Wrath vs Love

Sadly today, more than ever, there is a divide in the church; on one side you have those who want to hear more of the wrath of God. 

On the other side you have those who want to hear more of the love of God. 

For the new Christian it can be a confusing division when strong sentiments are voiced on both sides. What are they to do? What should they believe? 

As for me, I look through all scriptures through the lens of Mark 12:29-31, 

"Jesus said, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. And the second like it is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'

There is no other commandment greater than these."  

  To clarify how this is to be walked out I've listed some New Testament scriptures. If you obey these you will not err by much. 

   

 

  "Imagine if you will, that you should see a man that had a large pond of water, yet lived in continual thirst, not allowing himself to drink half a glass for fear of lessing his pond. 

If you should see him always thirsty, yet always carrying a bucket of water in his hand, watching early and late to catch the drops of rain, gaping after every cloud, and running greedily into every mire and mud in hopes of water, and always studying how to make every ditch empty itself into his pond. 

If you should see him grow old and grey in these obnoxious labors, and at the end of his life he ends his anxiety ridden, thirsty life by falling into his own pond; would you not say that such a one was not only the author of all his own disquiets, but was foolish enough to be reckoned amongst idiots and madmen? 

But yet, foolish and absurd as this character is, it does not represent half the follies and absurd disquiets of the greedy, covetous man." William Law.

 Rev. Dr. Tuckerman

"His success in winning the lost lie in his perpetual recognition of the spiritual, immortal nature of the poor, and it gave to all his intercourse a character of tenderness and respect. He spoke plainly, boldly, but still as to the children of the same infinite Father. 

He trusted in man's moral nature, however bruised and crushed; he was sure that no heart could resist him, if he could but convince it of his sincere brotherly concern. 

One rule he observed, he always spoke encouragingly. He felt that the weight under which the poor man’s spirit was already sinking needed no addition from the harshness of his spiritual guide. 

He went forth in the power of brotherly love, and found it a divine armor.

 He proved how much can be accomplished by a generous, affectionate mode of speech and action among those classes of society which it has been thought can only be reached by menace, sternness, and terror. 

Dr. Tuckerman and his successors in their labors with seamen, have taught us that men, in the most unpromising conditions, are to be treated as men; that under coarse jackets, and even rags, may be found tender and noble hearts; and that the heart, even when hardened, still responds to the voice of a true friend and brother. His words were steeped in his heart before they found their way to his lips. And flowing warm and fresh from this fountain, they were drunk in as living waters by the thirsty souls of the poor. 

A great secret of Dr. Tuckerman's success lay in his strong interest in individuals. It was not in his nature to act on masses by general methods; he threw his soul into individual cases. Every sufferer whom he visited seemed to awaken in him a special affection and concern. I remember well the language which he once used in regard to a man who had gone far astray. He said to me with deep emotion: “I want that man's soul; I must save him."

 He made the worst feel that they had a friend, and by his personal interest linked them anew with their race. 

  Let me add another explication of his success. He sought for something to love in all. 

He seized on anything good which might remain in the fallen spirit; on any domestic affection, any generous feeling, which might have escaped the wreck of the character. If he could but touch one chord of love, one tender recollection of home, one feeling of shame or sorrow for the past, not mater how faintly, he rejoiced and took courage, like the good physician who, in watching the drowned, detects a flutter of the pulse, or the feeblest sign of life. His hope in such cases tended to fulfill itself. His tones awakened a like hope in the fallen. "He did not break the bruised reed, or quench the smoldering wick." William Ellery Channing.  

 

The Search for Father: 

How Telemachus, the son of Odysseus, search for his father is a picture of one of the most formational aspects of a man's life. 

In ancient times a man's name was connected to the man who fathered him: Achilles, son of Peleus; Agamemnon, son of Atreus; Hector, son of Priam, Odysseus, son of Laertes; Telemachus, son of Odysseus.

