Finishing on a high note.

If it were not for our calendar we may never know that anything is new about another day that has arrived. It all seems the same.  We can't really leave anything behind.  And there is not much newness about the "new year."  But in keeping with the very strong tradition we embrace 2012 with excitement that we create ourselves.  We make as much noise as we possibly can.  We sing and dance.  We use the time as an excuse to eat as much of the best food we crave all year.  We finally fall exhausted into a bed.  It may even be our own bed.

The next morning?  Well, it all appears to be the same as the old.  Problems have not vanished.  Faces are all the same.  The phone still rings.  The day starts as usual.

However, there is something serious about the whole process.  The New Year certainly gives us a chance to pause and think back over the old one.  What could I have done better?  What regrets do I have?  Do I have more pluses than minus?

I would like to finish well.  However, the year of 2011 may have started, I would like to be able to say, "I have finished well."  That is the way life is.  The finishing is very important.  We all would like to finish on a high note.  The high note finish allows us to put behind us regrets, failures and other unpleasant things that we really don't need to take into the new year.

So, here we go.  Ready or not. the new year is here.  Let's start right and finish on a high note for our Lord.  There is much He will want us to do this year.  LET'S DO IT.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Bibles for China

Last night I had a wonderful dinner with Pastor Hong Yang and his wife Esther.  I was joined by Sue and my daughter Beth, husband and my two precious grand children  I was so glad my family was there to hear up to date news of China.  Through this pastor I have met many underground pastors who face the most severe trials in order to preach, teach and live out their Christian faith.

Dr Hong told of the severe shortage of Bibles in China.  Even though, the Chinese government tells the world that there are Bibles being published in their country and everyone who really wants a Bible can get one.  This is propaganda.  The underground churches have one Bible for every few hundred people.  Many Christians hand write their own Bibles.  They share them among themselves.

Dr Hong then shared how he came to know Jesus by hearing the Bible.  He was 20 years of age and had gotten very special permission to read the Bible.  Because of his studies he was given two weeks to read the forbidden book.  He began in Genesis chapter one where he found that God had created man in His image. He had always been taught and believed in evolution.  Something happened deep inside of him.  He read as fast as he could.  He started writing as much of the Bible he could in the two weeks.

The reading of the Bible brought him into a personal relationship with Jesus.  "Faith comes from hearing the word."  The power of the word will change a person's life.  We must do everything we can to get Bibles to these dear people.  I will be visiting the underground churches in April.  I know some of the pastors already.  I need to know more about what we can do.

In the mean time, pray.  Let us seek guidance from our Lord who just what we can do. 

Surprised by the New Year

The child in me likes surprises.  I even enjoy using the word surprise when I can.  It is pleasant.  The surprises that come from the hand of our Lord are not always seen as such.  We sometimes receive them without much thought and subsequently no thanks is given for them.

I am not sure many consider the giving of time to us by our Lord as a surprise.  We take it and off we go into our world of activities. Not considering how precious the gift of time is.

Next Sunday morning our Lord will surprise us with a New Year.  It will not be the same as the year we are leaving and it will hold all kinds of surprises as we enjoy each new day.  2011 brought so many surprises and I am looking forward to 2012 and all that our Lord will give to us.

There is a verse in Psalm 139:16 that fills my mind full of thoughts at times like this.  David writes, "All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be."  I do not have some deep theological explanation to add to this.  My only thoughts are that God is in control and what He hands me each day will be good for me.

God bless your surprises for 2012.  You do not know now what they will be but you do know that each day will comes from the loving hands of a Father that loves you deeply.  From His hands to yours.  I will be good.  HAPPY NEW YEAR.

You are not Christian IF:

1.  If you do not believe in the virgin birth of Jesus.

2.  If you do not believe that Jesus was/is the only Messiah.

3.  If you do not believe that He was/is the WORD of John 1:1.

4.  If you do not believe that Jesus is God.

5.  If you do not believe that Jesus is the ONLY way to the Father.

6.  If you do not believe that He is the only One who can deal with your sin problem.

7.  If you do not believe that His blood is the cleansing element of sin.

8.  If you do not believe He was/is the fulfillment of every Old Testament prophecy concerning the promised Messiah.

9.  If you do not believe His death met the demands of the law of God concerning sin.

10.  If you just do not believe.

You may be religious but you are not Christian!

