This is an open letter to the friends of this outreach.
There’s so much on my mind lately that getting it down in a comprehensive form is more than challenging, but it should be therapeutic.
Readers of my monthly newsletter (also available at actofgraceradio.net) know that I’ve been afforded a “side-job” opportunity with the non-profit arm of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). And all I can say about it is this is one of the craziest cool experiences of my life. But there’s no way around the fact that this will invariably be a distraction from “the coolest job of all,” telling the world about Jesus Christ via the World Wide Web.
I was introduced to a “personal relationship” with Jesus back when I was a freshman in college. Ever since that moment my perspective on life has never been the same. I’ve heard people describe a similar experience as “getting new glasses” to explain how differently the world appears to them after coming to know Christ. I like that description.
The pages of the Bible, particularly Acts 9, describe in detail what a transforming effect meeting Jesus had on Saul of Tarsus, the man who would come to be known as the Apostle Paul. Beyond the accounts in Acts Paul repeatedly references this moment in other writings that comprise the majority of the New Testament. And it’s in these writings that I’ve garnered some insights that might bring some clarity to my present situation.
Most outstanding is a statement Paul makes in his first letter to the church at Corinth wherein he states, “In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge. Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!
If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.” (1 Cor. 9:15b-18).
Of course, even in Paul’s lifetime, the financial obligations one incurs on this planet required some form of monetary remuneration be sought after from time to time. In the case of this Apostle he would need to return to the trade of “tent-making” on various occasions. So, an old “show-biz” guy like me, in times of need, seeks out a suitable way to make ends meet. Fortunately this came about through the new gig at the Space Center – Houston.
Now in Paul’s case he also had some harsh admonitions directed toward the Corinthian readers in particular. Apart from what he writes in 1 Corinthians 9 there is another “literary lambasting” he gives them in the 9th chapter of 2 Corinthians as well. But it isn’t an issue that Paul seems prone to harp upon. Yes, a minister of the gospel does require some money to continue doing what he’s “compelled” to do, but it’s only the Corinthians who got scolded.
Take for instance in Paul’s letter to the church at Galatia his tone toward these believers is quite different in clarifying the purpose. Right from the onset of chapter 1 he writes, “This letter is from Paul, an apostle. I was not appointed by any group or by human authority. My call is from Jesus Christ himself and from God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead.” By verse six of this first chapter Paul is heating up in his prose with, “I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who in his love and mercy called you to share the eternal life he gives through Christ. You are already following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who twist and change the truth concerning Christ.
Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including myself, who preaches any other message than the one we told you about. Even if an angel comes from heaven and preaches any other message, let him be forever cursed. I will say it again: If anyone preaches any other gospel than the one you welcomed, let God’s curse fall upon that person.
Obviously, I’m not trying to be a people pleaser! No, I am trying to please God. If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ’s servant.”
My point, in drawing upon these writings of Paul, is that your run-of-the-mill ministers of Christ’s gospel always seem to come upon those times when they’re running a little short of cash to accomplish what they’re committed to doing. And apparently these “lean times” are no reflection on the effectiveness or the importance of their tasks. It just is what it is. The unspecified writer of the book of Hebrews cites a quotation from the 31st chapter of the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy when he penned this admonition, “Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never forsake you.”
God forgive me that I should ever complain about my life. I have had many wonderful and thrilling privileges afforded me, not the least of which is having this worldwide outreach plus now I’m making some extra money working for NASA. Certainly there have been trials and struggles and what I might, in my own pity-party, consider more than a fair share of heartache along the way…but that is life as God has defined it and none of us should be resentful or surprised by any of it. “All your life you will sweat to produce food, until your dying day. Then you will return to the ground from which you came. For you were made from dust, and to the dust you will return.” (Genesis 3:19).
One really neat aspect of my short time working at NASA is seeing first hand how the marvels of God’s creation are manifest everywhere we’ve looked from our manned missions into outer space to the photos returned to us by the Hubble telescope. It’s so incredibly awesome that, like King David, I want to bellow out the words of Psalm 8. (Look it up, it’s really short.)
The marvels of creation simply demonstrate the absurdity of any kind of “Big Bang Theory.” And emphasize the word THEORY here. Every single explanation for the existence of the universe, from a cosmic explosion to evolution’s primordial soup, are all exercises in human folly seeking to deny any and all subservience to God.
I’ll close with one final comment, again from the pen of the Apostle Paul, “God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who prevent the truth from being known. For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts. From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and the sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.” (Romans 1:18-20).
Ever yours regardlessly,
mike
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
"Houston we have a problem!"
Maybe you've heard or seen some of the rearranging aftereffects of Hurricane IKE on our hometown. And thank you for asking, we're all okay...although Penelope (the cat) is getting a little stir crazy...or is that me? Hmm.
You many not know this but my wife Gena and I are not particularly brave people, nor do we have grandchildren that'll need to be bored to tears with tales of the "big one" of double ought 8...so, to be honest, we didn't even stick around to find out how bad IKE would be. We high tailed it out of town on Friday morning, wailing and whimpering all the way, and headed to South Padre Island where Gena's parents live. (Remember they'd come to visit us in the aftermath of "Dolly" - and, well, paybacks and all that.) We're now just kicking back living the life of Riley with air conditioning, refrigeration, terra firma and all those other luxury items that seem to be so sorely missed in vast areas of Houston and Galveston currently.
Eyewitness reports from H-town indicate that our townhouse withstood the brunt of IKE's attack quite well, but there is no electricity currently available in our neighborhood - which includes Gena's place of employment. Ergo we're hanging ten on the island, working on our tans, sipping exotic cocktails (and we're building up quite the collection of cute little umbrellas and bendy straws that were provided at no extra charge). In addition we're utilizing the old WWW to communicate with the ravaged masses up north.
