"Hear O' Israel, The Lord Our God,The Lord is One

     This is a monotheistic statement.   As stated in Deut. 6;4.  Made in proclamation to Israel to contrast the many Gods of the nations around them.  One Lord, One God, and as Isaiah stated, "there is none other besides me, I know not one."
     He is all in all, the creator of everything.  However through the Prophets, a Messiah was to come to Israel, an annointed one to reedeem the people.  This was, "God's Messiah.....not men's.  Get that?  The nations had made their many Gods in rebellion to the true one.  Gods molded in gold and silver, stone and earth.  Devoid of any power to save whatsoever.  Men had traded away true knowledge and devotion in their rebellion against God.  Made images that was forbidden and then practiced the occult and sacrificed even their children to them. Detestable. Within this came again a perversion of truth passed down through the centuries and even to us today.  Then came Jesus, The Christ, The Messiah, who was missed by all and nearly by his own disciples.  A man who brought the kingdom of God close again.  The Son of God.  Get this?  God had a son. John 3;16 the famous passage to all chldren who memorize scripture for the first time.  This was God's Messiah, namely Christ, as stated in my previous blog a couple of days ago.   The mystery finally revealed to take away the sin of the world, The Lamb that was slain from before the foundation of the world. (Revelations).  So in God's mind his existence was pre- so that is how Jesus could say to the Pharisees, "Before Abraham was.....I AM."  Though not physically born yet in the flesh to Mary, yet pre-existant to entering our world.  That is how Jesus could say that "I am from above", and you are from below."  confusing every body at the time.  So now were there two Gods?  No. Just one Father and one Son.
So enters the perversion that Paul tried over and over to straighten out in his letters to the new Churches.  Gnosticism, Paganism, and some others that tried to work their way into the Gospel of Good news.  One sacrifice for all and for all time.
     In our day "Oneness doctrine is a doctrine that is spread and at one time I believed it.  However over time and 30 years of reading my thoughts about this have changed and because of the clarity of the scriptures and of Jesus's word about his father as well.  He often said that 'he is greater than I"  That the Father and I are One and so forth. Confusing at the very least, however God did have a Son.  And that son Paid the penalty for us, and the work of God, as Jesus proclaimed, was to believe on the one who sent Him....!  Who is the One? But God............."Hear O Israel, The Lord Our God, The Lord is One.............
    Oneness doctrine was destructive, defensive, divisive, and not Scriptural.  And this is the testimony God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his son, whoever has the son has life, whoever does not have the Son does not have life.  So Sort it out for yourself.  And re-read as many times as it takes.  It is important to know what we believe.  How this Father Son and Holy Spirit are One...even the ancients tried to make sense of it through the Nicene creed. Wordy and hard to formulate.  But do we really need to?   Jesus was the Alpha and the Omega...Greek for beginning and the End.  So who will  we see?  Paul said, Christ was the image of the invisible God.  Yet born to us Immanuel God with us.   It was important to Jesus to know who he was, divine and yet human.  Born in the flesh, raised in Glory with a new body we are promised to have as well.

Where the rubber meets the road:

     They say (someone said) if you want to know what someone feels, "walk a mile In their shoes."  Well, have you?  Is there any empathy, sympathy, any inward emotion at all that stirs as you might see someone less fortunate than you? Or is there just pacivity or maybe worse, nothing at all?
     Now take a look at what Is happening in this election year....Trump is causing all kinds of emotions to stir up, those things that are not good at all.  What has he tapped into?  And so easily?  And why is this year shaping up to be horrendous?  Editorial after editorial in the news, shows the disgust of those that write them about the fomenting of anger, and bigotry, and racisism that he taps into and gets the crowds all worked up.  I'm afraid that he has tapped into the baser instincts, and let the beast loose in those who have felt shortchanged.  All of the past 6o years of achievements of civil rights growth washed away with fanfare and idolatry towards one man.  Trump will not do what he says. It's impossible with a character like his.  HIs professed statement of being a "strong Christian" is in itself a bogus statement and any true Christian would know that their strength truly lies in the Lord himself.  Humility and a contrite spirit is the apple of the Lord's eye.  Any true believer would know this basic and elementary truth.   Repentance is the hallmark and entryway to God's kingdom,  If he has never asked God to forgive him, then he is not forgiven.  And so there is an absence of empathy, true emotion, and sympathy greatly lacking in this individual.  Beware of this kind of man.  He is not one to weild power at all!  Their is a very strong delusion being dispensed right before your very eyes.   And this is definitly spoken about in the Scriptures.  A Christian....with billions of dollars? Gold everywhere?  And a mouth that speaks bitter and sweet.......slandering, accusing, lying profusely.....and the wrapping it up in "MAKE AMERICA GREAT! Only God, is the one who raises up nations and brings down nations.  Have we so easily  forgotten men like Nelson Mandella, with a character forged in prison? Who rose to lead his nation to more freedoms!

The Mystery of God:Namely-Christ

     These are the words of Paul, written to the Colossian Church.   For in his time the mystery of God was revealed and imparted to those eyewitnesses of which Paul was not, but became a disciple after his trip to damascus.
     The great mystery of all time was wrapped up in the man who was called the Messiah by the Jews, and perhaps crazy by some of them and a radical by the Romans and one who stirred up trouble in Judea.  This man who still graces the cover of Time magazine today and still raises questions for those who are skeptical is the mystery of God, revealed  for all time both in the  present and in the past for us, salvation, and an entry way to what men have searched for since the beginning of exploration an eternity placed in our spirits and body and an escape from death.
     Today is Resurrection day.  A day that Jesus rose from his dark tomb and showed himself to Mary, and the other disciples whom he loved and walked with.
     Today is the day I will attend a local church and then feed the poor.  Why?  Because it is one of the commands of Jesus.  He fed five-thousand at one time, we hopefully feed more than than today both Spiritualy and physically.  The mystery continues: will you see?

'STRIVING TOGETHER AS ONE'

     Unity in the Church has always been foremost on my mind whenever I search for one to serve in.  For many years I have been disappointed in the lack of it  that I find exists in the many I have visited and been a part of.
     Paul in writing to the Philipian Church advocates that they be as one striving together for the faith of the Gospel.  This is an extremely important and necessary part of any church if it is to function in love, action, and carry out it's mission among those who have yet to make a decision to enter and become a believer in Christ.  If those who enter in seeking to understand the Christian way of life find that there is more dis-unity, and dis-harmony among the believers  than that in the secular world, then we have failed to walk in a correct manner in advancing the Gospel of good news.  Church is so much more that a "gathering" of people with like interests.  It is most of all to be powered by the Holy Spirit that indwells  within each believer and also to "draw" the Holy Spirit near to be active within the Church itself, in ministering it's precious and supernatural giftings. One has but to read the accounts in the Book of Acts of the Apostles to see the working of the Holy Spirit both inwardly and outwardly among those who spread the Gospel.
     "Conduct yourselves in a worthy manner" Pauls exhorts them.  Then he says "whether I come or only hear", then I will know that you stand firm in one Spirit.
The disparity that is displayed in those churches that fail to be one and love one another as Jesus, and then John so aptly pleaded or taught will in themselves lack the first love Jesus warned about in Revelations.  Pettiness, shallowness, backbiting one another must be eliminated and the flesh nature not be given into.
     Walking in the Spirit with Gentleness, kindness, peacefulness, and steadfastness are characteristics that we are to put on and then those who are looking for honesty and sincerety will find it immediately within and all the programs in the world would be superflous.  Yes, it's good to build some, but the onus in any Church is to birth one into an eternal kingdom that Jesus spent 3 years of his life so diligently showing the  Love of God and his kingdom that was now near to all of those who would believe the message.
     "That mighty Spirit that worked in Christ to raise him from the dead", is also at work in you, when you believe and are Baptised with the Holy Spirit and born again.  There is no other entry way, and Jesus made it plain to all.  It is first a demonstration of repentance from dead works (of ourselves) and then acceptance of the pure grace that leads to salvation.  Then, life from living wells will spring up from within.
      After thirty some years, I have found one (Church) that seems to fit what was in my heart from the very begining after being born again.  Unpre-tentious, giving, non-judgemental, outreaching, with a message of grace that meets those who are hurting and those who are bound and those who need affirmation that yes......2000 years ago a great sacrifice was made so all could enter in.  No walls of exclusion, we were all sinners.   