In the Home:

But today it is not so, father and son have often been severed from one another by work, divorce, neglect or abuse. It seems the very social structures of our culture are working to separate men from their sons and one another. Many men have grown up without fathers and disconnected by distance or distraction from their grandfathers, uncles and cousins.

In Education:

The age old concept of a teacher instructing students face to face has been reshaped in such a way to further isolate people from one another with distance/online education and ‘independent’ study. 

In Work:

The idea of apprenticeships has been diminished with the push of technology and entrepreneurial pursuits. 

In Friendship:

Men searching for Mentors often come up short these days. Content learning has displaced character formation and the idea that a man would have a relationship with another man to grow into maturity is becoming a rare experience anymore. Google is the new Gandalf. 

In Sexuailty: 

Men no longer need to commit to a woman in marriage to experience aspects of the delights of the sexual life. Even the sex act has been reshaped by the porn and hook-up culture, men can independently indulge without having to be placed into a real relationship with a woman.

In Spirituality:

Our churches have followed the patterns of this world and now provide platforms of media consumption that replace a pulpit or a pastoral relationship. Men can "go to church" and never enter a circle of meaningful relationships that facilitate the difficult work of transformation.

All of these issues have a profound influence on the soul of a man and shape his relationships with others." Eric Blauer.

 "Encourage the exhausted and slack of hands, and strengthen the feeble. 

Say to those with anxious heart, "Take courage, fear not. 

Behold your God will come with vengeance, the recompense of God will come, but He will save you." Is. 35:3-4

We must broaden our understanding of evangelism: we evangelize when we help the weak in faith stand; when we restore the struggling Christian and encourage the doubting brethren. 

 

Mamma's,

“Don’t feel sorry for or fear for your kids because the world they are going to grow up in is not what it used to be.

God created them and called them for the exact moment in time that they’re in. Their life wasn’t a coincidence or an accident. 

Raise them up to know the power they walk in as children of God. 

Train them up in the authority of His Word. 

Teach them to walk in faith knowing that God is in control. 

Empower them to know they can change the world. 

Don’t teach them to be fearful and disheartened by the state of the world but hopeful that they can do something about it. 

Every person in all of history has been placed in the time that they were in because of God’s sovereign plan. 

He knew Daniel could handle the lions den. 

He knew David could handle Goliath. 

He knew Esther could handle Haman. 

He knew Peter could handle persecution. 

He knows that your child can handle whatever challenge they face in their life. He created them specifically for it! 

Don’t be scared for your children, but be honored that God chose YOU to parent the generation that is facing the biggest challenges of our lifetime. 

Rise up to the challenge. 

Raise Daniels, Davids, Esthers and Peters! 

God isn’t scratching His head wondering what He’s going to do with this mess of a world. 

He has an army He’s raising up to drive back the darkness and make Him known all over the earth. 

Don’t let your fear steal the greatness God placed in them. I know it’s hard to imagine them as anything besides our sweet little babies, and we just want to protect them from anything that could ever be hard on them, but they were born for such a time as this.”

 -Alex Cravens Michel Maza

 

 

 

 "8-year-old Różyczka Goździewska, the youngest nurse in the Warsaw Uprising in WW2. She helped as an assistant in the field hospital by bringing water to the injured, chasing away flies and serving as a source of happiness."

When the gates swing open wide to let Rozyczka enter into her eternal home, can't you hear the voices of all in heaven sing out "Bless this saint, she chased away flies!!!! She gave a cup of cold water! and she served the living Christ as a source of happiness for wounded and lonely soldiers. Oh what a day of rejoicing that will be!!!!!!

 

  Evangelism is a noble and heroic work! To seek the lost, last and the least; to be busy looking for pale and jaundiced hearts beaten down by abuse or sin, to delve into the deeps of the heart and point the anguished towards Christ, this is a work above all others! 

I read this poem that illustrates gospel work so well.

   

Who are they that - 

"Pluck bright glory from the pale-faced moon,

Or dive into the bottom of the deep,

Where fathom-line could never touch the ground,

and drag up drowned honor by the locks!" 

