God’s call came to Moshe to go to the mission field while he was at a mission’s conference in Jerusalem. Moshe was quite sure he heard the Word of the Lord call him to missions but where God had called him to go, troubled him greatly.

He confided to his friends in his Church what God had put in his heart but he also shared with them his reservations about God’s call because God wanted Moshe to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ on the streets of Damascus, Syria!

His friends were aghast. They said; “Don’t you know the Syrians hate us Jews, and want to destroy us? They are butchers who kill all who do not worship as they do. On top of that, they hate Christians and won’t tolerate anyone giving a testimony of Jesus Christ in a corner much less a street, and besides, we hate the Syrians! Don’t you remember their treachery when they attacked us on a holy day and endeavored to destroy our nation?”

Conflicted, Moshe didn’t know what to do. Several weeks went by and Moshe continued on in his life as if everything were normal. The Lord’s call came again to Moshe when a visiting evangelist came to Moshe’s Church. Frantic, Moshe shared with his friends what the Word of the Lord said since he did not know what to do.

One of Moshe’s friends Chaim, a successful business man, knowing Moshe’s whole story and about Moshe’s call to Damascus, offered his services to Moshe. He said; “Moshe, I have a private jet and a pilot. Please use them and get away! Go to my house in Italy. It has a private air strip and a sports car as well as servants who will care for all your needs. There also is a good Church nearby with Jewish believers near my house. You will be far more comfortable in my house in Italy than you will be here. You must get far away from Syria since we know what a Godless, difficult people they are. They will never listen to your message. At best they will imprison you. More likely, they will cut your head off with a dull knife! God does not want you to lose your life, He wants to give you life! Run! Flee! Go now!”

Moshe boarded his friend Chaim’s private jet and flew out of Israel.

As he sat in the private jet gaining altitude heading away from his calling and his homeland, Moshe looked around at the splendor of the jet, reflecting on the opulence of Chaim’s home he would now be occupying with many servants to take care of him and he remarked to himself; “It is good to go to Italy. There I will be better off than I was in Israel. Many opportunities have opened up to me now. I can serve the Lord in foreign missions in Italy in a Church that has Jewish believers. Since my expenses are paid, I can devote all my time to the Lord. It is good that I go to Italy. Chaim, my friend is not named “life” for nothing!”

As Moshe was thinking these lofty thoughts of serving the Lord in Italy and the beautiful accommodations he would have and the new life his friend had given him, the Word of the Lord came to him again at the same instant both engines in the jet caught fire and quit. “MOSHE, WHY HAVE YOU REBELLED AGAINST ME?”

Moshe’s thoughts were all jumbled as everything was happening at once. As emergency buzzers sounded and the cabin lights went out, the pilot yelled over his shoulder for Moshe to fasten his seat belt and to make sure, if he could, to get into the life raft because they were going to crash into the Mediterranean Sea! Panicking, Moshe was trying to grab his suitcase and put his shoes on.

With no time to think or react, the beautiful private jet skipped across the waves of the Mediterranean Sea. The wings were ripped off and the plane, just behind Moshe, was torn in two as the plane shuddered to a halt. As the aircraft came to a rest in the Sea, Moshe was first aware of the cold water rushing into the airplane. Then reason returned to him; “I must get out before I’m drowned!” Unfastening his seat belt he tried to drag his suitcase with him and find his shoes but realized his life was in imminent danger because the plane was sinking rapidly. He must get out. Abandoning everything, Moshe swam through the gigantic hole that used to be the rear of the beautiful private jet.

As the aircraft sank swiftly, Moshe swam clear of the airplane toward the surface of the sea… to air. With his lungs hot and almost bursting, Moshe broke into the sunshine and gulped huge amounts of beautiful, glorious air thanking God he could still see sunshine, breathe air…. and live.

Taking stock of himself to make sure he was intact and then looking around, Moshe saw the pilot of the aircraft about 100 yds away in a life raft. Immediately he struck out and started swimming to the life raft. The pilot spotting Moshe began to row the raft toward Moshe. As hard as Moshe swam and as hard as the pilot rowed, the wind and the waves drove them further apart until he could no longer see the pilot or the raft. Moshe quit swimming and started to float. He was so exhausted.