Your Heart:Like it or Not

Guard your heart, for out of it flow the issues of life.



Character of the wicked> an uncircumcised heart Jer-9-26

Deceit>comes from the heart Mk-7-22

Revenge>comes from a spiteful heart Eze. 25-15

Self-will proceeds from an evil heart Jer. 7-24

Truth- Write upon the tables of your heart prov.3:3

Purity-of heart the psalms.

diligence-keeping the heart-prov. 4:23


The day is coming declares the Lord when he will punish all those circumcised only in the flesh...I.e not in heart.

For it is from within, out of a person's heart come immorality, theft, murder, adultery, etc. etc. etc.

Because you took revenge with malice in your heart.....then they will know that I Am the Lord when I take my vengeance on them...

But they did not listen....the followed the inclination of their own stubborn heart.

But, my son do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years....

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything flows from it.

Blah blah, blah,blah........is anyone really listening?

So today instead of being a really nice day as I anticipated it actually **##%^^s-----ed!
Why you ask?  Because communication really. Su&**((##ks!   Why is is that people pass the buck?, don't do what they say, tell you that it's not their problem!, say things like I didn't do it!,   and on and on and the list goes.    Example;  One person sets an appointment, emails the details, to another person, leaves out the person it's about and time and destination and important details and guess what?  All goes to he double hockey sticks!  And so frustration builds and builds and then pop!  The cork comes out of the bottle!   This yields guess what.....a sin laden expletive that wants to roll off the tongue so sweetly and then give birth to death!.  That is exactly what the devil wants on a daily basis. With all of us.  What goes around comes around.  Or so the saying goes.  So being a Christian in a world of non------ones, let's just say it's a BIG challenge.  Daily we take up the cross, remember our Savior's price paid so we can overcome these types of things and then bless those who then proceed to curse you, persecute you, and say all manner of things about Christianity they might not know anything about.
To them it's just head stuff.  Maybe they don't always say it but....it's there under the surface.
     I am amazed that the further I delve into the Gospel and it's redemptive power the more I realize how far (I)we have fallen.   The redemtive power of Jesus on the cross is immense and not to be underestimated and it's raw power to transform each and everyone no matter the state is staggering.  But, and I say But, you have to let it in, in ground that is soft and tender and ready to grow something other that what you have been growing for most of your life.  Ever see meat tenderized? Ever seen the small hammer with triangle bumps on it that looks like a med-eval torture implement?  Then you know the state of the meat after that beating!   So we are beaten up daily by events, people, broken dreams, broken marriages, and jobs that don't pan out the way we expected.  It is a very very imperfect world we inhabit, still there is beauty, untold beauty we can behold and see the fantastic mind behind all of creation that is but a dim light of what it once was.  So when someone, says something, about someone, who did, something and trys to spread a little gossip, while satisfying some little thing in them, don't be suckered into it!  Avoid, the appearance of evil that gospel states, don't throw in with the crowd, Peter says, and resist the Devil, even if it comes packaged in a friend ready to un-pack a load!   Don't bear that kind of load, dump it! And as for comunication.... let it be yes and yes or no and no, anything elso comes from you know who.......

help!

"Justified", No not the TV show!

