Perspectives

As we approach the season of grace, Easter, I believe it necessary to speak of the urgency and necessity of Salvation. However, we do not want to find ourselves in a place absent of God’s presence, or have to speculate about the merits of our own salvation, living in constant fear wondering if we did enough, loved enough, cared enough, gave enough, shared enough, listened enough, yielded enough, or simply served someone other than ourselves.

Let not your heart be troubled, as the closing segment of scripture found in, John 3:16, uses a very slight but profound word, "whosoever".

John 3:16 is the most gracious, wonderful offer conceivable; eternal life for all who believe

Today’s episode is titled.

Whosoever Will

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

By compartmentalizing differing elements of the scripture we recognize; God saw, witnessed the need of humanity from our fall in the garden nearly 6,000 years ago, He has always, without ceasing sought to restore our relationship with Him. Jesus (the Son) after 4,000 years of capture, enslavement, kings, prophets, judges and 400 years of silence, was sent to dwell among us, as there was no other alternative to draw us back to God, but at the same time demonstrate his eternal love towards us, unlike many things we become involved in, they are meaningless unless we genuinely have something of great value to lose. We are the “whosoever”, (us) meaning anyone, without exception is invited to “believe”, not as a thought contained in the mind, but far within the heart. We have a choice, as Salvation is not forced upon us, God like the Israelites in the desert, gave us his word, we have tasted his goodness, but He still gives us, free will. And lastly there is the promise, acknowledging the suffering of Christ on our behalf, and accepting it as payment in full for the ransom of our sins.

It is impossible to clean up our own lives, to make ourselves right. It is impossible to think of eternity, without understanding how God loved us so much, that He sent his only son. This well-known verse is important because it tells us about the unconditional love that God has for his creation, it teaches us about the sacrifice God made for us, and it helps us understand the eternal implications of accepting Jesus. This verse is a promise and affirms the hope we have as Christians that there is an eternal life waiting for those who believe in Jesus. It suggest that no matter who we are, where we come from, what our failings, what our insecurities, our transgressions or trespasses, no matter our ethnicity, our family history, whether short or tall, male or female, child or elderly, the Savior of the world was born unto us all. We only need to believe that He is, and therefore inherit the promise of everlasting life. Is it really that straightforward? I would emphatically, with the greatest assurance answer, yes!

Referenced scriptures today are: Ephesians 4:31-32; Hebrews 12:14-15; Matthew 6:14-15; and Romans 12:18

I have a storage space that I pay a handsome ransom for each month. It is full of unforgettable things that I either, no longer have use for, I've outgrown, or have not seen for more than eight (8) years. The clothes are exquisite; however, I am several pounds heavier (give or take); the shoes still fit as well, I suppose, but I still remember some squeeze my toe, with every step I take, and I can scarcely remember the contents of the abundance of boxes that are nearly stacked to ceiling. Meanwhile, while my heart is saying let it go, I persevere in finding reasons to hold fast. I suppose one day, sooner rather later, I will be able to sort through the trove of things I have accumulated for more than forty (40) years, and rid myself of those that no longer serve a purpose, but still take up costly space.

As awkward as it sounds we do the same thing when we store up, accommodate, and relinquish valuable space in our lives to anger, resentment, and bitterness. We tuck it away as we are unwilling to relinquish control, judiciously preserving it for the ideal time to return a favor many times over. Payback sure feels good to the flesh, but it is unforgivingly injurious to our soul.

Today's podcast is titled.

Let it Go

Ephesians 4:31-32

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

We regularly struggle to find contentment. That point in life where, no matter what things look like, we are indeed satisfied. As the adage reminds us; we may not be where we want, but we certainly are not where we started. Why do we in our humanness insist on carrying oldbaggage, that serves no purpose. Where our memory just will not  allow us to, let it go? What is this, that our mind torments us so, that by clinging so desperately, we are unable to prosper instead, for our soul's sake? How many people must depart from us with unresolved issues? How many remain that, it is not that they cannot, but rather refuse to let go of the thing or things that God is trying to strip out of our presently clenched fist?

Suppose God, like us, was unremitting in his anger towards us, holding us to account for things that occurred in the Garden, during the flood, or in the wilderness, or without mercy held us personally accountable for the death of his son, Jesus Christ, as one present in the crowd who cried aloud, crucify him, over and over, and saw fit to ever so sparingly poured out an inequitable amount of grace and mercy.

