C.J. Sears's Blog, page 12

Handle. Taste. Touch. – The Nature of Holy Days

“Therefore, don’t let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is the Messiah. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on ascetic practices and the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm, and inflated without cause by his unspiritual mind. He doesn’t hold on to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and tendons, develops with growth from God.” (Colossians 2:16-19)

As Easter approaches, I’m reminded there’s a fair amount of controversy over the celebration among Christians. Some say it’s not proper to honor Christ’s sacrifice while perpetuating less than biblical activities such as egg hunting, candy consumption, and hyping up a big pink bunny. Others remark that it’s an adaptation of a pagan practice (the secular rebuke against Christianity) and that it has no real connection to Christ’s life, death, burial, and resurrection. But what’s the truth? Should we celebrate Easter? Does it matter?

Let’s get one thing straight. The timing of Easter overlaps with Passover, the Jewish holiday which marks the manner in which the Lord condemned Egypt by the tenth plague and freed Israel from Pharaoh’s grip. Their exodus became the impetus of one of several important celebrations in the lives and rituals of the Jewish faith. More importantly to us as Christians, Jesus was crucified during the Passover week. Thus, we mark the days as special.

But that’s not the crux of what this post is about. The question posed is whether or not it is right or correct to honor the Lord in this manner. If we’re not commanded to do something, should we? This is why I’ve pointed to the above Scripture from the Book of Colossians. You see, in this time of the church, Judaizers were among the brethren, trying to get them to submit to circumcision, regulations, and other ritualistic practices as a way of keeping the Law of Moses in addition to believing in Christ.

Paul, of course, condemns this behavior. In the Book of Galatians, he outright accurses those who would preach a false gospel and force those born in Christ to be placed under the law which can only reveal sin, not save someone from it. Here, he points out these practices of the mystic, acetic, and Pharisaic are are all either bunk or mere shadows of the true salvation through Christ. Just as the blood of animals is insufficient sacrifice and atonement for sins (Hebrews 10:4), so too are the ceremonial laws and commandments to which the Jews clung.

“If you died with the Messiah to the elemental forces of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations: ‘Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch’? All these regulations refer to what is destroyed by being used up; they are commands and doctrines of men. Although these have a reputation of wisdom by promoting ascetic practices, humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value in curbing self-indulgence.” (Colossians 2:20-23)

But again, what do these passages have to do with Easter and the proper way to conduct ourselves in regards to holidays (holy days)? As Paul says, we are not to judge one another in regards to these things. One person esteems one day higher than another and each should be convinced in his own mind as he eats and drinks (Romans 14:5-6). It is not, then, the place of anyone to call out another Christian for being absent or less dutiful during such occasions. The same can be said for Christmas or any other such day, including—according to Scripture in the Book of Colossians—what we call the Sabbath.

We cannot bind each other’s consciences with regulations. Remember, if we keep the law, we are obligated to keep the whole of it, not simply one commandment or instruction. By the works of the law, no man will be justified (Romans 3:20). Only by believing on Jesus Christ can we be saved by His grace and mercy (Acts 16:31, Romans 10:8-10, Ephesians 2:4-9).

But why am I bringing this up? Am I anti-holiday? Do I hate the Sabbath? Of course not! But I do think it prudent, as we approach Easter, to be mindful of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to remember and realize that our faith is not about what we can touch, taste, handle, or celebrate. It’s about knowing our depravity and realizing the depth of our need for a relationship with our Savior.

By all means, celebrate Easter, Christmas, even Passover itself if you wish. And I’ll join you on at least two of those. But know that our salvation doesn’t come through this venue, but by the grace of God Himself. Recognize that our submission to Him and commemoration of His Son Jesus Christ should come through our faith and belief on Him, not whether we keep kosher, set a schedule, wash our hands, or any such rudimentary and earthly things.

“Above all, put on love—the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful. Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:14-17)

Thanks and praise belong to Him. May His grace and mercy be upon you who believe in and on the One He sent, His beloved Son. Thank you for reading and God bless.

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Love Wins: A Quasi-Review of “The Case for Christ” Film

After the near death of their daughter, investigative journalist Lee Strobel (Mike Vogel) and his wife Leslie (Erika Christensen) begin a long journey toward Christ. Adapted partially from Strobel’s book of the same name, The Case for Christ chronicles Lee’s battle against his wife’s newfound faith and his quest to disprove Christianity, his father issues, highlights his career at the Chicago Tribune, and eventually his acceptance of the Lord as his Savior. The film is a powerful dramatization of the events therein and is a wonderful evangelistic tool.

Lee’s inquiring mind wants to know what he can do to stop his wife from becoming something alien to him. She’s becoming a Christian and he’s a staunch atheist. He loves his wife, but this foreign thing is taking her from him, he believes. He can’t reconcile that with his feelings, so he takes the skills he’s been gifted and sets to work on making the case against Christ.

Along the way, he meets with scholars, priests, doctors, and even an agnostic therapist. All of these people contribute to his knowledge of Christ and the probability of his resurrection. They also point out the deep-seated issues Lee is suffering from. Why can’t he let his wife be happy? Why can’t he have a little faith in the truth that isn’t only “science and reason” as one character puts it? And what’s his father’s lack of pronounced love for him got to do with it?

