Kai and I have had 11 cats come through our doors in the last 3 years.  We are almost like a half-way house for stray cats looking for good owners.  I've recounted the cats in the past, so I'm not gonna number them this time... but we just found a home for Patches (Bu-Ding) or cat number 9.  That brings us back down to a semi-sane number of 4 cats presently living with us.  I'll be more happy to see only 3 in the house... when the time for that comes.

I still wonder though.... all this rescuing of cats... and not one person to have openly responded to the gospel.  Jesus didn't say "Go out and preach the gospel to all creation", but "...to the nations".  It bothers me that we spend so much time saving cats when mens' souls are hell-bound and I've the golden ticket to paradise that has a free "Share this ticket with whomever you can" clause.  Cats are not people, and for all the "Good" we may be doing in finding them homes --- I don't believe for a moment that God looks down on this and thinks "Job well done." when so many are still lost.

I'm still building my vocabulary... still working on learning Chinese... and yearning for the day when I can openly and honestly tell someone the gospel of Jesus Christ in their native tongue so that they can humble their hearts before God to be saved.  William Carey went 20 years before he saw his first convert, if I remember my history correctly... Lord, allow me that I may implant your Holy Word among those who would hear... and to see that seed take root and grow.  Amen.

The story of King David and Bathsheba is not exactly a pretty one.  Man sees woman, man lusts after woman, man conceives plot to seduce woman, woman get's pregnant, man attempts to hide from the truth by ultimately killing woman's honest husband.  When you think of "HEROES" you're not likely to list "Murderer, Adulterer, Liar & Thief" as qualifications.  If the story ended there, it would make a great Hollywood movie that would rake in millions of dollars.

But the story doesn't end there.  King David loved God.... and ultimately, God will not let his children get away with their sins.  "He who covers their sin shall not prosper...." (Proverbs 28:13)  God steps into the story at this point and it continues like thus:  God sends someone to show man his sin.  Man listens carefully and finally realizes his personal guilt.  Man cries out to God for forgiveness for having mollycoddled his sin.  God sees the repentant heart and responds in lovingkindess and compassion.  "Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up." (James 4:10)  All is forgiven.

Lately I have been looking into repentance again and thinking about how it softens the heart of man so that God can respond.  Many today would have us believe that becoming a Christian is as simple as mouthing a prayer, signing a pledge card and saying a simple "I'm sorry" Lord with little if no angst attatched to the statement. 

While  "If I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10: 9) is nice, it is an oversimplification. That is to say, if that were the straightforward truth --- simply say Jesus is "Lord" and make some mental assent to his being raised from the dead --- then so many other passages would have to be counted as false throughout all of Scripture. 

Let's only hit one verse per writer or character....

That is just the verses that deal with "Repent / Repentance" by specific mention.  I could hasten to bring up "Humble yourself" (James 4:4-10), "Turn from your wicked ways" (2 Chronicles 7:14)  and a complete reversal of ones present course.  (The prodigal son, Luke 15:18-20)

I said I have been giving over to pondering repentance.  I've come up with three passages that I think speak best to the matter of what is repentance, and how does it show itself within the believer's life.

The first one talks about humbling oneself before God.  Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet, and his tears were ever precious to God.  But it's not tears that show repentance --- Esau wept bitterly, but repented not. (Hebrews 12:16-17)

What shows repentance clearest is the attitude of one's mind (RE: Heart.  The biblical use of the word "Heart" implies one's thinking processes --- "For out of the HEART come... evil thoughts..." Matthew 15:19) and here Jeremiah shines clearest.

Let him is said 4 times in these 3 verses --- Sit alone, Bury his face, offer his cheek, be filled with disgrace.  If you think about it, this is the exact frame of mind the Tax collector held in Luke 18:13 for which Jesus said

In humbling ourselves before God, we acknowledge His sovereignty over us, His Justice as righteous and his Judgment as True.  It flows right into the next passage....

David sinned against Bathsheba.  David sinned against Uriah.  David even sinned against Israel as their king... and in the end he honestly connects all those dots back to the Law of God and says

But get this point --- it gets missed every single time this Psalm gets preached upon (At least in my own hearing and research).....

David PUBLICLY announced his repentance before the entire world ---- you're reading it right now. 

He wasn't fearful of men's opinions or judgments over his actions --- He feared God and feared that God would remove from him the Holy Spirit which sanctified him and kept him seeking after God (Psalm 51:11).   He feared that God would remove from him the Peace which secured his heart (Psalm 51:10) and the joy that attended to his being saved (Psalm 51:12)!  These things were more important to him than saving face and making a private acknowledgment of his sin.

Sometimes --- to bring sin to it's knees, we need to make public confession in order to be held responsible / accountable for our actions.  (James 5:16; 1 John 1:9)  This message goes all the way back to the Old Testament with a verse I'm sure I've overused ----

I often like to bring Peter up as the perfect example here.  Upon realization that he had, in point of fact, denied Jesus just as Jesus had predicted, Peter's response was complete repentance.