Attempting to go before God without a Savior.

What is it that sets Christianly off from most other religions of the world?  It is that we have a Savior.  His name is Jesus.  He is the only Savior we have or need.  He has been accepted by the Father as our Savior.  When we go before the Father we always go through our Savior.  The Father then accepts us, listens to us and answer our prayers because of our Savior.

Our sins have will always keep us from going to the Father without a Savior.  It is not that we have committed so many sins.  Yes we have.  However, the problem is we are sinners.  Because we are sinners, we sin.  What else can a sinner do?  We sin deliberately.  We sin carelessly.  We sin without knowing it.  But it is because we are sinner.

So how do we approach a holy God whose eyes are too pure to look on evil? (Habakkuk 1:13)  We go through the Savior He has provided for us.  As we come to the Father, he looks at us, and He see the pure and holy righteousness of His Son instead of our sins.

The Savior He has provided has no substitutes.  You can not merely pray several times a time day and expect to be accepted by the Father.  You can not do religious things; you can not give a large amount of money; no long pilgrimages with take you there.  Not even a confession of your sins in the ears of someone is suppose to be God's representative.

Embrace Jesus for who He is.  He is the only Savior.  He can deal with your sins no matter how great.  You will be granted an access to the Father.  You will become His beloved one.

Just what is God's will for me?

For those who say that it is easy to know God's will for our lives probably are talking to the wind. Knowing just what God may want you to do requires a level of spiritual sensitivity that is more difficult than most would think.  Where do we start?

First,  you must know without wavering doubt that God does have a special calling for you.  You must know that you are not searching merely for a career or a position.  You must know that God does have a way for you to go.  It is His will.

Second,  you need to know what you gifts and talents are.  God usually does not ask us to do things that we simply have no inclination for.  There will be certain aspirations for what it may be God wants you to do.  Especially if it is to be a life time calling.

Third, A deep sense of fulfillment will settle upon you.  You will feel good at the aspect of doing what God calls to do.  You will want to do it.  You will look forward to giving yourself to it.

Fourth, a confirmation from other members of the body of Christ is very important.  They will see gifts you have.  People will be blessed by your calling and tell you so.

Fifth,  after answering the call you should thoroughly enjoy what you are doing for the Lord.  If you simply do not like what you are doing for the Lord you probably are not in the right calling.

Sixth, the will of God and thoughts of doing it will be with you day and night.  His will for you will not come and go but will simply be there each day, every night.  It simply does not go away.

Seventh, you will not be distracted by other worldly offers of more attractive, more lucrative positions.  Positions of honor, more money, pressures of various kinds will not be entertained by you.

Scriptures of interest:  Romans 12:1-2;  1 Peter 4:10; 1 John 2:17

A leaderless world is ready for the anti-christ

The turmoil of 2011 is now being evaluated.  The wars continue unabated.  Earthquakes have brought devastation.   A worldwide economic collapse has circled the globe.  False religions are receiving recognition and acceptance.  Japan hit with earthquake, tsunami, and a nuclear disaster.  Uncontrollable suicide bombers continue their mission.  Security has become the priority everywhere.

Just when the world needs strong leadership it has none.  Leaders from the world meet and talk and come out of their huddles with nothing.  The strong voice that rises above all others is missing

The Middle East has become a world without leaders.  This all started the first part of 2011 when Tunisia overthrew its leader. Egypt followed.  Country after country revolted against their leaders.  One by one the heads of countries were either overthrown or left office by force.  Some 15 to 17 Middle East countries are still in a state rebellion against leadership.

In order for the Anti-Christ to take his place as a world leader he will need a stage set for him that holds no leadership competition for him.  Countries must be willing to bow at his feet in complete surrender of their countries to his leadership.  He will not have to use force at this stage.  It will have be given to him.

What will he bring to the office of world leadership?  He will solve our economy problems by using the powers of "the mark of the beast."  He will bring all religions together to worship one god.  He will solve the Israel/Arab conflict.  He will bring world governmental powers under his leadership.

His goals will be:

       1.  One world government.

       2,  One world religion.

