Kindled

The light Jesus kindles is never exhausted in making a situation clear. Cold light has no part in the kingdom of God. Intelligent recognitions, systematic clarity of thought, and sharp discernment – this is not what Jesus is talking about. We cannot try to think as God might through our power of reason. What matters is to live in and from God’s heart. Like the sun, quickening warmth belongs to the brightness of his being. The light he gives creates community and draws people together in joy, with love flowing from the depths of their souls and finding expression in constructive deeds – deeds that build up and never destroy.

-Eberhard Arnold

For The New Year

The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards (1722-1723)

Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ's sake.

Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God's glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad's of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.

2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the aforementioned things.

3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.

4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.

9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

11. Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances don't hinder.

12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.

13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.

14. Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.

15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.

16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.

17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.

18. Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.

19. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.

20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.

21. Resolved, never to do anything, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.

22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.

23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God's glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution.

24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.

25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

26. Resolved, to cast away such things, as I find do abate my assurance.

27. Resolved, never willfully to omit anything, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.

28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.

30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.

31. Resolved, never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is

perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by the test of this Resolution.

32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that in Prov. 20:6, "A faithful man who can find?" may not be partly fulfilled in me.

33. Resolved, always to do what I can towards making, maintaining, establishing and preserving peace, when it can be without over-balancing detriment in other respects. Dec.26, 1722.

34. Resolved, in narration's never to speak anything but the pure and simple verity.

35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.

36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it. Dec. 19, 1722.

37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself: also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec.22 and 26, 1722.

38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord's day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.

39. Resolved, never to do anything that I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or no; except I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.

40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.

41. Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.

42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1722-23.

43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God's, agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12. Jan.12, 1723.

44- Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. Jan.12, 1723.

45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan.12 and 13.1723.

46. Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eve: and to be especially careful of it, with respect to any of our family.

47. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented, easy, compassionate, generous, humble, meek, modest, submissive, obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable, even, patient, moderate, forgiving, sincere temper; and to do at all times what such a temper would lead me to. Examine strictly every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning. May 5,1723.

48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or no; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.

49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it.

50. Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.

51. Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.

53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.

54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723.

55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, 1723.

56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether ~ have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as providence orders it, I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. June 9, and July 13 1723.

58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May27, and July 13, 1723.

59. Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July ii, and July 13.

60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4, and 13, 1723.

61. Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it-that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc. May 21, and July 13, 1723.

62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Eph. 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man; "knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord." June 25 and July 13, 1723.

63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. Jan.14' and July '3' 1723.

64. Resolved, when I find those "groanings which cannot be uttered" (Rom. 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those "breakings of soul for the longing it hath," of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be wear', of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton's 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26, and Aug.10 1723.

66. Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.

67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.

68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.

70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak.

The Excellent Way

"Only he who knows God knows what love is."

Love is that which carries all things despite the weight of that which it bears. It has faith in potential, even when that potential is intangible and unseen. It is raised up in the hope of God while everything around it is burned to the ground. It looks kindly upon those who afflict, and try to douse it's flame - it continues in the darkness. Love unites the universe in it's constancy. Love sees everything as nothing, yet holds it with highest value.

Indescribable

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever has faith in Him will not perish, but possess everlasting life."

"And the Word became flesh, and dwelled among us, and we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father's only son, full of grace and truth."

We must understand, especially in this Christmas season, that the world in which we live is damaged and broken. We know it is broken because we see the pain and hardship of people we know. And as time and life progress, we begin to experience the various pains of our existence. We see unjust governments exploiting the poor, women devalued sexually, people dying because they do not have simple remedies to common ills, women murdering babies because they are inconvenient, society pocketing the weak because they cannot support themselves, and many other injustices that may come to mind as you read this list. And then, we are left to examine ourselves. We see that we are unable to love and protect the ones dearest to us from our selfishness; that is, we see that we cannot reach even a reasonable standard of human decency. We sow division, discord, hatred, disrespect for parents, envy, impurity of all sorts, anger, greed, and sexual immorality. We emanate coldness to others from the coldness that resides within our hearts. The world is moving a profound rate of what is opposite to love and is quickly heaping up a massive reward. All of this is based on the fact that we have within us, when we are born, an inward inclination towards doing what is evil. This in an of itself separates us from life given by God and condemns us to the judgement of eternity. When we stand in the day of our death, we will have to give an answer for how we have failed in this life - why we have participated in damaging others and ourselves. We will have no reason that is adequate to excuse ourselves from being rewarded the consequences of our faults. God's judgement is simply receiving what you have lived in your life, so none of us can stand naked before the unraveling of our days and say that we have received some injustice from His hand. The most distinctive way to put together the revealed person of God as given by Scriptures, is to say that He is the Holy, Loving, and Consuming Fire that has burned bright for eternity past, present, and future. Because He is all of this and man is made in this image, man will stand before him and be judged according to the pattern being shown forth from his heart, and into his life. Therefore, we are all condemned to receive eternal punishment for being who we are, and living that apart from life.

Because man is enslaved at his birth to a cycle of sin and death, God poured Himself out completely in order to establish a pattern of life for humanity, restoration of man from His brokenness, and perfection of a right relationship of man with God (faith). In the sacrifice of Jesus, grace and truth have been poured out fully upon man for his salvation. In other words, these things have been medicinally applied to the heart of man in order that he may be restored and completed by God. Thus man may know that God loves him: God gave everything up, even limited Himself, in order to be with us, know us, and heal us. The profound God of the ages who cannot be approached by any man needs to walk with us, experience life with us, and make us a true people for our good and His glory. He has met us in the brokenness of who we are in Jesus, and in Jesus alone can we live in peace and completion. Because of God's need to interact with man, Jesus gave Himself over in death to place an eternally continuous life into the hands of mankind. We now have no fear of perishing before God because God has given us a good faith and made us possessors of everlasting life.