Floating and treading water for six hours in the waves of the Mediterranean Sea brought Moshe’s energy reserves to an end and he could not float or swim any more. Slowly, quietly, in despair, Moshe slipped beneath the surface of the water into the depths of the Mediterranean Sea.

And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights. Jonah 1:17

Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the stomach of the fish, and he said, “I called out of my distress to the LORD, And He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol ; You heard my voice. “For You had cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the current engulfed me. All Your breakers and billows passed over me. “So I said, ‘I have been expelled from Your sight. Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.’ “Water encompassed me to the point of death. The great deep engulfed me, Weeds were wrapped around my head. “I descended to the roots of the mountains. The earth with its bars was around me forever, But You have brought up my life from the pit, O LORD my God. “While I was fainting away, I remembered the LORD, And my prayer came to You, Into Your holy temple. “Those who regard vain idols Forsake their faithfulness, But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving. That which I have vowed I will pay. Salvation is from the LORD.” Then the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land. Jonah 2:1-10

What is the moral of this story I’ve written?

Chaim whose name means “life”, did not give life to Moshe in helping Moshe rebel against God. Chaim was a pragmatic humanist who thought what was best for the moment, according to what he could see, was more important than obedience to God.

If Chaim was a prominent figure in the story of Jonah as he was in Moshe’s story, what would God have done with Chaim, considering what happened to Jonah?

How often do we act just like of Jonah or Chaim and rebel against God? Can you rebel against God and truly live?

“THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:30-31

On any given Sunday, it would seem, the friendliness cools a little. You see, this small town has five poor churches:

A Catholic church, by far the most affluent in appearance, a Community Church, both of which are on main street and within sight of an off street where there are three more churches in a row, a Seventh Day Adventist, Presbyterian and a Church of God. Their theological differences are seemingly tall walls that surround their “churches” though the only visible barrier is a large pile of dirt on the sidewalk where the property line between the Seventh Day Adventist Church and Presbyterians meet. These buildings caught my attention as I stayed in one of the motels within sight of all the churches. Why did they seem out of place? What exactly caught my attention?

I pointed out that three of these churches are on a dirt street. The sidewalk connecting two of the buildings is not on the street, but instead speaks of a happier time when whoever occupied the two buildings were friendly. But now a four-foot pile of dirt blocks the sidewalk on the property line; apparently a visual reminder of their theological differences.

What happened in this town where all the inhabitants went to the same small school where grades 9-12 is comprised of only 68 students? Maybe it’s that these buildings are poor and seem to speak in regard to the status of love in that community. Love of God and love of each other. While I don’t think building aesthetics are important, these buildings look more like abandoned outbuildings on a ranch than places where the church meets. How many actually gather in these buildings that are smaller than the upstairs of my house? How many come into this town to fellowship; the largest town in a county of 1200 people and the only town in 50 miles?

The letters on the front of the building that once said, “The Church of Christ Meets Here.” now, because of missing letters, utters an incomprehensible message. But I wonder, is there a larger, more incomprehensible message being spoken by the five run down churches in a small town of which three of the churches are next-door neighbors? Is this what caught my attention?

What is the message being spoken by these churches to the patrons of the bars in town? What message do the visiting hunters receive? Maybe the inhabitants are proud that the churches slightly out number the bars in their town. Maybe in the bar they are proud they have five churches in their town. Maybe the hunters are pleased that the devout among them can choose their flavor to fellowship with; or maybe they don’t even give it a thought. I wonder if Christ is happy with this diversity, this division, in His Body. I wonder if the Lord Jesus is satisfied with His dismembered, spread out, cut up Body? I wonder if He thought of this town, among many others, when He said, “By this they’ll know that you are my disciples, that you have love for one another.” He didn’t say; “They’ll know you are my disciples by your theological purity” or “what by day you meet on”, or “by your style of worship and polity”, or “by your eschatology or your rituals”. He said love proves you are His disciples. Self sacrifice for the benefit of others. He demonstrated this love so His disciples would know exactly what He was talking about.

I know, some will say; “there are good reasons why we separate.” I say; be careful how you wave your knife around and certainly don’t run with that knife in your hand. You could be the one who is hurt.