Consider, our own circumstance if He repeatedly reminded us of our sins and transgressions. I am not referring to the one's we consider small, and of little consequence, but the one's that plague and taunt us, those in which our very soul is continually tormented and grieved, and God saw fit to ceaselessly hold it over our head.

There are few things that frustrate us more than having to wait. We willfully accept with gladness, the answer yes, and begrudgingly come to terms with the answer no, but having to wait is problematic for us, as we suffer great anxiety in doing so. Oh, the anticipation of heartbreak or jubilation. Our prayer should constantly be, teach me to wait. Patience is a prized commodity in very short supply, as our responses typically allow us and others to see the fullness of our insecurities, finding ourselves no longer in control.

When everything is going our way, patience is easy to exhibit. However, the real test of patience is when our character and integrity are questioned; when we are offended, when we are treated unfairly; or when someone questions, mockingly, the basis of our faith. As Christians we do not have the luxury of being, sinfully, upset when facing trials and hardships. ( Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath) (Ephesians 4:26). Our patience is revealed through faith because of God’s timing, omnipotence, and tireless love. It is neither sudden nor immediate and is very seldom instantaneous.  God’s authority is crucial to our spiritual growth thereof, as the trials we routinely face are His way of perfecting patience in us.

Today’s episode is titled.

Priceless Patience

Luke 21:19

In your patience possess ye your souls.

Patience is indeed a virtue, but the quote itself is not a Biblical term.

Our inability to be patient can have disastrous consequences, and present less than desirable outcomes. There is the world's view of patience (with limitations), and then there's the patience that God demonstrates in glorious detail throughout scripture. We are reminded time and again of its necessity, and they serve as a cautionary reminder of why we should not seek to get ahead of his willful plan for us. We assume that God is taking far too long to address our needs and our present circumstances, we pray continually for him to fix it, not realizing sometimes that is the very thing we need to endure. Without such we would believe we have no need for God, as many assume today, becoming totally self-reliant as a means of achieving our own outcomes, albeit right or wrong.

Our hearts are constantly yearning, always lacking, never satisfied, we intentionally push the envelope to see how far we can go. Scripture reminds that we are not to live unto ourselves, we were purchased with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20), and therefore must trust that God is in control of every aspect of our lives no matter how long the wait. Our patience gives us the ability to trust him at his word, even if it does not correspond with our own timeline. Our lack leads us to the limit of our own decision making, using our own resources, under our own abilities, refusing to believe that we are limited by our own humanity. Patience removed can as well lead to hopelessness, as we seek answers, but very often in the wrong places. God’s faithfulness towards us, however, is reflected throughout the entirety of his word, the opening of Genesis, In the beginning, to the closing word in Revelation, Amen.

For as long as I can remember I have loved playing the game of football. So much so, in fact, I can recall my brother and I playing in slow motion in the living room, he’s at the 50, the 30, the 10, touchdown, or tackling each other just short of a fictitious goal line as we mimicked our favorite teams and players  (mom I know you’re listening, I don't think we broke anything). Growing up, just outside of Fort Worth, Texas (Carswell AFB) (no I'm not a cowboy's fan), at the age of seven or eight, we'd play football in a vacant lot just across the street every weekend, I ran, and ran, until I was breathless, to escape being caught (I was Mercury Morris fast, but still not as fast as my sister, Rhonda). All the kids were often older than I (my brothers age), and they never threw me the ball. I would cry, and my brother would comfort me, however on the two or three occasions they threw me the ball, that year, one of two things transpired, I either dropped the ball, or mystifyingly ran the wrong way or out of bounds as a means of escape. Yes, I was quick (lightening fast) (zoom, zoom), but at that time I lacked the skills to fully understand the intricate nature of the game. I would object and pout after each game, declaring; "that's not fair".

Today’s podcast is titled.

That’s Not Fair

James 1:12

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Each of us have faced situations in life that we consider unfair and ever so often no matter how distant in the past, we are reminded, reminiscent of the suffering, sorrow, hurt, anguish and hardship we’ve endured; a scholarship opportunity, an unjust accusation, a lost job opportunity, an accidental wound, failing health, shattered relationships, hurtful words, or the ill-timed loss of a loved one. As we look about and  compare circumstances we give great consideration to the scales of fairness, considering those in life to be unbalanced, as we commonly see those that full of ill-will and deceitfulness reaping all the earthly benefits of success, leaving us to wonder, pause and grumble within ourselves saying, that's no fair. We fight to find parity or any semblance of evenness,  nonetheless, it is in vain, and at best misplaced. In doing so, by forcing what was not intended to happen, by our own hand, according to our will we often find ourselves out of alignment and out of favor with where God has purposefully and intently placed us.

