists today. Perhaps a church is needed - cool. But, God, the real one calls you to not split apart, not to do your own thing, to stand in place and be the plain pain in the @#^ of the church representing His interests - until they throw you out, then you get to build what God wants - when He is ready. Conversely, divesting your church body into smaller groups is also a Biblical example - not consolidation and larger structures!
Even in something as simple as a mission trip for youth, I was to see the false god take over and in a dedicated Christian church, God-ly men, committed youth - utterly destroyed because the wrong leader was chosen whom did things HIS own way - and the results showed it. Then the finger pointing begins, and rumors and whispers and lawsuits and families are leaving the church and no one understands why ... But, but, but, we did this for God, how could this have happened ... ?!?!?!?!?!
I run into christians all of the time whom do not attend church. They are worshiping the false god and justifying it with excuses.
I run into christians all of the time whom are church hopping. They can not "feel" right in any one so they just move on and justify it with excuses.
I run into christians all of the time whom do not read their Bible! It is boring after-all ... (think on that one!)
I run into christians all of the time whom hold to some very dogmatic rules, problem is the Bible does not support their hard headed/hearted ideals. They even use the Bible to support their bigotries, unsuccessfully for those whom do know their Bible!
I run into Christians all of the time, whose hearts I can discern are sold out to God but whose base desires negate their witness. (no throwing stones, I have my failures too)
I run into Christians all of the time whom are driven by pride and ego, and they will not see it. I am the one with the problem, not them!
I run into Christians all of the time, defeated by life, not understanding why, not seeing that they have not given their all to the real God. God must be a lie after-all, right?
So yeah, there are lots of "Christians" today whom are making a great mess because they are led by a false god called "self". Equally there are a great many Christians whose witness has been negated through sin.
What is a believer to do?!?!?!?
A) You know if you are saved or not (confession, baptism, desire to read Bible, sense of condemnation on wrong doing, desire for fellowship, etc)
B) You can judge right from wrong, why are you doing what you are doing?
C) No one is sinless, not your pastor, not you, not me, not anyone!
D) The true God forgives, demands that all you do be His and for Him alone (let that sink in).
E) Serve God, not yourself, not your 401-K, not demands of anyone other than God.
In the end, I learned God, the real God, wants you to be a servant, to get out of your comfort zone and serve Him by serving others in their need. Unlike Him, He does not demand you wash other's feet - but He might, if that is a problem area for you ...
I learned to avoid books about the Bible and to only study the Bible, with some strong cross references. I avoid christian-ese books, which are all the rage because some mighty bad theology is to be found there. I avoid books by Christians, whose only credit is that they are Christian. Sorry I will avoid your experiential faith for a Biblical fact based faith. Their tales may be true - most are not.
In the end you are responsible for what goes in your body/mind/heart, everything has an impact on your faith - to misdirect, to weaken, yes even to strengthen - the choices are all yours. But if you choose poorly it might not be the fuzzy-wuzzy Jesus you expect to face in the end but a Sovereign Warrior King with little sense of humor.
This week was to be where God SHOWED me the REALITY of angels, demons and Satan. None of which I wanted to know, I was there to rescue a dear sister from my early days as a Christian. The reality of the powers of evil and the existence of real angels were the furthest things from my mind or desire! And, that is a story for another time.
Somewhere in this week, I met a young lady in Fresno and over coffee (tea for me!) we had a long discussion about her time on the mission field in Mexico. As she talked her language became more and more confusing to me. She kept dwelling on the thought that there was more than one Jesus. It made no sense to me, but I let her spin her yarn ... and I thought on this concept mightily. It troubled me that there could be fake Jesus' running around - no I am not talking about people proclaiming themselves to be the Messiah - those will always exit. I am talking about our ability in our hearts and minds to serve the wrong Jesus and God, thinking completely otherwise about it!
How do you serve God and yet not be serving God at all? It just made no sense.
Oh, make no mistake, God was going to remove that confusion from my mind rather rapidly - and scare that woollies off of me in the course of events that week! It there was a fog over my vision, it was about to be permanently removed!
Jesus, but not Jesus. Hmmm, so I do something for God, but it is not for God at all. God does something and everyone is in praise mode, but it is not God at all whom did whatever. God, but not God - a false God - a God whom we define but not the divine One.
Across the week I was to see amongst far flung brethren I was interacting with that superstition and pragmatism had replaced God in reality. Yeah, they were doing for God, they were serving God, they were praising God but it was not God at all it was the false god of their imagination. They were defining whom god is and how god works and putting him in their little boxes and then worshiping this self-serving god in the box they had created. And that was how Becca was destroyed, Satan created a hole for her to fall through ... and she did.
This understanding terrified me!
Was I guilty of this? Had I stuffed God in a box and said, "This what you can do, this is how you can act, this how I am going to worship you."? I am sure, since my Christianity at this point was the product of what I now know to be a pagan Christian church, I had to make some changes instantly to my personal understanding of God. You can not put God in a box or place limitations on Him without creating a false god. And my desire has always been to be wholly committed to Him and Him alone - the one and only true God.
So, when I watch a Christian movie, read a Christian book, listen to Christian teaching - I ALWAYS ask the question, "whom is getting the glory here?" Is it God or is it man? If man, then we are talking about the false god, the false Jesus, you are being misled. There is no excuse, no exceptions. Sorry.
As the old expression goes, "The road to Hell is paved with the best of intentions". Indeed, Christianity fails when we do not put God first in all of our pursuits. When our interests or agenda become the goal of whatever the activity, you just left God in the dust and the result will show.
You do not know what to do with your life so you are going to become a missionary, naturally. Cool, grandma even coughed up the dough for school for you to serve in India, praise the Lord, He answered. Cool, but why? I have had this conversation so many times it is uncountable. Only once did the answer point to an actual call by God (and yes she did eventually lose her life but made a tremendous impact on the small group she witnessed to). Most were called by grandma's money, the desire to travel, to not work, in one case to not have to do housework because servants were cheaply hired and worked into the monthly budget! Sorry, but in all of those cases, save for the martyred one in Indonesia, it was the fake god of their own making they were serving and the results showed it.
It exists even in real Christian undertakings. You want to build a church. Why? Give me an answer that is not because you want to, you feel led to, you have the truth no one else does, etc. Huge egos (I, Me, Mine) build churches, servants of God deal within the realm of what exists today. Perhaps a church is needed - cool. But, God, the real one calls you to not split apart, not to do your own thing, to stand in place and be the plain pain in the @#^ of the church representing His interests - until they throw you out, then you get to build what God wants - when He is ready. Conversely, divesting your church body into smaller groups is also a Biblical example - not consolidation and larger structures!
Even in something as simple as a mission trip for youth, I was to see the false god take over and in a dedicated Christian church, God-ly men, committed youth - utterly destroyed because the wrong leader was chosen whom did things HIS own way - and the results showed it. Then the finger pointing begins, and rumors and whispers and lawsuits and families are leaving the church and no one understands why ... But, but, but, we did this for God, how could this have happened ... ?!?!?!?!?!
I run into christians all of the time whom do not attend church. They are worshiping the false god and justifying it with excuses.
I run into christians all of the time whom are church hopping. They can not "feel" right in any one so they just move on and justify it with excuses.
I run into christians all of the time whom do not read their Bible! It is boring after-all ... (think on that one!)
I run into christians all of the time whom hold to some very dogmatic rules, problem is the Bible does not support their hard headed/hearted ideals. They even use the Bible to support their bigotries, unsuccessfully for those whom do know their Bible!
I run into Christians all of the time, whose hearts I can discern are sold out to God but whose base desires negate their witness. (no throwing stones, I have my failures too)
I run into Christians all of the time whom are driven by pride and ego, and they will not see it. I am the one with the problem, not them!
I run into Christians all of the time, defeated by life, not understanding why, not seeing that they have not given their all to the real God. God must be a lie after-all, right?
So yeah, there are lots of "Christians" today whom are making a great mess because they are led by a false god called "self". Equally there are a great many Christians whose witness has been negated through sin.
What is a believer to do?!?!?!?
A) You know if you are saved or not (confession, baptism, desire to read Bible, sense of condemnation on wrong doing, desire for fellowship, etc)
B) You can judge right from wrong, why are you doing what you are doing?
C) No one is sinless, not your pastor, not you, not me, not anyone!
D) The true God forgives, demands that all you do be His and for Him alone (let that sink in).
