Cooperative Mission. . . . . .Nov. 26, 2013

"God blesses us, That all the ends of the earth may fear Him."   Ps 67:7

God's original intention with man was a cooperative movement. Adam and Eve would rule, oversee, and procreate the earth in cooperation with God.  A joint functioning between the Creator and created with mutual love and trust would bring success. Sure fulfillment would be achieved by the integrity of both - God who speaks, wills, and creates, and man who honors and obeys.

Forward through Adam, Abraham, Israel, Christ, and today Christ and His church with the Holy Spirit, God's original intention remains His present intention. Nothing has been altered or changed, every event in history, present, and into the future has one grand intention, to redeem as many people as possible!

The role of the church and Christ on earth will be revealed, that the ends of the earth will fear Him! The revival of magnitude is yet to come and the church's role revealed.

Is God interested in politics, presidents, and governments? Yes! Every opportunity will be taken with all peoples and nations to accomplish His will to redeem many sons and daughters for HImself forever!

Whole Heart or Pretense? . . . . . July 30, 2013

"Judah did not return to me with her whole heart, but in pretense",  Jer. 3:10.

We are challenged by God to walk by faith not by sight. Faith is moving and going where you cannot see  allowing and trusting God to lead us while we follow.   I picture a tall and long wall with a door in it. On one side of the wall are the present and known experiences. Faith is going through the door not knowing what is on the other side. Faith is not turning back or changing your mind. It is not a pretense of activity but a whole heart movement into something not seen.  Faith is trusting someone other than yourself -  ultimately a supreme and sovereign God!

The Lord will be our treasure . . . . July 4, 2013

Isaiah 33 and Haggai

After the leaders and the people began to obey The Lord and fear Him.  (It will begin with the leaders - for leaders lead.) The Lord said, "I am with you....and The Lord stirred up the spirit" -- of the leaders and all the people!

There is no lack of communication; God is not silent about our future. It is more likely we have chosen not to consider His words. The scriptures detail thoroughly our future. The church will be the voice and standard of justice and righteousness to all nations, and Christ will lead His church. He will be the stability of the whole earth, an abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of The Lord will be our treasure, (Isa 33:5-6).

Do we choose not to see? Are we reducing our "faith" to see only what aligns with our life?

The church is not the body of Christ if it is disfunctional. Denominations and churches choose to disagree and separate from each other - supposedly in the name of Christ. How foolish! Can He be separated? No! Yet exclusive thinking leaders think Christ will visit and stir them up! Impossible - any stirring up would be by human religious hype.

God will dwell among people who obey Him and love and trust each other.

Theology of rest "with" God . . . . October 1, 2013

Heb. 4:1-16                                                                                                                                    

Our "withness" with God should exist continuously in life. A Christian is one who both follows HIm and is "with" Him,  notwithstanding the two parts are united.   We cannot say I am a Christian and not follow HIm. The words of Jesus "come follow Me" denote leadership motives with us when we give Him trust - again the united parts. Likewise,  when we hold our confidence sure in Him we will share  continuously in His rest.

It is quite normal 'with' HIm that our faith is tested. And it seems with time testing increases, and with that our faith. This, I assume, is God's intention to gain greater objectives through us. Without question testing and pains are never wasted 'with' God,  for this is the way of the cross in us!

If we think following Jesus Christ is easy and free from testing it is possible a different Christ has been presented to us. Rest i n Christ is not freedom from challenges and anxieties - we live in a human body, seeking this kind of rest is like trying to escape reality and will not work.  Yet His words, "I will give you rest" is rest with life conditions!

October 2012 two bones in my neck was broken; now I am almost fully recovered. Regaining conscienceless I sensed complete safety, security, and sovereignty in God. Likewise the absence of fear or anxieties, and no pain in the following months.  Was this a fun feeling? I didn't like the collar holding my neck, the itching skin, the immobility, my right arm was sleeping, the damaged nerves to my eyes caused my eyes not to function properly as one sat in the corner unmoving. Some things in life are not fun, but His peace and rest overarched it all!

We enter the rest in Christ by faith and endurance. It is not rest from the natural human conditions but an 'otherkind' - a tangible, supernatural, and transcending time and space rest in God!