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"

Sacrifice

Gasoline does not create fire, nor will it sustain it. It can only intensify it's glare for a moment. When that moment has passed, the fire will return to it's original shape and form. Fire can only be created by another entity giving of itself entirely. Thus the life and nature of a tree is completely sacrificed in order to create and sustain a fire. So also, a Christian cannot enter the Kingdom of God by his emotions, but through the suffering of Jesus Christ with and for us for the accomplishment of the glory of God, and our peace.

I knew more then in my ignorance, than I know now in my wisdom - this world holds nothing for me (And I lay before Your cross).

Nothing is certain. You ask me lay upon the knife, yet i would rather plunge it into my heart. Please make this go away. How? Nothing is certain.

Beggars

Once there lived a small woman within a large town. She was once a beautiful girl who was given plenty of opportunities to live in happiness and joy. The problem, that has come about through the continuance of an unwise and unredeemed heart, is a presently squandered life. She now lives with a man who is not her husband and walks in the company of sadness and disrepair. Her treasures consist of people who will love her and take her in; who despite all of her foolishness, will care for her. She has other treasures of course. The fragments of what should be, exploited by what is. Inordinate pleasures of passion taking the place of quietness and joy - love of the world and the things in it rather than the love of Jesus. All in all, a profound chaos replacing the silent order of God. Yet a glimmer of God's love shines through it all. It remains, placed permenantly there testifying that God's truth is revealed in mercy, and that mercy is granted to the truest, most honest, and loudest beggars of grace.

Kyrie, expurgator scelerum et largitor gratitæ quæsumus propter nostrasoffensas noli nos relinquere, O consolator dolentis animæ, eleyson. Amen.

The Knights

There were once two men who claimed to know Jesus Christ. The first man was an accomplished college graduate who through the talent of a sharp mind was able to start a prominent business, a family, and acquire the social grace of elder in a Presbyterian Church. He lived happily (as he had everything) and was well respected within the spheres of business and Church. His life was filled with the good things. Because of this, his family never wanted. Also, he was a man of principle who sought to run the Church and it's affairs in a fashion that was decent and in order. He made it his point to study theology and think on the heavy matters that within the word of God, and he succeeded much to the happiness of his congregation.

The second man was less than half that fortunate. He was an impetuous, imbalanced man who seemed to have come to all knowledge as a result of personal failure mingled with a desperation before God to receive help and guidance. Day in and day our he went to serve tables to earn his wages - he happened to just be able to afford a one room apartment. No matter the terrible circumstances, he was able, every evening in the privacy of his home, to pour out his heart before his faithful God in prayer. Usually when he arose from his hour of prayer he had the strange, and unexplainable determination to continue to press forward despite feelings of depression and sadness over past failures that always haunted him. He looked to God for knowledge of personal sin and for redemption - always, he sought to please God with his time and work. He never married, never retired, and never had a visible position at the Church.

Which of these men had faith in God?

Responsibility cannot be overlooked and weakness is frail before the Almighty

If you falter in times of trouble,
how small is your strength!

Rescue those being led away to death;
hold back those staggering toward slaughter.

If you say, "But we knew nothing about this,"
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?

Eat honey, my son, for it is good;
honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.


~Wisdom of God in the Proverbs

Framework of Faith

The True Light which in enlightens men

Truth is the most important object in relation to humanity. It frames the weight of the matter and what is proposed in it's name. It is that which has been revealed, that which has been hidden, that which stands alone and erect as law, and that which alternately, is mired by diverse opinions of men. Truth is the immutable structure of what is seen, and also the unknown framework of what remains unseen. It is the unmovable constant of being in an unconstant universe in the state of becoming. It is the steady eye of condemnation upon dishonest society, as it is the judge and arbitrater of the unknown. Truth is the absurd of the dishonest, whereas what is dishonest is, alternately, the absurd to Truth. This Truth is the seat of Faith, that which has been revealed to the ones groping in darkness. It is the deep cavernous planet which sustains all inhabitants of wisdom and knowledge while supporting in it's profound deep the existential possibility of faith. Though it's surface is deeply explored, it's deep remains mysterious, yet remains there a solemn absolute testifying to the One thing. Truth is the ontological question and answer that remains. Toward man it is expressed as sunlight in the forest touching the tallest trees as well as the most obscure bush. It may also be rendered a needle sowing together the sinews of loose cloth to produce a useful article of clothing. Truth makes order from chaos, stillness from motion, productivity from unproductivity, and answers from questions.

Your eyes of eternity touch us. May we properly be filled with Your Light.

Amen.

Imperishable Love

"What is it that makes a person unwavering, more unwavering than a rock; what is it that makes him soft, softer than wax? It is love. What is it that cannot be taken but itself takes all? It is love. What is it that cannot be given but itself gives all? It is love. What is it that remains when everything falls away? It is love. What is it that does not cease when the vision ends? It is love. What is it that sheds light when the dark saying ends? It is love. What is it that gives blessing to the abundance of the gift? It is love. What is it that makes the widow’s gift an abundance? It is love. What is it that turns the words of the simple person into wisdom? It is love. What is it that is never changed even though everything is changed? It is love; and that alone is love, that which never becomes something else."

~Kierkegaard

Fear and Trembling

"Unite my heart to fear your Name."

"The Fear of the Lord is clean."