Paul had earnestly rebuked the Corinthians for their sexual (1 Corinthians 5), divisive (1 Corinthians 12, 14), prideful (1 Corinthians 1-2) and snobbish (1 Corinthians 11) sins.  Their response was likewise utterly repentant....

The Corinthians lamented over their sin.  The repented. They gave clear visual representation to Jesus own words

My time is up, I don't have time to complete this as I hoped, but I do believe the essence of it is here.

Lord --- Where I have sinned against you, please grant me the spirit of repentance that I might do whatever I have to in order that I might once again find your peace and please you.  Forgive my pride which has covered my sins, hiding them and trying to hide them from others eyes.  I am more than just "sorry" --- I am filled with bitterness and regret to have even thought I could conceal something from you.

Lord --- open my heart that I might see all the sin there which hides in the shadows... and allow for none of it to hide any longer.

In Jesus Precious name I pray.

Amen

In my last post I was criticized for making general statements regarding the state of American Christianity.  It got me thinking... all throughout Scripture, God speaks in generalities and specifics. 

Who is the world?  Does that mean everyone?  Scripture in other places seems to imply otherwise, so this is an instance wherein a generality is used for effect.

Does this mean that EVERYONE will be saved?  Does this mean that God is hopeful that ALL MEN will repent?  or is this yet another case of generality?

Here's an instance where we are talking in generalities, but it's understood that ALL MEN are under this condemnation.  It's general, but it's specific to all men without question..... similar to the corresponding passage in Romans 3.

Another instance where generalities are used, and yet it's specifically aimed at every man, in every age, without exception.

So when I read that

I do honestly believe that EVERY inclination of EVERY human heart was evil ALL the time.

and likewise

From cover to cover, God drops generalities like bombshells... but sometimes even the generalities can carry a very specific characterization...

and likewise

Reviewing the Bible historically, though, you have to conclude that when God wants to be specific, he can to brutal accuracy.  Consider the prophecies against the Persians, Babylonians, Israel, Judah, or even the cities of Jesus day.  In each instance God gave the specific city by name and gave brutally accurate prophecies against them.  (I haven't the time to spell all of these out... but if you wish I can... it would double the length of this post.)

What's nice is that God often uses specifics to deal with us as believers.... consider the following.

When I speak about America --- I speak from 30+ years of experience, living within the Christian subculture and examining it first hand.  Not just around the Chicago area --- but coast to coast because of my travels with Best Buy. 

• I've seen dead churches in Connecticut, where I was the youngest person in the church (at 40)
• I sat in sermons in Chicago wherein the pastor denied the Bible as God's word,
• I listened to a pastor in Wisconsin who gave personal opinion as Scripture and led his entire congregation into a false understanding of God and His purpose. 
• I actually walked out of a church in Reno, NV shaking my head and wondering how long it would be before God brought His judgment upon us for such blasphemy. 
• In California, I listened to a Pastor declare God's pattern for Godly men was Thus and Thus and Thus.... and when I showed him the example of Abraham who countered every single point he made to his congregation.... he pridefully stood fast and claimed me to be divisive.  Even though I showed him clearly from scripture.
• I was even escorted OUT THE FRONT DOOR of a church by it's pastor for having the audacity to ask an adult Sunday School class "What does all of this have to do with Jesus????"  (They were looking into the Cold War and why we should not support Nuclear bombs.  The class before that looked into supporting the Sandinista's in their cause.) And remember the lady's response clearly --- "I think Jesus is fine for me, but I don't feel any need to share him with others." at which I pulled out my bible and started listing verses.... leading to the pastor being called and me being expelled.  This was a Presbyterian Church.

I believe I've seen enough of American Christianity to speak in generalities.... but, lest I fall to pride myself, I remind myself two things

(1) God always has a remnant who remain faithful.  I am never "Alone" and never "the only one" who holds to biblical truth as my rock and security.

(2) I am not anyone special who has entire knowledge, complete understanding, special anointing or prophetic abilities.  I am simply a man with a man's frailties, a man's sinfulness, a man's weaknesses and a man's understanding.  I do not think myself wise... I know better. 

These two things said, I can specifically state that my pronouncements, while general, are by no means exact.... Only God knows each man's heart.

And someday, He will.  He SPECIFICALLY stated that He would.

When we see the word "Regarding" we usually think "Pertaining to" or "In respect of".  Regarding, though, does have another meaning which we in the western hemisphere rarely think about.  It means "To hold in high value" --- "To esteem highly"  --- "To have or show respect to" --- "To consider".

Lately I have been seeing just how greatly the disparity is between America and the rest of the world and it comes down to how we perceive "truth".  

Many times over the years I have been presented FALSE information as though it were truth.  I'm talking about urban legends like "America is mentioned in the Koran as the bringer of justice and vengeance upon Muslim nations."  My own brother passed that one on to me via Email many years back... and I had the audacity to correct him.  I did my homework, and the whole matter was as false as a $3 bill.   

