The Well-Dressed Branch

A Bun Dance

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Thompson) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:51:00 +0000

What’s in a word?

Charlie Chaplin's Little Tramp did a table dance unlike any other. Two buns impaled by two forks(one each) became a lovely ballerina's slippers, while Charlie's expressive face made the dance become real.

Funny, how changing a word's shape can bend its meaning to a totally different direction. “A bun dance” also spells abundance, but in three pieces, doesn't even suggest the idea of plenty.

Most folks wouldn’t recognize abundance if it danced up and kicked them in the nose. We think of it as “plenty of stuff.” We have no abundance until we have enough, plus a bit more, but the more we have, the more we want, making the pursuit of abundance a perpetual, frustrating quest.

We needn’t point the bony finger of condemnation for greed at Gates or Buffett. Anyone who has watched toddlers playing together with a few toys has seen human greed in action. Each wants what the other has, usually escalating the dispute until one baby gets bopped with a toy and breaks into a passionate squall. And the adult version of this turf-war differs only in scale and style.

Luke 12:13-23 ESV Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." (14) But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?" (15) And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." (16) And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, (17) and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' (18) And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. (19) And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' (20) But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' (21) So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God." (22) And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. (23) For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing."

While Jesus’ words carry divine authority, most people dismiss them as impractical or archaic wisdom with no relevance to us. He was, after all, the Ultimate Idealist. We're used to sitting in church while the collection basket circulates for this need or that, thinking, “They don't have enough of my money already?” While the preacher harps on laying up treasure in heaven, we can’t think past, “A bit more treasure here on earth would be nice.”

This is a test ...

What about some cultural relevance here? Back in Bible times the church didn’t have to pay for elaborate campuses and over-paid preachers.

Now I must inquire as to your reaction to the above, stupid, ridiculous, absurd statement. You passed the test if your reaction was something like, “Say what?!”

Don’t like tests? Neither do I, but God does. Faith is by its very nature a test, as it is quite unnatural for us after we graduate from infancy. Maybe that’s what Jesus meant when he said, “Give the kids a break, and let them come to me, as heaven’s kingdom is filled with people of such child-like faith. Listen up people! Unless you welcome God’s kingdom with the wide-eyed innocence and faith of a little child you won’t enter it.” (my paraphrase)

While Scripture treats giving as a principle, and not a law, generosity is part of the new nature Jesus bought for us without balking at the cost to himself. And while giving liberally is a principle, gratitude is a mandate! As we pray for God to transform us into his Son’s image, dare we pick-and-choose what parts of his image we want in ourselves? Jesus gave his all to reconcile us to his Father. Can we do any less in gratitude for his sacrifice?

I’ve found a funny coincidence among church-goers: Those who want greater wealth are most often quite satisfied with their spiritual condition. And those who long for greater resemblance to Jesus are most often quite satisfied with their material possessions.

Everyone who hopes for eternity with Christ would do well to ask which of those two people they are. Anyone whose top priority is not Christ-likeness will not find God’s Son a very welcoming host. And any silver-tongued devil who thinks he can talk his way into heaven will end up with more than a casual acquaintance with the fiery-tongued devil who occupies the fiery lake.

That Glance

Maybe the next time we glance sideways at someone’s ostentatious lifestyle, we will remember to double-check our own attitude. Is it Christ-like? What do we do with our discretionary funds? Since we lack that degree of wealth, how do we know we’d spend our money more wisely if we had more of it?

Once upon a time I earned a good living. Did I give beyond the tithe, laying my treasure up in heaven? No, I bought stuff. Did I think critically of those who enjoyed their greater material wealth? To my shame, I did. Would I act differently if I now came into wealth? I’d like to think so, but in view of my spending habits back then, I doubt that will happen. Do I want more? I’d be lying if I said that never crosses my mind, but when it does I look to what Apostle Paul said, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” Am I there yet? Not by a long shot! I’m about as close as most other fallible Christ-followers who long to resemble him more.

At least I know that a-bun-dance has nothing to do with buns and forks. Rather, it is what we have in Christ Jesus, whether we know it or not.

Fighting Discouragement

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Thompson) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:35:00 +0000

Sometimes, remembering to practice my faith isn't easy, and certainly not automatic. When I read Fox News' report that the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office removed the non-religious reference to God from their logo after a group calling themselves the "Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers" complained, I had to wrestle my reaction back into line with my belief in God's promise that, "We win!"

The RCO changed its all-caps Latin logo to read, "DOING MIRACLES WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY," exchanging "MIRACLES" for the words, "GOD'S WORK." I emphasized its capitalization to show that the "G" word was not typographically emphasized relative to the rest of the logo, effectively removing any religious context. "Freethinkers," indeed! The Atheists' action is nothing more, or less, than ideological terrorism, and one more ploy in a long history of such extremism.

There! I've succeeded in reporting the facts without once labeling Atheists, "Fools" or "Hypocrites." I don't believe in name-calling, even when it's warranted.

Presidential Bearing

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Thompson) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:58:00 +0000

Size of ear, not listening show.

Size of smile, not caring know.

Death to Birth

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Thompson) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:38:00 +0000

When death comes?

Which death comes?

When first, death comes?

Which is death,

When comes, or goes?

Where one is born.

Then birth is dying?

Where one goes,

Then one dies, to

Where one was.

Death to then, is

Birth to now, as

Death to there is

Birth to here.

Death died with fear of life.

Notes on Prayer; Does It Make Any Difference by Philip Yancey

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Thompson) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 10:28:00 +0000

48.2 God is intimate because he is infinite, as air is intimate with my lungs. If he were vast as the cosmos without being infinite, he would be unapproachable.

Father, your constant presence fills my life with praise and gratitude, even in those moments when you seem remote. I sit, fingers poised over the keyboard, unable to verbalize what I feel toward you, but I don’t have to feel anything for my mind to know, and my spirit to believe you are here. Thanks for faith beyond sensing with my human faculties, and understanding beyond the reasoning ability of my human mind.