I had an interview and audition scheduled this week at NASA (to be a Mission Briefing Officer - that's apparently the Houston equivalent of a circus ringmaster) but this seems to have been temporarily put on a back burner as the Johnson Space Center is of the opinion they have some more pressing matters to contend with at the moment. There are still astronauts in space that, incidentally, had a bird's eye view of IKE the whole time.
Anyway, I'm naturally providing too much information. Suffice it to say we ain't going back until they've rebuilt the town to our satisfaction or until Gena's boss starts threatening our livlihood, or NASA calls and says they need me yesterday...you know that whole service to God, country and jazz like that.
Ever yours regardlessly,
mike and gena
You many not know this but my wife Gena and I are not particularly brave people, nor do we have grandchildren that'll need to be bored to tears with tales of the "big one" of double ought 8...so, to be honest, we didn't even stick around to find out how bad IKE would be. We high tailed it out of town on Friday morning, wailing and whimpering all the way, and headed to South Padre Island where Gena's parents live. (Remember they'd come to visit us in the aftermath of "Dolly" - and, well, paybacks and all that.) We're now just kicking back living the life of Riley with air conditioning, refrigeration, terra firma and all those other luxury items that seem to be so sorely missed in vast areas of Houston and Galveston currently.
Eyewitness reports from H-town indicate that our townhouse withstood the brunt of IKE's attack quite well, but there is no electricity currently available in our neighborhood - which includes Gena's place of employment. Ergo we're hanging ten on the island, working on our tans, sipping exotic cocktails (and we're building up quite the collection of cute little umbrellas and bendy straws that were provided at no extra charge). In addition we're utilizing the old WWW to communicate with the ravaged masses up north.
I had an interview and audition scheduled this week at NASA (to be a Mission Briefing Officer - that's apparently the Houston equivalent of a circus ringmaster) but this seems to have been temporarily put on a back burner as the Johnson Space Center is of the opinion they have some more pressing matters to contend with at the moment. There are still astronauts in space that, incidentally, had a bird's eye view of IKE the whole time.
Anyway, I'm naturally providing too much information. Suffice it to say we ain't going back until they've rebuilt the town to our satisfaction or until Gena's boss starts threatening our livlihood, or NASA calls and says they need me yesterday...you know that whole service to God, country and jazz like that.
Ever yours regardlessly,
mike and gena
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Going for the Gold!
Have you found yourself caught up in the Olympic frenzy? Me too. Typically I’m not all that fond of the summer version – too much blasted exertion of energy for my taste - I prefer sliding on snow. But to date in this year’s presentation there sure has been a whole heaping bunch of excitement coming to us over a 19 day time span at a world record setting pace.
I can only imagine the amount of salivation that swimming coaches, gymnastics instructors and Tae-Kwon-do senseis must have dripping from their chins as they contemplate all those new “paying customers” their classes will be packed with in the coming weeks and months. Unfortunately for the track and field aficionados, I'm afraid your season is too far off for the limited attention span of most youngsters. But after seeing all the glory bestowed upon a select handful of new heroes on Beijing’s big stage, who right now isn’t thinking they wouldn’t want to be the next Michael Phelps or Dara Torres, Nastia Luiken, Shawn Johnson, or a serious butt-kicker like one of the Lopez clan? (Obviously, I must be a U.S.Aian.)
The truth of the matter is though, there are more than 10,000 athletes participating in 38 different competition categories and…lets see, how many of those people ever actually win a medal? And what about all those qualifying heats? Wouldn’t that just be disappointment bordering on the indescribable to spend all that time, effort and energy training in an event and not even get to compete for one of the prizes? Incidentally a significant number of the more than 200 nations that have sent teams to Beijing this year, or any other Olympic venue, has ever won a single medal for their countries. But those statistics aren’t the scintillating ones are they? Nevertheless, we certainly do love our sports don’t we?
Of course competition is at the core of most everything that comprises life in these United States and I don’t think I need to spell out how early in a person’s life each of us begins to learn the significance of being a winner. I’m sure you’ve heard the adage that “second place is just the first loser.” In the runner up category though, where most of us actually find ourselves, we’re regularly placated into believing that even if you can’t be the “star,” then when the team does well we’re all winners, right? Or, even if you didn’t get picked to play on the winning team, maybe you’ve found reciting the mantra “it’s an honor just to be able to play the game” has been good enough.
This might have a lot to do with why you see so much compartmentalizing in the lives of many people. You do know what that is, don’t you? It’s one of those coping mechanisms we all employ in an effort to keep things in some semblance of order. (I guess it helps us feel like, regardless of the reality, that we still have a chance at winning.) We regularly go about opening and closing little parts of our brains over the course of a given day just because what we may truly believe seems to be in temporary conflict with what we’re presently being faced with. As such what we’ve really been doing most of our life is not competing but developing various little compartments of compromise. And I wonder just how much compromise has to take place before what we actually believe in is compromise for the sake of compromise (i.e. diplomacy)? By the way, how are you really doing in the whole politically correct arena?
In lieu of this there are really a couple of "hard-to-compromise" quotes from Jesus that every professing Christian has to contend with. This first one is actually written down in three of the gospel accounts, but for my purposes I’ve chosen the New Living Translation version of Matthew’s gospel where in chapter 16 it reads,
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.
This other challenging quote of Jesus happens only to be found in Matthew’s gospel (I think this is still pretty significant in as much as Matthew was one of Christ’s apostles.) This one in chapter 7 goes,
21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
So, just how does the temporal importance of any Olympic athlete, corporate CEO, Rhodes Scholar or political candidate factor in to an equation like this? Maybe you don’t believe that Jesus Christ has earned the right to be the M.I.P. (Most Important Person), your biggest hero, and the focus of all of your attention. If so, then I’d honestly like to know who would you really want to be like?