E) Serve God, not yourself, not your 401-K, not demands of anyone other than God.
In the end, I learned God, the real God, wants you to be a servant, to get out of your comfort zone and serve Him by serving others in their need. Unlike Him, He does not demand you wash other's feet - but He might, if that is a problem area for you ...
I learned to avoid books about the Bible and to only study the Bible, with some strong cross references. I avoid christian-ese books, which are all the rage because some mighty bad theology is to be found there. I avoid books by Christians, whose only credit is that they are Christian. Sorry I will avoid your experiential faith for a Biblical fact based faith. Their tales may be true - most are not.
In the end you are responsible for what goes in your body/mind/heart, everything has an impact on your faith - to misdirect, to weaken, yes even to strengthen - the choices are all yours. But if you choose poorly it might not be the fuzzy-wuzzy Jesus you expect to face in the end but a Sovereign Warrior King with little sense of humor.
June 12, 2015
Article: Christianity's Own Demise
Another interesting article in a US National publication. I am only doing this because it is shows exactly what I have been saying for so many years - the Western Church is lost. All of the complaints here you need to rethink in terms of: what has brought a decline in the faith but more so what would led someone to think the church is not where it should be ...
The number may vary but the trend line is consistent: The Christian church is in decline. From church attendance to those who identify as Christian, all numbers are heading south.
Is Christianity the new middle class? Has it become an amorphous term to describe something that most assume they understand but carries no real meaning?
There are myriad reasons for Christianity's downward trajectory. My focus is the public face of Christianity.
Ironically, it has become a faith defined more by its willingness to exclude.
If one reads the Gospel narratives, the teachings of Jesus clearly indicate love, inconvenient love, is at the epicenter of the faith. Observers of the faith are placed in a paradoxical bind in that its difficulty is rooted in its simplicity -- the simplicity to love burdened by the difficulty to achieve it.
As a result, Christianity is dominated, at least in America, by an ethos of oversimplification that seeks not a self-reflective inconvenient love, but one that places its focus on the other.
Historically, Christianity's post Enlightenment participation in the public square is a mixed bag. The church was on both sides of slavery, the Civil War, women's suffrage, Jim Crow segregation, the Holocaust, and South African Apartheid.
We've recently witnessed for profit corporations hiding behind the veneer of the amorphous term Christianity seeking laws that come uncomfortably close to the type of dehumanization that necessitated the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which some describe as a law that opens the door to discriminate against same-sex couples, while others offer that it would give people more freedom to follow the dictates of their faith.
Evangelical leader, Franklin Graham is calling on Christians to boycott gay-friendly corporations. Graham recently announced that he is moving all the bank accounts for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association out of Wells Fargo because of its ad featuring a lesbian couple.
However these issues are adjudicated in the short term, the long term prospects can only do additional harm to the public face of a faith already in decline.
A nation committed to a "more perfect union" must to some degree be in a constant state of flux. History has proven unequivocally the trite use of biblical justification is a less than worthy adversary when one decides to drink from the well of equality that was originally dug by the Founders.
Moreover, it is a mistake to compare Christianity's recent public efforts with those of the Civil Rights Movement of the '60s. The purpose of that movement was not to move the country to the limited contours of its particular doctrine, but rather to move the nation toward the promises it already made to all of its citizens.
The viewpoint that is deemed in the best interest of the church in its private morality cannot be the rationale that justifies denying the civil rights of individuals in the public morality.
The primary failing within much of American Christianity's latest pursuits in the public arena is its inability to see where its faith and the Constitution coalesce.
The Bible does not offer a commandment to "like" something, but it does command that one love. Doesn't that suggest that in the Christian tradition one must embrace the arduous task of loving that which they may not like?
Likewise, the Constitution was not written based on what the majority approves. I would argue the barometer for one's support of the Constitution is to embrace the concept of something that involves a specific issue they may philosophically oppose.
Both are difficult endeavors. It is understandable that one would advocate for a simpler path. But an honest examination suggests no such path is available. Even if it were, it is unable to make the individual better.
The Christian church at its best is an institution that offers guidance through the complexities of the human condition, humbled by the reality that there are some questions for which "I don't know" is the only appropriate response. Failing to pursue this valiant undertaking creates an arrogance that undermines its best intentions.
And any religion defined by its worst attributes of its own making can only look in the mirror to seek the guilty party for its demise.
The number may vary but the trend line is consistent: The Christian church is in decline. From church attendance to those who identify as Christian, all numbers are heading south.
Is Christianity the new middle class? Has it become an amorphous term to describe something that most assume they understand but carries no real meaning?
There are myriad reasons for Christianity's downward trajectory. My focus is the public face of Christianity.
Ironically, it has become a faith defined more by its willingness to exclude.
If one reads the Gospel narratives, the teachings of Jesus clearly indicate love, inconvenient love, is at the epicenter of the faith. Observers of the faith are placed in a paradoxical bind in that its difficulty is rooted in its simplicity -- the simplicity to love burdened by the difficulty to achieve it.
As a result, Christianity is dominated, at least in America, by an ethos of oversimplification that seeks not a self-reflective inconvenient love, but one that places its focus on the other.
Historically, Christianity's post Enlightenment participation in the public square is a mixed bag. The church was on both sides of slavery, the Civil War, women's suffrage, Jim Crow segregation, the Holocaust, and South African Apartheid.
We've recently witnessed for profit corporations hiding behind the veneer of the amorphous term Christianity seeking laws that come uncomfortably close to the type of dehumanization that necessitated the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which some describe as a law that opens the door to discriminate against same-sex couples, while others offer that it would give people more freedom to follow the dictates of their faith.
Evangelical leader, Franklin Graham is calling on Christians to boycott gay-friendly corporations. Graham recently announced that he is moving all the bank accounts for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association out of Wells Fargo because of its ad featuring a lesbian couple.
However these issues are adjudicated in the short term, the long term prospects can only do additional harm to the public face of a faith already in decline.
A nation committed to a "more perfect union" must to some degree be in a constant state of flux. History has proven unequivocally the trite use of biblical justification is a less than worthy adversary when one decides to drink from the well of equality that was originally dug by the Founders.
Moreover, it is a mistake to compare Christianity's recent public efforts with those of the Civil Rights Movement of the '60s. The purpose of that movement was not to move the country to the limited contours of its particular doctrine, but rather to move the nation toward the promises it already made to all of its citizens.
The viewpoint that is deemed in the best interest of the church in its private morality cannot be the rationale that justifies denying the civil rights of individuals in the public morality.
The primary failing within much of American Christianity's latest pursuits in the public arena is its inability to see where its faith and the Constitution coalesce.
The Bible does not offer a commandment to "like" something, but it does command that one love. Doesn't that suggest that in the Christian tradition one must embrace the arduous task of loving that which they may not like?
Likewise, the Constitution was not written based on what the majority approves. I would argue the barometer for one's support of the Constitution is to embrace the concept of something that involves a specific issue they may philosophically oppose.
Both are difficult endeavors. It is understandable that one would advocate for a simpler path. But an honest examination suggests no such path is available. Even if it were, it is unable to make the individual better.
The Christian church at its best is an institution that offers guidance through the complexities of the human condition, humbled by the reality that there are some questions for which "I don't know" is the only appropriate response. Failing to pursue this valiant undertaking creates an arrogance that undermines its best intentions.
And any religion defined by its worst attributes of its own making can only look in the mirror to seek the guilty party for its demise.
May 1, 2015
Conversion With Ease
Today's "christian church" bears no resemblance to Christianity. It was rapidly corrupted by long lists of Do's and Don'ts. Rules were created to determine what makes for a Christian or not. Value added considerations for what comprises a valid conversion or not! Etc!!!!!
Everything today is weighed, valued, studied, condemned if it does not match with "their" expectation.
So, to make this really easy for you - if you believe in any DENOMINATIONAL statement of faith, welcome to the false church of paganism. Too harsh? Nope. Got lists of laws you have to follow - written or unwritten - yup, you are there. Sure Christianity was your desired choice of salvation, but you ended up with a pagan religion called christianity, not Christianity - better known as The Way in the first century.
Luke 19:1 - 10
Compare your religious experience with Zacchaeus ... and commitment ...
He Sought Jesus
He wanted to see Jesus.
He wanted to hear Jesus.
He climbed a tree in order to try and do both.