What is this nature within us, that we are so seldom satisfied, always yearning, constantly desiring more? I ask, what is beyond the horizon that we seek, finding ourselves discontented with the present moment? Yes, He has a plan for our future, but we cannot get there unless we live through, and endure the lessons of today, finding contentment without complaint in the abundance of God's grace and favor towards us this day. How can we justly determine what is or is not fair? If God commanded the lilies to grow, and the winds to blow upon the billowing seas, if he watered each blade of grass, and caused the streams and rivers to flow from the mountaintops, if he caused the animals of the desert to satisfy their thirst, if he has numbered the hairs upon our head, and ordered every breath, it is considerable for us to believe that he alone, all by himself is in complete and utter control.

According to Rae Oliver (2023) It is estimated that Americans will spend an estimated $21.8 billion dollars during valentine’s day (58 million pounds of chocolate, and $2.3 billion in floral arrangements). This is the day most associate with our show of perpetual love and affection.

If that is so, I would like to begin with a question, what is God’s nature towards us, his creation? Reading and interpreting scripture literally, without suitable context tends to veil our view as we see Him as the slayer of lands, kingdoms, and people. That is, however, far from the truth, as the basis of our hope rests in His demonstrated love towards us. The fact that we are here, even today, demonstrates the reach of God’s love towards us. His love is not reserved for annual celebration, but embodies a lifetime of constant, immutable, undeniable affection. The love of God is a Biblical truth, scripture tells us unmistakably, God is Love.

Today’s podcast is titled.

A Love of Consequence

1 John 4:7-8

7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

There is a very simple song we learned as children titled, Jesus Loves Me, and we go on to say, cause the Bible tells me so. We would happily sing the lyrics with the greatest assurance, believing every single word, because our youth and innocence allowed us to see the world entirely different. How does something seemingly so simple, now become so difficult?

God loves you immensely. In fact, God’s love is so astonishing that there are hundreds of Biblical scriptures acknowledging that fact. God, speaking to Jeremiah, in 31:3, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

How do we then, define God's love for us? How is it illustrated in our lives? We are reminded of the magnitude of what He would go through to find us, to draw us near by His side. Love is defined in countless ways, but God’s is not equivalent to our love and affection for inanimate things that lack the ability to reciprocate the same. We love a house, but it does not love us back; we adore a car, but it neither cares, nor returns that which was given; I love McDonald’s cheeseburgers, but that as well is temporal, as it only satisfies the needs of my hunger for a brief moment; and sadly, there are people in our lives, presently and in the past, that no matter how much we love them, how much we care for them, or how much we praise them, they are incapable of demonstrating the same. One whose heart is so hardened and calloused, that it is incapable of affection, feeling or emotion. God, however, never intended for us to be so, because of all the gifts that one can receive this day, flowers, chocolates, teddy bears, jewelry, fine dinning, and the like, there is none greater than the gift of God’s love.

The authenticity of our faith is forever under the watchful eye of others. There are those that are eager to see what becomes of us, while on the other hand there are those that mockingly anticipate our failure, waiting to openly declare our faith is less than genuine. I often believe there is immense confusion about who we are, and the significance of our place in the world. Considering, as well, that for nearly 2,000 years the world has sought to deny the authenticity of our existence, who we are, where we come from, and the truth of our claim that we are indeed Christians, chosen to deliver a message of hope and salvation to a dying world.

Marriam Webster; Britannica; Google; and Wikipedia (which is not always accurate), all have similar definitions, but they are at best just under served, as they do not exemplify the totality of who God's people are, and our constant, everyday battle to adhere steadfastly to our faith. What does it look like? Will we know of it, if our eyes behold it? Will we legitimize it, or will the world ridicule and scoff at it, as a poor person's panacea. Christ is real, and his suffering on our behalf is well recorded, written for our edification and our hope.

Today's podcast is titled.

I thought you were a Christian?

Acts 11:26

the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

History and contemporary culture have changed what it means to be a Christian. As an adaptation, many believe that simply going to church occasionally or believing God exists makes them a Christian, but the Bible presents a totally different outlook in defining Christianity. A Christian is someone whose conduct and heart display the character and presence of Jesus Christ.

