Pulled a Muscle, Stretched it Out

Today, I went to town to pick up some Milo. If you have no idea what Milo is, then you are missing out on some great chocolatey goodness. Yes: great goodness. Anyway, as I was coming back to the house and up the driveway, I forgot to put the truck in neutral before turning it off. When I got out, and as I was getting to the front door, my dad asked me, "You alright? What happened at the end there?" You see, because I forgot to switch gears, the car lurched a little before the engine stopped. "I, uh, forgot to put it in neutral."

Then, I thought about a recent, intentional series of lapses of mine in the area of holiness. I thought of the burden God has given me to make sure people like you and me (i.e. human beings) know the importance of being found by Jesus, the Christ, Savior of the world and Lord of all. I considered the efforts I have made thus far toward advancing God's kingdom, and their worth from an eternal perspective. I remembered the supreme satisfaction and joy that comes with doing exactly what God wants in a situation, and feeling his pleasure and support.

Still, I did what I did, embracing the emptiness of constant immediate self-gratification rather than the substance of abundant life. What is it to become all things to all people, to train people run the steeple chase, and then to stumble against the 200m hurdles? A shame is what it is. Who ever heard of a trainer who failed to reach the finish line?

The point? Finish well. Moses was raised up to be the leader of God's chosen people, rescuing them from slavery and teaching them the life-giving commandments of God. In spite of it all, the glorious escape from Egypt, the giving of the Ten Commandments, the rebellion and complaints of Israel, and the intercession and miracles on their behalf and for God's glory, he did not enter the Promised Land. Because of one disobedience, he was barred from the very goal set for the Israelites from the onset.

James 3:1 Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.

But, praise be to God,

1 John 2:1-2 My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. And he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.

The long and short of it: Finish well. But if we trip during the race, God is definitely willing to help us, not casting us aside forever. After all, Moses and God were like friends. He buried Moses himself apparently.

Philippians 3:12-14 Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on, if it is so that I may take hold of that for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus.
Brothers, I don't regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do. Forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before,
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

posted from Bloggeroid

Lessons from Easter

Below I have listed, briefly, truths that I have learned or come to understand from the Gospel of John, from the garden of Gethsemane to the Crucifixion. I encourage you to read through an account from one or more of the Gospels as well, praying that God would help you to see him as you should.

1. Caiaphas was married. Annas was his father-in-law. Up until now, I had superimposed Roman Catholicism over Jewish customs in that regard. Interesting, right?

2. It was the leading priests and Temple guards who led the charge to say, "Crucify him!" It was not the masses. Sad how those closest to God's word spoke the most evil about him, behind his back and to his face.

3. Pilate believes that Jesus is the King of the Jews. He first asks Jesus if he is a king, to which Jesus responds, in effect, "Are you asking, or just repeating what you have heard? The second time Pilate asks, Jesus says, "You say that I am a king." A declarative statement. Pilate goes on to try and convince the chief priests and the crowd that Jesus is king, but they do not accept him. Pilate inscribes "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" on a sign to place on Jesus' cross, despite the priests' objections.

4. Jesus said, "I thirst," in order to fulfill what the Scriptures say concerning him. That was a conscious move. Am _I_ actively fulfilling the Scriptures concerning _me_?? What's more, do I even know what the Scriptures have to say about me? Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.

I thank the Lord for enlightenment concerning his word. May these days bring you into an especially poignant remembrance and appreciation for the death, burial and Resurrection of God.

Live in Love.

posted from Bloggeroid

Basic Reminder

Another missed post.... Charge it to my head, not to my...actually, I have a better idea. Charge it nowhere. As in do not charge me for it. Instead, notice that I have recognized my lack, and have now come to repay my debt. Therefore, let neither my head nor heart be found in the cross hairs of your disappointment. I come to make my brief and unrelated recompense: I developed a small heat rash this morning. A picture in this post will do it justice, I think. I thought it was something more serious...and contagious. As it turns out, it is more like a _baby_ rash. So, there goes my attempt to tell my mom that I am a man. No adult male with a baby rash on his face has a chance (whatsoever) of asserting his own maleness in the presence of his parents.


Friday evening, I had the opportunity to be with the Youth from Restorers Fountain Ministries International. If you will remember, I had the privilege of teaching the same young people last year, on the topic "What on Earth am I here for?" It was a program that lasted from Wednesday to Sunday, during which we learned that to glorify, worship, know, and love God are among humanity's highest priorities. We also had a debate at that time, of which event I was the judge, as to whether those who were for the topic would win against those who opposed it.

