I hear voices!

"I'm only doing what the voices in my head  tell me to do."  Sounds funny enough, right?  Although humorous, there is also a lot of truth in that phrase.  As we go about our day, we do encounter different voices.  The Bible actually reinforces this idea.  Now I know what you may be saying, does God REALLY confirm these voices as real?  Well, stick with me as we go on this rambling trip together to find the truth.

The Word of God tells us there are several sources from which these voices or ideas come from.  First of course is our own voice or thoughts from within our own mind.  Our minds are an incredibly sophisticated 'computer'.  We store thoughts and ideas, and use a kind of random access memory to retrieve them.  Our voice, known also as the voice of self is an easy concept to grasp.  We either 'hear' our thoughts in our head or speak and  hear our thoughts come to life. "The manager thought to himself, 'Now what? I'm through here, and I don't have the strength to go out and dig ditches, and I'm too proud to beg." - Luke 16:3  That's the voice of SELF.

A second voice is the voice of man.  When I say man,  I mean any audible voice spoken by any human being, man, woman or child.  This voice is sometimes interwoven with the voice of self, the world and/or God.  Our thoughts "take shape and walk right out" of our heads as Bono would say.  But more than that, the voice of man is what OTHERS say.  This voice can be good, when its a word of encouragement or knowledge we need.  But more often than not its words we don't need to hear and are untrue.  The voice of man could also be called the voice of the world.  "Didn't we tell you never again to teach in this man's name?" the high priest demanded. "Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about Jesus, and you intend to blame us for his death!" 29 But Peter and the apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than human authority. 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by crucifying him' - Acts 5:28-30  Here the priest may be speaking for Satan or from self and Peter is definitely speaking for God, we hear their audible voices. That's the voice of MAN/WORLD.

The third, and perhaps the most controversial, is the voice of Satan.  Yeah, I know, people don't want to talk about him, even Christians.  But the fact is, if you believe in God, you have to acknowledge the enemy is real as well.  We CANNOT pretend he doesn't exist and doesn't operate in the world today. The belief he doesn't exist and isn't effective today is his biggest weapon.   He even effects the behavior of the saints.  Don't believe me?  Then go look up these verses, James 4:7, Acts 5:1-11, Matt 16:23.  There are more, perhaps in another blog entry I'll visit that topic.  Anyway, we ALL have random thoughts, not good thoughts, but evil, sinful thoughts.  Where do they come from?  Sure, some do come from our own mind and fleshly desires, some do not.  By reading and studying the verses above, its clear Satan is able to INFLUENCE our actions.  Now don't get me wrong, he and his minions cannot take possession of a believer or even force us to do anything against our will.  The old saying ' the Devil made me do it', doesn't apply to Christians.  However, sometimes there are audible voices connected with the Devil.  These voices emanate from those in his service, either willingly or unwillingly.  Again, that could be another blog, perhaps on another day.  Suffice as to say, Satan is real and does operate to influence our world today.  Again there is an overlap in the voice of man/world and Satan.  Satan is the ruler of this world, temporarily.  Ultimately God is in control, but He has allowed Satan dominion over our world.  The voice of Satan is mostly heard through our 'modern worldview', which says anything goes.  That's the voice of SATAN.

And I saved the best for last, the voice of God.  The voice of God is also the voice of truth.  But how can we know the voice of God?  Does He speak to us today, as in times past?  You bet he does.  In the past the voice of God is describe as being like thunder, as well as like a whisper.  Does He speak in thunder today?  Maybe, but He speaks to me in a whisper, that still small voice. While I cannot say I have ever heard an audible voice of God, His Spirit has spoken MANY times to my heart.  Jesus tells us in the book of John "The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they recognize his voice. 5 They won't follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don't recognize his voice." - John 10:3-5 and then in verse 27, "My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me."  A friend of mine raises sheep.  It's really cool to see him call the sheep.  "Here sheep, sheep, sheep.", he sings, and they come running like Pavlov's dog.  But here's the thing, if anyone else was to call the sheep, even using the same words and voice inflections, they wouldn't come.  They respond to the Sheppard's voice alone.  We are to verify the voice that we think is from God.  Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. - 1 John 1.  We are given the assurance, that as followers of Christ, we can and will know His voice.  His written Word will NEVER, under ANY circumstances, be contradicted by His spoken Word. That's the voice of God!