However if you are cognizant that Jesus deserves to be at the center of your life each and every moment of every day then take a quick glance at a particularly “Olympic-esqe” reference found in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. And while you have that Bible in your hands, for a little dessert, flip over to Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Begin in chapter 3 at verse 12 and just keep reading until you've had your fill. And for more information on these and other like topics, click on either version you prefer of "@ the Rock Shop" or I’d certainly invite you to visit a Bible teaching church near you. (It'll probably seem really weird to go to one of these the first time or two - but I'll double your money back if the roof actually does fall in on top of you.) And just so they'll all feel as uncomfortable as you do - be sure to wear a nice Hawaiian shirt, cut-off shorts, and no socks. Tell 'em I sent you!
Ever yours regardlessly,
mike
I can only imagine the amount of salivation that swimming coaches, gymnastics instructors and Tae-Kwon-do senseis must have dripping from their chins as they contemplate all those new “paying customers” their classes will be packed with in the coming weeks and months. Unfortunately for the track and field aficionados, I'm afraid your season is too far off for the limited attention span of most youngsters. But after seeing all the glory bestowed upon a select handful of new heroes on Beijing’s big stage, who right now isn’t thinking they wouldn’t want to be the next Michael Phelps or Dara Torres, Nastia Luiken, Shawn Johnson, or a serious butt-kicker like one of the Lopez clan? (Obviously, I must be a U.S.Aian.)
The truth of the matter is though, there are more than 10,000 athletes participating in 38 different competition categories and…lets see, how many of those people ever actually win a medal? And what about all those qualifying heats? Wouldn’t that just be disappointment bordering on the indescribable to spend all that time, effort and energy training in an event and not even get to compete for one of the prizes? Incidentally a significant number of the more than 200 nations that have sent teams to Beijing this year, or any other Olympic venue, has ever won a single medal for their countries. But those statistics aren’t the scintillating ones are they? Nevertheless, we certainly do love our sports don’t we?
Of course competition is at the core of most everything that comprises life in these United States and I don’t think I need to spell out how early in a person’s life each of us begins to learn the significance of being a winner. I’m sure you’ve heard the adage that “second place is just the first loser.” In the runner up category though, where most of us actually find ourselves, we’re regularly placated into believing that even if you can’t be the “star,” then when the team does well we’re all winners, right? Or, even if you didn’t get picked to play on the winning team, maybe you’ve found reciting the mantra “it’s an honor just to be able to play the game” has been good enough.
This might have a lot to do with why you see so much compartmentalizing in the lives of many people. You do know what that is, don’t you? It’s one of those coping mechanisms we all employ in an effort to keep things in some semblance of order. (I guess it helps us feel like, regardless of the reality, that we still have a chance at winning.) We regularly go about opening and closing little parts of our brains over the course of a given day just because what we may truly believe seems to be in temporary conflict with what we’re presently being faced with. As such what we’ve really been doing most of our life is not competing but developing various little compartments of compromise. And I wonder just how much compromise has to take place before what we actually believe in is compromise for the sake of compromise (i.e. diplomacy)? By the way, how are you really doing in the whole politically correct arena?
In lieu of this there are really a couple of "hard-to-compromise" quotes from Jesus that every professing Christian has to contend with. This first one is actually written down in three of the gospel accounts, but for my purposes I’ve chosen the New Living Translation version of Matthew’s gospel where in chapter 16 it reads,
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.
This other challenging quote of Jesus happens only to be found in Matthew’s gospel (I think this is still pretty significant in as much as Matthew was one of Christ’s apostles.) This one in chapter 7 goes,
21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
So, just how does the temporal importance of any Olympic athlete, corporate CEO, Rhodes Scholar or political candidate factor in to an equation like this? Maybe you don’t believe that Jesus Christ has earned the right to be the M.I.P. (Most Important Person), your biggest hero, and the focus of all of your attention. If so, then I’d honestly like to know who would you really want to be like?
However if you are cognizant that Jesus deserves to be at the center of your life each and every moment of every day then take a quick glance at a particularly “Olympic-esqe” reference found in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. And while you have that Bible in your hands, for a little dessert, flip over to Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Begin in chapter 3 at verse 12 and just keep reading until you've had your fill. And for more information on these and other like topics, click on either version you prefer of "@ the Rock Shop" or I’d certainly invite you to visit a Bible teaching church near you. (It'll probably seem really weird to go to one of these the first time or two - but I'll double your money back if the roof actually does fall in on top of you.) And just so they'll all feel as uncomfortable as you do - be sure to wear a nice Hawaiian shirt, cut-off shorts, and no socks. Tell 'em I sent you!
Ever yours regardlessly,
mike
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Hello Dolly - Ain't it hard to be humble?
It has again come to my attention, from many of those who are inclined to view this blog, that providing another fresh entry is long overdue. What do you want from me? Didn’t I last write something right after Father’s Day?
I would remind those who visit here often enough to notice that I don’t change this text readily enough, that I do provide a downloadable “radio-style” audio program at this site as well – and that gets changed as regularly as a baby’s diaper. (Okay, not that regular…but certainly a lot more often than this does. Given that I’m apparently getting more hits here than there, I’d recommend you give that a listen during the intervening timeframe.)
Obviously the request for more writing than talking is flattering, and it indeed has been awhile since I’ve sought to coalesce a few of my more scattered thoughts into a collection of sentences but, all excuses aside, I’ve been a little preoccupied, alright?
Anyway, my in-laws are in town again from South Padre Island, Texas. Now don’t misinterpret my meaning, I certainly enjoy their company, but this visit was precipitated by an excessive amount of water, wind and varying degrees of what-not that was whipped about by a poorly predicted presence named Hurricane Dolly.
