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.