A Little Further Food For Thought
Welcome to The Addendums, dear reader. . . a place where we take the subject matter of each chapter just a bit further and deeper. Mind you, not that anyone to my knowledge has ever accused me of being a really “deep” thinker. I’m usually the guy you’ll find watching Looney Tunes at 3am whilst eating warm strawberry pop tarts. You know the ones with the colorful sprinkles? Oh yeah. ‘Course that doesn’t mean I don’t occasionally have a really great notion to ponder, as I’m sure you have as well. Hence ~ The Addendums.
Just between you and me, these are mostly tidbits that I opted not to include in the original chapters, for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, it was because they were simply too much to qualify as side notes, or at times, too off- the- wall as tangents. There were also certain things I just didn’t wish to overwhelm my reader with until other ideas had a chance to sink in. But then, there may be a few points that just dawned on me last night. Regardless. . . we should have some good stuff for discussion, dear reader, and I’m truly glad you’re here.
Although Chapter One was written to address several specific points, (which have already been spelled out), it was also simply intended to jumpstart our minds. Why? Because I do believe the average believer typically consumes whatever they’re spoon- fed in church these days, and has subsequently become a bit lax. Lax, that is, in truly delving into God’s Word for ourselves, and, lax in the lost arts of both thinking and prayerful meditation. All aspects~ quite vital in embracing all of the truth that’s offered. Although we Christians may discipline ourselves to read Scripture daily, we often fail to internalize (or really take to heart) whatever The Lord is telling us. Shame. . . that most of us can spout off memorable movie lines or song lyrics, or recall the goofy things our loved ones say, but have little success at committing God’s Word to heart. Truth is, we should really be hinging our lives upon every bit of it. After all, that is what our lives are really all about. Wouldn’t you concur?
Also important to note: is that as we refer to God’s Word as Truth, that there is only ONE CONCISE TRUTH, that intended by GOD, and we should forever be challenging ourselves to find and embrace that singular TRUTH above all else.
Of course I realize this should rate as an obvious statement within the Christian community, but I just wanna emphasize it for the record. Mind you, if we claim to believe in and follow God’s Word, then we needn’t bother double- checking The Bible to prove It’s validity in Itself. Nooo~ Rather we should simply compare everything else to The Truth of His Word for authenticity (of everything else). And with that being said, The Only One with the sovereignty to ‘override’ or amend any portion of His Word is God Himself. . . which is forever His prerogative to do. Amen?
In other words, The Almighty doesn’t bend the knee to any preconceived notions of righteousness, not even to His own Word. Nay. Though God’s Word stands as an authority to mankind {unless otherwise directed by God Himself}, It has been conveyed to us for our benefit, for us to adhere to, and not as a rule book on righteousness for God to cater to. Indeed, God is Sovereign, and not only that~~~ but God Is The Only Being Truly Sovereign over everyone and everything else. Which means He can do whatever He wishes, and answers to no one. ‘Course even if it were anyone’s place to hold The Lord accountable, (which I understand is possibly the MOST ridiculous notion ever), the so-called set boundaries or laws of what qualify as righteousness come from God Himself. So, how does anyone charge The Alpha and Omega Who makes all the rules, and has the final say on everything that transpires everywhere? Yet people try… all the time.
So, can it be said that The Lord Alone reigns Sovereign, and therefore determines absolutely everything to be ‘right or wrong’, as He sees fit?!?
In a word, Yes.
Good thing we’ve got a Perfect King, amen?
Now ~ ~ ~
To answer a few specific Questions from Chapter Two:
{Mind you, dear reader, this is still just me, sharing my point of view. So you should only be considering these thoughts through that filter of discernment that I pray you’ve prayed for.}
Q: Is it the entire Muslim movement that’s “bad”? Or merely those “radical Islamics”?
A: Yes, It is the entire Muslim movement that’s bad, and any and all followers of the Islamic faith are behaving badly, (and to clarify, sinfully). Now, they may not be “sinning” according to some bogus religion, but they are most definitely sinning in the eyes of God, which is all that truly matters. Although, I realize, those bad guys that fly airplanes into skyscrapers must seem “really bad” compared to that old lady wearing her hijab, buying raisins at Walmart. . . there really is no distinction as far as levels of sinfulness. Sure, some may seem more dangerous than others. I’ll give you that. And the religion as a whole may very well qualify as more physically threatening to people than say Buddhism, for example. But, those following (and often spreading) all of those precepts promoted by the false prophet Muhammad are just as culpable of doing evil.
Care to know how I’ve come to such conclusions? Simple. I seek God’s wisdom from His Word and The Holy Spirit.
This is key. This is imperative. Crucial. It’s God, As Truth, that makes all the difference, and brings true clarity.
Now, would you care to ponder an amusing thought regarding our friends the muslims? Well, being that the so- called holy directives of Islam actually call for the extermination of any infidels unwilling to convert to their faith. . . it only follows that any of those nice, “friendly” variety of Muslims that fail to do so, really aren’t any better people than the radicals. I mean, they still subscribe to (and promote) the same false- religion. So, if they neglect to kill you and I as Christians, they’re hardly a better variety of Muslim. They’re actually just being lazy, and slacking in their faith. (Yeah~ Just found that kinda funny, so thought I’d share:)
Next inquiry: Is the notion of legalizing gay marriage really so wrong? Or even “exploring” one’s own sexuality?
Simply put, yes and yes. Why? ‘Cause God says so. And anything that strays from God’s directives is wrong. (And for His Elect, that really should end a discussion that never should even start.) Of course, nowadays, entertaining the possible variables of one’s sexuality is encouraged in society . . . and this includes within the walls of so- called “educational” institutions. Ahhh school! ~ where The Ten Commandments are now forbidden from being displayed, but fagging- off and transgenderism is promoted as classroom curriculum. Just another modern- day example of man’s “wisdom” struggling to sub in for God’s.
Yes, for the record, The Holy Bible STILL determines that homosexuality is a sin, and that a marriage is meant to be between a man and a woman. “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination…” from Leviticus 20:13. And there are other verses, both in The Old and New Testaments, against homosexuality and cross- dressing, and other sexual sins. So there we have our answers. As we stated earlier, there’s no need for any further validation, or consideration. God’s commandments are to be followed, and not merely considered. They’re not to be taken as laws with room to fudge. . . like the notion of jaywalking on a side street, or obeying a posted speed limit versus flowing with the steady flow of traffic. God is eternal, and He means what He says.
Therefore, for any nation (or even a state) of people to dismiss God and His Word, by promoting or even condoning any blatantly sinful behavior? Well~ at least we Christians know that’s a sin. Although we may not be able to control or even persuade the mentality or votes of others, God’s people have an obligation to stand for what’s right.
{On a side note, this is NOT to say that gays should try to ‘pretend’ to be straight, remain closeted, or even to deny that they were born with certain inclinations. I’ve heard most Christians taking such stances, and I think it’s ridiculous. But as I’ve stated before, just because someone has certain natural tendencies, it doesn’t give one the green light to cater to those desires. I mean, as a reasonably healthy man, there may be a part of me that wants to rail every beautiful woman I meet, but if God forbids it (and I care about God), so be it. I’ve gotta battle to abstain from sex with every female except the one I eventually marry, if I’m ever supposed to get married. Plus, I should add, this entire discipline is not only because I’m looking for The Lord’s subsequent blessing, or to stay off of His **** list, but rather out of a genuine love and devotion to God.
Next Question: Is engaging in war a “good” thing or a “bad” thing?
What about simply owning guns?
Well, what does The Word say about war?
In Ecclesiastes, we’re told plainly that there’s a time for war, and a time for peace. Although, it’s entirely probable we could’ve surmised that for ourselves, just by noting God’s specific directives regarding war throughout The Old Testament. And, if we did just that, we would find that God isn’t against war. . . though, like a great many things, God’s say may depend on the individual circumstance.
This is just one of the reasons why it’s so vital to confer with God in prayer, regarding all things. And, (for lack of a better term), especially if they’re not specifically addressed in our Bibles. There are certain things deemed universally sinful, unless God says otherwise. Then, there are other things that The Lord determines on a case- by- case basis. The decision of getting involved in a particular war at a certain time, for example, may qualify as the latter, as would certain other subjects.
Now, what about the idea of just owning guns? Nothing about the subject mentioned in Scripture, you say? Of course there isn’t. There weren’t any guns yet in biblical times, right? So then, best to pray about it ourselves, and truly listen for God’s response. Amen? Or, at times, when Christians are living in a really good mode with The Spirit, He will consistently speak things to them without even being asked. And this will prove to be the best guidance in any situation.
Please note that many a believer may say a quick prayer, then forego listening for a response in promptly pursuing a direction for themselves. That’s terrible policy. I can’t tell you how often I’ve heard Christians lamenting, “B-b-but I prayed about it!” (Sure. You prayed about it, and then went ahead with what you wanted to from the start 🙂 I’ve even experienced church leaderships that “prayed about things”, and then discuss what they’d been leaning toward doing from the giddyap. . . somewhat subliminally expecting God to get on board with their notions and bless them. . . bass ackwards. Hope you don’t mind if I interject this bit of Scripture:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in Heaven.” That’s Jesus speaking in Matthew 7:21 (NIV). Good food for thought and action, eh?
Now, if you would, consider the following:
Is gambling a sinful behavior? Howzabout going to R~ rated movies?