These verses come from the ancient psalms yet remain highly relevant for the people of God today. I think that the problems within the modern Church are so plentiful because people who claim the name of the Lord do not fear Him. These problems consist of divisions, immorality, weakness of worship, weakness of interest, and an overall weakness of heart when it comes to the important business of God. I could write a whole post specifically listing the fine points of weakness in the Church, but that is not the heart of dilemma, nor is it the direct matter of my attention here. The heart of the dilemma is a general boredom when approaching the matters of God. To fear the Lord is to be lost in wonder when considering the greatness of who He is. When we do this, our consideration of our worth is reduced and we grow increasingly aware of the insignificant interests to which we hold. In fact the whole human race, because of it's brokenness, is without significance. It is like a clock that keeps on ticking but keeps the wrong time. The dance that we dance--the endless motions of drudgery day in and day out that cloud our ability to prioritize the fear an due wonder before God. We must come back to the fact that we are granted one day of breath in eternity-a people fashioned in the image of the living God. We are a people who possess the fear of Isaac. When we approach God and when we seek Him we are to do so considering all of this and what it is exactly we are coming to:

"For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. For they could not bear the command, 'If even a beast touches the mountain it will be stoned.' And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, 'I am full of fear and trembling.' But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels in festal gathering, to the church of the firstborn ones, those who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel."

If we fear God then our worship will be arighted. Our actions will be seasoned with salt, our prayers will be full of understanding, our approach to the Scriptures will be humble and we will have brilliant fellowship that is pleasing to God. We fear God because we have His promises and because the One who calls us is the great I AM. Thus because God will begin His judgement with His house, we are to be holy and blameless without spot or wrinkle while traversing upon the days that God has appointed for us. If we fear God, we will recognize that this is no small thing and beg for the grace of God to aid us. We fear God because we are chosen not to be like the wicked of the world who are chaff prepared for the day of fire. God has extended His hand to us in Jesus and has saved us from our sin and damnation. The Holy One who did not know sin because it was not in His nature became sin for us that we may be displayed as the righteousness of God through eternity. We are chosen for adoption according to the pleasure of God. This monumental, ageless act of love shown by the Lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world should cause us to tremble, understanding the price of our consecration and being wary lest a root of bitterness against God cause us to fail obtaining Christ's grace.
To fear God is to elect wisdom and begin it's healing procedure.

May God take away the shame of a lazy ungrateful people! May God strike us with the rod from His mouth that we may fear Him! May God take away the love of the world in His Church! May God pour forth His knowledge of Himself that we may tremble because we have begun to consider the identiy of who we are because God has revealed His identity to us!

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord."

Regarding Skepticism and Doubt

"All the objections to Christianity – what are they, after all, to the person who in truth is conscious of being a sinner and who has experienced belief in the forgiveness of sins and in this faith is saved from his sin? One conceivable objection might be: Yes, but is it not still possible for you to be saved in some other way? But how can one reply to this? One cannot. It is just like a person in love. If someone were to say: Yes, but you could perhaps have fallen in love with another – then he must answer: To this I cannot reply, for I know only one thing, that this is my beloved. As soon as the person who is in love tries to reply to this objection, he is by that very fact not a believer."

~Kierkegaard

[to be none]

"Christ requires followers and defines precisely what he means by this. They are to be salt, willing to be sacrificed. But to be salt and to be sacrificed is not something that the thousands naturally go for, still less millions, or (still less!) countries, kingdoms, states, and (absolutely not!) the whole world."

~Soren Kierkegaard

Godly Sorrow

"There is a longing after God, a confidence in God, a comfort and hope
in God, a love, a frankheartedness but what most surely finds
Him is perhaps a sorrow after God. Sorrow after God that is no
fleeting mood which promptly vanishes with a nearer approach
to God; on the contrary, it is perhaps deepest when it draws
nearest to God, as one who thus sorrows is more fearful for himself
the nearer he comes to God."

~Soren Kierkegaard

Dividing Line

"It is not true that everything religious is united and everything irreligious belongs to the other side. It would be nearer the truth to draw a dividing line right through both the religious and the nonreligious."

~Eberhard Arnold

p88888

God's expression of love is the blood from his slit wrist on the cross now availed for lifeless souls throughout History.

Untitled

A story by a man about a woman


a man once was given the task of guarding over a young woman. - the young woman, unfortunately, was turned into a grotesque demon every full moon, so that she was unrecognizable. on one such night the man was standing guard outside of her house, not knowing that she had snuck out the back. he was beginning to dose off while standing up when he heard a commotion in the front courtyard. he grabbed his bow and quiver and ran out to find a monstrous demon trudging towards him, malice gleaming in its eyes. in that moment, fear gripping him, the man forgot that the woman transformed on nights such as these when the full moon was out, and he fired three arrows in rapid succession at the beast, which groaned and fell to the ground. Upon falling the girl transformed into herself again.
At that moment, the girl's father - the king - ran out and yelled at the sight of the young woman lying in the courtyard, wounded and covered in blood. "you clumsy oaf!" he shouted at the man. "couldn't you see it was her? you knew she transformed on nights where the full moon shined! as for me, i will never let you stand guard at my palace again!"
the man with the bow looked up with tears in his eyes. "your majesty, all i wanted was to protect your daughter the princess," he replied. "in the moment of peril i was not thinking clearly. please do not judge my ability as a guardsman based on my erroneous decision in the moment of crisis."

~Anonymous

The Kierkegaarden Alternatives

"The truth is a snare: you cannot have it, without being caught. You cannot have the truth in such a way that you catch it, but only in such a way that it catches you."