Religious performance, good works, and self-identity are barriers interfering with the rest available in Christ.  "Come with Me" - entering His rest is the main thing!--and everything else follows in proper order. We become spiritually and emotionally bent and disordered any other way.

Disobedience, or stubbornness, or pride hold us from entering because we choose not to place faith in Jesus Christ. These we properly deal with.

"Come follow Me" is an invitation without options!  We are free, He will never interfere with our choice!  Choice will determine consequence! Either, Christ is Lord.... or we are lord.

 Also: Concurrently, if we have not entered His rest the two most necessary, mysterious, and powerful elements of God for us depreciate in potential  - His grace and peace.

Stepping off the map . . . August 27, 2013

I was challenged by our worship community last Sunday. It seems more people are taking courage to leave for far places than are arriving. As I'm an adventurist of sort thinking and moving outside the box has been quite normal. Yet it is normal for Lois to leave 'normal' with some hesitation so God gives her necessary grace for our success.

Success is no accident. It does not just happen, it takes time, initiation, and patience for movement and proper movement produces success.  Resistance to success is the pressure to be normal, to align with group objectives and mentality.

Great men and women will step off the map. They will go where others fear because they trust God has spoken and will not give in to human reasonings.

We enjoy reading of mystery, danger, and challenge, yet unfortunately due to reasons we often choose not to engage ourself.  God's story is about challenge and mystery - a grand movement in progress.

(Excerpt from THE HOBBIT by J. R. R. Tolkien)
"Then Bilbo sat down on a seat by the door, crossed his legs and blew out a beautiful grey ring of smoke that sailed up into the air without breaking and floated away over The Hill.

'Very pretty,' said Gandalf. 'But I have no time to blow smoke rings this morning. I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it's very difficult to find anyone.'

'I should think so - in these parts! We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner! I can't think what anybody sees in them,' said our Mr. Baggins."

Are we willing to share in an adventure - of the highest cause? To redeem for the Kingdom of God those lost in the Kingdoms of Me. There is extreme violence - if we could see, among kingdoms and strong resistance to the rule of God and His kingdom.

Jesus is looking for those who will share in an adventure He is leading. You can join with Him!  It takes courage and willingness to step off the map.  I have seen there are only a few and from a few there are many.

Or...you could read about it later and wish you had experienced adventures like that!

Family gathering. . . July 23, 2013

“Children are a living message to a future we will never see.”

Recently on a Saturday afternoon about 40 came to the Loyal Pederson family gathering at the cabin on Loon Lake.  

Mom, all five of my siblings, many of their children, their children's children, and Uncle Clayton -- ages spanned from one month to about 86 years. This is something to write home about!

A mixture of children running around, people eating, movement, laughter, and conversations. I noticed Scott sitting by the fire as if contemplating. We talked. Who can explain this? Family? The power of two people? My Dad was a farmer, a man of the land. He was born and died in basically the same location. His children and grandchildren live and are witnesses of God to nations! I am not idolizing my parents; the story of Lois's family and siblings is similar.  This is simply the result of a multiplying covenant between two people and God (Isaiah 59:20-21). Family is powerful--it always has been--for good or bad.

There is a consistency from early memory of my grandparents at the farm to the present. They had 9 children--6 boys and 3 girls--and most of them had more than the average size family. It would take me some effort to recount the cousins I have just on my father’s side! Gatherings were in the same house on the farm we now own.  They always started with prayer; we were a Christian family. Clayton began our time at Loon Lake with prayer.      

What is this all about? You and me? It is a grand principal much larger! It is about us, under an overarching intention of God for the redemption of people and nations. Can we swallow that? Father God wants many sons and daughters. For this purpose He made a covenant with us, that together with Him He may receive and give that for which He created us.  

    

We cannot allow ourselves to be dominated into life issues not transcendent in eternal value.

Conclusion: God is a covenant keeping God. There is a covenant we enter into by obedience.  It is a Genealogy of faith where spiritual reproduction will continue beyond us. Life is about multiplication -- disciples who make disciples. If you understand the gospel you are not too young or too old to make disciples. 

Friend, if you are single everything applies (likewise Isa. 59:20-21). Some of you are like spiritual children and are producing children.  I am really proud of you! This is the call of God, discipleship, and what redemption is about! The biological family is a dim reflection of something more grand called the spiritual family! Here is our co-responsibility with Christ, the reason Jesus came, the desire of the Father, and present work of the Holy Spirit!  