He was curious, I would guess that the Holy Spirit had been working on him sufficiently long enough to push him to be there that day and to climb a tree where Jesus would ultimately see him! Though I doubt his thought was, "I want Jesus to see ME". If the Holy Spirit was convicting him, he knew he had done wrong and he knew he needed salvation.
He Obeyed Jesus
Jesus stopped under Zacchaeus' fig tree.
Jesus called him down.
Jesus told him that he would be hosting him that night.
And Zacchaeus came down from the tree.
He did as requested. He had no reason to. He came to listen out of curiosity at the least. And now this Rabbi, this Jesus was talking to him!
He Served Jesus
We are told that Zacchaeus stood up, so perhaps he had prostrated himself before Jesus?
He declared he would make his thefts as a tax collector right.
Jesus declares that this son of Abraham has found salvation.
_____
So what does this tale tell us of Conversion?
Something: curiosity, opportunity or the Holy Spirit provides the desire to search out this Jesus.
You respond and do what you have to, to learn about this man.
He (God) will respond to your response and provide you the opportunity to obey Him.
You will have the opportunity to serve.
-------
Hmmm, you and God in a transaction to come to salvation.
I have no doubt that there were those whom had told him of Jesus (witnessing).
I have no doubt he was told where Jesus would be (invitation).
And then it was all up to God.
Notice how there were no requirements for exhibit any gifts or fruits, how he was unbaptized, etc! And yet declared to be saved.
It does not get any easier than this!
_____
Interestingly Zacchaeus climbed a fig tree we are told. The fig tree was always the symbol of Israel in Jesus' examples. Was this a picture of Jesus calling His people out of Israel?
____
Points to remember about Conversion:
Pretty simple huh?
See how denominations are created? Man's desire to put in rules and regulations on what each of those bullet points are and really mean ... and yet, Jesus already told us what they meant to Him, and well, He ought to know.
Everything today is weighed, valued, studied, condemned if it does not match with "their" expectation.
So, to make this really easy for you - if you believe in any DENOMINATIONAL statement of faith, welcome to the false church of paganism. Too harsh? Nope. Got lists of laws you have to follow - written or unwritten - yup, you are there. Sure Christianity was your desired choice of salvation, but you ended up with a pagan religion called christianity, not Christianity - better known as The Way in the first century.
Luke 19:1 - 10
Compare your religious experience with Zacchaeus ... and commitment ...
He Sought Jesus
He wanted to see Jesus.
He wanted to hear Jesus.
He climbed a tree in order to try and do both.
He was curious, I would guess that the Holy Spirit had been working on him sufficiently long enough to push him to be there that day and to climb a tree where Jesus would ultimately see him! Though I doubt his thought was, "I want Jesus to see ME". If the Holy Spirit was convicting him, he knew he had done wrong and he knew he needed salvation.
He Obeyed Jesus
Jesus stopped under Zacchaeus' fig tree.
Jesus called him down.
Jesus told him that he would be hosting him that night.
And Zacchaeus came down from the tree.
He did as requested. He had no reason to. He came to listen out of curiosity at the least. And now this Rabbi, this Jesus was talking to him!
He Served Jesus
We are told that Zacchaeus stood up, so perhaps he had prostrated himself before Jesus?
He declared he would make his thefts as a tax collector right.
Jesus declares that this son of Abraham has found salvation.
_____
So what does this tale tell us of Conversion?
Something: curiosity, opportunity or the Holy Spirit provides the desire to search out this Jesus.
You respond and do what you have to, to learn about this man.
He (God) will respond to your response and provide you the opportunity to obey Him.
You will have the opportunity to serve.
-------
Hmmm, you and God in a transaction to come to salvation.
I have no doubt that there were those whom had told him of Jesus (witnessing).
I have no doubt he was told where Jesus would be (invitation).
And then it was all up to God.
Notice how there were no requirements for exhibit any gifts or fruits, how he was unbaptized, etc! And yet declared to be saved.
It does not get any easier than this!
_____
Interestingly Zacchaeus climbed a fig tree we are told. The fig tree was always the symbol of Israel in Jesus' examples. Was this a picture of Jesus calling His people out of Israel?
____
Points to remember about Conversion:
- There is no magic place
- There are no magic words
- Your calling upon Jesus for help is all there is
- You are expected make your sins right
- You are expected to read and obey
- You are expected to pray and obey
- You are expected to fellowship as a Christian (not as a Southern Baptist or whatever!)
- You are expected to observe communion
- You are expected to grow and to teach others
- You are expected to fail, pick yourself up, start over as needed
Pretty simple huh?
See how denominations are created? Man's desire to put in rules and regulations on what each of those bullet points are and really mean ... and yet, Jesus already told us what they meant to Him, and well, He ought to know.
April 2, 2015
Racism
Very little gets my blood to boil faster than racism and prejudice. I was raise in Europe and neither of these expressions of ego, pride and sin were evident. Well, there was the overwhelming fear of Gypsies - of the disease and larceny associated with them. But, all Gypsies were Romanian and thanks to the Russians were stuck there. But, heavens!, if someone was seen with brown eyes in a neighboring town, the entire district would be put on alert! Yeah, a form of prejudice against people with brown eyes, but then again, profiling is not unwarranted.
So, when not so little Swiss Boy came to America, I had only once ever seen a black man, at Ramstein Air Base. He was a nice man - I thought his skin color odd but, well, of what importance is that? Even amongst the Germans I was weird because of my not so translucent white skin. I am a quarter American Indian - I have the darker skin, thick hair on head and curved teeth to prove it. But, I am also of German extraction, so darker than an average German. My ability to tan always raised comments like, "I thought you were white, 10 minutes ago!"
Always good for a laugh.
When I cam to America, I lived my first two years in South Carolina. I pretty much never say another person again, outside of my family. Bused to a black High School seventy miles away - when the KKK would allow the bus to actually reach the school! - I was a blazing white emblem of different. Yeah, no one liked me, except for a girl named Laura, amongst the other few whites in the school.
The move to Colorado was a blessing! I was a bit tired of spending every lunch hour running for my life from a very hostile student body! No exaggeration there, Hillcrest High School was brutal on us few. But, I did not hold this against the race, but that I was different and for some reason Americans had a problem with "different". A fact I have seen consistently across my 45 years in this country.
Now in tenth grade, I started to notice girls - no not like that but in the manner that they were different in how they dealt with people. The guys brutal on those whom were too tall ( I was already 6'), needed help to read English, could barely write in English and could out run a jack rabbit! Square peg in every situation. Did not help that I was a dork as well.
My mother became a Southern Baptist about now and so I was forced to attend. Might have been nice if the pastor was a Christian at Aurora's First Baptist Church - but he was not, nor were most of the congregation! However, I made a lifelong friend and met a girl named Regena Thames (it could just as easily be spelled Regina Thimes, I was so weak in my English back then!) And I found her fascinating. She would help me with my problem with English, explain this whole Christian ideal to me and eventually, I was to meet her family.
Uhm, culture shock, yeah, that would be a term for it ...
You see she was black, still meant nothing to me - but oh boy did it ever mean something to her parents! Her father actually sold the house and moved across Denver to get her away from that weird German! And, yeah, I was a bit confused.
I thought racism and prejudice was whites hating on blacks, much the same as in South Africa. I certainly had seen this in South Carolina! But, this was the reverse - blacks hating on me because I was white and their daughter liked me (get real here guys, I never even held her hand!). Then I started to understand those prior two years in South Carolina: it was racism I had been experiencing at Hillcrest High School! Well, I guess I could understand that if you were being discriminated against badly enough for generations, it might be warranted to treat your antagonists poorly as well. Of course, chasing German boys around and threatening to cut their throats seemed a bit extreme of a reaction to me. But, then I was one the one being chased.
I have remained color blind in my life. I moved to Washington State because I had visited Seattle in 1970 and did not see any evidence of problems between peoples based on skin color. My sister was to marry a black man, whom I admire greatly - three doctorates, a hard worker and he loves my sister. Cool.
And the thought of racism faded away. I have lived either in Washington State, Colorado or Arizona ever since High School - save for much time in my native land. I watched with interest the collapse of South Africa and its politic of Apartheid - and the wisdom of the following trials. The world was growing better.
Then I talk with my oldest friend from Colorado last week. It was racism 101 from his lips and I was appalled and may have given him more a severe lecture that I would have in person! Yeah.