"The paradox is really the pathos of intellectual life and just as only great souls are exposed to passions it is only the great thinker who is exposed to what I call paradoxes, which are nothing else than grandiose thoughts in embryo."

"Destroy your primitivity, and you will most probably get along well in the world, maybe achieve great success -- but Eternity will reject you. Follow up your primitivity, and you will be shipwrecked in temporality, but accepted by Eternity."

"The more a man can forget, the greater the number of metamorphoses which his life can undergo, the more he can remember the more divine his life becomes."

~Soren Kierkegaard

"You need to become absolutely determined to follow Jesus. It is not true that you are too weak to overcome sin – that is a lie of the devil. In Jesus it is possible to overcome sin. That is why he died on the cross. Live totally for him."

~J.H Arnold

My general experience and a plausable solution

It should be unbearable to those of us who believe if we are worthless for the task for which we have been put on earth. We have been placed in the midst of creation, but sadly we have lost the feeling that we are here for a purpose, not for ourselves, but for something far greater – to be servants of the living one. This is what makes us feel so sad, so defeated. People mostly sit in church thinking only about themselves. Each one bemoans his own lot and looks for something in himself and for himself, without really knowing what God’s purpose for the earth is. One would like to cry out to them all, “Good people, forget yourselves! Think of God’s cause! Start working for that! Or at least be sorry, not that things are going badly for you, but that you have nothing better to do than concern yourselves with your own petty affairs.”

~Blumhardt

The blessing of God invoked

Then those who feared the LORD(A) spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and(B) a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name. "They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up(D) my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you shall(E) see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

Hope of the Lord

It is good to wait quietly (A)

for deliverance from the LORD. (B)

It is good for a man to bear the yoke (C)
while he is [still] young.

Let him sit alone and be silent, (D)
for God has disciplined him.

Let him put his mouth in the dust (E) —
perhaps there is [still] hope.

Let him offer [his] cheek
to the one who would strike him; (F)
let him be filled with shame.

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. Only let us hold fast to what we have attained."

This is the adventure of faith that Paul defines as his desired pursuit. Knowing Christ and desiring to to partake in His life giving power knowing that the suffering inflicted from this deadened world for the name of Jesus to those who have received life is just a passing affliction. When we seek to be apart of Jesus, everything is transformed and the world's passions grow dim in the light of the great Creator-God.

"Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.

This is the admonition of the Apostle to the Saints in Corinth--to seek out the life and to bear the suffering of Jesus in order to experience the power of God. He would have all of the Saints of God cultivate this lifestyle of the imitation of Christ. In doing this we fulfill the great commandment of love given by the Lord Christ. May we always, through difficulties, seek to have an uninhibited fellowship with Christ-God who has in every way become our Prophet, Priest, and King. For Jesus is the source of life, wisdom from God, righteousness, holiness and redemption--Christ is our boast of true, everlasting life.

The Testimony of Levi

And as He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the Toll Office, and said to him, Follow me." So he rose and followed Him.

This Scripture passage is often seen as merely an introduction of Levi the son of Alphaeus in the life of Jesus. What generally happens to most people when they read this is that they overlook the elements of faith and practical discipleship contained in here that determine the intensity of the Son of God when He calls people to a life patterned by the cross. What needs to be understood is that Levi left his State appointed place of work and followed Jesus immediately. To put forth the consequences of this miraculous circumstance, Levi left his source of wealth, his allegiance to the State, the comforts of indulgent lifestyle, the company of like-minded individuals and (perhaps most significantly) his love for money. Instead, of these tangible benefits Levi gained the reward of an unstable lifestyle, persecution, rejection, and the love of the Son of God. Levi did not make excuses about how or why he must leave his means of monetary employment in order to follow Jesus, he simply did without questioning accepting all of the difficulties of discipleship and what it entails in order to have a lasting treasure. In a day where excuses abound, we are still required to live by a radical unsure faith. We must look to the testimony of Levi and of the disciples throughout History to determine the legitimacy of our faith in Jesus. May God grant us this great reward despite the troubles we have here. Remember these words:

"The Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings for you people who fear my name. You will go out and leap like calves let out of a stall."


"Come to me, all you toiling and burdened ones, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For it is good to bear my yoke, and my burden is light."

On Difficulty

"I am quite sure that at the cross we can be victorious over all things that come to us in life, whatever they may be."

J.H. Arnold

"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek it's own, is not provoked, thinks no wrong..."

This love is what holds the Christian Church above the world; this love demonstrates that the people of G-d are alive and speak. If we are vital, than we will ask G-d for the highest of gifts, which is the love of G-d. When we look at our lives, we must look at them in the mirror of G-d's love and compassion for us when He gave us Jesus as an atonement for sin and an offering of life to humanity. Because of the love that we have for Jesus and each other, we are distinct altogether from the pattern of this world because this love is alien to the nature of mankind. Therefore, we must ask the Lord to grant us the ability to see others as we ought--in the light of His love and grace.

"A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Least

"People do not get crucified for charity.
People are crucified for living out a love that
disrupts the social order, that calls forth a new world.
People are not crucified for helping poor people.
People are crucified for joining them."

A Lesson from the Shepherd of Hermas

AS IN WINTER GREEN TREES CANNOT BE DISTINGUISHED FROM WITHERED, SO IN THIS WORLD NEITHER CAN THE JUST FROM THE UNJUST.

