tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78890195186800082892024-03-13T07:35:13.472-05:00Follow The LightLarry Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831240650193543617noreply@blogger.comBlogger296125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889019518680008289.post-50770683064810745122015-02-23T08:03:00.000-06:002015-02-23T08:03:38.461-06:00Out Of The Closet--The Greatest Difference<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7BHLomGWYmE/VOsxrsqqtpI/AAAAAAAACtQ/ZpAD5awrp2w/s1600/Shame3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7BHLomGWYmE/VOsxrsqqtpI/AAAAAAAACtQ/ZpAD5awrp2w/s1600/Shame3.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
A young friend and professed Christian publically declared on Facebook this week that he is “bi” or, as people categorize these things today, bi-sexual. This is not novel, and I expect such disclosures will continue in our culture. He also declared that those who will not support him in this new life with his “bf” should unfriend him. He put me in a quandary, to remain his Facebook friend I would be sending the message that I support all his disclosure entails. Which… I do not. I have not acted on his request to unfriend him yet, but plan to do so since he has requested it and has challenged me both publically and privately. I also have not responded until now to the broader conflict within Christianity, but I am constrained to do so for many reasons, not the least of which includes the public nature of social media and the frequency of these disclosures.<br />
<br />
While I have friends and family (going back to the 60s) who are or were involved in relationships of this type I have never hidden the fact that I believe this behavior is included in a long list of sins that God Himself has disclosed in a myriad of ways not the least of which is the Bible. While being open about my beliefs and living with the accompanying tensions and boundaries I make every effort to not be perceived as rude or hateful and for the most part receive that kindness in return. The reason for my behavior is mostly found in my personal experience with God that I describe below. <br />
<br />
Frankly, even though I do not struggle with an attraction to those of my gender the greatest difference between us is not found in the type of sin we produce but in the shame experienced over the production of sin. It is a horror to me… a nightmare… to imagine that I could be so far from God’s Mercy that my sins and failures would somehow be flaunted before my God and published to my fellow-companions in His Grace. When my own wretchedness becomes evident I slink into the shadows of shame. I beg God’s forgiveness and plead with my fellow sojourners who may know of it to forgive--not to accept--my wrong. Then I struggle with God to so change me that I will never be found here again. I do hate the cold grey iron walled cell of shame, but I know my periodic imprisonment there is necessary for me to understand and responsibly value the liberty I have in Jesus. I find no solace in giving a brighter name to such a cold dark place… it is shame and it is necessary. In my shame I find vital comfort because folded within shame’s dark layers is one of the tell-tale signs of a converted heart: a Spiritual conscience.<br />
<br />
A woman, who was a church member, came to me for counsel years ago concerning her shame and fear. Her shame was so great she feared hell was to be her grave. She, with reddened face, disclosed that she “cussed” in the kitchen when something boiled over or didn’t go like she wanted it to go. I asked her if she thought an unconverted person would fear or even think of God’s displeasure over such language and the temper behind it. She thought for a second and replied, “no, probably not.” I explained to her that this shame, fear, and sensitivity to God, instead of being evidence that she isn’t converted, is one of the best evidences that she is converted. I didn’t spend any time trying to convince her that it was OK. Oh to have such sensitivity to God’s displeasure! I asked her if she thought Jesus died for this intemperance. She paused and gave a halting, teary, “yes!” I told her to confess this to Him and plead with Him to take this burden away, but always trust in the Gospel work of Jesus regardless of the outcome. Only in the Gospel do we sinners find forgiveness, peace, and assurance. Shame, even over things that others may consider small, is what brings us to victory’s gate.<br />
<br />
When looking within myself I cannot easily find a separation between sin and the sinner since it is from within me that my sin is born. I am told to hate the sin but love the sinner as if that were a Bible verse, but I produced my sin… if it were not for me it would not have existed. How can I claim to hate the product that destroys and then claim to love the factory that produced it? How can I so easily hate the poison that killed the Lamb of God, but then almost flippantly love the poisonous heart from which the poison poured? I am not saying there should be no inclination to love in the face of failure, but anyone who confesses no problem or struggle on both sides of this cliché must be cut from a purer cloth than I. Some concerned friend may seek to comfort me now with God’s love so they tenderly say, “God Loves you”. This I do know and I sincerely thank you for your tenderness, but the more I learn about myself the more His love is the greatest mystery to me. It seems the closer I get to Him the further from His perfections I find myself to be. How… can… He… Love… me??? Yet He does and I am amazed by His love!<br />
<br />
Grace never says sin is OK. It says the exact opposite, sin is so far from OK that Jesus had to die for it. And I am ashamed of that, but at the same time I will attempt in my feeble way to ensure that His death for my sin is not in vain. I will, by His grace, rise up and walk out of the shadows of shame with my sin forgiven and a commitment in my heart and prayer on my lips to keep me from sin and allow me to serve Him with my remaining days. Since I have been in this cell many times I know I shall be in those grey shadows again soon, but I also know that when I confess my sins He is faithful and just to forgive my sins and to cleanse me… and that His Gospel Grace also reaches into the cell with me. I am never alone. I have a sure tried and proven way out of shame and ultimately my sin… and I am overwhelmed and amazed by that fact. Praise His Holy Name for such Mercy and Love! I am of all people most undeserving.<br />
<br />
A person may redefine sin as they wish… but they will never find true peace in such a redefinition. Such defensive struggles are as Jesus said: paint on the outside of a grave or washing the outside of a dirty cup. I will not argue over the color of the paint. The only freedom from the grave is in finding our sins forgiven by the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ. <br />
<br />
If, because of my belief, I must be rejected by some… then so be it. If, because of my sin and failures, I must be rejected by some… believe me, I understand. But I cannot remain in the cold cell when the door has been opened by the one who holds the keys of eternal life. I am free and I must press on for my Savior!Larry Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831240650193543617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889019518680008289.post-65556303334203498062012-10-21T07:25:00.001-05:002013-08-14T14:53:25.305-05:00My Three Greatest Teachers And The Thrill Of Ignorance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TEevfbWfGNM/UINroQ7rwRI/AAAAAAAAAx8/gBiY7v_lg70/s1600/my+three+greatest+teachers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TEevfbWfGNM/UINroQ7rwRI/AAAAAAAAAx8/gBiY7v_lg70/s200/my+three+greatest+teachers.jpg" width="151" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have been taught by three great teachers over the
years. And each one has taught me how ignorant I am. Each has taught me not to
doubt that God exists, but to doubt my understanding of Him. When I came into
Christianity I knew more about atheism (<a href="http://www.follow-the-light.org/2009/11/atheist-at-thanksgiving.html" target="_blank">An Atheist At Thanksgiving</a>), biology,
and other sciences, than I did about church life and the Bible. I separate
church life and the Bible because I had to grow into both, and I found over
time that one is not always the same as the other.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My first teacher was this physical world. I can’t remember
when I first became curious about the world around me. Before I could read I
observed the movement of life around me, along with those things that didn’t move and
weren’t alive. Some of my earliest memories are of hiding from my drunken
brutal dad while mom was at work. They divorced when I was three. I can still smell the evergreen bushes and see the
insects I observed as I hid in the shrubs in front of our house, or the
feel of the cloth on the underside of the guest room bed as I hid in the
darkness. Or the way the dust beneath the bed moved as I blew it across the
floor in the dim light of the hallway. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A few years later when I learned to read I read, among other
things, science, history, and science fiction. I devoured the books, and my
most exciting time of the month was when a new couple of books would come from
the book club. Mom spent her hard earned money to keep books in my hands. She
bought a set of encyclopedias on credit, and when I had finished my monthly
books I read those books that explored everything. And… all of this taught me
about God. Some people I have known seem repulsed by God, but for me His
existence was gravity… pulling me… always pulling me. I knew little to nothing
about religion, but this first teacher taught me about God. The bigness of this
world taught me that there was so much I didn’t know, and even more that I didn’t
know about Him. And frankly I thrilled at my ignorance, because it meant I had
a life of exploration before me. My first teacher still teaches me that truth,
perhaps now more than ever.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My second teacher was myself, but probably not in the way
you think. Self-awareness, common to all of us, taught me that I was more than
the sum of my physical parts. This mind, this being, seemed so foreign to the
physical world around me and was, at least to me, a different substance than
what I could see and touch. For me there seemed to be two forms of life, physical
life and the mind. Physical life seems much easier to grasp than this ethereal existence
of the mind. Yet they both exist, both paradoxically inside and dependent upon
the other. Life… it is about life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am here now in the hospital painfully observing my
Father-in-law’s struggle with a major heart attack. And… it is not death I see
so much as life. Death is the stranger, life is the native force of all we
know. This truth is probably the root of my greatest resistance to the notion
that there is no God. All my atheist friends must do is look at their own
equations to see what I mean. It is life that has pushed itself against all
odds, and I mean all odds, to explode with such force in this existence. It is
in our DNA for life to survive… to fight against all resistance. Life is normal…
death is not. Death is an end-state not a conscious force. And this mind, even our
collective mind, pushes against death. We fight it. Our bodies fight it. And
when we willingly give up life it is considered the greatest sacrifice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">God loves life! He is first, before all else, alive. This is
a major truth that my first two teachers taught me… It is a fact
that is so visible around and within us. We are bathed in it; all we must do is
open our eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is a Mind behind these two life forms. But that
singular Mind is the Creator not the created. When He pours Himself into a
created form that physical form isn’t Him, but it is where we meet Him. This
is how I tell the difference between the false and the true. Most religion is
man meeting the mind of man. But there are places where and times when man
meets the limitless transcendent God. And in this meeting our minds shiver in
the awareness of our smallness and His beyondness. Yet… He has come to us... So
that we may know Him. And in the glaring awareness of my ignorance it is this fact that
strengthens me: He has come to me… He has, by His own choice, come to us. And
this… this place of revelation, this time of reaching for Him, this condescension
of The Life has been my third teacher.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is something
that so many people misunderstand about Jesus, but it is the greatest example
of what I mean. Jesus is a man… a human. But His humanity is a unique package designed by the Creator to be a place where we meet the eternal Mind. In all
created life forms we learn about God, but in these exceptional forms, such as
Jesus who is the highest form, we meet God. In Jesus we meet the mind of God,
the ultimate Force of Life,” the fullness of the Godhead bodily”. And The Life
resisted and defeated death. And this is as natural as a blade of grass. Death
is our enemy, Life is the victory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“O death where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory?
