Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
DecembeRadio
FIND YOU WAITING
I've heard the angels and I've seen the devil
I've heard the angels and I've seen the devil
Fought with the lion, sent through the fire
I've been in the valley when it was dry
Walked through the desert to the other side
I'm not a preacher and I'm not a hero
My life has never been that kind
But there is one thing that I hold onto
I am yours, and Lord you are mine
And through all these years You have been there
Dried all my tears and answered my prayers
I just want to feel your presence again
I'm down on my knees in need of a friend
And I find you waiting there for me
I've seen a widow cry through her sorrow
And still raise her hands in the midst of it all
And Lord I'm reminded when I was weary
You carried me, yes you carried me
And through all these years You have been there
Dried all my tears and answered my prayers
I just want to feel your presence again
I'm down on my knees in need of a friend
And I find you waiting there.....
In the midst of a struggle
There is one thing I know
You'll never leave me, You’ll never let go
I've heard the angels and I've seen the devil
Fought with the lion, sent me straight through that fire
Through all these years You have been there
Dried all my tears and answered my prayers
I just want to feel your presence again
I'm down on my knees in need of a friend
And I find you waiting
Yeah, when I hear them play: I hear shades of WhiteHeart, Guardian and everything that I love about Gospel Rock; but what endears this band unto me the most is that they are oh so preciously His. For I had been having a really awful week when they sent me a friend request on MySpace; and when I went unto their page there: “Find You Waiting” started playing. Almost immediately: tears started streaming down my face; and after I sent them a message expressing my gratitude for doing such a wonderful job of conveying such a wonderful message from our Heavenly Father unto someone like me: Boone Daughdrill, who is their drummer, took time out from his undoubtedly insane schedule to send me a reply that touched my heart just as much as their song did. Be assured that you are listening unto our Heavenly Father when you are listening unto them—certainly when listening unto “Find You Waiting”; and I am quite sure that the same can be said of the rest of their music in one way or another.
Please, find-out for yourself at their MySpace page or their website; and receive a blessing that goes far beyond really good music. I know I did; and I have continued to be blessed every time I have listened unto their songs since.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Bitter/Sweets: Civil Rights
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! {James 2:12-13 NIV}
As if lumping abortion, capital punishment and suicide together was not bad enough: this segment is even worse. For issues over the separation of church and state, homosexual marriage and illegal immigration fit quite nicely under the banner of civil rights.
Let us begin with prayer in schools: shall we? For it is not as much of a political issue now as it was a few years back; but there are still far too many who believe that laws are needed to be enacted in order to insure its return unto the classrooms of our public schools.
Yes, it is indeed a shame that it is no longer welcome; but how is this preventing anyone from praying unto our Heavenly Father anytime they want to? For it is not like it must be done openly for all to see and hear.
In fact: it would do us all well to do just the opposite. For it truly is as it is written: “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”{1}
Yes, it can be argued that prayers offered openly can have a good influence upon others—especially upon those who have not come to know our Heavenly Father yet; but cannot a Muslim say the same thing about Allah? After all: we do live in a free society; and what is allowed for one should be allowed for another.
No, this is not to say that we would do well to protect our children from such influences. For our Heavenly Father’s absolute Truth{2} shines the brightest in the midst of spiritual ignorance{3}; but of what comfort is that unto those who refuse to accept that it is the work of His Holy Spirit to seek and to save the lost{4}???
Alas, is this not also a driving force behind the fight to keep our Heavenly Father’s Ten Commandments{5} prominently on display in public places??? For it has been widely taught that it is the duty of the Christian church to make a stand against the evils of this world{6}; and this is something that far too many want to believe is true{7}.
Add opposition unto legally-recognized homosexual marriages unto the list, as well. For far too many have been led to believe that this will be detrimental unto the covenant that our Heavenly Father instituted between a man and a woman{8}.