He showed me many trees having no leaves, but withered, as it seemed to me; for all were alike. And he said to me, "Do you see those trees?" "I see, sir," I replied, "that all are alike, and withered." He answered me, and said, "These trees which you see are those who dwell in this world." "Why, then, sir," I said, "are they withered, as it were, and alike?" "Because," he said, "neither are the righteous manifest in this life, nor sinners, but they are alike; for this life is a winter to the righteous, and they do not manifest themselves, because they dwell with sinners: for as in winter trees that have cast their leaves are alike, and it is not seen which are dead and which are living, so in this world neither do the righteous show themselves, nor sinners, but all are alike one to another."

The Shepherd of Hermas

ON FAITH IN GOD.

FIRST Of all, believe that there is one God who created and finished all things, and made all things out of nothing. He alone is able to contain the whole, but Himself cannot be contained. Have faith therefore in Him, and fear Him; and fearing Him, exercise self-control. Keep these commands, and you will cast away from you all wickedness, and put on the strength of righteousness, and live to God, if you keep this commandment.

Hosea exhorts the wise to repent

Hosea 14

Prophetic Call to Genuine Repentance

Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God,
for your sin has been your downfall!
Return to the Lord and repent!
Say to him: “Completely forgive our iniquity;
accept our penitential prayer,
that we may offer the praise of our lips as sacrificial bulls.
Assyria cannot save us;
we will not ride warhorses.
We will never again say, ‘Our gods’
to what our own hands have made.
For only you will show compassion to Orphan Israel!”

Divine Promise to Relent from Judgment and to Restore Blessings

“I will heal their waywardness
and love them freely,
for my anger will turn away from them.
I will be like the dew to Israel;
he will blossom like a lily,
he will send down his roots like a cedar of Lebanon.
His young shoots will grow;
his splendor will be like an olive tree,
his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.
People will reside again in his shade;
they will plant and harvest grain in abundance.
They will blossom like a vine,
and his fame will be like the wine from Lebanon.
O Ephraim, I do not want to have anything to do with idols anymore!
I will answer him and care for him.
I am like a luxuriant cypress tree;
your fruitfulness comes from me!
Concluding Exhortation
Who is wise?
Let him discern these things!
Who is discerning?
Let him understand them!
For the ways of the Lord are right;
the godly walk in them,
but in them the rebellious stumble.

Quotes on Prayer

"Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness know Him. He reveals Himself to such people -- those who spend time in prayer. We see our face sometimes not in a mirror but in a river, but when there are waves in the river we are not able to see ourselves. When our lives are full of hurry and bustle we fail to see ourselves, but in a quiet place we see ourselves and we shall be entirely changed -- a new life. Then we shall not be ashamed. We shall know Him by living with Him -- and we must live in Him through a life of prayer."

"Prayer is to live in Him for others. We can't stop breathing in the air of the Holy Spirit, and by the Holy Spirit we are being prepared for the world to come -- for the Kingdom of God where we are going to spend eternity. We have not been created to live in this world forever but to get ready for our Heavenly Home."

One thing to be remembered......

Our lives are as fragile as glass, the one thing to be remembered of lovers and followers of Jesus, is that we have a common will with the inmost heart of the One whom we serve. May the one thing to be lived for, and died in, be knowlege of the heart of God. May we be remembered by those in History as those who carry out the purposes of our God in this world.

We are fragile whispers while here, but if we endure, we shall be approved by God in His Love.

Beatitudes

Blessed is the person who looks truthfully at the Word of God and carries it out.

Blessed is the man who will not let the Light of God leave his heart, for he is valiant in the eyes of God.

Blessed are they who endure hardship for the Gospel with determination for the have all the power of heaven and earth on their side.

Blessed are the poor in this world who trust God, because they have placed themselves in the hands of their faithful Creator and God's Kingdom is theirs.

Blessed are the mourners, because the heart of God is yours.

Blessed are those who fight for righteousness and peace in this world for their suffering is temporary and their glory is eternal.

Blessed are those who are holy in heart, for they see their neighbors in rags and love them (they shall see God).

Blessed are the firmly gentle ones, for they shall inherit the land.

Blessed are you who are hated and slandered because of your love of Jesus Christ, for Christ is truly yours.

Blessed are the alms givers of mercy for you shall be given God's mercy.

The Blessings of the World

Blessed are you who seek peace, rest, and quiet in your life for you will never find it.

Blessed are you who live from day to day for money, for you are wasting your time.

Blessed are you who have comfort, for that is all you ever will have.

Blessed are you politicians, for you make our decisions for us.

Blessed are you who live in the shopping malls, because therein is happiness.

Blessed are you homosexuals, because you are normal.

Blessed are you sexually immoral, because you have found lonliness.

Blessed are you who go to college, because you are our better individuals.

Blessed are you people who store lots of money, because you are forever poor.

Blessed are you who believe that there is no God, for you have gotten what you want--irresponsibility.

Blessed are you religious leaders, for you bring confusion to the masses.

Blessed are you porn stars, for you make society healthy.

Blessed are you celebrities, for you are the model citizens of America and everyone loves you.

Blessed are you who recieve these words and are spoken well of by the world, for you are void of any life.

Suubi

Perhaps I am just slightly radical when I say this, but I am convinced that the Gospels are a manifesto of sorts to all people who see their need for a hope because of the desperation of life or circumstance. I mean, to paint a sad picture of this, we just need to look briefly at modern philosophers. Albert Camus said that the only serious philosophical problem that we need to consider is suicide. Fyoder Dostoyevsky said that without God, all things are permitted. These are depressing statements because they indicate that life is indeed a hopeless experience without God. Albert Camus was right--if there is no God then the only serious problem worth consideration is suicide. This lonliness of being is the backdrop, or the darkness of the human soul. Lonliness will lead to moral blindness because God alone is life, and this Life is the Light of humankind (John 1). To be awakened in the natural birth, then to develop in body and mind only to realize that you are alone in an absurd, fallen world is death indeed.