God has blessed us to be a blessing to all nations -- everything in order, prioritized, one heart at a time--all nations, relative, friend or enemy, a foreigner or people in a far country. 

Winston Churchill . . . . June 24, 2013

Thoughts from reading Never Surrender -- a novel about Winston Churchill.

War and Revolution are in every corner of the earth with disaster and hard times.

Know your enemy, and do not underestimate the evil system. There are wolves which appear as sheep and some believe they are sheep. They are double minded. Confronted with truth they will expose themselves as who they really are. You will be surprised by their strong reaction and protectionism.  Likewise an evil spirit hiding within their disobedience will cause fear, physical and emotional  trauma, and sleepless nights. This spirit is vengeful.

Not realizing we face a formidable enemy is a danger.

From a hidden position the evil system is very active. The subtly is people will believe a lie convinced it is truth.

Deception is the hallmark of evil strategy. It must somehow override moral  laws and appear right. Isa 33:1

Jesus leaves with us a peace the world does not understand. Don't allow your heart to become troubled.

Where do we begin? Truth -- involves everyone, (unity) -- trust -- His leadership.

We do not have a choice. You quit, you die.  Without victory there is no survival.

Journal June 23, 2013

"The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."  (Ecl. 12:13)

It seems for me days move through weeks and months, responsibilities and projects are engaged and become a memory. What is life?  If substance is centered around my thoughts and experiences, albeit good,  something is very wrong.

Solomon was a great builder and writer, during his tenure of wise leadership the country prospered to become the envy of other nations. He was a man of  extreme talents and contrasts, of wisdom and vanity, empire building and vanity, justice and vanity, pleasures and vanity...what did this get him?

Ecclesiastes is the reflections of an old man near the end of his life who  is evaluating the purpose and meaning of life, and  looking back saw the futility of chasing after plans, pleasures, and big projects.

For eleven chapters the wise preacher bears upon us the vanities of life, wisdom, labor, and self pleasure. He leaves a negative view of life; implying it is vain, purposeless, and hopeless.

In the last chapter he nails down  - Follow your creator from your youth, seek the words given by the Shepherd and firmly fix them inside.  The wise man's last exhortation:  "Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."

With no exceptions, everything of eternal value and  every meaning and purpose in life centers on relationships -  with God and with people.  All other centering is vanity.

Journal April 5, 2013

Pasay, Manila, Philippines

"I am the one who knows, and I am a witness, declares The Lord."   Jer. 29:23

It is not infrequent that I hear someone say, "God told me or God said, to do this or that." Words are powerful and choosing proper spoken words are important for they reveal our personhood. Often we may sense His will because we are familiar with His word and His nature. Whereas "God said," is an absolute statement, "I sense," leaves room for human error.  With wisdom it is safe to share what we sense.

When we relate with God in contrition and humility, we subject ourself to Him with love and guard our actions and words. The prayer of David in Ps. 19:14 is a good example: "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."

Presumptuous speaking comes through human initiatives.  Wise speaking comes from the presence of the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit.

Inconsistencies are the result of thinking and speaking from the human soul. Jeremiah 27 - 29 are dire examples of men who spoke with human mind using God's name.  It was called "rebellion against The Lord,"( Jer. 28:16-17, 29:19,21,32).

Presumptuous speaking shows  an absence of the fear of the Lord and humble dependency upon Him for life and holiness. It is sin if we presume we are blameless of great transgression - forgetting we need the savior.  Be alert to this person and their words, for many false prophets are around deceiving many in their pride, saying, "Thus says The Lord, " (Ps. 19:12-13).

History reproduces itself. The wise person will not be duped.

Journal May 4, 2013

At Dibungko, Isabela, Philippines      

Faith and patience are necessary elements for success individually and in the body of Christ. Are we irritated by delays and obstacles, seeing them as hampering our task or a discomfort? This could be a  test. "Search me, O God and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!" (Ps 139:23)

Was the corruption, or weather over the mountains, or mechanical failure unknown to God and somehow we got caught because God was sleeping and neglected to prevent the circumstance facing us? No. In real  time He sovereign over ever detail, in every person, every living creature, and every natural act on earth!  Believing this is faith! . . .  and freedom over anxiety!