What is of interest is how my brother responded to being shown that he'd bought into a lie.  He exploded in anger.  Not anger at the fact that he'd been deceived, but anger at the fact that I had the audacity to correct him... to point out the truth... to show him (and his friends) that what he WANTED to be true was false.  My brother was already prone to outbursts of anger, but this one has settled as a thick veil between us which has lasted nearly 10 years now.  All because I pointed to the truth.

It's not the only time this has happened.  Someone here on Xanga once passed along false information to me and I corrected them.  Again, the response was explosive.... they didn't want to be wrong, they didn't care that it was false, they preferred to buy into a lie rather than be shown the truth.  I actually blogged about it. 

Even as recent as last month, someone publicly proclaimed something to be biblical --- I countered with ACTUAL Biblical information, providing a solid list of verses disproving their pet theory... and they got angry.  (Interestingly, this one was greatly public.  ReveLife posted their BAD information as front page material -- I corrected them, first at their own website and then at ReveLife, and then posted up my "What is Tithing anyway" post.  Their response was the delete my comments at their personal site --- BUT LEAVE THE BAD INFORMATION UP!!!  In other words, they would prefer to be thought wise and a representative of God... when in fact they are lying and spreading lies... which shows them to be directly opposite of their desires.)  (ouch)  When I offered ReveLife my post on the biblical purpose of tithing... they politely refused.  Guess lies win over the truth there.... *Eye-roll*

Yesterday, I had to correct a friend in Malaysia regarding another Urban legend.  This time on Facebook, and again very publicly.  I pointed her to www.snopes.com and specifically to the page which disproved her public proclamation of false information.  This time, the response was completely opposite. 

She thanked me.

Not only did she thank me, but many of her friends thanked me.  Why?  Because they value TRUTH over lies.  This body of Christians in the east wants to know truth and is willing to accept  public embarrassment to know it.  She didn't take it as an attack... she humbled herself and immediately went forward to review the Snopes page I had pointed to, came back & asked me several very pointed questions aimed at discerning --- and then thanked me and publicly apologized to her friends.

Regarding the Truth --- In America we think we know it all... there's nothing more you can show us... and if you have factual information that disproves my personal pet theory well, then, you must be wrong. 

Obviously.  In America, we do not "regard" the truth --- Place a high value on it, esteem it greatly, show respect to it, give it great consideration --- as being something OUTSIDE of us.  Instead, we think ourselves as the issuer of T-R-U-T-H and everyone else in the world must listen and follow.

How wrong we are.

Truth is not something that comes from WITHIN us... as though our very minds and hearts were so pure as to be untainted by deception... Truth is something dictated in absolutes OUTSIDE of us to which we must submit to.  And therein lies the heart of the issue.  My Malaysian friends desire to follow God... thus, like the Bereans (Acts 17:11) (you didn't think I was going to do an entire blog post without a bible verse, did you?) they ran to the source, confirmed what was true, and embraced it, rejoicing.  They looked outside themselves to see what information there was --- while we from America assume we HAVE the truth sitting in our hearts and nothing can / should / shall-have-the-right-to question us on anything.  Our attitude is that of prideful disdain, and anyone daring to bring a counter-truth shall encur our wrath.

For the last 2 years my posts have been exercises in expounding Biblical Truth against errors.  I have turned to the Bible for answers, assuming that Truth is found there and not in my sinful, prideful heart.  I have openly encouraged people not to take my word for it... go back to the source, read the verses, check the rest of Scripture... see if it's true.  Thus far, few have.  Now I'm starting to understand why.  It all comes down to "Regarding" the "Truth".  Those that have little regard for it, will pander their pet theories as though they were the very mouth-piece of God.  And in the end... they --- WE ---  will be judged by God for doing just that.

amen.

In all my Ebay auctions (I'm back on now as Bethel*Abba --- no longer am I JulieMillerFan there) since the very beginning back in 1999, I have ended with the statement

I do so because I believe that prayer is the most important thing we can do for each other, barring meeting one anothers physical needs.  Physical needs are no less important, but prayer is more so at times --- even if it's merely my sharing my need with someone who will simply listen and bring some encouragement to the table.

Over the 13 years I have been on Ebay, very few have responded to my prayer offer.  Those that do usually have a very earnest need that is breaking their heart to the point of sorrow.   Recently I received this one  --- which means, once you read her thoughts... pray for her!!! (The last part of that last sentence is to you, my Xanga followers)

Sarah is trying to follow Jesus, but is finding that doing so is bringing about serious pressures from the demonic spectrum of reality.   Paul wrote "For we wrestle not with flesh and blood..." (Ephesians 6:12)  as a reminder that though we see people's hatred for us --- it's really the motivation of something darker and more sinister behind them.  I have long stated that we ARE NOT by nature, by birth, or simple disposition "Children of God" despite the sentimental feelings that the world wants to throw behind that thought.  We are, by nature, by birth, by disposition --- Children of Satan --- and until we are born (again) into the kingdom of Christ, we are objects of God's wrath, not his mercy.  (John 1:12, 8:44; Romans 2:5, 8:15-16; Colossians 1:13-14, 21)

Demons cannot control, or inhabit, the life of a Christian --- Greater is He WHO IS IN YOU than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4) ---- but through those around us who are not believers in Christ, they can sometimes make life miserable.  Paul even stated it as a promise ---

Those of us who seek to follow Christ will face opposition from the demonic realm.  Ours is not to become discouraged by this but to remember that Christ is there to give us strength to push through to the end.  Here's two verses you probably never thought to link together... but consider them for a moment

In his famous book "Pilgrim's Progress", John Bunyan had the main character use the light of the Word of God to go through the Valley of Death --- which was so utterly dark as to make one entirely blind.  Now get this --- The Word of God only gave enough light to show ONE STEP AT A TIME.