I’ve been around broadcasting long enough to remember the first radio station I worked at that installed one of the prototype models of a “Doppler” weather satellite. Back there in Lincoln, Nebraska we used the device to track tornados…and around Southeast Texas the vastly improved units are utilized in tracking hurricanes…along with providing our daily forecasts. But a really neat thing is you can look at satellite images of weather all over the internet now! And even though you can observe what’s occurring in real time…who among us can really say what will actually happen or the devastation that might ensue?
It turns out Dolly was something of an unprecedented hurricane in that it didn’t develop the way these things usually do and then it never bothered to stay on the path that the forecasters expected it would. Ergo, South Padre – more than Brownsville or northern Mexico – took a smack upside the head, a punch to the kidneys, and the ribs suffered a hook from the blind side that left it whacked, walloped and wind-blown.
Despite windows being blown out and lost roof shingles letting in more rain than your standard ceiling could be expected to withstand, among the more sustained damage to the region occurred by knowledge that the electricity couldn't be restored to the island until late in the week. Mind you, this is a place that I would consider uninhabitable were it not for the intervention of electrically operated air-conditioning. Just for grins and giggles sometime try shutting off everything you have that runs on electricity for, I don't know, maybe four or five hours. Then think what it would be like to be without any of these items for over a week. Suddenly you grasp why we have in-laws visiting. And we’re happy to be here for them, or they here with us…if you catch that drift.
So what actually inspired this new entry? For one, it occurs to me that humans are no better at predicting the weather than we were twenty-five years ago. Add to that the severest storms do give one the impression that along with becoming more frequent they are also showing increased violence. And given that in the last twenty-five years if hurricane and tornado predicting has not improved -- where in the recesses of a warped imagination do weather people get the absurd notion that they're qualified to predict elements reminiscent of a catastrophic global warming disaster three to seven decades from now? Just correctly inform me what the daytime highs and overnight lows are going to be for five straight days…then I might be a bit more inclined to listen. Eh, probably not.
Of course none of these weather practitioners, in their arrogance, probably even know that there are some really good weather predictions straight out of the Bible. A source many consider highly reliable. I don’t know if you're familiar with the forecasts Jesus made in Matthew 24? Or the multiple references to weather severity the Apostle John pens in Revelation, but clearly it seems only God the Creator has any real clue about what the weather will, or is, going to do.
This again provides evidence that arrogance remains one of the greatest follies of mankind. On the other hand, I don't think you can really even aspire to being humble – lest you’re already exceedingly arrogant. What person could say, I’m humble? Obviously doesn't a claim like that indicate this to be something their proud of and, correct me if I'm wrong, isn't that pride rooted in arrogance? Still in the prophecy of Isaiah you can read words like this in chapter 57, “The high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, the Holy One, says this ‘I live in that high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts. For I will not fight against you forever; I will not always show my anger. If I did, all people would pass away – all the souls I have made.’”
Now to get the context of this passage I’d encourage you to, at the very least, read all of Isaiah chapter 57, but there are some interesting points that God is making here. In verses 1-13 much is said regarding pride and lust (and we’re all pretty familiar with what those are). Then as we read on into verses 14-21 we get a clear picture of how God relates to those who are humble, repentant, and “contrite” these are the ones residing in heaven with Him.
Christianity proclaims that the high and holy God literally came down to our human level, in the person of Jesus Christ, to provide each of us the means for being reconciled, or restored to friendship, with God Almighty (Romans 5:8-11). This was absolutely necessary because there would be no other way for us to find a means whereby we could elevate ourselves to God’s level and standard. For more information regarding this concept spend a moment looking at; 2 Chronicles 2:6, Psalm 51:1-7 (Old Testament) and Philippians chapter 2 in the New Testament.
Basically as Hurricane Dolly reminded my immediate family – any one of us is essentially seconds away from having our lives ripped apart and shattered by a “natural” disaster, news of a terminal illness, or even something less dramatic but every bit as catastrophic. Hence I’ve offered these suggestions as to what I believe is at the heart of “bad things” happening to “good people.” Certainly I’d be interested in reading your take on the topic.
Ever yours regardlessly,
mike
I would remind those who visit here often enough to notice that I don’t change this text readily enough, that I do provide a downloadable “radio-style” audio program at this site as well – and that gets changed as regularly as a baby’s diaper. (Okay, not that regular…but certainly a lot more often than this does. Given that I’m apparently getting more hits here than there, I’d recommend you give that a listen during the intervening timeframe.)
Obviously the request for more writing than talking is flattering, and it indeed has been awhile since I’ve sought to coalesce a few of my more scattered thoughts into a collection of sentences but, all excuses aside, I’ve been a little preoccupied, alright?
Anyway, my in-laws are in town again from South Padre Island, Texas. Now don’t misinterpret my meaning, I certainly enjoy their company, but this visit was precipitated by an excessive amount of water, wind and varying degrees of what-not that was whipped about by a poorly predicted presence named Hurricane Dolly.
I’ve been around broadcasting long enough to remember the first radio station I worked at that installed one of the prototype models of a “Doppler” weather satellite. Back there in Lincoln, Nebraska we used the device to track tornados…and around Southeast Texas the vastly improved units are utilized in tracking hurricanes…along with providing our daily forecasts. But a really neat thing is you can look at satellite images of weather all over the internet now! And even though you can observe what’s occurring in real time…who among us can really say what will actually happen or the devastation that might ensue?
It turns out Dolly was something of an unprecedented hurricane in that it didn’t develop the way these things usually do and then it never bothered to stay on the path that the forecasters expected it would. Ergo, South Padre – more than Brownsville or northern Mexico – took a smack upside the head, a punch to the kidneys, and the ribs suffered a hook from the blind side that left it whacked, walloped and wind-blown.