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to
God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”</span></div>
Larry Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831240650193543617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889019518680008289.post-12565296312190089382012-10-05T07:58:00.002-05:002012-10-05T10:43:14.278-05:0010 To The 44th Power... Really? You're Serious?<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PD9O9-IAVvM/UG7WnIX91NI/AAAAAAAAAww/e-YY8TfQ1Yk/s1600/10+to+44th+power.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PD9O9-IAVvM/UG7WnIX91NI/AAAAAAAAAww/e-YY8TfQ1Yk/s200/10+to+44th+power.jpg" width="200" /></a>Just the other day I was reading an
article on new theories of how DNA came into existence and one of the
scientists wrote, “that there is a one in 10<sup>44</sup> chance
that the triplets occur at binding sites by pure chance.” He was
discussing one essential part of his theory and used this number to
support his theory. But keep in mind that he was
dealing with only one detail in the whole process of DNA coming into
existence. The probabilities in atheistic evolution have to all be
based on chance.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
What always catches my eye when the
atheistic evolutionists speak of probabilities are the large numbers,
in this case 10<sup>44</sup>. Don't just read over numbers like that.
That is a huge number. So big I can’t find a name for it. It is a 1
with 44 zeros after it. 10<sup>9</sup> is 1 Billion.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g-0Bg6mWWSc/UG7WnxesehI/AAAAAAAAAw4/NHjCR7IcI5A/s1600/10+to+the+44th+power+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g-0Bg6mWWSc/UG7WnxesehI/AAAAAAAAAw4/NHjCR7IcI5A/s200/10+to+the+44th+power+2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="165" /></a>How big is this number? Well lets see,
the world population is estimated 6,898,075,483. If you bought a
lottery ticket for $1, along with every other person on a million
billion more planets with equal populations, your chance of winning
the lottery would be far greater than the chances this scientist gave
of just one part of his theory happening by chance. But that’s
really not accurate, because in a lottery there is a sure winner, but
in probability this is considered impossible. I’ll stick with God.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
Larry Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831240650193543617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889019518680008289.post-30891214450504309072012-10-03T08:01:00.000-05:002012-10-03T08:03:18.138-05:00Jesus Stops Time<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TcnUxKMpyjc/UGw2qZIK3vI/AAAAAAAAAwg/pWQHwKV5lKM/s1600/stopping+time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="101" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TcnUxKMpyjc/UGw2qZIK3vI/AAAAAAAAAwg/pWQHwKV5lKM/s200/stopping+time.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Matthew 5:21 Ye have heard that it was
said by them of old time,
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
22 But I say unto you,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
27 Ye have heard that it was said by
them of old time,
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
28 But I say unto you,</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In a sense Jesus stopped time. Let me
explain. We time-bound creatures have a way of immortalizing the
past. We sometimes think that teachers “back then” must have been
more wise than we are today. Some of us tend to exalt the present as
the sum of all that exists. And then there are some folks who see all
that is bright to be yet in the future. But Jesus spans it all!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He is the “alpha and omega”, the
“first and the last”. He said “before Abraham was I am…”
The Son Of God was there to hear Noah preach, Moses judge, and King
David play his harp. His Spirit was present when these teachers of
old expounded their incomplete notions about the law to their
audience.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He, above anyone in all time, can speak
about what they had to say. He stops the influence of time when He
speaks, because, in a sense, He is timeless. These “old time”
speakers were in His presence just as we are today, and our
descendants will be tomorrow. And He is their Lord just as He is
ours, and He has the right to correct us all by saying “but I say
unto you.” He is The Teacher of all teachers and we should sit at
His timeless feet today and learn.</div>
Larry Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831240650193543617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889019518680008289.post-54762772391067417942012-09-28T07:28:00.000-05:002012-09-28T07:28:50.940-05:00Naked, Living Underground, And Feeling No Pain<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TFImROQ7kCw/UGWXhRbHaRI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/t1ygTIS3CO8/s1600/mole-rat_629_600x450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TFImROQ7kCw/UGWXhRbHaRI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/t1ygTIS3CO8/s200/mole-rat_629_600x450.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This is one strange little hairless
creature. It is an African rodent commonly called the Naked Mole Rat.
These rodents live almost exclusively underground in tunnel systems
that can extend for up to three miles. Their uniqueness doesn’t end
with just their looks.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
One amazing thing about them is they
are cancer free. Scientists believe this is because of a special gene
called P16. But whatever the cause they are the longest living
rodents in the world with life spans of over 20 years. The oldest on
record was 28 years.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-srOlGE6-Jws/UGWXg63kC0I/AAAAAAAAAwI/TQQz19eRrS4/s1600/mole+rat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-srOlGE6-Jws/UGWXg63kC0I/AAAAAAAAAwI/TQQz19eRrS4/s200/mole+rat.jpg" width="200" /></a>They live in colonies very similar to
ant colonies. The average colony consists of around 80 rats. Each
colony has one queen, and a few mating males. The rest of the colony
population is made up of sterile workers, which gather food, and
soldiers, which protect the colony from intruders. These, and another
type of mole rat, are the only mammals to live this way.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Their lungs are small, but their bodies
use oxygen very effectively. They can almost shut down their
metabolism for long periods of time. They also can’t feel pain
because of the lack of a neurotransmitter and they cannot regulate
their body temperature like other mammals. The complexity and size of
God's creation never ceases to amaze me.</div>
Larry Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831240650193543617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889019518680008289.post-32779899754564531892012-09-27T07:55:00.000-05:002012-09-27T07:56:55.460-05:00Jesus, The Prince Of Life<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-53C27iujF8s/UGRKix6Qe8I/AAAAAAAAAv4/6dm7O8Wfxuc/s1600/prince+of+life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-53C27iujF8s/UGRKix6Qe8I/AAAAAAAAAv4/6dm7O8Wfxuc/s200/prince+of+life.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Acts 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One
and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
15 And killed the Prince of life, whom
God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This phrase “the Prince of life”
only appears here in the Bible. The Apostle Peter, who spoke these
words, was preaching to thousands of unbelieving Jews in the
Jerusalem Temple. Peter's words were powerful, direct, and impromptu.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
When someone speaks off the cuff like
this the hearers usually get a clearer glimpse of the personality and
raw beliefs of the person behind the words. That was surely the case
that day. Peter's unprepared words give us insight into his core beliefs
which were also the commonly held beliefs of all early Christians.
They believed Jesus was the Prince of Life.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So what is the meaning of the words
Peter chose to describe Jesus? The word “prince” is a beautiful
and unique word. There really isn’t a full English equivalent to
this word. In modern English prince is usually defined as the son of
a king, but that is not in the definition of this word translated
Prince.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The word literally means “furnishing
the first cause”. This is used for a founder or originator, and it
is a word that carries with it the honor of being the first to pass
through or to begin something great.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It is translated in Hebrews 2:10 with
the word “captain” in the phrase, “captain of our salvation.”