God gives us strength to endure --- often only at the moment when we need it most.  God is not out to create spiritual Samsons who can push over the pillars of the Philistines --- but falter greatly in their pride over their personal strength and ability.  God is there to provide in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9), help us in our humility (James 4:6), comfort us in our sorrow (2 Corinthians 1:3-5), provide for us in our need (Philippians 4:19) and cover us in our transgressions (1 John 2:1-2).  In short ---

I told someone recently that Christ isn't here to fix our "Boo-boos", applying a band-aid to our problems and making life all sunshine and roses.  I told this person from Ebay ---

God looks for the weary, the burdened....

God chooses the weak, the lowly, the despised...

God looks for sinners, who are repentant (Acts 17:30) and willing to trust Him THROUGH the problems they encounter (Proverbs 3:5-6).  Not people who are looking to be smart, popular, rich or famous in this world.  (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15)

If coming to Christ, for you, was an attempt to fix the problems in your life --- if you thought that coming to Christ would make you richer (in this world), healthier (in this life), or more popular (in your circle of friends) --- you came to Christ for the wrong reasons (Matthew 13:18-23).  Jesus was not meant to be a wash-rag to wipe your feet on as you go along your way to your next Church pot-luck dinner or Singles Social.

The church is the haven of the broken, the repentant, the mournful over their sin, the humble.... it is not a place for God to be your personal magic genie granting you every wish and whim that flows from your sinful desires.  (James 4:3)  Neither was the Church ever meant to be a social club for us to come to and party. 

Jesus does love you --- and bids you come to him --- but to the one looking for riches, to those looking for a life of ease, to those who want an easy fix to all life's problems... He told them the cold hard truth.

Likewise...

These men walked away from Christ because he asked to much of them, because He did not meet THEIR expectations, and because He didn't promise them something that they could hold onto --- in this world.

Jesus came

to wash away their sins and to give them the hope of Eternal life.  (Hebrews 6:18-19; Titus 1:2)  Is that where you are?  Is Christ your band-aid, or is He your anchor and hope --- holding you even through poverty, joblessness, struggles, persecution, famine, nakedness or death (Romans 8:35-37)?  Is the Church your place for social events --- or is it a place where you go to worship God who gave you strength this week to not give in --- comfort in your sorrow --- peace in your turmoil.  A place were like-minded sinners encourage you because they likewise have the privilege to be called "Saints" by God Almighty... and "Sons" (and "Daughters") of the Most High... and Heirs of the promise... and the called and the chosen... not by right of pride or anything they may boast of, but because God, in His Sovereign pleasure reached out to their hearts.

Lord, may we all be so humbled to remember that we are but humble servants --- not worthy of praise, but simply doing what we are supposed to be doing.  (Luke 17:10)

I'm tired....  of "Christians" who want to preach a "god" not of the bible, who believe that God is nothing but happy thoughts and plastic smiles. Try telling this to the prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah who wept over the sins of their generation.

I'm tired...  of "Christians" who believe that "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life" is a verse in the bible and who preach gospel not bent upon showing men their sinfulness before God, but call pride-filled men to come sanctify their sinfulness... as though God only cared about making every man's person dreams come true in this life.

I'm tired...  of "Christians" who take no time to read the Bible.... except the 5 or 10 verses they love to quote... and want to believe that they know the heart of God from just those verses.  (Acts 17:11)

I'm tired... of "Christians" who think you can have grace without sacrifice, mercy without repentance, and forgiveness unilaterally... who believe that they don't need to recognize their sin in order to be saved.  Ever hear the story of the prodigal son....? (Luke 15:18-19; Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:8-9)

I'm tired... of "Christians" who consider the emotions to be the only thing God cares about and who believe that the mind, the thinking process and the rational expression of logic to be satanic and an impedance to faith.  (2 Peter 1: 5-6; Isaiah 1:18) 

I'm tired... of "Christians" who don't want to confront their sin... and believe that you shouldn't either.  For whom "being my brother's keeper" is a lost concept.  (Galatians 6:1-3; 1 Corinthians 5:12-13; Leviticus 19:17)

I'm tired... of "Christians" who believe the bible to be their personal playground for creative thinking and vain imagination --- as though God waited 4,000 years for them to be born and tell us what it is really all about.  There was meaning to the Scriptures before your mother's mother's mother's mother was ever even conceived of.. you're personal opinion is a moot point.  (Galatians 1:6-9)

I'm tired... of "Christians" who have not reviewed any source of Church history and who believe that Joel Osteen, Robert Tilton, Bill Hybels and Kenneth Hagin represent the end all statements of faith for our age & generation.