On the other hand, there is a place where the Church is one. There is a place where people love and support one another regardless of their differences. There is a place where the style of your collar doesn’t matter, where your theological distinctives don’t matter or any other differences. That place is a concentration camp; a gulag. That’s the place where the Body of Christ is persecuted, but the Body is one; that is where it is one Church. Just as Jesus showed His greatest attribute in His persecution and death; real love. His Body will show a true distinctive that separates it from the world; real love in the face of persecution. That is when the differences and distinctives are inconsequential. That is not the place where His body bleeds because of its dismemberment and its division, but rather bleeds in its solidarity, as a Body, in love for one another. Lord Jesus may this judgment come quickly. This world needs real Disciples of Christ.

What does the church look like in your town?

1 Peter 4:1-2 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

1 Peter 4:12-19 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER? Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

To say this over and over is not hard for me and it’s a reminder, a guard rail for you. Guardrails are good; they keep us from falling off the edge. We have short attention spans and are always following the next bright thing with our eyes.

2. Beware of the outsiders, those who are not of us, those who want you to stumble and fall to join them. Beware of those who say they are separated aliens to God and are not.

3. We are truly separated from the world. We are truly aliens who prove the worth of God by our actions by the Spirit of God who makes it possible to revel, bask and submerge ourselves in Jesus Christ and we do not trust what we can see, touch, and feel, but rather, we trust in what was promised by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

4-6. If anyone can have faith in what can be seen, touched, and felt, Paul says he can. If anyone else can be confidently pragmatic, Paul can, more so.
A. He was set apart according to God’s promise to Abraham to be a special nation among nations.
B. Of that promise, of the nation of Israel, a son of the promise to Jacob.
C. Of the Tribe of Benjamin with a perpetual inheritance here in the world according to birthrights in the land of promise.
D. Among Hebrews of the promise a stand-out guy.
E. As to the Law of Moses, very devout.
F. A devout patriot in his nationalism and sect, a persecutor of the followers of Jesus who were called out of Paul’s nationalism.
G. As to self justification and pride in the Law, without blame.

7. Whatever I thought made had me something, I count as nothing; I discard, throw it away it for the sake of Christ who really is something. I throw away the nothing I thought was something to gain everything which is Jesus!

8. More than that, I throw away everything I ever thought was important just for the tremendous value of just seeking to know Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I lose and throw away all things and attainments and consider them to be degrading and disgusting manure in order that I may gain Christ. I trade everything for Christ. I no longer seek relevance or experience here; instead, I seek only relevance in Christ. To gain Jesus Christ is to become relevant. Not me, Him in me.

9. When I gain Christ, I have no righteousness gained by my own works, not in or of me by me, but I have the righteousness of Christ through faith, the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith; faith being repentance that lets go of what I see to grab hold of what I don’t see but wait eagerly for.

10. That I might intimately know first hand the power of His resurrection (in me) and the fellowship of His sufferings being conformed to His death; I leave all behind and suffer gladly because it keeps me calling on Him for succor and salvation so I will be brought to life from His death. I die to this life gladly to gain real life, His life.

12. Not that I’ve been resurrected yet or even become mature yet, but I press on, I push against the tide so that I might grab hold of that life, that resurrection which is why Christ laid hold of me.

13. I don’t have it yet, but this one thing I focus on; forgetting everything I thought was important, forgetting and casting off everything the world thinks is important, I have my sight, my aspirations, fixed high.

14. I press on toward the goal, Jesus. I press on to the prize; life, which is what I was called to by God in Jesus Christ. This consumes me.

15. You who are mature, or aspire to maturity, have this same attitude… If you have a different attitude, God will show you… but will you listen?

16. Live by the standard to which you’ve attained. Don’t go back. Only go forward. Grow.

17. Follow my example. Watch those who walk as I do. Follow this pattern of single-mindedness in reaching the goal; the only goal worth having.

18. Speaking of walking: Many have walked, but now I tell you, while weeping, they are now enemies of the cross of Christ (Heb. 10:26)

19. They will be perpetually destroyed. Their god is their self-willed desires. They have it all backwards: What they glory in, what they say is good is shameful. They love the world. What consumes them is what they see, touch, and feel as if it was truly of importance. They grasp death willingly with both arms and embrace it.

20. Not us! We are citizens of Heaven. We are passing through as pilgrims and aliens headed to our home; the Kingdom of our Lord King Savior Jesus whom we eagerly, longingly wait to see.

