RE:ZOUND

Perhaps I really have been living under a rock. For I never heard of this band until just a few weeks ago; and they have been rather big-time for over 3 years now.

As good as they sound: it is no wonder. For it is said that they sound like Daughtry, Casting Crowns, Nickelback and Mercy Me on their MySpace page; and I would like to add Creed and Alter Bridge unto the list if they don’t mind too awfully much.

In other words: THIS BAND CAN ROCK THE HOUSE; but wait: there’s more!!! For lead singer Jason Anderson has been fairly active on FOCM2; and I have received permission to include one of his posts, which should make it quite clear that this is a band that is serious about more than just making music for the sake of entertainment.

Hopefully: many will want to support their ministry. The new album is scheduled for release on March 11, 2008; and I hear that the first single “Beautiful” is already being broadcast.

Taking a Minute: Sowing and Reaping

I’m sure you’ve heard it said, "well you reap what you sow". So let’s talk about sowing and reaping, seed time and harvest.

Genesis 8: As long as the earth endures, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease. A farmer will tell you that if you plant corn, you will grow, corn. Well what does this mean to you? Whatever you currently have growing in your life, there is a good chance you planted the same thing some time ago. If all your friends have betrayed you and are talking bad about you, maybe you can go back to a time when you did the same to someone.

If you got a ticket for speeding, you probably were speeding. If you want love, give love. If you want friendship, give friendship. If you want hate, give hate. It’s all up to what seeds you plant.

Galatians 6 says “a man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the spirit, from the spirit will reap eternal life.” Hmmm, that’s a tough one, destruction/ or eternal life, destruction, eternal life…Lets all go with eternal life. So ask God, what can I sow today that would be pleasing.

What are you going to sow today?

-Jason Anderson

Bitter/Sweets: Political Correctness

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. {Romans 13:1-7 NIV}

Needless to say: many have employed that passage to justify their desire to rule and to reign as they wanted to in the past; and it is no different today: be assured. For even in the case of those who do not openly profess such: the thought of their authority being ordained by the Lord God Almighty is most pleasing unto them.

No, I am not here to dispute that it is indeed true. For it truly is as it is written: The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.{1}

Nonetheless: there is another thing to consider. For our Heavenly Father will sometimes give us what we want; and that is not always a good thing in regards unto what is generally considered as being good in the eyes of this world{2}.

Take King Saul of ancient Israel for example. For he was chosen to rule over the land in answer unto the prayers of the people{3}; and his wickedness before our Heavenly Father is well documented{4}.

Yes, the choice appears to be clear unto many. For they want to support those who openly profess to serve the One who truly does rule and reign over our nation—even in this day and age of post-modern sophistication{5}; but do they truly want to bear His fruit{6}???

Therefore: let us be mindful of this in the election of our governmental leaders. For it is not just over the realm of religion that false prophets seek to reign{7}.

[{1}Proverbs 21:1 NIV; {2}Proverbs 14:12; {3}1 Samuel 8:1-22; {4}1 Samuel 9:1-15:35; {5}Job 12:13-25; {6}Galatians 5:22; {7}Matthew 7:15-27]

HighCallingBlogs.com

To be perfectly honest about it: I can be rather stupid at times. Okay, a lot of the time; but that’s beside the point.

Anyway: the point is that I have been not been posting as much as I could be here because of wanting to stay true unto what will eventually become chapters in books. Yeah, really stupid; and what makes it even worse is that I have already broken that pattern in earlier posts announcing the availability of “The Crackerhead Chronicles” and “Q & A”.

Therefore: may it be hereby known that this will no longer be the case; and to prove it: I would like to tell you-all about HighCallingBlogs.com. For after seeing their very attractive badge on Dan’s Management By God: I just had to have one; and much unto my surprise: AsTheCrackerheadCrumbles was accepted into the fold.

To be perfectly honest again (this is becoming an annoying habit): I am very new unto the place; and I really don’t know all that much about it (naturally-speaking, of course). So it would be in the best interest of all concerned for me to just shut-up and let their own words speak for themselves.

What is it all about?

We believe God cares about our daily work. That’s why HighCallingBlogs.com is a network of personal websites focused specifically on the intersection of faith and work.

At HighCallingBlogs.com, we hope to combine the best elements of TheHighCalling.org and Laity Lodge. That’s why we’ve adopted a retreat model to guide everything we do here. We want HighCallingBlogs.com to be a safe place for Christians to ask difficult questions—whether about their work, their faith, or both.

Just like a retreat at Laity Lodge, we invite special guests to lead the community. We call them our featured bloggers, and we encourage them to share what they’ve learned about God from their daily work.

Of course, on a retreat at Laity Lodge or at any retreat center, the main speakers are only one part of the experience. Guests also form powerful friendships at meals, in small groups, and during free time. Similarly, HighCallingBlogs.com is much more than just the featured bloggers. Every category brings together many bloggers. Do these bloggers sometimes say things we disagree with? Of course! We would no more force our bloggers to think a particular way than we would force our guests to think a particular way. Everyone is invited to participate in the discussion.

That doesn’t mean that HighCallingBlogs.com is chaotic anarchy. People should abide by rules while they are here, just as they do when they visit Laity Lodge. If someone insists on being vitriolic, vulgar, or simply mean, we’ll ask them to be quiet. If they persist, we’ll ask them to leave.

To be honest, we don’t know how this is all going to work out. We have big plans, high hopes, and bold prayers. Honoring God in our daily work is much more than mere evangelism. Our work itself should be a testimony to our creator. At HighCallingBlogs.com, we encourage each other to remember the high calling of our daily work.