He is the chief leader of all the saved and the originator of their
salvation. It is translated in Hebrews 12:2 with the word “author”
in the phrase, “author and finisher of our faith.” There would be
no saving faith if Jesus had not come and secured our salvation. He
furnished the first cause of our saving faith.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
By using this phrase Peter declared
that Jesus is the originator, the author of life. But he wasn't just
crediting Jesus with the creation of the world. Peter was giving the
honor to Jesus of being the first to pass though the front lines of
death coming out on the other side as the Victor. He defeated death
and through this victory gives life everlasting! He is the leader of
a great army of victors who shall also pass through death into
everlasting life because they have trusted their eternal souls into
His <a href="http://www.follow-the-light.org/2010/02/gospel.html" target="_blank">Gospel </a>care. He Is The Prince Of Life!</div>
Larry Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831240650193543617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889019518680008289.post-55887349395504536272012-09-26T09:05:00.000-05:002012-09-27T11:06:07.653-05:00The Balance Of Pure Religion<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNyox0WHAFU/UGMJbRvCMNI/AAAAAAAAAvc/3b8CaKm0kKk/s1600/the+balance+of+pure+religion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNyox0WHAFU/UGMJbRvCMNI/AAAAAAAAAvc/3b8CaKm0kKk/s200/the+balance+of+pure+religion.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled
before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows
in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
James is opposed to a lazy Christianity. Throughout his writings he promotes the notion that Christian faith is an active faith. God's work in our lives flows from our work in His life. In this passage he teaches that Christian growth comes from active Christian experience. Simply put, good works produce spiritual change in our lives.<br />
<br />
The word religion as used here is the
practical behavior that springs from devotion to and worship of God.
I will use it in that sense throughout this post. The word “visit”
means: to go see a person with helpful intent. Affliction means: suffering brought on by outward circumstances. "Keep" is a word for personal discipline.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In previous verses James had highlighted the self-deception in religion that is so common among us, so
in this verse he plainly states what pure God-accepted religion looks like so
there can be no personal deception or mistake.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The two phrases that end this
great verse are not connected by “and” in the text. Literally it
says, “ To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, to
keep himself unspotted from the world.” I point this out to
illustrate the fact that these are not two independent actions. They
are deeply associated with each other and the order is by design. One
springs from the other.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iBrvOPizV1E/UGMJhDiDLDI/AAAAAAAAAvk/o79wzws2yg0/s1600/self+delusion+unmasked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iBrvOPizV1E/UGMJhDiDLDI/AAAAAAAAAvk/o79wzws2yg0/s200/self+delusion+unmasked.jpg" width="200" /></a>Personal religious discipline that does
not come from compassionate action is self-delusion.
Probably one of the most common self-delusions. The self-test is easy: Does
my personal religious discipline rise from my visits to help struggling orphans and widows? If I have never visited and/or
helped orphans and widows then the answer is obvious, and
my personal discipline may be cold and harsh because it does not flow from overwhelmed compassion. Read Jesus' comments in Matthew
23:23-28.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
There is another side to this coin. Compassionate action without personal
religious discipline is another form of self-delusion.
This self-test is also easy and much like the other: Have my visits
to help suffering orphans and widows led to greater religious
discipline in my personal life? If the answer is no then my
commitment to meeting the needs of orphans and widows is probably more about
myself than them. Read Jesus' comments in Matthew 6:1-4.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
When my personal discipline has a compassionate purpose there is balance in my soul. I will find that the needs of suffering people in this world are
of such great magnitude that it overwhelms me, and the depth of
religious discipline needed to fulfill the responsibility that
compassion has laid upon me seems far beyond my ability. So my soul becomes overwhelmed with the burdens of love and I cry out to a God who is called Love, and who sent His son to visit me in my affliction and to keep Himself unspotted from the world. And... by sharing His burden I move closer to Him, and understand Him more than I ever have before... which leads me deeper into the struggle.</div>
<br />Larry Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831240650193543617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889019518680008289.post-84615259467792000842012-09-25T13:52:00.000-05:002012-09-26T07:18:40.284-05:00What Educated Snobs Can Learn From A Madman About Christianity<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-syqSTE65OOU/UGH6e7GT17I/AAAAAAAAAvM/6CAS-qwz9LM/s1600/madman+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-syqSTE65OOU/UGH6e7GT17I/AAAAAAAAAvM/6CAS-qwz9LM/s200/madman+(1).jpg" width="154" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Recently I read a post by the President
of Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, Dr. Albert
Mohler, about recent conversions of a few pastors to open atheism through
the influence of an organization promoted by atheist Richard Dawkins
called the Clergy Project. Dr. Mohler, a man I admire,
uncharacteristically betrayed a bit of snobbery when he twice pointed
out that one of the Clergy Project converts had “no college degree”
and “no education”.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
My first response when I read this was,
“Isn’t that the same accusation they (some educated atheists)
make about most Christians?” They say we are a generally uneducated
people. And their snobbish accusation is actually true to some extent. If
by “educated” some atheists and Dr. Mohler mean a college
graduate then that would leave out the majority of Americans since
only 30% of Americans have a Bachelor’s Degree while a little over
10% have a Post-graduate degree. A Barna Research Group study
revealed that 40% of US pastors have no formal theological training.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In the world of the educated the
uneducated are sometimes given little credibility and often
marginalized by the gate-keepers of the educated class. When it comes
to the Christian faith of the uneducated there may even be less
credibility granted.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Christians should always avoid playing
the education card in a debate. Not just because it is an endless
argument that lends nothing to the exposure of truth, but
because it runs counter to some basic principles laid out in the
Scriptures. One principle is: God is intentionally unimpressed by our
education. Re-read 1 Corinthians 1:17-21</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Don't get me wrong, unlike the pastor
who said in the preface of his sermon, “I'm like Charles Spurgeon
(the great 19<sup>th</sup> century Baptist pastor) I ain't got no
education neither!” I don't consider ignorance in ministry to be a
virtue. It is true that Charles Spurgeon had no formal theological
education, but, as one who has read much of what he wrote, he was a
broadly read, amazingly gifted, highly educated man. So while I
wholeheartedly support balanced formal education I must state that it
isn't the door to Christianity and has nothing to do with what it
means to be a Christian. I'll illustrate this by a man who was
arguably the first non-Jewish missionary commissioned by our Lord in the New Testament: the “maniac of Gadara”.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This pitiful madman... this “maniac”
mentioned in Mark 5:1-20 most likely could not read or write, but he
was not uneducated when it came to the power of Jesus Christ. His
testimony about that one experience in his life shook the people who
knew him because they knew who he had been before Jesus walked into
his life.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I'm sure there were people who
questioned his credibility because of his background, but this former
madman knew the extent of what Jesus really did for him that day.
Imagine an atheist trying to tell him there is no God. It would
forever be his experience with Jesus that anchored his soul, not his
future education. In fact he would attribute any future learning to
Jesus putting him in his “right mind” when he saved him.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He asked Jesus if he could go with him
and Jesus told him no, then sent him back to his people to tell his
story of God's merciful power in his life. In this we see the essence
of true vital Christianity and, therefore, Christian ministry: a
saving experience with Jesus. A Pastor who has not had a life
changing experience with Jesus will never be a fit Christian minister
no matter what level of formal education he obtains. The passion that
flows from this personal experience with Jesus becomes the energy for
Christian growth and learning.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I remember when I, nothing much more
than an animal, first experienced Jesus’ power. I didn’t have a
High School diploma at the time I met Him, so the credibility of my
faith is, I'm sure, suspect for many. But, like the “maniac of
gadara” I know who I was and what Jesus did for me. I have spent
40 years since that day studying, educating myself, and being taught
by others, but if all I have learned since that day were put together
it would not come close to what happened on that single day. I am a
beast without Jesus, and even if I had a PHD when I met Him it would
be meaningless compared to the treasure Jesus gave me. Doubt as you
might… this former maniac knows...</div>
Larry Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831240650193543617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889019518680008289.post-74509260225793978792012-09-21T06:54:00.000-05:002012-09-21T06:55:00.147-05:00Beautiful Meat Eating Water Plant<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sFA8n6mAP5c/UFxUHvfsVwI/AAAAAAAAAu0/i6jNcCK5iXs/s1600/flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sFA8n6mAP5c/UFxUHvfsVwI/AAAAAAAAAu0/i6jNcCK5iXs/s200/flower.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The flower of this plant is compared to
Orchids and Snapdragons for beauty, but lurking under these beautiful
flowers and stems in fresh water areas of the world is “one of the
most sophisticated structures in the world.” The plant is commonly called a bladder-wort, its formal name is Utricularia, and it lives
its life in the water.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The underwater structure is a trap, a
hollow bladder. It is used by the plant to capture and digest living
creatures. This plant bladder eats any living thing in the water
including tadpoles, insects, and small fish fry. So how does it work?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jZ1c1Zi-tRg/UFxUPNj6G8I/AAAAAAAAAu8/uCUM2ocxRLo/s1600/traps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jZ1c1Zi-tRg/UFxUPNj6G8I/AAAAAAAAAu8/uCUM2ocxRLo/s200/traps.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The bladder is a precision instrument
that uses pressure to bring prey into the bladder. When the bladder
is full of water it pumps the water out through special cells
designed to let water out but not let it back inside. As it pumps the
water out the outer lining of the bladder is drawn in to create the
resistance necessary to draw water, and unsuspecting prey, in through
a trap door hinged by a special elastic material.