Ultimately, this film only touches on aspects of God’s truth. It doesn’t have the allotted time to delve into any area in great detail. But it does provide a smattering of information which can prove useful to the faith of any Christian.

The movie establishes:

The reliability of the New Testament as the best attested historical document ever put to writing (a stack of manuscripts a mile high).
The indisputable reality of Christ’s death on the cross and the pain He suffered (no one lives through a Roman flogging and a crucifixion).
The logistics of frequent martyrdom in a falsifiable faith (no one dies for a religion they know to be false).
The variety of eyewitness accounts in both the current day and in the first century AD (we wouldn’t expect them to agree in every minute detail lest they be manufactured and conspiratorial).
The necessity of loving each other even when we disagree (as Lee does with his wife before he comes to the truth).
The unfortunate side effect that a lack of kinship with our earthly fathers has on many individuals who become atheists and unbelievers.

All of these contribute to Lee’s growing faith as the movie unfolds. Ultimately, it’s the sheer volume of evidence, his father’s death, and his love for his wife which is his undoing as an atheist. He’s forced to admit, by the grace of God, that his wife is not being illogical or brainwashed, but that her faith is real and undeniable. So he returns to her a broken man, ready to be rebuilt into the Christian God wants him to be.

Faith-based films are difficult to write. They tend to be corny, saccharine, and laced with bad jokes, bad theology, and new age spiritualism. But the core of The Case for Christ is so true, so provocative, because it’s based on the real conversion and experiences of Lee Strobel as he moved from atheism to Christianity. The protagonists aren’t portrayed as perfect saints but as flawed humans, despicable even, sinners in need of a Savior.

It’s the power of the Gospel at work outside the binds of Scripture. The Truth of Christ is that we cannot attain salvation without Him. The power of our Savior is such that all who truly seek Him with their heart will find Him. He is not unknowable. He is not an abstract. He is God, He is a person, and He is loving.

“Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)

God answers our prayers. He knows what we need even before we ask. His answer might be “no” or “not now, but later” but the truth is that no prayer, asked in earnest faith, goes unanswered. And for Leslie Strobel, who couldn’t understand why the man she loved refused to see the beauty and integrity of her faith, prayer was her best outlet.

Leslie and Lee’s strained home life is the heart of the film. He loves her and she loves him, but their faith (or lack of) is at odds. But by the grace and mercy of God, Leslie’s prayers for her husband will soon be answered. Her fixation on this passage is key to her desires for Lee:

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26)

God’s promise to Israel is a promise to all believers everywhere. Our hearts are hard, as was the nation, and by His love we are made anew, transformed in the Spirit by the Lord Jesus Christ, to walk in His ways and thankfulness to Him. Leslie knows this. She believes this.

And her faith is rewarded. Lee becomes a believer and she is no longer unequally yoked but married to the man God had always intended to create. Lee was predestined to be a man of God, foreordained to be born again as a sinner saved by grace, a saint.

This wasn’t meant to be a true review so much as an overview of the validity of a portrayal of our faith in media, but it seems incomplete without recommendation one way or another. So what do I think?

Whether you’re a Christian, a seeker of truth, or uncertain, The Case for Christ is a film that’s worth your time. It’s a love story and a detective plot wrapped up in the truth of God’s Word. The acting is commendable, the main characters likeable in spite of his worst aspects on display, and you’ll even get a kick out of the period vibe of the early 1980s. I loved it when I watched it last year and it’s still good now. Is it perfect? No, but no film is flawless just as no human is sinless.

In the end, all that matters is what we choose to believe. And that choice should be Christ, whose case has been proven for millennia. Believe and be saved (Acts 16:31, John 3:16).

Thanks and praise be to Him! And I thank you for reading this post (which came as a surprise to me while writing). God bless and peace be with you. Have a great weekend.

The Heart of the Gospel: Believe and Be Saved

“But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said. ‘But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’” (Luke 16:29-31)

In this parable, Jesus tells the story of a rich man and a poor man (named Lazarus) who both die. Lazarus, tormented and pained in his life, goes to heaven to be with the saints (such as Abraham). The rich man perishes and toils in Hades, unable to be reconciled to God. When the rich man looks up and sees Lazarus and Abraham, he begs the latter to send the former with a wet finger to cool his burning tongue.

Abraham refuses. He tells the man in hell that he received all the good things he’d ever get during his lifetime. Hell is his final reward as heaven is the fate of Lazarus who suffered in life. But it would be a mistake to assume that this occurred because of their monetary wealth. No, as Abraham soon points out, the root problem is much deeper.

This chasm cannot be crossed in the afterlife, he says. It’s been decided. So the rich man, who did not believe, asks Abraham to send someone to warn his brothers so that they might be rescued from the fiery pits of Hades. Again, Abraham refuses.

He tells the rich man the plain truth that they already have the knowledge of Moses, the law and the prophets. They should know their duty. They should know what it means to be a sinner and who to place their faith in. But they don’t. They will not acknowledge their need for salvation, content to rest in their iniquity.