21. He will transform us from what we rejected to be conformed, made like, the body of His glory, LIFE, which is what we embrace! The same power that gives us LIFE is the same power by which He made all things and the same power by which He will subject all things to Himself.

Amen!

P.S. Friend, what do you aspire to?

Peter’s letter to those who reside as aliens, strangers, and pilgrims
Aliens are not part of society
Aliens are outsiders
Aliens have a different loyalty and home association
To reside as an alien is to be apart, separate.
It’s to be within but have no commonality among those they live, to stand out obviously

The aliens were chosen by God by the separating work of the spirit to be those who obey Jesus Christ.
Aliens have been chosen to be separate by God
Aliens have been chosen to obey Jesus Christ

Separated aliens are attached to God through His mercy to be born again, dead to our old loyalties and pursuits raised to be children of a different Kingdom. As aliens here, our new life is possible through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead so that we will obtain our inheritance in our new country, God’s Kingdom, which is undefiled (opposite of here) and reserved, waiting for us.

We as aliens are protected by the power of God through our faith for the consummation, the reuniting of our true country with our true brethren and our true King, awaiting our salvation from this homesick existence in this decay and death.

We are Looking forward, keeping our eyes on the prize, the imminent rescue, we rejoice, even though it’s difficult residing as an alien because of trials and difficulties.

Trials prove our faith, prove if we are truly aliens, prove we are looking for the Promised Land or are just trying to integrate here; trying to fit in. Faith, like gold, when tested by fire, removes impurities as well as reveals the true metal, the true beauty of our calling to be separated to God as aliens in the world.

This successful proving of our faith results in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus is revealed.

This tested faith proves our praise to Him. It gives Him glory, and honors Him as King over His people.

Jesus relates the same to His people, His aliens; He gives praise, glory and honor.

The people of God, His aliens here, do not walk by sight, are not led by pragmatism, but our belief is equal to our obedience. We as aliens rejoice in this truth with inexpressible joy because we don’t see here, but look there, to our goal, our country of God.

The outcome of our tested faith, our unseeing obedience, our life as outcasts and aliens, is the salvation of our souls, our adoption as sons and daughters, our being brought home to our real country.

Because of this, be alert; be prepared, keep self controlled, keep yourself under reign. Affix yourself tenaciously, your hope completely, on this undeserved gift to be brought to you when Jesus is finally revealed. As obedient children don’t quit being aliens in the world, don’t be degraded by the passions that comprise of decay and death, but be separated from the world, the culture, the entertainments, the sin, separate from everything that is here in the world that takes our eyes and loyalty off of God, for it is written, “You shall be separated to me for I am separate.”

Dennis

If you notice, the background on the left is in black and white with a tree devoid of leaves with lightening striking. This is representative of our dead and dying world. The world is subject to sin and disease caused by the sin of man.

Romans 8:19-25 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

In the foreground is a rock wall partially built with the names of each member of our family engraved on a rock with the name of Jesus on the cornerstone. Also notice there is a rock with the name YOU on it. This part of the picture comes from:

1 Peter 2:4-10 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture:
“BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone,
AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”
This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,
“THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,
THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,”
and, “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”;
for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.
But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Also:

Luke 19:37-40 As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, shouting:
“BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD;
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”

Notice the lyrics of our bluesy song “Living Stones.” Walking dead all around, just like stones on the ground… they have hearts of stone, but the ones called by God are “Praising Stones” and “Living Stones”. That’s us. We are called by God, brought to life, from a dead, useless stone, to be useful for God. Without Jesus, we are dead!

The lyrics of the song “Stained Glass” say;

Looking for truth in a land full of lies
I find God’s Son the Way, Truth, and Life
I wonder how long ‘till God’s wrath will come…
It’s stained glass, dark mirror…

1 Corinthians 13:11-13 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Attempting to know the purpose of God in Jesus Christ is like stained glass; hard to see through and understand, i.e. the dark mirror in our own understanding.

But;
A cordial of blood o’er my soul
Anointed my head cleaner than snow
It ran in my eyes and caused me to see… IT”S ME!
I’m stained glass, bright mirror, reflect God, so pure
Deep river, bright sun, His love shines on…
I’m stained glass, stained glass, stained glass.

We are the stained glass. Notice the album cover, all of our pictures are in the stained glass window but the window is spattered with blood. The Blood of Jesus Christ! We are spattered with His blood to satisfy the wrath of God against sin. Jesus took our punishment for us!