Despite windows being blown out and lost roof shingles letting in more rain than your standard ceiling could be expected to withstand, among the more sustained damage to the region occurred by knowledge that the electricity couldn't be restored to the island until late in the week. Mind you, this is a place that I would consider uninhabitable were it not for the intervention of electrically operated air-conditioning. Just for grins and giggles sometime try shutting off everything you have that runs on electricity for, I don't know, maybe four or five hours. Then think what it would be like to be without any of these items for over a week. Suddenly you grasp why we have in-laws visiting. And we’re happy to be here for them, or they here with us…if you catch that drift.
So what actually inspired this new entry? For one, it occurs to me that humans are no better at predicting the weather than we were twenty-five years ago. Add to that the severest storms do give one the impression that along with becoming more frequent they are also showing increased violence. And given that in the last twenty-five years if hurricane and tornado predicting has not improved -- where in the recesses of a warped imagination do weather people get the absurd notion that they're qualified to predict elements reminiscent of a catastrophic global warming disaster three to seven decades from now? Just correctly inform me what the daytime highs and overnight lows are going to be for five straight days…then I might be a bit more inclined to listen. Eh, probably not.
Of course none of these weather practitioners, in their arrogance, probably even know that there are some really good weather predictions straight out of the Bible. A source many consider highly reliable. I don’t know if you're familiar with the forecasts Jesus made in Matthew 24? Or the multiple references to weather severity the Apostle John pens in Revelation, but clearly it seems only God the Creator has any real clue about what the weather will, or is, going to do.
This again provides evidence that arrogance remains one of the greatest follies of mankind. On the other hand, I don't think you can really even aspire to being humble – lest you’re already exceedingly arrogant. What person could say, I’m humble? Obviously doesn't a claim like that indicate this to be something their proud of and, correct me if I'm wrong, isn't that pride rooted in arrogance? Still in the prophecy of Isaiah you can read words like this in chapter 57, “The high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, the Holy One, says this ‘I live in that high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts. For I will not fight against you forever; I will not always show my anger. If I did, all people would pass away – all the souls I have made.’”
Now to get the context of this passage I’d encourage you to, at the very least, read all of Isaiah chapter 57, but there are some interesting points that God is making here. In verses 1-13 much is said regarding pride and lust (and we’re all pretty familiar with what those are). Then as we read on into verses 14-21 we get a clear picture of how God relates to those who are humble, repentant, and “contrite” these are the ones residing in heaven with Him.
Christianity proclaims that the high and holy God literally came down to our human level, in the person of Jesus Christ, to provide each of us the means for being reconciled, or restored to friendship, with God Almighty (Romans 5:8-11). This was absolutely necessary because there would be no other way for us to find a means whereby we could elevate ourselves to God’s level and standard. For more information regarding this concept spend a moment looking at; 2 Chronicles 2:6, Psalm 51:1-7 (Old Testament) and Philippians chapter 2 in the New Testament.
Basically as Hurricane Dolly reminded my immediate family – any one of us is essentially seconds away from having our lives ripped apart and shattered by a “natural” disaster, news of a terminal illness, or even something less dramatic but every bit as catastrophic. Hence I’ve offered these suggestions as to what I believe is at the heart of “bad things” happening to “good people.” Certainly I’d be interested in reading your take on the topic.
Ever yours regardlessly,
mike
Monday, June 16, 2008
A Post-Partum Father's Day Feeling
Father’s Day came and went again this year…and my emotions on this day are always ambivalent. On my tenth birthday (over forty years ago now) my own father suffered a cerebral hemorrhage which along with some paralysis and partial brain damage left him anything but the kind of man I, at that age, was proud to call daddy. I really never got to know my father in those first ten years of my life. I remember I was confused, and ashamedly embarrassed by a condition he certainly hadn’t any control over. Still, these are the feelings I experienced and although I had been exemplifying aspects of being an extrovert at the time, I retreated and became introverted and painfully shy.
Basically all I remember about those earliest of years is dad seemed to always be working. For my male mentoring my grandfathers and uncles tried to pick up the slack and often told me stories about what a hard driving, competitive type of man my dad had been...you know, before. It was impressed upon me that my dad had been chasing the American dream for his family and climbing the corporate ladder…and I’d like to say I missed not knowing him…but I don’t even know if that’s true or not. I’m pretty sure he must once have had a great sense of humor and I always did love hearing any story he ever told me.
He died not long after I graduated from college and although there was an ongoing relationship during those intervening ten to twelve years…I have always felt that something significant in my life was missed by not having (forgive me) a “real father.”
Of course, at the age of seventeen, I entered in to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, but I’ll admit that I’d developed a pretty intense shell around my heart by that time…and having God as a father-figure was intriguing, exciting and wholly fulfilling until my introverted extroverted rebelliousness (it’s really hard to explain) ran head-long into your Christian church-going types. Quickly I remember wondering “Where’s the love, man?” “Do we even know the same God?” And over the years I’ve continually had to ask why does the “organized church” keep harping to people that they have to do this or that certain thing, in a particular way, which I never have found out where these notions originated?
So, I never really had an opportunity to get to know my earthly father. And for thirty-five plus years I’ve been wanting to know more and more about my heavenly father. I've also learned a good deal of tedious and unflattering things about myself along the way as well. I’ll want to venture in to this some next time but let me leave you with thoughts contained in chapter 14 of Mark’s gospel account right before Jesus gets executed,
“They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, ‘Sit here while I go and pray.’ He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed. He told them, ‘My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’
He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. ‘Abba, Father,’ he cried out, ‘everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.’”
and then this if from 1 John 3,
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God!”