I'm tired... of "Christians" who tolerate sin as if it were no big deal to God, who excuse, exonerate and cover themselves --- because they fear the responses of the men around them more than the God they say they serve.  (Matthew 6:2, 5, 16; Galatians 1:10 --- if pleasing people or your personal reputation is your great concern... YOU ARE NOT GOD'S SERVANT.  Those are Paul's own words on the matter.)

I'm tired... of "Christians" telling me I'm arrogant when I have the audacity to point these things out... even when I'm backing what I say with scripture.  John the Baptist lost his head for confronting a King over sin... and we think we should all remain silent and "Love our neighbor" by saying nothing.  (Matthew 14:3-5; Leviticus 19:17)

I'm tired... of "Christians" who exalt their worldly idols when they live in a rebellious lifestyle and refuse to listen to the authority of Scripture on how we ought to be living our lives.  (I am specifically referencing our modern "Contemporary Christian Music" Entertainment Industry --- and the myriad of horrid theologies we've allowed just because .... "They named the name of Jesus." ... that last quote was sarcastic.)  (Jude 3; 2 Peter 3:17)

I'm tired... of "Christians" who believe that God is someone they have in their shirt pocket and whom they can pull out at a moments notice.  As though God were their best buddy in the world and wasn't the epitome of holiness for whom all sin is an abomination before him.  Yes... Jesus covered our sins... but that doesn't mean that he left us here to wallow in them.  (Romans 6:1, 8:7-8)

I'm tired... of "Christians" who want to exalt themselves to being teachers on the basis of the 10 bible verses they know... for whom "Fear and trembling" mean nothing... and who give no thought or care that they might be leading hundreds or thousands astray by their careless handling of "the word of Truth".  (2 Timothy 2:15; James 3:1; Luke 17:1-2; Matthew 18:6-7; Mark 9:42)  Ever wonder why "Teachers" will be given a harsher punishment in judgment?

I'm tired... of "Christians" for whom the Bible is merely a good book to read once a week --- and not the divine expression of God's precious heart, meant to instruct, rebuke, correct and encourage us.  (well... I do have to say that they do look for the encouragement part... above all else....)   (Psalm 119:11; Psalm 1:2; 2 Timothy 3:15-16; Hebrews 4:12, 12:7,11; James 1:21)

I'm tired... of "Christians" who seek fame and glory for themselves under the pretense that they will give it back to God with a trite "God bless you" mouthed at the end of their award-acceptance speech.

I'm tired... of the cult of fame we've built and bought into --- which says that we all deserve our 15 minutes.  B***S**T!!!  My best day in my life deserves nothing from God save judgment and condemnation --- and that is where I would stay were it not for HIS mercy and HIS grace.  For there is nothing "good" in me.  (Romans 3:10-18, 23)

I'm tired... of "Christians" who pretend their lives are perfect and in order in front of the eyes of men --- for whom tears cried over personal sins are meaningless, worthless and futile and for whom repentance merely means saying a cheap "I'm sorry God" apology with no agony or grief.  (Matthew 26:75)

I'm tired... of "Christians" who think all they owe God is one day a week.... and not the totality of their lives.  (Philippians 1:21)

I'm tired... of our sinless salvation, our remorseless approach to God and our carefree attitude that belittles the very essence and reason for why Christ died.  Jesus didn't die so that you could have a better baseball season, a more perfect job or a brand new car.

I'm tired... of how cheap we've made Christianity --- how it now comes down to merely mouthing a emotional prayer in an emotional moment with little true repentance attached.  Jesus said that those who don't count the cost --- surrendering ALL that we ARE, ALL that we HAVE, and most importantly acknowledging that we are unworthy sinners whose very pride stands in the way of seeing things in proper perspective --- aren't worthy to be His disciples... try preaching that someday.  (Luke 14:33; Matthew 10:37-39; James 4:7-10)

I'm tired... that so many name the name of Christ --- but no not one thing about what it means to surrender themselves completely to His service.  Rightly did Jesus say that "MANY" would come to him on that day and say "Lord, Lord" only to hear "away from me, evil-doers, I never knew you."

I'm tired... of books that exalt "Our best life NOW" and a "Purpose-driven life" and "God wants you Healthy and Wealthy" --- and fail to exalt the King of Kings and Lord of Lords for whom Paul said "God Forbid that I should preach anything other than Christ... and Him crucified".  (1 Corinthians 2:2)

I'm tired... that we don't expose false teachers and preachers today --- we put them in the pulpits and pay them to tickle our ears.  I've honestly been told that it is not my business to look into the theology of any man, so long as that man names "Jesus" on his lips. (Matthew 7:21-23; Ephesians 5:11; Jude :17-19; 2 John :9-10; 2 Peter 3:17; 2 Timothy 4:3)

I'm tired... of ANTI-CHRISTIAN poison being spread in churches today because we believe that the Church should be molded after society and not after the bed-rock of the unchanging God who gave us His Unchanging Word with the purpose of modeling us after himself and His precious son.  Society changes on whims --- yet Jesus said that the word of God is eternal.... tell me again which I should be following. 