       3.  One world economy.

What will 2012 hold for us?  The various crisis that circle our globe will continue.  New powerless leaders will appear and go away just as quickly.  Toleration will become THE movement.  Right and wrong will be replaced by something in the middle of the two.  There will be no sins only mistakes.  Those who take a strong stand for what is right will be mocked and pushed aside.  Church's influence will continue to erode.  A false religion will make its move for domination.  Security needs will usher in the first subtle approach to a worldwide identification system.

The stage is being set for the anti-christ but it also being set for the real Christ.  He is coming.  He will be Lord of all.  Jesus the only Saviour of man will come and will not delay.  Even so come Lord Jesus.

The holy cows in Kathmandu, Nepal

The efforts to make Kathmandu a holy city are everywhere.  Temples, shrines, holy men, monks and holy cows.  From the airport in a taxi, way over its normal usage,  I raced through the city.  Our way is suddenly obstructed by holy cows.  Yes, I know many use the term to describe events but these are real cows.  They walk around as if they know that people consider them special.  They lie down in the middle of the roads and chew their belched up dinner.  They refuse to move so the taxi weaves around as if that is what is expected.  I am amused by this and question the driver.  "Is there a law that allows the cow to move about at their will?"  "Yes, a religious law."  It is a "law" stronger than the law of the land.    If you happen to kill a man you go to prison for 7 years..  If you kill one of these cows it will cost you 20 years.  The cows are a part of the reincarnation process.  The cow could very well be one of your relatives.  It could even be your grandmother.

On one of my taxi trips I ask the driver, "Do you ever eat a part of these cows?"  He looked around him as if someone might be listening.  I was the only one in the car.  "At night Sir, at night."  The holiness of these cows was brought into question.

I ask another about the cows. " Would you eat the meat of a dead cow?"  If they have died was his carefully guarded answer.  I ask about the way a cow might die.  "Sometimes they fall off a cliff."  I could not help but ask how that might happen.  In a guarded answer I understood that sometimes the holy cows are helped to fall.

So there you have the holy cows of Kathmandu.  Decide for yourself just how holy they are.

South China Morning Post and other great newspapers

The joy of holding in your hands a great newspaper is just that.  A joy.  One of first things I do in arriving in Hong Kong is buy newspapers.  I read about Myanmar's New Dawn.  Is it really possible?  Aung San Sii Kyi takes a deep breath.  She is pondering her next move.  Hillary is to visit Myanmar (Burma) December the 1st.  I read about Obama's victory in his Asian whirlwind stops.  I am not sure what the victory was suppose to be.  Thaksin former disgraced ex-preimer of Thailand refuses a pardon.  What is he up to?  Former president Arroyo has been arrested.  She has suddenly  become gravely ill.  Pope preaches in voodoo city.  Wow!  Woman risked life for a bigger bottom.  I just read them.  Whites are returning to S. African.  Maybe its not such a bad place.  Chinese people help Ai Weiwei pay his taxes.  What's the next government's harassing move?  The increasing lure of female suicide bombers.  What have they been promised?  Life in Hong Kong in an 18 sq ft cubicle. The poor are everywhere.  Tiger delivers to silence the critics.  We'll see.  A great newspaper.

Sue and I are off to a lunch with some Indian friends at their home.  Great food ahead.  I love their curry, tandoori chicken, naan, long tea, spices, spices.  Can't wait.  Got to go.

A few questions for the atheist.

What's the point?  I do not mean the point of your belief but the point of anything.  Nothing really makes much sense without God.  If there is no God then who decides what is right and what is wrong?  Right must be whatever I say is right.  You may disagree but it doesn't matter.  I decide.  Since there is no One to whom I must answer then the consequences of my decisions are rightly deserved.  You go your way and I'll go mine.  However, what will happen is our paths will cross and our rights and wrongs will clash.  I suppose it then depends on who is the strongest.  If you win then I will be forced to agree with you but that doesn't mean you are right.  It is your force that mandates the course.

If there is no God then I must act quickly to seize what I can of life because it is quickly slipping away.  I must eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow I die.  I just go away to be vaguely remembered for a time but then RIP.  What I gain in this life must be enjoyed quickly and to the utmost.  This is all there is.