We will inherit what God has promised by our faith and patience. The challenges experienced, learned, and applied along the way are invaluable lessons.  "Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised." (Heb. 10:35-36)  A good leader will embrace the challenges with patience and wisdom for He knows God!

A leader leads. How do we lead whom we lead? By Gods virtues of peace, grace, patience, love, etc? Or human responses of anger, frustration, impatience, dominance, etc? Bottom line: Every success can be traced to a leadership success and every failure to a leadership failure.

Patience is a virtue of God. It is part of His infinite personality and who He naturally is in us. Like all of Himself it is powerful when intentionally applied in our life and necessary for success.  Don't be surprised or react when tested, instead engage it, for He is our Father and He guides us perfectly!

Are we imperturbable?

Journal May 3, 2013

At DiBungko village, Isabella

The village built me a new grass hut which seems to last 2 or 3 years or more if the roof is repaired, this is number three. It is much cooler than a tin roof building and at night I enjoy the sounds of the jungle.

Returning here was charged with thanksgiving and appreciation to God for I didn't know if I would return, likewise the people may not have expected me for they had heard about my neck.  I spoke at the CMU and ICCP annual meetings, and the pastors fellowship. The first message with CMU was initially emotional for me but quieted down.

Crossing language and cultural borders God formed His love and friendship between us, and demonstrates His ability and intention for HIs church and His glory in Palanan valley!  This remains a wonder to me...yet it is all about relationships

The land and the people are very familiar. I am not a stranger here, but I am a foreigner, and will always remain a foreigner.  Why I am here is a mystery only God could explain.

Living here is a leap back into simple life and simple focus. Saturday at the CMU mtg. Pauletta looked pregnant but not big. Monday I was sitting in a bamboo shelter with Jason working on a propeller shaft for his canoe,  Pauletta was there, and a beautiful baby in a blanket was sleeping on the bamboo.  Bulol was there also, no one was going goo goo, gaa gaa, over the baby so I kept quiet.  Later I asked another women about the baby and it was Pauletta's, she had the baby early Sunday morning.  Monday they packed up their belongings, including fuel and a pig on a leash, and with mother and child, and the whole family walked down the steep trail to the river.

The absence of electricity removes amenities we consider necessary.  Joy, laughter, and contentment are evident. Fathers and mothers seem responsible. Children playing, the older caring for the younger and learning basic skills, an absence of fighting and friction among them. No toys.  Gathering at the church every night and Sunday...that's all.  This is simple church!

And...some of our visitors suffer without cell reception! Have we learned to be content only with Christ? Pray, He already knows what we need.

Journal May 2, 2013

At the Dome--Bagabag, Philippines

I make no excuse for repetition of the often used phrase "life is relationships."  There is no fruitful or meaningful life without others--the reclusive or self-focused person will live and die in loneliness.

God created us in families, clans, and nations to form our basic identity which binds us together for our good.  Dominant individualism is our enemy to life, joy, and the contentment achieved through giving of ourself for another.  Giving is the root of happiness--that is, giving our our life to another.

We learn where true relationships are formed by giving to God and others.  The possibilities are limitless.  Likewise is our joy and contentment when we are led into relationships which cross our identity over in to the identity of another tribe or nation.

Relationships are formed between different identities by mutual giving of one's self to another. Basic language is beneficial but not necessary for relationships to form by love and trust.

Presently I am visiting friends of a different root identity--with their world view, thoughts, and tongue different than mine.  Yet, transcending beyond our basic identities is relationship built of love and trust because we are followers of Christ!

 Notice the huge jack fruit from one of the many fruit trees
of various types grown on the property for training
 as well as producing food. This young man is being trained
 in electrical skills applying what he is
learning in the construction project below. 

This young staff man is giving us a tour of the new
 housing project for training indigenous people.  

Journal April 21, 2013

(from Baguio City, Philippines)

We will know what is good, acceptable, and God's will when our mind is transformed by His spirit. Likewise we can sense other spirits and separate that which is God from what is not--with alertness.

That darkness is sensitive to light, and light will always dispel darkness is a natural and spiritual truth. Yet the light of God will not shine into darkness without initiation of Godly fear, love, prayer, and other tangible responses to darkness.