William Mathews, LL.D.

 

"Oh how God loves to reveal Himself to those who long to know Him. I don't care where you are or whom you're with, you may be in a cult or in the midst of great errors, but if you have a heart that longs to know God He will pierce the darkness and disclose Himself. 

Ever seeking, ever loving, always calling. 

It reminds me of a quote by John Wesley, "I want to know one thing -- the way to heaven; how to land safe on that happy shore. God Himself has condescended to teach the way, for this very end He came from heaven. He has written it down in a book. O give me that book!!!!! At any price, give me the book of God!'

Read the Bible, it's good for the soul.

Overcoming depression

 Overcoming depression requires a multifaceted approach.                  The following post comes from the National Suicide Prevention Line; and it contains such good advice. Of course this is a secular piece that contains no references to religion or the power of it; but this is simple and practical helps for our well being.

DEPRESSION TIPS:

Shower. Not a bath, a shower. Use water as hot or cold as you like. You don’t even need to wash. Just get in under the water and let it run over you for a while. Sit on the floor if you gotta.

Moisturize everything. Use whatever lotion you like.

Put on clean, comfortable clothes.

Drink cold water. Use ice. If you want, add some mint or lemon for an extra boost.

Clean something. Doesn’t have to be anything big. Organize one drawer of a desk. Wash five dirty dishes. Do a load of laundry. Scrub the bathroom sink.

Blast music. Listen to something upbeat and dancy and loud, something that’s got lots of energy. Sing to it, dance to it, even if you suck at both.

Make food. Don’t just grab a granola bar to munch. Take the time and make food. Even if it’s ramen. Add something special to it, like a soft boiled egg or some veggies. Prepare food, it tastes way better, and you’ll feel like you accomplished something.

Make something. Write a short story or a poem, draw a picture, color a picture, fold origami, crochet or knit, sculpt something out of clay, anything artistic. Even if you don’t think you’re good at it. Create.

Go outside. Take a walk. Sit in the grass. Look at the clouds. Smell flowers. Put your hands in the dirt and feel the soil against your skin.

Call someone. Call a loved one, a friend, a family member, call a chat service if you have no one else to call. Talk to a stranger on the street. Have a conversation and listen to someone’s voice. If you can’t bring yourself to call, text or email or whatever, just have some social interaction with another person. Even if you don’t say much, listen to them. It helps.  

 May seem small or silly to some, but this list keeps people alive. 

* At your absolute best you won’t be good enough for the wrong people. But at your worst, you’ll still be worth it to the right ones. Remember that. Keep holding on. 

* In case nobody has told you today I Love you and you are worth your weight and then some in gold, so be kind to yourself and most of all keep pushing on!!!!

***People don’t fake depression.. they fake being ok.

Find something to be grateful for!

US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Hours: Available 24 hours. Languages: English, Spanish. 

800-273-8255

 Overcoming sin by Grace. 

The Kingdom of God, and the holiness and virtue of it, is not gained by our power, resolve or persistence. "For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power." 

The message of victory and purity isn't a message of self-control, programs, accountability partners or practical attempts, as good as they may be. Paul declared, "my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,  so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God." 

Our faith begins, grows and overcomes "not by might nor by power but by My Spirit,' says the Lord. 

When we come to Christ we are 'born again' by the Spirit, and we are to continue to walk in that Spirit to achieve the holiness, peace, power and the joy Christ promises.

 So don't come by the Spirit and expect to overcome by your determination; "Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?""We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God."  

1 Cor. 4:20, 1 Cor. 2:4-5, Zech. 4:6, Gal. 3:3, 1 Cor. 1:23-24

When I first started in Children's ministries I wrote this poem.

Feed my Lambs

When I watch children at play

inspired by their innocence

drawn by their laughter

giggles and fun,

I understand a little better

the purity of, and the entrance to

The Kingdom.

Oh to help in some way!