Our faith does not imply inferiority, but rather strength in humility and courage. It does not require the brandishing of swords and the weaponry of war, but rather a still and quiet spirit, knowing with the greatest assurance that if we live or die, it is unto Christ. Likewise, it does not suggest that we are a perfect people, according to the ways of the world, but rather day by day exercising our faith. Coming to a more perfect understanding of who Christ is, and His place in our lives, as he leads and guides us in the way that we should go, or allows us to act in a  manner which is a true reflection of Him. We are, after all a people in which our hearts brandish the love of Christ, a people in whom if we stumble ninety-nine times, He is able to pick us up 9,000 times more. 

Have you ever been lost? You know you’re somewhere, but you just can’t quite figure out where that somewhere is. You have a map and very detailed directions, but it does not make sense, in fact you’ve tried them a routine number of times only to wind up right back where you started from. How many of you have been there? Of course, being lost in the daytime is completely different than being lost at night, as it (night that is) adds an element of perplexity and fear, because we cannot see what is before us, or lurks just beyond our view. Being lost is common to each of us, as we have all been there once or twice in our lifetime. However, being lost spiritually has a completely different meaning, one should not linger there for long. It perplexes us, and unless resolved leaves us in the middle of nowhere.

We all have been there when life is much more complicated than we desire, and there is no one who understands precisely what we are going through. There is an urgency, an immediacy, to us, and to those we love as well. It is like being in the forest and screaming as loud as you can, but we are so entrenched that no one hears. Our rescue is suddenly afar off. That is when our hearts melt and it is now necessary to come face to face with God, because we are not sure how our lives will turn. We are no longer in control.

Today’s podcast is titled.

I Need Thee

Mark 10:46-52

46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.

The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

The Bible does not tell us the entire narrative of Bartimaeus, only that when he encountered Jesus, he was without sight (and had been for some time). The people tried to persuade him (v. 49), that Jesus had far more important things to do, and implored him to be quiet (hold his peace). It is not that he could not, he refused, because his torment was enduring. He met Jesus on the side of the road in Jericho, as a blind beggar, and this lone encounter forever changed the course of his life, as it will ours as well.

It was believed, during this time in history, that illness was a punishment from God, as a result of sin. We commonly believe that to be so even today, by assuming because something has gone wrong in someone’s life, they must have done something wrong. Because of this philosophical flaw, Bartimaeus was constantly hushed and ignored by the crowd, and yet Jesus stops for him. Jesus saw Bartimaeus. He saw his value; He knew his needs. And like we see over and over again in many Biblical accounts Jesus stopped for them as well. He sought them out, instead of waiting for them to come. He found them in the midst of their condition.

I've often heard people say, "expect the worse and you won't be disappointed". Have you ever been absolutely wrong about your perception of someone, only to realize their random act of kindness changed everything; they said thank you; they asked “how’s your day?”; they asked about your family, or sent a heartfelt condolence concerning the tragic loss of a loved one; they remembered your birthday; insisted on paying for a meal; they said “God bless you”; or they unassumingly said, “I love you” or “I'm here for you”.

That very same person, minutes, days, weeks, months and years earlier was imprinted in our minds as someone other than what their random act of kindness portrayed. I suppose there was an abundant vocabulary to which we previously described them albeit openly and verbally or within the secret places of our heart. And yet, every day God has a way of chastening us, and proving our thoughts and motives wrong when it comes to His people (or people in general), his creation made in his image.

Today’s podcast is titled.

Contagious Kindness

Proverbs 11:17

Those who are kind benefit themselves,

The Bible mentions “kindness” in over two-hundred occurrences and “kind” nearly double that amount, over four-hundred times. It is an act of compassion, the lifting up of others. God's word offers wisdom for threading this godly attribute (a evident fruit of the spirit) into our daily lives.

Love is patient, love is kind. Suppose I was to ask, have you been treated as kind as you have been treated cruel? Consider if I were to inquire if you've done others the same. Whilst it does not require a response directly to me, I believe that we all should give it a reasonable amount of consideration. But, may I counter by saying life is not always fair.

