I'm not pompous enough to think anyone cares about my personal accomplishments. But I write about Jesus. So, for the sake of His Holy Name, I invite you to visit the place where my testimony regarding Him is in development:
hiwaychristian.wordpress.com
Monday, May 23, 2011
Thursday, October 14, 2010
The Power of God Revealed
2 minutes before the smoothe stone left David's sling no man believed. 3000 years after that stone left it's mother there are millions of believers.
2 days after the death of Jesus no man believed. Since the third day billions have entered His presence. Would we have believed if all we knew were the happenings of men?
What is God about to do in your life that you would not believe were someone to tell you it was about to happen?
The book of God's will among men is still being written. It is God who will be Glorified. It is man's duty and joy to believe by the Spirit of God. Look up and consider the Power of the Holy One of Israel.
2 days after the death of Jesus no man believed. Since the third day billions have entered His presence. Would we have believed if all we knew were the happenings of men?
What is God about to do in your life that you would not believe were someone to tell you it was about to happen?
The book of God's will among men is still being written. It is God who will be Glorified. It is man's duty and joy to believe by the Spirit of God. Look up and consider the Power of the Holy One of Israel.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
With the Utmost Urgency
The worship of God should be of supreme urgency. Since there is none like Him and He calls His children to be holy, our worship should be of the utmost urgency. Many, who call themselves a "church", are presenting the entering into the Christian body as an act of joining a club. This should not be. Nor should the Church become a "how to" institution.
I remember when I came to the Lord. Had it not been for His Holy Word, the Bible, I would not have known what urgency was required. And let us not minimize the directing of the Holy Spirit in this formation of urgency. I had studied the Scriptures apart from the Church for a very long time. And it was God who led me to the body of Christ. Had it not been for this alienation from those who call themselves the "church", I might have become a mere member of a religious club. I thank God, then, for allowing the formation of understanding.
If you are a pastor of God's flock remember the severe judgment to come. Consider how you and your fellow elders might create an atmosphere of urgency regarding what is Holy. Though it is true that, "Whosoever will may come", He also leaves the door of His flock open to tares. He will not remove what is unholy from the presence of His people till that day when the Angels reap for Him. How then will you regain favor if you have been a planter of tares yourself?
I write this to remind those who tend and feed that they serve the Living God. His eyes are fixed on His people. And it is wise to remember the urgent and Holy calling. I had my shot and forgot such things. I have since paid the price for such laziness. There is no need to become a victim of social christianity. And let us not be overly innocent of a truth: There are many who call themselves pastors who have not become part of the Body of Christ themselves. The last word in this post is as urgent as the first: Renew.
By His Grace, buttermilk80.wordpress.com
I remember when I came to the Lord. Had it not been for His Holy Word, the Bible, I would not have known what urgency was required. And let us not minimize the directing of the Holy Spirit in this formation of urgency. I had studied the Scriptures apart from the Church for a very long time. And it was God who led me to the body of Christ. Had it not been for this alienation from those who call themselves the "church", I might have become a mere member of a religious club. I thank God, then, for allowing the formation of understanding.
If you are a pastor of God's flock remember the severe judgment to come. Consider how you and your fellow elders might create an atmosphere of urgency regarding what is Holy. Though it is true that, "Whosoever will may come", He also leaves the door of His flock open to tares. He will not remove what is unholy from the presence of His people till that day when the Angels reap for Him. How then will you regain favor if you have been a planter of tares yourself?
I write this to remind those who tend and feed that they serve the Living God. His eyes are fixed on His people. And it is wise to remember the urgent and Holy calling. I had my shot and forgot such things. I have since paid the price for such laziness. There is no need to become a victim of social christianity. And let us not be overly innocent of a truth: There are many who call themselves pastors who have not become part of the Body of Christ themselves. The last word in this post is as urgent as the first: Renew.
By His Grace, buttermilk80.wordpress.com
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
The Day of the Lord is Peaceful
We have heard it said that the “Day of the Lord” will be a horrible experience for all ungodly. We have heard it said that the “Earth groans under the oppression of the wicked”. And we have heard that there is a place where a Holy God will act against wickedness. A man of Jesus will put this precept into it’s proper perspective.