Isaiah 53:4-6, 10-12 Surely our grief’s He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being {fell} upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him….
But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting {Him} to grief; If He would render Himself {as} a guilt offering, He will see {His} offspring, He will prolong {His} days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see {it and} be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.

The mirror is dark no longer! I am redeemed for Gods purpose to Glorify Himself in His Son Jesus Christ the Righteous! I am now a bright mirror that reflects Jesus to God.

1 Corinthians 6:20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

That’s us, Stained Glass and Living Stones as well as all who are FOLLOWERS of Jesus Christ. In and of ourselves is no good thing, just dead rocks:

Psalm 53:1-3 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God,” They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice; There is no one who does good. God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there is anyone who understands, Who seeks after God. Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.

We could not redeem ourselves. God had to send Jesus to redeem us from His wrath. That means, apart from Christ, we are nothing. We are just children of destruction. Apart from Jesus, we are irrelevant. We are only relevant pursuing the will of God. There is no relevance for us in the dead and dying world except to obey God.

Finally, our attitude in the stained glass is prayerful. Our eyes are closed. We are not reliant upon what we see, but we walk in faith that God will lead us to Him.

Habakkuk 2:4 But the righteous will live by his faith.

We are not pragmatists, we are followers on paths not seen with eyes.

John 14:1-6 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
“And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

We are just Stained Glass and Living Stones. How about you?

Dennis

I’m not going to fool you. You already can guess where I’m going just by how I’ve framed the thesis question. Maybe you’ve heard some version of this discussion before. As opposed to a knee jerk reaction, I appeal to you to engage this subject as you would all the other vital and important subjects and or information that come to all of us on a daily basis on which we make value judgments. Weigh the evidence and or logic. Is it truth? If it is not truth, no damage has been done. I’ve just had another great opportunity to exercise my neural connections before they are re-absorbed by the cold and indifferent universe of pointless existence. If it is truth, how shall I respond? We all must accept and reject all kinds of information for all kinds of reasons. Remember though, fear should never be the arbiter of rejection or acceptance, the truth of the matter is the real arbiter, whether we wish to agree with it or not, truth is static, unchanging, and absolute regardless of whatever philosophy is in vogue about truth.

Cauliflower is good for you…. but I still don’t like it, nor will I accept it for my own consumption. It is a conscious, deliberate decision I’ve made and live by. On the other hand, if I had only one alternative to save my life and that was to consume cauliflower, would I do it? Yes! Would I be grateful for it? Yes! My self derived “sensibilities”, the grotesque appearance smell and flavor of cauliflower, would take a back seat to the truth and gratitude of saving my life. Rather, I would become an exponent of the virtues of cauliflower consumption. Thus I would find distinction in the aroma and flavors of cauliflower because of my close association with its efficacy and my positive mindset to it. There is nothing like a foundation of truth to stand on to find satisfaction, peace and a real cause we are willing to die and live for, in that order. Once real truth is understood and accepted, we then alter our lives in accommodation to it. Truth never accommodates itself for us, it is static, unchanging. We must rather submit ourselves to truth. Most “Christians” have not grasped this concept. If you do not accommodate yourself to the truth, you haven’t accepted it. If you do not accommodate yourself to the truth, you have rejected it as truth. To not put truth into practice is to have had no more than the neural exercise mention before.

The questions about our purpose have been asked introspectively by everyone or at least have been wondered about from time to time. We especially consider these questions when confronted with our mortality, or by someone else’s mortality. Many of us quickly put these thoughts out of our minds because; 1. We fear the answers, or 2. We know the answers and refuse to deal with them in an honest fashion because we wish to continue in the direction we have chosen, our self derived “sensibilities”. Subconsciously we can think, “If I don’t think too deeply, I don’t have to deal with the consequences of not considering these questions.” Physical science proves there are consequences to every action or inaction. Absence of action does not excuse you from being hit in the face with a ball aimed at you. Even our US law says you are not excused from consequences for not knowing the law.

Donald Chittick, Ph.D., in his book, The Controversy: Roots of the Creation-Evolution Conflict examines two distinct biases when approaching that controversial subject of creation vs. evolution.