The rich man insists that if a man came back from the dead to tell them the Truth, they would listen and repent. But again, Abraham disagrees. He says that if a man were to rise from the dead, they would still not be persuaded, for they would not believe, as they didn’t believe Moses and the prophets.

This parable, like so many others, is Jesus foretelling not only his own fate, but the plight of the Pharisees and all who will or won’t believe. The Pharisees and other unbelievers, convinced of their self-righteousness, lack the faith they need to believe in the One who God has sent. Even though Christ rises from the dead, they will not listen.

But the believers, the poor men of the world, the sinners, will ascend like Lazarus. They, by His grace, will know the depth of their sin, be humbled before God, and believe. The risen Christ will touch their hearts and His blood will cleanse their souls. They will be made right before God, because they believed.

This parable gets to the heart of the Gospel. Believe, as the jailer does in Acts 16:31, and be saved. Don’t believe, trust only yourself and manmade traditions as the Pharisees do, and be condemned. There’s no hope in unbelief, no rest in ritual. There’s only despair, death, and hell.

“Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. You know the way to where I am going.” (John 14:1-4)

So, as the Lord says, let’s not let our hearts be troubled. Let us rejoice in Him and His sacrifice. Let us believe in Him and be saved. He came to this earth, lived a perfect, sinless life, humbled before God His Father, and became the atonement for our sins. He died, was buried, and resurrected on the third day, fulfilling the promise of our future in Him.

Let’s not be the rich man. Don’t put your faith in earthly things which cannot save you. No amount of wealth, material possessions, or belief in the superiority of the self can rescue you from hell. Do not look to the heavens, thinking that unbelief is a negotiable condition. Look to Him, your Savior, your Lord, and be carried to Him on the day of your death. Be born again in Christ.

Whatever your lot in this life, Jesus has made it perfectly clear that there is only one Way to salvation: Him (John 14:6). He is the true vine from which we should spring (John 15:1-4).

Hear the Word and believe. To hear the Word and believe is to know Christ. See the Truth and believe. To see the Truth and believe is to know Christ. To trust in Him is to know Him and to know Him one must believe. He is who He says He is; He is the One who proclaims: I AM.

Therefore, as the disciples, as the jailer in Acts 16:31, as Lazarus, as all who who’ve ascended to eternal life with Christ: believe and be saved.

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.” (John 3:16-18)

Thanks and praise be to Him for our salvation and life. God bless, peace be with you, and thanks for reading. Have a great week!

In Sickness There is Joy

Suffering from sickness is never a good time. Runny and stuffed noses, sore throats, excessive coughing, and nausea stifle our drive to do anything but mope and languish in self-pity. We lose ourselves in the mucus, spittle, and the vomit, becoming these little vessels of fluid expulsion. It’s irritating at best, debilitating at worst.

The flu, colds, and all other kinds of common ailments remind us of how truly human and fragile we all are. Most days we spend thinking about what we’re going to do the next. We’ll make plans to do this activity or that work. There’s a schedule being made by or for us in the moment to moment process of life. But we don’t account for the unpredictable.

When something goes wrong, like sickness, all our prospects are thrown out the window. Our minds no longer focus on the future, the greater tomorrow, but the narrow scope of our present predicament. We’re mindful only of ourselves, our pains, and our aches. We dread waking up and going to sleep, knowing again that these will not be pleasant experiences for some time.

Sickness shows us that we are not in control and never have been. I can make plans all day, every day, for the rest of my life, but there’s nothing that says those plans will come to fruition. And when a cold or allergies strikes me, I’m left feeling numb, distant, agitated, and incapable of much but moaning and groaning.

No matter how careful you are about what you touch and regardless of how much germ cleansing liquid you use, you will get sick. It’s an inevitable part of life. There’s a saying that only taxes and death are guaranteed in life, but I’d argue that there is sufficient evidence that sickness and suffering are their close companions.

I can’t stop myself from getting sick. I can’t halt the spread of bacteria from any number of sources any more easily than I can prevent my cat from acting like a cat. Illness is as much a part of ourselves and our lives as anything we say or do, yet we pretend it doesn’t exist until we’re scared or it hits us. Then we’re acutely aware of our own ineffectual nature.

But where does sickness come from? Why are we plagued by colds, flu, viruses, bacteria, mold, etc.? Secular scientists postulate and argue myriad theories about the origin of these things, but the Bible, to my mind, provides the most direct answer.

“And He said to Adam, ‘Because you listened to your wife’s voice and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’: The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. You will eat bread by the sweat of you brow until you return to the ground, since you were taken from it. For you are dust, and you will return to dust.’” (Genesis 3:17-19)

The root of all our pain, all our sickness, all our suffering originates from the Fall of Man. Because we sinned in the garden of Eden, we are therefore cursed to walk the earth in a less-than perfect, decaying state. Man chose to be gods, capable of knowing good and evil, and rebelled against the Lord. We not only harmed ourselves by our unholy actions, but the earth itself is doomed by our decision. As Paul says:

“For the creation was subjected to futility – not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it – in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now.” (Romans 8:20-22)

As we are redeemed by the Lord, so too will the creation itself be made anew. Though I’m certainly not happy with my current predicament, I take joy in knowing that there’s something better on the horizon. There’s a day where I won’t be sick, a day where illness won’t even be a thought in the mind, and it will be glorious because He is victorious.

