Mick Mooney's Blog, page 4

Sometimes In Your Faith Journey You Have To Run Alone

When we seek the truth, it is a natural reaction that we will no longer be in the same place and believing the same things as everyone else who has a mutual faith in Jesus. As soon as we seek to understand our faith on an individual level with the Spirit of God leading us rather than simply agreeing with the group doctrines and dogmas, we face the moment I’m talking about.

It’s the moment we realize that our faith is not as simple as we first thought. That there are many questions we have, that God is encouraging us to ask, that the group doesn’t want to talk about; questions the group doesn’t want to ask. But we know if we don’t follow the leading of the Spirit, then we will lose our own passion for being led by the Spirit all together. If we follow the Spirit, to seek, to question, to look for the answers God has laid out before our path, we are only doing what is natural in our walk of faith following Christ.

When we seek the truth, it is a natural reaction that we will no longer be in the same place and believing the same things as everyone else who has a mutual faith in Jesus. It’s that way because it’s a journey. Like a marathon. Everyone is on the journey, but at different places.

The problem with religion is it wants everyone to be in a straight line, arms locked, along the journey. The result is nobody is able to go at their own natural pace, and without the ability to go as the Spirit leads you, you quickly become complacent and lose the desire to seek truth at all. You simply allow others to set the pace, to pull you along, and subtly ‘group think & group belief’ replaces your own ability to think as an individual, to seek, and know what you believe. But to take your own steps in the search of truth, at the pace the Spirit leads you with, is the very essence of what you need to follow Christ. Don’t be afraid of it, don’t deny it; rather, embrace it. To sacrifice it for the sake of keeping the group happy is not a sacrifice I think God is asking for.

God wants us to seek him, and if we are to do that, there are times when we have to leave the pack and seek at our own pace. We’re not forsaking the group, but we are accepting that we can’t all believe the same thing at the same time, perhaps when we meet at the end of the race we will. But along the journey, sometimes we have to run a stretch of the path alone; sometimes we have to run even when the group behind us doesn’t understand why. And sometimes we have to run even when we don’t know why. All we know is we are being led, and our heart desires the truth over all.

The journey is long, and the path is not easy, but it is our calling. It is our passion. It is our way.

Run it well.

Jesus the Lover of All People

Jesus was a reckless lover of people, and he refused to bow down to the religious expectation of loving from a distance. He was up close, real, and embracing. He touched the lepers, he drew close to the prostitutes, he invited the scoundrels of society to dinner. He was hated by the religious not for this theology, but for his love, for his love was not made up by words he spoke, but by the life he lived. Be like Jesus. Love so much it makes religious people uncomfortable.

James, The Brother Of Jesus, & Rejected Son: A Short Story

Today’s short story is based on the Scripture: “Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Dear woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” - John 19:25-27 and also: “When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, ‘He is out of his mind.’” - Mark 3:21

Yesterday the Romans had crucified his brother. It was inevitable, and he had warned his brother that more than once. But did he listen to him? Did Jesus ever listen to him? No. He had his own ideas, even if they went against everything the experts in the law taught. James was one of the most praised young pharisees in the city. He was always the most spiritual one in the family. His older brother, by contrast was a common tradesman. After the death of their father it was Jesus who took the role of bread-winner, and to his credit, it was Jesus who had paid for James’ studies. But nonetheless, he was still just a carpenter.

However, all that changed three years ago, like a whirlwind, and nothing had been the same since.

Now this. The end of a long process of insanity. A dead brother, a mother who had half lost her mind in grief, and six siblings left at home trying to make sense of why their mother was not with them. James was now the head of the family, and it was his responsibility to bring order back into their household. But how to do that when his mother wouldn’t return home. She still clung to her false hopes her illegitimate son was somehow something greater, something divine. Yet now, she had to deal with the truth, that all he said was a lie, and that lie led him to his grave.

He knelt next to the bed his mother was lying in, and tried to talk sense into her.