Of course, I should live by some moral standard  but that is confusing too.  Who sets this standard?  Who is to enforce it.  You have no right to force your morals on me.  Further, you have no right to judge me.  By what standard do you plan on using.  If you are going to enforce your ethical way of life on me then you become god.  But you said there is no God.  I forgot.

The Bible, which is a very good book, says that it is the fool who says, "There is no God."  I can understand that. You have to be a fool to believe that.  This seems to be a foolish argument.  No God doesn't make any sense whatsoever.  This belief takes away life itself.  There simply is no real purpose outside of God.  Pleasure would have to be the only purpose and that pleasure you would have to decide on for yourself.  Our pleasures would probably not get along with each other.

Oh well, enough of this foolish talk.  There is a God and all men will know that in time.  My pleasure is in my relationship with Him.  My daily walk with Him brings a meaningful purpose to all I do.  What joy indeed.  You that have a problem believing in a personal God might want to reconsider your belief.   God is worth knowing.  

Funny theologies.

I do not mean funny in a "ha ha" sense but a funny way in that they are strange. I look at these differently than a cult.  A cult is a rejection of basic Christian beliefs. A cult will always fail in the test of who Christ is.  Funny theologies are found within the "Christian" world.   They are a corruption of Biblical truth and create a lot of confusion.

More and more our Christian world is being invaded with this funny stuff. We have had the hyper faith movement.  You still find some of it.  The prosperity gospel was thrown at us and caused confusion.  I was invited not to long ago to a church that claimed to have gold dust falling in worship.  That drew people.  I didn't see any.

Soul sleep is not new but has been resurrected.  A keeping of the sabbath in the Old Testament way is still around.  I suppose the newest funny theology is the messianic movement.  They really can not get their act together as to what they believe but it is basically a resurrection of the Galatians problem that the Apostle Paul deals with.  Of course, no one can forget 88 reasons why the Lord will come in 1988.  He didn't come.  I don't know where those followers are.

Some of this stuff is so strange that you have to laugh.  They throw these funny things out and expect everyone to accept it without question.  After all, they will tell you, this is a new revelation.  They forget that Solomon said, "there is nothing new under the sun."

The best way to keep from falling into one of these traps is to know your Bible.  A solid biblical knowledge will help you recognize funny theologies when you hear them.  They will continue to come.  Jesus warned in Matthew 24 of mass confusion within the Christian faith in the days just before He returns.  The confusion will be so great that many will depart from the faith.

Call them what you like but beware they can cause you to fall.

  

Oh, how I love Christmas!

It is in the air.  It has been since the "ber" months started.  The music is playing.  The decorations are going up.  Excitement is in the air.  I am not sure what part of Christmas I like the most but I like the season.  I suppose it would start with the carols.  My favorite?  Wow.  That's a hard one.

"I am dreaming of a white Christmas."  I love that one.  Silent night.  Joy to the world.  Jingle bells.  I even like Rudolph and Frosty.  I love Christmas trees all bright and cheery.  I love the lights, the gatherings, the gifts.  I like to give and receive.  What a beautiful way to tell someone we care.

I do not know what day our Lord was born into our world.  It probably was not the 25th of December.  There were 364 other days He could have chosen.  I am not sure it really matters.  What I do know is Jesus was born and we should celebrate his birthday.  After all most of celebrate our own birthdays.

There are some who say they do not believe in Christmas.  I am not sure why or what they mean by making such a declaration.  Do they not believe that Jesus came?  If He did come why not celebrate.  In stating we do not believe in something we are making a statement of personal principle.  Being a principle we must not violate it in anyway.  We must reject the Christmas bonus.  We must not accept gifts and tell the giver that it is against our principle.  We must not attend any Christmas gathers.  After all our religious convictions are on the line here.

As for me and my house we will celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  The decorations are up.  The kitchen is preparing.  The smells are in the air.  Let's celebrate.  Its Jesus' birthday.

The King James Version

The KJV is a translation just like NIV, NASV, ASV, Message, Living Bible, Amplified, etc, etc.  They are all guilty.  They are translations.  Each one done in a different time and authorized by different sources.  The KJV is a translation no better or worse than others.  It depends on your need.