Often we are not alert to our response options to darkness--that we can know the will of God and are led by Christ to effect and expose evil in His name!  Likewise we are challenged to know the will of God by His spirit and to avoid natural human responses from the soul which will dispel nothing.

Jesus confronted darkness thoroughly in prayer, by silent suffering, or open confrontation. We are effective in Christ to expose and destroy the works and intentions of the devil, and we will know through Him the action necessary for the event. 1) Confront evil individually or corporately according to scriptural criteria. 2) Confront evil with our suffering, forgiveness or prayer.

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34) and  "Vengence is mine . . .says the Lord."  
We must release Christ's power by forgiveness, and have nothing to do with vengence.

Journal April 19, 2013

(from San Juan, LaUnion, Philippines)

Back home, the woods north of Loon Lake is a mix of swamps, beaver ponds, and hog backs. According to geologists this is the work of glaciers passing through some years ago. It is mostly uninhabited, and except for some logging trails and old fence lines there is little human interruption. The area is large comprising a few miles in each direction.  I know it quite well but at times have been confused about where I am. References are always appreciated, like an old fence line or the sun, for they remove confusion about the direction I am going.

Likewise there are times when my soul is confused and comes up with questions like: What is this all about? Where am I going?  What has value?  These are root questions about life which apart from God are not answered in our soul. Consequently, unaware, to cope with the unanswered questions of life and purpose, we cover our lives with activities, responsibilities, and diversions to give some sort of value and meaning to it all.

Only a personal life with Christ will prevent confusion in the soul, and no amount of good activities apart from Christ being our delight and reference will avoid it.

The soul requires a reference--which is Christ.  If it is not sought and secured in Him, it will seek other means to produce meaning and purpose, and these being inadequate, the soul will always remain hungry for the answer.

Jesus, the Son of God, said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life." (John 14:4)  Are we we willing to objectively examine such a statement?  Someone has eluded that Christ was either who He said or the greatest fool and imposter of all history.

The historical evidence for Christ cannot be questioned, He existed and spoke these words, and much more.

The old fence lines are important, they are : 1) Delight yourself in The Lord. 2) Commit your way to The Lord. 3) Trust in The Lord. 4) Rest in The Lord.

We must be very careful to make Jesus Christ first above everything we do.

Journal April 15, 2013

(from San Juan, LaUnion, Philippines)

While we were back home, the Amish neighbor called with the bid for the new roof on the other house, which was about 3X what I expected. Someone said, a nice boat has a hole in the bottom which continuously needs money. This sounds like an old house.

We sensed the house of my grandparents should remain in the family, so over the years it has usually been rented.  I'm sure the bid for the new roof is more than the initial cost of the complete house, built by my grandparents, with their own lumber and help from my uncles in the late 1940's.

This brought up feelings of pressure against accomplishing a task, and a healthy reminder that such feelings, at times in life, are really quite normal.  What do we do with pressure without a solution?  Not welcome, and allowed, it could lead to a distressful hole.  Immediately we have a choice, life is choices. . . with effects. Self initiated the mind must take the right action, on the right course - not knowing, but going in faith and trust, grace and peace which comes from Christ.  The other choice leads to anxiety and fears, not knowing but trusting self.

Also regarding pressure, "Until now the kingdom suffers violence, and the violent take it by force." Mat. 11:12

Do we really expect of life non- resistance  and ease from God?  Again, "Those who overcome will inherit . . . "

Journal April 10, 2013

(from Baguio City, Philippines)

What is a disciple?

Young men in the Jewish culture of higher learning sat under a Rabbi. He was their model and teacher. They followed him.  Memorization of scripture and instruction in the law were emphasized, e.g., Paul was "educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law"...  he was a disciple of Gamaliel before he met Jesus on the road to Damascus.

Followers of Jesus understood this method and regarded Jesus as their teacher when He said, "Follow me."  The meaning was clear--they would literally follow Jesus imitating what He did and said. They would become like the one they followed.

I've heard it said, "There are many Christians but not many followers."  A  Christian is one who literally follows Christ.  This may seem a narrow theology but there is no logical way around it. It is impossible to be a Christian and not choose to be like Christ!  We are caught by the Law of Noncontradiction--a basic principle of truth that says, in short, two contradictory similar claims cannot be both true.