Mark opens up his book by introducing the Son of God as Good News. Good News of what? Good News that by a faith and courage, we can follow Jesus and have hope in a new life through the sacrifice of a loving God. The whole point of the Marcan Gospel is that God has appointed us to live for Him with our heart, soul, strength,and mind in deeply rooted discipleship of Jesus. I am filled with joy when I read and consider the Scriptures because the Helper tells me that all of what has been said in this book is true and that we have a hope. We do not need to be afraid, or to become lost in the seemingly hopeless waste of modern society. Their is an anchor that will hold us in new Life, the Holy One, Jesus Christ.

Overall, the Gospels bear the testimony of Jesus Christ who came as the revelation, dispertion of Life, and the will of the Father (John 1, John 10:10, and 12:50). These are essential a manifesto of God by which we begin to grow in understanding of what God has done for us and do what He commands of us. Finally, in the that Jesus is who He says He is, we should all be filled with Hope that by knowing the true God, we have passed from death into Life. In the death of Jesus we are made whole and bound together in faith. Let us never forget the power God gives in new Life lest we be filled with dread in consideration of the world and it's prestence.
Remain in the peace of the Father, and the world can never harm you in the lonliness it offers.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Protesting War

This is a fascinating video that i found. Those curious about non-violent protesting should have a look at this.

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=dorothy+day&hl=en&emb=0&aq=1&oq=dorothy+d#

Christarchist Pt 2. The problem

Another reason that I truly believe that Christian Anarchism is the perfect political alternative is because we have the freedom to separate and unite: separate from this world and it's patterns and unite to one another for the cause of Gospel living. What is old is incompatible with what is new. Thus an old and carnal system of life is not reconcilable with those who put their hands to the plough exploring the alternative of Gospel living. The problems with the social system today are listed here:

1. Our social setting is money. Because greed and waste have been mighty architects, the mass of society is left bankrupt of true life (one of peace).

2. We have made sought to progress in may ways simply for the sake of progression and not for the glory of God. Doing this we encourage society to turn from God and seek self preservation--we lose the necessary fear and dependance on God.

3. Education is secular--we teach alienation from the life of God.

Christarchist Pt.1 The Individual

i am a Chistarchist. Christ-archism is the alternative of Anarchism. I know this is a realatively new concept to be heard for most people because of the fact that a "christian right" has been the only political option for most people who attend mainstream denominations in America (at least where i am from). An-archism, etymologically means "no ruler", while Christ-archism is the belief in the "Christ ruler". The more I read the Bible, particularly the books of Daniel and 1 Samuel, I am convinced that God intended for Himself a people who held their sole allegiance to Him. In the books of Samuel, we see God's people rebel and grieve God's Spirit as they beg for monarchal rule. God in His anger grants them this, but at a price. God promises His people that with a king will come many forms of injustice upon the people (1 Samuel 8). In Daniel, there is portrayed an everlasting Kingdom of God (Dan 4:31-32), this Kingdom is also presented in the Gospel of Mark by Jesus. Daniel had such clear meditation of this Kingdom, and all who fear God can see it coming eventually, but the thing that we must see today is the fact that we are citizens of heaven and must live as sojourners here on earth; that is, we must live for and by the One who has called us to Himself.

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is called the Son of God. This is easily overlooked today as just one of Jesus' many titles, but it is extremely significant to the identity of Christ in relation to His people. During the days of Jesus, the title "son of god" was reserved for the emperor of Rome. This emperor was considered the incarnation and presence of god on earth, and people under Roman rule were required to worship the emperor. Mark commits blasphemy against the State by attributing this title to Jesus, the true incarnation of God. What Mark asserts in the first verse of his Gospel is that Jesus is worthy of worship and that the emperor is a pretender; Jesus is our Ruler and will receive glory, not a profligate man deluded by his own position. Mark also talks a great deal about the humanity of Jesus. This is shown by the title, "son of man". Jesus humbled Himself and lived for the purpose given to Him by the Father: to love, teach and die for the people of God. He came to serve His people and teach them how to serve others. The purpose of Mark's Gospel is to teach Christians who Jesus is and how we are to follow Him. Thus we find our identity as Christians and God's identity revealed to us: the paradoxial nature of glory and humility revealed in the man/God Jesus.

All this said, i do not recognize authority on earth. i submit to establishments of government, but i submit to them according to the Biblical standard (Romans 12). i understand that Jesus is my Messiah, Prophet, Priest, and my King; thus i find it unecessary to associate myself with the government of the United States. i understand the instruction of Jesus on how to live life. If I follow this instruction, I do what is best for humanity for the glory of God. The commandments of Jesus can be summed up in love for God, then love for humanity.

Eberhard Arnold

Here are some important excerpts from the book, God's Revolution. i hope these may be of some use to you:


"Faith will bring about true unity among believers who are ready to live a life of unlimited, active love. "


"We ought constantly to occupy our minds and hearts with the person of Jesus: who He is, what He said, how He lived, how He died, and what His resurrection means. We have to take in the full import of His words in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5–7) and in the parables, and we have to represent to all the world the same things He represented in His life."



"Nowhere among the early Christians do we find the cold light of intellectual understanding that constantly analyzes and differentiates. Instead, there was the Spirit that burned within their hearts and made their souls alive." (Col. 2:8–10)



"What is unique about the way Jesus has shown us is that no one but God is in authority, no one else has the right to say anything. So it is quite right to speak of God’s kingly rule. God alone has the rulership. He alone is King. That is the Kingdom of God. "

Holiness...maybe incommunicable.