Have a great week. Ever yours regardlessly,
mike
Basically all I remember about those earliest of years is dad seemed to always be working. For my male mentoring my grandfathers and uncles tried to pick up the slack and often told me stories about what a hard driving, competitive type of man my dad had been...you know, before. It was impressed upon me that my dad had been chasing the American dream for his family and climbing the corporate ladder…and I’d like to say I missed not knowing him…but I don’t even know if that’s true or not. I’m pretty sure he must once have had a great sense of humor and I always did love hearing any story he ever told me.
He died not long after I graduated from college and although there was an ongoing relationship during those intervening ten to twelve years…I have always felt that something significant in my life was missed by not having (forgive me) a “real father.”
Of course, at the age of seventeen, I entered in to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, but I’ll admit that I’d developed a pretty intense shell around my heart by that time…and having God as a father-figure was intriguing, exciting and wholly fulfilling until my introverted extroverted rebelliousness (it’s really hard to explain) ran head-long into your Christian church-going types. Quickly I remember wondering “Where’s the love, man?” “Do we even know the same God?” And over the years I’ve continually had to ask why does the “organized church” keep harping to people that they have to do this or that certain thing, in a particular way, which I never have found out where these notions originated?
So, I never really had an opportunity to get to know my earthly father. And for thirty-five plus years I’ve been wanting to know more and more about my heavenly father. I've also learned a good deal of tedious and unflattering things about myself along the way as well. I’ll want to venture in to this some next time but let me leave you with thoughts contained in chapter 14 of Mark’s gospel account right before Jesus gets executed,
“They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, ‘Sit here while I go and pray.’ He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed. He told them, ‘My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’
He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. ‘Abba, Father,’ he cried out, ‘everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.’”
and then this if from 1 John 3,
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God!”
Have a great week. Ever yours regardlessly,
mike
Monday, June 9, 2008
An Exercise in Christianity
I’ll start by admitting the extent of my personal exercise has been fairly limited to an extensive amount of walking up and down the stairs at my apartment each day. My computer-based recording facility and office is upstairs and the coffee pot - with seemingly some one thing or another invariably turning out to be down. (There’s a middle landing on the staircase that I’ve come to refer to as the “stupid step.” Its place where I remember that thing that I should have brought with me and have to turn around go back and get it. Have you seen one of these?) Oh yeah, my point…well apart from my actual exercising regime rarely involving much more than this it has been known to comprise a good deal of jumping to conclusions and flip-flopping on issues.
So, these words from the Apostle Paul to Timothy, in 1 Timothy 4:8, came to mind recently, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” Naturally, this got me to thinking about how my personal exercising habits haven’t changed much…beyond planning for less of each. Even though I continue in my ritualistic stair mastering, conclusion jumping and issue flopping, it’s all in the course of a day’s activity for an executive producer of a listener supported internet radio show.
Upon further contemplating what Paul is telling Timothy, though, I’ve lazily arrived at the conclusion that all this flip-flopping and mind-changing is fully in keeping with what the Christian faith comprises. Another influential passage was also written by Paul in 2 Corinthians chapter 5 beginning at verse 13,
“If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.”
It’s probably this propensity of jumping too quickly to conclusions that results in the ultimate flip-flopping later on. You see, I’ve been through those “mind-altering” phases of skepticism towards God, Christ, and the Bible to becoming fully confident in their overall honesty and truth. I now choose to believe that what I read in the Bible is in no way intended to lead me astray but rather set me on a right path. What I used to merely value as wise and insightful teachings are now, for me, a “lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path,” i.e. the very words of God.
Additionally, I’ve flip-flopped on a good many other things as well. I used to think that the noble attitude was to allow for free-choice in the issue of abortion. Now I have become an adamant pro-lifer. After long pursuing writing, acting, directing and broadcasting as a career I’ve become convicted that many of the activities I was obligated or required to do in the course of “career-building” and/or "money-making" was compromising my professed allegiance to Christ. I along the way even switched from thinking I was a Democrat to realizing I was more inclined toward the Republican Party platform, even though, I won’t deny a biblically-influenced approach to any political decision making.
Apart from explaining what’s happened…the key is that something continues happening to change my ways of thinking. Once again, Paul begins his 12th chapter of the letter to the Romans by writing, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
I’m presently coming to a place in my life where it’s occurring to me that mere flipping on conclusion jumping still isn’t fulfilling my Christian-esque obligations. See, if I’m adamant that people shouldn’t kill unwanted babies…then I better, in kind, become pro-adoption. Certainly in following Christ’s examples I must be willing to take on someone else’s burdens and James wrote, “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” Essentially, I get the impression that we are to care for those who are not able to care for themselves.
So when I catch myself bad-mouthing today’s media or our political leaders it isn’t enough to draw the conclusion that I won’t participate or support the evil they propagate. Sure, it’s one thing not to frequent movies, or even stop watching television, but are we looking for ways to support, encourage, and participate with those who are honestly seeking to provide alternative program options for those who don’t hold these views…like a hmmm, I don’t know, an ActofGraceRadio.net, maybe? Equally, we are not making anything better if we just stop voting for politicians because it only seems to encourage they’re bad behavior. No, I really think we have to continue being diligent and prudent in not just making the best choices available on the ballot but helping to enable those who have the gifts, talents, passion, and purposefulness to bring about Christ-likened changes to the political arena.
Far more than Paul’s mention to Timothy that physical training’s value is limited, he refocuses the reader’s thoughts on the true issue at hand. This is that “godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
I know there are still plenty of conclusions that I’ve jumped to over the course of my life that may still need reevaluation and perhaps an opinion flip-flop or three. But, I’ve got to have the courage to openly look at them, the fortitude to change what’s wrong, and the integrity and conviction to implement the appropriate actions. I invite you to comment right now, or maybe come back for another visit sometime and see how I’m doing.