I ask you, what would be your first response? I know I’ve heard plenty of people, (Christians and non- Christians), jump to conclusions on topics such as these. . . usually following the lead of whatever the majority of society might dictate. Much of the time, it’s like “Gambling?!? God doesn’t like gambling, does He?!?” or “Gambling is a sin, isn’t it?” {Here I am, shaking my head.} “No. Not necessarily, though like anything else, it could be, if God says so.” Believe me. I’ve looked. And nowhere in The Old or New Testament could I find The Almighty spelling it out for us. Closest thing I could find was the example of people ‘casting lots’, and God was involved in that instance with Jonah. So then, is the fact that playing poker (for example) is not condemned in The Word, then automatic license to play cards? {Me, shaking my head again.} “No. Not necessarily”, I says. Like anything else that may fall into what many Christians like to call a “gray area”, it’s good for individuals to pray about. You notice that I’ve said ‘individuals’, dear reader? That’s because some things may be sinful for one believer, but not another. Like R-rated movies. . . or eating shrimp. . . or drinking wine or Don Julio 1942. (That’s my tequila.) A certain brother may be divinely banned from drinking alcohol altogether, while it’s perfectly fine for his twin to consume responsibly. Consider the Order of Nazarites. We have a few examples wherein certain followers of God were instructed by The Angel that so- n- so was not to drink any alcohol or strong drink whatsoever. So, one might ask, “Then wouldn’t that automatically apply to every Christian?” Nope! Not necessarily. For if it did, wouldn’t God have included that ruling amidst other universal commandments? It could have been the 18th Commandment, mirroring the U.S’s own 18th Amendment. {Maybe, maybe not, right?} But what have we genuinely been told regarding alcohol? Do not be drunk on wine or strong drink, right? “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with The Spirit. . .” from Ephesians 5: 18 in The NIV. Also worthy~ I Cor. 6: 12 NASB “All things are permitted by me, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted by me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” What else? Any other Scripture promoting or condemning the practice of drinking?, we ask. {Mind you, dear reader ~ It’s right about now that believers will start making judgment calls and presenting their cases in support of those rules that they’d most like to live by.}
Tell me if you’ve ever heard something similar to the following:
Christian A: “So, we went to this bar downtown last night. . .”
Christian B: “Wait. Was there drinking going on?”
Christian A, smirking: “You’re kidding, right?!? It was a bar… actually an Irish pub. So, what do you think?”
Christian B: “I don’t think you should have gone. I’m guessing you were probably tempted to drink.”
Christian A: “Umm, what do ya mean? Tempted to drink?!? I wasn’t tempted to do anything. If I feel like drinking, I’ll drink.”
Christian C (sticking his nose in): “Wellll, was it just one drink? Orrr more than one?”
Christian B: “Doesn’t matter. We’re all Christians.”
Christian A: “You guys must be joking.”
Christian C: “Well, me n’ the wife occasionally share a glass of champagne or something. . . you know, for New Year’s, sooo~”
Christian B: “So what? It’s still not cool. We’re supposed to be setting an example to others.”
Christian A: “I agree. An example that we’re not some uptight jerks that make up a bunch of unnecessary rules to live by. Wait! Don’t you guys drink at home?!?”
Christian B: “Well whatever, brother. Just know that God is always watching.”
Christian A: “I know that. I’m glad that He is. I didn’t do anything wrong. I had a total of three drinks over like five hours we were there.”
Christian C: “You had three drinks? Were you drunk though? Orrr even buzzed? I ‘m not judging you, but~”
Christian A, flashing a perturbed look: “Off three drinks? No. Look~ Jesus drank, right? He even turned water into wine at that wedding party.”
Christian B: “That wasn’t alcoholic wine though. That was basically just grape juice.”
Christian A: “What?!?”
Christian C: “Yeah. What?!?”
Christian B: “That’s right. Jesus wouldn’t have made wine with any alcoholic content.”
Christian A: “Have you been drinking?!?”
Christian C: “Yeah. . . Ya know. . . I think it had to be real wine. Remember how the man commented on how they saved the good wine for last? He probably wouldn’t have said that if it was just grape juice.”
Christian B: “That doesn’t make sense.”
Christian A: “It kinda does.”
Christian B: “God wouldn’t be responsible for making people drunk.”
Christian A: “Of course not. But producing wine wouldn’t make God responsible for people getting drunk. I mean, God provides food, but it’s up to us whether or not we over-eat, right?!? And God created sex, but it’s not His fault if people fornicate. Same thing.”
Christian B: “Well, I still think it was grape juice, but even if it was real wine, that’s no reason for you drink. You don’t have to.”
Christian A: “Yeah, but we don’t have to do anything. I didn’t have to eat a big piece of birthday cake either, but I did. And there was nothing wrong with that.”
Christian C: “Welll, technically, we’re supposed to treat our bodies as temples, sooo~”
I know. I wrote it on the silly side. But that’s exactly how a lot of Christian convo goes. Point being, they each had their own convictions, and were each passionate about their individual stances. So, I ask you, dear reader, without consulting The Lord directly for their convictions, who would be in the right? Or could they all be? To be honest, they all could potentially be correct in their stances, provided they had been given those convictions by God, and they weren’t trying to force details that might vary from one Christian brother to the next. <— Mind you, I’m not talking about providing an accountability in pointing out commandments here, (i.e. those issued in black and white, like committing adultery or murder, for example). Though even the Biblical Laws against adultery or murder could be dismissed IF and only IF God suddenly said to ‘Go For It’.
Unfortunately, the danger is that a lot of the time, we so- called followers of Christ DO take such liberties, going against commands that were there all along. And there are a number of rationales behind this. I’ll list a few~
1)Much of the time, we might ‘feel’ as though the sin is somehow a lesser infraction that Christians need not worry about. . . like naturally telling that pesky telemarketer that Mr. or Ms. So- n- so isn’t home, when they actually are. Or telling someone you forgot to wash the dog, when you were really just lazy. However, the sin spelled out in white lies is when one LIES. Some may think nothing of a little white lie, but I assure you, dear reader. It does count against us. So, we’ve gotta be cautious. And we can’t just casually make those determinations for ourselves, ya know? Example: I’ve been told it’s no biggie to lie about my poker hands in the midst of playing Omaha, ’cause “it’s just a game”, after all. And I totally get that rationale. I do. But I can’t go for that. (No can do:) ‘Cause I don’t want to assume God would see things in that way, and I care enough to stay on His good side to NOT make such assumptions. Same can be said about sexually fantasizing about someone attractive, or fudging a bit on one’s taxes, or whatever. Here’s a lame-o confession: Upon being questioned about whether I was to blame for something, I often used to throw my hands up and answer, “Hey, don’t look at me!” Then, sometimes I would look or nod in another person’s direction to divert suspicion. ‘Course, a witness to my original guilt would inquire somewhat like, “Why did you just say you didn’t do it, man?!? You usually don’t lie.” To which I’d always respond, “I didn’t! All I said was, ‘Don’t look at me!'” A clever technicality? Nah! Weak! While I may have been technically dodging a lie, it was still deception, a trait The Lord would not likely approve of. And there’s a lot of that going on in the world. 2) Another reason for making light of a certain sin is to practically dismiss a certain directive altogether. . . like it’s hardly worth considering from the start. Case in point: Coveting, for one. As I pointed out in Chapter Nine, coveting manages to make the list within The well- known Ten Commandments, though we often fail to give it the attention that it deserves. Why? (Well, we covered that.) Point being, most of us covet all the time, and even if someone did bring it to our attention, it’s likely we’d just shrug it off, ’cause it just doesn’t seem as urgent to our sensibilities. {Yet ponder this from Proverbs 3: 5&6: “Trust in The Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. . . ” } So, it’s best to trust in the fact that The Almighty meant it when He condemned coveting way back when. . . as well as sins such as lusting, and hating one’s brother, and failing to observe The Sabbath, or failing to tithe. . . and the hits just keep coming. Which brings us to reason three~
3) A lot of us look upon certain biblical instruction as antiquated, or as though God may have forgotten all about it by now. . . Or possibly eased up on a rule because of the ways of the present day and age. Possible? Well, we can certain look to the Holy Spirit for updates, i.e. for up- to- date convictions/ guidance/ and true wisdom. Yet, until we’re certain anything has changed from God’s P.O.V. it’s no doubt best to play things safe, dear reader. Care for an example? Alright. Ponder the notion of homosexuality, or even pre-marital relations, aka “sex” these days. Most couples do it. They seem to enjoy it. And it’s just a given that (even with church- goers), it’s just a matter of time before the great hook-up occurs. I mean, back in the day of black and white tele, networks didn’t even dare to even show married couples getting into the same bed, or putting a bit of tongue- action into their kisses, but that was simply disingenuous of them wasn’t it? That sort of playing make- believe. . . I mean, we’ve all matured a great deal. . . progressed a great deal. . . and we’re all grown- ups now. Yes? Consider that it’s now a rarity if a couple in the movies ends their date without getting laid. Unless it’s a prudish old- fashioned film where there’s something frigid about her, as she pushes him off til the third date. (Yes, I’m giving you the faulty/ worldly world view in gray here, which is that getting down is just a “given”, and if it’s with someone of the same sex, well, whatever.) “It’s all good, yes?” I mean, “It’s cool, right?”
Only it’s really NOT. From where are we getting our morality? Our set of standards? As mere mortals, we naturally draw our stances from our human nature. Though, as Christians, we battle to trump and override said tendencies with Godly ways. Unfortunately though, we are human. So even as we battle to do good and convince others to do likewise, our reasons for behaving go sideways. Dear reader, it’s sad, but I’ve often heard parents (or whomever) lamely floundering at providing accountability to loved ones. Rather than simply pointing out that God says certain behaviors are wrong, they try to sell righteous actions via human reasoning. Like with addressing pre- marital sex, it’s reasons one might consider from a worldly view, such as, “Well, honey, you don’t want to get pregnant right now. You’re only fifteen.” Or “Well, son, you don’t want to catch any diseases. That’d be terrible, believe me. Or what if you get her knocked- up?!? Those Trojans aren’t a hundred percent, you know.” “Or, are you even sure Ted really loves you, Cyndi? He was sleeping with his ex just last week.” These points are all genuinely inconsequential, (not to mention just plain terrible), even from a Christian stance. And no matter how well- intended.
