Duh? That's Radical

 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 were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend  it.    (John 1:1-5)

Do we even begin to understand or comprehend who Jesus is. Who is this Word that is God?  Who is this being that set everything in motion and holds it all in place?

He is right there in front of us  speaking to us, shedding His light on us.. on our lives... our thinking.. and we can't seem to grasp the simplicity of His message.

In everything He says 'I love you.  My heart longs for you.  Please turn away from the darkness. Choose Me.  Live in my light.'    It is the age old truth and message of Jesus Christ:  Believe, Repent, Be Saved from Eternal Damnation in Hell.

What don't we 'get' about that?   

He created us with the ability to comprehend simple things, complicated things, imaginary genius concepts and more.

He put in us the longing for something more than the ordinary.. more than the darkness.

He is that 'more'.

It is that simple.      That 'big thing' that you have longed for all your life.  That 'thing' you can't quite put your finger on that seems to be missing.   That 'more' that you want for yourself and your family?    Jesus Christ is just that.

Let the light bulb over your head shine.    That genius idea that swirls around inside your mind.  Duh!?  He is it.

That aching inside of you that won't go away?   He can fill it with the light of His joy.

Don't hide in the darkness of incomprehension any more.

He is life.    He is the life that you have always longed for.

Don't shield yourself from it.   Don't spread some more sun screen to prevent it from affecting you.
  
Let Him shine brightly on you.    Believe in Jesus Christ and be saved from darkness.

What Do You??

"Let's go do something."
"Where do you wanna go?"
"I don't care.  Where do YOU wanna go?"
"It doesn't matter to me... whatever you want.."

Does this sound familiar?   It seems that we have this round robin conversation on a daily basis with family, friends, co-workers.    Nobody seems capable of just making a simple decision:   Let's do THIS.

You have a preference but don't voice  it.    Frustration sets in.   Aggravation follows.   Stagnation.    All those 'ations'  ....All because we don't make a decision.   We don't voice our true preference.

It's time to decide to decide.   What is important?   What do you want?  What do you want to do?   Who do you want to be?    Where do you want to go?

Shakespeare wrote "To be or not to be... that is the question."   I agree.    To be.   But not just to be.

We have preferences.    We must make a decision.       To be what we believe.   To do what we believe.   To live without compromise.   To choose.

"Choose this day whom you will serve.  As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

That's a real choice.   A sound decision.    In choosing to serve the LORD, we choose love and life.

Okay, we choose love.    That means we actively and intentionally  love.   We love God.   We  love people.    We  love the life God has given to us.   We choose to love and to be content in whatever circumstance He places us and we choose to trust Him in it.

Making that choice and living by it curtails a lot of frustration, aggravation and stagnation in our lives.   In fact, making that decision enhances our entire life.   It is the only decision that gives us abundant life.  It gives us Kingdom of God life.    

Wow!   That's a lot of choices!   Now if I could just decide what's for dinner.

Hammer and Rock

One of my all time favorite comic book super heroes is Thor, the "god of Thunder".   The myths about him are just that...  Myths.   He's the Son of Zeus (the top god).  Brother of Loki (a half god turned to evil).   None of these mythical gods are real, although some Norsemen might disagree.  However, they do ring true in their tales of good versus evil.  A son of a god battling against an evil fallen foe.

Thor uses his hammer, Mjolnir, as a weapon against his enemy.  Mjolnir is capable of  controlling the weather, gives Thor the ability to fly and can cast objects into outer space.  These are a few of the hammer's abilities when wielded by Thor.  He flies into the conflict, swings his hammer, defeats the enemy and saves the day.    All in all, he has a pretty fearsome hammer and a lot of superhero swag.   Plus, for the ladies, he is a super 'hunk'.