“Why did modern science start from a culture with a Christian base? The reasons are not difficult to determine. A proper philosophical base for investigating the universe was needed and the Christian doctrine of creation provided that base. The Creator established laws for people and laws for the natural world. A created universe was expected to have design, order, and purpose. Man, using his created rational mind, could study this ordered universe in a rational way and seek to discover its laws; and modern science is based on the assumption of scientific law. In addition, moral laws given by the Creator established the ethical base for science. Scientists must be honest and truthful.

By contrast, if the universe were not created, it must have come to its present state by the impersonal interaction of the material of the universe, itself. No intelligence would have been involved. With such a philosophy, there would be no reason to expect such a universe to operate in a rational way. Man’s mind would also be a product of the same chance universe. It should not be capable of rationally studying anything. Hence, a materialist philosophy of this sort would tend to discourage one from becoming a scientist.”

The first bias assumes a Creator or designer. With design come the rules of design or laws that make the design possible. These should be observable. They are. Even biased science textbooks enumerate the physical laws of the universe.

The second bias assumes there is no Creator or designer, just an impersonal random chance interaction of material in the universe. If this was true, we would not be able to observe it because chaos would still reign now and forever. There would be no one around to debate how random chaos came up with physical laws that don’t change.

Obviously you know my bias from how I’ve worded this essay. We all approach every subject with a conscious or un-conscious bias. The excellent question as framed by Dr. Chittick is; which bias is the best bias to be biased with. If the second bias were true we would not be here to discuss it. Using the logic that because we are here to discuss it means it could be true. That would be nonsensical logic. What it comes down to is our reasoning for wanting to defend one position or another.

I remember arguing with my parents about why I should go to the school dance. My real reason was pure hedonistic expectation. I was careful not to reveal that! I don’t remember my “reasoned” argument, but it probably consisted of some formulae of “you don’t trust me, all my friends will be there, I don’t get much free time just to be with my friends and enjoy a night out like you and mom do” or something like that. My parents for their part were concerned about what kind of mischief I’d get into. They were teenagers at one time as well and still had fair recollections of the kind of trouble youngsters could get into. No, they didn’t trust me, but wouldn’t say that (why I don’t know since I really was untrustworthy as all kids who invoke that phrase are). They let me go. I ran headlong to more hedonistic trouble than I’m sure they conceived possible… on more than one occasion. The point is; I defended my wanting to take part in those hedonistic activities not because of my logical well thought out reasoned arguments, which they were not. The real reason was I wanted to do what I wanted to do without anyone telling me I couldn’t do it! It was pure rebellion. We both accept and practice absolute truth or we are in rebellion to it.

In my work I can ignore the truth of the properties of H2s or Nh3. If I rebel against that truth, I die. If I practice the truth (proper protective clothing and masks) I live and make a living. Whether I live or die has nothing so much to do with my bias, as to the truth of my bias.

Absolute truth is not just a foundation, but a point of reference. If I ignore truth, I have no point of reference. If I invent my own point of reference, I have no truth.

All the paths of the LORD are loving-kindness and truth to those who keep His covenant and His testimonies. Psalm 25:10

You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Psalm 60:4

The Bible reveals truth as well as man’s origin, being, and purpose. As to the truthfulness of the Bible, I can point out no other work of literature that can make the same claims when it comes to the accuracy of the Bible. The Bible is 66 books written over a period of nearly 1500 years by over 40 different authors agreeing with and building on the same subject. How is this possible?

So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. 2Peter 1:19-21

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 2Timothy 3:16

As to proof of the accuracy of this ancient document, a young law student named Josh McDowell, with the idea that the Bible was a fable that just got in the way of his pursuits, set out to disprove the accuracy of the Bible. He became convinced of its accuracy and became obedient to that truth. He compiled his evidence into a book named: Evidence That Demands a Verdict. Since then he has written another book: New Evidence That Demands a Verdict. These books are in depth analyses of evidential proofs of the accuracy of the Bible. Another author that examines the accuracy of New Testament claims from the standpoint of a reporter getting to the bottom of an expose’ Lee Strobel’s: The Case for Christ: A Journalist’s Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus.

My bias as to the truth of scripture is built on the observation that as it relates to science, the Bible is true, as it relates to human nature; it’s true, as it relates to fulfilled prophecy; it’s true, as it relates to it’s own accuracy; it’s true, and as it relates to my greatest needs of relevancy and a future; it’s true.