Why? Because weighing out certain moral decisions by means of pros and cons should never be. In fact, such “decisions” should hardly be decisions to be deliberated at all, but rather, situations that call for whatever automatic reaction that’s dictated by whatever God has declared. So, before it even gets to be a topic of discussion with one’s mom or dad or cousin or friend, it should already be, “Sure, he or she is hot, but, you can’t do it. God said no.” “Or perhaps, not until the honeymoon.” {nudge, nudge} Or, in similar fashion: “Yeah, he or she is hot, but fornication is a sin. God says so. So, that’s that. End of discussion. What’s for lunch?”
To take things back to basics, it’s God only that gives each one of us our convictions ~ of what’s right and wrong, that is ~ or of what’s good and bad.
Dear reader ~ see if you can’t discern which of these items are sinful behaviors in the eyes of The Lord:
~ consuming three alcoholic beverages in five hours
~ fudging facts on your resume’ to get that job
~ killing another person
~ taking a shower with your fiance’
~ getting married to someone of the same sex
~ getting married to someone of the opposite sex
~ eating meat
~ eating only vegetables
~ eating fruit
~ eating tortillas
~ working on The Sabbath
~ betting $50 on The Super Bowl
Not even trying to be tricky here, but the truth is, any of these can be a sin in certain circumstances, and any of these could be considered perfectly fine with God. . . though only if He were to promote it. In fact, it would be just as much a sin not to engage in any of these if we were directly told to by God. Mind you, I’m not looking to muddle the holy waters of Christian morality here, but rather, to bring clarity. And the clear truth is this~ Our proper paths and convictions derive from God alone. Not from what seems best to us, or what seems best to others; not from anything necessarily logical, or even from a place of obvious common sense. Even if The Lord Himself has given someone else a direction under a very similar circumstance, well, He may have other plans for us, dear reader. It’s also important to note that although He’s given us Laws to live by, God forever reserves the right to override such rules; Or do away with them entirely. We just have to be very sure that it is indeed God making such exceptions, if/ when He decides to do so. Otherwise, we hold tight to His Word the best that we’re able.
Now, granted, I’ve never heard of God instructing a person to rob a Wells Fargo, (for example), nor would I honestly ever expect to. And most believers wouldn’t hesitate to put a snap judgment on such an action, citing ‘Thou Shalt Not Steal’ as one of THE Ten Commandments. However, if The Good Lord Almighty were to give His undeniable blessing to such an event. . . well, then, so be it! No harm. No foul. But as I emphasized before, those involved had better be downright certain that the directive was indeed from God. Likewise, we may not think of God as the type to promote a murder, ‘specially with that whole “Thou shall not kill” thing. But I tell ya, if God wanted to, He could make an exception in a single instance, or wipe away that commandment altogether. I mean, consider Abraham and Isaac. I know. . . The Good Lord prevented that one from transpiring last minute, but it still would’ve been a righteous kill nevertheless. Amen? Or what about those that God has sent in to kill others in battle? Or what of those that He has sent in to assassinate others? Ever heard of Ehud? If not, you should look him up. Book of Judges~ Chapter Three. Ehud was a left- handed, straight up righteous killer, that one. Much like Doc Holliday or The Terminator, only totally different, ya know?
So. Howzabout telling white lies whenever it’s really “necessary”, dear reader? (Careful.) We can’t make light of anything that The Lord Himself hasn’t. . . or take liberties where we shouldn’t. ‘Course, what if God ever did tell us to lie? Mind you, in this moment, I’m not believing He ever would. But if He ever did, wouldn’t it be the good and upright move to make? You might recall Rahab the prostitute, who (as far as we know) took it upon herself to lie for the safety and well- being of God’s people, and somehow, it was credited to her as righteousness. Who decided that? It may seem as if I’m playing devil’s advocate here. I’m not. In fact, I’m only trying to instill the exact opposite. . . that it’s forever God’s prerogative to call the shots and that He is never bound by anything. . . even if it’s contrary to a previous precept, or to something Our Father has imparted before. The bottom line, once again, God’s Sovereignty.
So, if The Almighty deems that it’s okay to eat your burger, but not with bacon, so be it. Or, if He wanted to spin that tomorrow, to a ‘yes’ on bacon burgers, buy not to burgers without swine, so be it. Or if He ever wanted to say no to meat altogether and make it a sin, there you go. Or if He ever wanted to say, “don’t eat that corn while it’s still on the cob”, there you go. Or don’t eat your peanut butter and jelly sandwiches without the crusts cut off, or don’t devour any of that particular fresh fruit picked straight from the tree. . . Am I getting carried away?
A-ha! Gotcha! For God has said that. How quickly we forget! {Alright, forgive me for the Gotcha, but~ }
I ask you, dear reader ~
What was it about that particular fruit from The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil that made it off limits? Was it simply that particular type of fruit that was wicked?
Was it that it held poisonous properties?
And couldn’t it just as likely have been a sin to not eat from that very same tree just an hour after God warned Adam and Eve about it? I mean, IF God had deemed it so? Of course.
We’ve probably all heard Christians correcting other Christians as to whether the forbidden fruit in question was actually an apple or possibly some similar sort of fruit. To which we might respond, “Does it really make a difference?” The Good Lord could have made it a kumquat, a lemon, or a grape. He could’ve grown yams from that tree, then declared yams off- limits after 2pm. It’s forever God’s call as to what does or doesn’t rate a sin. Therefore, if ever a judgment call is needed. . .
God. The Alpha and The Omega.
Our Sovereign God has the first and final
word, which makes all the difference when
trying to determine what’s right.
Indeed, most Christians, (just like everyday people), often look for the “best” moves to make in any given moment, and for many, the very “best” move equates the “smartest” move, or most savvy. This statement isn’t entirely off base. . . provided we always equate the “smartest” move as that which aligns ‘synchronized’ with whatever The Good Lord would have us to do. In fact, the best definition of true intelligence amounts to little more than Spiritual maturity. {Whereas, in fact, the polar opposite of true intelligence in and of itself ISN’T ‘stupidity’ per se’, as most would surmise, but ‘atheism’.} It’s perfectly true. Ponder this. The absence of God equates the absence of true wisdom AND knowledge. Mind you, that’s not something I’ve read. It’s merely a fact that I’m calling to light.
That being said, we’re greatly blessed with our basic directives and mission right there in His Word, as well as the constant discernment that flows from His Spirit. Therefore, it’s imperative that we stay close to Him, enveloped in The Holy Spirit, and moving with Him from moment to moment.
Note: this also includes the ideal of following the specific desires that God would have for each of our lives. And therefore, in fulfilling one’s destiny or purpose for whatever while we’re here. “What? As in, doing everything spot on, step by step throughout our days, Mateo?!?” Yes. Or at least, as they say, to the best of our abilities.
Though I realize the notion of following God’s lead precisely seems like an almost impossible challenge. Especially as one starts wondering if they’re to sometimes make the wrong move in order to perfectly fulfill one’s so- called ideal destiny. . . And the very thought that God would never actually want us to make a ‘wrong’ or sinful move. . . even if and when that ‘wrong’ move turns out to be the ‘right’ one?!? {Wait! What?!? Is that crazy talk?!? Nah, just think about it.}
And since God has all things under control, and actually intervenes in many instances, well~ Are our conscience moves really all that relevant anyway orrrr wouldn’t God just override things?!? (I know.) It could conceivably drive one crazy. Insane in the brain even. But take heart, dear reader. God does indeed have absolutely everything well in hand. Yes, as in ‘spot on’ under control. (Not to worry, as we’ll discuss all of this further in Chapter Five’s addendum when we get there.)
But in the meantime ~
Our main objectives are simple.
Love God, first and foremost.
Seek His Will, and do our best to follow His ways.
Then, whenever we falter (which we assuredly will*), sincerely ask for His forgiveness, and with The Lord’s help,
get right back to living for Him.
*Surely there is not a righteous man on earth,
who does good and doesn’t sin.
Ecclesiastes 7: 20 WEB
That’s biblical, and therefore a given. But should that ever act as a built- in excuse? I mean, to keep us from striving to serve The Lord the best we’re able? ‘Course not! Though if one didn’t know any better, one might be discouraged by the Scripture above. But once again, what truth does God’s Word impart to us, dear reader? Man is sinful. We need God’s grace. We’ll never be without fault, and yet, we’re to consistently strive to be more like Our Maker. Perfect.
God says, “Be Holy, for I Am Holy.”
But ummm. . . How, exactly, to achieve said holiness, or to come as close as we can to it?
First, by being perpetually repentant, which leads to forgiveness from God, cleansed by the blood of Jesus, Our Savior. . . sanctified by The Holy Spirit, amen? And then?
By simply loving God.
As long as we focus on that, dear reader, we’ll be on the right track.
In Chapter Three, we addressed The Greatest Commandment, and how the ideal of loving God with our everything basically encapsulates all other commandments. Not only does this seem like a great place to start our journey with God, but the very best course in following through. Please note: If there any two words that will take us to The Promised Land of where we wish to be as Christians ~ ~
Loving God.
Can I get an “Amen!” ?
Granted, certain Christian endeavors are easier said than done, but the only thing hindering us from loving God as we should, is our own human nature. We falter. And we fall short, constantly. Nevertheless ~ Our best path has been set before us, dear reader ~ drawing ever closer to God and getting to know Him better and better, in order that we grow to love Him more n’ more. And this should prove beneficial to our spiritual growth as well, almost as some sort of an added bonus, however ~
The thing is this ~
A lot of us may have initially just “signed- up” for salvation, perhaps because we heard a pitch on ‘free forgiveness’ and how easily we could ditch out on going to Hell, or whatever. Whereas, maybe others were brought up in a Christian household and/ or somehow inherited a Christian environment, and just kind of readily accepted, {as one might accept a dinner plate}, whatever faith was set in front of them by family. Yet by whatever means each of us finds ourselves with God, there comes a time and place, (maybe right then, but maybe later), where our relationship with God suddenly becomes MORE to us. More, that is, than simply going through the motion of uttering an acceptance of Jesus, or merely calling oneself a Christian for the sake of declaring a religion as one may declare a college major.