The KJV was authorized by King James I.  He certainly was no holy man.  When the supporters of this version talk,  they sometimes speak of the fact that it is the authorized version.  So was every other translation.

If you are a purist you might want to consider taking Hebrew and Greek so you do not have to rely on a translation.  But even if you so this, remember that there are no original manuscripts of the bible.  They do not exist.  The nearest thing we have are the dead sea scrolls.  But they are copies of a source nearest the original.  

Just a warning.  Be careful how you berate other translations over the KJV.  It is no different and somewhat difficult because of its usage of the old English.  To speak of it as of Satan is very dangerous.  You will have more questions about your stand than you can answer.  

Every translation is a serious effort to bring the bible into a language we can understand.  And, by the way,  what translation do the various language groups use.  If you speak an very obscure chinese dialect how are you going to ever read a King James Version.  To listen to some you are in big trouble.  You probably will never make it to heaven.  I think the proverbial Saint Peter is going to check at the gate to see what translation you have been using.  Excuse me, I am going to look for my old KJV.  I think it is here somewhere being neglected. 

Ramblings!

1.  Buddhists have flags that doing their praying for them.  Cool!

2.  Nepal has an airline called Buddha Air.

3.  Thailand is seriously flooded.

4.  Do you think there will be an Occupy the World movement?  The problem is when it is over where would we go?

5.  There are several countries in the Middle East who do not have a leader.  They just up and got rid of them.  Now what?

6.  Israel is dead serious!

7.  God doesn't care for about half of our so called theology.  He didn't have anything to do with it anyway.

8.  The last days won't last.

9.  Christmas is real.

10.  Pray before you go to bed and you will sleep better.

A Mission trip to Nepal

This trip was into the interior of Nepal to the town of Bharatapur nestled in the shadows of the Himalayan.  It took three flights and two days to get here from Manila.  We found our church on a gravel, dusty, one lane road.  It was in a beautiful setting with bright green rice paddies all around.  Water buffaloes contently lying in the shade.  Children running to nowhere.  They always like to run.  Boys racing on their Chinese made bikes.  Boys the world over like to race.

Already at the church were 150 to 200 pastors and their wives and friends who had gathered for a three day convention.  We enjoyed the greeting time as we renewed friendships of ten years.  In the church the ladies sit on one side.  Men on the other.  All sitting cross legged on the floor.  They sang joyfully as if they had no concerns whatsoever.  I enjoyed the sounds of their unknown tongue.  At least to me it was unknown.

As I preached the three ceiling fans were doing the best they could.  Heat was coming through the windows and doors.  The church was full.  People were sitting outside in the international plastic chairs that has made someone very rich.  My interpreter seems to be working harder than me.  He is trying to catch every word.  I was wet to my skin for the entire two hours of preaching/teaching.  As I taught they took notes by putting their tablets on the floor.

I looked out the back door of the church as I was preaching and saw the beautiful rice paddies at different stages of growth.  I noted as we came in, the heads of the rice bowing over to us as if to say, "Please harvest me."  I would hate for the harvest to be lost.  The grain is precious.

I visited the kitchen where the young people were preparing the lunch.  Large basins were full of chopped specialities. A large pan of chopped onions.  Two bowls of garlic.  Large pan of very hot peppers.  Two differ large pans full of different greens.  Everyone would eat well today.

It was a wonderful three days with God's children.  Life is hard but their laughter real.  I have grown to love these dear ones.  I weep because of the harsh life they live.  They really do not complain and worshipped with the greatest expressions of joy.

A Mission trip to Bharatpur, Nepal

Sue and I left Manila on a Saturday morning.  We left behind a devastating typhoon and another one on the way.  Our big Thai plane took us out on our way to Bangkok where we would stay over night.  This would be the first of six flights we would take before returning home.  The next morning we were off to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal for another over night.  The next morning our third flight took us into the interior of Nepal to the town of Bharatpur for a National Convention of Word for the World.

Our home for the next three nights would be an experience.  Our room had a TV.  It didn't work.  A phone. No, it didn't work.  When they said wifi in the room. We took another look around us and doubted.  It didn't work.  He didn't say it did.  Cold shower.  Sue hates them.  A place to sleep.  What else do you need?