Extending from the door bottom are hairs that work like doorknobs.
When they are touched the door opens and the bladder expands to suck
in water and whatever creature touched the hairs.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Here is another complex system which
provides more evidence of design and therefore a designer.</div>
Larry Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831240650193543617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889019518680008289.post-63346337014068967402012-09-20T08:04:00.001-05:002012-09-20T08:06:00.430-05:00"There Is But A Step"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1P9c3m8IxPY/UFsTxLyXphI/AAAAAAAAAuk/e7k7s_KfWHs/s1600/a+fathers+love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1P9c3m8IxPY/UFsTxLyXphI/AAAAAAAAAuk/e7k7s_KfWHs/s200/a+fathers+love.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Matthew 6:9-10 After this manner
therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy
name.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done
in earth, as it is in heaven.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The 19th century Baptist pastor Charles
Spurgeon said of this transition, “This prayer begins where all
true prayer must commence, with the spirit of adoption, "Our
Father." There is no acceptable prayer until we can say, 'I will
arise, and go unto my Father.' This child-like spirit soon perceives
the grandeur of the Father 'in heaven,' and ascends to devout
adoration, 'Hallowed be thy name.' The child lisping, 'Abba, Father,'
grows into the cherub crying, 'Holy, Holy, Holy.' There is but a step
from rapturous worship to the glowing missionary spirit, which is a
sure outgrowth of filial love and reverent adoration-'Thy kingdom
come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.'"
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Living in God’s household after
you’ve lived in the hovel of this life without Him, makes you know
how great a Father He really is… and how wonderful His family. We
wonder how people can live without Him. How complicated and unsettled
that life seems in comparison to living in His family. We then want
the world to know and experience His Home. Come Home. The entrance is
the <a href="http://www.follow-the-light.org/2010/02/gospel.html" target="_blank">Gospel</a>.</div>
Larry Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831240650193543617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889019518680008289.post-33135543787957490362012-09-19T08:48:00.000-05:002012-09-19T11:48:59.640-05:00Evidence Of Corruption<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lw1OpXJGUKk/UFnL2pm_8lI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/rXC1QRb-VYA/s1600/evidence+of+corruption.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lw1OpXJGUKk/UFnL2pm_8lI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/rXC1QRb-VYA/s200/evidence+of+corruption.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Matthew 5:37 But let your
communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than
these cometh of evil.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I was visiting another country and
noticed heavily armed police standing on almost every block. To me it
was a bit alarming, but the friend I was visiting saw it completely
different. When I asked him how he felt about armed police being
almost everywhere he said it made him feel safe.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Both our views show an underlying
reality about law and the enforcement of law: it is evidence of
corruption. My friend was comforted because he felt protected from
the threat of harm. I was alarmed because I was among people who must
have officers with shotguns standing on every street to keep them
from committing crimes.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This is Jesus’ point when He said,
“for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” He was
speaking of the need to make people seal an agreement with a solemn
oath to keep them honest. This need is evidence that “evil” is
prevalent in a culture not the opposite. The culture Jesus was living
in was proud of their extensive laws and brutal law enforcement, but
Jesus was proving to them that righteousness is not at the end of
that path.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Some folks think the more laws and
enforcement we have the better our society will be. But that is
upside down thinking. This thinking is evidence that serious
corruption already exists, not the opposite. It is also
evidence of a fatalistic view that the people we live among cannot be
restrained by any other means, and therefore our culture is heavily
slanted toward corruption. I am not arguing that it should or can be different, just pointing to the truth Jesus was communicating. The idea that law will bring a culture to
righteousness is evidence of a deeper corruption: a misunderstanding
of who God is and how this world works.</div>
Larry Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831240650193543617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889019518680008289.post-77626936924752790252012-09-18T08:25:00.002-05:002012-09-18T08:37:45.894-05:003rd Person Reciprocity: A Christian Obligation<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-32kO29gUO2E/UFh1tGDSQJI/AAAAAAAAAuA/rjffKthm8ts/s1600/gift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-32kO29gUO2E/UFh1tGDSQJI/AAAAAAAAAuA/rjffKthm8ts/s200/gift.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Matthew 18:32-33 Then his lord, after that
he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave
thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
33 Shouldest not thou also have had
compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Third person reciprocity became better
known through the movie Pay It Forward which was
based on a book of the same name. The movie poster has this sentence,
“When someone does you a big favor, don’t pay it back… pay it
forward.” This is third person reciprocity put in more simple
terms.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Reciprocity in general is an ancient
economic system. Simply put it means if someone does something for
you then you are obligated to do something equally valuable for them.
If a wheat farmer needs fruit he will give a fruit farmer wheat
after harvest expecting the fruit farmer to reciprocate with an equal
value of fruit after the fruit is harvested.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In the case of third person reciprocity
the wheat farmer would freely give his wheat to the fruit farmer as a
gift to help the fruit farmer. The fruit farmer would then give fruit to someone else who needed help. There is an
understood obligation to help others when someone has helped us. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This
is the teaching in the passage above. Read the story surrounding these
verses and remember that this is Jesus' illustration of the Christian
practice of third person reciprocity. We are obligated to give what
Jesus has so freely given to us to others who are in need as we once
were.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In a broader sense third person
reciprocity is required of all people by God, because He has showered
us all with His gifts of grace. This teaching is not just in the New
Testament, it is all through the Bible. Deuteronomy 24:17-22 and Exodus 22:21-27 detail this requirement in the Mosaic Covenant. We who have
received benefit from God in the past, even in our ancestors, must
return the same to people in our present who are in need of it. </div>
Larry Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831240650193543617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889019518680008289.post-5763828549173968502012-09-17T08:13:00.000-05:002012-09-26T14:13:22.676-05:00Light Rich Light Poor<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GVb8eoloQZA/UFcgg60h04I/AAAAAAAAAtw/uIp2oqXr-L0/s1600/lamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GVb8eoloQZA/UFcgg60h04I/AAAAAAAAAtw/uIp2oqXr-L0/s200/lamp.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine
before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your
Father which is in heaven.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
When many first world people read
this passage they take a modern, generally incorrect, interpretation
of the verse. That's because we live in a light rich world. Our light
is generally fixed and switched. What I mean by that is most
buildings and homes in our country have lights built into the
structure which are controlled by switches. There is little to no
maintenance or preparation for light to brighten the darkness in our world. If a light bulb is out we simply
replace it with another bulb.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In the ancient world it was not that
way. Lights were not often fixed and were never switched. Lights were fuel intensive, more scarce, and portable. There was planning, maintenance, and labor
involved in piercing the darkness, and if the light shined bright and
clear it was a testimony to the person responsible for the light. But
if a light didn't shine it was a clear indication that the person who
had responsibility for the light had failed in their duties. And a
great failure it would be for the people who depended on the light.
The longer and brighter a lamp burned the more work and maintenance
it required.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This is how some ancients would have
interpreted this passage. The “good works” would have been the
planning, maintenance, and labor that were obvious when the light
shined bright. The reason “the Father which is in heaven” would
receive the glory is because he provided the materials and fuel for
the light and also trained and maintained the light servant... so it
is really His light.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The application then is obvious to all
Christians. We are the light servants and have been commissioned by
our master to give the light of truth to the world. If our light shines bright it
is clear we have planned, maintained, and worked hard so the
light would pierce the darkness and our Master, who is also our
Father, would receive praise for the light. But what shame will be ours if the light doesn't shine bright.</div>
Larry Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831240650193543617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889019518680008289.post-47155930191328766632012-09-14T07:40:00.000-05:002012-09-14T07:41:07.117-05:00Delayed Pregnancy<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3BKv3Mfkhqc/UFMkycmQihI/AAAAAAAAAtg/5zvnV1ghmhI/s1600/kangaroo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3BKv3Mfkhqc/UFMkycmQihI/AAAAAAAAAtg/5zvnV1ghmhI/s200/kangaroo.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
One of the most mysterious biological
realities presented to modern scientists by over 100 species of
mammals is delayed pregnancy. What this means is fertilization of an
egg has taken place, but the mother can delay the implantation in the
uterine wall by days, weeks, months, and in some cases over a year.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It seems some mother’s bodies
automatically control this until their current litter has matured
enough to be on their own, but with others there is something more
complex at work. It seems these animals can calculate when it is
safe or they are ready to be pregnant.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Some seem to delay pregnancy over
concern about the environment. For instance an animal in an arid
location, like some Kangaroos, can withhold pregnancy until there is
abundant water. Others, like a bear, will wait until they have
received enough food to support a safer pregnancy and delivery.