48.3 The hard part about relating to God in prayer is shaking the human habit of dishonesty. Any pretense completely closes off our communication with the eternal One, so I must examine every thought, every word, to ensure its truth.

Though I want to approach God prepared, that does not consist of rehearsing my thoughts as a lawyer rehearses his case. Preparation for prayer is simply reminding myself who God is, and who I am in relation to him. Then I verbalize as the thoughts appear in my mind; no thoughts, no words. Such wordless prayer is not “thoughtless” prayer.

I can illustrate wordless prayer by comparing it to a popcorn popper. Switch the power on and the blower begins kicking the corn around in the popping chamber even before the heating element gets hot. The corn may jump toward the outlet, but the air-flow won’t carry it out of the mouth until it gets hot enough to explode into a fluffy, white morsel of popped corn.

“Thoughtless” prayer, rather than wordless, is memorized or habitual, formal prayer. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing either, unless it becomes meaningless repetition as in a mantra. Calling repeatedly on God can be a heartfelt plea.

I used to struggle with wrong or “improper” thoughts while praying, but now realize they are not a problem. Instead of trying to filter it out of the prayer, I simply give the wrong thought to God, repent of it if needed and thank him for his forgiveness. Satan must get really mad when I steal his thunder like that.

Surprise!

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Thompson) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:44:00 +0000

The soldier wakes up while darkness reigns, a black-ops mission ahead of him. He and his teammates run the final inspection on their gear and stow it for the day’s stealthy trek. A familiar voice from the darkness orders the soldier to point position. He grimaces and complies without hesitation or comment, knowing when people start dying he’ll be the first. Though each step forward is cautious, the soldier’s foot slips into an unseen pit and gravity sucks him into the mortal void. His face registers surprise a moment before the sharpened bamboo drains his life away.

The commuter twists her car’s ignition key a quarter-turn to the right, and the engine produces the expected vibration that tells her she’s on her way. Make-up in place, hair just so, she carefully backs out of her driveway and heads toward another day at work. When her mobile’s ring tone serenades her, she reaches to the passenger seat to grab her purse—but it’s slipped to the floor. With traffic light, she carefully leans over to retrieve it. A moment later, unexpected movement grabs her attention to the truck’s grille mere inches from her car’s left-front quarter. She hears, more than feels, the impact launching her upper body out her door at a precarious angle. Her face registers surprise in the split-second before she is mortally pinned between the two vehicles.

The young concert-goer stands and vacates his arena seat, his tall beer having already traveled through his body. Hard rock floods his senses as he sidesteps to the aisle, climbs to the next tier and the restroom that promises relief. Already reaching for his fly, he halts in the restroom entrance, just as startled as the doper and his dealer doing business inside. The young man stumbles back into the arena, and holding his stomach, he flops back into his seat beside his friend. Surprise etches his face as his life drains onto the beer and peanut-shell encrusted floor.

The soldier knew his life was at risk, but surprise still seized him with his death. The commuter had heard of traffic fatalities, but she’d never seen one, never anticipated her surprise when death overtook her. The rock fan had looked forward to his fun evening listening to his favorite group with his best friend. Did he realize as he sat bleeding to musical accompaniment that his last heartbeat drew near?

Three young people with plans and dreams that would never be realized, who would never again hear of God’s offer of eternal salvation, never enjoy another opportunity to accept God’s love, began their last day perfectly unaware of their impending fate.

Surprise, surprise, surprise!

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Thompson) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:56:00 +0000

Don't Try This At Home

When buying lunch, we want our cheeseburger, fries and shake within thirty seconds, not three minutes. When we order pizza delivery, we want our Mega-Meat pizza, Texas-size wings and extra bread sticks hot and fresh at our front door within thirty minutes, not thirty-three minutes. After all, the evening's entertainment is already in the Blue-Ray player.

We normal human beings love quick results. We expect them. We even demand them.

When praying for stuff, we want answers in a timely manner. And if we don't see our prayers answered quickly, we assume God hasn't answered them. Yet. We usually give him that much slack. But if he doesn't deliver(like the pizza delivery guy) within our time frame, he doesn't love us. What ingratitude! After all, we tip God every time the collection basket passes, making sure the change doesn't jingle when we drop it in.

In Mark 4:35-41 we witness Jesus and some of his disciples enjoying an afternoon of boating on the Sea of Galilee—without first checking AccuWeather. As Jesus slept on the pillow, exhausted from his demanding schedule, a terrible wind storm overtook them with waves nearly swamping the boat. The “tough fishermen” handling the boat must not have bothered steering into the rising sea, but chose to panic, awakening their Master with passionate pleas of, “Rabbi, don’t you care that we’re dying out here?”

Hey, at least they gave him enough credit to know what was happening even while asleep.

Jesus probably shook his head in disgust as he called out to the storm, “Peace! Be still!” As suddenly as it came up, the wind quieted and the waves calmed. Then, with a withering gaze at his friends, “Why are you panicking? Don’t you trust me yet?”

Rather than hanging their heads with a “Sorry Rabbi, but ...” they shrank back and whispered among themselves, “Who is this guy that controls even the weather?”

Strange, how they expected a quick fix from him, but were awestruck when he did what they asked. That rather reminds me of my own response when God answers prayer spectacularly.

I have to wonder what the Master thinks when we run to him with our shopping lists of “needs,” admitting he has power to grant them, but not giving him enough credit to already know what we truly need. And how must he feel when we walk away kicking stones, head down, hands in pockets, sulking about his not caring enough to quickly give us what we want? Our attitude disturbingly resembles that of a spoiled brat.

Jesus said to petition Father God with persistence, and whatever we ask in his name will be granted. But when Jesus said, “in my name,” did he intend that we simply recite, “In Jesus name amen?” Or does praying in Jesus’ name mean more than that?

In the real world—meaning everywhere but Western, Evangelical Christendom—doing something in someone’s name means bearing their authority, office or position, so any action you take carries the same force of law as the person for whom you are doing it. That’s like when an ambassador signs a treaty with another nation, he signs it as the proxy of the one who sent him.