So, this past Friday, I decided to survey the most quintessential element of Christianity: the gospel. I also asked questions concerning one of the gospel's layers, if you will. That is, salvation. The first question I asked was, "What is the gospel?" to which I received almost no response. I was, on one hand, shocked at the possibility that these young people had no idea how to voice their thoughts on the gospel. The only answer I heard went to the tune of, "The gospel is something that enlightens us spiritually, and something that helps us." On another hand, especially after having heard that most vague statement, I was deeply troubled that perhaps these few young people actually have no conception of the message about Jesus Christ. Here in Nkwanta, the Youth of a particular congregation are called upon to work; clean the sanctuary during the week and before Sunday service, clean the area around the church building, and organize the chairs for different events. They may jump right into those activities with any amount of enthusiasm, but when the dust has cleared, quite literally I might add, the same Youth do not even know the basis for which they are working. So on yet another hand (for, you see, I have three hands (I do not, in fact, have three hands)), I sensed a great desire within myself to let 'em know what this Jesus-following life is all about, starting with the answer to my question.

"Jesus."

Jesus is the gospel.
(For the sake of this medicine I took earlier today, which has sleeping side effects that are now in effect. I will end the post here.)

Live in Love.

posted from Bloggeroid

Not Exactly Table Tennis

So I may not have found the ping-pong scene...but I did find some great community! I should get some definite points for that. Hand 'em over.

This weekend I have been going to the Redemption Chapel Global Evangelical Church since Wednesday night. We spent that and the next three evenings in a mostly musical program of worship. It was a great time to get to know people my age, and from another language group, too!

I have very little to say about it all, simply because the whole weekend can be summed up in a word...peers!!! I have been so excited to be around people who just include me as a friend, rather than some anomaly, or as some stranger to be awkwardly tolerated. Now, though, I have to learn a new language: Ewe; three letters, e-[barred b]-e. For the sake of friends, so be it. Mawu yira wo, and such.

Here are two pictures. One is of the program on Valentine's day. "Jesus, my Val[entine]." The other is of tonight (Saturday); one of the choirs leading praise and worship.





Tomorrow is the crowning of the weekend. I will go back to Redemption Chapel tomorrow morning for Sunday service. At this point, by which I mean the time at which I am writing these very words, my mind and body are quite tired. Why? I left the house at five this (Saturday) morning to join the Youth at Redemption Chapel in a friendly, one-mile-ish jog to the church building, then we cleaned up that building and the yard around the pastor's house. We chilled a little, and I was back at the house before 10:30. The most activity I have done between 5 a. m. and 10 a. m.....

posted from Bloggeroid

Commit

Matthew 27:20-25

Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.
The governor again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas."
Pilate said the them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" The all said, "Let him be crucified!"
And he said, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Let him be crucified!"
So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves."
And all the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!"

To what extent might a large group be swayed by a select few, that they might deceive even themselves?! To what extent do the immanent convictions and and perceptions of one individual coalesce, knowingly or otherwise, and merge into the ambivalent, instinctual "group mentality" when faced with an imminent decision? How can it be that they who extol at a week's start, become they who execute at its close? _When does Hosanna! become Crucify!_, or praise persecution, or adoration acrimony? How?

Either they do not trust God's power or they do not believe God's word. Or else...they do not know God. If the latter should be true, then the crowd that day was full of *fair weather faith*. Jesus looks alot like God when he is raising dead people to life, granting sight to those who are blind, and feeding many thousands with an extremely limited food selection. When, however, he says nothing and allows himself to be arrested, mocked, and questioned, he becomes the mere scapegoat for our fears and the object of our misguided and groundless blame.

John 10:37-38 If I don't do the works of my Father, don't believe me.
But if I do them, though you don't believe me, believe the works; that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.

"Believe the works at least," said Jesus. But the statement goes further. The point is knowing Jesus as God. We do not get to stop believing Christ once his works become incongruous with our incomplete images of his motivations. If we are not committed to the person of Jesus, then, well, can we really be sheep? Are we not among the goats? *"And All The People Answered, 'His Blood Be On Us And On Our Children!'"

Ezekiel 8:16-17 He brought me into the inner court of Yahweh's house; and see, at the door of the temple of Yahweh, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men, with their backs toward the temple of Yahweh, and their faces toward the east; and they were worshipping the sun toward the east.
Then he said to me, Have you seen [this], son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have turned again to provoke me to anger: and behold, they put the branch to their nose.

Ezekiel 9:6 kill utterly the old man, the young man and the virgin, and little children and women; but don't come near any man on whom is the mark: and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the old men that were before the house.

1 Peter 4:17a For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God.

...And you wonder why God will start with his own people.

posted from Bloggeroid

(Re}Cap and Update

I have brief update on the Youth leader search but first, I forgot to fill you in over the weekend, so I offer my apologies. I was focused on a sermon I was preparing for this past Sunday morning. I had the opportunity to preach to high school in the area. The passage was 2 Peter 1:3 & 4, and the focus was on sharing in God's divine nature. I can give you a summary:

2 Peter 1:3-4 ESV

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Echoing the prayer of Jesus Christ for his disciples, "I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. " (John 17:15-18). We have been sent into the world, not to escape the world's corruption, but to fulfill the purposes of God while we are here.