When we truly connect with God, whenever our hearts are truly involved. . .
It’s more than just some sort of arrangement or contractual agreement that we have with The Lord. At that moment, it translates to something entirely different.
Love.
Love.
Love.
Now before reading any further, my dear reader, I want for you to close your eyes, and for the next however long, just think about love. Whatever kind of love, provided it’s genuine and from the heart, okay? Go ahead. Close your eyes, and take some time to think about love. Then, whenever you’ve done that, we’ll catch up on the next page.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
So, I’m hoping, dear reader, that you can relate to the notion of what it means to genuinely love someone. Not just because it makes things easier for me to convey, but Aye Carumba! The very thought of anyone NOT having any sort of love in their life makes me beyond sad. But I digress ~
I would hope that everyone reading this can relate to loving somebody ~ whether it’s a son, a brother, or that good friend, or your cat, or a romantic partner, or even an unrequited love. (That last one means someone whom you truly care a great deal for, even though they may not feel the same for you. In fact, they may consider you to be some sort of creep- o or a worthless turd. But that’s okay, my dear reader. Because we know better.) Point is, when you really love someone ~ I mean really, truly love someone, there isn’t much (if anything) that you wouldn’t do for them. In fact, you may constantly find yourself seeking out ways to look out for their well being. It’s simply an inclination that flows from that love that you have for them. Are you with me? Awesome. Now, some of you theologians may have noticed that I’ve yet to resort to any Greek nouns to distinguish the various types of love. I don’t plan on it. Hoping that’s cool. Truth be told, it’s long past midnight, and I can hardly recall the diff between phileo and agape. Seems like eros was the sexy one, but I dunno.
What I really want to point out is that when it’s about loving God, there are actually lots of similarities to our other relationships. Although He may not be with us in a visible or tangible form, we can actually share in a closeness that transcends our mirrored human loves. That’s right, dear reader. . . I used the word transcends, for a couple of reasons. Number one, the word denotes something ‘greater than’ or surpassing the norm. . . just as the love we can share with God does. (And we’ll return to this momentarily.) Numero dos, the word transcends often invokes thoughts of things other- worldly or supernatural, if you will. . . which coincides with that bond we can share with God as well.
Now, if you would, clear your mind so that we may take this simple yet poignant concept from the top.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Think about when you first start getting to know someone; anyone. You may not know what to expect. Though if you’re an optimist or a pessimist, that may initially affect the mental probability of your liking this person in the future. Still, there’s usually at least some hope that you’ll experience the best from this person, and ultimately get along with them. From there, we may opt to spend more time with them if we feel so inclined, based on whether they bring some form of joy to our lives. Plus, we may start believing in the best from them, and in the strength and closeness of that relationship. ( Mind you, I’m still just talking about basic fondness and regard, dear reader, whether it be romantic or otherwise. I mean, geez! Does it always have to be romantic with you?!? Point being, I hadn’t even mentioned the word ‘love’ in this paragraph yet. But okay ~ if you’re going to push me into it 🙂
Let’s talk about truly growing to love and care about someone. As we spend more time with someone, and our level of closeness grows with a certain fondness for them, we can certainly call that at least a form of ‘love’. And, if all the while, our regard and admiration for that someone grows as well, we usually allow ourselves to trust them with our hearts and feelings all the more. What’s more, with time, we also tend to second- guess them a lot less, including whether they may not be worth all the time and effort we’re investing, or that we may end up getting hurt or let down in the end ~ You know what I’m talking about, regarding the time it can take, yes? I’m saying it usually takes some time to develop trust and intimacy. (Unless it’s dogs we’re referring to. Most doggos are chill pretty quick.) Or sometimes even with parents, and close family members? There’s often some innate rationale that they’ll love us, and therefore care for us, because hey! We’re family, right?!? (Or so the thought goes.) Thing is, whether it’s dogs or normal people or members of our own family, somewhere in our beings, we know darn well, that something’s gotta give. We know that nobody (except God Himself) is perfect. . . and we’re therefore gonna be hurt or let down by just about everyone at some point. (Mind ya, I’m not trying to be a bummer here, but just to be realistic… )
Maybe that someone that you love with such a high regard, loves you as well, but then one day does something careless. Perhaps you share in a great friendship with someone for years, only to find out one day, they’re not- so- great after all. Perhaps your very besty Sally inadvertently disappoints you with her recent actions, and now you see her in a way you wish you didn’t. Oooooh, that Sally! Why’d she have to become such a whore?!? (Kidding. Sally really isn’t that much of a whore. Not really.) Anyway ~ I realize I’m speaking in some rather hazy hypotheticals here, but I’m just spit-balling at pulling up some experiences that are hopefully relatable. Point being, even with the best of relationships, how much can one really expect from any relationship? Eighty percent bliss, and twenty percent crap? Ninety percent awesomeness and ten percent shite? Ninety- nine percent excellence/ one percent messed- up? Most of us would probably feel pretty fortunate to have any relationship where that person did right by us ninety- nine percent of the time, but for all I know, I may just be spouting fantasy. I mean, the hope of having anyone in your life that you’re stoked with ninety~ nine percent of the time is a pretty high expectation, isn’t it? However ~
Whenever any of us shares in a love with God, we don’t have to worry about any of that. In fact, we really don’t have to worry about anything. Right from the start, we can let our guard down, breathe easy, and rest assured in the situation. The Lord will never betray us, or let us down. (And if we ever thought that He did, guess what?!? He still didn’t. We simply had some faulty second- rate expectations.) We’ll never have to wonder, dear reader, whether He loves and cares for us as much as we do for Him. You and I can rest assured, The Lord loves us more. And He will never stop. Never ever.
Surely, in the same way we can count on our other relationships never to be perfect, GOD IS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT 100% of the time. He will never wrong us. . . ever. We can commune with Him from the heart 24/7, day or night, wherever we go, and know that we can totally be ourselves, because The Lord already knows us completely, and loves us just as we are. We don’t even have to fret about being separated from God or His love. And we don’t even have to worry about His dying on us someday, as we may dread with our other loved ones. Whatever relationship we have with God will literally last forever, (unless, of course, we purposely sabotage things, but ~).
I’m asking you, dear reader, who else can we say these things about? Seriously. . . Who else, in all of The Universe, possesses qualities such as these? Nooooobody! Fact: His righteousness transcends all things. ( You see what I did there? How I brought it back ’round using that word? Cool 🙂 Then, what I’d like to add is this ~
When you share in a love with God, there are times when you can experience His True Love flowing through you. And it’s not one’s imagination, or wishful thinking. Nor is it a matter of convincing one’s self, merely because you’ve psyched yourself into it or something. Nah. The experience is real.
There’s this definitive sense of warmth and assurance that can fill our beings ~~~ full- knowing that we’re loved and empowered by His Spirit ~ feeling blessed and incredibly fortunate just to be united with Him. It may last for weeks, days, or merely for a moment, but to experience God’s Spirit in that way is beyond euphoric. Dare I admit that I don’t have the words? You know. . . People may partake in sex or drugs in hopes of such a warm and wonderful sensation, {and I won’t BS you, those things can be downright incredibly freakin’ satisfying in a carnal sense, though I would argue that they’re much better with God’s blessing in the proper circumstance. . . } Though even their very best sessions greatly pale in comparison. Silly how human nature is so entranced or smitten with second- rate things, when a genuine CONNECTION WITH GOD is so attainable. Funny how some people have made ‘sex’ itself into their god or deity, when it’s our God that created sex for our benefit. Maybe you recall how The Good Book talks about people’s idolatry, and how they’ve chosen the created things over The Creator. (True that.) How often we settle for second- rate substitutes to treasure, when we could be sharing in something real.
Dear Reader ~ Please embrace this:
It’s Only Once That We Truly Know God, That We Know True Love.
Truth is, we can retrace the steps of our Christian walk, and even our lives before accepting Christ, in gathering the evidences of God’s love for us. Or, we can take note of these occasions as we go from salvation forward. And we consistently utilize verses such as John 3:16 to not only inform others, but remind ourselves of the magnitude of God’s love for us. “. . . that He gave His only begotten Son…” Indeed. Often times we Christians rattle off such verses in such a way that I wonder if we truly take the time to reflect on all that is involved, except probably around Easter, of course. Same goes for all of those blessings that we may or may not even recognize as days go by. Yet, God is always working {behind the scenes, as it were}, and often in arranging things that we’re clueless of. The Lord is forever looking out for our best interest by arranging ways to demonstrate His love for us. And He does this not only as a mere kindness, but as an example of how we’re to be, and as an investment of sorts into whom we have the potential of becoming. Our true goal for our time on this earth {that is, the one that The Almighty has set for us} is to reach the pinnacle of spiritual maturity, and ideally by the route that He has mapped out for each of us.
“To reach the pinnacle of spiritual maturity”?!? “Whatever does that even mean?!?”, one might inquire. Well, obviously, those are merely my choice of words in this moment, my dear reader. Yet what The Lord desires for us is not only to accept the free gift that is salvation through Jesus, but simply for us to thrive to be the best versions of ourselves that we can become from there. “Just as any good father/ parent would for his offspring”, one may add, and it’s true. And NOT with the primary motivation of trying to earn one’s way into Heaven or anything, but for the sake of having true communion with Him. . . in the very best possible way. . . with the very least amount of sin or other hindrances. It’s truly a thing of beauty to have that sort of genuine relationship with someone, even as humans. Many of us spend the better part of our days pursuing that certain something with someone. . . a special bond. . . a certain simpatico rapport. . . a special understanding paired with sides of love and admiration, and caring, even to the point of knowing that they’d lay down their lives for you, and hopefully, vice- versa. {You see what I’m getting to here, don’tcha, dear reader?} Good. And, once again, it doesn’t have to be all romance that we’re talking about here. we could be speaking of close friends, or say, a Father and His kid ~ ~ ~ but I digress :^)
Consider, if you would, just how much Our Father has invested in us. We can even start with the subject of Jesus and salvation, (as folks often do). If you’ll recall the audacity that I displayed earlier in suggesting that Our Sovereign God may have been more involved in the so- called fate of Adam, Eve, and all mankind than most would give Him credit for. . .