In reality, there are all types of hammers besides Mjolnir:  carpenter hammers drive nails and break objects, sledgehammers are large and can apply a lot of force because of their size and weight.   They are used a lot in demolition.  There are rock picks used by geologists to split rocks open.  Who knows what might be inside?   Fossils, gemstones?   A judge uses a gavel to call  his court to order and to enforce the power & authority of the court.  Splitting mauls are used to split wood.  These were also called "Godevil" at one time.  Then there is the stonemason's hammer which is used to chip off edges and small pieces of stone.

Whew!   That's a lot of hammers and it doesn't even begin to list all the different kinds.

Several years ago I drove to Galveston to spend some time on the beach with God.    It was a painful time in my life.  I needed a retreat.

My beach was deserted on this New Year's Eve sunrise and I was alone with the sand and ocean and the wind.  Alone with God.   I walked at the edge of the world and talked with the God who reigns over all.

My beach was wet and the sand was packed.  It was bare of anything except for a few small pebbly seashells and one lonely rock.  I noticed the rock because it was the only one on the entire beach for as far as I could see.  It was a little larger than my fist.  As I picked it up, I noticed that it was black and shaped like a human heart.. not the fluffy cupid valentine hearts but like a real human heart.   

I held it in my hands for a while thinking about my life, my relationship with God, and the emotional condition of my own heart, which had become as black and as hard as that rock.   

What does all this have to do with Thor and his war hammer?    Nothing really.. except this verse in Jeremiah made me think of him and then of that day on the beach when God began to apply His hammer of love to my hardened heart.... my heart that already felt as though it had been cleaved in half by a "Godevil" splitting maul.

Does not my word burn like fire?" says the LORD. "Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock to pieces?   (Jeremiah 23:29)

No, my Father did not send a super hero like Thor to save the day and destroy the evil in my life.  He sent His  word.   His Word in the flesh.   His Son.  Jesus.

Again,  LISTEN to what the One and only God says.. "my WORD is like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock to pieces".

His Word alone can burn up the world and smash mountains and rocks into slivers of dust.  With a word He creates, and with a word He can destroy.

Mythical Thor and his war hammer pale in comparison to the God of all creation and the  world making... knee buckling... heart rending... terrifying  hammer of  His Word.

With the same word that He speaks creation or destruction,  He speaks love for his children.     That mighty hammer of His  burns like a fire in our spirit and is like a sledgehammer that crushes the stone that our hardened hearts have become.

He will use  any circumstance or any part of His creation to mold us and make us into the person that He intends for us to be.    He will allow pain, heartache, sickness, death, and destruction in our lives in order to bring us to the place where we acknowledge Him and His authority over us.

He will plead with you to turn away from sin and run to Him.   That is the best option.

But..If our hearts are hardened against Him, He will bring His hammer down.   If He was willing to almost completely crush His chosen people of Israel for turning from Him, do you think that He will be any more lenient to His blood bought children?

Maybe you  haven't turned from Him, but your heart has become like stone due to grief, bitterness, pain.   

It doesn't matter.   He does not want His children to be held captive by either emotion or  disobedience.    He is a jealous and vengeful guard over His children and He will do whatever it takes (no matter how difficult and painful for Him and for us).   Would you not do the same for your own child? 

He knows all about tough love.

He rights the wrongs in our lives and does battle against evil.  He doesn't need a super hero to do it for  Him.  

The initial crushing hammer blow is not the end.   Once the rock is cracked and broken, He begins to chisel away at the details, shaping and forming what was once hard, harsh and craggy into something smooth and pliable.  Something that can receive His design and be made useful.   He not so gently sculpts it into beauty.

If you feel like you are  being hammered, maybe God is trying to get your attention.   Talk with Him, turn to Him.  Be glad that He loves you so much that He can not leave you in your broken condition.   Let Him do His work.

It can be a painful process.   The end result is worth every blow.

I am glad that God has a well stocked arsenal.    It lets me know that He loves me and that He will do what it takes to change my heart and spirit and bring me close to Him... even if it takes some hammering away at my heart.   It also lets me know that He is willing and ready to go to battle for me or for any of His children.