Ever yours regardlessly,
mike
So, these words from the Apostle Paul to Timothy, in 1 Timothy 4:8, came to mind recently, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” Naturally, this got me to thinking about how my personal exercising habits haven’t changed much…beyond planning for less of each. Even though I continue in my ritualistic stair mastering, conclusion jumping and issue flopping, it’s all in the course of a day’s activity for an executive producer of a listener supported internet radio show.
Upon further contemplating what Paul is telling Timothy, though, I’ve lazily arrived at the conclusion that all this flip-flopping and mind-changing is fully in keeping with what the Christian faith comprises. Another influential passage was also written by Paul in 2 Corinthians chapter 5 beginning at verse 13,
“If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.”
It’s probably this propensity of jumping too quickly to conclusions that results in the ultimate flip-flopping later on. You see, I’ve been through those “mind-altering” phases of skepticism towards God, Christ, and the Bible to becoming fully confident in their overall honesty and truth. I now choose to believe that what I read in the Bible is in no way intended to lead me astray but rather set me on a right path. What I used to merely value as wise and insightful teachings are now, for me, a “lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path,” i.e. the very words of God.
Additionally, I’ve flip-flopped on a good many other things as well. I used to think that the noble attitude was to allow for free-choice in the issue of abortion. Now I have become an adamant pro-lifer. After long pursuing writing, acting, directing and broadcasting as a career I’ve become convicted that many of the activities I was obligated or required to do in the course of “career-building” and/or "money-making" was compromising my professed allegiance to Christ. I along the way even switched from thinking I was a Democrat to realizing I was more inclined toward the Republican Party platform, even though, I won’t deny a biblically-influenced approach to any political decision making.
Apart from explaining what’s happened…the key is that something continues happening to change my ways of thinking. Once again, Paul begins his 12th chapter of the letter to the Romans by writing, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
I’m presently coming to a place in my life where it’s occurring to me that mere flipping on conclusion jumping still isn’t fulfilling my Christian-esque obligations. See, if I’m adamant that people shouldn’t kill unwanted babies…then I better, in kind, become pro-adoption. Certainly in following Christ’s examples I must be willing to take on someone else’s burdens and James wrote, “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” Essentially, I get the impression that we are to care for those who are not able to care for themselves.
So when I catch myself bad-mouthing today’s media or our political leaders it isn’t enough to draw the conclusion that I won’t participate or support the evil they propagate. Sure, it’s one thing not to frequent movies, or even stop watching television, but are we looking for ways to support, encourage, and participate with those who are honestly seeking to provide alternative program options for those who don’t hold these views…like a hmmm, I don’t know, an ActofGraceRadio.net, maybe? Equally, we are not making anything better if we just stop voting for politicians because it only seems to encourage they’re bad behavior. No, I really think we have to continue being diligent and prudent in not just making the best choices available on the ballot but helping to enable those who have the gifts, talents, passion, and purposefulness to bring about Christ-likened changes to the political arena.
Far more than Paul’s mention to Timothy that physical training’s value is limited, he refocuses the reader’s thoughts on the true issue at hand. This is that “godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
I know there are still plenty of conclusions that I’ve jumped to over the course of my life that may still need reevaluation and perhaps an opinion flip-flop or three. But, I’ve got to have the courage to openly look at them, the fortitude to change what’s wrong, and the integrity and conviction to implement the appropriate actions. I invite you to comment right now, or maybe come back for another visit sometime and see how I’m doing.
Ever yours regardlessly,
mike
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Choosing what we believe
This week’s “@ the Rock Shop” on ActofGraceRadio.net addresses the subject of choices. And was spawned by thoughts regarding whether we really do have a choice in what we believe.
A circumstance occurred in my extended family this week wherein one person (that I did not know) died and at this writing another is in the last stages of cancer contributing to the shuffling off of their mortal coil. Naturally as a Christian I am concerned whether or not these people have, or had, ever put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior; I do not know the answer, but God does. Having been born and raised in the United States I have no doubt that on no less than one occasion they were given the opportunity of responding to the saving grace available by faith in Jesus Christ. (Talking about that is something we do a lot around here.)
Apart from the eternal, I know these two situations have raised a lot of questions in the minds of the loved ones who are being left behind. I have every assurance that God’s will is being done. But some in the throes of the circumstances are wondering what that really means. Who can blame them?
One of the most devastating situations, from my perspective, was the manner in which our not-so-believing family members were confronted by the much-professing believers, particularly in the area of being baptized before you die or you won’t get into heaven. All I’m feeling compelled to ask in this writing is, where do they get that notion that you have to be baptized before God would allow you into heaven? I don’t find any teachings of this from Jesus in the Bible, and I don’t think that the action of being baptized changes the heart. If a person doesn’t believe in God, has never felt a need to submit to the authority of God in their lives…well, they’ve essentially decided they don’t want to be around the folks that will comprise heaven anyway. I’m pretty sure that everybody who is, or will be, in heaven will be there by choice.
There do seem to be maybe two stipulations that assure a person has properly made their reservations for heaven: they have placed their faith in Jesus Christ as the only acceptable sacrifice, which happens to have been provided by God in the first place; and in a verbal profession of faith. This is Romans 10: 9 and 10, by the way. Now, there’s evidence that this is an honest, sincere, heart-felt belief because there are many New Testament instances that after such a faith-profession the new believer is baptized. They do stop doing many of the “bad” things they had done in the past – repenting – and in many cases seek to make restitution to those they have wronged. The new believer, upon their profession of faith, also finds that they have an increasing desire to know and learn more about God and, in addition, begin looking for ways to be a help to others. This is how true faith is exemplified. It honestly has nothing to do with anything we have, can, or will do. Baptism is a key element, but people die believing in God and never get baptized. Communion is a wonderful experience for a believer to participate in, as well, but merely taking communion isn’t particularly significant. How much we pray or don't pray isn't a measuring stick. God says to the prophet Malachi in chapter 3 of the Old Testament book that bears his name, “I am the LORD, and I do not change.” Later in the same chapter God spells out to every reader what He’s about. These are the words of God quoted from Malachi beginning at verse 13, “You have said terrible things about me,” says the LORD.