“Mother, I understand you pain. He was your first-born son, but your others sons . . . we are still here. Come back home mother, so we can look after you.”

Mary wept. She rolled over in her bed and continued to sob. She had not stopped weeping since she watched her son crucified. James turned to the wife of Zebedee who was standing by the door.

“Why is my mother staying here with your family? She should be with her real family!”

The wife of Zebeddee was speechless. James maintained his gaze towards her, not satisfied to leave without an answer. Finally she replied, “It was the dying request of our Lord, we are only providing for her as he asked.”

“Your Lord?” James interjected with disgust. “How dare you blaspheme God!” James walked across to the wife of Zebedee, speaking in a whisper so his mother could not hear, he said, “My brother was not a devil as my many of our leaders have charged him to be, but he was out of his mind, and his delusions cost him his life.”

James once again turned back to speak to his mother. He pleaded for her to return home. Mary remained curled up in bed, facing the wall. After some time James conceded that she was too weak with anguish to reason correctly. He walked to the door, and prepared himself to return to his brothers who were waiting anxiously at home. Before he left he leaned over and asked to the wife of Zebedee: “Do you now want my mother to also die from a delusion and a broken heart? She should be with me, her son, her real son . . . Or do you really believe that your son John is now more or a son to her that I am?

Dreams

To have a dream is the easy part. To believe enough in your dream that you work on achieving it, day in, day out, year in, year out — that it is the challenging part. But if the dream is in your heart, then it is there for a purpose. The challenge is to believe in it enough that it moves you to learn, to practice, and to become a professional in whatever craft you need. Take courage. Believe. Keep practicing.

Was The World Created In Six Literal Days?: A Short Story

“But you must believe earth was made in six literal days–it’s biblical!”

“No, it’s not. It’s biblical to believe it may be millions of years old.”

“Oh, stop it, Jack. You know that’s a load of rubbish. It is clearly written in the Bible that God made the world in six days!” Ed looked at his friend with determination in his eyes, and continued, “It can’t be any clearer!”

“Ed,” Jack said, “who wrote Genesis, the book you’re quoting to me?”

“Moses,” he replied quickly, and proudly.

“And who wrote psalm 90?”

This time Ed wasn’t so quick. He had no idea, and it frustrated him to have to say so, especially to Jack. “Not sure, why do you ask?”

“Because, I happen to know who wrote it, for it is attributed to Moses. The very same Moses who wrote Genesis. Now, do you know what Moses wrote in Psalm 90, and what the Apostle Peter quoted to the early church?”

Ed gave a blank stare.

“Here’s what the Apostle Peter said: ‘But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.’ and let me quote what Moses said to you: ‘For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.’ Those, my friend, are the words of the same man who wrote that the Lord made the world in six days. So, although he wrote in Genesis that God made the world in six days, we know from Scripture that he didn’t mean it literally, it could have been six days, but it could have also been six thousand years, or six million years, the point was not the actual duration, but that God was the sole creator, and he was the completer of the creation of the world.”

“Jack, you just want it both ways, you can’t believe in science and God.”

“Hey, don’t sidestep what I’ve just shared! Don’t try to get angry and brand be faithless because you want to avoid what I just told you; be a man, tell me–isn’t it possible, and that from a biblical perspective, that the world was created in a much larger period of time than six literal days?”

“NO!” Ed screamed.”

“Why not? I just explained how it is all together possible.”

“Because, if you don’t believe in a literal six days of creation you aren’t even Christian!”

“And I suppose you think that’s biblical too?”

“Yes, I do!”

“Ed, you believe your pastor and his obsession with a six-day-creation theology. That’s what you believe, but don’t think you are simply believing the Bible. If anything, you’re rejecting the Bible in order to maintain your current belief.”

“You are the rejector, Jack. You are the one who wants to be a scientist instead of a Christian, not me!”

