Proverbs 21: 2-3 Psalm 21: 4

  He has risen, yes, he has risen indeed. At the moment when Jesus took on all of past present and future sins, for the first time ever, the Son knew that the Father could no longer look upon his son, and that for however long that moment, Jesus became the most heinous of all sinners. The men who plotted against him, and demanded his death, and those soldiers who tortured Him with no mercy, and finally killed him, as incredibly painful as that was, it could not compare to the utter anguish he felt at that moment when he was apart from The Father. It caused him to do what the men could not do, and he cried out from an anguish deep down in his soul and said, Father, why have you forsaken me? 

  But today, we get to put the ugly scene at the cross out of our minds and behind us, even though we will never cease being grateful for what Jesus endured as a sacrifice made for our good. Incredible love! But before we move from Calgary's hill, and celebrate what occurred on this day of remembrance and rejoicing, we must make mention of the third nature of the triune God, the Holy Spirit. Where was he while all of these horrible proceedings were going on? Though we have already spoken of what Father and Son were doing, we cannot leave Golgatha, Skull mount, before we consider what the Holy Ghost was doing. Why he was busy going about turning this horrible scene into a learning moment, as the Holy Spirit's job is that of teacher. And there will never be a greater opportunity to take the horror that unfolded, and turn it into a new understanding of Holy scripture, and a moment to make clear the everlasting impact of the invitation to all men to come to the One God of us all. The shear drama and horrible spectacle of that day affected all that witnessed it, scripture tells us only of two who for the first time, confessed that Jesus was indeed the Christ. Also, clearly, the true triune nature of the living God was never more apparent than it was that day. God the Father who sat at His throne in heaven, the Son who suffered and died for us and in our place, and the Holy Spirit who is the teacher Lord Jesus left with us as a guide to us all to Him. The two converts among the throng that Holy scripture tells us about, are the thief next to Jesus on his cross who the Lord promised eternal paradise to on that day, and the Roman centurion whose job it was to see that the orders were followed precisely, and in an orderly manner. Both testified that surely this man is the Son of God. So that day, that horrible day, all three natures of the triune nature of God were there on that hilltop. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all were there in their separate roles, but the three joined as the one true God of us all. 

  So today, this day, we celebrate two things done entirely for us poor sinners. Our sins paid in full by one who was pure and without sin, and by his rising from death, the gift of eternal life through Jesus' sacrifice. All of us now have the way to our Heavenly Father, and to be able to live with Him in perfect peace, forever and ever. Selah.     

The Gospels, Luke | Allen Jackson Ministries

HAPPY EASTER!

  Me myself and I has rightly been called the trinity of ignorance. But in truth, that old adage is only partly correct. Because in reality, the trio is really a duet. All of us who call the Lord our Father, are a true trio, but only two of the three are capable of stupidity. As Christians, each of us is now me myself and Jesus. Let me explain using myself as the example. 

    Andrew is the level headed one, and it is he who understands and uses wisdom only to promote good things. Andrews goal is to enlighten people wherever he goes. Now Edward, aka. Ed, has the same wellspring of wisdom available to him, but can be quick to anger, because of his frustration with those who cannot see the truth. Don't get me wrong, by the world's standards, he isn't a bad guy. Quick witted and funny, he uses humor as a way to soften hard truths. But sometimes, when not even a subtle touch succeeds, his anger rises and he kicks needlessly against the heavy timbers. When humor fails as a buffer even, Ed is incapable of leaving the situation alone. Kicking at the goads is a like beating yourself in the head with a brick, because it feels so good when you stop. And of course, anger left untended often leads to rage. 

  Jesus of course is the constant voice of reason between the two, and it is he who is the source of all knowledge. In essence, Jesus is the head of the body, because as he himself has said, I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father unless through me. So remember him on this Sunday, because on Friday he was killed on the cross to be able to offer eternal peace, and having risen from that grave, death is defeated, and so, is of no consequence to those who are his. He was last seen ascending back into heaven, having completed his act of total love in this world. 

  So in conclusion, speaking now in Christianese, Andrew represents my soul, and Edward my flesh. My flesh desires the pleasures of this life, my soul needs the food of the Spirit. And as for Jesus, he is there, always to guide us. To guide us and watch. You see, there is still the matter of free will, and the one we feed the most will become the stronger. So choose this day which one you will serve, as by exercising your free will, you decide your own fate. In my case, if I choose Andrew to feed the most, I will live forever, but if I choose Edward, then this life is all there is. Happy Easter.  