Others wait until the weather is optimal. But all of these tend to
watch for multiple factors to ensure a safe delivery. The biological
system behind this amazing gift is what is unclear to scientists.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
What is clear is that God designed
these animals for optimal reproduction. This is another in a
seemingly endless list of complexities that point to an amazing
creator.</div>
Larry Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831240650193543617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889019518680008289.post-65810901294846481662012-09-13T08:36:00.000-05:002012-09-13T13:18:43.431-05:00A Borderless World<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gnVRBiM1bNg/UFHfhqZaYnI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/9glZ55GgKTM/s1600/borderless+world.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="119" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gnVRBiM1bNg/UFHfhqZaYnI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/9glZ55GgKTM/s320/borderless+world.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power,
after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses
unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and
unto the uttermost part of the earth.
</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Most of Old Testament history is about
a specific place in the world: Israel, a specific people: Jews, and
one city: Jerusalem. Now for the first time in Biblical history this
focus, led by the Spirit of God, was radically changing.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The earthly government of God would be
moved from a central government with a single location to a
worldwide mission without any boundaries or capital. It was mobile
and led directly by Jesus through His Holy Spirit.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jesus' ministry moved from a nation
with borders to no borders. His government on earth remains border-less today. His ministry moved from a specific race
of people who depended heavily on their lineage, to every race
regardless of their heredity. There is now no racial identity to the
Government of Christ, and no multi-generational structure or dynasty.
And its language is every language, God’s truth in every language…
wow...</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Throughout history since this radical
change there have been multiple regular attempts to centralize the
government of Christ or place its identity on a particular nation,
government, party, or system. When radical nationalism creeps into
the vocabulary and thinking of professing Christians it is always a
corruption. Those who use the identity of Christ's government to
attempt to heal the ills of their national government will always
find they have only deepened the corruption by producing a poisonous
hybrid. Christ's earthly government will remain free... no borders,
no earthly capital, no single language, no exclusive race, and no
dynastic structure.</div>
Larry Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831240650193543617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889019518680008289.post-55451088767268538152012-09-11T19:52:00.000-05:002013-08-14T14:51:17.468-05:00Follow Up: President Obama & Governor Romney: Two Sides Of The Same Coin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FFQy-h1o5wc/UJm7JiPCUgI/AAAAAAAAAyU/VBJ1HrIQyrk/s1600/two+sides+of+the+same+coin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FFQy-h1o5wc/UJm7JiPCUgI/AAAAAAAAAyU/VBJ1HrIQyrk/s200/two+sides+of+the+same+coin.jpg" width="168" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">I
am posting this tonight, as the polls close, to remove the notion,
as best I can, that my reason for publishing it is political. I
assure you my purpose is not political. This is a follow-up to my
earlier article </span><a href="http://www.follow-the-light.org/2012/10/president-obama-governor-romney-two.html" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">President Obama & Governor Romney: Two Sides Of The Same Coin</a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">. I will publish it again perhaps tomorrow. No
matter how the election turns out I think my observations are extremely relevant. If you
are going to comment on or discuss this post please read my first
</span><a href="http://www.follow-the-light.org/2012/10/president-obama-governor-romney-two.html" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">article </a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">and this one fully before doing so.</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Since
publishing that <a href="http://www.follow-the-light.org/2012/10/president-obama-governor-romney-two.html" target="_blank">article </a>I have been </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">willingly</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">, and at times unwillingly, </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">engaged in lengthy discussions by every conceivable means:
texting, e-mail, social media, and, my old favorite, verbal
discussions. I have been amazed, encouraged, disappointed, and
sometimes downright disillusioned at much of what I have heard.
Mostly I have experienced the latter two.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Let
me first say that I, as a supporter of religious liberty, have no
problem with someone running for office who doesn't agree with my
faith or worships a different god. I also understand that in American
politics someone's religious belief will not generally be part of the
public debate. I actually thrill at the diversity of my country, and
shall pray for God's grace to be upon us and our leaders no matter
who is in office. I love my country.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">But I am also Christian and a Bible believer. I cannot separate my
citizen self from my Christian self, so my faith will influence the
level of my support for any candidate. What a candidate believes
about God is primary to me. It is the first commandment, the first
table of the law, and the ground upon which God judges the people of
the earth. This was the premise for my first <a href="http://www.follow-the-light.org/2012/10/president-obama-governor-romney-two.html" target="_blank">article</a>.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">When
it comes to Governor Romney, discovering the detail of his personal
religious beliefs has been very difficult. I respect, in some ways,
his reticence to discuss his faith while running for office. But he
has stated publicly that he knows and believes the major teachings of
his church. The most basic teaching of any church is their definition
of God.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I
don't want to rewrite my previous <a href="http://www.follow-the-light.org/2012/10/president-obama-governor-romney-two.html" target="_blank">article</a>, but I must expand my
statement about the god of Mormonism. In my <a href="http://www.follow-the-light.org/2012/10/president-obama-governor-romney-two.html" target="_blank">article </a>I said that
Mormon theology “is a confusing sort of humanistic polytheism (a
man-like god and deified men and women)”. Recently I
have been reading Mormon theology almost to the point of blindness. I
have deliberately avoided non-Mormon writers because I didn't want to
be influenced or slanted in my assessment. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I have been surprised to
find Mormon theologians who are openly struggling with their theology
and who seem to be aware that there are deep problems. I appreciate
and encourage their struggle. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">But
with that being said there are still some hurdles that will probably
never be overcome no matter how much struggle takes place. The
intractable problem is with the teachings of their early prophets and
church hierarchy about their god.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I
will state it as simply as I can: the Mormon belief that God the
Father and God the Son have eternal, necessary "bodies"
is a seemingly impossible theological roadblock to any consideration
that Mormons believe in the same God as mainline Christians. Many
Mormon theologians seem to agree. This is not a mean-spirited
statement, it is clear to me that theologians on both sides of this
divide politely agree with that general statement. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Here
are a few quotes from James E. Faulconer, professor of philosophy at
Brigham Young University, he has a PHD in philosophy from
Pennsylvania State University. I don't think anyone can reasonably
question his credentials to speak about Mormon theology. I came
across his writings while searching a list of Mormon scholars. The
article I quote is Divine Embodiment and Transcendence:
Propaedeutic Thoughts and Questions as published in the Mormon
periodical Element; Spring 2005. The word “propaedeutic” simply
means a preliminary or preparatory instruction. Dr. Faulconer
struggles in this article with the subject of the body of the Mormon
god. I do not use the small g in god as an insult, but to highlight
the fact that we disagree on the definition of God. Dr. Faulconer
also uses this device. He wrote:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Latter-day
Saint doctrine is that the Father and the Son have bodies: "The
Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Son
also" (D&C 130:22). At first glance this seems
straightforward: the Father and the Son are embodied. However, it
requires very little reflection to begin to wonder what that means.
Joseph Smith's first vision tells us that their bodies are able to
hover in the air and that they are bright beyond description (Joseph
Smith History 1:17). Brigham Young and others taught that, though
their bodies are bodies of flesh and bone, they do not have blood
(cf. Journal of Discourses 7:163, Joseph Fielding Smith, Church
History 5)”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Joseph
Smith's most clear statement of God's embodiment comes as part of a
denial of Nicean trinitarianism: "That which is without body,
parts and passions is nothing. There is no other God in heaven but
that God who has flesh and bones" (Teachings 181).”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">By
not defining God as "wholly Other," existing in a realm
absolutely transcendent of this world and being the being on which
this world absolutely depends, even for its existence, LDS thought
makes a radical break with traditional thought.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Next Dr. Faulconer says the same thing I have said:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
consequences of rejecting onto-theology, in other words, the
consequences of believing that God is embodied run deep in our
cultural and intellectual heritage, to their very roots. As a result,
some of our theological discussions may simply be wrong-headed,
trying to speak of God with concepts that do not apply or at least
implicitly trying to make our understanding of him fit inappropriate
concepts and conceptual structures. Even if we somehow manage to
escape those problems, our discussions are likely to be shot through
with deep equivocation. </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>These
sorts of problems make it easier to be sympathetic to those who
accuse Latter-day Saints of not worshiping the God of Christianity.