Well, what if The Great Alpha And Omega had arranged and orchestrated a scenario where a certain something would not only be broken, but broken in order that it could only be repaired in One Way, and that it furthermore required a certain reliance on God to provide this Way of reconciliation and reuniting the parties involved? Wouldn’t it be well within a Sovereign God’s right to enact righteousness? Yes! And since Our God is THE VERY CREATOR and DEFINITION of LOVE, wouldn’t it be obvious to conclude that He would create such an arrangement founting from love? Well, duh. Dear reader, I really don’t consider this conclusion as difficult to reach. Do you? Yet, it is fantastic to consider; i’e’ the fact that God would not only love each of us as He does, but be willing to make such extensive plans in order to help us find our way to our best lives possible. Certainly, knowing that anyone {though especially God} loves and cares that much for us should only lead to a reciprocal heart for Him, which would (hopefully) lead us to want to lead better lives for Him. {And this, should subsequently lead us to further blessings as well, though that should hardly be our primary motivation in the pursuit of righteousness.} Verily, the notion of knowing what true love is, via how much God loves us, and the contentment that we’re in His good graces should be plenty.
As stated ~ It’s Only Once That We Truly Know God, That We Know True ‘Love’. [Sad to say, but everything else runs a distant second.]
And The Same Goes For The Truest Meaning Of The Word ‘Reverence’ as well.
That is~ One has to genuinely encounter God Himself to comprehend the meaning of True Reverence in it’s greatest form.
Now this isn’t to say that people can’t know what it feels like to hold anything else in a high regard. . . or to embrace a healthy fear of something or someone that should be “revered”. I’m only making the point that to have a TRUE REVERENCE in the ultimate sense of the term can probably only accompany the very highest standard of the expression. Which would obviously involve God. In fact, God not only created reverence as a certain form of accountability, He did so with a genuinely ‘tough love’ motivation. . . that the activation of reverence within us would serve as another motivation (or motivational tool if you will), to bring out the best in us.
Ya know, I can’t recall whether I’ve mentioned this before. But my very first time teaching in church coincided with the first week after 9/11, and though I wasn’t preaching in the big church yet, I remember just how packed the sanctuary was that weekend. Of course, it was purely because of the events of September 11th, 2001. And though our church was nestled way over on the seemingly safe California Coast, people were scared. They weren’t suddenly there on this particular Sunday for their annual Easter showing. Neither were they present solely to pray for those suffering. Nah. They were there because they were really scared, and many of them felt a certain sense of security there, because they felt God would certainly be there to protect and possibly comfort them. . . and that was alright.
So, did God Almighty cause the events of 9/11 to transpire?!? Or did He merely allow what happened to happen, you know, in order to get America’s attention?!? You tell me, dear reader. And I’ll tell you this: Though it may have not been what any of us would consider a ‘good’ thing, a lot of good came from it. And whether The Lord caused 9/11 to transpire, or simply “allowed” it to happen, He deliberately chose to do nothing in preventing it. I’m not trying to be funny here, but I’m asking you, “Why would He”? God bless America?!? I ask again, dear reader, “Why would He keep His blessing upon us”? Because our nation is so upright? Or at least better than a lot of countries when graded on a curve of righteousness? Hmmm, now that might be humorous. Of course, anything that God opted to do {or refrain from doing} that day equates righteousness on His part. Perhaps God DID {in a way} bless America. Nooooo, I don’t think I’m retarded. Plus, I’ve only made use of the word ‘perhaps’ in the previous statement in order to hopefully incite some thought on the subject.
So, ponder on, believers ~~~
Sad that things sometimes have to get to a point of enacting discipline.
A little boy may genuinely fear the belt. Just as any of us should revere the ever possible consequences of our actions if we should perpetually step outta line. Shame it has to come to that sometimes. Shame that people can’t just harbor a certain awe and reverence for Power and Magnificence in the first place, rather than having to be reminded.
Earlier in this book, I lent the visual of petting a sleeping tiger. How awesome that would be to have both fear and admiration of such a creature all at once! And without having to be mauled at that! Plus, I’m sure that everyone has their own notions of how wild it is to soar through the clouds, or even to be surrounded in a shark cage whilst submerged into deep, blue depths. . . without having to engage in any foolishness that might endanger themselves or others. Various combinations of love and admiration and fear and awe from a variety of sources can produce sensations of reverence. So wouldn’t one think that if we were to hold God in such a great regard, that we would almost have to subsequently utilize that reverence in our Christian walk? {I mean, to utilize such a factor in a proactive way.} In fact, though reverence may not be listed amongst the other fruits and/or gifts of The Holy Spirit, how is it not?!? For that gift of reverence descends upon us from The Holy Spirit, and empowers us to subsequently rise to a greater version of ourselves, all to His Glory. Can I get an ‘AMEN’? Likewise, as Paul refers to putting on the full armor of God in Ephesians Chapter six -> putting on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness and so forth, why shouldn’t we take up our crossbow of reverence as another weapon against wickedness?!? Certainly not trying to alter The Word of God here, or even step on Paul’s letters, as it were, but… is it possible that we Christians may overlook the notion of reverence [somewhat similar to the way we neglect the commands against coveting]? I suggest this, like everything else, strictly as food for thought. And, as I’ve mentioned before, that even though words like fear and reverence may typically have had negative connotations ~ {wait for it} ~ The reverence that we have in The Lord that should be fully appreciated as a blessing. For God deliberately created and/or allowed such a detail to affect our lives in a positive way, spiritually speaking. You get what I’m attempting to convey, don’t you, dear reader?
Though we are only humans, after all, and therefore we’re susceptible to screwing up at some point. The Word of God confirms this. And one might even say that it’s by design. Nevertheless ~ Our calling to use everything given to us in order to battle against our own potential for wickedness, also by design.
That being said, I honestly don’t know if God has toes, dear reader, but if He does, I certainly don’t wanna step on them. In fact, just the opposite. I, for one, want Him to know that my heart and motives are genuine. . . and to the best of my ability, I’d like to prove to Him that my love and reverence for Him are true. These stand atop the very best means of motivation. (And I hope you feel the same, dear reader. Even though we’re bound to screw up at times.) Don’t ask me how it is that we ever fail to experience and demonstrate reverence for The Almighty Himself! Though it does equate a certain foolishness, it’s something we can overcome with The Lord’s help.
From Philippians 4: 13 (NKJV) “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
So, this is where I’d like to briefly address how a possible momentary lack of proper reverence would likely offend The Lord Almighty. . . be it deliberate or not, in order that we can be mindful of our behavior, from this moment forward. Mind you, it may be something we do, something we say, or something in our general demeanor, yet “out of the overflow of the heart”. . . amen?
Suffice it to say, there are plenty of ways that we might bring about God’s ire.
A plethora.
And in everything there may be consequences, or, at the very least, a certain accountability. What do I mean by “accountability”, you ask?!? (Well, let’s just double- back to that, shall we?) For the moment, let us simply acknowledge that our rightful convictions come from The Holy Spirit, and we should welcome those at whatever stage they may arrive. As we’ve been expressing, we should not only be looking to escape punishment from God, but (more over) we should be looking to please Him as evidence of that love we share. Why is this of such importance? Well, most of have heard that actions speak louder than mere words~~~ and it’s altogether true. Furthermore, no matter how often we may shower The Lord with kind sentiments, it’s hardly lip- service that God desires or requires.
So what are some of these pitfalls of offending God, and what kinds of irreverent behaviors shall we be mindful of, specifically? Know that it’s from a genuine reverence for God, that I’m going to try to choose my words cautiously. No joke.
As we mentioned earlier, “it” typically happens as we get to get ‘too big for our britches’, {or possibly TOO comfortable with Our Lord}, when we lose perspective of Who God Is in comparison to whom we actually are. We almost subliminally buy into a lie of a special form of foolish pride, and bad things subsequently come to pass. I told you about that night at the poker table, right, dear reader? Well, there’s a prime example. StOOpid! 😛 And, of course, there are plenty of opportunities for us to grab hold and exhibit such stupid behavior.
Many times, we’ll almost inadvertently take The Lord’s Name in vain, which, as we know, is a HUGE error. Though a lot of people, even Christians, consider this solely to mean using The Name Of The Lord in the midst of swearing, it actually entails more than that. And once again, for the sake of true reverence, I’ll even refrain from getting too terribly specific with my examples here. But, if one can imagine popping off with The Name of The Lord in an attempt to (say) be funny (as in), “C’mon, Jeffrey! I just talked to G-d, and H- told me that you’re supposed to give me half of your fries!” OR “I just know G-d wants for me to have this new sport’s car!” Or perhaps, “I’m going to sic G-d on you for being mean to me!” Get my meaning?!? Careless! Foolish! Irreverent! There are no excuses for any such sayings. I ask you, dear reader, have you ever seen those seemingly well- meaning billboards displaying what we’re to believe are conversation from the mind of God? They read something like, “I love you, and miss you. From, G-d” Hmmm~ Although I’m fully convinced of the good intentions linked to said signage, I have to wonder whether The Lord is cool with any of us speaking on His behalf unless they have his definitive blessing to do so. You know, back in the day, many a reverent Jew would hesitate to even say or write the name of G-d. Whereas others would make certain to keep their prayers short and their words few when addressing The Almighty, simply out of the regard they held for Him. That may be one aspect of the faith that we may be lacking in today, i.e. the mindfulness not to throw The Lord’s name around carelessly. In fact, it could be downright dangerous, no matter the effectiveness in spreading the Gospel. Often times, we Christians fall into a trap of making such assumptions, and prove ourselves guilty of breaking that third commandment. What’s more, though we believers may not “take The Lord’s Name in vain” in the common sense, we may still insult Him at times with a silly insult, like crediting ‘Mother Earth’ or ‘Mother Nature’ or even ‘Father Time’ for various actions that Our Father should be recognized and honored for. Though I realize many would probably think, “Oh, don’t be silly! Those are just silly things we say! God knows that.” Indeed? For the record, I do believe that Our Father has a good attitude about things, as well as a great sense of humor. Yet, who are we to assume to know His mindset for ourselves? I’m sure all of us have heard of the importance of “having faith” in order to endure certain situations, yet the question remains, “faith in Whom?”, as it’s often left unaddressed. I wonder if that isn’t upsetting to God. Do you think? ‘Couse many others don’t.