This perspective was from an East Indian couple that had been married for 50 years and were interviewed at a wedding for young relatives whose marriage was arranged:

“Americans look at the wedding day as a finished mansion, new paint, great new fixtures, new furniture, polished floors, perfect yard, ect. It is perfection. Years latter in their marriage they look at the mansion as an ageing worn house that needs much work. It needs much rehabilitation to try to recapture the newness of the beautiful mansion they once had. They want to recapture the beauty of that lost love, rekindle that original elusive mansion (or passion) they once had, the passion of their youth. Indians look at the wedding day as a vacant lot. From that vacant lot you build your mansion over many years. You never quit adding on to it. You build for strength and beauty a lasting testament to real love which is proven over long periods of time.” (If this is done you never want to go back)

When asked If she loved her husband on her wedding day the wife responded; “Loved him? I didn’t even know him!”

The biblical truth about love is that love is not primarily a feeling or emotion, but an action. The feelings are proved true by consistent action. A wise man said in relation to love that you “act yourself into a better way of feeling rather than feel yourself into a better way of acting”.

Americans bring a good deal of emotion and passion to the wedding day but sadly far too often that passion isn’t enough to carry them very far. The passion and feelings are like a short term drug. When the original effect wears off… what then? Have you just fallen out of love? No. You never knew what love was! Love is doing difficult things in difficult times no matter what you feel. Love is sacrificing yourself when there is no apparent gain to be had. Love is the product of years of sharing and caring. Love is proved not by words or emotion or gifts but by the product of your actions through adversity and beyond.

So, who then is more civilized? Which culture is truly backward?

I Corinthians 13
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not Love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not Love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not Love, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Love suffereth long, and is kind; Love envieth not; Love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, Love, these three; but the greatest of these is Love.

Love, Dennis

“These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.” John 1:4

“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” John 3:19-21

“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” John 8:12

“For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.” Psalm 36:9

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

“And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:38-39

“When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.” Acts 11:18

“You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever”.” Psalm 16:11

“For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.” John 5:21

“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:2-4

“Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.” 1Timothy 6:18-19

“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:12

“This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.” 1 John 2:25

Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2:10b

“Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations”. Revelation 22:1-2

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.” Revelation 22:14

“They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:16-17

“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.” Revelation 22:17

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless.” 2 Peter 3:10-14

“For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER? Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.” 1 Peter 4:17-19

“Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

PRAYER: Oh Father, show me the death I clutch so tightly that I might let go and embrace real life.

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. Jim Elliot (martyr)

Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay. Unknown

Faith is not a leap in the dark; it is a walk in the light. Unknown

Am I so busy for God that I have no time for God? Unknown

If your life doesn’t touch another person for the Kingdom of God; what on earth are you good for? Unknown

God is looking for men and women willing to toss their lives in the arena. Jim Elliot (martyr) (In relation to the arena of the 1st century where Followers of Christ were torn apart by wild animals and gladiators)

Make what is important five minutes after I die…. important to me now. Unknown

The time has come to create a gap rather than draw the line. Bill Gothard (In relation to worldly behavior among “Christians”)

Marriage is not finding the person you love; its loving the person you find. Unknown

How is the Church like Noah’s ark? The stench inside would be unbearable if it wasn’t for the storm outside. Chuck Colson

A man is wise if he learns from his mistakes; but a wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Dennis McLean (truck driver)

After considering the history of Christianity and governments: When the Church is not being persecuted, it’s being corrupted. Chuck Colson

It can be exalting to belong to a church that is 500 years behind the times and sublimely indifferent to fashion; it is also mortifying to belong to a church that is 5 minutes behind the times huffing and puffing to catch up. Joseph Sobran

What in the world are you doing for God’s sake? Unknown

Pragmatism has taught me; distrust pragmatism. Dennis McLean (truck driver)

Real gold fears no fire. Li Quan

Only those who obey can believe, and only those who believe can obey. Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The man or woman of God is the accumulation of many righteous decisions. Wells Jackson (a roofer)

We have the greatest capacity to lie to ourselves and believe it than to lie to someone else and make them believe it. Dennis McLean (truck driver)

Witness daily, speak if you must. Unknown

A man once approached the great preacher Charles Spurgeon; “There is a bible verse I read that is bothering me because I can’t understand it”. Spurgeon replied; “You should be happy to have such a problem, it’s the all those bible verses I do understand that bother me.”