So what's the bottom line?  Like the old saying goes, you can't believe everything you hear.  So if those voices stand up to the written Word of God, then be obedient and follow their leading.  However, if after searching the Scriptures you don't find that proof, evidence or reinforcement, those voices aren't from God.  

Who will you listen to?  Will you listen to THE VOICE OF TRUTH?

 

Jesus - The Radiator!

Goodbye humans, goodbye earth
I've left this place and all its worth
I am transcending space and time
I'm traveling at the speed of light

Affection, reflection
This is the new direction
Conspiracy is idiocracy
I radiate light's transparency

Generation
Radiation
We are the chosen nation
Hey you, you're blowing my mind again
Out of my skull, I feel the levitation
I feel my skin crawling off of my soul
I feel your radiation

I'll be a radiator just like you
Radiate it on me, burn it on through

I feel the radiation
Radiate it on me

Hello future, hello birth
This is your newborn universe
There is no longer wrong or right
We have become a source of light

Conceptual
Celestial
We are extraterrestrial

Creator
Vindicator
We are the radiators

Maybe you've never heard of Family Force 5.  Or if you're like my wife, they are one of your favorite bands.  Either way I think these guys nailed it with this one.  In an earlier posting I talked about Jesus as THE Time Lord and I can't believe I didn't make a reference to this very cool song.  Notice the lines, I am transcending space and time, I'm traveling at the speed of light.  Its so true of Jesus, He is not bound by space and time He created it!  The laws of physics don't apply to Him, He travels faster than the speed of light.  I bet He could make the Kessel run a might faster than the Millennium Falcon did!

"You've never heard of the Millennium Falcon?…It's the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs."

Seriously though,  there is so much more theology in this song than it seems. We are called, as believers, to reflect the love of God.  Jesus replied, "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.'   This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'   All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments - Matthew 22:37-40

 That is how we are to show the world who Jesus is, by reflecting the love He has for us, by loving the unlovable. We are to die to ourselves, so that all the world sees is Christ in us, the radiant light of the world.

A generation, a chosen nation?  I thought the Jews were God's chosen nation?  While it is true that God chose them to be the nation through which Messiah came, we are all His chosen people who follow Christ, as Peter says, You are a kingdom of priests, God's holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.  "Once you were not a people; now you are the people of God. Once you received none of God's mercy; now you have received his mercy - 1 Peter 2:9b-10 (a special thanks to Pastor Jim Mathis for teaching me that one!)

They go on to talk about what we as Children of God have to look forward to, a future world, that is not tainted by sin.   Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.  And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a beautiful bride prepared for her husband.  I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.   He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever."  And the one sitting on the throne said, "Look, I am making all things new!"  - Revelation 21:1-5

Oh what a glorious Day, when there is no darkness, literally:

The nations of the earth will walk in its light, and the rulers of the world will come and bring their glory to it.  Its gates never close at the end of day because there is no night.  And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city.  Nothing evil will be allowed to enter -- no one who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty -- but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.  - Revelation 21:24-27

Alright so here it gets a little weird for some people. Extraterrestrial?  Like E.T.?  No, no, no, even though he is kinda cute and has cool initials.  Peter tells us:  Dear brothers and sisters, you are foreigners and aliens here. So I warn you to keep away from evil desires because they fight against your very souls. - 1 Peter 2:11

As for Creator, look back at The Time Lord posting.  

Vindicator. And when the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their witness.  They called loudly to the Lord and said, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before you judge the people who belong to this world for what they have done to us? When will you avenge our blood against these people?"  Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters -- their fellow servants of Jesus -- had been martyred. - Revelation 6:9-11

Sure Family Force 5 likes to play with words, and maybe some of us 'older' folks won't get it, but I think the younger set just might.  So the next time you hear some 'loud' music, give  a listen to the words, it might just surprise you, in  a good way!

One last thing, I couldn't end this post without a CS Lewis quote, one of my favorites from Narnia:  

Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,
When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,
And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.

I love that picture of where I'll spend eternity.  Is that the picture of where you'll be when this world finally ends?  If not what are you waiting for?  The Radiator stands at the door and knocks, won't you let Him in?  Cause if you do, I guarantee He will blow your mind.  And when He returns, you'll feel the levitation and not be left behind!

Blessed are the war mongers?