The garbage flowing across his lips - stood in stark contrast - to the young man whose best friend had been Regena's older brother. Yeah, his best friend in 10th grade had been black. He had no problem with my running around with Regena, in fact we all hung out together a great deal prior to that move of her father. And now ..... ?
I will admit I have a problem when any human declares themselves better than any other human. I grew up in a country shattered by war because an elite seized power and declared themselves better than the disabled, better than homosexuals, better than the Jew, better than the Gypies, even better than Christians whom disagreed with them! And they outright slaughtered 14,000.000 to prove they were better, stronger, more worthy of godhood than anyone else.
I really do not think that people understand that this was racism in the extreme in Germany, and not much different than that KKK terrorism of 1970 South Carolina, nor the foolish being spewed by my oldest friend.
But, sadly, it is the measure by which I can observe just how far my friend has traveled from God. He is now better than others, even though he understands that before God - he is just as unworthy as everyone else. Except in his mind, others are less worthy because of their skin color and he can not understand how God can be so - blind ... about something so important ...
Sigh please be in prayer for him and those whom you may know have a real sin area they need to work on ... Pride, Ego, Sin ... it all the same here - you are saying you are smarter than God, in fact you are God ...
So, when not so little Swiss Boy came to America, I had only once ever seen a black man, at Ramstein Air Base. He was a nice man - I thought his skin color odd but, well, of what importance is that? Even amongst the Germans I was weird because of my not so translucent white skin. I am a quarter American Indian - I have the darker skin, thick hair on head and curved teeth to prove it. But, I am also of German extraction, so darker than an average German. My ability to tan always raised comments like, "I thought you were white, 10 minutes ago!"
Always good for a laugh.
When I cam to America, I lived my first two years in South Carolina. I pretty much never say another person again, outside of my family. Bused to a black High School seventy miles away - when the KKK would allow the bus to actually reach the school! - I was a blazing white emblem of different. Yeah, no one liked me, except for a girl named Laura, amongst the other few whites in the school.
The move to Colorado was a blessing! I was a bit tired of spending every lunch hour running for my life from a very hostile student body! No exaggeration there, Hillcrest High School was brutal on us few. But, I did not hold this against the race, but that I was different and for some reason Americans had a problem with "different". A fact I have seen consistently across my 45 years in this country.
Now in tenth grade, I started to notice girls - no not like that but in the manner that they were different in how they dealt with people. The guys brutal on those whom were too tall ( I was already 6'), needed help to read English, could barely write in English and could out run a jack rabbit! Square peg in every situation. Did not help that I was a dork as well.
My mother became a Southern Baptist about now and so I was forced to attend. Might have been nice if the pastor was a Christian at Aurora's First Baptist Church - but he was not, nor were most of the congregation! However, I made a lifelong friend and met a girl named Regena Thames (it could just as easily be spelled Regina Thimes, I was so weak in my English back then!) And I found her fascinating. She would help me with my problem with English, explain this whole Christian ideal to me and eventually, I was to meet her family.
Uhm, culture shock, yeah, that would be a term for it ...
You see she was black, still meant nothing to me - but oh boy did it ever mean something to her parents! Her father actually sold the house and moved across Denver to get her away from that weird German! And, yeah, I was a bit confused.
I thought racism and prejudice was whites hating on blacks, much the same as in South Africa. I certainly had seen this in South Carolina! But, this was the reverse - blacks hating on me because I was white and their daughter liked me (get real here guys, I never even held her hand!). Then I started to understand those prior two years in South Carolina: it was racism I had been experiencing at Hillcrest High School! Well, I guess I could understand that if you were being discriminated against badly enough for generations, it might be warranted to treat your antagonists poorly as well. Of course, chasing German boys around and threatening to cut their throats seemed a bit extreme of a reaction to me. But, then I was one the one being chased.
I have remained color blind in my life. I moved to Washington State because I had visited Seattle in 1970 and did not see any evidence of problems between peoples based on skin color. My sister was to marry a black man, whom I admire greatly - three doctorates, a hard worker and he loves my sister. Cool.
And the thought of racism faded away. I have lived either in Washington State, Colorado or Arizona ever since High School - save for much time in my native land. I watched with interest the collapse of South Africa and its politic of Apartheid - and the wisdom of the following trials. The world was growing better.
Then I talk with my oldest friend from Colorado last week. It was racism 101 from his lips and I was appalled and may have given him more a severe lecture that I would have in person! Yeah.
The garbage flowing across his lips - stood in stark contrast - to the young man whose best friend had been Regena's older brother. Yeah, his best friend in 10th grade had been black. He had no problem with my running around with Regena, in fact we all hung out together a great deal prior to that move of her father. And now ..... ?
I will admit I have a problem when any human declares themselves better than any other human. I grew up in a country shattered by war because an elite seized power and declared themselves better than the disabled, better than homosexuals, better than the Jew, better than the Gypies, even better than Christians whom disagreed with them! And they outright slaughtered 14,000.000 to prove they were better, stronger, more worthy of godhood than anyone else.
I really do not think that people understand that this was racism in the extreme in Germany, and not much different than that KKK terrorism of 1970 South Carolina, nor the foolish being spewed by my oldest friend.
But, sadly, it is the measure by which I can observe just how far my friend has traveled from God. He is now better than others, even though he understands that before God - he is just as unworthy as everyone else. Except in his mind, others are less worthy because of their skin color and he can not understand how God can be so - blind ... about something so important ...
Sigh please be in prayer for him and those whom you may know have a real sin area they need to work on ... Pride, Ego, Sin ... it all the same here - you are saying you are smarter than God, in fact you are God ...
March 23, 2015
Anger
(re-reading this several days later - and oh my gosh! You would not realize that English is my third language! Oh heavens! My apologies! I hope I get it cleaned up correctly this time!)
I have one area of sin I am victim to: pride.
It is subtle.
It is when I put myself ahead of God in what I am doing..
It is never observed until I find I have been tripped up by Satan.
Then, well, yeah, I have to repent and try harder for no new next time.
I do not talk about my pre-Christian life, there is very little to say of any value to anyone.
I was quite simply the most violent person you have never been able to even imagine.
Sorry, Hollywood is not going to be able to help you here.
Killer Elite, came even close to the level of violence I am referring to here.
And violence was triggered back then by my reaction of anger. Note: not an emotion of anger.
Emotional anger is consuming until it is vented.
Reactionary anger is there, then it is not, it has a trigger, it is not a force.
And that trigger has always been injustice for me.
Show me an injustice, I will show you a victim in the making. Pure and simple.
And that was how my private life and early military experience went.
And the US Government was happy then, but just wait until my book is published !!!!!
I mentioned across the past weeks that Satan has been banging on me like there is no tomorrow!
And I could not figure out why.
Then I had a day straight out of the Twilight Zone.
Everything was weird, nothing normal was happening, and I realized - in time - Satan was trying to get me to react in anger to all that was befallen me.
Now understanding, I was able to succeed in putting this behind me.
I was not going to be falling prey to anger again, and the past it drags forward each time.
(Yeah, later Satan nailed me with Pride yet again ... sigh ... start over, AGAIN!)
So last week I was at an awards presentation for some Christian kids - and - well - all @#$% was to break lose over the disappointment expressed by some. In fact it grew into a mini riot as 20 kids started trashing things! Really? And ANGER rose up in me and I exploded.
I hit a table so hard that kids, heck parents, all sat down instantly and there was utter quiet. And, none to quietly I lashed out at them with a lecture concerning respect ...
I hear myself talking, but it is not me, hearing words I can remember from my discipleship back in the Hutterite Community and I can see that I am angry but it is not a bad anger that is going to lead to sin - it is ultimately calling the kids and adults to repent.
Two verses came to mind and I covered them in-depth, how they affected themselves, how they were damaging others and in violation of Jesus direct words .....
The easiest summation is that if you do not respect yourself, you will never be able to respect others.
If you can not show respect to others, no one will ever respect you.
The Christian life you are called to is to put the other first - not you. Nothing in life is about you!
Utter silence followed ...
Then an 8th grade girl says, "Do you mean to tell me that life is about my being able to put others before me and my wants and desires?"
She turns and looks that the others, "Is that stupidest thing you have ever heard or what?"
And all went their way.
So, I went out of my way to contact this group and see where they were a day later.
Averted eyes, very quiet, respectful.
Hmmmm, so there is a kind of anger which is good, if used by God to call His own into account.