The entrance fee into the kingdom of God is nothing; the annual subscription is everything. Henry Drummond

Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal. Unknown

Come as you are, heaven forbid if you stay as you are. Unknown

In relation to free will vs. predestination; it doesn’t matter, just decide to act picked. Dennis McLean (truck driver)

The best way to acquire virtue is to pretend you already have it. C.S. Lewis

God tells the man who cares. A.W. Tozer

Jesus Said was going to originally be the name of the album Stained Glass & Living Stones. All the songs on the album were going to be just scriptural quotes from Jesus. For some reason or another (due mostly to environmental conditions at the time), that changed. Jesus Said was the first song we wrote and has a great deal of importance to us, personally. I become somewhat emotional every time I listen to it, and since I arranged it, I’ve heard it thousands of times!

I am a preacher and a teacher, but I prefer to use as much Word of God and as little me as possible. He is irresistible, I am fallible. I am not fallible when He lives and speaks His Words in me and through me and my actions. Less of me (like how ’bout none) and all of Him. To write the best song is to use all His words. While we love all kinds of music, the message is what is most important. Some say we are too heavy, some say we are too light, very few say we are just right but when the words are His, it’s spot on!

The Word of God is Living, and Active, and Sharper than any two-edged sword, and Piercing as far as the division of Soul and Spirit, of both Joints and Marrow, and able to Judge the Thoughts and Intentions of the Heart! And there is no creature hidden from his sight, but ALL things are open and laid bare to the eyes of HIM with whom we have to do! Hebrews 4:12,13 (caps mine, means pay attention)

Jesus Said connects the Lord God, YAHWEH, the great I AM, who revealed Himself to His people Israel, whom He chose, to Jesus Christ. God made the first mention of Jesus to come in Genesis 3:15 and then Jesus said in John 8:58, “Truly I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM”. John 1:1-3 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being”. John 1:14 says, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth”. The “Word” literally defined is the “speaking”. Where do you find the Word, the speaking, mentioned in the creation of the world? Go to Genesis 1:3 “Then God said,” The very speaking of God is the power of God, is the Word of God, is Jesus Christ!

The Gospel of the Kingdom can be summed up simply and completely in; FEAR GOD AND GIVE HIM GLORY! Revelations 14:6 This is what Jesus preached. He also said “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you cannot hear My words.” John. 8:43 In other words, You don’t understand Me because you are not listening! We, in our strength, always interpret what we hear from the standpoint of what we choose to believe!

Some have said that the voice of God in the song, Jesus Said, sounds scary… or even evil! That it makes the hair raise on the back of their necks. Let me point out a few passages to give some understanding; Genesis 3:1-5, Rev. 13:1-9, and 1 Corinthians 11:13-15. These passages point out that satan is the opposite of scary. He is accepted, his minions are loved, his advice is listened to and adopted. He, himself, is an angel of light. In Ezekiel 28:11-15, it says satan or lucifer was the most beautiful created thing. Now juxtapose that with Exodus 19:3-20:26: This passage is so cool! Also, Rev. 1:12-20, This is Jesus Himself! His best earthly friend, John the Apostle, fell at his feet as a dead man! WOW! Also, Ezekiel 1:1-2:10, and Isaiah 6:1-13! The voice of satan seems to be the most pleasing to us. The voice of God is scary. satan speaks to us in our native, self-destructive, fleshly language, just like honey to our ears. God speaks the language of Truth. Truth is painful and abrasive to our sinful ways. How else do you get rid of filth but to scour it away? The Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom! The Fear of God is literally to be scared and trembling (knees shaking), in awe and reverence, and to love with every fiber. Look at those references above again and see what I mean. satan has deceived us to fear and stay away from the scary voice of God as evil and instead listen to the quiet voice that whispers the sweet nothings of destruction in our ears. You choose.

As for me, I like having a big scary God I don’t understand! Then I know for sure I didn’t make Him up!!

So, it’s important to listen and obey what Jesus Said.

John 8:43, 47, 48, 51-53, 57-58
John 14:6
Matthew 7:13-14
John 4:14
John 14:21
Revelation 21:7
Revelation 3:19-20