No, this is not to deny that homosexuality is a sin{9}; but to believe that making it legal for Adam to marry Steve instead of Eve will cause irrevocable harm unto the institution of marriage is utterly ridiculous{10}. For Chuck and Larry or Thelma and Louise getting officially hitched does not make Joseph taking Mary as his lawfully wedded wife anything less than it is—certainly not in the eyes of our Heavenly Father!!!
Yes, it can be argued that making homosexual marriages legal sends the wrong message unto those who want to experiment with their sexuality; but can it not be also argued that making it easier for more to come out into the open also makes it harder for them to deny what is truly in their hearts{11}??? For our Heavenly Father established His Law in order to make it easier for us to recognize sin{12}; and no man-made law can make that any less true{13}.
Lastly: illegal immigration; and this appears to be something completely different. For the great cry for more secure borders has nothing to do with concerns over the spiritual welfare of our children.
Nonetheless: does it not have something in common with the other issues??? After all: are they not all matters of us versus them; and should this not be of grave concern unto all who fear the demise of this country??? For it truly is as it is written: Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.{14}
Yes, there is most definitely a great need for improvements to be made. For gangs of hardened criminals slip across like packs of ravenous wolves in search of prey and then avoid prosecution by slipping back across before our law-dogs can catch-up unto them.
There is also the threat of terrorism hanging more over our heads with each passing day; but even this is of lesser concern unto most than someone from another country taking what is ours.
“I’ve worked hard for everything I have; and I’ll be dipped if I’m gonna let some yahoo from who-knows-where get welfare that my tax dollars pay for!” Sound familiar{15}???
[{1}Matthew 6:5-6 NIV; {2}John 14:6; {3}John 8:31-36; {4}John 16:8-11; {5}Exodus 20:3-17; {6}Proverbs 14:12; {7}2 Timothy 4:2-4; {8}Genesis 2:23-24; {9}1 Corinthians 6:9-10; {10}Ephesians 6:10-12; {11}Jeremiah 17:9-10; {12}Romans 5:12-13; {13}Romans 5:20; {14}Proverbs 16:18; {15}Deuteronomy 10:14-19]
Thursday, February 14, 2008
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Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Bitter/Sweets: Aborted Values
The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and
honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship
of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” {Isaiah 29:13 NIV}
honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship
of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” {Isaiah 29:13 NIV}
No, it is not that they are being disingenuous. For in most cases: they are being quite sincere in their convictions.
Nonetheless: be assured that all who support the illegalization of abortions based upon their belief in sanctity of physical human life have been woefully deceived{1}. For it truly is as it is written: But someone will say, "How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?" You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies; and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own. All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one {flesh} of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish. There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the {glory} of the earthly is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable {body,} it is raised an imperishable {body;} it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual {body.} So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL." The last Adam {became} a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.{2}
In other words: it is spiritual life that our Heavenly Father holds sacred—not physical life{3}. For physical life is meant to end{4}. Whereas: spiritual life in His only begotten Son{5}, who truly is the Lord Jesus Christ{6}, will last forever and ever{7}. AMEN!!!
No, physical death has nothing to do with spiritual life. For it truly is as it is written: “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do.”{8}
Oh yes, this opens a can of theological worms that many would rather be left on a shelf deep down in an abandoned root-cellar with a thick coat of dust covering its label. For they have been led to believe that one must be at least baptized into the church before being able to enter into the very presence of our Heavenly Father in His Kingdom of Heaven; and that is not a belief that is shared by others in their coalition.
Surely it would do us all well not to share in such a belief. For the soul of every aborted baby goes straight unto the bosom of their Creator{9}—be assured{10}.
Yes, there is still plenty of common-ground for them to stand upon; and part of that has to do with lost potential. For it is preached from pulpits on both sides of the Catholic/Protestant divide that the next aborted baby may hold the key unto the cure for cancer or world peace; but who in their “right-mind”{11} would want to believe any of that{12}??? After all: is there anything good about any of us apart from our Creator{13}???
Besides: is not preaching such the height of hypocrisy??? For who is to say that the next executed convict does not hold the key unto the very same things by that sort of reasoning; and is it not true that many who ferverently oppose abortions also see nothing wrong with capital punishment???