Eric Metaxas: The Miracle of the Universe

Tested Truths: Hygiene Hijinks

Tested Truths: Hygiene Hijinks:   So, a little personal fact about my daily cleansing procedures that you need not know, but I'll tell you anyway, as it helps to set t...

Hygiene Hijinks

  So, a little personal fact about my daily cleansing procedures that you need not know, but I'll tell you anyway, as it helps to set the scene. (insert mentioned fact. I must shower every day. The details as to why are not family rated). The weather too, what does that have to do with bathroom usage? Again, nothing. other than, it being a cold Spring day when yesterday hit 71, is an adjustment. Now I can see that without this being a filmed skit, things are limited. But one  more fact that helps set the condition of the comedic story, assuming of course that I get there? 

  So I'm in the bathroom busy stripping down to my birthday suit, my all together.. I'm naked! Its chilly, so I immediately turned on the shower upon reaching underwear level, to have the steam help warm the room. While removing my unmentionables, my big toe gets tangled in my underpants leaving me to hop around on the now damp tile floor. Finally, I get control before a toppling occurs, and the remaining T shirt comes off without a hitch. Finally I think, I can get in to the soothing warmth of the shower. Pull back the shower curtain, and shit! no soap. I knew I should have replaced it after my last shower I think to myself, until I vocally tell myself to Shut Up! So now the hunt for the soap. Under the vanity sink, there is a two pack of boxed Dial soap. Not just soap, but have you ever struggled with a clear plastic wrapping on any product? It is no simple task, especially in a now steam filled bathroom. And when you put your glasses on to see the little corner piece on the cellophane bindings, you only discover that your glasses are now fogged shut. Now I'm getting angry, which only makes things worse. So then, I'm cussing the guy out who invented the packaging. While mind you, while, I'm working furiously to release the two boxes of soap! Maybe I can get a better grip this way? Nope! Stupid ass soap I say, Damn it! No matter, I can't get it off. Cut it, I'll cut it off I think. Scissors, tweezers? where the hell? Rifling through the draw, I finally wind up using some kind of forceps, as my scissors are for cutting nose and ear hair, (don't laugh, it'll get you too), but they have little balls on the ends, to protect those sensitive areas. FINALLY! I get the cellophane wrapping off, and the two boxes fall to the floor and scatter in the now thick fog? AAaaag! 

Prologue: I'm freshly showered and clean. Look good, check, deodorant, smell good, check. Feeling much better? check. TA DA, I'm me again. 

Hygiene Hijinks

  Coming soon from a screen near you.. Comedy hopefully..                                                              to or from, which one works best?

THE MOODY BLUES-NEVER COMES THE DAY-1969

Tested Truths: Politics as life

Tested Truths: Politics as life:   The old man got up from his chair and answered the door. The man he knew, but the woman he didn't. Joseph spoke first and said, we ar...

Politics as life

  The old man got up from his chair and answered the door. The man he knew, but the woman he didn't. Joseph spoke first and said, we are caught out in this storm, this is my friend... A friend of yours is a friend of mine the old man interrupted, Come in brother and sister, you look cold, go and warm yourself by the fire. You look weary from your journey, come in, you'll dine with me and stay the night, it is too cold and rainy night outside. 

  Does the little story above seem dated to you, one that for those of you of the faith must think, Surely, that scene is a biblical one, and certainly not of today. Surely, this is not a tale from today. The sad reality is that you would be correct, and in today's toxic environment, nothing like this could take place. It should they'd say, but it doesn't. Right again. 

  Today, the constant pressure of politics we as believers see clearly in the outside world, but not among God's people. Funny, but two rights don't make a wrong necessary. But what the church should be, and what it is becoming, show that the stench of politics and the gains we see in them has infected the church too. Certainly, a governing body of some sort is necessary, and so there is that need for order. But far too often, even in the non logistical needs of the church, the Pastors, their assistants, deacons, and so on, also obviously, are needed, but often have personal goals. Hopefully, those placed in the positions of teaching the flock are concerned only in pleasing God first and foremost, which thankfully, most everyone of them would say that that is their desire. But more often by the day, it seems like other reasons also are becoming subject to the politics of the church. Interestingly, it is always the people who have been in a church and reading scripture longest, who feel the need to strive for a title of sorts, be it of any description. From the pastor on down, some get so caught up in labels and titles, that they lose sight of the fact that they are meant to serve. A title of any sort doesn't define a person. Think about it, even in the world, where they worship the letters attached before or after a man's name as something that sets them apart, and therefore to be listened to, because obviously, they are smarter. Certainly that is true to a larger extent, but I have run into quite a few who seem to have alphabets attached to their names, but in reality, are dumb as posts. 