Cool ...
I have one area of sin I am victim to: pride.
It is subtle.
It is when I put myself ahead of God in what I am doing..
It is never observed until I find I have been tripped up by Satan.
Then, well, yeah, I have to repent and try harder for no new next time.
I do not talk about my pre-Christian life, there is very little to say of any value to anyone.
I was quite simply the most violent person you have never been able to even imagine.
Sorry, Hollywood is not going to be able to help you here.
Killer Elite, came even close to the level of violence I am referring to here.
And violence was triggered back then by my reaction of anger. Note: not an emotion of anger.
Emotional anger is consuming until it is vented.
Reactionary anger is there, then it is not, it has a trigger, it is not a force.
And that trigger has always been injustice for me.
Show me an injustice, I will show you a victim in the making. Pure and simple.
And that was how my private life and early military experience went.
And the US Government was happy then, but just wait until my book is published !!!!!
I mentioned across the past weeks that Satan has been banging on me like there is no tomorrow!
And I could not figure out why.
Then I had a day straight out of the Twilight Zone.
Everything was weird, nothing normal was happening, and I realized - in time - Satan was trying to get me to react in anger to all that was befallen me.
Now understanding, I was able to succeed in putting this behind me.
I was not going to be falling prey to anger again, and the past it drags forward each time.
(Yeah, later Satan nailed me with Pride yet again ... sigh ... start over, AGAIN!)
So last week I was at an awards presentation for some Christian kids - and - well - all @#$% was to break lose over the disappointment expressed by some. In fact it grew into a mini riot as 20 kids started trashing things! Really? And ANGER rose up in me and I exploded.
I hit a table so hard that kids, heck parents, all sat down instantly and there was utter quiet. And, none to quietly I lashed out at them with a lecture concerning respect ...
I hear myself talking, but it is not me, hearing words I can remember from my discipleship back in the Hutterite Community and I can see that I am angry but it is not a bad anger that is going to lead to sin - it is ultimately calling the kids and adults to repent.
Two verses came to mind and I covered them in-depth, how they affected themselves, how they were damaging others and in violation of Jesus direct words .....
Mark 12:31
31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”Luke 6:31
31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.The easiest summation is that if you do not respect yourself, you will never be able to respect others.
If you can not show respect to others, no one will ever respect you.
The Christian life you are called to is to put the other first - not you. Nothing in life is about you!
Utter silence followed ...
Then an 8th grade girl says, "Do you mean to tell me that life is about my being able to put others before me and my wants and desires?"
She turns and looks that the others, "Is that stupidest thing you have ever heard or what?"
And all went their way.
So, I went out of my way to contact this group and see where they were a day later.
Averted eyes, very quiet, respectful.
Hmmmm, so there is a kind of anger which is good, if used by God to call His own into account.
Cool ...
March 12, 2015
Superstition's Fine Line
In my last post, I referred to today's christian church as being superstitious and yeah, that brought a bit of comment. :)
Within the current culture of modern christianity is woven a complex web of old wive's tales, cultic beliefs, practices and worldwide gullibility.
Because I was hit by a truck while bicycling in 1996, "Why Kris if only you wore a suit to church, God would be protecting you! But, as it is you whom disrespect God and He ... well ..." I honestly burst out laughing in that lady's face. I am still chuckling all of these years later.
I am a complete and utter klutz, my ability to injure myself is legendary ... Apparently not. "You must be the worst sinner on the face of the Earth Kris! God is constantly having to injure you just to get your attention!" "No, Paul is claimed to be the worse sinner, so either Paul is a liar or I am less sinful than him!" "Whaaaaaaaaaaaa ... ?"
"You know Kris, you only have transportation troubles (constantly!) because you are doing something wrong! You know if you just tithed you would have no troubles at all!" "Uhm, I am not willing to reduce my giving to the God's ministries so that He can bless me more ..." Yeah, historically, my detractors give about half what I do ... They must be really blessed!
"Kris, you just do not pray enough. Why if you only prayed more, your parents would be Christian and you children less troubled!" I wonder how many decades, three times a day, praying for my parents, does not become "enough" to push them over the edge! Really?
"Sorry to hear about that fire Kris! (anyone remember that 2005 fire from the long defunct blog?) You know, if you just would "claim" God's safety and protection things like this would never happen!" I can't even honor that one with a response!
Yeah, everything in our life is our own fault because we do not possess the "faith" to name it and claim it - so therefore, we apparently suffer because God demands our requests before He dishes out blessings ...
Seemingly, God blesses me unexpectedly, without my having to ask, much less imagine the multiples of ways in which He does! Literally, I have watched my life go to Hell in a handbasket across the past six years - and equally I have seen His blessings day after day throughout the same period of time. Most of them I will never mention - because then we can start a new superstition - be like Kris and you will blessed! Not! But, you medial expenditures would go up ...
So, we seem to have a quandary :\
God blesses without our expectation or having to ask
Those whom demand/ask/expect often receive as well
Can both approaches be true?
Well God is sovereign, so He can and will do as He pleases. But, I have to think on the Old Testament Book of Job 40:6-14 as well as Job 42:1-6.
I think those two verses sum up Job's discovery about God rather well. No, Christian superstition is not addressed in the Bible, except perhaps by extension in the Epistles of John where John had to argue against the gnostic's and their belief in "hidden knowledge", only available to the select ... Join our church and learn about how you can be blessed ....
No, God's knowledge, which He shares with us is for all. It is the cult wherer things are hidden, only the very select, the very faithful, the most generous, can be taught and know ... and well most people are not part of the select ... so therefore the Bible is hidden knowledge, unknowable by you or anyone other than them ...
It is why we know the Health and Wealth gospel to not be the gospel of Jesus, but one of demons.
Sorry world .... you truly are going to Hell because you have willingly allowed yourself to be misled.
Within the current culture of modern christianity is woven a complex web of old wive's tales, cultic beliefs, practices and worldwide gullibility.
Because I was hit by a truck while bicycling in 1996, "Why Kris if only you wore a suit to church, God would be protecting you! But, as it is you whom disrespect God and He ... well ..." I honestly burst out laughing in that lady's face. I am still chuckling all of these years later.
I am a complete and utter klutz, my ability to injure myself is legendary ... Apparently not. "You must be the worst sinner on the face of the Earth Kris! God is constantly having to injure you just to get your attention!" "No, Paul is claimed to be the worse sinner, so either Paul is a liar or I am less sinful than him!" "Whaaaaaaaaaaaa ... ?"
"You know Kris, you only have transportation troubles (constantly!) because you are doing something wrong! You know if you just tithed you would have no troubles at all!" "Uhm, I am not willing to reduce my giving to the God's ministries so that He can bless me more ..." Yeah, historically, my detractors give about half what I do ... They must be really blessed!
"Kris, you just do not pray enough. Why if you only prayed more, your parents would be Christian and you children less troubled!" I wonder how many decades, three times a day, praying for my parents, does not become "enough" to push them over the edge! Really?
"Sorry to hear about that fire Kris! (anyone remember that 2005 fire from the long defunct blog?) You know, if you just would "claim" God's safety and protection things like this would never happen!" I can't even honor that one with a response!
Yeah, everything in our life is our own fault because we do not possess the "faith" to name it and claim it - so therefore, we apparently suffer because God demands our requests before He dishes out blessings ...
Seemingly, God blesses me unexpectedly, without my having to ask, much less imagine the multiples of ways in which He does! Literally, I have watched my life go to Hell in a handbasket across the past six years - and equally I have seen His blessings day after day throughout the same period of time. Most of them I will never mention - because then we can start a new superstition - be like Kris and you will blessed! Not! But, you medial expenditures would go up ...
So, we seem to have a quandary :\
God blesses without our expectation or having to ask
Those whom demand/ask/expect often receive as well
Can both approaches be true?
Well God is sovereign, so He can and will do as He pleases. But, I have to think on the Old Testament Book of Job 40:6-14 as well as Job 42:1-6.
I think those two verses sum up Job's discovery about God rather well. No, Christian superstition is not addressed in the Bible, except perhaps by extension in the Epistles of John where John had to argue against the gnostic's and their belief in "hidden knowledge", only available to the select ... Join our church and learn about how you can be blessed ....
No, God's knowledge, which He shares with us is for all. It is the cult wherer things are hidden, only the very select, the very faithful, the most generous, can be taught and know ... and well most people are not part of the select ... so therefore the Bible is hidden knowledge, unknowable by you or anyone other than them ...