Now, although there may be a fine line to differentiate a willful action going against reverence, versus something done out of [say] sheer carelessness, it matters not.
Much of the time, we may inadvertently forget ourselves and our proper places in relation to The Lord and we may not recognize (or, may make light of) our bad behavior for quite some time ,,, all the while believing that we’re in a good standing, spiritually speaking. And that royally sucks.
Care for a few more for- instances on how one might verbally perturb God, be it accidentally, carelessly, or inadvertently? Alrighty ~
Remember way back when we first met, dear reader, and I told you how I don’t really care for the mountains much? Yep. That’s true, and I meant it. I pray this doesn’t hurt God’s feelings, and I don’t believe that He takes such sentiments personally. ‘Course, what I used to say whenever the suggestion of visiting the mountains arose, was something akin to, “Screw that! Mountains are stupid.” Or maybe, “The mountains are freakin’ lame. I don’t know why God put them there in the first place.” Doh! (I know.) Believe it or not, I wasn’t looking to insult God, or start a riff with Him, but- – – the stupid got the best of me. And do ya think such remarks helped my relationship with God? Not- so- much.
Now, such a situation may seem like an obvious foot-in-mouth blunder, and that may well be. So let’s just pull things back a bit from these audible faux pas to consider other less- obvious mistakes.
Have you ever watched a comedian doing his/ her stand-up knowing full- well that they would be throwing a few random ‘G.D.s’ or ‘J.C.s’ into the mix. . . i.e. taking The Lord’s name in vain in an attempt to be funny? Or perhaps, they were really funny, and though you may not have known their acts before, you still stuck it out for the remainder of the show without regret? Not good. Sure, I realize that they may not know any better, or live by the same rules as we do as Christians, and that we personally may not be the ones uttering such things in insult to God, disrespecting Him while taking His Name in vain, but~ ~ ~ you think God’s not going to be at least a bit upset with us with these scenarios?!? Maybe we forget that God matters even more than our earthly or secular lives do. But it matters not. . . it’s still no good. I mean, consider how each of us should feel, how each of us should react to someone else disrespecting someone we genuinely love and care for. We wouldn’t stand for it. And I dare say, at the very least, we’d remove ourselves from the mix. Now, picture how that friend would feel if/ when they found out we just sat there laughing at someone else belittling them. (What’s more and added to the point, that God knows absolutely everything that transpires, right?) Yet even if He didn’t… once again, not good.
And while we’re on the subject of earthly relationships, I really feel as though they can reflect a great deal about our relationship with God. Dear reader, you can take a moment right here to think about it. This may be somewhat of a side note, though I assure ya, it’s relevant to our subject at hand. For example ~
Dunno if you’ve ever had someone who rarely answers your calls, or rarely makes time to hang out or spend quality time with you, but then, inevitably, they’ll want something from you. . . possibly a favor from outta the blue. That really sucks. And it feels pretty crappy, right? Yet, how often do we figuratively put The Lord Himself on the backburner, taking Him for granted, failing to spend quality time with Him because we’re binge watchin’ some show. . . or partying with other friends, whatever? Sucks! And this is God we’re talking about. . . the very Best Friend we could ever have. . . not to mention Our King. . . Our Savior. . . Our Everything, truly.
Sad that any of us could ever demean Him like that. Though most of us do at some point. So, what else? Maybe we don’t take time with God for granted per se’, but perhaps we don’t appreciate (or even realize) all that He’s done for us. . . or continues to do. Is that possible? And how must He feel about that?!? Well, how would you or I feel? It’s a solid consideration, yes?
Now, again, what about feeling TOO comfortable (or “casual”?) in our relationship with God? By this, I mean that although He IS our friend, He IS also very much Our King, and we mustn’t forget that. To use the human analogy again, supposing you were the boss at some office or restaurant/ whatever, and your friend worked there as well, only as in a capacity wherein you were their boss. . . I know you already can get where I’m going with this. If that friend started slacking on the job or not giving you your due respect on the job, it’s definitely going to affect the working relationship or the friendship or both. So, how must God Almighty feel when we take His directives lightly? Or possibly fail to give Him proper regard/ aka respect or reverence, simply ’cause we feel like we’re cool with Him like that?!? Mind you, this IS GOD we’re speaking of, and the regard we supposedly have for Him.
Do we ever cheapen the connection we have with Him? Or, {as Bonhoeffer put it}, cheapen the grace He’s given us? He may grant us certain freedoms, sure. But we can hardly be taking liberties with our freedom in Christ.
Therefore, when The Lord tells us not to labor on the Sabbath, do we sincerely take that to heart? Or do we say, “Aww, God won’t mind! He knows that I have a chance to make time-and-a-half this weekend!”
And when we know that we should tithe Him at least ten percent, do we go, “Geez, I totally would! But I went out to that cool show the other night and I’ve got nothin’ left! I’ll catch ya next time, God.” {I’m slowly shaking my head here, dear reader.}
Sometimes, we’ll neglect to do that something we know He wants from us, or even if we do it, we do it begrudgingly. Or with an attitude like God now owes us one. Sheesh! Why bother?!? God doesn’t appreciate anything second- rate being offered.
Can you recall any time in The Bible where God specified that He wanted something without blemish? Or when He may have consecrated a certain something as Holy above others? Gives us a clue. I honestly can’t remember a time where God was like, “Just give me whatever crappy one that you’re looking to get rid of as a gift or sacrifice. . . That’d be good enough for Me.” And I’m sure we can all relate. I mean, how would we feel if someone could afford to get us anything for (say) a birthday present, but just picked up the first thing they saw at the Goodwill store and proceeded to hand it to us in the store bag? We might be a little hurt or upset. And we definitely wouldn’t feel like whatever relationship we shared with that person meant anything special. Wouldn’t you concur, dear reader? Case in point: Once upon a time, my pops, knowing how into photography I was, gave me a tripod for Christmas. . . that only had two working legs. Talk about useless! And so was that tripod! [Cue the rimshot ;] Though we thoughtlessly do those things as humans, and maybe even more so with The Lord. I can recall as a newer Christian not wanting to part with my ca$h money for a tithe, so I’d donate something of somewhat equal value that I didn’t want anymore to the church. I know. Ridiculous. No excuse.
Now, howz’about this for lame? We’ve all had others underestimate us on some occasion. Heck! I’ve even regaled friends about things I’d done in the past, only to be doubted, mocked and fondly made fun of, (for lack of any better way to put it). Of course, I tried not to get mad or anything, but if I’m to be honest, it’s difficult not to be at least somewhat hurt when others simply don’t think too highly of you. And it definitely doesn’t strengthen any bond shared. So, once again, how must God Himself feel if/ when we second- guess Him?!? Yes, this in reference to God Almighty, The One and Only Alpha and Omega, for Whom all things are possible! The nerve we display! “But Mateo, of course I know God can do all things!” Sure. I know we say that, and honestly believe that of ourselves, yet~
There are plenty of examples of how we still, almost subliminally, put limitations on God’s power- – – or on His grace- – – or His love. I believe that I’ve mentioned the stories of a few of my femme friends { always those with names beginning with vowels :}, and how they were forever doubting that God had and still HAS the ability to love and forgive such a horrible action as abortion? Mind y’all, I do understand the mindset. It does require a lot of grace to forgive. But once again, this is God we’re talking about. And although it may not be out of purposeful sense of pride or spite or malice, it is a massive insult, and belittling to God. (Note: I’m talking about doubting His ability to give grace, and to love us unconditionally here, and NOT even about the more obvious sin of someone killing a kid.) If we were to suppose that one sin were greater than another, the common stance would probably be to weigh murder as the worst. Yet, we might care to pray about it and think again. . .
Or, we may simply conclude that all sin against Our Father is altogether horrible. One might also add that whenever we’re second- guessing The Lord, we’re actually doubting Him at His Word, or, in short, we’re calling Him a liar. That’s altogether not–> wise. Nevertheless ~ such sin can be forgiven and worked out for future’s sake. Amen?
I believe that
True reverence for God
lends sobriety from all foolishness. . .
be it deliberate or inadvertent.
{ You can quote me on that. }
Now~
It may have never even dawned on any of us
that The Lord may have been prompting us
to a specific life, that is: a completely different life
than the one we’ve chosen for ourselves.
Yet wouldn’t it be completely reasonable
to believe that God might be offended
not only at the direction we’ve chosen to take,
but the supreme disregard for His guidance?
For if we were to truly know and embrace The Lord for All He Truly Is,
then not only would that benefit our spiritual walk, but our everyday lives as well ~
{I know. As though there’s a difference, right?}
+ Now, if you would be kind enough to indulge me, dear reader, into giving the previous highlighted portion above some serious consideration, I will return to the subject shortly, within the recap of Chapter Five ~
Addressing Chapter Four: Embracing God For All He Truly Is:
Now I realize that to some, that the wording of the title of this chapter may sound as though we’re talking about “accepting” or even “tolerating” some possibly less-desirable things about God, right along with those traits that are more easily embraced by our human standards. But is this my intention?!? NOT IN THE LEAST, dear reader! Not at all! What this chapter is actually promoting, is truly getting to know The Authentic God to the best of our ability, and to thereby embrace His every trait through a genuine admiration, full- knowing that He sets the standard for excellence. Surely~ You’re welcome to read that again if you want. I know it’s a bit of a run- on sentence. Guess what I’m attempting to say though, is that it’s not about challenging ourselves to merely “live with” or “just accept” all of God’s traits and precepts, and then gradually learning to love and obey Him accordingly.