It is necessary, then, to live life in the reality of God's promises, conducting our daily affairs as if everything that God has pledged is true. The problem here is twofold. For one ,we do not know God's promises. God guarantees his people many things, including assurance of his direction for life, peace with him, being accepted by him, and answered prayer according to his will, to list a few. Life in the reality of God's promises is participation in divine nature and made available by his glory and excellence, and is our escape from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful nature.

Counting on those promises as true is the other problem. How do we trust someone we do not consider to be trustworthy? And if we consider God to be worthy of trust, then why do we hesitate to believe his word? Perhaps we need to question how well we know God. The point is to know God personally, rather than only propositionally. Know more than facts; know the person of God through firsthand experience.

All of this, which is summed up in partaking of divine nature, includes all that pertains to life and godliness. You can receive all of this by the divine power of God. However, not all people have access to that power. Though God's power is inexhaustible, it is available for the fulfilment of his purposes, and to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him...which brings us back to the importance of knowing God.

Amen.


An update on getting together with Youth leaders here in Nkwanta: Our first meeting was last Friday! The three Youth leaders (I would be the fourth) and one Youth music director had a very fruitful discussion. I got to hear some of their frustrations as leaders of young people, with issues including mistrust, misunderstanding, disunity, and communication.

We also talked about biblical training!! I brought up my passions for Youth and identity formation, and asked after the leaders' thoughts of letting me teach them the basics of biblical training and/or the implications of having one's identity in Christ. They responded positively, and we all voiced our desire to bring more Youth leaders into the future meetings. We just have to find out where they are....

Live in Love.

posted from Bloggeroid

What Child is This

If you have yet to watch Charlie Brown Christmas, I suggest you get to it. First, they mention the real reason for Christmas. Second,... the dance scene. No, I do not have a link, because I have the film.


Merry/ gay, jocund, jolly, jovial, mirthful; offering fun and gaiety

Christ/ a prophet of the first century; to Christians he was both God and man, the Messiah sent to save the human race from the sin it inherited through the Fall of Man

Christmas/ a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Christ, a quarter day in Wales, England, and Ireland

Christ is linked to mirth. Think about it, if this Christ really saves humanity from sin, then his birth into this world is quite the cause for gaiety! It is the death and Resurrection of Jesus that paves the way for our salvation, sanctification, and glorification. If Christ had remained in the grave, then the faith of his disciples would be in vain, and we would be the most to be pitied. For today, however, humankind is shown to be, collectively and individually, the beloved of God. God's love for the world is such that he gave.... Therefore, we know for a fact that the day in a year set aside the birth of God in the flesh, is a time, not of gifts, but of gift. The attention goes to the ultimate giver, who is also the first, having given of himself out of unconditional love for we who could not and cannot repay the favor, neither here nor in eternity. Our proper, logical response is to glorify and, because we have been given the opportunity for divine relationship, enjoy God. Get where I am going? Humanity was made to glorify God. Jesus is God. God loves us such that he gave Jesus. Jesus is the reason for this season. We should receive God's gift with joy.


Luke 2:25, 27-32 ESV

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
"Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,

according to your word;

for my eyes have seen your salvation

that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and for glory to your people Israel."

posted from Bloggeroid

Pastor Holy Ghost

When the rains come, double rainbows are not an uncommon sighting from the bedroom window. When the rains end, airborne dust prevails mightily over the land.

The rains are beginning to end.


Sunday, we attended the Full Gospel Church International. As it turned out, Sunday was also Children's Sunday there. The congregation had a chance to encourage the kids as they led worship through song ministration, choreography, a skit (the Good Samaritan), and even the preached word. It is this latter happening upon which I would like to comment briefly, because the kid had been nicknamed "Pastor Holy Ghost." After he prayed, he moved right to the Bible.

What was his text?

Matthew 19:14 ESV

but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."

His points:
1. Children are important.
2. Children are not a burden, but a blessing.
3. Teach children
4. Teach children
5. Teach children everything they need to know

He quipped, "I think in Christ we are all one, but I will say that children are more important."

Then he took his seat.

All of 5 minutes were consumed, most of which passed in utter surprise and humor at the straightforwardness and brevity of Pastor Holy Ghost's message for us that morning. I will admit that I was also initially apprehensive about the child getting up to preach. I then noticed that he had a single sheet of notes, on which was presumably written his five points.

So, that was Sunday morning.


In other news, I will be teaching some students at the Evangelical Presbyterian school during their Religious Knowledge period tomorrow morning (7:30 - 8:30 a.m.). I will likely let them know of the Importance of Wisdom, as I did with the students at Adom School.

Other than that, I am beginning in earnest to network with the Youth Pastors in this and the surrounding areas. So far, I know 3 Youth Pastors, and only one on a deeper level than acquaintance. Still, we are making progress.

posted from Bloggeroid

Then They Went Home While She Saw Angels

Have you read the first ten verses in the Gospel according to John, chapter 20? Feel free to look them over here:

John 20:1-10 ESV

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.