Scripture says that when all is done, when He has returned and the world has been set right, that it’ll all be perfect as it was intended to be.

“Then I heard a loud voice coming from the throne: Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)

This ailment that I’m suffering will pass. The sinful flesh of my body will die. One day, perhaps not too far from now, we will join the other saints in heaven, equal before God, made righteous by the blood of the Divine Lamb, Jesus Christ, Son of God. And there will be a new earth, a new Jerusalem, in which to coexist and cohabitate with the Lord our God, our Creator and Savior.

Until that happens, we’ll be blowing our noses, stuffing used rags in the bin, and generally being unpleasant messes lying miserably in our bedrooms, hoping against hope that we’ll stop coughing and retching long enough to think a coherent thought.

Thanks and praise be to Him! And God bless you for reading. Thanks and peace be with you.

His Priesthood Lasts Forever

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens – Jesus the Son of God – let us hold fast to the confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)

God is not impersonal. He’s not an abstract being with inconceivable logic. He’s a person – three in one, in fact – with whom we can have a relationship. He’s our Creator and our Savior. He’s our Father in heaven. He sent His Son to pay the ultimate blood price for our sins. And because of who He is, He did this once and for all time at the end of the age (Hebrews 9:25-27) to cleanse us and make way for our salvation through Him.

But what makes Christ, our high priest, so valuable? Why is He different from the blood of bulls and lambs offered upon an altar?

“For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do – first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all when He offered Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, who has been perfected forever.” (Hebrews 7:26-28)

Christ is Lord. Christ is the Son of God. Christ indwelt the body of man and lived a perfect, sinless life. His Name is great and His Priesthood is assured by His Godhood. He fulfilled the Law, He became the promise made to Abraham, so that all nations would be blessed through Him (Genesis 22:18, Psalm 72:17).

“We have this hope as an anchor for our lives, safe and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner, because He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrew 6:19-20)

Who is this Melchizedek? Why is he important and why is Christ a high priest of his order? Scripture says that he was a man of righteousness, a king of peace, who resembled the Son of God, and to whom Abraham paid homage (Genesis 14:18-20, Hebrews 7:1-4). Melchizedek loved and served the Most High God as Christ, who is God, does. But Melchizedek is not Him, but a shadow of Him, as much of Scripture foreshadows the coming of Christ.

The writer of Hebrews calls attention to this for the purpose of demonstrating that righteousness and faith don’t come through the Levitical priesthood, but through God. The Law perfects nothing, but shows us our sins. We need His Grace in order to be saved, His mercy. His sacrifice imparts to us that which we need to be made right before God. Without His holiness, His righteousness, we are doomed.

“If then, perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there for another priest to appear, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well.” (Hebrews 7:11-12)

“So the previous command is annulled because it was weak and unprofitable (for the law perfected nothing), but a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.” (Hebrews 7:18-19)

“So Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant. Now many have become Levitical priests, since they are prevented by death from remaining in office. But because He remains forever, He holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore, He is always able to save those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:22-25)

Whereas the old covenant required continual sacrifices, multiple priests, and a litany of customs and laws, the new covenant rests solely in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Nothing can be added or removed from Him, nothing can be perfected outside of Him. We are made new, made holy, by the grace and mercy of the Lord. We can boast only in Him and not in ourselves or our works (Ephesians 2:4-9).

The Law is not wrong. It’s not irrelevant. It’s God’s truth and always has been. But we have no covenant with the Law. As the writer of Hebrews says, it perfected no one but revealed the depths of our sin. Instead we have a new covenant, a better testament, by which we can point to Christ as our Savior and nothing else.

This is the hope that I have. This is the great love He has shown all who believe. Only by His sovereign authority have we been reconciled to Him through His Son Jesus Christ. In His design, His plan for the world, we can only be thankful to Him and not ourselves, our works, or the blood of animals. The Lamb has been sacrificed and the Good Shepherd has laid down His life for His sheep (John 10:11). May His flock be one under His stewardship forever (John 10:16).

We chafe under the worries of this world, our anxieties, our sin, but the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is eternal. His Priesthood is forever.

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die – ever. Do you believe this?’” (John 11:25-26)

“Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you know Me, you will also know My Father. From now on do you know Him and have seen Him.’” (John 14:6-7)

May the Lord be with you and be praised. God bless, thanks for reading, and have a great week. See you Thursday!

Who is More Foolish?

“Where is the philosopher? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish? For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of the message preached.” (1 Corinthians 1:20-21)

Every person on this planet has an opinion. There’s a thought for all situations, a belief for every truth, a truth for every facet. The so-called wise men of today, the scientists, the spiritualists, the therapists, the men in charge, are sought after as an ideal. People look to their knowledge, their discoveries, as the root of wisdom, and that wisdom as the cause of success, even unto a kind of salvation.