So, when Jesus said in John 14:13-14 “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (14) If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it,” and when Colossians 3:17 says, And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him, it means we must do everything as Christ’s ambassadors, officially representing him. But don’t take my word for it, check out 2 Corinthians 5:20, Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

We must not take Jesus for granted, losing faith in the first squall as did his fishermen friends. Whether we’re at home in our “prayer closet,” driving in our car, or standing in church praying in Jesus’ name, we must remember who we are and who we represent with our words: God’s eternal, living Word incarnate, whose name means, “God is salvation.”

THE UNDEFEATED

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Thompson) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:14:00 +0000

Netflix retitled this film, Sarah Palin: The Undefeated, presumably to discredit it so as few unthinking people as possible would watch it. They don't worry about thinking Americans, we're in the minority. You see, this nation of Kool-Aid drinkers will believe any lie the elitist news and entertainment media feed them, especially if their target speaks openly of her uncompromising Christian faith and the eternal values it carries.

But I watched the film, all five stars worth. Though I commented on it, Netflix will probably never publish it. Who needs honesty, anyway?

An interesting consistency presented itself as I scanned the existing comments; liberals hated the film, and conservatives loved it. While it seemed unapologetically promotional, the scalpel-tongued, elitist media gave Mrs. Palin no choice but to try and counter their lies. And it did a great job of it, showing a Sarah Palin I had never before seen, and the truth of her phenomenal achievements in Alaska.

To her ultimate credit, Mrs. Palin bravely took the politicos' and their media stooges' savage, hateful, character assassination on the chin. Despite the media raping that cost her family and her political career dearly, she came back swinging, to the mid-term liberal politicians' extreme chagrin. By not playing by Washington's rules and demonstrating her character and competence, she has earned, not their respect, but their undying fear and hatred. And that, for the best reason of all: She speaks the truth.

Comment From a nonbeliever

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Thompson) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 15:43:00 +0000

While listening to a Gaither rendition of Leaning On the Everlasting Arms, I became interested in a nonbeliever's comment:

i am not christian and i am not a believer of any other religion. i believe that you live and you die. and as much as i have seen and known that is good enough for me. i am not here not here to make anyone doubt their religion i just anted to say that this song is beautiful and if human beings would start to notice how beautiful this life is that we have and how lucky we are to only get 1 chance at it then maybe killing each other over religion would stop. i love my country more then anything.

To which I replied:

@hom859 You made a beautiful statement of faith in human goodness. We can indeed be good, but it doesn't come naturally, and too often we attach that goodness to selfish motives, which WAY too often look like religion. Hope you don't mind that I copy your comment and my reply into my blog, The Well-Dressed Branch.

I hope @hom859 will search this blog to read my followup comments.

As I said, human religion masquerades as devotion to God, which is sometimes a good thing. But most often we contaminate it with selfish motives and ambitions, which makes it a bad thing — a TERRIBLY bad thing.

Atheists rightly observe history as a series of religious debacles, but tragically, they blame it on all religion. Human religion is nothing short of idolatry, whether it takes the form of self-aggrandizement, veneration of humans — dead or alive — pride in allegedly Biblical teachings and the people or denominations that propagate them, or literal idol-worship.

James 1:26-27 ESV If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. (27) Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Religion, by that definition, benefits humanity as no other practice or ideology can. But only God's love can produce that blessed religion, and God's love is only accessible through our Master Jesus Christ.

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Thompson) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 07:59:00 +0000

The World's Longest Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge at night

John Roebling had a dream. He began working on it with smaller scale projects, culminating with his design for the Brooklyn Bridge. But he died before he could witness his dream's construction.

John's son Washington took over the project, completing the actual design work. He invented wire rope (steel cable) to take a structural load far greater than the hemp rope of the period could support. He invented a construction tool called the pressurized caisson, that allowed workers to lay the towers' foundations well below the East River's surface.

Considering the Brooklyn Bridge, architect Louis Kahn wrote, "Great art work is not the fulfilling of a desire, but the making of a new desire. The world never really needed Beethoven's Fifth Symphony until he wrote it, and now we couldn't live without it. Likewise, we didn't really need (the Brooklyn Bridge), ... but now that it's there, we couldn't live without it.”

Lake Pontchartrain Causeway

Beethoven

Another bridge took form in an architect's mind long before it was ever needed, a bridge that spanned far more than the Brooklyn Bridge's 6,000 feet. Longer even than the 24-mile-long, Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. It too was a father and son project, but rather than killing the Father, completing this project killed the Son. And while the Brooklyn Bridge inspired Lewis Kahn's romantic observations, we denizens of the world could not live beyond the veil of death without this Longest Bridge.

Though it is truly monumental, and one way or another its name is on nearly everyone's lips, no one can find it without the Guide. This Longest Bridge is not a structure, but a person: The incarnate Word of God, through whom the eternal Father made our universe, and without whom not one person will survive this short, mortal existence.

Our sin created the infinite gulf between ourselves and our Father God, but his love provided our Way back to himself, his perfect Truth, and his eternal Life(John 14:6). The Bible says of God's eternal Word, “He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:10-14 ESV)

Yes, the name of Jesus is on many lips, either through praise, or through profanity. We praise him because his love led him to willingly submit to the worst, most degrading Roman torture imaginable; he chose death on the cross to reconcile his creation to himself after we willingly separated ourselves from him through sin. We profane him because most of us refuse to respond to his love with our own love, through obedience to his good news, the gospel of salvation through his blood.

Follow God's gospel to The World's Longest Bridge, and realizing you need him while you still have opportunity, get on. He's waiting, and he's nearer than we think.

DUAL WITH EL DIABLO

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Thompson) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:21:00 +0000

I reckon most folks aren’t old enough to remember the 1966 James Garner and Sidney Portier movie titled Dual at Diablo. To spoil it completely for anyone who might go back to the archives to watch the movie, only a small handful survived the battle of Diablo Canyon, until the cavalry arrived to save the day.

Diablo means devil in Spanish, which is an interesting coincidence, considering each of us, whether we know it or not, are at war with el diablo. Each moment of our lives, el diablo stalks us like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Have you never seen the devil? Perhaps you just didn't recognize him. The devil is alive and well in the attitudes that place "Me First!"