Alright, I wasn't going to chime in on the whole death of Osama Bin Laden.  Frankly, it shouldn't be such a big issue.  Last week we had to endure the distraction of a 'Royal Wedding', now the execution of Bin Laden and the ensuing fallout. Give me a break!  Don't we have bigger issues in America?  But I have heard so many opinions the last few days, I have to express mine! Why do so many believe EVERYTHING the media puts out there?   Some that know me, I mean REALLY know me know my feelings on 9/11. To be clear, I support our men and women in uniform.  I support protecting our freedom, not using our military to protect corporate interests.  I didn't want to risk being 'inflammatory' so, I didn't post my comments in a forum that I don't control.  Nor did I post them where people don't have a choice whether to read them or not.  NOBODY is forced to read the following post.  If you are offended by free speech and don't have an open mind, to other people's OPINIONS, turn back now.  DON'T READ THIS BLOG POSTING! 

I don't even know where to start with this whole mess.  Will there be any closure from the killing of Bin Laden?  Does it bring back ONE person who died on 9/11?  Was JUSTICE even served? 
Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, "I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it," says the Lord.  - Romans 12:19

Let's stop and think about how this looks to the rest of the world.  We are such hypocrites!  Our government tortured HUMAN beings to get the information that lead to Bin Laden.  Did you hear me?  TORTURE!  That does not sit well with me.  (Oh, yes, the media says it was 'traced cellphone' call, right.)  Our government hid behind excuses, they were detainees, terrorist, non citizens, criminals, enemy combatants.  The White House legal council, said that these detainees were not citizens, and thus were not protected under our Constitution.  They were denied due process, a lawyer, a phone call and worse they were denied compassion that Jesus commanded us to show our enemies.  

George W. Bush even said "The United States doesn't torture",  I  guess he learned something from Bill Clinton. Chose your words carefully enough, hide the truth and make it sound like you're not a liar.  As a matter of semantics, 'technically,  he was telling the truth. The United States didn't torture these guys, our government hired THUGS to do it for us. 

These 'enemy combatants' were treated as less than human.  I have no idea if these guys were guilty, they were denied due process and a trial.  What kind of answers do you think you get from someone being tortured?  You guessed it, the ones you want to hear. So eventually, after almost 10 years, they got some 'useful' information.  What about the information that lead NOWHERE?

Some may call the USA a 'Christian' nation.  Some call for God to Bless America.  Why should He?  I searched the scriptures, nowhere did I find a blessing for war mongers.  Nor were there blessing promised for those who took vengeance into their own hands.  Blessing for a person or nation comes through OBEDIENCE to God's Word. Blessings are reserved for the PEACE makers.

"If you fully obey the LORD your God by keeping all the commands I am giving you today, the LORD your God will exalt you above all the nations of the world.  You will experience all these blessings if you obey the LORD your God" - Deuteronomy 28:1-2

Let's talk of peace,
Sounds so cliche
A novelty, catch phrase of the day
Middle, index,
Sign of the time
Just as complex,
As water to...

Someone said give peace a chance
And, that's all that we're saying
While we're sitting on the fence
Pretending,
Our hearts are in the right place
But, your face
Shows a trace of,

Hypocrisy,
Don't tread on me,
Now you can see

MAKE LOVE NOT WAR, SOUNDS SO ABSURD, TO ME
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO SAY THESE WORDS, LIGHTLY
OR ELSE OUR WORLD, WILL TRULY, REST IN PEACE

Let's not pretend,
to justify
Rather amend,
Where treasures lie
Straight through the heart,
Peace can be found
That's where you start,
Not all around

Someone said give peace a chance
And, that's all that we're saying
While we're sitting on the fence
Pretending,
Our hearts are in the right place
But, your face
Shows a trace of,

Hypocrisy,
Don't tread on me, boy
Now you can see - Rest in Peace by Extreme from the album III Sides to Every Story

God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. - Jesus Christ

 
Should we be happy that Bin Laden is dead?  Will we sleep any better tonight?  I will sleep no different, I rest in the peace that comes from knowing God.

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:7, 6
 
Its not just knowing about Him, but a personal relationship with Him through His son Jesus Christ.  Do you have this security?

MY JESUS! The bravest man who STILL lives!

Is this a picture of the bravest man who ever lived?

Is this how we see Him?  The 'gentle' man, humble, soft, perhaps even weak. 


Last Sunday Pastor Scott preached on Peter's denial of Christ.  He titled his sermon, Three Strikes but not Out, read what he says here if you missed it.    That sermon along with his previous sermon got me thinking.  What was it REALLY like that night, when Jesus was betrayed into the hands of sinful men.  This is the time of year, Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, that I really focus on what it must have been like for my Savior to face death.