The word of God is beautiful, is it not? Mary comes to get the two disciples and tells them of a grave robbery. John apparently sees fit to add that he is faster than Peter. Still, Peter is the one to go in first; John only peers in. Peter sees linen cloths and a separate face cloth, folded, mind you. John goes in, sees, and believes Scriptures. Finally, the two return to their respective dwelling places. "THEN THE DISCIPLES WENT BACK TO THEIR HOMES"?!? Nonsense. How does it occur to one's mind that, upon reaching an oh-so-belated comprehension of the fact of God's word that the Christ must be handed over, killed, and on the third day rise from the dead, one gives mere mental assent and returns home. How early must Mary Magdalene have gone to wake them up?? What more could a Rabbi ask for, than his disciples remember and process all his words, and when something like this happens (a.k.a. the Resurrection!), they just go back home?

But wait. There is more. Next two verses, please.

John 20:11-12 ESV

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.

What?! Peter and John race to the tomb, then John believes, so they both come to understand the what the Scriptures say about Jesus' resurrection. BUT BUT BUT!! Mary...stooped to look...and she saw two angels.... How is this so, since Peter and John saw linen cloths when they looked into the tomb? Maybe it is because Jesus had told them what was to happen, so that they did not need angels to confirm the truth of what Jesus had already said. Perhaps Mary needed angelic reassurance, since she might not have followed Jesus during his entire ministry? That is the best shot I can give at the moment.

Two thoughts more. Three, if you would be so kind.
If you believe, do something beyond keeping it to yourself. Something meaningful to someone other than you.
Do not go home to soon.
He is risen. ^__^

posted from Bloggeroid

O'clock Sharp

Acts 9:31-35 ESV

So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

What if you had an appointment with the Lord?

In this passage, all we are told about Aeneas is that he was bedridden for 8 years, and paralyzed. That is it. As Peter is moving throughout Judea and Galilee and Samaria, he comes to Lydda to visit those who follow Jesus the Christ. Does Aeneas even know anything about Peter's coming? It seems that, all of a sudden, Peter walks up to him and lets him know that Jesus Christ heals him, as if delivering a letter that has already been written.

Aeneas was a saint, a believer of God. To be paralyzed, lying on his bed for 8 years, do you not think that he prayed many times that God would take away his problem? Can you imagine what some people might have said: if he has real faith, then God would have healed him long ago. Or, he has no reason to go on asking God for anything, because God has abandoned him. Now, we all have problems. If you are honest with yourself, then you know that there is something in your life that you wish you could make better. It is something that is very evident to you, even though very few other people may notice it. Think of that issue or situation, the one about which you may have stopped praying by now, having given up hope on that area of life in which you no longer expect anything notably positive to be done. Would it not be quite incredible to have your problem handled? Moreover, what if it is handled quite unexpectedly?

Perhaps you have yet to pray today, at least not about that. You have yet to obsess over it today, at least not as much as you did the last time. Suddenly, it is finished. You sit up, make your bed, and realize your Lordthe Lord--has taken care of you...yet again. I say again because, well, for starters, it is not as if you have been dead since the development of this problem. There is always something for which you can and should thank the Lord. Maybe that is for another time.

My point now is that, at any time, God may send a message of healing your way. You just hold on; keep praying, believing, hoping, trusting God and waiting on His word. The Lord says in 2 Chronicles 7:14 that, if His people, called by His name, would humble themselves and pray, seek His face and turn from their wicked ways, *then* He will hear from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal the land. The Bible tells us that those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength, they will mount up on wings like eagles, they will run and not get weary, they will walk and not faint. What an honor to receive a good word from the Most High God!

Pay attention to what Peter says next, "Rise and make your bed." There is nothing that has begun to affect you that the word of God, once spoken, and spoken once, will not change. God only has to speak to bring about His purpose. The Scriptures do not read that the Lord had made His presence to dwell in Lydda before Aeneas was healed, or that some fire had to rain down from heaven before a healing could come. God did not even mention that Aeneas had to fast or go to any a certain place to have healing. God Almighty sent a message through his servant, Peter, to tell Aeneas of what had already been decided by the throne of God. Aeneas' duty, then, is to live in the restoration of physical abilities, and therefore to be strengthened spiritually to continue following the Lord. If you have waited faithfully for the Lord, when the Lord shows Himself to be ready for you to move, then MOVE!

This could be true for you right now. You are wondering and praying to the Lord to give you direction. When He finally does, you decided to pray even longer for the same thing. But why would you do that?! The time for seeking the Lord on this matter has ended. The time has come to walk with your God. Peter delivers the message to Aeneas that, since Jesus has healed him, he should live according to that word. He had been bedridden for eight years. Peter did not tell Aeneas that the change would be easy. He did mean for Aeneas to start the change immediately. And what was Aeneas' response? The Bible tells us here in Acts chapter 9 that Aeneas rose *immediately*. He believed God and, like Abraham in the book of Genesis, chapter 15, verse 6, "it was put to his account as righteousness."