The ungodly will say this is not fair. We do what we do by nature and there is no justice in the punishment of all peoples who do not know the Holiness of God. “We’re just doing what we know to do.” The answer to that foolishness is simple and clear: “Have you not known?” Isn’t it plain to every man, woman and child that God is more than the mind of man? He has set everything in motion by His powerful and perfect peace. God is Love. But not the love of man. God is just. But not the justice of man. As God is eternal and man is but a few years, so the wisdom of God’s love and peace extend beyond man's ability to comprehend.
What do we see at the end of this world? Is it a God venting His Great Wrath with a frown on His face? No. This is not the way The Lord of Glory will proceed with His final “wrath”. It will be with that continual face of love and peace. We read that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And if Jesus is the exact representation of God, we will see God’s wrath as a stable individual.
When I had to spank my children, one day, I adopted the wisdom of God in the process. I told them what they had done to disobey my rule. I told reminded them that I had spoken the rule and told them of the punishment coming if they did not accomplish what I had laid out for them to do. I told them I found no pleasure in this punishment. And that I would much rather they had obeyed the rule. Then I told them I was going to deliver 5 spanks to their bottom as punishment for breaking the covenant we had established before. With tears in our eyes we moved into the next stage. We all three understood the situation and the necessity. No one was angry and no one was sad. It had become a matter of fact.
I believe we can see the nature of God in that example. The punishment has been spoken since the moment of the sin. God has warned us all of what we can expect for disobedience. Those who disobey will die. God is not unjust in the creation of hell. And we will find something else from this: In the death of the wicked, there will be billions who will be protected for eternity. It is as though a family is in the wilderness and a great bear threatens to maul them. I can tell you without a second thought, that if dad has a gun, that bear is dead. Dad won’t kill the bear with malace. There will be no anger in pulling the trigger. There will be love for his family in his finger and eye. The sights will align on the bear with a great steadiness. The explosion from the end of the rifle will be delivered in love. It will not be love for the bear. It will be love for the protection of his family and their future.
In the movie “pulp fiction” we saw two mafia hit men acting as though the murder of people were nothing more than an 8 to 5 job. And we marvel at the concept of such a calculated and cool approach to such tragedy. Consider something. A just and loving God can not be, by definition, anything more or less than just and loving. Make no mistake. Hell is prepared and the day is fast approaching. I would recommend that every man, both great and small, seek the Love of God through Christ Jesus. But for all who reject Jesus, the only pity I can find in God is that punishment is necessary. As the tears flowed with myself and my children, so it will be on that day. But, dear people, that day IS coming.
By His Grace.
The ungodly will say this is not fair. We do what we do by nature and there is no justice in the punishment of all peoples who do not know the Holiness of God. “We’re just doing what we know to do.” The answer to that foolishness is simple and clear: “Have you not known?” Isn’t it plain to every man, woman and child that God is more than the mind of man? He has set everything in motion by His powerful and perfect peace. God is Love. But not the love of man. God is just. But not the justice of man. As God is eternal and man is but a few years, so the wisdom of God’s love and peace extend beyond man's ability to comprehend.
What do we see at the end of this world? Is it a God venting His Great Wrath with a frown on His face? No. This is not the way The Lord of Glory will proceed with His final “wrath”. It will be with that continual face of love and peace. We read that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And if Jesus is the exact representation of God, we will see God’s wrath as a stable individual.
When I had to spank my children, one day, I adopted the wisdom of God in the process. I told them what they had done to disobey my rule. I told reminded them that I had spoken the rule and told them of the punishment coming if they did not accomplish what I had laid out for them to do. I told them I found no pleasure in this punishment. And that I would much rather they had obeyed the rule. Then I told them I was going to deliver 5 spanks to their bottom as punishment for breaking the covenant we had established before. With tears in our eyes we moved into the next stage. We all three understood the situation and the necessity. No one was angry and no one was sad. It had become a matter of fact.
I believe we can see the nature of God in that example. The punishment has been spoken since the moment of the sin. God has warned us all of what we can expect for disobedience. Those who disobey will die. God is not unjust in the creation of hell. And we will find something else from this: In the death of the wicked, there will be billions who will be protected for eternity. It is as though a family is in the wilderness and a great bear threatens to maul them. I can tell you without a second thought, that if dad has a gun, that bear is dead. Dad won’t kill the bear with malace. There will be no anger in pulling the trigger. There will be love for his family in his finger and eye. The sights will align on the bear with a great steadiness. The explosion from the end of the rifle will be delivered in love. It will not be love for the bear. It will be love for the protection of his family and their future.