As a kid, and even into adulthood, I pictured Jesus like we see Him above.  This gentle man, meek and mild.  Sure I knew He was whipped, beaten, mocked, and hung on a cross.  But NEVER really thought about what that must have been like.  We were taught growing up not to focus on His death, but rather His RESURRECTION.  Which is good, but I think when we do that, kind of eliminate the Crucifixion and the events that lead up to it, we miss something, something VERY vital in our walk.


God used Mel Gibson's  movie, The Passion of Christ to change my perception, and perhaps that of many others, of what Jesus went through on His journey to the Cross.  While I have not seen The Passion of Christ in its entirety,  I have seen clips of some of the more graphic scenes.  The scene of Jesus in the garden praying is very powerful. That along with the account in Matthew, gives a a pretty clear picture of the agony He was facing.

Another thing that has changed my view of my Savior is this song by Todd Agnew, tilted MY JESUS.  Here are just several verses form the song.  Click the link to listen to it.  Click here for the rest of the lyrics.

Pretty blue eyes and curly brown hair and a clear complexion
Is how you see Him as He dies for Your sins
But the Word says He was battered and scarred
Or did you miss that part
Sometimes I doubt we'd recognize Him

Do we really think the Romans and the Jews killed Him because he was such a sweet and nice guy?  I know it was God's plan that He should suffer and die, carrying the weight of my sin, and every sin ever in history.  But what was the motivation of those who hung Him on the Cross? He was killed because He stood up and called those in authority out.  Sure he was meek, humble and mild, when the situation warranted that.   But He was also brave, confident, passionate and dangerous. 

How did the Jesus of the Bible became the Jesus of American culture?

Jesus is a true picture of a true man. He is called the SECOND Adam for a reason. The first Adam was the emasculated man, he FAILED to stand up and be the man he was created to be.  Jesus not only stands up and sets the example of the man God created us to be, He pays dearly for it, with His life.  Jesus stands at the door and knocks.  Are we ready to give up our lives for Him?  Will we literally 'die' for Him? Some of us may be required to do that.  But ALL of us who claim His name, should at the very least die to self, our false self and LIVE for Him.

Look at how Jesus is pictured in the book of Revelation, He is not only the Lamb led to slaughter, He is later the one doing the slaughtering.

Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. And the one sitting on the horse was named Faithful and True. For he judges fairly and then goes to war. 12 His eyes were bright like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him, and only he knew what it meant. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven, dressed in pure white linen, followed him on white horses. 15 From his mouth came a sharp sword, and with it he struck down the nations. He ruled them with an iron rod, and he trod the winepress of the fierce wrath of almighty God. 16 On his robe and thigh was written this title: King of kings and Lord of lords -  Revelation 19:11-16

This is MY JESUS!  The bravest man who STILL lives!  He faced not only the worst possible death, a death on a cross, but He faced the agony of separation from God.  That was MY punishment, it is what I deserved.  Thank you Jesus for being a REAL  man.  Thank you for being my friend and laying down your life.  May I look to you for what it means to be a REAL man.  A man who sacrifices his life for that of others. That takes real courage.

Jesus is the original Time LORD!

Alright, for some of you, this will just go right over your heads.  Or perhaps it will get lost somewhere between time and space........

I have always loved science fiction.  At a very early age I fell in love with Star Trek, no not TNG, DS9, Voyager, or Enterprise.  The ORIGINAL with James Tiberius Kirk, Mr Spock and the rest.  I don't remember seeing it in first run, after all I was born in 1966 and the show aired from 1966-1969.  I did however see it shortly there after in what used to be called 're-runs'.  I will say I do like all the sequels, with the exception of DS9.  Enterprise left a little to be desired, and I couldn't ever get past Scott Bakula, I kept seeing him as Dr Sam Beckett from Quantum Leap.  Ah, yes Quantum Leap, although not a big fan, I like the idea of time travel.  Another work that had a huge impact on me was HG WELLS, The Time Machine, the one with Rod Taylor, not the one from 2002 with Guy Pierce.  Even the one with Malcolm McDowell as Herbert Wells and David Warner as Jack the Ripper, tilted Time After Time, was pretty good.