Oh yes, there is a big difference between an innocent aborted baby and a duly convicted felon; but we are talking about hidden potential here. Besides: who from amongst us can guarantee that the next aborted baby would not make Adolph Hitler or Josef Stalin look rather harmless by comparison if allowed to live???
No, none of this is meant to deny that abortion is murder. For what is generally considered as being life in the eyes of this world does indeed begin at conception{14}; and the taking of an innocent life is indeed murder.
Subsequently: it is those who see nothing wrong with the practice that are much more in need of saving than the aborted babies; and this cannot be accomplished through the enactment of any laws{15}. For everything really is in the hands of our Heavenly Father{16}; and if it is accordance unto His will that there will come a day when no one will want to have an abortion: whether or not it is legal to have one will not matter{17}.
Is this to say that we should be in favor of abortion??? MAY IT NEVER BE!!! For to do so would be to support premeditated murder; but in regards unto political action: it would be in the best interest of all concerned for the Christian community to stay neutral.
The same cannot be said of capital punishment, however. For to lock someone in a cage for the rest of their natural life truly is cruel and unusual punishment{18}!!!
No, this is not to say that stoning should be reintroduced; but even if it was: would that not be more merciful than keeping someone incarcerated for life—even if in one of our modern facilities??? For the sufferings of this world would be over for them at the instant of their physical death.
Alas, does this not speak unto the crux of the issue??? For in far too many cases: being in favor of life sentences is more about punishment than keeping society safe; and that warrants an eternal death sentence{19}.
Yes, it can be argued that life sentences stand as a strong deterrent; but do they really??? For that would only work in the case of someone in their right-mind; and no one in their right-mind would want to do anything that would warrant such a harsh sentence in the first-place.
No, this is not ignore the suffering of the victims and their families; but vengeance is our Heavenly Father’s to repay{20}. Besides: prolonging the physical lives of those who face eternal damnation just prolongs when the real punishment will begin (naturally-speaking, of course){21}; but woe be it unto all who want to think in such as way as this{22}.
Yes, much of that sounds like grounds to be in favor of the legalization of suicides and assisted-suicides; and this is jar of some really disgusting stuff that I would rather be left on a back-shelf myself. For I have been there. That is: at least in regards unto suicide.
In fact: I am still there. For my life in this world is one of intense pain and anguish—both physically{23} and spiritually{24}; and if it was not for knowing that anyone in their right-mind who kills (even themselves) when it is not in accordance unto our Heavenly Father’s direct will commits murder: I would kill myself.
A terrible thing to say: I know. For it would cause my wife an enormous amount of grief; but that would pass soon enough. Whereas: the suffering that she endures because of my infirmities keeps going on; and that is something that I can honestly say that I do not want to be a part of{25}.
Please, do not misunderstand. For I know that everything that I have had endure is for the glory of our Heavenly Father{26}; but that does not make it any less painful{27}.
Oh yes, I am naturally a gutless wonder; but that does not mean that I do not know what I am talking about. For what I have been given to say is of our Heavenly Father{28}; and if you don’t want to believe it: I beseech thee to seek His face for yourself{29}.
[{1}Ephesians 6:10-12; {2}1 Corinthians 15:35-50 NAS; {3}John 6:63; {4}Hebrews 9:27; {5}John 3:16; {6}Matthew 3:16-17; {7}2 Corinthians 4:17-18; {8}Luke 12:4 NAS; {9}2 Samuel 12:23; {10}Matthew 19:14; {11}1 Corinthians 2:6-16; {12}Psalms 111:8; {13}Psalms 16:2; {14}Psalms 139:13-16; {15}Romans 8:3; {16}John 16:8-11; {17}2 Corinthians 5:17; {18}Leviticus 24:10-23; {19}James 2:12-13; {20}Deuteronomy 32:35; {21}Revelation 20:10-15; {22}1 John 4:20-21; {23}Job 10:18-22; {24}Jeremiah 20: 7-9; {25}John 21:18-19; {26}1 Corinthians 10:12-13; {27}2 Corinthians 12:7-10 {28}Galatians 1:11-12; {29}James 1:5]
Monday, February 11, 2008
A MeMe Of Personal Quirky Facts
The lovely Marlo Boux tagged me for this MeMe; and I must admit that I have been struggling with what to include. For “I” do not find anything quirky about myself. Hence: the delay; but after hearing our Heavenly Father speak unto me in a voice that sounded way too much like Joe Pesci in the Lethal Weapon movies for my comfort (“Whatever”): I am compelled to proceed with this endeavor forthwith (TIC).