He is the only super hero I need.

Post It Quote

Here's a quote from my friend, Ruben Raptor Lopez : "everything takes time, work, effort and TENACIOUS PERSEVERANCE."

 

Tenacious Perseverance.... I like that. Tenacious means "holding fast".    Perseverance means " steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. OR 2. Theology.. continuance in a state ...of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation.

 

How many of us exhibit tenacious perseverance in life? We set goals and give up on them. We make plans and get distracted or off track and don't accomplish what we plan.

 

We need to take a look at our selves. (I am preaching to myself here too...obviously) Look at our goals and plans and make a commitment to hold fast to them.

 

Where our relationship with God is concerned, we most definitely should persevere. It is what we are instructed to do. Hebrews 10:36 tells us "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." 

 

I believe we could say that the disciples tenaciously persevered in their mission and in their relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We should do no less. I don't want to miss out on the promise of God because I took my eyes off the goal and digressed from the plan He has for me.

 

Remember!!!!! TENACIOUS PERSEVERANCE!!! I should write that one down in great big block letters and post it on my forehead. :-)

What A Predicament!

The  lyrics below are from the soundtrack of  "Les Miserables".    As this classic story goes,   Jean Valjean has been hiding in the open for years.   His life is perfect until a man is found that is mistaken for  Valjean.  This innocent man is hauled to court to be dealt out the justice (or injustice) that was due Valjean.   And although Valjean has avoided the reckoning for years, and this is his opportunity to close the door on his past, he is tormented by the thought of an innocent stranger bearing his own punishment.

"He thinks that man is me. He knew him at a glance!

That stranger he has found This man could be my chance!
Why should I save his hide? Why should I right this wrong?

When I have come so far And struggled for so long?
If I speak, I am condemned. If I stay silent, I am damned!
I am the master of hundreds of workers. They all look to me.

How can I abandon them? How would they live If I am not free?
If I speak, I am condemned. If I stay silent, I am damned!

Who am I?

Can I condemn this man to slavery? Pretend I do not feel his agony?

This innocent who bears my face? Who goes to judgement in my place.

Who am I?

Can I conceal myself for evermore? Pretend I'm not the man I was before?

And must my name until I die

Be no more than an alibi?

Must I lie?

How can I ever face my fellow men? How can I ever face myself again?

My soul belongs to God, I know I made that bargain long ago

He gave me hope when hope was gone

He gave me strength to journey on
Who am I? Who am I?

I am Jean Valjean!

And so Javert, you see it's true

That man bears no more guilt than you!

Who am I?

24601!"

Valjean's predicament is our own.   Hiding from our own personal death sentence, we struggle with an innocent man's punishment.   Only this innocent man is the Son of God.

Would that I should be so tormented and shamed by the thought of the innocent Jesus taking my place, bearing my death, my punishment, my justice.     Who Am I?   Why would He do such a thing?     It is done.  I can not undo it.   He was tortured, ridiculed, slain.  For me?     Who Am I that He would do such a thing?  

He voluntarily did all this for me.   It wasn't a mistake in identity.   It was purposeful, planned and carried out.   His death gives me freedom.   His death gives me life.    

Who Am I?    He says I am the redeemed, blood bought, child of God. 

Who Am I?  How can I live with what He has done?  Why did He do it?  I'm unworthy of salvation.  My sin is with no justification.

He says  "He who believes on Me will be saved."   He says "Your sin is forgiven.  Go and sin no more."

Who Am I?    I am forgiven, redeemed, adopted into the family of the one and only  gracious omnipotent God that is   "I AM".  I am created for the purpose of relationship with the Lord of all creation.  I am a mouthpiece that shouts the name of JESUS!

He doesn't imprison me and give me a number for identification.   He sets me free and names me with a name known only to Him and to me.  