I'm tired... of being told that I am divisive, un-loving, critical and judging when I say something that is plainly stated in Scripture.... just because some "Christian" prefers to coddle their personal sin rather than deal with it humbly and repentantly before a Holy God.  (Galatians 6:1-3; 1st Corinthians 5)

I'm tired... that we've not merely lost the ability to discern truth from error --- but we blatantly attack anyone who tries to actually point it out to us.

I'm tired... of specialty groups lobbying for their place in the church.... or growing their own little church movements with cleverly re-worded takes on scripture.  Just think, Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed not because of blatant sexual immorality, but because they failed to serve the angels tea and crumpets!!!  I'm referring to the Metropolitan Community Church movement among other things.

I'm tired... that we have dumbed down God into some feel-good fairy godmother who's there to fix our boo-boos.  I'm likewise tired that we want to envision God as some African-american grandmother with a New Orleans accent... totally undermining every bit of Scripture that God had written ABOUT HIMSELF. (Exodus 20:4-6)  We've so many people giving their own personal take on God --- it's a wonder we've anything left of the real God to hold on to!!!  (I reference here that Abomination "The Shack" which spent weeks on the Christian Best Seller List --- and was as bad theologically as the Mormons, the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Muslims all rolled into one.)

I'm tired... that we seek manifestations of power, expressions of the physical that are merely self-exalting boasting of our supposed spirituality.  I'm sorry, but the whole speaking in Tongues thing has become nothing more than masturbation of the ego... and you can quote me on that.  And being "Slain in the Spirit"... just another means of showing ourselves off in front of others.  God curses pride --- it is the chief of sins... so tell me again how all this is for HIS glory when YOU are the one getting the recognition.   (Romans 8:26 --- tell me once more how "groans THAT CANNOT BE UTTERED..." is your personal private prayer language connecting you privately to God.   --- Tongues.... is a sign FOR NON-BELIEVERS!!! 1 Corinthians 14:22)

I'm tired... that we spurn solid teaching and good teachers  --- in favor of the flavor of the month.  Paul rightly said that in the last days men would follow after "The doctrines of demons"... how true that has become in our day and age.  (1 Timothy 4:1; Luke 18:8)

I'm tired... that we now think so little of God, of Christ and of eternity that we feel we need to fix our eyes upon this Earth and how we can save it --- instead of fixing our eyes and hearts upon the author and finisher of our faith... turning our hearts towards Heaven where He is seated at the right hand of God. (Hebrews 12:1-3; Colossians 3:1-3)

I'm tired... that we care more about saving kittens, baby seals and cows --- which are temporary things --- than we do about preaching the gospel in order that one man may repent and find forgiveness which is eternal.  What a shame that our priorities reflect such shallowness and lack of true and genuine love. (2 Timothy 3:5)

I'm tired... that we've made Christianity into a political movement --- as if God cares more about passing laws to enforce morality than He does about seeking and saving the individual souls who are lost eternally without grace.  (Luke 15:10)

I'm tired... that we've wrapped the American flag around the cross as though it belonged there.  God's not looking for us to be nationalists --- he's looking for those who's home is not in this earthly realm, who look to Him as their reward and treasure.  (Hebrews 11:10,26; 1 Peter 1:17, 2:11)

There's more I could say, but it's 2 AM over here right now and I have to be awake for school in 5 hours.  Let this stand as my own personal 95 Theses --- served upon the church today in her complacency.  May God find it in his grace to stir us to come to know him in "spirit and in truth" (John 4:24)

This one is not mine, I borrowed it from a Facebook friend from Malaysia.  It raises several good points that I honestly wish I had thought of... but will definitely have to consider and ponder for a while.

Here's the conversation.

There's a joke I have been playing for a few months now.  Kai and I will find another cat lover out somewhere on our adventures, and in the flow of conversation I will find somewhere to say "I only have 2 cats" in Chinese, while holding up 4 fingers.  The joke is I told Kai 2 cats was my limit.  And we have four cats....

now five.

Last night we stayed at a Bed 'N Breakfast in PuLi.  PuLi has the distinction of being dead center of Taiwan, top to bottom and east to west.  That means to get to PuLi you have to go through a few mountains... but let me tell you, once there, the mountains surrounding the city are amazingly beautiful. 

In trying to decide where to eat, we came upon a Christian Bookstore / restaurant run by a native Taiwanese tribe.  Curiosity piqued, we went in, looked around and sat down to one of the better meals we've had in a long while.  The food was so good that Kai had to hold me back from ordering a second round.  (The pork was done in their native tribe style with various herbs and seasonings... and man did it bring out the flavor in bold, crisp distinction!)