“But you say, ‘What do you mean? How have we spoken against you?’
“You have said, ‘What’s the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the LORD Almighty that we are sorry for our sins? From now on we will say, “Blessed are the arrogant.” For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them go free of harm.”
Then those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and loved to think about him. “They will be my people,” says the LORD Almighty. “On the day when I act, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient and dutiful child. Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”
There are only a few verses left before God brings the Old Testament to conclusion. The next words that are written in the Bible begin the New Testament as regards the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. (Just for grins and giggles check out Revelation 20:11-15.) Any of us really have only one important decision to make. Will we believe in and serve God because we have been adopted as His child and have the privilege to spend eternity with Him or reject the offer?
You see nobody get’s taken into heaven kicking and screaming against their will. And nobody is being forced to believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior, or be baptized in His name, or have communion with Him in the fellowship of other believers, or recite any number of prayer litany's. None of that will be required of anybody who chooses not to want to. Heaven is only for the believers in God. (Remember the two thieves crucifed with Jesus?) Nobody else would even want to go there, because heaven ain’t going to be about them. It's not about your rewards, or your mansion, or even how many virgins you’ll be getting…heaven is, always has been, and always will be about God. And only those who want to be there, with Him, will be.
So, if you still think you want to go to heaven, it might behoove you to find out what is required. Then make the choice, because you may not even want to go to heaven at all. And God has made other arrangements for that decision.
Ever yours regardlessly,
mike
A circumstance occurred in my extended family this week wherein one person (that I did not know) died and at this writing another is in the last stages of cancer contributing to the shuffling off of their mortal coil. Naturally as a Christian I am concerned whether or not these people have, or had, ever put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior; I do not know the answer, but God does. Having been born and raised in the United States I have no doubt that on no less than one occasion they were given the opportunity of responding to the saving grace available by faith in Jesus Christ. (Talking about that is something we do a lot around here.)
Apart from the eternal, I know these two situations have raised a lot of questions in the minds of the loved ones who are being left behind. I have every assurance that God’s will is being done. But some in the throes of the circumstances are wondering what that really means. Who can blame them?
One of the most devastating situations, from my perspective, was the manner in which our not-so-believing family members were confronted by the much-professing believers, particularly in the area of being baptized before you die or you won’t get into heaven. All I’m feeling compelled to ask in this writing is, where do they get that notion that you have to be baptized before God would allow you into heaven? I don’t find any teachings of this from Jesus in the Bible, and I don’t think that the action of being baptized changes the heart. If a person doesn’t believe in God, has never felt a need to submit to the authority of God in their lives…well, they’ve essentially decided they don’t want to be around the folks that will comprise heaven anyway. I’m pretty sure that everybody who is, or will be, in heaven will be there by choice.
There do seem to be maybe two stipulations that assure a person has properly made their reservations for heaven: they have placed their faith in Jesus Christ as the only acceptable sacrifice, which happens to have been provided by God in the first place; and in a verbal profession of faith. This is Romans 10: 9 and 10, by the way. Now, there’s evidence that this is an honest, sincere, heart-felt belief because there are many New Testament instances that after such a faith-profession the new believer is baptized. They do stop doing many of the “bad” things they had done in the past – repenting – and in many cases seek to make restitution to those they have wronged. The new believer, upon their profession of faith, also finds that they have an increasing desire to know and learn more about God and, in addition, begin looking for ways to be a help to others. This is how true faith is exemplified. It honestly has nothing to do with anything we have, can, or will do. Baptism is a key element, but people die believing in God and never get baptized. Communion is a wonderful experience for a believer to participate in, as well, but merely taking communion isn’t particularly significant. How much we pray or don't pray isn't a measuring stick. God says to the prophet Malachi in chapter 3 of the Old Testament book that bears his name, “I am the LORD, and I do not change.” Later in the same chapter God spells out to every reader what He’s about. These are the words of God quoted from Malachi beginning at verse 13, “You have said terrible things about me,” says the LORD.
“But you say, ‘What do you mean? How have we spoken against you?’
“You have said, ‘What’s the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the LORD Almighty that we are sorry for our sins? From now on we will say, “Blessed are the arrogant.” For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them go free of harm.”
Then those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and loved to think about him. “They will be my people,” says the LORD Almighty. “On the day when I act, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient and dutiful child. Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”
There are only a few verses left before God brings the Old Testament to conclusion. The next words that are written in the Bible begin the New Testament as regards the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. (Just for grins and giggles check out Revelation 20:11-15.) Any of us really have only one important decision to make. Will we believe in and serve God because we have been adopted as His child and have the privilege to spend eternity with Him or reject the offer?
You see nobody get’s taken into heaven kicking and screaming against their will. And nobody is being forced to believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior, or be baptized in His name, or have communion with Him in the fellowship of other believers, or recite any number of prayer litany's. None of that will be required of anybody who chooses not to want to. Heaven is only for the believers in God. (Remember the two thieves crucifed with Jesus?) Nobody else would even want to go there, because heaven ain’t going to be about them. It's not about your rewards, or your mansion, or even how many virgins you’ll be getting…heaven is, always has been, and always will be about God. And only those who want to be there, with Him, will be.
So, if you still think you want to go to heaven, it might behoove you to find out what is required. Then make the choice, because you may not even want to go to heaven at all. And God has made other arrangements for that decision.
Ever yours regardlessly,
mike
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