The gardens are beautiful with a huge variety of trees, flowering shrubs, beautiful large butterflies flipping through the flowers and singing birds with strange but beautiful songs.  The place we are staying is man made.  The garden is God's.  What a difference.

We just came from a tour of the town via a hired taxi.  Sue likes to take photos.  With her two cameras and my one on my cell phone off we went.  Stopping here and there taking photos we circle the town.  Beautifully dressed ladies in the bright colors of the rainbow with long, black flowing hair down their backs.  Children with coal black eyes sparkling back at you.  Rickshaws drifting in and out of traffic.  Water buffaloes lazily carrying burdens with a certain contagious contentment. Horns blaring as they do in Asia.  Sidewalks filled with fruit vendors.  Did I say there are no sidewalks?  Sue has the driver stop for another photo.  Did I tell you she likes to take photos?  She has hundreds of them stored.  Everywhere.  While she adjusts her camera our dilapidated taxi is rear ended.  By a motorcycle.  Normally you would not feel this.  In an ordinary car.  As the Chinese would say, "Anyone can build a car."  Someone tried on this one.  I was grateful when our driver and the motorcyclist exchanged pleasantries and we were on our way.  I was already imagining our being at the police station trying to explain, "My wife likes to take photos."  We are foreigners you know.  Finally we are back at our "resort."  Sometimes it doesn't take much to make a place a resort.

It is dark and the lights are still on.  We have our candles near by.  A must in most of Asia's out of the way places.  I made an ocular inspection of the generator.  I felt on familiar grounds.  It was very much like the one I fought with for three years in the Gilbert Islands.

I'll close for now.  It is dinner time.  Dinner time in these small Asian villages can be a pleasant evening time.  The lights are subdued.  Oriental music.  Helpful waiters with giant size smiles and stumbling through what little English they know.  Drinks are refreshing and made of fruit we have never heard of.  The smells are always laced with garlic, ginger, peppers and other spices.  Oh, by the way, when you pray for your food, really pray.

The lights just went out.

An Asian Airport

We arrived at Tribhuvan Domestic airport in Kathmandu with no tickets.  Our overseer had them and he was not to be seen. We pulled into the airport in a cloud of dust in a wheezing, dilapidated cab.  It proceeded to die as we got out.  Two wild men came out of the crowd and took off with our bags.  I begin yelling and they stopped looking bewildered as if I was the wild man.  They were not stealing our bags, just heading for the airport.  How in the world was I suppose to know this?

You are not allowed to enter the airport without tickets.  Since we didn't have tickets I began shoving every paper I could find toward the guard including our passports.  It worked.  He became totally confused at these crazy foreigners and sent us on our way.

By this time we are in the middle of chaos.  Lines, security machines, guards, bag boys all trying to be in the same spot at the same time.  We shoved, pushed, said words under our breath and reached security status.  We were in.

Describe the scene?  Yes, well it was something like this.  The room was small with a large crowd of people wanting to go somewhere else.  Pushing, shoving, calling out to one another and just a general roar of noise.  There must be a shortage of water.  No one has been near any for sometime.  One tall man, all arms and legs was marching under someone's orders up and down, back and forth.  His long arms and very long fingers were piercing the air.  Everyone stayed clear of him.  Sue and I stood over in a dark corner.

Out of the chaos of the security area our overseer broke free and came toward us.  Tickets in hand he directed us toward one of the several carnival booths that serve as airline counters when not used for something else.

I really am not sure how our bags got checked and we had boarding passes in our hands.  An absolute miracle.  Behind some curtains our carry on bag was checked and we were frisked.  Out another curtain and into a larger area of chaos.  A loud speaker was yelling at everyone.  We didn't know whether to sit down, duck or board.

Finally it was time to board Buddha Air.  One of these crashed last week and all on board died.  Buddha failed.  The plane was a two motor prop.  This is what is called a shake, rattle and roll flight.  I just hope the pilot gets the three co-ordinating.

We are off for a three day convention in the town of Bharatpur.  The Himalayans are beautiful.

What was a gain to me was a lost for Christ.