  Hopefully the point is obvious to you. The stench of politics, and the envy and other problems that the outside world encounters because of political disfunction, are expected in the world, but have no place in the church. Serve the Lord wherever he places you, and strive for nothing, other than to follow his lead.

Tested Truths: RAGE!

Tested Truths: RAGE!:   Lately, my biggest personal demon, Rage, has re-surfaced. It came out from the grave I thought I had buried it in long ago. But here is t...

RAGE!

  Lately, my biggest personal demon, Rage, has re-surfaced. It came out from the grave I thought I had buried it in long ago. But here is the strange part, it came out at church. It is the only part of me that I fear. Because as egotistical as this must sound, there is nothing else I fear. 

Just writing about it now, I can feel it dissipate slowly, I can feel myself calming, and still wary that it lies now just under the surface. I must return rage to its cage, because nothing good has ever happened to me when rage was in control. The politics of the day annoy me, and I do get angry like you or anyone else at certain things. But it never comes near the limitless destructive power of full throated rage. So, as I'm still shaking in my type fingers a bit, lets take a deeper look at rage together. I mean you've read me this far, Why not go on? somewhere there should be a drum tap and small cymbal crash sounding. Anyway,

  Confusion is one of the big factors in rage. Most fights are needless, as more often then not, a mountain was made of a mole hill, and a simple calm conversation will kill the beast. I try to keep my life as simple as I can, and so for one thing, I don't insert myself into other people's business, and that includes on spiritual matters. That for me is more annoying than maddening, as someone has decided that it is their job to keep you on the straight and narrow. The arguments among God's people always seems to occur when someone in the group insists in dragging everyone into the weeds of men's doctrines. 

  In a more general sense, if you take a moment to collect yourself and think about what it is you are about to say to someone, before you look to accuse, this is the way to beginning to get a hold on it. Rage is best described as an emotion out of control. But anger, extreme anger, angry anger, are not only allowed if the matter at hand is righteous anger but the Lord understands. See the whip of cords Jesus used in the market place that day. Whether caused by an attack upon your honor by being wrongfully accused, or any other matter that can arise when people interact in a group setting, once you allow that anger to rise to rage, danger is close at hand. In short: Righteous anger=Good, wrongful anger=Bad.  Thank you for your kind consideration in the matter.

Eric Metaxas Media Reel

Tested Truths: Challenge

Tested Truths: Challenge:   When all else fails, we will rip the horses' eye. Jim Morrison. Never did understand that one.    Like everything else, thoughts sw...

Challenge

  When all else fails, we will rip the horses' eye. Jim Morrison. Never did understand that one. 

  Like everything else, thoughts swirl in your mind. You choose which one to pluck from the swirling winds. Look at it for a bit, and think to yourself, this one seems interesting. But then you spot the trail of another subject on the inside of the storm, and near the center of the eye of the storm. And so you toss the one aside that you had just been thinking of, and look now only at this new one you've plucked from the clouds. 

  And so it was, but thankfully, is no more. Woke up real early this morning, and I thought about catching that worm, but as it turns out, that worm was turning. People speak of their head's spinning, but what is really reeling is their minds. But here's the thing, too many thoughts left untended, (sorted), will interfere with even the most mundane of muscle memory and daily rituals, like making a cup of coffee. 

  Making a cup of coffee, thats simple enough right? Well, .. usually. When you mind is spinning without a point of focus and a stable base, making coffee can become quite the challenge. 

Royal Flush

  Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, I thought and thought until at last I had a theory. 

  Miss jointed thoughts all come together at one place, and it is thee place to be. All who are hip to the truth, hang out at the Revelation Bar and Grill. In it, should you have the courage to venture in, you'll find the brightest of the bright, those who are known to exude the light of wisdom wherever they go. It is I should mention, quite an exclusive club, even though it is open to all. But most are unaware that this club even exists, and go whizzing by the place, riding just as fast as they can ride. They are all hell bent for leather, on the international highway known, as the highway to hell. And if you were able to stop and ask one of these fools and ask them why they are in such a rush, to get to a place that no one knows, you will most likely get a blank stare, because they themselves have no idea. Just following the crowd some would say before rushing off yet again. 

  Caught up in the moment they are, caught in the madness of now. In to big a rush to stop for a while, and maybe even smell the sweet orchids that grow on the sides of the highway near Revelation's watering hole. Sadly, Americans in this throng of humanity are the ones who set the tone. Because if we as Americans choose the narrow path rather than the expressway, the others will follow suit.