Do you believe God? Do you believe that God can send a messenger to you, right where you are? Do you believe that just God's word can set you free from your circumstance? Do you believe God enough to deliver His message to someone else?

Consider this: what if you have been given the privilege of being Jesus Christ's messenger?

You are going about your way, impacting the world for the Lord in your spheres of influence, when you reach a certain place. There may or may not be anything special about the place in its own right, except that as you are on the way, you meet someone with an ailment, in whatever form it may be presented. Then, the Lord himself gives you His notice of authority, "This is the one I have a message for at this time. Let them know I heal them, and tell them to live according their healing." What do you do? Your options are there. Will you obey; take glory for what has been done by the Lord's word; continue on your way as if nothing is happening (because who knows if God is even saying anything to that person); or will you falter in your faith because you do not think God would really tell YOU to do something like THISeven though perhaps you of all people would like to believe miracles like this are still alive and well in God's kingdom?

In both of the aforementioned scenarios you are blessed with an appointment with the Lord, whether to . So that means you need to pay attention to what you are doing, and constantly listen for the voice and direction of the Lord. Whether you are giving the message God has given you, or receiving the notice that God has given someone else, is it not a great thing to both relay and perceive that "Jesus Christ heals you"?

Oh and by the way, Jesus Christ sent me to tell you he HAS healed you of your former condition, called death. Accept it. Acknowledge him as Lord. Believe that God raised him from the dead. Rise, then, and make your bed; walk in the healing with which you have been healed.

posted from Bloggeroid

Lessons Earned

My apologies for missing our appointment yesterday.  Following the net four (also parenthetical) page breaks, I will intimate a truncated version of that upon which I intended to expound, and the reason for my having now neglected that task.

(Well, I was going to mention a conversation I had with a cousin of mine, wherein we came to understand the unity of the gospel through the books of Job and Colossians, the fact that God’s utmost desire is God’s glory from Colossians, and that all things have been made toward that purpose, but in greater detail.

However, as I was in the very act of publishing those sentiments, my electronic device (O, technology!) decided that my actions merited the deletion of my entire train of thought, such that now, and especially as my time of slumber has long past, that intellectual locomotive is now irreparably derailed.  My apologies to you, dear reader.  Perhaps next time, the Lord willing, I will use a surer method of blog publishing that involves neither operator error nor system malfunction.

Suffice it to sat that glory is God’s; all glory.  He shares it with no one but, because of Christ Jesus, his people are enabled to partake of his Holy Spirit and have the very same Spirit make his abode, their living bodies.  It means that God’s ultimate purpose is God’s glory, and that God is good such that we, who confess Jesus as Lord and believer that God raise him from the dead, are enabled to share in glory, previously restricted to the Almighty.  Are we worthy?  No.  Are we made worthy?  Yes; Jesus has counted us worthy because of what he has done.

I was also going to make much fuss about the global bacon shortage for the year 2013.  At this point, though, my mind is degenerating into the primordial soup that a part of humanity deems to have been the origins of life.  And so, I bid you Adieu.)

Today, I would like to take the remaining space to tell of the family’s latest project.  We have two dogs, Gbenga and Chino.  Gbenga is a mix of Rottweiler and Doberman, and Chino is fully Boerboel (a South African breed.  Of course mentioning the origin of Chino’s breed immediately unearthed my ignorance to that of Gbenga’s mix, despite my familiarity thereof).  They seem to be developing personalities as they mature.  Gbenga is nearly a year old, and Chino trails by only a couple of months.  For the past few months, and especially in this last month or so, the gruesome twosome have been finding ways to get out of the yard, either around or underneath our chain-link fence, much to the dismay of the family and the families of the surrounding Nkwanta-ites.

I have, in fact, just come inside from a long, productive day of interweaving iron rods into the fence and hammering them into the ground to prevent unwanted (on the part of the humans) departure of the canine creatures from the house’s immediate premises.

About 20 minutes after we (my dad, my cousin, and I) came inside for the day, we see Gbenga and Chino outside the fence.  Yippee.  So, more searching led us to see that we had a few more rods to put into the ground well.  As I type, I hear no barking.  That means that the dogs are either asleep or that they have escaped yet again.  In the latter case we shall hasten to change the dogs’ names to Houdini and Angel!

With this said, I will sign off for now.  I am still trying to post every Tuesday and Saturday, as I said in the last post.  Hindrances will be due to electricity, or to time left on the Internet (it is essentially pre-paid usage).