Like the valiant, fictional soldiers who died with arrows in heir backs, many—if not most—of us will die much as they did, attacked from the rear. Yes, the cavalry is on the way, but in the true story, it’s spelled Calvary. And the company of troopers who will save the day is just one man, but WHAT A MAN. He happens to be the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the eternal Word incarnate, and the self-existent, eternal God’s only Son, all rolled up into one Savior.

Only one problem: He, the only perfectly innocent One, had to die as a sinner to save a sinner. That would be me, and you.

Yes, of course we aren't the only sinners in the world, but even if we were, it would have made no difference to the Savior. Being God, he knows you personally, from among all the people who have ever lived. In fact, he knows you so well, you can't hide anything from him. Think of the most secret, darkest thoughts that have occasionally plagued you, or the one thing about yourself that no one knows. That's right; it’s all clear as day to the Savior whose name means God Is Salvation. But as hard as it is to imagine, he loves you anyway. He loves you with a depth and breadth we humans can't begin to conceive, because as the Bible says, God Is Love.

So quit fooling yourself. Though you may have all your weapons at the ready to fight the enemy of your soul, there is no way you can stop him. Your enemy is quieter than an Indian warrior. He is more stealthy than an assassin with a garrote. And if you think all this doesn’t apply to you, he already has you lulled into a complacency deeper than that of Rip Van Winkle.

If you decide to wake up--which is your choice--you’ll find that Jesus did all the hard work for you; all you have to do is appropriate(that’s, grab hold and never let go) the amazing salvation He offers. Come just as you are, sin and all. No sin is too big for His forgiveness. Even if you’re penniless you have the price of admission, and even if you’re wealthy you don’t have enough money to buy what He offers. Jesus said, I am the Door, and, I am the Way. He said nothing of a gate fee.

If you’re thinking, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch,” you are wise. Though the redemption He offers is free of charge, nowhere in His word did Jesus say it would cost nothing. When a wealthy man asked Jesus, “Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” Jesus gave him a brief rundown of the commandments, which the guy had followed since his youth. Then, though Jesus knew the young man was sincere, He also knew he was rich in worldly possessions. So Jesus challenged him beyond what he was willing to give. “One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.”(from Mark 10:17-23) The price was too steep, so the guy shuffled away, dejected.

Whether you’re rich or poor by the world’s standard, the salvation that Jesus bought for you with His life requires the same investment: Everything this world has to offer. Thing is, once your heart stops, somebody here on Earth will smile all the way to the bank with everything you own. And it won’t be you, ‘cause you’ll be d-e-a-d, like a doornail. And the fun you don’t want to give up? When you pass to the other side you will see it for what it is: stupid foolishness. You’ll be like the kid who spent his allowance on candy, and all he got that lasted was a bellyache and cavities.

So, back to Diablo Canyon. The few who lived were those who faced the enemy and were willing to give everything to live. If you want to survive your “Dual With el Diablo,” Give your life to Jesus, and Calvary will come to your rescue.

Mars Needs Moms; fun liberal indoctrination

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Thompson) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:48:00 +0000

Mars Needs Moms is a fun, painless way for your kids to get their liberal propaganda. If only I were a social progressive, I could have enjoyed this flick more fully.

The Martians in this film lived in a female-dominated society where the males were the nurturers—and more than a bit flaky. Kids will get such a kick out of all the tightly-fitted Martian glutes that they might miss the intended pro-mom message. And no, I'm not dirty-minded; I just know kids. The bit of toilet humor at the end was cute, and in only moderately poor taste.

As in most programs aimed at kids, the old people in Mars are the villains, whose single purpose is to spoil everyone’s fun. The old villain, by the way, was the recipient of the above mentioned toilet humor.

Mars Needs Moms provides plenty of action and cheesy-but-fun acting. The fantastic animation and effects often caused me to forget it was animated, and that I was enjoying progressive propaganda.

Goodbye, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Thompson) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 02:59:00 +0000

It has been a year of change. Only by faith in your promise, O Eternal One, can I call it all good. The one through whom you taught me to love as you love has left me, and is now whole, peaceful and victorious in your embrace.

Eternal Master, you gave your Word to us for our righteous instruction, your incarnate Word to reconcile yourself to your rebellious children, and your Holy Spirit of love to indwell us for your Great Commission. Even so, Heavenly Father, I see in myself and those around me, even in those who claim your Son’s holy name, traces of the juvenile stubbornness and shards of the brittle wickedness that placed between us the infinite gulf of sin.

What grief, our stiff-necks cause you. What pain, our willful sin brings you. Though your wisdom and power move the universe at your command, still you chose in your steadfast grace to love the least worthy of these, your creation, with the intimacy of your Son’s shed blood.

Sovereign Master, I bow my head, my will, before you, longing for your Holy Spirit to complete the good work you began in me, so that I and my brethren can love this dying world as you do. Let 2011 be the last year we your body cringe before the world’s counterfeit power, clinging to our pitiful possessions and our impotent independence. Let 2012 be the year you complete your eternal plan.

Even so, come Lord Jesus.

Shock and Awe

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Thompson) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 06:39:00 +0000

What It Is

     “Shock and awe” is a military doctrine developed in 1996 to do just that to our enemies through sudden, massive deployment of actual, or apparent, overwhelming military force. Our military leaders sought to suddenly paralyze the enemy by destroying their will to resist, if not their actual ability to resist.
     Public response to that doctrine, however, proved disappointing, as many bought in to the major news media’s negative opinions about its application in the Middle East. Whether or not it actually worked is a mystery to John Q. Public, who knows only what he hears reported.

What It Was

     Oddly enough, the first example ever of Shock and Awe also happened in the Middle East, when God's people Israel finally invaded the Promised Land to eliminate the corrupt, idolatrous people living there. Much of the Bible’s Pentateuch recorded for us that military campaign, and how Israel’s disobedience caused it to ultimately fail.