If by "God of Christianity" they mean "God of
traditional Christian philosophical theology," then they are
right: we do not believe in or worship that god.” (Emphasis mine)</i></b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I politely, but firmly, agree with Dr. Faulconer, we do not worship the
same God. In his conclusion he wrote:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
scriptures and the teachings of Joseph Smith allow us to say little
more about divine embodiment than that God has a body with the same
form as ours. From that I think we can also infer that the
ontological gulf between ourselves and God cannot be as wide as the
tradition assumes, whether the tradition takes God to being itself or
to be the Good (and, so, beyond being). Though it is difficult to go
confidently beyond that negative conclusion, two things seem to
follow: First, the Latter-day Saint understanding of what it means to
be in the world is, implicitly, radically different than is the
understanding of any other Christian group, though it is not at clear
what additionally follows from that difference. Second, our
experience of the body, the only standard we have for understanding
embodiment, suggests that to say that God has a body is to say that
his omniscience and omnipotence must be understood in ways quite
different from traditional Christianity because embodiment implies
situated openness to a world. In other words, divine embodiment also
implies that God is affected by the world and by persons in his
world. This means that the belief that God is embodied implies that
he encounters the world and that he is, in some ways, passive with
respect to that which he encounters, and his passivity may include
some notion of unconsciousness.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Let
me be clear. The God of the Bible does not have a body as part of or
a necessary extension of His being. Anyone who claims that their god
does have an essential body worships a different god than the God who
is revealed in the Bible. Furthermore anyone or any church which teaches that
their god's body appears to be, is like, or is a human body is clearly included
in the list of corrupt theology given in Romans 1:23-25, this passage clearly states that such a belief contributes to the wrath of God falling on a nation and the removal
of God's preventative grace as I argued in my earlier <a href="http://www.follow-the-light.org/2012/10/president-obama-governor-romney-two.html" target="_blank">article</a>.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Some
will argue that the Son Of God in orthodox Christianity has a body.
This is a clear misunderstanding of the person of Jesus Christ and
orthodox Christianity's teaching concerning Him. The eternal Son
existed before the body of Jesus came into existence. Read John
chapter 1. In orthodox Christianity the body of Jesus is not a
necessary attribute of the being of the eternal Son. The body of
Jesus is not God, it is human. God is manifest in it, but is not it.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
truth about the differences between Mormonism, one of the fastest
growing religions in the world, and orthodox Christianity has been
taught and preached from fundamental and evangelical pulpits
throughout this land for years. I have been a witness to this over
the last 40 years in ministry. I have sat in conferences where
Theology has been declared to the be the highest standard by which we
humans are judged by our creator. But, sadly, for some it seems this
truth was only valid when it didn't indict a favored political
candidate. For that reason more than one commentator has labeled the
Christian right as hypocrites.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">No
matter who is elected today that label will still stick and I
think it does not bode well for our country. I have feared the mixing
of politics and Christianity that began decades ago would lead to a
corruption that might bring us into a direct confrontation with God
and I have lived to see it happen... I think. It is my opinion that
only God's grace will save us from the fruits of this defection. If
you don't understand this then please read my first <a href="http://www.follow-the-light.org/2012/10/president-obama-governor-romney-two.html" target="_blank">article</a>.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">To
my more theologically trained readers please know that I am aware that
the use of non-technical words opens me up to extensive clarification
and disagreement. The more reasonable among you will understand that
I wrote this post for a broad audience. With that said I will not now
technically defend my choice of words to those who will take
advantage of this non-technical post. I will, most likely, delete
comments that attempt to do this. Thanks for reading.</span></div>
Larry Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831240650193543617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889019518680008289.post-54030733750593106462012-09-10T11:21:00.000-05:002013-08-14T14:50:27.784-05:00President Obama & Governor Romney: Two Sides Of The Same Coin<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xmZadjY9hi8/UH2HgBL3riI/AAAAAAAAAxk/z3wSWhnf7bQ/s1600/two+sides+of+the+same+coin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xmZadjY9hi8/UH2HgBL3riI/AAAAAAAAAxk/z3wSWhnf7bQ/s200/two+sides+of+the+same+coin.jpg" width="168" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
There is a God. This is where all human
thought should begin. But there is a sort of religious humanism that
is revealing itself in our land, perhaps now more than ever. It is a
kind of practical atheism or man based theology with political
victory as its primary motive. It is upside down theology, with man
at the top and God at the bottom. This confusion is deadly to a
culture.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It is not surprising that many
conservative Christian writers attack President Obama for his stance
on the economy, homosexuality, abortion, gun control, Supreme Court
nominations, etc. Many of these writers support Governor Romney
because he is somewhat on the other side of these issues. Then,
strangely, he is given a pass by many Christian writers on his Mormon
theology.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
David Barton with Wallbuilders, a
Christian political action organization, recently said, “So why do
we have a question here? Because he's (Romney) a Mormon? Hey, we've
got to get past labels. Just like Obama's Christian label means
nothing, Romney's Mormon label means nothing.” I wonder if Mr.
Barton would shop in a grocery store that refused to put labels on
any of their products. Labels are used to explain in brief what it is
we are buying. Labels mean something, especially when someone chooses
a label for themselves. Mr. Romney chose to label himself a
Republican... that means something. He also freely chose to label
himself Mormon... that also means something.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Anyone who knows much about Mormon
theology knows it is a confusing sort of humanistic pantheism (a
man-like god and deified men and women). It is not like Mr. Romney
doesn't know this since he is a Mormon priest and former missionary.
He has affirmed his unquestioning commitment to Mormon theology
repeatedly.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Attempting to remove the corruption in
our culture without addressing the corrupt theology behind it is like
a firefighter attempting to put out a fire while ignoring the
arsonist who is spraying gasoline on the fire. I realize our country
is founded on religious freedom and I support that freedom along with
Mr. Romney's right to run and folks to support and vote for him. But
religious freedom is not a perfect answer to the problems that plague
mankind. We are still accountable to the Creator for our beliefs as
well as our actions.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
While our constitution supports our
freedom to define God as we wish it cannot free us from the
consequences of doing so. There is a God and, based on the Bible, He
doesn't give us unfettered freedom to redefine His existence. While
Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, had the constitutional freedom to define his
god as he wished, the Creator of this world did not give him or his
followers freedom from judgment for their corruption of His
revelation. Mormonism is not the only theological corruption out there, but this election has clearly put the issue of theological differences in the headlines with Mormonism at the center of the debate.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So which is more important? Theological
corruption or social corruption. Well actually they are both linked
in a cause and effect relationship in Romans 1:18-32. It is
easy to find the cause and effect terms in this section of scripture.