What I have noticed is that we often times treat others the way they've treated us (albeit good or bad), but necessity does not always require it to be that way, it is after all a choice. Yes, acts of kindness often engender the same in return. We learn, almost immediately, that cruelty, begets cruelty, and kindness of course, begets kindness. Is kindness so rare a commodity that whenever it occurs it catches us off guard, causing us to question motive? Asking within ourselves with the greatest suspicion "why", "what do they want"? As if an act of kindness itself, comes with a price tag. It does not, it is a conscious choice, as we cannot reciprocate what is not in us to do. Kindness is an illustration of our faith, it is after all contagious, and has the characteristic ability to appeal to the cold hearted, those that aim to be the first to dish it out, before it gets dished on them; those that have been hurt and offended so much, that their responses are sudden and expected, adding yet another inconsistent layer to our now scarred reputation.

One of the first games we learned as a child is hide and seek. The rules appear simple enough, it is when one person, by signifying, one potato, two potato, three potato, is designated to count (typically to ten [10]), while all the other participants run and hide. Consequently, some are found almost immediately, as they were unable to successfully conceal themselves, and then there are others in which it takes some time to find. By playing with familiar friends long enough it was always easy to conclude who would be caught first, and who would remain well hidden, withstanding the length of the search. We would run and chase until we were overcome by exhaustion, doing our best to make our way to home base, careful to avoid being tagged. Doing so would force the counter to finally say Ollie, Ollie, Oxen Free. Meaning it is finally “safe” for everyone to come out and return home, without consequence, drawing that phase of the game to a sudden and near immediate close (depending on the amount of remaining daylight). Hide and Seek, is considered one of the world’s oldest games that pre-date ancient Greece and is played in some variation on every continent globally.

In fact, we can say the very first version of hide and seek, is as old as humanity itself, the moment in which Adam sinned and God sought him out.

Today’s podcast is titled.

Hide & Seek

Genesis 3:8-9

8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.

9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

They (meaning Adam and Eve) hid and covered themselves, as God inquired saying, Adam, where art thou? He was presented an opportunity to come home cleanly, the plea was made, and when asked, his words were, that woman, you gave me. Similarly, Cain’s response after slaying his brother Abel was, am I my brother's keeper?, further asking, Shall I be hid from thy face?

Sin creates a challenge for each of us. If we live long enough, it is inescapable, something in which we are entwined, but not easily freed. Our most egregious sins (not that any are greater than the other), cause us to hide, physically (not possible) and more often spiritually from He who created us. Considering in our hearts that His grace and mercy only extends to others, but never us. How can His love peer through our hurt and sorrow, how can He love us, when the world of humanity has so easily abandoned us. Some may ask, can He hear me, while others would purely ask, does He care? When we are overcome, we are not hoping to get caught, but rather waiting for someone to bid us to come home free, to save us from death's grip, and he who seeks only to destroy our soul, separating us eternally from God.

Imagine parents struggling and searching for a place to give birth, going from door to door, inn to inn asking, begging, and pleading for a well-mannered place for a child to be born. Consider Mary's pains as her labor intensified each time they were told, there is no room. Contemplate the bustle of people in Bethlehem as they gathered to take part in the census mandated by Caesar Augustus. Yet, no one paused, no concern given, not even for the briefest of moments to inquire about their immediate need. I can imagine her pleading with Joseph to rest if only for a moment, as the distresses of his heart urged him to press on. Finally, they found (possibly) a considerate Inn Keeper, who seeing Mary's condition, offered not unto them an impressive room in a palace, out of great compassion, but merely presented a manger. A place where animals resided, not a dwelling for a king, nor the hope of a carpenter for his soon to be newborn son. As Jesus came forth, there was no rush, no urgency, no press to see him. The glory of the lord shown above Bethlehem, the star rested thereof, and the heavenly host proclaimed in Luke 2:10-11, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Today’s episode is titled.

Finding Christ in Our Christmas

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Being out these last few weeks I had an opportunity to witness decorations and clothing that are designed (supposedly) to serve as a representation of Christmas. In fact I happened to see an oversized skeleton adorned with a Santa had, surrounded by orange lights, typically reserved for another traditional holiday. Likewise, I saw what would be considered a dress shirt that had printed as a continuous design throughout, Happy Crappy Christmas. How did we come to marginalize such a day as this? One so noteworthy that it changed the course of history for an eternity.

Christmas is difficult time for many, and each year statistics reveal that between Thanksgiving, in November to Christmas, in December countless people suffer with bouts of anxiety and depression. While most of us celebrate the holiday with families, there is an abundance that are without, lacking the ability to share, and often even in the heart of a family gathering things can become quite complex. That is why it is of the greatest importance that Christ remain at the center of Christmas. Place aside for a moment the pageantry of the preceding weeks, and the urgent press to purchase what remains on our gift list (that last item).