This verse has always been a challenge for me.  Understanding it and accepting it is hard.  Paul seems to be saying to us, "What is a gain to me may very well be a loss to Christ."  So?  Give it away!  Everything that  doesn't belong to God give it away.  If it truly belongs to God then just enjoy it while you have it.  But be ready to release it when He ask for it.

Attempting to hold on to what really belongs to God will entrap us.  We will become possessive.  It can become so meaningful to us that it takes the place of God.  This is idolatry.  The Apostle John re-enforces this in I John 2:15 when he says, "Love not the things of the world."  He knew the danger.

When things become so meaningful to us,  we find our pleasure in them.  Instead of seeking pleasure in the things of God we look at what we can possess here, in this life.  To make a list of the things of the world that may entrap us is almost impossible.  We are strange creatures and can't ever seem to have enough.  The only thing that satisfy us in this misguided approach to life is more of what we already have.  A little more will bring us more pleasure.

You see, in God you can have fullness of life.  Content and at rest with what you have.  Sometimes contentment may require you to give something away instead of getting more.  Just release it.  Don't let it hold you.  There is no pleasure in what holds you.  Anything that holds you is an addiction.  Things can easily become addictive.

You will have to personally experience the pleasure of a relationship with God to understand this whole concept.  Entering into a relationship with Him can bring such pleasure that you can not explain it.  I fail  to put into words what I am at this moment experiencing in my relationship with Christ. It is simply unexplainable.

Readings from C.S. Lewis

I have been reading from one of my favorite Christian writers.  He talks about our struggle to do good when we really don't want to do it.  "The more you obey your conscience, the more your conscience will demand of you.  And your natural self, which is thus being starved and hampered and worried at every turn, will get angrier and angrier."  In my own personal struggles I find that no matter how much I have prayed I feel I should pray more.  No matter how much I give, I think I  should give more.  On and on it goes and each new day brings new demands.  C.S. goes further, "The Christian way is different:  Harder, and easier.  Christ says, 'Give Me all.  I don't want so much of time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want YOU."  It seems what C.S. is saying is that the struggle comes to an end when we fully surrender.  You don't lose anything when you surrender everything to Him.

We can't seem to understand that all we have gained will be lost to us in the end.  The deception is so strong that it causes us to gather material things far beyond our needs.  Give us this day our daily bread seems to be a needless prayer.  We simply do not have enough faith to live daily without surrounding ourselves with things, money, people, protection, etc.  Daily faith is hard.  The Apostle Paul seems to have finally made this discovery.  "Whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things."

Traveling

I am 35,000 feet in the air traveling at about 600 mph. That's 5,000 feet higher than Mount Everest.  I've just had a bowl of Japanese noodles.  I want to sleep a little.  However, my mind is busy.  It's amazing how our minds tend to control us.  I always think when I am flying that I am closer to God.  That's probably not true.  We are just as close to Him with our feet on the ground as in the air.  Maybe it is our mind that confuses this simple truth.  God is everywhere at all times.  That is comforting.  The flight I am on has a purpose.  I am not ramblingly traveling.  I am returning to God's place for me.  Ramblingly traveling has an attraction for most of us but you can only ramble so long and so far.  You then must return to a purpose.  That's the way of those who follow God.  There is a purpose.  Even very small things can be meaningful.  I don't always return to God's purpose easily.  There is a dragging of the feet at times, as I slowly move in that direction.  The human side of me desires other meaningless things.  Things that really have no real purpose except giving me a little pleasure for a very short time.  I always have this sense of satisfaction at the end of each day when I have followed His purpose.  I feel so empty when I have come to the end of the day and the only reason for tiredness is meaningless activity.  Not that it is wrong.  And perhaps we need it at times.  It is just not fulfilling.

Welcome to my chair.

Evenings in Tennessee bring a coolness with a calming effect.  I have been drawn to my chair to enjoy this special time of the day.  My thoughts turn to the goodness of the Lord.  Everyday brings new mercies as Jeremiah wrote and today has been no exception.  This is my first post on my new blog.  I want to begin with a note of thanksgiving as the evening embraces.  There is a certain unexplainable strength that is gained when we are thankful.  It seems the Lord is breathing on us saying softly, "You are welcome."  Whether it is morning or evening for you, be thankful.  You will note a difference.