The rules for this MeMe are: (1) Link to the person that tagged you. (2) Post the rules on your blog. (3) Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself. (4) Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs. (5) Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.
(1) The Guess Who is one of my all-time favorite bands. I especially like: No Time, Hand Me Down World, No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature, Share The Land, Clap For The Wolfman and American Woman.
(2) I absolutely hate feet—both my own and most certainly those of others.
(3) I absolutely love to stare at open fires and running streams.
(4) I have become obsessed with HBO’s “The Wire”; and I resist all cures compulsively.
(5) I can’t wait for the opening of each football season (FOOTBALL—not futbol; but then I seldom watch as much as I could.
(6) I am of the opinion (a most humble one—mind you) that it would be immensely more clever to add “TIC” (Tongue-In-Cheek) unto messages that might be misconstrued than “LOL” (Laugh-Out-Loud).
The rules for this MeMe are: (1) Link to the person that tagged you. (2) Post the rules on your blog. (3) Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself. (4) Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs. (5) Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.
(1) The Guess Who is one of my all-time favorite bands. I especially like: No Time, Hand Me Down World, No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature, Share The Land, Clap For The Wolfman and American Woman.
(2) I absolutely hate feet—both my own and most certainly those of others.
(3) I absolutely love to stare at open fires and running streams.
(4) I have become obsessed with HBO’s “The Wire”; and I resist all cures compulsively.
(5) I can’t wait for the opening of each football season (FOOTBALL—not futbol; but then I seldom watch as much as I could.
(6) I am of the opinion (a most humble one—mind you) that it would be immensely more clever to add “TIC” (Tongue-In-Cheek) unto messages that might be misconstrued than “LOL” (Laugh-Out-Loud).
Friday, February 8, 2008
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Bitter/Sweets: Heal The Land
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
{2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV}
No, none of this is meant to discourage participation in the political process. For that is all part of what it means to be a good citizen in a country with a government that is meant to be of the people, by the people, and for the people—a country that was indeed established by our Heavenly Father{1}.{2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV}
There is, however, a proper way of doing things that goes far beyond the apparent political process. For it truly is as it is written: “Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.”{2}
Hence: the significance of 2 Chronicles 7:14. For in spite of what has been so widely taught: this world still belongs unto our Heavenly Father{3}; and only He can fix what has He has allowed to be broken{4}.
Therefore: let us want to truly humble ourselves before Him{5}. For it truly is as it is also written: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”{6}
No, it cannot be denied that there is much about this country that is broken; but let us keep in mind that there is more at stake than just the here and now. For a law cannot change what is in a person’s heart—not even His Law{7}; and it is the condition of a person’s heart that is what our Heavenly Father is concerned with{8}.
Yes, it is true that laws are meant to define what is harmful{9}; and it is in that regard that laws are most certainly good{10}. For how can someone with very poor judgment know that they are driving way too fast in a particular area unless there is a speed limit clearly posted (naturally-speaking, of course)???
The question is: is it the safely of all concerned that is what we are truly concerned with{11}??? For in far too many cases it is more about control than anything else{12}.
[{1}Romans 13:1; {2}Isaiah 46:8-10 NIV; {3}Job 41:11; {4}Job 12:14; {5}Isaiah 45:5-12; {6}Jeremiah 29:11 NIV; {7}Romans 8:3; {8}Ezekiel 18:31-32; {9}Romans 5:13; {10}1 Timothy 1:8-10; {11}James 2:12-13; {12}Matthew 23:23-28]
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