I recently returned from the 2009 Ligonier Conference in Orlando Fla. The theme of the conference was the holiness of God. What I want to bring to the table, is an idea that one of the speakers presented that really has left me with the a new impression: the notion that we, as a human race, should be undone when we come to pray or ponder the ordinances of God because of His holiness. This speaker, with dead earnest, said that he almost believed that the reality of God's holiness in His person is an incommunicable attribute of God. Yet we are commanded by Jesus to be perfect, by Peter to be holy as God is holy, and warned by the author of Hebrews that without holiness, we shall not see the Lord--this is indeed an unmerited privilege. The holiness of a God who knows no sin and the gift of holiness to His people whom He has ransomed from the law of sin and death is indeed an immense reality that humanity does not readily consider. If we did consider the holiness of God, perhaps we may be less willing to sympathize with blind people who demean the nature of God, and deny His existence based seeing a broken and condemned world with which they are apart. Maybe we should be more ready to point out the nature of God's holiness and the fact that His Son was immolated for the salvation of the fallen. To think that there is no God because the human race is corrupted and unable to heal itself, or to think that if there is a God, He should solve the problems of society as some transcendental sociologist is a nearly blasphemous notion. We must aways keep our allegiance to God by not allowing a sinful pity to arise in us that will gloss over our perception of God's holiness. This will cause us to sympathize with sin and will cause great confusion for the Christian. The fact that an incomprehensible God shares His holiness through divine union with a sinful people wrought out though the sacrifice of Jesus and by faith is a display of the paradoxial and selfless love of the Living God. This fact alone should overwhelm us and encourage us to devote ourselves wholly to God because of His great love and the holiness he shares with His people. May we be overwhelmed in the knowledge of the holiness of God.

"For indeed, our God is a consuming Fire."

Thoughts of a Saint

"Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come, and the years draw near when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them; before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return witha the rain; in the day when the guards of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the women who grind cease working because they are few, and those who look through the windows see dimly; when the doors on the street are shut, and the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low; when one is afraid of heights, and terrors are in the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself alongb and desire fails; because all must go to their eternal home, and the mourners will go about the streets; before the silver cord is snapped, and the golden bowl is broken, and the pitcher is broken at the fountain, and the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the breathd returns to God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher; all is vanity."

Epilogue

"Besides being wise, the Teacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs. The Teacher sought to find pleasing words, and he wrote words of truth plainly.
The sayings of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings that are given by one shepherd. Of anything beyond these, my child, beware. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh."

"The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil."

"I lay there under the stars and thought of what a great responsibility it is to be human. I am human because God made me. I experience suffering and temptation because mankind chose to follow Satan. God is reaching out to me to rescue me. I am learning to trust in Him, learning to live by His precepts, that I might be preserved." ~Donald Miller

"Six billion people live in this world, and I can only muster thoughts for one. Me."

"Nothing is going to change in the Congo until you and I figure out what is wrong with the person in the mirror."

The nature of violence regarding God's Kingdom

"The law and the prophets were in effect until John came; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone tries to enter it by force."

"From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force."

"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it."


"There they strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, "It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God."


"Jesus went through one town and village after another, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few be saved?" "He said to them, Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. When once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us,' then in reply he will say to you, 'I do not know where you come from.' Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' But he will say, 'I do not know where you come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!'"


I have recently begun to understand the certainty of violence required of God's people. This violence is not one of physical force, or anything of that sort, rather it is a violence of faith. Justification is the outcome of our faith (Romans 6:17-18) and as Christians, our purpose is to be justified in the sight of God (the very reason we live). After studying the Scriptures and reading works by those who knew God and His Word, the Christian will come to the conclusion that it is absolutely necessary we must set our faces like flint to be justified in the sight of God. This is done by God's grace and that grace affords us faith to live a life pleasing to God. Violence is the duration of our faith; it is what makes us able to overcome opposition on the Road to Life in this world (1 John 5:4-5). In this duration of our faith, all of God's blessings and promises are preserved for us (Col 1:21-23). I am not ruling out sin because we all sin, but I am saying that through faith, we come to a consistent pattern of living that is pleasing to God. If we say we have no sin, God's truth does not remain in us (1 John 1:8) and we also deceive ourselves into believing that Jesus' offices of High Priest and Mediator are non existent.

I have been reading through The Pilgrims Progress, and I recall an instance where Christian has come to Mr. Interpreter's house. Mr. Interpreter has already shown Christian some very important things concerning the nature of Christianity, but the one instance where Christian and Mr. Interpreter go and view a palace. Outside of the palace many men stand who would enter it but dare not because of the many guardsmen intent on keeping people out. Also, Christian saw a doorway; a little distance from that doorway stood a table, book, pen, and a man who served to take down the names of those who would enter the palace. Suddenly a man of valiance comes and tells the man to put down his name. Immediately after, he attacks those people who are guarding the palace, and cutting his way through them, he presses into the palace where he hears a voice calling to him, Come in, come in; Eternal glory thou shalt win.

Faith to set upon the Kingdom of Heaven though we are opposed by many forms of evil is what God requires of us and will strengthen us to do because of the blessing of His grace given to us. Violence is to walk the narrow and hard way of this life which God has chosen for His people and to do harm to any opposition that we may meet along the way to the Kingdom. I write this in full knowledge of the lack of violence in my own life, but I can only write down what I know is necessary for the follower of Jesus Christ. God will strengthen us in His will if we accept it wholly without comprimise.