For centuries, the world has looked to philosophers, governors, teachers, and all manner of people in positions of perceived authority as beacons of morality, thoughtfulness, and truth. Come hell or high water, a man finds his own personal gods in the self, the world, or the enemy. He’ll acquiesce to any idea so long as it sounds plausible.

But an idea doesn’t merit truth because of its plausibility. Arguments for a cause only do so much. God cannot be found in mere textbooks, social studies, statistical analysis, or any such sort of pedestrian manner. He cannot be confined to a box in a corner or a test-tube in a lab. His wisdom is beyond that.

God, as Scripture says, is not found in man’s wisdom, but in foolishness, in a message that must be believed. All the wise men have offered their take and been found wanting. In the first century AD, there existed two people groups of interest to Christianity: Jews & Gentiles.

“For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom, because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.” (1 Corinthians 1:22-25)

The dichotomy is apparent. Jews want answers. They want to know why, how, when, where, and what proof do you have. They’re not content to believe, but most be shown the kind of evidence which only satisfies the proverbial stomach rather than the heart. They greedily call after messengers, miracles, and prophecies, but their love isn’t present. Their faith is flimsy and their hearts are hard.

The Gentiles (particularly the Greeks) believe themselves wise. Their philosophers, their Aristotle and Plato and Socrates are thought to be the pinnacle of human wisdom. What do they need the gods for? To them, man is above such things, wise in his own eyes, and so Christ crucified, a resurrection and eternal life, are beyond the pale of what’s acceptable. They think they have the answers already (or will uncover them soon).

But the Truth of Christ makes both foolish. His birth, life, death, and resurrection are the undoing of human wisdom, loveless living, works righteousness, and the supremacy of the self. How can this be known? What does Paul say exists in the body of believers which points to God’s “foolishness” conquering the wisdom of man?

“Brothers, consider your calling: Not many are wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world – what is viewed as nothing – to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, so that no one can boast in His presence. But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became God-given wisdom for us – our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, in order that, as it is written: The one who boasts must boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31)

Scripture notes that God does not choose His people because of their own prowess. A man in God is not selected because of his birth or his self-proclaimed knowledge. No, God has chosen the meek, the shamed, the underdog, the sinner of sinners, to be His. Why? Because God brings His love to those whom He has chosen to believe. A man who boasts in himself does not honor the Lord. A man who exalts himself is not humble and is not chosen.

In this way, the message of Christ crucified, of a man dying for the sins of the world so that those in Him will be reconciled unto eternal life, is foolishness for unbelievers but wisdom by the grace of God. In this way, God turns the output and earnings of human wisdom to ash. In this way, men who profess themselves to be wise become fools (Romans 1:21-23).

The mind of man is treacherous. It’s a twisted thorn bush rife with snakes, parasites, and ill will. But the power and glory of God, His wisdom and His truth, is like a cleansing fire. All of the overgrowth and unsavoriness is burned away, leaving not even the remnants of the plant intact. Instead, a seed is planted, the Truth of the Word who is Christ, and a new birth begins.

There is no foolishness in Christ, but there is in unbelief. If a man can know His love and be saved from the flames of wrath, why would he rest in the wisdom of others not unlike himself? Signs and wonders fade. The pride of man perishes. But the Truth of God, of living in and through Christ, persists forever.

Thanks and praise belong to Him who saves us from the darkness of sin and brings us to the light of eternal life. May His name be glorified in the days to come (and I’m certain it will be). And thank you for reading. Peace be with you and God bless.

Taking Aim on the Internet [Evangelism]

“My aim is to evangelize where Christ has not been named, so that I will not build on someone else’s foundation, but as it is written: Those who were not told about Him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.” (Romans 15:20-21)

I am not Paul. I claim no special revelation from God. I am not an apostle, a prophet, a pastor, or even a teacher. Is there some instruction inherent in my evangelism? Yes, but I don’t claim any sort of authority. Only the Word is Scripture and only Scripture is Truth.

I am not Paul, who preached and wrote letters to the masses in Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, and elsewhere. The specifics of my transformation from ignorant sinner to sinner saved by grace aren’t recorded in Scripture nor should they be. The change is real, yes, and valuable (I think) for strengthening faith, but the exact circumstances of my experience are not something you’ll find in the Bible.

I am not Paul, but I keep comparing myself to him. Why? Well, if Paul thought himself the worst of sinners, so too am I. Paul wept at the evil he had done – and his flesh compelled in him – but he knew the love of God. He recognized his need for a Savior, for Jesus as Lord, as we all should. Christ chose him as a representative of the faith. So he chooses us all.

Don’t mistake what I’m saying. It’s very easy to take my words out of context. Someone might think that I’m claiming to be like the apostle. But I’m not. I’m nowhere near that important. Nor do I aspire to be. It’s not my righteousness which matters, but the Lord’s.

This is a weird post. I get that. It’s probably a bit rambling. Even I’m not sure exactly what I’m attempting to articulate a lot of the time. Forgive me if I end up putting my foot in my mouth. I feel like I’m skirting the edge, dancing around what’s acceptable, even though I know the Lord knows that I’m not trying to project any sense of superiority. Please bear with me.