If you want the Gospel, read Ephesians 2:1, 2 and Colossians 1:21 and John 3:16.  If you want it now, then know that you do not have to be an enemy with God forever. He has made reconciliation to and relationship with God possible.  Where does that hope come from?  God.  Who is that hope?  God himself.  If that is not good news, what else could you possibly have in mind?

Two Masters

Today, as we were coming back up the driveway from a quick trip to town, my parents and I were paying close enough attention to behold God's handiwork.
Q: What had graced us this time?
A: A Blue-bellied Roller.

I would post a picture but, by the time we had gotten out of the car and my dad had retrieved his camera, he was unable to get a good shot. If your internet connection is any grade above the one I use (or even equal to it) then I greatly recommend to you the pursuit of a photographic image with this Roller in the foreground. For anyone else, please let me know when you would like to come and visit me here in Nkwanta. Room and board available, usually.

This week, as I may have mentioned last week, I had and took advantage of the opportunity to guide a group of pastors through the book of Colossians. This was an encouraging experience for me, as I had not previously been sure of my ability to teach an entire book of the Bible. I realized the importance of the book being the centrality, supremacy, and sufficiency of the person of Jesus, the Christ, to, in, and for the Christian faith. Secondly, the works of Jesus the Christ (just in case you had him confused with Jesus Justus in Colossians 4:11) stand out as efficacious among the attempts to both conquer the desires of the sinful nature and deliver humanity from the domain of darkness into his own kingdom.

Moreover, the pastors, who graciously learned from me despite the fact that I am younger than they, observed the importance of these truths: Jesus is God, and being renewed to partake of his spirit drastically changes the way we live.

They left our house this morning, on the way back to their respective homes. Two of them live nearly two full days away, by public transport; the third, about 30 minutes.

In your search for meaning, what is your treasure; that which, if found, would end all searching? Do you think you even have meaning? Let me cue you in to something that is true of all people: we were made to worship. The questions are not if and why, but what and how. I urge you, therefore, in view of the mercies of God, to present your body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is YOUR REASONABLE ACT OF WORSHIP.
Q: What does God demand of your time, gifts, and energies so you can make use of all he has for you?
A: Everything.

Q: What of God time, gifts, and energies has he devoted to the ultimate satisfaction of your soul?
A: Everything

In Christ, you are free. Free to remain in the darkness, trapped by the empty deceptions of your own efforts without the Christ. Free to live, having been transferred into the kingdom of God's beloved Son (Jesus the Christ), who offers freedom and forgiveness and substance rather than mere shadows. Confess that he is Lord, and believe the mystery that God raised him from the dead.

Choose ye this day whom you will serve.

posted from Bloggeroid

Bearable

On Sunday, we saints at Full Gospel Church International, Nkwanta, Ghana, were greatly encouraged. God desires to bless you and I, and richly! God wants good things for you and for me, and wants to shower down the promises of blessing, from the Bible, upon our lives. What are the first words to Adam and Eve from God? "Be fruitful and multiply." Creativity, usefulness, and productivity are programmed into our very makeup as human beings.

We at Full Gospel were also exhorted. These blessings which God wants us to obtain as part of daily life are attached to three mandates.

1) We must be born again.

John 3:1-8 ESV

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

2) We must be obedient to God's word.

Leviticus 26:3-12 ESV

"If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall last to the time of the grape harvest, and the grape harvest shall last to the time for sowing. And you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land securely. I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid. And I will remove harmful beasts from the land, and the sword shall not go through your land. You shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall chase ten thousand, and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. I will turn to you and make you fruitful and multiply you and will confirm my covenant with you. You shall eat old store long kept, and you shall clear out the old to make way for the new. I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.

3) We must be and remain connected to Jesus the Christ.

John 15:1-8 ESV

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

Be encouraged. Be exhorted. Adapt accordingly, because all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Jesus bodily, and are you not the Holy Spirit's temple? Be fruitful.

posted from Bloggeroid

Wisdom and Life

This past Wednesday, I had the opportunity to tell some of the Primary (elementary) and Junior High students about the importance of Wisdom. I told them the well-known (made-up-on-the-spot) anecdote about the boy who, having been granted all knowledge by God at a young age, still ended up unemployed through his old age. The reason? He had no wisdom! He did not prepare well; did not put the knowledge he had to good use.

Ya see, knowledge is like a hammer. It is useful for making progress..really useful. If you have no idea how to use it, though, then you may end up hitting yourself.

Proverbs 2:3-5, 10-12 ESV

yes, if you call out for insight

and raise your voice for understanding,

if you seek it like silver

and search for it as for hidden treasures,

then you will understand the fear of the Lord

and find the knowledge of God.

for wisdom will come into your heart,

and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;

discretion will watch over you,

understanding will guard you,

delivering you from the way of evil,

from men of perverted speech,


Also, today marks that four month and 3 day anniversary of post-undergraduate life for me. I am blessed to be in a house with parents whose lives are sold out to the purposes of the Lord Jesus Christ, the effects of which continue to teach me that trusting in God is a worthwhile endeavor. I am living on purpose, striving each day to fulfill the plans of God for the life I live in this body. I am learning that believing in Jesus is frequently difficult, and never automatic. Gratefulness is one of the key qualities to walking in tandem with the Holy Spirit, as is the knowledge that a good Father walks with me each day.