“Ed, you’re just side stepping the real point here. Again, what did Moses say?”

“He said six days! He said six, literal days!”

“No, he didn’t – you have added this word ‘literal’ into the story, don’t you see that? You’re adding information into the Bible that’s not even there!”

“Liar!” Ed screamed.

“Calm down,” Jack replied.

“Scientist!” Ed screamed again.

Heaven’s perspective

From heaven’s perspective, a loving illiterate is wiser than a loveless scholar.

You’re a perfect work

You’re loved. You’re a beautifully created individual. You’ve been crafted by the Master Craftsmen. You’re a perfect work. You’re the treasured possession of the King of heaven. You’re more significant than you realize. You’re brighter than the stars. You’re more stunning then the sun set. You are exactly who God made you to be. You’re a blessing. You’re a comfort. You’re a light. Thank you for being so perfectly you.

aThe Disciple Who Loved Jesus – And Failed Jesus Because Of It

Jesus told them ‘You will all fall away, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.’

Mark 14:27-28

During the last supper Jesus made a statement that I’m sure all of the disciples found hard to believe. He told them they all would fail him; they would all fall away from him. All of the disciples were shocked, how could they fail him when they all loved him so much? They just couldn’t believe it would be possible. When Jesus said this, Peter took him aside and, in essence, agreed with him that the rest of the disciples would probably fail him, but not Peter! He said to the Lord:

‘Even if all fall away, I will not.’ ‘I tell you the truth’ Jesus answered, ‘today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times’, But Peter insisted emphatically, ‘even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.’ And all the others said the same. Mark 14:29-31

Peter was the disciple who loved Jesus. His boasting in how much he loved Jesus – and Jesus revealed to him that with that kind of foundation he would certainly fail him. Peter couldn’t understand it, and he certainly didn’t believe it. He really believed that he would never fail Jesus. He really believed that his love for Jesus was more than enough, that he would never, ever be unfaithful to him. He believed this, but when the time came, Peter, like every other disciple, did fail Jesus.

He ran away and was unfaithful to Jesus when Jesus needed him the most. What happened to Peter? He was so confident he would never fall away from his commitment to Jesus, yet just like all of the other disciples, he did fail him. Peter’s dependence on his love for Jesus, instead of Jesus’ love for him, actually caused him to fail Jesus in his time of need.

He not only abandoned Jesus. He went on to publicly deny him three times. You can imagine how this would have made him feel even more condemned and self-focused. He failed in his love and devotion to Jesus, and because of this he ran off and wept bitterly.

When Christ died on the cross Peter was not there because he was ashamed; he felt unworthy, and he felt like a total hypocrite and a failure to God. His focus was on how much he loved Jesus, how much he could do for him and how committed he was to him. Because this was Peter’s focus when he failed, he felt he was unworthy to be in the presence of Jesus again.

As Christians, we need to place our confidence in Christ’s love for us, and not our own willpower to continue to love Christ. Of course we do love Christ, but our boast is not in our love for him, but in his love for us. We are not disciples who live out of a boast that ‘I am the disciple who loves Jesus’, but rather, we live out of a revelation that ‘I am the disciple Jesus loves’.

The grace and power of God only starts to truly work in us when we give up trying to be the strong and perfect ones, and we allow Christ to be the strong and perfect one in us! Yes, we love him, but our boast and confidence is in his love for us because that is an unshakable foundation for our relationship with God.

This is an excerpt from my book: “Look! The Finished Work Of Jesus.”

The Last Supper & How Jesus Divides Family Members. A Short Story

This short story was based off Jesus’ words in this scripture: “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn“‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ – Matthew 10:34-36

“How can you allow this man to use our upper room? How, father? Is is a blasphemer!”

“No, he is a good man!” Clopas said with insistence.

“Many are saying that he deceives the people,” his oldest son responded. “He breaks the Sabbath, he touches the unclean! He has no regard for the Law of Moses!”