In the movie “pulp fiction” we saw two mafia hit men acting as though the murder of people were nothing more than an 8 to 5 job. And we marvel at the concept of such a calculated and cool approach to such tragedy. Consider something. A just and loving God can not be, by definition, anything more or less than just and loving. Make no mistake. Hell is prepared and the day is fast approaching. I would recommend that every man, both great and small, seek the Love of God through Christ Jesus. But for all who reject Jesus, the only pity I can find in God is that punishment is necessary. As the tears flowed with myself and my children, so it will be on that day. But, dear people, that day IS coming.
By His Grace.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
The Pain We'll Never Know
Build a house on your property. Build it to your own dreams. All the windows just the right size and pointing to just the view you had in mind. You used the certain cedar you wanted, and the house smells Wonderful! When you walk from one end to the other, there is nothing about this house that doesn’t meet your joy. All your dreams and hopes are finally come to fruit. It’s a beautiful place and you’re perfectly happy with what you’ve accomplished.
Now it’s time to invite your loved ones to come see it. When they arrive they too are astounded at the beauty of the place. There is a great joy because you finally get what you’ve dreamed about for so very long. After a joyous celebration in the back yard, and many trips from your friends into and around the house to marvel at what your hands made, the guests filter home. You are left alone in silence with your wonderful peaceful accomplishment. And, finally, you’re happy. To bed you go. Your first night’s sleep in your dream house. Oh it’s not possible to explain the joy you feel.
You wake up the next morning and stare at the intricate hand work of your bedroom. “Beautiful”, you sigh. After getting dressed and enjoying that exquisite view out your bedroom window, you skip down the stairs to make a pot of coffee. “What’s that smell?” It’s not cedar. There’s an odor you can’t identify. At first it’s so unexpected to your senses you think it’s a sweet smell. But a second whiff and you realize it’s such a foul smell that your brain couldn’t identify it. “Wow, that’s nasty”, you think to yourself. But you just can’t find the source. Something’s wrong with your dream house and you can’t find it.
Weeks have passed and your dreams have become shattered by that smell. Now a green fungus has begone growing on the walls. At first you thought it was just a dust. You’ve worked at it for a while now and made no progress. You took it on the chin at first. Thinking to yourself, “I put a lot of sweat, blood, and sleepless nights into building this place. I’m not gonna let a little smell and a speck of mold destroy my dreams.” But no matter what you do you can’t get the place clean.
One day, months later, you come home and put your hand on the door knob. It doesn’t turn. You can’t even get into your house without breaking something. You’re locked out of your dream. Hours you’ve spent trying to figure out what’s wrong. But you find no solution to the problem. You can’t even sit on your porch swing to ponder what to do, because that mold is all over everything now. Your legs lose their strength to walk down the steps into the yard. Your hands drop in a great experience of depression. And you stand under a tree, staring in disbelief at your shattered dream. The work of your hands, the pride of your whole life, is destroyed. How deeply sad you’re becoming as you realize it’s over.
There’s not much choice now. And your mind begins to realize the full extent of the problem. “There’s nothing left to do but burn it down”. Tears begin to flow. And soon you find yourself sobbing without shame. Sadness has broken your heart. “It’s over.”
How does God feel when He looks at us? We are the work of His perfect hand. He made this place for His joy. And now we’ve become so very corrupt and foul. He tries to enter our lives and we refuse Him His joy. It is the heart of God that has been wounded. It is perfection and eternity that is locked out of our lives. And we did it. It was not His desire that these things should be.
By His Grace
Now it’s time to invite your loved ones to come see it. When they arrive they too are astounded at the beauty of the place. There is a great joy because you finally get what you’ve dreamed about for so very long. After a joyous celebration in the back yard, and many trips from your friends into and around the house to marvel at what your hands made, the guests filter home. You are left alone in silence with your wonderful peaceful accomplishment. And, finally, you’re happy. To bed you go. Your first night’s sleep in your dream house. Oh it’s not possible to explain the joy you feel.