In the above Scripture, Paul tells the Romans what he believes is his calling and why it’s taken him so long to visit their church. He’s a traveling minister, sharing the good news with people all over the Roman Empire and the world at large. He says that he doesn’t want to add to another’s work – that being what has already been revealed to the Jews. Paul, if you’ll recall, is a priest sent to the Gentiles.

Unlike Paul, I don’t (at present) have a support network. That’s not me complaining, for the record. I’m merely saying that my efforts aren’t on a global scale – at least not physically. I’m not always certain of where I’m headed with these posts, but I believe they’re my calling.

I’m not the most sociable person. Meeting and conversing with new people (and even relatives) often makes me flustered. Sometimes striking up a casual conversation is like learning to speak an alien language. That last bit’s funny, actually, because I go out of my way to talk to everyone on board my spaceship in the Mass Effect games…

I’m sure my isolation doesn’t help, but there’s something else at work in me. It doesn’t feel like my sphere, so to speak. I don’t think I’m meant to be a public speaker or the leader of a flock. Could that change? I don’t know, but with God, all things are possible (Mark 10:27).

When it comes to telling my readers why I evangelize, I’ve probably scraped the bottom of the barrel. I don’t do it out of a grudging obligation or consider it to be clocking in like He’s a work foreman checking my timesheet. He brought me out of darkness and into light. He saved me from a crushing addiction and a life of unrepentant sin. I do what I do because He loves me, because He rescued me. It’s that simple and He’s that Good.

So, like Paul, I want to reach the corners that haven’t known Him. I can write, so I write. I can operate a computer, so I use the web. I’m of a generation predisposed to technology, so I utilize the tools available to me alongside my current skillset. Through this blog, through the internet, I believe I can extend the love of Christ to those who don’t know Him. Not by my power (for I have none) but through His grace to me.

I realize there’s probably a narrow selection of folks who reads these posts weekly. Most are on my Facebook friends list. But I don’t know who’s saved and who isn’t. I don’t know who’s heard the good news of Jesus Christ and who hasn’t. If only one person comes to embrace Him as Savior even partly because of these posts, then that’s a victory. Not for me, although my sinful self would want to claim the credit, but for the Lord.

I always say something similar at the end of my posts, but the Word, I think, is most succinct and most poignant. Necessary after my rambling! So I’ll leave the ending to today’s blog post in the hands of Paul, as he was inspired by the Holy Spirit, to conclude his second letter to the church at Corinth.

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.” (2 Corinthians 13:13)

His Image: The Beauty of God in His Creation(s)

The other day I finished another playthrough of Mass Effect: Andromeda. The unusual credits song, “Under Stars” by Aurora, while not a personal favorite, impacted me as something worth discussing on this blog. This won’t be a study of the lyrics or anything, but merely a guttural reaction to the music itself.

See, I’m not a music aficionado. I couldn’t make heads or tails of rhythm, tone, tenor, or the like if you asked me to parse through it. But I do know that all people everywhere have been created for a reason. There’s not one person on this earth, no matter how sinful, who isn’t made in the image of God. There’s beauty in everyone, even if it’s down deep and ultimately obscured by evil.

So I have no qualms saying that this song (which you’re free to search out and listen to yourself) reflects a beautiful person. I don’t mean this in a romantic sense although I’m sure she has those qualities as well. No, I’m speaking of the fact that I can hear the soul speaking through her words.

She’s probably not a believer – although I won’t make that claim for certain – but like all people, her indigenous spirit shines through her work. You can hear the echo of creation, the love of God, poured out by her voice. Whether she knows it or not, she’s been blessed with a gift from God, who indeed cares for His creation.

What brought me to making this post was the thought that maybe God sees the beauty inherent in all that He makes. Even the reprobate appear to have been crafted by our loving Father. We all experience His common grace, that He provides for us our lives, the food on our table, the people we know, the feelings we experience, the talents we’re gifted, etc. We are not all saved – only those who believe on His Son – but we all experience His great goodness throughout our existence.

I’m not ashamed to say that I cried. I realized that God is right (and He always is); there is something tangible, some innate loveliness that persists in all He creates. Every person, even those we may not like, even those who may hate us, is beautiful because they are made in His image and granted their lives by His love.

None of us are without excuse when it comes to seeing Him in all that we know. Scripture says:

“For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20)

We should all know the glory of the Creator. He expects it. He has made the wonders of His works both profound and clear. None can say they have not known His existence. Yet the world refused this acknowledgment.

“For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.” (Romans 1:21-23)

Man has long rejected Him as God. Instead they (we) chose the self and the creation to worship, even demons. Countless counterfeit religions and beliefs have sprung up over the millennia. Men and women across the world believe in nothing, or reincarnation, or the evolution of the body, or even the glorification of the cosmos. For them, anything but God will suffice.

Yet, He works in us the Truth. The Lord demonstrates His love for His people in that He sent His Son to perish on our behalf. Though we’ve been rightly condemned, He sought to glorify His name by redeeming us through His Son, Jesus Christ. He is a just and merciful God who loves His creation(s).