When a certain condition exists: Romans 1:19-23; 1:25; 1:28 then a certain
action is taken: Romans 1:24; 1:26-32. Based on this passage, when we see
a corrupt culture we know that the cause is God's judgment on corrupt theology. Our
country is not facing judgment, the corruption in our culture
indicates we are already under judgment, and changing laws will not
free us from that judgment. The evidence is all around us, and some
among us continue to spray gasoline on the fire. Some, like President Obama, support laws to let the fire burn, while others, like Governor Romney, redefine God's revelation of Himself and spray fuel on the fire. Two sides of the same coin...</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Romans 1 teaches that what we believe
about God is the primary factor in our earthly relationship with Him,
and the health of our culture is dependent on correct belief about
God. The equation in Romans 1 is simple: corrupt theology leads to a
corrupt culture. And our whole culture is in this together. There is
no part of our nation that is free from the stain of judgment. There
is also no part of our culture that is free from rejection of the
notion that theological corruption is behind our current condition. In fact, I fear that the most common reaction in our country to the notion of the primacy of Theology in a culture is rejection.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
If what I have stated is true, then we
are at an impasse that politics and voting cannot change. This is
unacceptable to many people. They want to believe that we can, in our
own strength, change our condition. Romans 1 teaches us that the only
way to reach those heights of change is to realize how far we have
fallen into His judgment and, as fallen creatures, rest in God's
strength to free us from this judgment through His <a href="http://www.follow-the-light.org/2010/02/gospel.html" target="_blank">Gospel</a>. Romans
1:16-19</div>
Larry Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831240650193543617noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889019518680008289.post-77232356265867532722011-09-27T08:10:00.000-05:002011-09-27T20:52:30.750-05:00Divorce Me!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xaJ1tFOnC1k/ToHKE8fUsKI/AAAAAAAAAr0/a2mHfQcK5AE/s1600/divorce+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xaJ1tFOnC1k/ToHKE8fUsKI/AAAAAAAAAr0/a2mHfQcK5AE/s200/divorce+me.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10 And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not;</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Within moments Peter fell from extreme self-confidence and pride to humiliation and fear. He would have many such experiences throughout his Christian life. In the context we find the root problem. Peter thought he knew more about his own business, commercial fishing, than Jesus did. Peter was arrogant and surly when Jesus told him to take him fishing. And he was impatient with Jesus.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Walking with Christ is hard on some of us… especially if we are prideful, know-it-alls, overly self-assured, and/or tend to be impatient with others. The fall can be hard and far, but Jesus will be sure to take us there… for our own good, and to make us useful to Him. He must have servants who are willing to do His will not their own will.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The realization of our failure will show us what we fear most… that we don’t measure up and that we aren’t what we believe ourselves to be or pretend to be, and that Jesus plainly sees that truth about us. Those of us who suffer from this arrogance generally do so out of fear. And when we loose face in the presence of Jesus it can be a horrible experience.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peter’s response was, “Depart from me…” This word depart could be used by a failed husband or wife who is so distraught over their own failure that they cry out to their mate, “divorce me!” It is more than saying I am unworthy, it is saying I can’t stand that you see my shame. But Jesus said, “Fear not…” He knew Peter's agony. Peter had gone from one extreme to another in a matter of minutes. Now Jesus brought him back to a place of balance, a place of humility born from unconditional love. Wow...</span></div>
Larry Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831240650193543617noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889019518680008289.post-65877854624922309132011-09-08T08:03:00.002-05:002011-09-08T08:03:56.312-05:00A Fold-able Neck<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o9W9otaut5s/Tmi7nvtexoI/AAAAAAAAArk/hnnH5a3dZco/s1600/a+foldable+neck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o9W9otaut5s/Tmi7nvtexoI/AAAAAAAAArk/hnnH5a3dZco/s200/a+foldable+neck.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Being a kayaker on the gulf coast of Texas gives me the opportunity to observe Herons and Egrets regularly since they inhabit all our waterways and are hard to miss with their large size, striking appearance, and long legs. They are the coast's most patient and numerous fishermen.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The casual observer might fail to notice a biological marvel of creation that is easily seen: what they can do with their long sleek necks. They can actually fold their necks into an S shape. Just because an animal has a long neck doesn’t mean it is fold-able. Giraffes can’t fold their necks, and neither can geese or deer.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EdAE6EySvT8/Tmi7wZvUOyI/AAAAAAAAAro/LsYEjbO0kes/s1600/a+foldable+neck+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" id=":current_picnik_image" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EdAE6EySvT8/Tmi7wZvUOyI/AAAAAAAAAro/LsYEjbO0kes/s200/a+foldable+neck+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By Alan Vernon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
These birds have special vertebrae in their necks which are accompanied by unique muscles and tendons. Their heads are almost all beak — long sharp beak. They use this beak for grabbing and spearing fish. The long neck and special vertebrae allow the bird to get its beak stealthily within rage of a fish before striking with blinding fish spearing speed. Our creator is an amazing engineer.</div>
Larry Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831240650193543617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889019518680008289.post-3181592278966543952011-09-07T08:20:00.000-05:002011-09-07T10:25:22.596-05:00The Pathway Of Blessedness<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I7wasyEDXWY/TmdsqxHBfNI/AAAAAAAAArg/vN2tUGVT5sQ/s1600/The+Pathway+Of+Blessedness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I7wasyEDXWY/TmdsqxHBfNI/AAAAAAAAArg/vN2tUGVT5sQ/s200/The+Pathway+Of+Blessedness.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Matthew 5:3 poor in spirit</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
4 mourn</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
5 meek</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
6 hunger and thirst after righteousness</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
7 merciful</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
8 pure in heart</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
9 peacemakers</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
These verses describe what a blessed person looks like. There are six adjectives and two verbs which behave like adjectives. These eight words are the keys to understanding the verses. An adjective is a modifier of a subject or noun, so in these verses Jesus gives the description of the personality of a “blessed” person. These modifiers are not given as goals to attain, but each expresses a characteristic that exists in a blessed person.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
These characteristics seem to be sequential, each leading to the other, and descriptive of real <a href="http://www.follow-the-light.org/2010/02/gospel.html">Gospel </a>salvation which leads to a state of being which includes these characteristics. In other words, this is a description of the characteristics that to some degree accompany <a href="http://www.follow-the-light.org/2010/02/gospel.html">salvation</a>.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Poverty of spirit is the first move toward God, and the closer we come to God the more we mourn over our poverty, which leads to meekness or a lower opinion of oneself, which then causes a person to hunger and thirst after righteousness which they do not possess, righteousness which can only be found in the <a href="http://www.follow-the-light.org/2010/02/gospel.html">Gospel</a>. In this <a href="http://www.follow-the-light.org/2010/02/gospel.html">Gospel </a>they find righteousness and the mercy of God in Jesus Christ. A person who has received such mercy is now naturally inclined to give mercy. From the giving and receiving of mercy flows a simple purity in the inner recesses of the soul. The power of love is experienced which brings a sort of singularity of understanding and purpose. And because peace with God has been experienced this blessed person is inclined to seek this path of mercy, truth, and peace when there is conflict.</div>
Larry Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831240650193543617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889019518680008289.post-91880533766150959292011-09-06T09:07:00.001-05:002011-09-06T19:02:55.037-05:00The Wolves Are Coming<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rj6KZo8epnU/TmYnYrYKqdI/AAAAAAAAArc/EzfgNUwK4rM/s1600/The+Wolves+Are+Coming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rj6KZo8epnU/TmYnYrYKqdI/AAAAAAAAArc/EzfgNUwK4rM/s200/The+Wolves+Are+Coming.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Having spent most my ministry trying to help troubled churches I learned that churches are troubled because they have troubled people in their membership, and generally have no processes or norms in place to resolve conflicts. In this troubled mix there is one disconcerting behavior that always puzzles me: the deliberate and aggressive attempt to harm another person. This seems so foreign to the teachings of Christ that I am always surprised the aggressors don't immediately see the glaring inconsistency and stop the harmful behaviors, but experience has taught me they often don't or won't see it.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
There are common threads in this dark garment. It can begin with the smallest thing, something that may go unnoticed by everyone involved but this one antagonist, a mild slight or disagreement can fan the flames of their aggression. Most adults have figured out ways to overlook the mild irritations and differences that come with living and working with others. They wave their hands and move on... but not these folks. These things become personal to them even if the event or issue has nothing to do with them. Strangely... some of these folks seem to look for opportunities to be offended.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
They may then manufacture all sorts of offenses, and small weaknesses in their assumed opponent's actions or personality will become high crimes to them. This excess seems to be the mechanism they need to justify their own malicious intent and actions. They will use their slanted rendition of these “sins” to create a following of people who seem to have a predilection to involve themselves in these sorts of conflicts. I've even known them to hire private detectives to attempt to dig up “dirt” about some poor object of their contempt.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
They then take action intended to bring harm. This is actually the meaning of some usages of the Biblical word "evil". I've seen them do almost everything from attempting to injure a person's standing in the church or on their job, to contacting the IRS with derogatory information to start an investigation. Their persecution seems limited only by their lack of demented creativity. And if the pastor doesn't support their jihad they will often turn their malicious attention upon him or one of his family members.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
What can be done to prevent this kind of conflict? Some promote counseling or mediation, and there are some cases that can be helped or remedied by these methods. But there are a striking number of cases that involve aggressors who have personality disorders or other psychological problems which can prevent the success of this kind of intervention. In fact, in some cases, that sort of intervention will only increase the problem. For these cases a church or other organization must have already prepared itself for this type of conflict. They must have already established norms in the congregation and clear methods to derail this sort of action before it goes to far. Paul clearly prepared the church for the “wolves” long before they came to harm the congregation. Reasoned, sound, Biblical preparation for conflict resolution is a Biblical imperative.</div>
Larry Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831240650193543617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889019518680008289.post-12431155519556363792011-08-06T08:21:00.002-05:002011-08-06T08:23:55.980-05:00Surrender for Joy By Betsy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xCtKVxfzuzM/Tj0-gR-nITI/AAAAAAAAApk/I11cr7ySqUA/s1600/Surrender+For+Joy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="142" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xCtKVxfzuzM/Tj0-gR-nITI/AAAAAAAAApk/I11cr7ySqUA/s200/Surrender+For+Joy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">I
had one of those days yesterday. It started at 4:45 a.m. and didn't
end until 9:00 p.m. There was a mile long list of things to do and it
seemed that everything was resisting my ability to complete the list.