I could go on and on about the science fiction movies and novels I love. One show I got a small glimpse of when I was younger was Doctor Who.  It aired on PBS in Detroit.  I never really got into much, but was vaguely aware of it.  I did watch one of the movies with Tom Bakker as the Doctor, where he is battling against the Daleks.  For those of you who don't have a clue what I'm talking about here is a synopsis of the series from IMDB:
                             The continuing adventures of The Doctor, an alien time traveler - a Time Lord - from Gallifrey. Together with his companions they travel through time and space in the TARDIS, battling evil where they find it. Written by IMDb Editors  

Our family started watching the ninth Doctor played by.....what was his name, he was on for such a short time.......,  the tenth and my favorite played by David Tennet, and more recently the eleventh, played by Matt Smith.  This has opened a door into checking out some of the older ones.  I particularly like the one who wears the sprig of celery.....what number was he again??  So you could say I am now a fan of the 'new' Doctor Who series.  This is not an attempt to belittle or make fun of anyone.  Remember I am a fan, too!

ANYWAY, moving on.........

I have more than once thought about how science fiction related to science fact and how they both related to Jesus.  Stay with me.........rants and ramblings.........

We know that God is not bound by time, space and dimensions.  He sits outside of them both.  He sees the whole of the space-time continuum, from beginning to end(or end to beginning) laid out in front of Him.   It blows my mind to try to understand that, but I guess that's why He say: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD - Isaiah 55:8


Take your time to read slowly, what the writer of Hebrews has to say on the subject.   Perhaps even read a few times, let it sink in.  If you're at all like me, it will blow your mind!

[But] in the last of these days He has spoken to us in [the person of a] Son, Whom He appointed Heir and lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time [He made, produced, built, operated, and arranged them in order].    ³He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God's] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power.   When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the divine Majesty on high,

    ⁴[Taking a place and rank by which] He Himself became as much superior to angels as the glorious Name (title) which He has inherited is different from and more excellent than theirs. - Hebrews 1:2-4 Amplified Bible

Alright, are you still with me? 

Here's my take on what the writer of Hebrews is telling us:

1.)  EVERYTHING. including the other planets, stars, galaxies, solar systems, time, space and dimesnions, we created by God through His Son, Jesus Christ.
2.)  Jesus is God and it is His by his shear will power that the universe and all its complex workings are held together........
3.)   His work of redemption has been completed and He sits in the place of honor, at the Father's right hand.
4.)  The writer also declares Jesus to be far above the angles, He is also far above any CREATED MAN who claims to be lord over time, Jesus Christ is truly the original time LORD!

He doesn't drive a spaceship or pilot a TARDIS(Time and relative dimension in space), although He does control all.  Seriously, Jesus is not an alien, He is LORD over all.  He stepped out of eternity and into our realm of time and space, which He created. He did this in order to bring us back to a relationship with Him.


Remember:  Truth is truth, God reveals Himself to us through many ways, even secular books, movies and television.  That does not mean that all roads lead to heaven or that you can find Him while seeking your own satisfaction. If you are truly seeking Him, the one and only true God, the God of the Bible, you WILL find Him.

Do you know this LORD of all?  And does He know you.  

Who ur daddy?

Darth Vader: If you only knew the power of the Dark Side. Obi-Wan never told you what happened to your father.
Luke: He told me enough! He told me you killed him!
Darth Vader: No. I am your father.
Luke: No...no. That's not true. That's impossible!
Darth Vader: Search your feelings, you know it to be true!
[Luke cries in anguish]
Luke: No! No!

Oh man!  I'll never forget where I was when I first heard those lines from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes back.  I can STILL remember AND feel the emotion, the empathy I felt for Luke.  I don't know if that scene effected you the way it impacted me, but I'll bet there are other men, maybe women too, who can relate.  Again, just so we are crystal clear, I'm not endorsing or justifying eastern mysticism of STAR WARS or blending them with my Christian beliefs.  Truth is truth.  Remember,God creates, man perverts.

That scene is charged with emotion.  It strikes a chord with me.  Why?  Because a man must know where he comes from in order to see where he's going.  Think about that, Luke is just told he is the offspring of one of the most evil men in the universe. Luke spends the better part of the next movie, Return of the Jedi, on a quest for his true identity.  As he comes to grips with the fact Darth Vader is in fact the man who USED to be his dad, he discovers something.  He discovers his father's real name, his true identity!  Luke discovers that his dad at one time was a good and caring man.  Anakin, like all boys, wants adventure, he wants to be daring and dangerous.  He yearns for a battle to fight.  And most of all, like all good fairy tales, he has a beauty to win, Padmé Amidala.  If you don't remember, as difficult as it may be, watch The Phantom Menace, all these desires are detailed there. (As painful as that movie is to stomach, sorry Mr Lucas).