You wake up the next morning and stare at the intricate hand work of your bedroom. “Beautiful”, you sigh. After getting dressed and enjoying that exquisite view out your bedroom window, you skip down the stairs to make a pot of coffee. “What’s that smell?” It’s not cedar. There’s an odor you can’t identify. At first it’s so unexpected to your senses you think it’s a sweet smell. But a second whiff and you realize it’s such a foul smell that your brain couldn’t identify it. “Wow, that’s nasty”, you think to yourself. But you just can’t find the source. Something’s wrong with your dream house and you can’t find it.
Weeks have passed and your dreams have become shattered by that smell. Now a green fungus has begone growing on the walls. At first you thought it was just a dust. You’ve worked at it for a while now and made no progress. You took it on the chin at first. Thinking to yourself, “I put a lot of sweat, blood, and sleepless nights into building this place. I’m not gonna let a little smell and a speck of mold destroy my dreams.” But no matter what you do you can’t get the place clean.
One day, months later, you come home and put your hand on the door knob. It doesn’t turn. You can’t even get into your house without breaking something. You’re locked out of your dream. Hours you’ve spent trying to figure out what’s wrong. But you find no solution to the problem. You can’t even sit on your porch swing to ponder what to do, because that mold is all over everything now. Your legs lose their strength to walk down the steps into the yard. Your hands drop in a great experience of depression. And you stand under a tree, staring in disbelief at your shattered dream. The work of your hands, the pride of your whole life, is destroyed. How deeply sad you’re becoming as you realize it’s over.
There’s not much choice now. And your mind begins to realize the full extent of the problem. “There’s nothing left to do but burn it down”. Tears begin to flow. And soon you find yourself sobbing without shame. Sadness has broken your heart. “It’s over.”
How does God feel when He looks at us? We are the work of His perfect hand. He made this place for His joy. And now we’ve become so very corrupt and foul. He tries to enter our lives and we refuse Him His joy. It is the heart of God that has been wounded. It is perfection and eternity that is locked out of our lives. And we did it. It was not His desire that these things should be.
By His Grace
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
havin troubles fittin it?
I’ve lived my life on the outskirts of society. Having been taught from an early age that I do not belong in this world (and that teaching continues to this day). There is no depression within me regarding this anymore. I find it comforting. Let me expound on this just a bit.
There is, and has been, a place where the name of God has supreme love and importance. In this place it is no shame to bring Him and His ways up at a dinner. It is no shame to mention the name of His Son, Jesus. In fact, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are about all you’ll hear in any gathering. This place has been before the creation of the world and will be after this world is gone.
I thank the Lord that He has not allowed me to “fit in”. And I will make no plans to assimilate into society. As it is with all God’s people, I take specific pride in being shunned because I don’t talk like the world. I reject the idea that this world is an important place, unless what you mean is that the world is important to test the souls of those who live here. New clothes, new cars, the latest fad, sports, creating a great personal empire, and the flexing of power (regardless what power means to the world), these things have absolutely no draw to me anymore. It’s not as though I woke up one morning and decided to think like this. But the more I consider the reality of eternity NOW, the more I see the folly of temporary desires.
There were many years when all those things and so much more held my attention. Those years are now counted as my shame. In that place where God is singularly important resides my desire and hope. Jesus is my God, savior and friend. I count no man as pure or honest unless we consider his honesty and purity to reside in Jesus his Lord.
This world is fast becoming a place where everything is true in it’s own right. This too I reject. There is one truth, God’s will. All other ways, things, and attitudes belong to this world and will pass in time. To be sure, I don’t hate the people of this world. I hate the lies the world adopts. And I see so very many accepting partial truth, partial God’s will. Each man’s work will be shown for what it is.
This post will ruffle feathers. It’s impossible to find the desire to care what people think of this post. The Godly people will know what I’m speaking about. The world will read this and consider me a fool. My response to being labled a fool is: “You’re absolutely right”. I am a fool who trusts in the one source of wisdom. “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets”. (Luke 6: 26)
I must admit, many speak ill of me for things I’ve done. But I find those same people strangely silent when I turn my life around and speak the things of God. Some would say, “From one extreme to another, why can’t you just mellow out and get in the middle of life”? Go ahead and stay in your middle. I have no problem with that. It’s your life. But no matter how much I searched the Bible, I didn’t find God saying it was a good thing to be luke warm.