So I smile when I have the chance to see the Lord at work. I’m gladdened and take heart in knowing how He cares for us. I rejoice when I see the mark of His divine hand on the souls of His children, even the lost. His beauty is without compare and He ensures that we recognize it, one way or another.

Thanks and praise belong to Him, the Lord our God. May His amazing Grace and peace be with you. God bless, thanks for reading, and have a great week.

Book 3 Progress & Insight

It’s so far away. So far, far away.

At least it feels that way. No, I’m not talking about a fictional galaxy or a fairytale land. This isn’t about laser swords, princesses, goblins, or hairy dog-men. It’s not referring to the song stuck in my head from Red Dead Redemption.

It’s the completion of my third novel. I’ve talked about writer’s block multiple times in the past, whether there is even such a thing as a strategy to cope with it, but today’s different. I think.

I’m not one to whine or complain on the internet about the writing process. I think every author goes through a period where severe mental blocks and an inability to think about the road ahead leave them as exhausted as actually writing. Even the most vivid of stories and imaginings in our minds can be excruciating to deliver onto a page.

I’ve said before that I’m a pantser. I don’t really outline or practice extensive planning for my work. That doesn’t mean I make it up entirely as I go along, but it does mean I don’t have a step by step schedule of events. I’m not Rowling; I haven’t written the ending before I’ve begun the bulk of the work.

I’m about six chapters into the novel. Something close to seventy pages. I’ve set the plot in motion. I have an idea of where I need to go and by when. Yet the writing itself is slow and arduous. I find myself wondering what it will take to propel myself into the meat and potatoes of the narrative.

There’s a structure to the book. Most of my brainstorming and inspiration lends itself to the back half. There are specific beats and character choices I want to hit. The book has a primary theme and a setting that differentiates itself from my prior novels. The problem is the connective tissue.

Let me tell you a little story about my first book, The Shadow Over Lone Oak. I started writing it in the late summer of 2015. In less than two months, I had the first ten chapters recorded. But I was stuck. I couldn’t figure out how to end the story. The climax was weak. Life took over and I pushed it aside.

Nearly a year later, I returned to the book. An inkling of where to take the story formed in my mind, but it required an escalation in stakes. A thought occurred to me that I should just go for it, regardless of how it altered the original content and character of the book. For my debut novel, why not go all out?

So I plunged into the new direction. I described each new chapter beforehand with a single sentence to set the goals I had in mind. The book became bolstered by this compelling turn in direction. Were my homages and inspirations more transparent? Yes. Did this increase the excitement and fluidity of the narrative? Yes.

After an additional month or so of writing, I completed the initial manuscript of TSOL. Roughly three months of work spread out over a year. Not bad for a first timer, I should think. Was it perfect? No. Did the novel require additional editing and sculpting? Yes. But it was done. A person could read the work from start to finish and be satisfied.

After Kindle Scout and the book’s release, a number of ideas of where to take the story next started to bludgeon me like sledgehammers. The Smiling Man Conspiracy was easier to craft than its predecessor, though I still languished in the pit of writer’s block for a short period of time. One hiatus of three months and a vacation later, I tied the bow on the last chapters of the sequel and readied it for editing and submission.

Leftover ideas, unused in the second novel, remained as potential plot points for another sequel. A shift in setting and purpose would better accomplish that idea, so I set to work on compiling a list of things I wanted to do with the third book. Sharing that whole list would spoil the narrative, so I’ll refrain from saying anything beyond these:

Infrequent or nonexistent usage of profanity. I consider this a worthy challenge for my creative license and a way to further show my newfound life in Christ.
Larger time skip. TSOL and TSMC take place within two months of each other. This third book needs the passage of time in order for certain aspects to work, so I fast forwarded a bit.
A villain who challenges the protagonist mentally, physically, and spiritually. None of my prior primary antagonists have been physical threats to the main characters. Think of the reasoning behind Bane as a villain in The Dark Knight Rises and you’ll understand where I’m aiming to take this character.
A sense of adventure. My stories are horror-thrillers, dealing with death, conspiracy, monsters and monstrous men, but I wanted to set a moderately different tone with this entry. Something that calls to mind Indiana Jones or Uncharted.

Presently, the book is in the midst of a knot. There’s a point I need to reach, but it’s cumbersome to get there. There are characters we’re required to meet, but they have to wait their turn. There’s a twist in the narrative ready to deploy like the Allies on Normandy, but no one’s giving it the go-ahead.

Why am I telling you this? Because I like to share who I am and how I work with my readers. I value honesty and transparency. I want to reassure folks that yes, Book 3 is coming, but it may not be as quickly as either of us hoped.

It’s rather comforting, I think, that the book’s tagline – and possibly title – come from/are inspired by Psalm 23. It’s a great reminder that a person who has the Lord can persevere because of who He is.

“The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. He lets me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; He leads me along the right paths for His name’s sake. Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff – they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD as long as I live.”