     That failure cost Israel the holy heritage God promised if they had obeyed. Yet, nothing surprises the Eternal One, who knew before time how he would remedy humanity’s sin. That Remedy, that perfect, loving Sacrifice in the person of God’s only Son after his own kind, became our Way to the Father, our perfect Truth, and our eternal Life.

Christ’s Shock and Awe

     After Jesus completed his perfect work of reconciling fallen man to his Father, he ordered a campaign of shock and awe when he issued the Great Commission to his disciples, and to us.

Matthew 28:16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Shock and Awe, yes, but not as the world conducts its wars. If his church at large had obeyed his commands and followed his teachings over the years since he and his apostles walked the earth, we would have completed turning the world up side down, as the Thessalonian Jews accused the apostles of doing.

Acts 17:1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” 8 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. 9 And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

     That was Shock and Awe of the spiritual kind, and it cost Christ’s followers dearly, ranging from fines, such as the above excerpt shows, to their very lives. Most of us shudder at reports of the torturous deaths the martyrs suffered, and are unable to imagine ourselves following the same path. If we were able to ask those martyrs how they managed to face their horrible fate they would probably tell us they couldn’t imagine it either … before they faced it.
That Was Then, This Is Now
     We Western Christians will never face such a threat, as long as we continue reducing Christ’s way to formalized religion, participating in some of the world’s more mundane corruptions, and balking at the prospect of facing horrible tortures such as unpopularity, vocational penalties, family scoffing and the like. The tragic fact is most of us are quite thankful for the differences.
     Some of today's more aware brethren pray for revival in God’s church to bring us back to first-century vitality, quietly hoping God will choose someone else for the hard work. Others recognize the potent, poisonous Kool-Aid we cheerfully consume in the name of Christian liberty, and respond by establishing punitive rules and judging all those who fail to measure up. Of course, neither strategy will produce the revival needed to carry out Christ’s Great Commission.
Personally?
     I’m afraid the only solution to these shortcomings will include reaping what we’ve sown, as did God’s stiff-necked people Israel. While that reaping must include severe tribulation, the resulting purge will leave the purified remnant necessary to complete Christ’s earth-shaking orders.
     I both dread and anticipate that time. If I survive until then I hope to face it with God’s Spirit providing the strength to endure, and to carry God's campaign of spiritual Shock and Awe to the needy world, as Christ's Great Commission directed.

A Hypothetical Question

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Thompson) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 23:29:00 +0000

My grand daughter asked me if I would put gum stuck to a public bench into my mouth for a million dollars. Now, what kind of question is that? Definitely hypothetical, as the odds against actually facing such a decision are astronomical.

I refused to entertain her question because it presented me with a false dilemma, and I don't need meaningless questions complicating my thought-life. But she was truly curious about my answer, so I told her someone would actually present that option to another person only in an attempt to degrade or humiliate them. So, reason number two for refusing to answer her question is the disingenuous motivation of anyone who would pose it for real.

Which brings to mind other hypothetical questions I've heard; atheists' queries about the God they deny exists. For instance, “Could God create a rock so big he couldn't move it?”

Though even attempting to answer such a foolish question goes against my principles, I would probably say, “Why would he do that?” Truth is, besides being an attempt to trap a Christ-follower, the question is based on ignorance and/or misunderstanding of God's attributes. One huge problem with such inquisitors and questions is most people who claim to be Christians can't answer them without falling into their trap.

The moral of this little story is: Dig into God's word and fill your mind with it, if you don't want to appear foolish when answering fools.

A Good One

One hypothetical question that really isn’t hypothetical is, “If you were to get smushed the next time you hit the highway (or a truck, or a bridge abutment) in your car, where would you spend eternity?” Yes, this question includes an “if,” but it only brings into the present a situation we will all face eventually, whether it is in a bloody accident, from a heart attack, or at Christ’s return.

God said in his word, (Heb 9:27 ESV)And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, (28)so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. Anyone who thinks that passage exempts them from facing judgment should think again. Those who are not eagerly waiting for his return will indeed face Christ's judgment.

Procrastinators beware! Unlike some human parents, God never makes false promises. NEVER! And he never gives us a headsup about when our expiration date is coming. I—or you—could face his Judgment Seat in the space of a few missed heartbeats. Is whatever you prize in your life worth risking an eternity of torment? If yes, I have some prime ocean-front real estate in Oklahoma that I can sell you for a song.
Any takers?

Love, For Christ’s Sake!

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Thompson) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 06:44:00 +0000

I get tired of … no, irritated with … no, disgusted with … okay, let’s face it, loveless religion infuriates me!

Not that I practice perfect love; hardly! That’s Christ’s bailiwick. What I can do is just what He told me to do. In John 14:15, Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

So, what if we don’t, or won’t love Jesus? 1Corinthians 16:22 says, “If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed.” I don’t know about anyone else, but I’d rather not be accursed.

And what about the few people who say they don’t believe in God at all? That’s an easy one. Israel’s King David wrote, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.” (Psalm 14:1) Trouble is, the folks King David is talking about don’t even know they’re fools, but that’s pretty common for fools.

“Okay,” some will say, “I love Jesus, but there’s a bunch of people I won’t love.” The trouble with that attitude is Jesus told us what He thinks of hatred, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” (1John 4:20) “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” (Luke 6:27)

Godly Love is Weird

At least, that’s what it seems like for those who don’t know God. That’s because Godly love isn’t a feeling at all, and you can’t just fall in it. But even though warm feelings have nothing to do with it, loving God’s way makes you feel really good.

So, what is this thing called God’s love?

Once upon a time, there was a guy who hated Christ-followers (yes, really), and he travelled all over trying to arrest them and send them to prison. But then he met Jesus, and everything changed. He was the guy who wrote, of all things, The Love Chapter of the New Testament. So here’s God’s description of True Love:

1Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant (5) or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; (6) it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. (7) Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

It’s as simple as that; if your love is impatient or envious, arrogant or rude, it fails the test of Godly love. If you throw tantrums when you don’t get your own way, or giggle when a rival gets in trouble, you aren’t loving God’s way. In fact, God’s love puts up with a lot, trusts a lot, hopes a lot, and keeps on going even through the rough times.