May the good and gracious King of Kings bring you into the remembrance of his presence each day.

posted from Bloggeroid

Wanna Live?

John 3:13-15 ESV

No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

JOHN 3:13-15 CEV-EN

No one has gone up to heaven except the Son of Man, who came down from there. And the Son of Man must be lifted up, just as the metal snake was lifted up by Moses in the desert. Then everyone who has faith in the Son of Man will have eternal life.

John 10:10 NLT

Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

John 14:6 NKJV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Galatians 2:20 ASV

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.

See where this is goin?
The Son of Man, that is, Jesus, must be lifted up, so that whoever believes in him can have eternal life in them. Eternal life in you. What kind of life are you hoping for? What is more than a rich and satisfying life? The point is, Jesus is the life. Eternal life in you is Jesus in you. Same thing. If you do not have the Son you do not have life, because eternal life is in Jesus, the Son of God (see 1 John 5:11, 12). If, as you examine yourself, you conclude that you need abundant, a rich and satisfying, life, then you have concluded that you need Jesus, the Christ, Son of the living God. He is eternal life; and not just in duration, either. We (the great cloud of witnesses to the reality of this life) are talking about quality: a meaningful purpose tailored specifically to who you are in Jesus. Eternal life is the actual fulfilment of your most fundamental longings, and much more than the temporary satiation of your selfish, vain attempts at satisfaction from any other source. Rest and nourishment for your soul, and you do not even have to die first.

Get life. Get Christ.

posted from Bloggeroid

Meeting with God

Acts 9:32-35, 37 ESV

Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.

What if you had an appointment with the Lord?

In this passage, all we are told is that Aeneas was bedridden for 8 years, and paralyzed. That is it. As Peter is moving throughout Judea and Galilee and Samaria, he comes to Lydda to visit those who follow Jesus the Christ. Does Aeneas even know anything about Peter's coming? It seems that, all of a sudden, this guy walks up to him and lets him know that Jesus Christ heals him, as if it Peter is the messenger delivering a letter that has already been written. Would it not be quite incredible to have your problem handled (I refer to the one most obvious to you, about which you most often think and/or pray. Or maybe you have stopped praying, giving up hope on an area of life in which you no longer expect anything notably positive to be done.)? Moreover, what if it is handled quite unexpectedly? You have yet to pray today, at least not about that. You have yet to obsess over it today, at least not as much as you did the last time. Then, it is finished. You sit up, make your bed, and realize your Lordthe Lord--has taken care of you...yet again. I say again because, well, for starters, it is not as if you have been dead since the development of this problem. There is always something for which you can and should thank the Lord. Maybe that is for another time, though.

Now consider this: what if you have been given the privilege of being Jesus Christ's messenger?

You are going about your way, impacting the world for the Lord in your spheres of influence, when you reach a certain place. There may or may not be anything special about the place in its own right, except that as you are on the way, you meet someone with an ailment, in whatever form it may be presented. Then, the Lord himself gives you notice, "This is the one I have a message for at this time. Let them know I heal them." What do you do? Your options are there. Will you obey; take glory for what has been done by the Lord's word; continue on your way as if nothing is happening ; because who knows if God even said anything to the target individual; or will you falter in your faith because you do not think God would really tell YOU to do something like THISeven though perhaps is is one of the things you wold like to believe is alive and well in God's kingdom?

In the scenarios to both questions you are blessed with an appointment with the Lord. So that means you need to pay attention to what you are doing, listening for the voice and direction of the Lord. Whether you are giving the message God has given you, or receiving the notice that God has given someone else, is it not a great thing to both tell and hear, "Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed"?

Oh and by the way, Jesus Christ sent me to tell you he HAS healed you of your former condition, called being dead. Accept it. Acknowledge him as Lord. Believe that God raised him from the dead. Rise (you were once dead) and make your bed.

posted from Bloggeroid

This Ministry's Purpose

of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Paul's ministry is about making the gospel of Jesus the Christ fully known, so that he might present everyone mature in Christ. Is that true for every one of God's ministers?

Today, we were on the road again from Accra, where we spent not-quite-two- days buying necessary groceries, dog food, and plants, back to Nkwanta, our home. The journey will be around 6 hours in duration. It could be shorter, if the rain has not damaged the last hour-long stretch of road too badly, or if no large trucks have gotten stuck on the road, effectively impeding progress and raising stress levels for all travellers. It could be shorter if, after the paved road ends, the dirt road has been grated and only slightly dampened by rain; or if the Chinese contractors have paved the road completely, so that the whole journey will pass over tarred (paved) road. But, of course, we're in the rainy season and, while it is dry in Accra, Nkwanta and its surrounding areas are making up for the capital's lack. It'll be longer.