Even when my brain isn’t working the way I’d like, He’s there. When I’m struggling to put my fingers to the keyboard, He’s there. When a lack of drive and ambition overtake me, rendering me useless as a creative person, He’s there to comfort me. What a great and loving God He is.

Thanks and praise be to Him. I hope this post has given some insight into the progress of my work while not dragging you down in the dumps. If you’re a fellow writer, all I can say is keep the faith and stay strong. I don’t know whether you believe or not, but if you do, pray to Him. Seek Him. Even if you can’t work, it’s always good to remind yourself that You are loved and that there is Hope Eternal.

God bless you. Have a great weekend!

The Breath of God & His Love

“If He put His mind to it and withdrew the spirit and breath He gave, every living thing would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.” (Job 34:14-15)

We don’t think about it, even as Christians, but the truth is that we are sustained by the will of God. As the passage of Scripture above says, we are subject to His whim. If it were His wish, we would all die at once. The breath of life He has given us can be as easily taken away.

But He doesn’t. Why? Because He is the LORD. He is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and rich in faithful love (Psalms 103:8). Though we stand condemned, He has not punished us as we should be or sought vengeance against His people (verse 10). The Lord is so great that He has passed over our transgressions and continued to grant us His breath. Even those who are not believers have been maintained purely by His love and will.

Some might think this is morbid or that God is a tyrant playing with the lives of His children. But who are we to make that judgment? Is He not the potter? Are we not the clay? Does He not, by right, have the authority to mold us as He sees fit (Romans 9:21)? What is man compared to God?

I’m continually astonished by this world which we inhabit. It’s a world of misery, misdeeds, violence, hatred, and all things which are ill-mannered. Yet it’s not merely a world of sin. There is also goodness, love, faithfulness, laughter, and companionship. But this is not a yin-yang relationship. The philosophies of balance, of order vs. chaos, are badly deceived and misguided. It isn’t true that bad must outweigh the good or exist at all.

“God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31)

From whom do we know morality if not God? Is He not our Creator, the purveyor of all good, the Sovereign Lord and Savior of man? If men were left to themselves, would they seek that which is good? Or would they persist in mockery, killing, self-seeking, and slaying every righteous deed for a penny, for lust, and for power?

We’ve seen the dreadful atrocities men commit. Millions, billions of lives, lost over the course of countless wars, mindless violence, betrayal, and every sinful thing that can be imagined. Babies are murdered in the womb. The elderly, the mentally ill, and the malformed are euthanized. Wives murder husbands and vice versa. Bombs are dropped on nations. Whole peoples are wiped out in the name of eugenics and survival of the fittest. How could we hope to pay for these crimes?

But we’ve seen the good that men do, haven’t we? We’ve seen the smile on children’s faces when their parents are near and dear. We’ve rejoiced when a man and a woman are united in holy matrimony. We’ve proudly proclaimed the banner of rights granted to those who’d been subjected to servitude. Our hearts delight in the joy, contentment, and happiness found in the comfort of each other.

God is responsible for all that exists (Genesis 1:1). But sin is our own making. Our ancestors Adam and Eve trusted the serpent that they would become as gods. They wanted to have the knowledge of God. They wanted to know good and evil, so God gave them over to their wishes and their self-made god.

Now that we know good and evil, can we say it was worth it? Was it worth condemning ourselves, tasting that forbidden fruit, to make ourselves into gods? Was it worth buying the lies of Satan for the cost of knowledge?

This is the choice that all people everywhere make. We are all Adam. We look to the self, to the man who we seek to satisfy, so that we might prevail above the whims of God. But we are wrong, eternally so, and God has chosen that we should be given over to our reprobate minds (Romans 1:28).

If that were the end of the story, it would be a sad one indeed. No hope. No future. Nothing but death and evil, a nihilistic outlook beyond compare. But this is not the epilogue. It’s not even the climax of the story which God is telling.

There was a man named Jesus. He was born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:5) to his virgin mother Mary (Matthew 1:20). He lived a sinless life, conducted a ministry of healing to the brokenhearted, was crucified, and became the propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2). He was not only man but God, the Son of God, the Word (John 3:16, John 1:1). By His precious blood, we are cleansed and redeemed (Matthew 26:28, Romans 5:9). We are saved by the immeasurable riches of His grace (Ephesians 2:7).

The future for those who believe is bright indeed. So it should be apparent to us, as Christians, why the LORD does not simply recall His breath from us. We are dearly loved, even in our sin, and in spite of our transgressions, He has loved us. And if I can’t convince you, these verses should:

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!” (Ephesians 2:4-5)

“But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!” (Romans 5:8)

“God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:9-10)

One day, when it’s my time, the Lord will remove His breath from me. My flesh will die. But the spirit He has given me will not. Because of His great love for me, I believe I will be with Him in heaven. Not by my own righteousness, but Christ’s. The same holds true for all who call on His name, who believe in the Son who lived, died, and was resurrected, the Son who paid the price for our sins.

“This is the message of faith that we proclaim: If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. Now the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on Him will not be put to shame, for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:9-10)

Thanks and praise belong to the LORD. May His mercy and goodness be upon you. Thank you for reading. Peace be with you, brothers and sisters, and God bless.