It is why we know the Health and Wealth gospel to not be the gospel of Jesus, but one of demons.
Sorry world .... you truly are going to Hell because you have willingly allowed yourself to be misled.
December 23, 2014
Christmas
One frustration I have with this time of year is the pseudo-intellectuals whom pontificate concerning Christmas and its non-Christian origin ... and therefore Jesus is just a sham. Okay, apples, oranges, not the same, there none of them are fruits using that logic.
Yes, the Celtic tribes had a Winter Solstice celebration, virtually all pagan religions observed this, it was the point of the coming of winter. Important to know if you care about agriculture or hunting or just finding water.
Yes, the Roman Catholic Church set Jesus' birth to match with this celebration as a way in which to "christianize" a pagan holiday. (note small letters because there is nothing Christian about this.) When was Jesus born? Who cares? It was probably in April, hence the April's Fools Day, a time to play tricks on those stupid enough not to know it was December 25th that Jesus was born on! Yeah, Greek or eastern tradition versus Latin or western tradition. And Jesus was afterall eastern. Like I said, who cares? He was real, that is provable. He was crusified. His tomb was empty. The Jews attempted a cover up. All of this is known from non-Christian writings, if that somehow has a better historical basis for you.
But, today I am thinking about what Christmas is really about: Jesus, exactly whom was he?
Luke 2:8-12 - the long awaited Messiah for the Jews, he just was not what they were looking for! They wanted a physical kingdom. They wanted to rule others the way they were ruled by Rome! He offered them an eternal relationship with him and his Father.
Luke 2: 1-7 - he was born very much the normal way. Yeah, a miraculous creation but a very normal baby, birthed by a mother, through the usual process, usual growing up - he was completely human in that regard.
John 1:1-3,7 - he is the creator, whom chose to become a part of his own creation - well because he cares for the eternity for each and everyone of us.
1 Peter 2:24 - through his death, he set us free from the judgement for sin. Yeah, a little hard to understand: how he could set the rules and then take our punishment for what we chose to do ... unless you have been a parent and had the opportunity to beat the tar out of your son - to understand suddenly the compation God has for each of us in our own state of sin. Then you can understand, then you can forgive ... as you too have been forgiven.
Galations 2:20 - through his birth, his life, his death - and more importantly his resurrection from the grave - we have all been set free.
Revelation 19:11-16 - everyone must go through Him in the end. He is the final test, the final filter before anyone can enter Heaven ...
So, whether Jesus was born in December, April or June - it makes no difference. We have an arbitrary date to remember his coming, remember whom he is, remember what he has done for each of us and celebrate!
No, it is not about presents, it is about His sacrifice - and wouldn't it be nice if you could do something sacrifical this holiday season? First, for those around you - your family, your church; then for those you know - co-workers, those in your church, those you are not the closest with; then for those in your community; and then for the body of believers worldwide?
I am not talking cash or presents here, I am talking time, prayer and commitment to your brothers and sisters - no matter what you think about them - we are family.
Yes, the Celtic tribes had a Winter Solstice celebration, virtually all pagan religions observed this, it was the point of the coming of winter. Important to know if you care about agriculture or hunting or just finding water.
Yes, the Roman Catholic Church set Jesus' birth to match with this celebration as a way in which to "christianize" a pagan holiday. (note small letters because there is nothing Christian about this.) When was Jesus born? Who cares? It was probably in April, hence the April's Fools Day, a time to play tricks on those stupid enough not to know it was December 25th that Jesus was born on! Yeah, Greek or eastern tradition versus Latin or western tradition. And Jesus was afterall eastern. Like I said, who cares? He was real, that is provable. He was crusified. His tomb was empty. The Jews attempted a cover up. All of this is known from non-Christian writings, if that somehow has a better historical basis for you.
But, today I am thinking about what Christmas is really about: Jesus, exactly whom was he?
Luke 2:8-12 - the long awaited Messiah for the Jews, he just was not what they were looking for! They wanted a physical kingdom. They wanted to rule others the way they were ruled by Rome! He offered them an eternal relationship with him and his Father.
Luke 2: 1-7 - he was born very much the normal way. Yeah, a miraculous creation but a very normal baby, birthed by a mother, through the usual process, usual growing up - he was completely human in that regard.
John 1:1-3,7 - he is the creator, whom chose to become a part of his own creation - well because he cares for the eternity for each and everyone of us.
1 Peter 2:24 - through his death, he set us free from the judgement for sin. Yeah, a little hard to understand: how he could set the rules and then take our punishment for what we chose to do ... unless you have been a parent and had the opportunity to beat the tar out of your son - to understand suddenly the compation God has for each of us in our own state of sin. Then you can understand, then you can forgive ... as you too have been forgiven.
Galations 2:20 - through his birth, his life, his death - and more importantly his resurrection from the grave - we have all been set free.
Revelation 19:11-16 - everyone must go through Him in the end. He is the final test, the final filter before anyone can enter Heaven ...
So, whether Jesus was born in December, April or June - it makes no difference. We have an arbitrary date to remember his coming, remember whom he is, remember what he has done for each of us and celebrate!
No, it is not about presents, it is about His sacrifice - and wouldn't it be nice if you could do something sacrifical this holiday season? First, for those around you - your family, your church; then for those you know - co-workers, those in your church, those you are not the closest with; then for those in your community; and then for the body of believers worldwide?
I am not talking cash or presents here, I am talking time, prayer and commitment to your brothers and sisters - no matter what you think about them - we are family.
November 21, 2014
ISIS / ISIL
I was at a local store and the clerk had a heavy accent. "What is your accent?"
"I am from Bosnia."
My heart skipped a beat. I tried to keep the conversation going. "When did you move here?"
"I only came to find someone, but it has been a long time and I can not find him."
I let the conversation die, no I was not going to ask the next question, I feared the answer. For I was suddenly reminded in an odd way of the problem Bosnia and I have, which I believe is on the Little Apple Blog. I tend to forget that incident in my life, when the NATO refused to hold those responsible for the murder of my cousin Bernard, much less the over 1,000 executed with him. Wrong place, wrong time, medics not excepted. And I devised a devious justice to make them pay, and they did. By the end of that summer, no army had a working sniper left. And I slept well, knowing that murderers would be held for judgement by God. Like my ancestor Fredrick, I do not believe that all Muslims are bad, just the ones whom would murder their neighbors .... Yet, I live knowing for decades now that I bear a price on my head in Muslim held lands.
And with the rise of ISIS/ISIL, I have watched carefully the murderous swath they have cut through the Middle East and in random attacks even here in America and Canada. I have thought on this and the resolution is not a pretty one, for innocents would die - because the enemy can not be readily identified until they attack.
There have been numerous and sometimes contradictory stories and images of the anti-Christian slaughter on going in Iraq and Syria. They cannot all be confirmed. But, there is a pattern emerging - no one is immune from the barbaric acts of radical Muslim. Really just the reappearance of the Turks whom swept out of Egypt in the seventh century.
Do you remember a photo earlier this year of the corpse of a little girl, about ten years old, wearing a dress and leotards. She lies sprawled on the floor with her arms outstretched. For a presumably poor girl, she looks like she's dressed in her Sunday best. Everything about her looks normal, except that her head is missing. This photo makes you sick. It's right out of a horror movie. Something within you dies when you look at it.
Internet news media reported this is a Christian girl in Iraq beheaded by ISIS. Others report a different scenario for her death. But either way radical Islam killed her.
How do you justify killing a child? Much less a medic helping your own people? And more importantly, how could you do so in the name of God? As of this writing, Christians continue to be killed in Iraq simply because they won't convert to Islam. It is convert, pay a strict tax, flee, or die. In some cases, just convert or die continues to be the repeated phrase.
In one sense, this is not new. Radical Islam has been on the march since 632. Most of the population of the land they conquered, forced conversions upon or killed were conquered Christians. By 950, 50% of what had been Christendom was now under Muslim control, and the vast majority has never reverted back.
But today's leaders of Islam are more barbaric. ISIS refers to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. They are intent in re-creating the caliphate in the Middle East. Their spokesman said they won't stop until they fly the black flag of Islam over the U.S. White House. (Yah, sure ya betcha ... Just hold that thought for a while.)
Jesus told us that the day will come when men will kill you and think they are offering a service to God. They are deceived in thinking that God is pleased with this offering.