{{ To that notion, dear reader, we can insert a resounding No way! }}
Rather, it means getting to know every facet of Whom God TRULY IS, as we simultaneously embrace His Spirit as the only perfect example {that is, the epitome} of righteousness~
“The Authentic God?” “Whom God TRULY IS?”, we inquire. Well, long story short, every believer has notions as to Whom God Is, some of which are pretty close and some sadly distorted. Of course, in some ways, defining or even identifying God may seem nearly impossible. That is, we may be able to clarify Whom He Is that we serve through the use of qualifiers and secondary descriptives. Though if we were truly overwhelmed, before delving into the details of His character, we might consider just leaning on superlatives in order to somehow summarize His greatness, as in. . . {King of Kings, Lord of Lords, The Most Loving, Most Compassionate, Most Forgiving. . . All- Knowing, All- Powerful and so-forth, since Our God Is The Only One That Truly Qualifies to all of the aforementioned}. . . yet words still forever fail.
Nevertheless, even if we were to settle on simply summarizing God as “perfect”, for example, we would have to get to know what the meaning of true perfection entailed from God, in referring to God. . . {in that} God would then be defining the word perfection, rather than the other way around. Get my meaning? Yes? Meaning, it would definitely involve spending time in getting to know this Author and Epitome of Perfection, for our own understanding, and subsequently for the greater benefit of our spirits as well. {That is, ascertaining the very definition of perfection from God Himself, as opposed to the norm of measuring someone on a pre-conceived arc of perfection.) To break it down, dear reader~ You know how someone says if you look up the word {random descriptive here} in the dictionary, you’ll find a picture of {insert Proper Name here}? Well, that’s what I’m getting at when it comes to God, and the many superlatives that He actually sets the standard for. Like the word ‘perfection’, for example. God is truly The Only One to qualify ‘perfection’, because He actually defines the meaning in all that He Is. And this is where the subject of God’s Sovereignty ties in. That not only can we recognize that Our God reigns above other so- called (false) deities, but most likely, over whatever perception most Christians have of Him, even to the point that God hasn’t merely mastered the discipline of being ‘perfect’ for example. . . but that He’s actually ABOVE any conceivable definition or rule of perfection, in that He actually sets the standards of what qualifies as “perfection” in all that He says and does.
Therefore, if you and I are striving for ‘perfection’… i.e. true righteousness, holiness, wisdom… we only need to focus on The Lord, that we may emulate Him to the best of our abilities, by the power of His Holy Spirit. Though, we must be truly willing. That is, willing to embrace God For All That He Is. Of course, the notion of embracing God for all that He Is, means that we must also embrace all that He wills for our lives.
Please understand that, once again, I’m not saying that we’re stuck with going along with whatever The Almighty dictates merely because it’s a part of what we’ve signed on for as Christians, or because God will no doubt impose His will regardless. Nor even as though we should collectively shrug as if to say, “Well, I guess it goes along with the deal”. No~ ~ ~
What I wish to convey is that if we truly believe in God, {Righteous with a capital R and Sovereign with a capital S}, then our hearts will most certainly follow as well. And obedience? Well, it would literally become our pleasure. (Though the temporal circumstances of this life may truly suck sometimes.)
See~ There comes a point where it’s no longer a matter of having the discipline to make the right decision in choosing between the path of doing what Our King would ideally want for us to do as Christians, versus doing what our natural selves would want us to do. Rather, our Spiritual Maturity in The Lord, that is our genuine love and admiration for Him {embracing His heart and mind as our own} motivates us to genuinely, instinctively want to do whatever He wants~ ~ ~ At which point, it simply becomes our better nature to embrace whatever it means to live for Him above all.
And we should be passionately living for The Lord, without reservation. Amen?
And now, a verse for your consideration, dear reader:
From Ecclesiastes 7: 14 (New International Version)
When times are good, be happy,
but when times are bad, consider this:
God has made one,
as well as the other . . .
Therefore, if God ultimately controls all of those circumstances of our lives,
why trip? <— This last portion is my own, not Scripture 🙂
Simply put, this is the theme of Chapter Five ~
That The Good Lord has absolutely everything under control.
So why worry?
Mind you, dear reader, this isn’t to say that we aren’t human, or that we can always help but feel anxiety, stress, or sadness. In fact, it’s almost a sure thing that we’re meant to undergo sorrow at certain times of our lives.
Meant to be. Written into the script. Same as everything else that God deems to transpire. We can truly rest assured in that.
I know some may call such a trust “blind faith” due to future details seemingly unbeknownst to us, BUT. . .
For anyone who truly knows God,
our faith is actually the opposite of blind.
Indeed, dear reader, we’re anything but blind,
as we’re privy to everything that is most important.
Pssst! We’re talking about God here,
and His never- ending faithfulness.
Of course, I’m not saying that the future details of our lives hardly matter! Not even. ( What I’m saying is that they hardly matter in the way we might think they do 🙂 Truly. It’s not as though once we’ve been saved by the blood of Jesus, we’re merely locked into some sort of indentured servitude, waiting for our number to come up, that we can move onto the next life. Rather, there comes the vision of a better life on our horizon, and looking at ‘the big picture’ does provide a certain righteous perspective. Indeed, certain details suddenly don’t seem nearly as monumental as they did. In fact, if anything, maybe we should become aware of how little we’ve accomplished for The Lord thus far, and that the proverbial clock is indeed ticking.
And as for previous plans, and the goals that we’ve set? Our “hopes and dreams”? Hmm. Shifted, perhaps? {In terms of priority, I mean.} Whereas, things that were very important may now only abide as somewhat important? “Hmmm.”
Cue the realization that certain things are only fleeting in this world, and that the only details truly vital and carrying over to the great hereafter. . . are those which we do for Him, because they’re important to Him. This requires quite a bit of thought, and moreover, prayer, prayer, prayer ~ ~ ~ and then, as I’m feeling “led” in a certain direction, in response to all my prayers ~ ~ ~ I do all within my power to follow through on the daily.
Now, as I utilize the phrase “within my power”, dear reader, this not only translates to all that I’m able to do within my initial God- given abilities, but rather to all that The Lord God Almighty empowers me to do in my past, my present, and my future. Please note that Our Father has also given most of us the ability to reach out and converse with Him, and to request whatever Spiritual Gifts we may be lacking. Yes. The ability to do this is definitely ‘within my power’. And yours as well, dear reader. And why shouldn’t we?!? If Our God, in His limitless power, is able to do ALL THINGS, as He pleases. . . and He deliberately sets us on a certain path, why shouldn’t we ask for those miraculous gifts that help us succeed in doing whatever He’s set before us? Whatever it may be that we need from God: be it forgiveness, or the ability to forgive others, or His love, or the ability to love others, or {for that matter}, the ability to walk on water, or speak in tongues, or to raise the dead, or to love others~~~ {Yeah, I know I reiterated that last one. But believe me, that’s one I constantly need the most help with.} I’m not sure if it’s irony, but while I’ve never had an issue with believing in God OR embracing Salvation through Christ, what I personally lack is the ability to love others. . . especially those I can’t stand. Tell me, is there any coincidence in what I’m so effortlessly able to believe in? Or any explanation for my particular flaws? Think The Alpha And The Omega might be involved in those details?
Food for thought aplenty, dear reader ~
As we mentioned in Chapter Six (and that in-betweenie section), it’s not for anyone to make light of any of the things that Our Father does, nor those seemingly fantastic things that He gives us the ability to do. Yet NONE of these feats are any sort of challenge for God, no matter what we personally may be lacking at any given point in time. God can work through us, and by means we never would have guessed. “They” say that The Lord works in mysterious ways, and it’s a difficult point to dispute. . . mainly because we’re the ones ever scratching our heads, mystified if you will, by the moves of Our God behind the scenes. The Creator is indeed creative, and little should surprise those of us that know Him. After all, whenever we say that ‘All things are possible with God’, the meaning of this saying shouldn’t solely address His omnipotence, but the limitless ways that He may accomplish His will. Ya know, there used to be this show on the tele called MacGyver back in the 80’s. And on this program, our hero would often find himself in a jam that seemed almost inescapable… until he’d find an apple core, a shoestring, and a John Cusack VHS tape, and somehow build himself a tank or something in the last four minutes of the show to save the day. Now, a grip of those people that were amazed with what MacGyver could accomplish week after week never even considered what God does on the daily. And God Is way better. And God Is real. You’ll forgive me if I’m being silly here, dear reader, though the truly ridiculous thing is, it’s true. Most people are captivated by lesser things, by lesser happenings, (and yes, even by make- believe crap), and somehow neglect to notice The Lord. He formed the earth and everything in it from nothing in just a few days. He said, “Let there be light”, and there was. Plus, He’s made you and I and millions of others, and has orchestrated all of our lives like nobody else could. And?? Where’s the WoW? the AwE?? What does The Almighty have to do to get some genuine recognition? Food for thought.