“He doesn’t just touch the unclean, he heals them!” Clopas snapped back, trying his best not to raise his voice. “My son, many say that he is the Christ, the promised one!”

His son lowered his eyes to the floor. His frustration was bubbling over. “This man is not the Christ, for he has no love for the Torah and no respect for the elders and the teachers of the Law.”

“Has not the Law prophesied his coming?” Clopas reasoned. “I have seen him heal, I have heard him teach, I have listened to him–”

“You listen to him, but I am your own flesh and blood, and do you listen to me?” his son said abruptly. Standing to his feet he turned to face his father. Looking him square in the eyes he asked, “Do you listen to a stranger over your own flesh and blood? Will you listen to this man over your own son? Would you rather him in your house than I?”

Upstairs, where this man and his disciples were eating, they over heard a voice say: “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me – one who is eating with me.”

Clopas’ son lifted his angry eyes back to meet his father. “Whose disciple are you father? Are you a disciple of this man? Why don’t you go upstairs and join them if you are!”

“Son, I am a follower of the Lord, just as you are! You know this.”

His son shook his head. “Father, the Lord himself gave us Moses to lead us, to look to, to follow! If you truly are for the Lord, then you must be a disciple of Moses, for we know for certainty God spoke to Moses, as for this man, we don’t even know where he comes from.”

“Has not Moses himself spoken to us with the words: ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him!’ If we are to truly listen to Moses, surly we should take these words into account. Tell me son, what do you believe? When the prophet comes, will you follow him as Moses instructed you? If this man Jesus is not the Christ, than tell me, when the Christ comes will he do more miracles that prove he is the Christ than this man?

Again, a voice was heard from the upper room, saying: “This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.”

Clopas’ son stepped forward, getting right in his father’s face, and said in a whisper, “What will happen to our people if we follow his teachings? We will become as ungodly as the pagans.”

Clopas looked in confusion at his first-born. “Why do you think that? He teaches only of God’s love and mercy. How can such teaching ruin our people?”

His son replied, “Because he teaches against our Law! When our teachers of the law seek to correct him, he humiliates them with his answers – to the delight of sinners no less! He speaks of God love, but where is his teaching of Gods judgement? Does he rightly condemn the sinners in this city? No he does not; in fact he does the opposite. He eats and drinks with them! He is a friend to the prostitutes and tax collectors! And what of our righteous law that sets us apart from every other godless nation? The elders say he is trying to abolish it! The Torah, our hope! Our life! No man who hates the Torah can be from God!”

Clopas replied in haste, “When have you heard him say that he hates the Torah? He teaches that he has come to fulfill the Law, not abolish it.”

Clopas’ son shook his head. “And how can this man possibly fulfill the Law?”

Clopas grabbed his son’s hand and looked him in his eyes, “Because the Law was given to lead us to God’s Christ, and I tell you son he is here! Has not all the Prophets declared his coming? Has not the prophet Jeremiah declared that when he comes, God will bring to fulfillment our covenant made at Sinai and establish a new covenant with his people? A covenant not based on our legal obligations but on his grace?”

Colpas held his son’s hand tight. His son continued shaking his head and grinding his teach in frustration. He wrestled his hand free and stood to his feet. “To follow this man is blasphemy. I wash my hands of this sin Father. Your precious ‘prince of peace’ has brought nothing but a sword into your own home and has set us against each other!”

Clopas watches as his son stormed out of the house. Upstairs, he heard the man say: “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

Short story by Mick Mooney

Books by Mick: www.amazon.com/author/mickmooney | Latest novel out now: God’s Grammar: A Novel

God’s Love Is BIG

Galaxies of stars are, according to our understanding, so enormous we can not comprehend it, and yet they are like grains of sand to God. Imagine how much bigger God’s love is. It’s already so enormous to us we find it impossible to comprehend, but it is surely a million times bigger than that! God is love. He loves us all, and his love is BIG!