As we were sitting at the table.... up walks a kitten to the door.  Kai goes out to see how it is, and it immediately takes to her.  This thing can't be more than 2 months old... and here it is, people savvy.  Amazing.  It follows her in to our table --- we ask the chef / owner if he knows where the cat is from and he responds "no, never seen it before."  We talk about it, and decide that maybe it's not best for us to take it home.

We set it free.

I followed it for about 2 minutes... just to see where it would go.  It ran into a parking lot, and started exploring the weeds along the edge of the lot.  I lost sight of it as it went around the corner of a building... and went back to my meal.

Just as Kai and I were getting ready to leave... about 15-20 minutes later... up walks the kitten to the door.  We look at one another and it's settled... we will find it a new home.  The kitten allows me to pick it up, allows me to hold it while walking, allows me to take it into our car... and never once complains.  Just purrs and purrs and purrs....

It's traditional that we give every new cat a bath the moment we take it in... so at our Bed N Breakfast we was it down.... not one flea.  Ahhhhhh city life, gotta love it.  First cat we've taken in where we didn't drown at least 1 flea.  (Shou Hoo had 7 when we got him, Bi Bee had 3.  Even KiKi had a few... and she came to us from another cat owner.)   In any case, no fleas, Shou Hoo and KiKi are with us... and both have different reactions.  Shou Hoo finds the little guy (it's a boy) to be fun to play with and spends most of the night chasing him or being chased by him around the hotel room.

KiKi, on the other hand, wow.  This new cat has radically altered KiKi's demeanor.  KiKi used to be the sweetest cat we'd encountered.  We assumed that was because she is blind.  She's perfectly fearless, allowing anyone to pick her up, hold her, play with her... perfect classroom pet for a roomful of 23 1st graders.

As of last night, KiKi is now hissing, clawing and scratching at anything that comes near her.  Her normal quiet peaceful self just up and vanished.  The little guy (nameless at the moment) actually likes her and does what he can to spend time with her in a very gentle way... but KiKi doesn't want any part of it.

Sooo, that's pretty much it.  We just got home, I've a ton of laundry to do... and now we've a new cat to find a home for.

anyone out there looking for a pet?????

19 years ago, I became a Christian.  It wasn't an easy process for me --- at that point in time I had already been in the church for 10 straight years and many people believed I already was a "Christian".  I wasn't.  It was merely a game to play every Sunday --- and a list of rules for me to do or don't.  I look back in retrospect and say now that I was a moralist during those 10 years... a legalist who thought that living a good life made me a good person.  I was wrong.  Paul looked at his own early years of searching for God and said it was all nothing more than garbage on a huge garbage pile.  (Philippians 3:7-8)

I hurt a lot of people along the way with my sinfulness and in the end I brought a judgment upon myself that cost me 2 years of my life.  Thing is, though, I accepted the judgment as right and proper.  And where I sinned against someone, I did my best to go to them and repent.  My conversion was atypical in that I openly repented in front of every one.... even though it cost me everything I had at the time. (and it did).

Two people who knew me before and after I was a Christian once told me (this is a composite of their statements):

I am not kidding, those things were honestly said about me from those who knew me before and after my conversion. 

Giving birth is painful to the mother.  I am not sure if there has ever been a scientific study to find out just how painful it is for the child.  Consider for a moment what is said of giving birth (the best description I ever heard is that it's like trying to shoot a watermelon through a waterhose) and think of it from the opposing position... imagine BEING the watermelon going through the straw... ouch.

My new birth was painful.  I lost my freedom at the time.  I lost more friends than I can count.  I lost my pride... which did really hurt.  I lost my arrogance and selfishness.... God took me down to nothing, and then refashioned me as He saw fit... and it hurt.  I don't regret it in the least, though I lost family, friends, job and prestige.  These things that the world chases after because they believe they'll find fulfillment in them --- I learned that these things were worthless in the scope of eternity.  Not worth spit. 

Today is my birthday.  My spiritual birthday.  and never in a million years would I have guessed where I would be taken along the way of serving my Master, my Savior, my Lord.  If you had told me even 5 years ago that I would be a missionary... it would have seemed foreign to me.  And yet, this is where God has placed me.  If you would have told me 10 years ago that my writing would be useful... I would have laughed.  I wrote only for myself back then... and the few friends who managed to pry my notebooks out of my hands.

This was written about me yesterday by the friend I have known longest (it's now going on 30 years for us).  He was responding to my request that he read my last post (RE: We ARE all evil) and whether or not I had stepped off into heresy.   What he said really was touching --- but gave me pause to stop and think about where I've been, what I've gone through, and where God's taken me along the way.

19 years ago I became a Christian... and today, I am humbled to remember just what I've been saved from.... and how amazing the adventure has been since I humbled myself before God and repented of all my sin.  And.... I am humbled by how God can use us... if we simply obey and submit to Him without condition or reservation clauses.  I am a sinner.  I know grace.  And by that grace my life is all the richer and more precious.  Amen.