Consider the story of Balaam’s donkey, who The Lord utilized by not only giving her the vision to spot angels in the road, but the ability to look out for her earthly master, and speak the necessary words to him. Although you and I may instantly react in wonder, thinking “that IS pretty wild”, it’s really no more wondrous or mind- blowing than anything else The Lord may do. In fact, one may ponder whether the disciples were any less amazed by Jesus and the ‘miracles’ that He performed the more they experienced Him. I know. Probably not, right? But isn’t it a trip how some people can’t [or possibly outright refuse] to believe that Jesus ever existed, let alone was born of a virgin, performed all of the miraculous things that He did, then rose from the dead for us. . . whereas others have zero problem believing in all of the aforementioned, as well as every word of The Bible, amen?!? Mind you, dear reader, it has little to do with anyone’s IQ points, or another’s capacity for gullibility. In fact, I dare say that some folks that have been designated as very smart actually ‘outsmart’ themselves in a way, though their so- called smarts are merely on a fallible, worldly scale, foregoing the very truest form of wisdom and knowledge. Shame. For if those individuals actually had the ability to look beyond their brand of logic and that which is merely tangible to look into the supernatural/ spiritual realm and recognize even One Truth of God, it might enable them to see everything in an entirely new light. Though I must admit, it always makes me smirk at how certain individuals are willing to concede that they can believe in one amazing aspect of God but not another ~ Like,”Oh, I KNOW there’s a Supreme Being that created this Earth in six days or whatever, but that part about the virgin birth?!? Yeah, no, I ain’t buying it.” Or, “Alright, so maybe Jesus DID walk on water, but coming back from the dead?!?” {As though any given miracle outweighs another} Ultimately, we have to admit that there’s either An Almighty God that can do anything, or there isn’t. And The Good Lord has provided us plenty of evidences, using all manors of circumstances to get our attention, whether we wish to consider them as miraculous or not. Oftentimes, He has allowed one of us to become so vile that when He brings us back from our life of depravity to a mostly righteous mode of life, it should cause others to take notice. It happened in biblical times, as it happens today. God uses all manors of miracles to sway the common man.
So I know that if God can use that ass from the Old Testament to enlighten Balaam, then I’m certain that He can also empower me. Plus, if he can modify me and use me to His good purpose, dear reader, then I’m altogether positive He can provide you whatever you may need in order to accomplish great things as well! I mean that. Sincerely. What do you require in order to accomplish great things, and shine for The Lord?!? Mind you, friend, if you really don’t know, well, you can be gifted with wisdom and discernment to boot. Simply go to Our Father with a humble heart, and ask.
Our Father loves us, dear reader, and has had us covered in that love since before we were even born. Never doubt that.
In fact, He already had your details drawn before you were born, of who you were to become, and all you would be able to do with His blessing. God has had the blueprints creatively planned for every moment of your life. And He’s been there by your side all along. All we need to do is abide with Him from one moment to the next.
I find this a good thing to ponder from time to time. It helps us to reflect on our place in this world with the proper perspective.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
NOW as for yours truly ~ A great deal has happened in my Personal Life since you last tuned in on Chapter Eight, dear reader. Miracles? Well, certainly notable strides in my timeline. Whether you wish to call them “miracles” or not, is strictly your prerogative. (We’ve been through this, remember? 🙂
Today’s date is December 7th, 2023. It’s a Thursday.
It’s been almost seven months since mom died. She went somewhat suddenly after only two days complaining of exquisite aches and pains. Know that I had prayed the sincerest of prayers that The Good Lord would have mercy in the situation, as I pushed for her to take an ambulance ride to the hospital for almost the entire forty~ eight. Yet by the time she relented, ‘too late’. As it turned out, leukemia, (amidst other ailments). What did the situation say about my mom? And about me? What does it say for God? I was actually aware of God’s incredible mercies already. Though there truly are lessons on the table with practically every passing moment, amen?
The hour is now= 2:10 in the a.m. My pops, presently teetering in what seems his deathbed. Or, as my pal Joe puts it “one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel” Thanks for that, Joe 🙂 I’m having a hard time with ‘their’ plan to extend his days when he seems so miserable, though I have zero say in the matter, unless God specifically green- lights anything. { Deep sigh? } Nah.
{ In case you’ve suddenly found yourself about to send ‘thoughts and prayers my way, don’t :} I truly appreciate the sentiment, but I am convinced with all of my innermost being, that the timing of all things transpiring are perfect. And I’m not just saying that, dear reader. Suffice it to say, (and not bragging), I’ve been a particularly good mode with The Lord in recent months. Yes, for the majority of this year, and for the most part, I’ve been able to hear Him loud and clear. Mind ya, I do mean this more in a figurative sense than in a literal/ perfectly audible way, (in case y’all were wondering). But, I digress.
I’m 55, for roughly one more week. And for possibly the first time in this lifetime, I’m genuinely considering God as my One “True Parent” over my earthly parents. Yes, just as an adopted child might consider his long-time adopted father who loved and cared for him to be “dad” over his biological parent. Does that make sense? ‘Cause sometimes I don’t :^/
Regardless, my life has moved onward and upward, and I’m grateful to no longer be enveloped in that central- Cali circumstance that I was previously burdened with. Suffice it to say, that was a seriously rough patch, but I prayed my way through till God delivered me. Though I realize that ups can sometimes go back down, I find myself not only on to another chapter, but another level, if you will. Most likely, even just a little wiser, if I’m being honest.
Meantime, America and this world surrounding, has gone seemingly sideways, and I’m doing my best to get a bead on things. So, I’m constantly taking note of and internalizing things. Ever- pensive. Perpetually thinking. It’s exhausting. My feet were already hurting a tad from some sorta nerve damage in my extremities, and now my head hurts from thinking so much. I kid you not. At this moment, dear ones, it’s nearly 3 in the am, yet there was no ‘last call’ because I’m here in Las Vegas, Nevada. Not that any potential cut off time would matter anyway. I’m not out drinking, or gaming, or having any of the so- called superficial fun that’s made this town famous. I’m simply in my room at The MGM Grand, attempting to bring these pages to fruition in the midst of these serene hours. This entire premises glows an emerald green at night, serving it’s purpose in the neon line-up. Though I usually stay at this half-dive called The Orleans Hotel down Tropicana Street because I like the free rooms they offer, and the distance it lends from The Strip. I’ve always enjoyed visiting Vegas for all of the simple pleasures offered, at least those of the non-sinful variety. Such as? Free suites, free jacuzzi, free prime rib and/ or free beverages, and those not-so-free back rubs I get whilst playing cards. Hey, what can I say?? I told you that I’m getting older, and I’m oftentimes achy :/ I usually make pretty good money here though, which is nice. Plus, I enjoy the tranquility I can occasionally retreat to whenever I can get away from people in general. But what if God wants me to interact with others, you ask? Well, you just HAD to go and spoil my groove, didn’t you? :^) I kid.
Though I do admit, I am usually frustrated to the hilt with people by the time I’ve finished my lunch each day. Dear reader, I’m telling you, it’s more than just the rantings of an cantankerous old man here, and it isn’t my imagination by any means. . .
People in general are getting stupider by the day. [It’s “more stupid”, you say?] Hey, whatever’s clever. Point being, people are steadily getting more moronic by the minute, and that’s one of the gentlest ways I can state the fact. People are SO stupid now. And blatantly wicked. I suppose the two go hand in hand. I’m telling ya, dear reader, I can hardly stand society anymore. This epidemic of moronic behavior and immorality is infecting the nation, and is simultaneously being embraced by many as the norm. As I was sharing above~ Much of the time, I’ve already endured eight or ten bona fide imbeciles by high noon, and feel the need to retreat to the solitude of my room.
Is this really what I need to do in order to regain my happiness? Or is this what I need to do in order NOT to lose my $h!t?!? I wonder, is my well- being even a factor as I attempt to deal with this daily situation with society? Well, what does God have to convey? And what exactly does He require of me? Hmmm. Lotsa factors if I were trying to mentally hash it all out weighing the pluses and minuses, but perhaps I’ll simply pray about it all. I realize that my happiness is truly secondary, if only I can keep my calm. {{Surely, I can use the prayers of my Christian brethren as well here.}} I realize it may all sound rather trivial, or maybe just silly.
But, this is serious. I’m being quite serious here. I need help.
First off, I need prayers for wisdom and discernment. . . in order to know The Lord’s Will for my life, i.e. comprehending exactly where to go and what to do. . . yes, even forsaking my own pursuit of happiness, if that’s what He calls for. I believe I may be strong enough at the moment, but ?? I can definitely use God’s wisdom and strength, in order to know the right steps to take, and to have the ability to follow through. This is especially true where it comes down to people. Society! { Shaking my head again, sighing. } I need to The Almighty’s guidance in whom to invest time with, the words to express, and the exact actions to take. Then, of course, I need the resolve to follow through. And that’s the hugest challenge for yours truly. I must confess, there’s a part of me hoping that my future interaction with others will be kept to a minimum, (even to the point of my leaving this world 😉 Mind you, I’m not suicidal in the least, dear reader. Until people are brought into the equation, that is. {Jesting.] I know that you must be wanting details of what’s so bad about my fellow earthlings these days, but I think I’ll spare you all that for the moment. In fact, by the time you read this, this world may be notably saturated in that stupidity that I’ve been referring to, and I won’t need to explain anything to you. God’s people will recognize. But for now, just know that I’m seriously struggling. So, will you do me this favor as you’re reading my lamentations?
Pray for me? Will ya pray for me. please?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It’s now December 13, 2023. my birthday. It’s 4:52am, and I’m staying in a truly lovely room at The Golden Nugget, downtown. Just got out of an amazing soak in the Roman hot tub, and I’ve patched the laptop plug in behind the refrigerator, and dimmed the lights so that I’ve got just enough to tap the keys with some precision. My pup Tucker is winding down atop a pile of pillows. And my brother in Christ, Joe, has just crashed out after having watched the ‘Lonesome Dove’ western for what was probably his seventieth time.
One of the characters from the episode, a cowpoke named Augustus ‘Gus’ McCrae utters wisdom almost too profound for a Texas Ranger, “Yesterday is gone, and you can’t get it back.” Too true. In all fairness, it was actually author Larry McMurtry that originally wrote those words. And God, of course, was responsible for the very creation of Larry… and for all mankind, for that matter… and, our ability to speak… furthermore, for words… for the past… present and future…
for the creation of all time itself…
It’s good to take note of such details, amen?
Stay ever close to God, dear reader, and remember how He loves you ~