Not Rocket Science

James 5:9 “Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.” Though it’s that simple, without Christ’s Spirit living inside, it’s completely impossible! So, first things first; let God take over, and the rest is just hard, but not impossible.

Psalm Thirty-Seven Peace

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Thompson) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:21:00 +0000

King David would hardly serve as the prime example of worry-free, restful living. Most of the psalms he authored express his angst concerning this enemy or that. Psalm 37, though, begins with his wise instruction to “fret not.”

Are you worried about the latest e-mailed call to arms or conspiracy theory? In today’s Our Daily Bread, Dave Branon presents a powerful formula for finding peace and rest in these chaotic times.

A Rebuke for Grandpa

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Thompson) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 06:04:00 +0000

Tonight I experienced how God can turn my stupidity into solid gold for his purpose. The three Hines kids' bickering and meanness seem to have become steadily worse over the past few days. Two hours after they were sent to bed we still heard arguing from their downstairs bedrooms. I thought if I went down to pray with them they might settle down, but it didn't work out that way. When I witnessed their gleeful disobedience I kinda snapped, and told them how disappointed I was with them because of their blaming, lying, bullying, and generally hateful behavior toward one another. Not satisfied with that scathing rebuke, I told them that even though I had come down to pray with them, that I wasn't going to waste my breath because they didn't seem to care what God, their parents or I think about their behavior.

When I told their parents what I had said, Neal told me he didn't agree with the message I communicated to them, that they could easily misconstrue what I said as having given up on them. He was afraid they would conclude that God could also give up on them and ignore their prayers.

I was shocked by that take on my little lecture to the kids, and could see how he was right. Immediately, he called them all upstairs to have a family conference about it. He handled it brilliantly, asking each of the kids if they really wanted an unhappy family life, and explaining for the n-th time that each is responsible only for his or her own behavior, and that trying to force one another to toe the line creates only bitterness and destructive conflict in the family. Though the three bore generally hangdog expressions, Evi the middle child first seemed to express sincere regret and made gestures of reconciliation toward her elder sister.

Then Neal asked if I wanted to add anything. Feeling perfectly crestfallen, I hadn't intended to chew on my foot anymore, but I tried to speak honestly with them. I told them that what I had said was from my frustration at their behavior, and not from my heart, but that I really loved them more than I could ever say. I said I was deeply sorry for saying what I had, and wanted them to always come to me for prayer, comfort and help anytime. Then I asked them to gather around and I thanked God for already forgiving me for what I had said in anger, and asked him for his love to flow through each one of us so we'd love not just our family, but everyone he sent our way. I asked God to help keep me from loosing my temper again, and each of them said it was okay and they understood how I might speak from my anger instead from my heart.

Not Any More

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Thompson) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 07:13:00 +0000

Tonight I needed to share a movie with Nancy, a movie about abandonment, and adoption. You see, a wonderful couple adopted Nancy as an infant, and I was privileged to meet her father once before he died. Then, too soon, she died as well.

Nancy was hurt, twice, by her birth mother; once when her parents told her that another woman had birthed her, and again, years later, when that woman refused to allow Nancy to know her.

And I can’t share that movie with Nancy. Not any more.

I know full well Nancy is now in her Savior’s loving arms, and he has answered all her questions completely, in ways I can’t begin to understand.

But I can’t share that movie, or anything else with Nancy. Not any more.

Her loving Savior has fulfilled all her needs, dreams and desires, so she no longer needs anything I can give her. Not any more.

Why the Perplexity?

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Thompson) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 06:55:00 +0000

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. (1 John 4:15 ESV)

… for God did so love the world, that His Son--the only begotten--He gave, that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during. (John 3:16 YLT)

Quite frankly, our English translations of John 3:16 are nonsense!

Let’s try on a less orthodox translation of John 3:16; For God demonstrated his loving-kindness toward that for which he was responsible by act of creation, such that he delivered up his sole, humanly perceptible expression in order that all placing belief on him not perish, but hold life without end. (Thompson’s Literal Paraphrase)

Think about it. What is a musk-ox, but the offspring of another musk-ox? What is an aardvark, but the offspring of another aardvark? What is Newt, but the offspring of another Gingrich? What is Jesus, but God’s only-begotten Son? As man begets man, so God begat God-the-Son. Jesus never favored us with a detailed explanation of how he, in his identity with God-the-Father, could be his own Son, even though God is eternal, as is his Son Jesus.

Confused and confounded? Join the club. God never said we would fully understand his nature, but he did say, So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17 ESV)

If amoeba were rational, could they interpret man's motivations? If ants were rational, could they apprehend human family size? If flies were rational, could they grasp man's revulsion at seeing maggots consuming a human body? Man is rational—more or less—but our understanding God's nature is just as unlikely as finding an intellectual bug.

Mankind seems compelled to theorize, theologize and philosophize, but it's all simply speculation. We know what God's Holy Spirit shows us through his word, and that is all we have. If we find God’s word perplexing, we need to trust him more.

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Thompson) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:19:00 +0000

Today's Our Daily Bread suggests Christ-followers make great neighbors. No, that's not Joe Stowell's exact message, but one effect of living according to the Scripture passage he refers to, or for that matter, the entire New Testament. As in all areas of life, we need balance to truly demonstrate Christ's love with our lives. We're to live separated from the world's values, not isolated from the very world to which he ordered us to minister his gospel.

An example is "stepping fancy," or dancing, which some Christian sects forbid as sinful. Yet, the Contra Dance I participated in the other evening involved people from five to seventy-five years of age. It was a fun, wholesome, family activity providing music, exercise, and socialization. And opportunity to share Christ's wonderful news with our neighbors.

That's where balance steps in; while that dance might have presented witnessing opportunities, it was mainly a fun, family time. Even though we rightly feel an urgency about introducing folks to our Savior, we should, as Paul told us in Colossians 4:5, walk in wisdom toward those who do not share our faith, while redeeming the time we spend with them.

Simply stated, most outsiders are put off by our love- motivated desperation to see them saved, viewing it as a crass desire to score conversions. We can't help how our neighbors react to others' Bible-thumping, but we can certainly persevere in loving them to Christ.