On a final note, I would like to point out the solemn fact that the Gospels of Matthew and Luke are colored by the theme of violence in people's faith, or lack of. The sermons on the Mount and Plain display a life that can only be lived if a person determines to live entirely for the will of God. Yes there will be failures and sin, but through the strength provided by the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith, this can become the consistant pattern of our lives. Praise God for this!

"Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith -to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen. "

Self Examination

"Men are apt to act very treacherously and perversely in the matter of self-examination. When they are put upon examining themselves, they very often decline it, and will not enter into any serious examination of themselves at all. They hear uses of examination insisted on, but put them off to others, and never seriously apply them to themselves. — And if they do examine themselves, when they are put upon it, they are exceedingly partial to themselves. They spare themselves. They do not search, and look, and pass a judgment according to truth, but so as unreasonably to favor and justify themselves — If they can be brought to examine themselves at all, whether they do not allow themselves in known wickedness, although they attend on divine ordinances, they will not do it impartially. Their endeavor will not be indeed to know the truth of their case, and to give a true answer to their consciences, but to blind themselves, to persuade and flatter themselves that they do not allow themselves in known sin, whether it be true or not. There are two things especially wherein persons often act very perversely and falsely in this matter."

~Jonathan Edwards

Sin

"Sin has no substance, it can only be know through the pain it brings."

~Julian of Norwich

World Slums

The result of a spiritually impoverished society:

http://www.theplaceswelive.com/

Part 2

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life."

--Ephesians 2:8-10

"For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us)..."

--Romans 4:16

"And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness."

--Genesis 15:6

The Scriptures establish that humility and faith are inseparable to those walking the path of life in Christ. Humility is one of the conditions, or proofs of faith acceptable to God. That said, I want to attempt to cover the relationship of grace, faith, and works in a summarizing manner. The verses in Ephesians are often ignored by people today. This is saddening because we need to realize the fact that in these verses, the revelation of God's dealings with mankind and what He wills for us to do are made clear--basically, this is the desire of God's heart. The Apostle Paul is saying that God has snatched us from eternal death even though we are unworthy, has granted us the ability to rely on Him (faith), to live bearing the good works of our faith to God and that this be our continual way of living. The other side is that no person can do this by his or her own strength. This salvation; this way of life is only possible through the death and rising of Jesus. He is our life (Col 3:1-4) through faith that brings us into a deep relationship and unity with God. The Grace of God giving us faith and accessed by faith is revealed to humanity--this is the way, may we walk in it certainly by the favor of God!

Parable 1

Grace

Grace is not a pillow on which a man sleeps; it is the Hand of the Almighty grasping the human soul, lifting it from death and rousing it to life in the journey of faith.

Humility and Faith pt 1

"Unless you become like a little child, you will not enter the kingdom of God."

Today in American society, people are taught certain moral perspectives on life. People today can be very moral, in a civil sense, in their personal lives and yet be very far from the Kingdom of God. Many modern churches teach a certain code of ethics to the masses, yet they are far from the knowledge of God. The reason for this is that the vast majority of people lack the humility that God requires of His people. God said that he would look upon and be with the humble who are filled with contrition; who tremble at His words (Is 66:2), that He leads the humble in what is right, and that the humble are taught by Him (Ps 25:9). The Scriptures teach us that the spirits of the proud are unstable and that the righteous will live by reliance upon God (Hab 2:4), this reliance can only be found in the humble. In order to recieve such faith that lasts forever, a person must be clothed with humility. God does not lavish His grace upon the proud, but on the humble, who by their humility can look to Him in faith for the fulfillment of the will of God. Faith and humility are intertwined, they co-exist together within the saint binding him to Jesus who stands before the Father pleading for the needs of those bound to Him in faith. James tells us that God is against the proud, but is for the humble (Jas 4:6-10). James also admonishes us to turn to God by means of humble faith, changing our patterns of life that are not in accord with the will of God through lamentation, mourning, and weeping. This is the work of humility that is acceptable to God. So let us examine our lives with the prayer of the psalmist (Ps 139:23-24) and cleanse our hands with zeal for God and the humility of faith. With that, I will post two last admonitions from Scripture pertaining to the necessity of submition to God:

"See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven!"

"And we want each one of you to show the same diligence, so as to realize the full assurance of hope to the very end, so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."

A good quote on the essential relationship of faith, works, and life

"Simply put, a person is justified from sins or saved based on his faith in Jesus alone – faith in Jesus that does not stand alone, but is full of the works of God.
It is best to explicate this with the Word itself. But before turning to the final authority of reality, an old adage aptly illustrates the truth of the essential relationship of faith and works: You do not put the cart (with its goods) before the horse when going on a journey. Note that if the horse and cart do not move, you have no journey. Yet, the cart is not pushed by the horse, but moves forward with its goods as it is pulled under the direction and power of the horse. Note, too, that the goods are not delivered without the cart. In this illustration, when you see the horse as representing faith and the cart as representing works and the goods as representing life you see a simple yet profound illustration of the teaching of the Word about faith and works and life. They all vitally exist and operate together. You can no more separate faith from works and have eternal life than you can separate hydrogen from oxygen and have water."

http://hearjesus.net/faith-and-works.html

SO...

My main purpose in deciding to start this blog, Anachronism of Truth, is to display that which i believe. My second purpose is to post my collected thoughts on certain matters related to social stuff, politics, and the love/hate relationship i have with my culture. My last purpose is to display information from other internet sources that i believe is worth something. I hope you benefit from this blog, as i will hopefully be posting regularly, and that you have a blessed evening or morning (whichever it may be that you happen to be reading this).

Sincerely,

Stephen