This is not the post I intended to be next, but I came to realize that in order to post the next post, I had to re-introduce a term that we've lost sight of.  A term critical to understanding why Jesus had to die and why God himself has to call us to himself.  That term is evil, and if my last mini-post is any indication (18 views, no comments) then there is a serious deficiency in how we understand and view the term now-a-days.

There are roughly 450 passages in the Bible which speak of "Evil".  I've taken the time to review each and every one and make notes... it took me several days time.  In doing so I came to understand that those things we call "sins" are called by God "EVIL" and that there is a good reason that Jesus point blank stated that it is our core nature.  We ARE Evil.

In our modern day and age, we've come to view Evil as something --- SOMEONE --- ELSE which does that which surpasses the standard for normal civil or societal behavior.  The Starbucks worker who fouled up your order is not "evil" --- Hitler is evil.  The driver who cut you off in traffic this morning is not "evil" --- Jeffrey Dahlmer is evil.  It seems to come down to something of a numerical statistic ---- Kill "X" number of people and BAM... you're evil.  When Osama Bin Lama laid to waste the World Trade Center in New York he was "EVIL"... but before that time, he was merely a bad man.

Yet, Jesus says this

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL.  (John 3:19)

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, THOUGH YOU ARE EVIL, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Jesus seemed to believe that all men were evil, by nature... and that all our deeds were evil as well. 

How does that sit with you?  Do you believe that?  Have you looked at yourself today and thought "My, how evil I am."   We seem to think of ourselves in pure terms that are condoning of our flesh.  "I'm Ok, You're Ok"... so the modern fairytale tells us.  Surely "God made me this way" and noone has the right to question my behavior --- thus we pour our excuses out for our behavior and justify our selves --- It's not my fault, God's the one to blame!

In going through the Bible verses, I found that every one of the Ten Commandments ---- Every one of them ---- is viewed as evil if you break them.  Commit Adultry?  It's evil in the eyes of God.  Sex before marriage?  It's evil in the eyes of God.   Break a vow (a promise)... it's evil in the eyes of God.  Lie, cheat, steal --- they are all more than mere sins --- they are all counted as evil somewhere in merely the first 5 books of Scripture.  Even --- now get this --- disobeying your parents... is evil in the eyes of God.  (It's counted as rebellion and stubbornness)  As I stated.... nearly every single one of the Ten Commandments is represented.  If you break them... you are evil. 

Footnote:  I found this one extremely fascinating --- the law of Lex Talionis (Latin: An Eye for an eye) was said of those who bear false witness!!!!  If you go before a court of law with the intent of seeing someone else get hurt and you are found to be a false-witness --- then let it be done TO YOU as you sought for it to be done TO THEM.    Check it for yourself.... Deuteronomy 19:16-21  --- LIARS.... should have come back upon themselves the evil that they sought to push upon others.  Does that make you scared in the least?

If you show contempt for the ruling of a court of law --- a ruling that wasn't in your favor, say --- your contempt is seen as evil by God. And on and on it goes.

Time and again I read the term evil as it was applied to things we barely hesitate to notice today.  Someone screwing someone else's wife.... oh, that's not evil, that's merely an affair --- it's bad only if you get caught.  Cheating on your taxes --- that's not evil, that's just making sure you stick it to the government for all that they didn't give to you.  Breaking the speed limit --- it's to be expected, everyone else is doing it.  There is nothing that we do anymore which we define as "EVIL".... and yet it seems that time and again the Bible specifically labels it that way. 

Today we live in an age that tells us that we're basically good at heart, that we are not bad people, that we are ok so long as what we do doesn't hurt anyone else.  As long as it makes our feelings tingle and happy and doesn't violate whatever moral society is currently aping.... then you must be good, cause very few people are "EVIL".... we're all "Good" men & women.

In the end, though, for all I could write about the Bible saying what is evil... it's really the dictionary that is going to condemn us all.

e·vil   [ee-vuhl]

adjective

1. morally wrong or bad; immoral; wicked: evil deeds; an evil life.

2. harmful; injurious: evil laws.

3. characterized or accompanied by misfortune or suffering; unfortunate; disastrous: to be fallen on evil days.

4. due to actual or imputed bad conduct or character: an evil reputation.

5. marked by anger, irritability, irascibility, etc.: He is known for his evil disposition.

noun

6. that which is evil; evil quality, intention, or conduct: to choose the lesser of two evils.

7. the force in nature that governs and gives rise to wickedness and sin.

8. the wicked or immoral part of someone or something: The evil in his nature has destroyed the good.

9. harm; mischief; misfortune: to wish one evil.

10. anything causing injury or harm: Tobacco is considered by some to be an evil.

Dictionary.com's definition for the record.

Someone marked by anger has "an evil" disposition.  Wish harm or mischief on someone is to wish one "Evil".  Something that is morally wrong or bad encompasses "an evil life" (although our modern age would question any seeming sense of morality)....  seems that from merely a dictionary definition that something far more encompassing of basic sinful intent or actions would be pointed to.  If simple bad conduct can garner someone an "Evil reputation" --- then maybe all of us ARE evil.... whether we think so or not.