Pray Without Seeking

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Thompson) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:53:00 +0000

The casual reader might glance over the above title and think, “Just another piece about prayer,” and continue scanning titles, or grab a snack, go to the bathroom, and then switch on the TV. Hopefully, the TV isn’t in the bathroom, ‘cause that would bespeak a serious addiction—a topic for another time.

Said title can’t be a typo, ‘cause ceasing and seeking aren’t remotely similar, and even my fingers couldn’t go that far wrong. It isn’t even due to my faulty grasp of the Bible—this time.

Pray Without Seeking is what I often do when I’m attempting to obey 1 Thessalonians 5:17. The reader won't find a formula for prayer here, nor even rules for prayer, but simply the mindset one needs for prayer.

Confession Time

I plead guilty to the charge of not maintaining an excellent, or even an adequate, prayer-life. Oh, I often think about God, frequently in terms of praise and thanksgiving. In fact, I’ve never gotten over marveling at the infinite privilege of knowing and talking to God through my Lord Jesus.

My personal prayer-failure lies in consistently resisting the urge to barrage heaven with intercession for my own needs, or those of others. And in that failure, I miss the most excellent blessing of loving others, and even myself, through obeying God’s command to intercede in prayer.

It’s not that I don’t care enough, or even that my hectic schedule(right!) prevents me from doing it. While it’s no excuse for failing to intercede, my reason for that failure is my unquenchable thought process analyzes prayer to death—literally! So now you know one of my most pressing prayer requests, that I will pray with the faith of a child, in full confidence of my Lord’s love and faithfulness.

But please, do not pray without seeking, which yanks me back to my original topic.

What Is Prayer Without Seeking?

Most of us can rattle off a prayer when we need to. Some of us can even do it with style. However, what fraction of our selves do we actually put into the prayer? And, do we really know whom we hope to bestir with our praying?

Big Ears

First, God actually listens to our prayers. But how can that be, with all the millions of folks who might approach the Throne of Grace at any one moment?

If that question concerns you, it’s safe to conclude you don’t truly know God. And that’s something that should concern you. It’s also something you can remedy right now, by admitting you don’t know him, and that you are a sinner with no hope of impressing God with your most excellent personhood. God’s prophet Isaiah said it best:

We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. (Isaiah 64:6 ESV)

If that includes all of us, what’s the big deal? He won’t send us all to hell, will he? Since God established the laws of the spirit, he will apply them without bias. And one of his first spiritual laws is,

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 ESV)

We all love gifts, but as we sing at Christmas time, he knows when we’ve been naughty or nice(God, not Santa), and everyone outside of Christ is on the naughty list.

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-- the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:21-24 ESV)

While God listens to our prayers, he also pays attention to the authority with which we pray. Jesus told us,

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. (John 14:12-14 ESV)

Tragically, some Christians believe the above words of Christ give them authority to ask for anything. That is, after all, what Jesus said. But that isn’t all he said, and God’s truth lies not in excerpts from Scripture, but in the whole of Scripture. So, to give a better idea of God’s teachings about prayer, take a look at some other passages that involve prayer. You will, of course, take each one at face value—initially, as that is our human way. Then read it again, praying over it, for the Author’s unique truth for you. If he doesn’t speak to you through it, you’re not listening. So do it again...

Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. (Mark 11:23-25 ESV)

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7 ESV)

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. (Colossians 4:2 ESV)

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. (1 Peter 3:8-12 ESV)

Please be assured, you already have God’s full attention.

So then, why seek?

We fallen human beings naturally keep ourselves firmly affixed to the throne at the center of our lives. When we give our lives to God through Christ Jesus, we graciously invite him to have a seat next to us, so we can screen his input and assign it the proper priority. If we try to pray with that attitude, we assure ourselves the sensation of our entreaties bouncing off the ceiling to no effect.

Approach the Throne of Grace? Yeah, right! More like reproach the Throne of Grace. If a friend invites you over and then sits glued to the computer or TV’s entertainments, how welcome do you feel? Sure, you try to understand his preoccupation. After all, you’re an entertainment addict as well. But Jesus died for you, accepting the Jews’ ridicule and the Romans’ torture, shedding his pure blood to fully restore you to his Father.

Time now for reflection.

We must ask ourselves if what we really seek, above all else, is peace with God. If that is not the case, sitting in church and Sunday school, dropping money into the offering plate, and talking all religious-like is purely a waste of time, both for ourselves and for God’s people who are trying to minister to us.

Hitching ourselves to Christ-followers only drags them down without lifting us up. There is no second-hand salvation or heaven by osmosis; each of us must personally invest our lives in Christ’s holiness, for when we stand before him at the Judgment, only his holiness will shield us from God’s wrath.

Pray, yes! But pray first for one mind and heart with Christ Jesus. Then, if we still want all that stuff we ask for, seek again!

CFBA review of The Thirteenth Demon by Bruce Hennigan

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Thompson) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 20:21:00 +0000

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The 13th Demon Realms (October 4, 2011) by Bruce Hennigan
BUT FIRST, A WORD FROM OUR BLOGGER:
While personal crises prevented me from reading far into Mr. Hennigan's book, I do have a general impression: Mr. Hennigan, you need to fire your editor and find someone who knows what he or she is doing. Based on the book's blurb and other authors' impressions, however, I will finish reading The 13th Demon, hoping they weren't overly charitable.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Bruce Hennigan was born and raised in the isolated countryside of Shreveport, La., a place full of possibilities for the active mind of a young boy. The fertile imagination he cultivated while playing deep in the Louisiana woods would lead to a lifelong love of creative writing.

In 2006, Hennigan pursued the Certified Apologetic Instructor Certificate from the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. He has become a frequent speaker at regional and state events on apologetics and his strong point is in making these sometimes hard to understand issues easily approachable for the average Christian. Hennigan’s experience in apologetics inspired him to write his new novel, The 13th Demon: Altar of the Spiral Eye, a supernatural Christian thriller that combines science and faith. Now, combining his love for apologetics and his love for the art of writing, Hennigan is pursuing a career as the “Michael Crichton” of Christian fiction building powerful, fast paced stories around the truths of Christian apologetics.