The kids fought all day long, I don't have enough shelving for all my
storage boxes, the vacuum is going out on me, my hair dryer is
smoking... and that was just part of it! Collin dumped out a bottle
of canola oil on my kitchen floor and a bottle of soap on my living
room floor. He also unfolded a bunch of folded laundry. Neither of
the kids wanted to help put away all their toys. The parsnips kept
burning while I was frying them. Cory didn't want to nap. Michael got
home and told me that he had to work on a report for the church
finance meeting the next day (which means I wouldn't get a reprieve
from dealing with the kids AND the household stuff).</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">By
4:45 p.m. I was ready to give up! I was struggling to keep my temper
in check and found it difficult to resist crawling into bed until
morning. My day was far from over... I still had several things on
the to do list and knew that it would take several more hours to
finish it all.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">I
was less than joyful. And about the time I was finished cooking
supper... and was giving myself a grand pity party... I realized that
my day was so terrible because I let it be so terrible. Getting in my
own way of joy. Again. A whole day wasted in a bad mood because of my
poor attitude.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">So,
instead of letting the kids eat by themselves while I scrambled to
get the kitchen clean and finish up that to do list, I sat down, ate
my colcannon shepherd's pie and thought about how to get my joy back.
And I remembered one of the first verses that I memorized as a child:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Proverbs
3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not into thine
own understanding. </span></span>
</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">I
didn't surrender any of these problems to the Lord and, so, I didn't
trust Him. I was trying, and failing, to do everything on my own.
There's no room for joy in my heart when my heart won't surrender its
problems to Him. I have to trust Him to work everything out.
Basically, I have to mind my own business. It's His business to work
out finances to buy a new vacuum. He knows we don't have the extra
money right now but, if He wants us to buy one, He'll send us a way.
My heart cannot be light and joyful if I refuse to trust Him with my
problems.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">You
might be saying that God has bigger problems to deal with... my
broken down vacuum cleaner isn't exactly high priority. To that I
say-- are any of our problems big to God? The same God can be trusted
to deal with the safety of my family AND my financial ability to
purchase household items. He knows the number of hairs on my head. He
knows the number of babies in NICU. Are the hairs on my head more
important than the babies? Nope. But He still knows them all.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">My
kids might have fought all day, but I have to trust that the Lord
will help them remember that it's better to be kind to one another
than it is to constantly fight one another. My vacuum cleaner might
die on me this week, but He knows we need clean carpet! The parsnips
might burn while I'm trying to clean up canola oil, but there's
really nothing I can do about that. I'll just trust Him with our
supper and do the best I can (which sometimes means starting all over
again).</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">After
I reasoned through my day's problems and remembered that they are,
after all, small trees in a giant forest, I was able to get started
on my list again... this time with a MUCH better attitude! When the
list-doing got interrupted I worked through it, gave it to the Lord
and got back to my list. It took a while, but everything got checked
off the list and I joyfully went to bed.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">My
evening turned out to be much more peaceful... and more joyful...
than my day! Betsy</span></span></div>
Larry Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831240650193543617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889019518680008289.post-15381624498567120882011-08-04T09:25:00.009-05:002011-08-06T08:29:02.225-05:00Enforced Peace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nvyt0Vy--Bw/TjqqVYR4T5I/AAAAAAAAApg/9UCI1t-9Pbo/s1600/peacekeeper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nvyt0Vy--Bw/TjqqVYR4T5I/AAAAAAAAApg/9UCI1t-9Pbo/s200/peacekeeper.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
2 Thessalonians 3:16 ¶ Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Peace is not the <a href="http://www.follow-the-light.org/2009/01/peace-is-not-opposite-of-conflict.html">absence of conflict</a>, it can be the context of conflict. In the context of peace conflict changes from destructive to constructive. Context means, “the circumstances or events that form the environment within which something exists or takes place.” <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Encarta Dictionary</span> There are contexts to all human relationships.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Peace is a primary context. When peace exists a relationship takes on certain characteristics which may not exist outside that context. For instance within peace there is a presumption of safety. Those I am at peace with will not seek to harm me. There is a presumption of justice. If our differences become acute we will follow just methods to resolve those differences. There is a presumption of mutual benefit. A peaceful relationship will enrich our lives. When we live in the context of peace we have more usable time, energy, and resources.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sometimes the context of peace must be enforced by a third party. The peace Paul spoke of in the verse above is this kind of enforced peace which can overwhelm all the circumstances of life. This peace was not intended to include only peace with God, although that is enough, it is an enforced context of peace surrounding all the circumstances of our lives. The Lord “himself” will enforce this context of peace. This doesn't mean we won't have conflicts, but that our conflicts are allowed by the Peacekeeper and will ultimately strengthen our faith. Only within this context does the following verse make sense.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.</div>
Larry Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831240650193543617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889019518680008289.post-89884204456128827642011-08-03T07:56:00.007-05:002011-08-06T08:28:42.418-05:00True Worship<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O3zVsBcpcOI/TjlEiVELEuI/AAAAAAAAApc/BbEpRoD0FaQ/s1600/true+worship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O3zVsBcpcOI/TjlEiVELEuI/AAAAAAAAApc/BbEpRoD0FaQ/s200/true+worship.jpg" width="170" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
John 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
How can we <a href="http://www.follow-the-light.org/2011/02/jesus-never-built-building.html">worship without a temple</a>? The key to finding this answer is found in the verses above. Prospective worshipers must first know who it is they intend to worship. When this knowledge is gained then they will know how to worship. Worship is not primarily a musical rhythm, procedure, or place. It is an event between spiritual persons. One is worthy to be worshiped and the other is qualified to worship.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
For many people worship is about what happens in their surroundings, but true worship takes place in a person’s spirit. What is the spirit? Perhaps this question will help answer that question: What is a spirit without personality and intellect? The answer is: nothing. A spirit is pure rational personal existence.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The theologian James Boyce defined spirit as the “higher nature of man.“ He said, “It is evident, that the higher nature of man, so far from being a part of his animal life, either accompanies it or takes its place, and dwells in the body, using it as a means of contact with the external world, in which man, as a spiritual being, is thus enabled to live, and exercise the faculties of his higher nature.”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
We worship God with our intellect first. A person who doesn’t know God based on His revelation of Himself cannot then truly worship God... no matter how good the music. So the most important instrument of true worship is the mind. That mind must know and comprehend revealed truth about God, for only then is real worship possible. This is worshiping Him “in spirit and in truth.”</div>
Larry Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831240650193543617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889019518680008289.post-61675392657342501402011-07-11T08:54:00.000-05:002013-08-14T14:50:58.296-05:00Is It A Sin Not To Vote?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a0SzG5depgw/UHwTr7K-MEI/AAAAAAAAAxU/VJvK8klPYQQ/s1600/ThouShaltVote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a0SzG5depgw/UHwTr7K-MEI/AAAAAAAAAxU/VJvK8klPYQQ/s200/ThouShaltVote.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do
worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I guess the 11th commandment is now
“thou shalt vote!” At least that’s what it seems in article
after article written by various pastors and pundits with the express
purpose of motivating Christians to vote for a favored candidate.
Every time I read, “not voting is a sin” I shudder. The use of a
persons faith to try to force them to do something based on fear
is... well... cheap... a cheap religious trick. Our faith should be
more valuable to us than that.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The outline usually goes like this: we
are told that if we don't vote it is sin and then come arguments
intended to persuade us to chose their candidate as the “lesser of
two evils”. Some even try to make us think they are being
objective. These writers basically try to convince us that one
candidate is far too evil for our vote. Some firmly state they would
never vote for such a candidate under any circumstances. I'm glad I'm
already a Christian because if I wasn't then profane antics like this
would cause me to avoid Christianity.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Instead of two evils they really give
us a choice of three: Evil number 1: Not to vote for either
candidate. Evil number 2: Vote for candidate one. Evil number 3: Vote
for candidate two (the really evil one).</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Some even seem to imply that evil
number 1, not voting, is the greatest evil… but that doesn't seem
to be supported by their logic. What if the only candidates were the
one they would never vote for and one even worse. In that case they
would be forced to choose sin number one and not vote at all. (I
expect sin #1 would all the sudden lose its place as the 11th
commandment)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
But what if some folks have already
come to the conclusion that both candidates have certain evils in
their lives, beliefs, or policies which render them unworthy of their
vote? Most people have a line of morality or principle over which
they will not step to vote. Could it be that the question of voting
or not voting is, for some thoughtful sincere people, a profound
matter of conscience?
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Might there be a time when the system
has, or candidates have, become so corrupt that people of good
conscience believe their only recourse is to not vote, but to pray
that God’s grace will see us through the dark time? Some may intend to send a message to their political party by not voting.<br />
<br />
Voting is a matter of
conscience… and some of us still believe in liberty of conscience.
I know I do, and I will not support a contrived religious doctrine
intended to impede that liberty.</div>
Larry Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831240650193543617noreply@blogger.com0