A disciple is a literal follower of Christ, which is not difficult to understand, but the implications change everything we do and think!

Journal Jan 24, 2013

7)  "That I may be transformed by the renewing of the my mind."

". . . that by testing you may discern what is the will of God".

Transformation of our mind is a wonderful work of the Holy Spirit, and a continuous life process in every willing person who follows Christ!

It is not an end in itself but a means of receiving supernatually grace and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ to do their will with the power of the Holy Spirit!

The transformation of my mind by the Holy Spirit is beyond my ability, yet is dependent upon my desire and faith that God can act in my human flesh and spirit by the Holy Spirit and change what was natural in myself to supernatural in His nature. We cannot be in Christ and follow Him without a transformation of our mind to know Him.

Every relationship with another person requires the initiation of each person to develop and grow.  God is a initiator and seeks relationship with us and, I believe, waits for us to come. He wants to share with us His mind, and He will do this if we choose to daily allow our mind be renewed in Him that we may know the will of God, that which is good and acceptable and perfect!

Journal Jan 24, 2013

6)  "That He may give grace and peace that I might understand Him."

Christ is not far from anyone who seeks Him. He said to us, "If you seek me you will find Me."  If I believe that which He has said is true, because He is a truth speaker, without error or fault, then I also believe every command and word is true and relevant and sure!

I must continuously, willfully, establish His leadership as God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Head of the church, His body on earth - visible, practical, and powerful to lead His redemptive kingdom for His glory.

Our pleading for His presence will do not good if we want something other than His glory. I do not expect to find Him if I do not seek Him with my whole heart -- the line is drawn and there is no options for doubleminded-ness. Don't expect once-a-week pleading for God to visit!  He is the head, the leader, and is present.  If the church is not His, He will not be present!

He wants to be with us more than we, in our distracting world, want to be with Him. He is present with us! The question for me is, where am I with Him now? God waits to be with us as Father, Son and Redeemer, and Holy Spirit. Like Jesus, our greatest joy should be, "I do only the will of my Father."  The question "Whose will do I love to do?" may reveal why I am not near Him as I desire.

We cannot understand Him without Him! The authors of most New Testament letters begin with "Grace and peace to you from Father, Son, and Holy Spirit."  Grace and peace are the revelation of His presence, power and glory!  Apart from Him, we are dead.

Journal Jan 15, 2013

5)  "That I may be conformed to Him."

There can be much confusion in our Christian faith. Feelings and doubts pop up when we sin. These like to cause questions regarding our salvation and eternal destiny with Christ. Self questions are good, for they indicate we are thinking and measuring our life with God's standards. If there was no sorrow or regret, due to our choices and actions, leading us to reflection and repentance, we might consider if we are saved by Christ.

Possibly the counterpart of circumcision, identifying physically and spiritually God's chosen nation in the Old Testament, is sanctification in the New Testament. Circumcision is the removal of the flesh, indicating a Holy nation representing God, different from other nations, to bless other nations. Sanctification implies being set apart, in reference to those who trust Christ and follow Him, and means death to a dominating human nature, and thorough "set apart-ness" of our whole spirit and soul and body to be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who is faithful will surely do it.  (I Cor. 5:23)

Journal Jan 14, 2013

4)  "That death to myself may be a reality, that Christ may be a reality in me."

I am not spiritualizing that which is not attainable to me. One Apostle wrote: "I am crucified with Christ, yet I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me". How can this be in humans a tangible reality? How can a person be at one space crucified, dead, and alive? Impossible - that is the point! Faith and resulting life in Christ are not humanly understood, but are a supernatural reality! A follower of Christ is one who lives in both a natural/physical  and a spiritual/supernatural reality simultaneously, by faith in Christ. You cannot follow Christ with a natural mind, nor by a natural/religious mix, both are unacceptable to Him.

I see a line is drawn on the road. Either side of the line denotes a choice of direction and devotion. It is impossible to be on both sides and a person practicing this is considered a  hypocrite and subjects themselves to inner confusion.  Yet we are challenged daily by our choices which are not always righteous or acceptable to Christ, and knowing the specifics of our sin, we  repent. Repentance is our continuous state.