     We are justified if and I say If....we have faith in God's Son Jesus Christ.  All of the wrongs all of the weights of guilt and sorrows caused by us and by others to us are wiped clean and forgiven by Faith in Jesus Christ.  We think to ourselves that apart from God and our absense of our knoweledge of him we can live a "good" life if we do not harm or hurt others.  That is the biggie, the deception that will keep us out of the kingdom of God.  This is the crux of Paul's message to the Romans.   The Law that the Jews so faithfully obeyed by their own works was not able to do what Christ did when he came on the scene and began to turn upside down the world as they knew it.  Faith now through the Spirit was a new Law that appeared on the scene and was stronger and able to relieve men, and (women, and children) of this undoable self jutification that still exists today and is prevalent in our society as a Theology that discounts the need for God.   The idea that if we lead a good life, then we will be okay is nonsense.  It does not negate the righteouness of God who will still carry out a just and right punishment for the original Sin since the beginning of time.   The Garden of eden is still relevant and true.   However mixed our current Theologies have become
because of human error and a desire to "do it our selves", will never relieve God of his just righteousness towards us.  It maybe that to us his justness is harsh and unseemly but look what entered into us and the world when disobedience occurred.  Death for us and decay of our bodies, thorns and thistles for the Earth and a Spiritual "Prince of the Air" Satan who roams to and fro seeking whom he may devour.  That is not what I call a paradise to live in.
     The thief on the cross next to Jesus, was that day forgiven, and entered into paradise with Jesus.  You see forgiveness is an actual happening and asking to be forgiven opens to door to understanding and a wisdom from God that will change your life.
   
   

I could have been born...anything!

           I could have been an ant, with feelers instead of hands,
           roaming in and around heaping mounds of sand,
            I could have been a cat,
             enjoying chasing a rat,
               I could have been a dog,
                resting my head on a log,
                 I could have been an elephant,
                  with my trunk so elegant,
                   I could have been a pheasant,
                     that would be so pleasant,
                      but instead, I am a man,
                       born by a God, with a plan,
                        It was with a great price,
                         that I was born twice,
                          never to see and end,
                           of my mortal's days,
                             eternity's ahead,
                              no more, Earthly plays.

Fear and loathing in America

Are you a lemming running off the cliff?
Running with the crowd while they shout out loud,
Anger snuffed up in the nostrils, takes but a whiff,
Caused by the one, who plays the blame game,
Oh, no, not me! It's you and you and you!
Let's make America Great again!
As they fight and punch,the innocents who came,

Trying to be heard, and an instead became lame,
Punched and kicked, by tongues not tame,

In the words of the minions...Bah!!!!!!

Donald Trump a Christian?   Says he.    No one else would.  A strong Christian no less?  Let's see, rich, yes, arrogant, yes, blasphemous yes, self centered, yes, (I) will be the best business man God has ever made!!!!!!!,  self promotion yes to all of the above.  And yet millions are ready to accept him. Why? The bed has been made that's why. And we are about to get in bed with him.  America. Please  wake up. You are about to sell your soul. And what for? For a lie, a strong delusion is what the Bible calls it. That is what it is.  No Christian who is true, would stand for this kind of deception. Will you?
     Most of all the attributes of a true Christian would model Christ his, Lord and Savior. Nuff said!   Peace.

                                                  Trump is the purple one!

Steppingstones to life:

     I saw stones like stepping stones lined up in a pathway.  One in front of another.  They were set in soft mud all around them, so if anyone left the path, they would sink.  A forrest of trees surrounded them with a bright light at the end of the path.  I could sense a people a multitude of people at the end.  They were assembled from all of the people's of the Earth.  They were all overlooked while in the world.  But here they shone like the stones of Arron's Ephod.  Gems were they all.  Attributes formed and molded because of persecution, and pressure unimaginable.  Now they were one for all eternity.  On their thighs, written Our Glory, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.  No more suffering, no more tears.