Gordon Atkinson, the blogger known as “Real Live Preacher,” and Marcus Goodyear (Senior Editor for TheHighCalling.org and FaithInTheWorkplace.com) are the official hosts of the community, ready to help everyone find friendships, share with integrity, and encourage each other.

We invite you to join the community!

Bitter/Sweets: Intimate Relations

But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions. But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted. {1 Timothy 1:5-11 NAS}

Be assured that our Heavenly Father did not establish His church in the name of His only begotten Son, who truly is the Lord Jesus Christ, to save any souls, nor to change any behaviors. For that is the work of His Holy Spirit{1}.

No, this is not to say that it is has no part in the process. For the body of believers who make up His church{2} are called to echo what His Holy Spirit is already saying{3}.

Nonetheless: even in this it can only be righteously done in His love. For it truly is as it is written: If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.{4}

Subsequently: it is also the work of our Heavenly Father’s Holy Spirit to teach us about His love. For what we naturally consider to be love is nothing more than a mere shadow of what His is{5}.

Furthermore: it is another part of His Holy Spirit’s job description to allow and enable us to love as His does. For there is a big difference between knowing about something and being able to actually do it{6}.

Proof of just how much is misunderstood about this is clear to see in every direction. For what is often referred unto as being “Christian love” has more to do with doing one’s duty in a military sort of way than anything else.

Whereas the kind of love that truly is of our Heavenly Father is oh so very personal. For it truly is as it is written: Love is patient, love is kind {and} is not jealous; love does not brag {and} is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong {suffered,} does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.{7}

Yes, it can be argued that it is not their fault; and if it was not for the witness of our Heavenly Father’s Holy Spirit: there is ample evidence to support the objection. For 1 Timothy 1:5 is written in the venerable King James 1611 Authorized Version as: Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.

Needless to say: there is a big difference between “love” and “charity”; but only in regards unto what “charity” means in the eyes of this world now. For in 1611: it meant so much more{8}; and in the Light of our Heavenly Father’s absolute truth{9} : even that was not taking it far enough{10}.

Yes, I can certainly appreciate why there would naturally be so much resistance unto this. For in order to truly love someone like our Heavenly Father does: we must want to get personally involved in their life; and that is just too close for comfort in far too many cases (naturally-speaking, of course).

Nonetheless: I would still think that most would want to believe otherwise when looked at from a different direction. For which would be better: to spend all of eternity with the One who truly loves you{11} or is charitable by even the standards of 1611???

[{1}John 16:8-11; {2}Romans 12:4-5; {3}John 15:26-27; {4}1 Corinthians 13:1 NAS; {5}1 Corinthians 13:12; {6}John 15:1-17; {7}1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NAS; {8}Matthew 5:40-42; {9}Matthew 11:25-30; {10}1John 4:7-21; {11}Jeremiah 31:3]

Bitter/Sweets: Laodicea

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 'Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and {that} the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 'Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
{Revelation 3:14-22 NAS}

(Photo borrowed from: BiblePlaces.com)

From the photograph provided: it would appear that there is not much left of the ancient city of Laodicea, which is located in the southeastern part of what is now the nation of Turkey; and according unto the information provided on turizm.net: it is true. For a series of earthquakes devastated the city over a period of several hundred years.

Not that any of that really matters for the purposes at hand. For what the Lord Jesus Christ was addressing unto the church there is a state of mind; and the message given is just as viable today as it was back then{1}.

Perhaps you have heard something or another about it? I cannot imagine anyone in the Christian community who has not—other than those who are very new members{2}, of course; and even in many of those cases: they have probably heard a lot more than they may have understood at the time{3}. For it is certainly a popular subject to preach about.

Tragically: there is good reason for that. For it is quite natural of us to think that the way things appear to have always been is just the way it is—perhaps even the way it should be; but that is a very dangerous state of mind to be in{4}.

No, this is not another call for an end unto what is often referred unto as being institutionalized religion. For our Heavenly Father established His church in the name of His only begotten Son{5} to serve as reflection of His Light{6} in a world deeply steeped in the darkness of spiritual ignorance: much in the same way as a globe reflects the light of a lamp{7}.

Neither is this a call for an end unto the teaching of doctrine. For it is impossible to truly believe in something if you do not know what it is; and doctrine is meant to help with that—even in the case of a very close and personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ{8}.

In other words: there is no reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater (so to speak). For in many cases: just a change in perspective is all that is required{9}.

It is, however, in those changes of perspective that the foundations of many religious institutions begin to crumble. For it truly is as it is written: For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.{10}

Yes, it sounds like just another futile exercise in semantics. For common sense dictates that a vine{11} cannot grow in worthless soil{12}.

Subsequently: many look at the church that they are in as being obvious proof of being in rich soil; but be assured that not all is as it seems. For come Judgment Day{13}: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”{14}

Therefore: let us listen closely unto what our Heavenly Father’s Holy Spirit has to say unto the churches: even now in this day and age of post-modern sophistication{15}. For it would be better to swallow our pride while we still can than to have to taste its bitterness for all of eternity{16}.

[{1}Romans 15:4; {2}1 Corinthians 12:12-27; {3}1 Corinthians 2:6-16; {4}Proverbs 14:12; {5}Matthew 16:13-28; {6}John 8:12; {7}Matthew 5:14-16; {8}2 Timothy 4:2-4; {9}John 7:24; {10}1 Corinthians 3:11 NAS; {11}John 15:1-6; {12}Matthew 13:1-23; {13}Revelation 20:11-15; {14}Matthew 7:21-23 NIV; {15}Job 33:14-30; {16}Proverbs 16:18]