Christ lives in me if I live in Him. A sinner's prayer will not do if I do not repent and follow Him. What does He require to live in us? My humility and willingness - that He might lead me to death or repentance to my natural inclinations and self-life, and to trust in Him. My natural nature is now dead to myself and alive in Christ!

I will not reason this in my mind, and must not try - supernaturally I am transformed by my faith in God's ability! Which is His grace and peace!

Journal Jan 14, 2013

3)  "That I may see Him as my greatest treasure."

Life is all about choices, which determines content. Life is filled with what we have allowed.  Minutes, hours, and days combine our historical record. Scripture encourages us to use our time wisely for the days are evil. Choices imply a decision normally benefiting the one making the decision -- not so with the one following Christ.  This person makes wise choices for he knows Christ and He is the greatest treasure!

Mere agreement with this truth is not enough for heart convection and viable practice requires more than simple intellectual assent. It demands thorough devotion to God. Only by grace and peace from the Lord Jesus and the Father will I succeed . . . " for with man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible!"

We can become attached to possessions, necessities, and wants. Am I willing to consider these as no more than simple necessities to live, and in reflection to Christ, as nothing? Am I willing to reflect the Supreme Treasure, Christ Himself, which He desires the world to see and know?

Christ alone must be my treasure! He would that my relationship with Him be utmost, and He will overshadow me that His power will do it!

"...be it done to me according to your word". Luke 1:30-38, see v.35,37.

Journal Jan 12, 2013

2)  "That I might know Him, for this is possible, although the process is lifelong."

Phil 3:7-12 --

The scriptures may seem like a balance sheet with columns showing gain and loss with a final balance. We have been trained from childhood to think about life in two camps--spiritual/sacred and natural/secular--and thinking along this path is normal.   So without considerations otherwise we simply believe this is the way life is . . . and consequently, unaware, we are believing and living a lie.

Paul said that he counted everything loss that he may gain Christ, that is, know Him and be found in Him. Christ gave His life to redeem us--to sanctify us completely, in body, soul, and spirit! There cannot exist within us two camps.  We cannot mix clean with dirty and call it clean, or we will be confused and deceived. The natural life has to decrease, that the spiritual life of Christ may live in us!

"That I might know Him", demands everything natural and human in me be considered as a loss to gain Him. "That I might know Him"is not an exercise in religious knowledge but a constant choice to follow Him and consider everything as loss to gain Him as my greatest treasure! My responsibilities in life are still here, and I take everything seriously, but in view of knowing Christ these are considered as nothing. Our life must be properly prioritized with Christ as head of everything.

Journal Jan 11, 2013

1)  "That I may find Him my greatest delight, priority, and purpose."

Ideals are difficult to reach, and great goals will not be accomplished apart from the favor of God.

Stepping out of natural inclinations and desires when life and experiences around us dominate the natural is impossible without grace from God. We are free to make choices, and without supernatural intervention lusts, emotions, feelings, and reasonings will rule our choices.

Christ will not force us to act against are will, but He does give grace to help us, and the Holy Spirit speaks to our conscience revealing His will. We choose to initiate, to engage Him and act with the grace He gives...which is enough!

"In the beginning God," is an active movement. He is as active with intentions and goals as when He created! He has not morphed into a God relevant to appease modern man. He is eternally relevant, solely supreme, capable to rule sovereignly, and actively desiring to redeem us to Himself in Christ!

Who are we to diagnose God? His decisions and His words with a natural human mind--or measure Him with reason and logic? Do we realize we are eating from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil? We have forgotten these two trees still exist in our heart and continuously we choose which tree to sit under!

Adam and Eve chose to hang out under the wrong tree - deception, appearance, reason, feelings, emotions, and self interest--it has many names. It was not the tree of greatest delight nor the tree of greatest treasure. The other tree may not have been attractive - Christ was not attractive. But it was the tree of Life. It represents a person - God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

JOURNAL                                                                                         Jan 3,2013

What may be some of Christ's intentions in this incident with broken neck and concussion?

1) That I find Him my greatest delight, priority, and purpose.

2) That I may know HIm actually and personally, even though a life process.

3) That I may see Him as my greatest treasure.

4) That death to my natural person may be a reality that Christ may be a reality in me.

5) That I might be conformed to Him.

6) That He might give grace and peace that I might understand Him.

7) That I may be transformed by the renewing of my mind.