Hennigan currently resides in Shreveport with his wife and daughter. He continues to write and to practice radiology at the Willis Knighton Health Care System. He has secured Jeff Jernigan of Hidden Value Group (www.hiddenvaluegroup.com) as his literary agent and has signed a five book deal with the Realms imprint of Charisma Media for “The Chronicles of Jonathan Steel”.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Jonathan Steel wakes up on a beach in a raging thunderstorm, naked, beaten, and bleeding, he has no idea who he is or how he got there. But just as he starts to make progress in his slow journey to recovery, tragedy strikes again, taking everything in his new life that he has come to love and rely on.
Filled with rage and a thirst for revenge, he searches the countryside for the entity responsible—an entity called only the Thirteenth Demon. His quest brings him to Lakeside, Louisiana, and a small country church where evil is in control and strange writing on the walls, blood-soaked floors, and red-eyed spiders have appeared in the sanctuary.

As he faces the final confrontation with an evil presence that has pursued him all of his life, he must choose between helping the people he loves or destroying the thirteenth demon.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The 13th Demon, go HERE.

I YAM WHAT I YAM!

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Thompson) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 07:36:00 +0000

Popeye had an affinity for Olive Oyl, and canned spinach—If he wanted to beat Bluto!

As a kid, I was quite the Popeye fan, which fit my self-inflicted identity as a card carrying Weird-Oh. As an adult, I became a fan of another hero who identified himself with almost the same words Popeye used, and I became even more of a Weird-Oh. My later-days hero? “I am who I am” is his name.

How does that make me weird?

The short answer is, “It goes with the territory.”

You see, from nearly the beginning of time, those who tried to honor the Creator were thought to be a bit … off. Imagine the reception Noah received when he tried to tell his neighbors a storm was brewing. And that’s fairly typical of the reaction the rest of God’s prophets received when they carried his message to the people.

Unreservedly following God has never been popular; witness the reception Jesus, and later, his followers, received first at the hands of the religious Jews, then the Romans, and later the Muslims, the Romanist Inquisitors, the Nazis, the Communists, and even today’s secularists.

If that were not enough, many who align themselves with modern Christendom compromise Christ’s gospel message in the name of Diversity. According to those folks, Jesus didn’t really mean, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Seems God’s eternal truth isn’t inclusive enough for them.

As a certifiable Weird-Oh, my advice for church-goers is to quit playing Religion, and get serious about obeying the Christ we worship on the Lord’s Day. If we truly follow Him, real, Holy Spirit revival will come to God’s church, and we’ll finish turning the world upside down(Acts 17:6), as the first-century believers began doing.

Like Popeye and his spinach, if we don’t have God’s Holy Spirit in us, we’ll never defeat this world’s bully and his minions. But if we obey God … well … who needs spinach?

Love's Delusions

noreply@blogger.com (Jim Thompson) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 05:47:00 +0000

Joni Mitchell wrote of love’s illusions in an honest song called, Both Sides Now. But you will notice my title for this piece deals with delusions. Subtle difference there.

A delusion, according to WordWeb is “an erroneous belief that is held in the face of evidence to the contrary.” And they say a belief is “Any cognitive content held as true.” Both of those definitions apply readily to the feeling, emotion, or perception of love.

When we encounter Love, we become hopeless romantics, allowing reason to sprout angels’ wings and fly away. Ms. Mitchell’s three stanzas devoted to love in Both Sides Now go as follows:

Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels

The dizzy dancing way you feel

As ev'ry fairy tale comes real

I've looked at love that way

But now it's just another show

You leave 'em laughing when you go

And if you care, don't let them know

Don't give yourself away

I've looked at love from both sides now

From give and take, and still somehow

It's love's illusions I recall

I really don't know love at all

What are those poetical, two sides of love? Are they the only, true, sides of love? What a tragedy, if love were truly bracketed by crazy, dizzying romance on one side, and betrayal on the other.

Whom To Love

Jesus made an important statement regarding love in Matthew 5:43-46, that included neither infatuation nor infidelity. In fact, he updated the old commandment to love your neighbor, and its corollary, to hate your enemy, to the far more difficult, “Love your enemy, and pray for those who persecute you....” Does that seem daunting? Try, “impossible,” without help from God’s designated Helper, his Holy Spirit.

“Love your enemy,” hmmmmm? What does that commandment infer about loving ones family? Ones spouse? Ones brethren? Are they not the very ones we so often treat as the enemy?

In Matthew 22:34-40, answering a lawyer’s trick question, Jesus specified God’s two great commandments, which come down to, “Love God completely,” and then, “Love your neighbor as self.” The lawyer and his cronies couldn’t add a thing, and certainly could find no fault in Jesus’ answer.

Based on their Biblical writings, Christ’s apostles John and Paul thought quite a lot about love. The apostle John recorded Christ’s new commandment: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 ESV) Here, Jesus suggested … NOT! He commanded his church(you and me) to love one another. From what I’ve seen, this is more challenging than loving ones enemies or his own family.

And Paul? Agreeing whole-heartedly with John, he wrote, “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:9-10 ESV) That, brethren, is the Biblical standard for our churches’ comportment.

And what if we don’t?

Apparently, our excuses for violating Jesus’ commands matter little to him, as he indicated in John 14:15-21. That difficult passage deserves considerable study and prayer, so the reader who cares about such things will find victory, rather than condemnation in it.

Will we delude ourselves into believing merely civil behavior toward the brethren satisfies Christ’s New Commandment? I hope not, as behaving civily toward one another to their faces often belies what we say about them behind their backs. How tragic, that many of Christ’s churches ignore the multiple passages from the apostles’ writings that forbid such behavior among the brethren.

Love’s delusions not withstanding, unless we examine our behavior and our consciences, and repent of our loveless conduct of our relationships, many “brethren” will surely be shocked when they see on which side of the Righteous Judge they will find themselves standing on that Day.