The irony is technically Islam teaches that Muslims will one day stand before whom on the Day of Judgment? Answer: Jesus. They teach that He will return one day. But they also teach the first thing He'll do is destroy all the crosses. They certainly don't believe in an avenging Jesus as Lord.
If radical Muslims think that by killing Christians Allah is somehow pleased, how wrong are they? Are they not succeeding? What is there to hold them accountable other than a few bombs hitting vacant buildings in the night? Yeah, the news hype begs the question: "whom is telling ISIS the targets in advance?". It is not by mistake ISIS captures weapons dropped to groups friendly with the west. Someone is feeding them information out of Washington DC.
Saul of Tarsus thought he was pleasing God by being party to the stoning of the first Christian martyr, Stephen. Before he was converted to Christianity on the road to Damascus, Saul was breathing out murderous threats to innocent Christians in Damascus. He threw some in jail - in some cases, they may well have died there.
Saul was just as much a religious terrorist as anyone in ISIS! Saul did what he did because he thought this was God's will for him to do so. Of course, God had other ideas on the subject and the Apostle Paul was created. For him, there was no more killing of Christians. Paul himself was beheaded for his Christian activities by Nero. Even a religious terrorist with blood on his hands can be converted to Jesus. And yes, murder seems to be repaid, even if you have converted.
Meanwhile, radical Muslims are killing Christians around the world. This is something mandated by Islam; the Koran says in Chapter IX Verse 123 to 'fight the unbelievers and let them find a harshness within you.'
Unfortunately, the enlightened age we have lived in failed to remember that there is a sickness which must always be held in check. Islam marched into Europe through force three hundred years ago, into the East seven hundred years earlier and continued a fight only ending at Vienna in 1683 with a slaughter. And this harshness referred to, to be shown those whom do not believe - a harshness which would kill innocent Christians, even children, in Iraq and Syria. This barbarism should be a wake-up call to the West.
Just as my cousin's death was to me ...
"I am from Bosnia."
My heart skipped a beat. I tried to keep the conversation going. "When did you move here?"
"I only came to find someone, but it has been a long time and I can not find him."
I let the conversation die, no I was not going to ask the next question, I feared the answer. For I was suddenly reminded in an odd way of the problem Bosnia and I have, which I believe is on the Little Apple Blog. I tend to forget that incident in my life, when the NATO refused to hold those responsible for the murder of my cousin Bernard, much less the over 1,000 executed with him. Wrong place, wrong time, medics not excepted. And I devised a devious justice to make them pay, and they did. By the end of that summer, no army had a working sniper left. And I slept well, knowing that murderers would be held for judgement by God. Like my ancestor Fredrick, I do not believe that all Muslims are bad, just the ones whom would murder their neighbors .... Yet, I live knowing for decades now that I bear a price on my head in Muslim held lands.
And with the rise of ISIS/ISIL, I have watched carefully the murderous swath they have cut through the Middle East and in random attacks even here in America and Canada. I have thought on this and the resolution is not a pretty one, for innocents would die - because the enemy can not be readily identified until they attack.
There have been numerous and sometimes contradictory stories and images of the anti-Christian slaughter on going in Iraq and Syria. They cannot all be confirmed. But, there is a pattern emerging - no one is immune from the barbaric acts of radical Muslim. Really just the reappearance of the Turks whom swept out of Egypt in the seventh century.
Do you remember a photo earlier this year of the corpse of a little girl, about ten years old, wearing a dress and leotards. She lies sprawled on the floor with her arms outstretched. For a presumably poor girl, she looks like she's dressed in her Sunday best. Everything about her looks normal, except that her head is missing. This photo makes you sick. It's right out of a horror movie. Something within you dies when you look at it.
Internet news media reported this is a Christian girl in Iraq beheaded by ISIS. Others report a different scenario for her death. But either way radical Islam killed her.
How do you justify killing a child? Much less a medic helping your own people? And more importantly, how could you do so in the name of God? As of this writing, Christians continue to be killed in Iraq simply because they won't convert to Islam. It is convert, pay a strict tax, flee, or die. In some cases, just convert or die continues to be the repeated phrase.
In one sense, this is not new. Radical Islam has been on the march since 632. Most of the population of the land they conquered, forced conversions upon or killed were conquered Christians. By 950, 50% of what had been Christendom was now under Muslim control, and the vast majority has never reverted back.
But today's leaders of Islam are more barbaric. ISIS refers to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. They are intent in re-creating the caliphate in the Middle East. Their spokesman said they won't stop until they fly the black flag of Islam over the U.S. White House. (Yah, sure ya betcha ... Just hold that thought for a while.)
Jesus told us that the day will come when men will kill you and think they are offering a service to God. They are deceived in thinking that God is pleased with this offering.
The irony is technically Islam teaches that Muslims will one day stand before whom on the Day of Judgment? Answer: Jesus. They teach that He will return one day. But they also teach the first thing He'll do is destroy all the crosses. They certainly don't believe in an avenging Jesus as Lord.
If radical Muslims think that by killing Christians Allah is somehow pleased, how wrong are they? Are they not succeeding? What is there to hold them accountable other than a few bombs hitting vacant buildings in the night? Yeah, the news hype begs the question: "whom is telling ISIS the targets in advance?". It is not by mistake ISIS captures weapons dropped to groups friendly with the west. Someone is feeding them information out of Washington DC.
Saul of Tarsus thought he was pleasing God by being party to the stoning of the first Christian martyr, Stephen. Before he was converted to Christianity on the road to Damascus, Saul was breathing out murderous threats to innocent Christians in Damascus. He threw some in jail - in some cases, they may well have died there.
Saul was just as much a religious terrorist as anyone in ISIS! Saul did what he did because he thought this was God's will for him to do so. Of course, God had other ideas on the subject and the Apostle Paul was created. For him, there was no more killing of Christians. Paul himself was beheaded for his Christian activities by Nero. Even a religious terrorist with blood on his hands can be converted to Jesus. And yes, murder seems to be repaid, even if you have converted.
Meanwhile, radical Muslims are killing Christians around the world. This is something mandated by Islam; the Koran says in Chapter IX Verse 123 to 'fight the unbelievers and let them find a harshness within you.'
Unfortunately, the enlightened age we have lived in failed to remember that there is a sickness which must always be held in check. Islam marched into Europe through force three hundred years ago, into the East seven hundred years earlier and continued a fight only ending at Vienna in 1683 with a slaughter. And this harshness referred to, to be shown those whom do not believe - a harshness which would kill innocent Christians, even children, in Iraq and Syria. This barbarism should be a wake-up call to the West.
Just as my cousin's death was to me ...
September 19, 2014
Round 5: Pharisees vs Jesus
Mark 3:1 - 6
Jesus crosses swords with the Pharisees yet again, only this time He is getting a bit miffed with them, as you saw when you read this passage!
The God Moment
Jesus is being set up by the Pharisees.
It is possible that the Pharisees planted the man with the withered arm to see if Jesus would break their laws on the Sabbath.
It is just as possible that God had provided the man with the withered arm to show the Pharisees what Jesus could do!
And Jesus is at Synagogue on the Sabbath, a very normal event in his life.
And Jesus called the man forward.
Each of us has a choice: honor God or honor ourselves.
Had Jesus of not of called the man forward then the law of man would have been honored.
By calling the man forward, by healing the man, by then taking on the Pharisees - God was honored.
Good and Mad
Jesus did good that morning at Synagogue.
Jesus also got mad for His accusers had no answer to his question.
All the Pharisees had were rules to follow, but no actual concern for the people.
We are to be angry without sinning! We are to sensitive to doing right!
Be angry at injustice, harm done others, wrong doing, war, condoned sin,etc!
You Will Make Enemies
Jesus is accused of healing on the Sabbath.
Yet, murder is plotted on the Sabbath!
The Pharisees are willing to join forces with the Herodians to bring down Jesus!
The Herodians wanted peace for economic reasons.
The Pharisees wanted things to stay the same for control reasons.
Joined together they had the same desire - stop Jesus from rocking the boat!
We have an incredible ability to justify ourselves ...
Jesus crosses swords with the Pharisees yet again, only this time He is getting a bit miffed with them, as you saw when you read this passage!
The God Moment
Jesus is being set up by the Pharisees.
It is possible that the Pharisees planted the man with the withered arm to see if Jesus would break their laws on the Sabbath.