Remember, your identity is found in relation to someone(s) or something(s)...unless you are source of all the somethings and someones, in which case, if you're reading this, I am grateful and greatly humbled and welcome all of your input on...everything. If you are not, then I would thank you to read on. Without what(s) or whom(s) would your life be less than satisfied or satisfactory? Mind you, I do not intend to imply a scale as our teachers may have in grade school, from Failing to Satisfactory to Excellent. Rather, I intend to denote the difference between satisfied and not satisfied, simply. If _ were not a part of my life, I would have no reason to live, no purpose in living. As an attempt at greater clarity without confusion, if you could make allowance for _'s absence, then you need to keep searching. I mean, without ___, you would lose your sense of self. I hope that's clear.

Now, if you have no point of reference for such a source for your sense of self, then I would urge you to both begin and continue the search. By the conclusion of these thoughts, I hope you understand the importance of your identity. I know that many may not know where to start, and might not have even given this topic a first, let alone second, thought. To you, then, what follows is a case for identity. To you who are searching and who meet with mixed success, encouragement and exhortation are my goals. To those who encourage and exhort in this area, I pray that this is helpful as you help others grow, and as you find nourishment for your souls. To all of you and everyone, may your source prove just and benevolent and, perhaps above all, present.

posted from Bloggeroid

Life's Aul

Haven't we been changed by the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ? What is there to be said concerning the presence, power, and promises of God Almighty? Are they ineffectual? Is the Divine Love in vain? Where is the change in my life? In yours?

Or is it the appropriation of this God's life onto, into, around, through our own existence? Is it propositional knowledge, or is it relationship? The difference between the two is worth noting. On the one hand, the intellect reigns, without solid footing; mindless speculation abounds, leading to high-sonding nonsense and "ownership" of the infinite. On the other, intellect is fed by experience; hope is not seen, but the evidence of said unseen awaits to enwrap us all in an unforseen-yet-expected. A serendipitous embrace. O, that I might attain unto the loftiness of the plans for me by my Infinite Benevolent.

Today, we worked. I would upload a photo of our progress but, alas and alack, I reside in Nkwanta, Ghana, where picutres swallow bandwidths whole. Perhaps you could keep up with the progress by clicking on the picture of the sky at the top of the page. To keep you updated, we have begun to fill the first part of the Nkwanta Leasership Empowerment Center. Jeremy, David (my cousin), Evans, and I all worked together to shovel sand into the first of many holes, and mark the beginning of the foundation-filling journey. Worked about 5 hours, and I've actually just woken up from a nap [that I will be resuming soon enough, and with great pleasure] to fill you in (get it?) on what's happening with WorldVenture Ghana. To add the cherry ont top of an already sumptuous pretty please, we have our own truck! I know, you're like, "Yay," in that uncertain-of-what's-going-on kind of way. With the truck, we can cut down on the cost of transporting goods (eggs en masse, dirt, etc), which means that we can put more money directly towards the ministry with less heartache! God has provided yet again; feel free to get in on the action if you aren't in already. How? Click on that big picture at the top of the screen. It is so cool.

I have also been given the privilege of teaching one of the local Youth groups tomorrow evening. The topic is "The Renewal of the Mind," Which spans passages in Philippians chapter 2, Ephesians 2 and 4, and Romans chapter 12. I'm always excited to speak to Youth, and this is another time when I will get to incorporate my passion, Identity in Christ, into the lesson. I plan to teach no longer than 30 minutes, and then to field questions, as per the pastor's request. I hope and pray that all goes well, and that I treat the Word of God appropriately.

Keep answering those questions put forth in the "To Begin" blog and following. Who are you? Why does it matter? What does it mean? Write down the reason that God has placed you on this planet. Take your time. Pray. Again. and Again. Live in Love.

posted from Bloggeroid

Ponder Suffering

In the past couple of weeks, I have come to believe that suffering is not only a possible piece of the Christian life, but an essential one.  Reflection upon John 13:16 and John 16:33, in conjunction with new insights into the Trinity, have all had the effect of a deeper understanding of Romans 8:17.  "Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them." "I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!" "it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him."  Therefore, it seems to me, to suffer and to share in the glory of Jesus are not two pieces of a whole, but rather one unified requisite.  Like the whole fruit of God's Spirit mentioned in Galatians 2, participating in the suffering of Christ and in his glory are one process.  One does not reach its fullness without the other.  Somehow, both are cause and caused interdependently.  Thus my life, being meant for complete transformation into the fullness of Jesus-likeness, is supposed to have experiences of suffering and of glory.  Both are part of the reality and process of my being made whole in God.  There is no dichotomy of choice; I should expect to share in these, if indeed I am a child of God.