Who am I?     I am the one that is asking "Are you living in condemnation?   Do you know Jesus or are you hiding from Him?  Who are YOU?"

On the Hook

Sudden death.

He didn't linger for weeks or months or years with an illness that fated him to die.  His family and friends didn't have time to say their goodbyes, give him one last hug or kiss.   One last "I love you".

He was just gone.

I got the phone call.   My good friend since high school had passed away suddenly.   The guy that was part of my life and my family's life.  He came in and out of our lives intermittently.   He was never one that you could depend on to show up on time or even show up at all.   He popped in occasionally, shared a tale or two, reminisced about the old days, belly laughed a bit.   Then he would be gone again and we might not see him for a year or two.   But we loved each other and he was part of our family.   A part of our hearts.  Always welcome.

Who would think he would be gone so fast?   Like a frightened gasp of breath, or the blink of an eye.  It's still so difficult to get my mind around it.   My friend is gone.   In my mind, I see him sitting in my living room and us catching each other up on things.   Sharing our lives once again.   But....he'll never knock on my door again. Never call unexpectedly just to talk.    I'll never hear his voice or his laugh again.

He left me with a hurting heart and sorrowful spirit.  

After I heard the terrible news, I tried to recall if we had ever talked about Jesus.   I could not remember.   I remembered snippets of conversations when he mentioned "the man upstairs" or 'the big guy".   But I didn't know for sure if he had ever asked Jesus to be his savior. 

How could I not know that?

I couldn't get the thought out of my mind.   Over and over again, I berated myself for never talking with him openly about the matter.   Then I began to pray  and ask the Lord to somehow please let me know if my friend was in heaven with Him.

They  held a memorial service for him and although I wanted to be there, I didn't go for various reasons.

My daughter was able to attend the services and called me afterwards to tell me about it.   She said that several people shared memories, but that two people stood up and shared about the time that our friend had asked Jesus into his life.   

Praise God!   There were two witnesses!   Relief flooded over me and I began to thank God for answering my request for this priceless news!    My friend is with the Lord and one day I will see him again and we will worship together.    Now my heart and soul are at peace about him.

But now I am on the hook.   I didn't share Jesus with him?   Thank God that someone else did.   But not me?

Why not?

There is no excuse.

It is our  mission... our purpose... our responsibility as Christians to share Jesus with others, especially those close to us.   

The death of my loved friend brought this home to me so sharply and personally.      He was here one moment and then gone.  

How can I not reach out and share Jesus with others?   No one knows when their life will end.   You never know when it will be the last time  you hug that friend or family member.     Death is certain yet unexpected.   It is sudden.   I know this.   WE know this.   We all have or will at some time experience the loss of a loved one. 

Yes.   I am on the hook now.   I never want to wonder about someone again.  I don't want to have that kind of regret.   I want to KNOW that I shared Jesus with them.     I want them to know Him.

It is urgent.   It is imperative.   It is my purpose, my mission, my responsibility.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son; that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.     (John 3: 16-18)

Bugs Me

I was out walking the other day and a little green bug kept buzzing by me... flying up around my head and buzzing... buzzing... buzzing..   I kept swatting it away and it finally flew off. 

A few minutes later it was back again.. this time taking a different tack.   It just kept buzzing in front of me and I swatted at it again.

Poor little bug... it was just buzzing.    But I was walking and I didn't want to be bothered by a bug.

Funny how God can use something so inconsequential to get our attention.    This little buzzy bug made me wonder how many times I have swatted away when the Holy Spirit was rising up inside me... bugging me about something, reminding me of something, trying to empower me to do something. 

How many times have I written Him off as unimportant or inconvenient?   How many times have I ignored His promptings because I was just walking through life focused on something else?

That really bugs me.

LORD, please keep me aware of Your presence.  Holy Spirit, please keep speaking to my spirit. Help me to always hear and respond rightly.   In Jesus Name, Amen.