It is just as possible that God had provided the man with the withered arm to show the Pharisees what Jesus could do!
And Jesus is at Synagogue on the Sabbath, a very normal event in his life.
And Jesus called the man forward.
Each of us has a choice: honor God or honor ourselves.
Had Jesus of not of called the man forward then the law of man would have been honored.
By calling the man forward, by healing the man, by then taking on the Pharisees - God was honored.
Good and Mad
Jesus did good that morning at Synagogue.
Jesus also got mad for His accusers had no answer to his question.
All the Pharisees had were rules to follow, but no actual concern for the people.
We are to be angry without sinning! We are to sensitive to doing right!
Be angry at injustice, harm done others, wrong doing, war, condoned sin,etc!
You Will Make Enemies
Jesus is accused of healing on the Sabbath.
Yet, murder is plotted on the Sabbath!
The Pharisees are willing to join forces with the Herodians to bring down Jesus!
The Herodians wanted peace for economic reasons.
The Pharisees wanted things to stay the same for control reasons.
Joined together they had the same desire - stop Jesus from rocking the boat!
We have an incredible ability to justify ourselves ...
July 22, 2014
No Magic Words
Okay, so this continues for you the thought that we live in a culture which does not know whom God actually is any longer and if you are the average Christian follower attending a Western Theology Church - you are still lost in your sin and you are Satan's victim ... Yeah, a little rough to say but everywhere I travel in this western culture - I see the same spirit of deception leading those whom should be the faithful further from the truth, further into lie, and no one suspects a thing ...
For years I have slowly been introducing the next generation to the concept that "the church" is sick, the Bible is the cure, but you have to actively seek God's face these days because no one seems to hear His quiet voice any longer. But it is darn hard to seek His face when you do not even know where to look, more than likely are not even a Christian - even though you think you are, and so much sits between you and God that you never are going to find Him. So what to do?
1. Are you a Christian? Simple question. Have you taken a point in time and humbled yourself before God and confessed your failures, asked for his forgiveness and then DONE something about your new faith?
2. Are you a Murderer?
Simple question. Have you taken human life in ANY manner what-so-ever? There is a very limited area where God sees a difference between murder and killing. Murder is your using force to take someone's life WITHOUT His request. Oh by the way in this age we live in, God is the taker of human life - not you, not your government, not your anything - we are all very guilty here for allowing this culture to have put us this position!
Equally, hatred is just as bad as actually commiting the act and murdering someone!
Repent of these to God, sin by sin area - in great detail before God! He will forgive if your heart is broken in this area. Else just expect Him to ignore you as He does now ....
3. Are you sexually compromised?
If you say no to this one, then you must not be living in this permissive Western Culture where sex is worshiped, the more abundantly, the better!
Make a list - of every single indescretion in this area - for your entire lifetime! Name names, thing on why you allowed yourself to either be used or used someone else.
But, the LUSTS are just as bad as commiting the acts. Add them to your list.
You are now going to be confessing each and everyone of these sins individually to God, by name, by act and asking for His forgiveness, Your forgiveness for each and everyone of those people!
4. Forgive yourself.
If you are like me, if you are like every other person I have had this conversation with - you have to forgive yourself as well. We are our own worse enemies and so in that same prayer with God - ask for forgiveness for yourself as well.
I wish you well, this is not an easy nor fun process.
It will be inconvient to your life.
It will cost you to do this.
Satan will attack.
You will face rejection like no tomorrow.
But set your eyes firmly on Jesus and let God take over in your life.
You can and will make it if you want to. And if you want, if you need someone to talk with and there is no one else, email me or message me on facebook ...
For years I have slowly been introducing the next generation to the concept that "the church" is sick, the Bible is the cure, but you have to actively seek God's face these days because no one seems to hear His quiet voice any longer. But it is darn hard to seek His face when you do not even know where to look, more than likely are not even a Christian - even though you think you are, and so much sits between you and God that you never are going to find Him. So what to do?
1. Are you a Christian? Simple question. Have you taken a point in time and humbled yourself before God and confessed your failures, asked for his forgiveness and then DONE something about your new faith?
2. Are you a Murderer?
Simple question. Have you taken human life in ANY manner what-so-ever? There is a very limited area where God sees a difference between murder and killing. Murder is your using force to take someone's life WITHOUT His request. Oh by the way in this age we live in, God is the taker of human life - not you, not your government, not your anything - we are all very guilty here for allowing this culture to have put us this position!
Equally, hatred is just as bad as actually commiting the act and murdering someone!
Repent of these to God, sin by sin area - in great detail before God! He will forgive if your heart is broken in this area. Else just expect Him to ignore you as He does now ....
3. Are you sexually compromised?
If you say no to this one, then you must not be living in this permissive Western Culture where sex is worshiped, the more abundantly, the better!
Make a list - of every single indescretion in this area - for your entire lifetime! Name names, thing on why you allowed yourself to either be used or used someone else.
But, the LUSTS are just as bad as commiting the acts. Add them to your list.
You are now going to be confessing each and everyone of these sins individually to God, by name, by act and asking for His forgiveness, Your forgiveness for each and everyone of those people!
4. Forgive yourself.
If you are like me, if you are like every other person I have had this conversation with - you have to forgive yourself as well. We are our own worse enemies and so in that same prayer with God - ask for forgiveness for yourself as well.
I wish you well, this is not an easy nor fun process.
It will be inconvient to your life.
It will cost you to do this.
Satan will attack.
You will face rejection like no tomorrow.
But set your eyes firmly on Jesus and let God take over in your life.
You can and will make it if you want to. And if you want, if you need someone to talk with and there is no one else, email me or message me on facebook ...
July 2, 2014
Inappropriate
So, Kris' tail feathers are still up and in a bad mood! Why, you ask?
Okay remember the fake Messianic Christian I posted about yesterday? Well, he had a friend with him, whom was selling copies of her sketches and drawings.
One pile of her sketches are nothing but the Lion of Judah, with details color penciled in. It was okay, what ever.
Second pile is of Biblical scenes like you might have found in a 19th century or earlier Bible. I have seen them all before.
Third pile is scenes of military craft from the Vietnam era and battles scenes all with quotes from the Bible.
She stands there telling everyone about how by listening to this anointed (annoying!) singer's music, it inspires her to produce these lovely sketches. Straight from God, through her fingers, on to paper, as well as, with the appropriate verses.
And I am thinking to myself, "What the heck!?!?!?!?"
The Bible sketches were all, that I could see, from ancient Christian Bibles and I even have most of them saved on my computer, she had copied the scenes and then colored them in.
Many of the sketches were straight from movie posters in the 1980's of Vietnam era movies and Rambo films! I know, I used to produce clip art from those same posters to drive home points to my bosses - unaccredited of course - in critical bulletin board postings!
Honestly, the verses stuck to these plagiarisms all made Christians look like a bunch of blood thirsty war mongers! Good Lord!
The teenage boys were all excited by the war scenes and their parents are shelling out cash ... it is Christian after all, right?
And I guess that God now encourages plagiarism in art. Who knew?
Okay remember the fake Messianic Christian I posted about yesterday? Well, he had a friend with him, whom was selling copies of her sketches and drawings.
One pile of her sketches are nothing but the Lion of Judah, with details color penciled in. It was okay, what ever.
Second pile is of Biblical scenes like you might have found in a 19th century or earlier Bible. I have seen them all before.
Third pile is scenes of military craft from the Vietnam era and battles scenes all with quotes from the Bible.
She stands there telling everyone about how by listening to this anointed (annoying!) singer's music, it inspires her to produce these lovely sketches. Straight from God, through her fingers, on to paper, as well as, with the appropriate verses.
And I am thinking to myself, "What the heck!?!?!?!?"
The Bible sketches were all, that I could see, from ancient Christian Bibles and I even have most of them saved on my computer, she had copied the scenes and then colored them in.
Many of the sketches were straight from movie posters in the 1980's of Vietnam era movies and Rambo films! I know, I used to produce clip art from those same posters to drive home points to my bosses - unaccredited of course - in critical bulletin board postings!
Honestly, the verses stuck to these plagiarisms all made Christians look like a bunch of blood thirsty war mongers! Good Lord!
The teenage boys were all excited by the war scenes and their parents are shelling out cash ... it is Christian after all, right?
And I guess that God now encourages plagiarism in art. Who knew?
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