So I welcome being on the outskirts. The Lord I serve was crucified because He didn’t fit in. How should I expect anything more from the world? By His Great Grace, I will live in that place where He is not a shame. It is His place. And, as I read it, all who are ashamed of Him in this world, will be rejected for eternity. So let me share in His “so called shame”.
By His Grace
There is, and has been, a place where the name of God has supreme love and importance. In this place it is no shame to bring Him and His ways up at a dinner. It is no shame to mention the name of His Son, Jesus. In fact, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are about all you’ll hear in any gathering. This place has been before the creation of the world and will be after this world is gone.
I thank the Lord that He has not allowed me to “fit in”. And I will make no plans to assimilate into society. As it is with all God’s people, I take specific pride in being shunned because I don’t talk like the world. I reject the idea that this world is an important place, unless what you mean is that the world is important to test the souls of those who live here. New clothes, new cars, the latest fad, sports, creating a great personal empire, and the flexing of power (regardless what power means to the world), these things have absolutely no draw to me anymore. It’s not as though I woke up one morning and decided to think like this. But the more I consider the reality of eternity NOW, the more I see the folly of temporary desires.
There were many years when all those things and so much more held my attention. Those years are now counted as my shame. In that place where God is singularly important resides my desire and hope. Jesus is my God, savior and friend. I count no man as pure or honest unless we consider his honesty and purity to reside in Jesus his Lord.
This world is fast becoming a place where everything is true in it’s own right. This too I reject. There is one truth, God’s will. All other ways, things, and attitudes belong to this world and will pass in time. To be sure, I don’t hate the people of this world. I hate the lies the world adopts. And I see so very many accepting partial truth, partial God’s will. Each man’s work will be shown for what it is.
This post will ruffle feathers. It’s impossible to find the desire to care what people think of this post. The Godly people will know what I’m speaking about. The world will read this and consider me a fool. My response to being labled a fool is: “You’re absolutely right”. I am a fool who trusts in the one source of wisdom. “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets”. (Luke 6: 26)
I must admit, many speak ill of me for things I’ve done. But I find those same people strangely silent when I turn my life around and speak the things of God. Some would say, “From one extreme to another, why can’t you just mellow out and get in the middle of life”? Go ahead and stay in your middle. I have no problem with that. It’s your life. But no matter how much I searched the Bible, I didn’t find God saying it was a good thing to be luke warm.
So I welcome being on the outskirts. The Lord I serve was crucified because He didn’t fit in. How should I expect anything more from the world? By His Great Grace, I will live in that place where He is not a shame. It is His place. And, as I read it, all who are ashamed of Him in this world, will be rejected for eternity. So let me share in His “so called shame”.
By His Grace
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Judgment from Jesus
Some lose their right to engage in the testing of their hearts in this world because they do not recognize the power of God through Jesus among His people. In other words, "many have fallen asleep". They were (and many are) taken from life in this world. Beware! A lack of respect for the Holiness of God can result in His judgement toward you. Avoid being cut off from our mutual experience of faith. If you want to live out your testing, keep God as Holy in your mind, faith, words, and actions.
"But if we judge ourselves, we would not come under judgment" (1 cor. 11:31). Look at who you are. Look at your attitude. Look at your sin. Let yourself be depressed at your lack of the sense of God's Holiness. Fast in food and joy. Keep things you enmoy from yourself. Punish yourself in a memorable yet secret way. Let God see that you realize what you've done. As all cost avoid a judgment from God, lest He take you our of this world because of your sins. All this is between you and God! Seek His way and His advice.
I write this as a personal experience. This is not a blind shot at Christians and their apparent behavior. This is a personal message from my person to yours.
By His Grace.
"But if we judge ourselves, we would not come under judgment" (1 cor. 11:31). Look at who you are. Look at your attitude. Look at your sin. Let yourself be depressed at your lack of the sense of God's Holiness. Fast in food and joy. Keep things you enmoy from yourself. Punish yourself in a memorable yet secret way. Let God see that you realize what you've done. As all cost avoid a judgment from God, lest He take you our of this world because of your sins. All this is between you and God! Seek His way and His advice.
I write this as a personal experience. This is not a blind shot at Christians and their apparent behavior. This is a personal message from my person to yours.
By His Grace.
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