You may now see why the name of the blog is 'Eddie's rants and ramblings'.............but stay with me.

We are a lot like Luke.  Our original father, Adam, rebelled against God and we have suffered the weight of that treason ever since.  Adam gave up his true self, choosing to be a coward, instead of a man, and he hid behind a false self.  We have been longing and searching for who were are, are true self.  When Luke responds that Vader killed his father, he's right, metaphorically.  As men we tend to commit a kind of masculine suicide.  We turn to the 'dark side', by burying our true identity, we even wear a mask or multiple mask!  So maybe some of us are more like Darth Vader!

In Wild at Heart by John Elderedge, he outlines the secret to a man's soul.  We have three basic needs, no SEX isn't number one on the list.  He calls them, an adventure to live, a battle to win and a beauty to love.  If you haven't read the book, I HIGHLY recommend it, if you have read it, read it again, and have your spouse read it as well.  Anyway, something has been lost in our modern culture, there is a disconnect between fathers and sons.  The longing and desire to be who God created us to be has become lost.  Elderedge points us to the Bible and how God is described.  His character is much the same as what He desires us to be.  God is WILD AT HEART.  His adventure is us, His creation, He gave us free will.  His battle to fight is for us, His children.  His beauty to win is the Church, that Christ died for.

You may have had a 'perfect' earthly father.  Or perhaps yours was absent, emotionally or physically.  Maybe yours was abusive.  Maybe yours was somewhere in between.  I would like to say it doesn't matter, but it does.  Our earthly fathers have molded us into who we are, for better or worse.  Just so we are clear, this is NOT about placing blame,or beating up our dads, its about healing.  Just like Luke, it may be painful to realize although we are our father's sons, we do not have to follow in there legacy.

We have a PERFECT Father in Heaven.  He will NEVER leave or forsake us.

He is wild at heart.

The LORD is a warrior; yes, the LORD is his name!- Exodus 15:3


Go and be the MAN or WOMAN God created you to be!  Be blessed!

The devil is like theTerminator!

Alright, Pastor Scott's sermon on Sunday was short, but it was sweet, as the saying goes.  But he said some very profound things that got me thinking.  While reading the Wild at Heart Field Manual, the author, John Elderdge, posed a challenge to look at the movies that have moved us as men.  At the time I didn't think much about it, I thought of movies like 300, Star Wars:The Empire Strikes Back, and a few others.  But it hit me this morning.  John speaks about the battle we are in, a REAL battle, for the souls and eternal places of those God has made in His image.  There are so many, even many Christians, who never take into account that this supernatural battle is being fought all around and about them!

Pastor Scott referred to 1 Peter 5:8, "Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour."  It wasn't until this morning that I made a connection.  Just so we are clear, I am not endorsing 'R' rated movies, or ungodly movies.  I am not endorsing blood, gore, violence, fighting, etc..  Also remember, God creates, man perverts.  God also speaks though the ungodly, everyone serves Him, either willingly or unwillingly.  All of creation is subject to Him.  With that said, there is a line in the original Terminator movie, where Kyle Reese, who is from the future turns to Sarah Connor and says ""Listen, and understand. That terminator is out there. It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead."  What Kyle Reese is saying is what Peter warned us about, WE ARE AT WAR.  We can NEVER, EVER let our guard down.  


So what are we to do?  Run and hide?  Pretend it doesn't exist?  Ignore it, it'll go away?  NO, NO, NO!  We dig in, stand our ground and FIGHT.  Fight like our lives depended upon it!  A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power.  Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. - Ephesians 6:10, 11 


Just like the Terminator, wasn't flesh and blood so goes for our enemy.  For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. - Ephesians 6:12


One last thing, like Kyle Reese said, "Come with me if you want to live", Jesus extends a similar invitation when He says, " For it is my Father's will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life -- that I should raise them at the last day" - John 6:40  Come with Jesus if you want to live - FOREVER!  If you are unsure about your relationship with God through His Son, Jesus, contact me via this blog and we can pray together.

That is what we are up against! We aren't battling flesh and blood, but a supernatural enemy! Don't become one of the walking wounded!  Stay strong and be blessed!