To guard the heart

to guide the path

and spare the sorrow

that comes when we leave His way.

To add one stepping stone,

To lay one line, one precept or principle

that broadens the entrance

for one child.

Let me taste the freshness of childhood,

Let me share the freely given love,

Let me take the infectious joy,

But most of all, let me give -

The bread of life

and help feed His little lambs.

 "There is something in our human nature which engages us to take part in every accident to which man is subject, from what cause soever it may have happened; but in such calamities as a man has fallen into through mere misfortune, to be charged upon on no fault or indiscretion of himself, there is something then so truly interesting -- that at the first sight we generally make them our own, not altogether from a reflection that they might have been, or may be so, but oftener from a certain generosity and readiness of nature which disposes us for compassion, abstracted from all considerations of self; so that without any observable act of the will, we suffer with the unfortunate, and feel a weight upon our spirits, we know not why, on seeing the most common instances of their distress. 

 Now where the spectacle is uncommonly tragic and complicated with many circumstances of misery, the mind is then taken captive at once, and, were it inclined to it, has not power to make resistance, but surrenders itself to all the tender emotions of pity and deep concern. 

So that when one considers this friendly part of our nature, without looking farther, one would think it impossible for man to look upon misery without finding himself in some measure attached to the interest of him who suffers it -- I say, one would think it impossible -- but there are some tempers - how shall I describe them? formed either of such impenetrable matter, or wrought up by habitual selfishness to such an utter insensibility of what becomes of the fortunes of their fellow creatures, as if they were not partakers of the same nature, or had no lot or connection with the species." Sterne.  

 "Seven years old, third row pew

John 3:16, something changed in me

Red letters coming off the page

Flooding my heart with amazing grace

I knew then I believed

And those roots run deep"

 

Gotta love those lyrics from Anne Wilson's song Sunday Sermons.

 When Billy Graham was 92 years-old, he was struggling with Parkinson's disease. In January, a month before his 93rd birthday, leaders in Charlotte, North Carolina, invited their favorite son, Billy Graham to a luncheon in his honor.

Billy initially hesitated to accept the invitation because of his struggles with Parkinson's disease. But the Charlotte leaders said, 'We don't expect a major address. Just come and let us honor you.' So he agreed.

After wonderful things were said about him, Dr. Graham stepped to the podium, looked at the crowd, and said:

"I'm reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who this month has been honored by Time magazine as the Man of the Century. Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train, when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of every passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn't find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets.

It wasn't there.He looked in his briefcase but couldn't find it. Then he looked in the seat beside him. He still couldn't find it.

"The conductor said, “Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I'm sure you bought a ticket. Don't worry about it.” Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car,he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket.

"The conductor rushed back and said, 'Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don't worry, I know who you are; no problem. You don't need a ticket. I'm sure you bought one.'Einstein looked at him and said, “Young man, I too, know who I am. What I don't know is where I'm going."

Having said that Billy Graham continued, "See the suit I'm wearing? It's a brand new suit. My children, and my grandchildren are telling me I've gotten a little slovenly in my old age. I used to be a bit more fastidious. So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and one more occasion. You know what that occasion is? This is the suit in which I'll be buried. But when you hear I'm dead, I don't want you to immediately remember the suit I'm wearing. I want you to remember this:

"I not only know who I am. I also know where I'm going." May your troubles be less, your blessings more, and may nothing but happiness, come through your door. "Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - it has no point."

May each of us have lived our lives so that when our ticket is punched we don't have to worry about where we are going. See less

 I think I hear more misunderstanding about Grace and Works than any other important subject. Within the Protestant church there is so much emphasis on Grace, that Works are almost discounted.When Paul met with the pillars of the church at the council of Jerusalem, they affirmed Paul and Barnabas's work with the Gentiles, with only one admonition, Paul said, "They only asked us to remember the poor -- the very thing I also was eager to do." Gal. 2:10 Paul was faithful to that as we can see by the following verses. 

"In all things show yourself to be than example of good deeds..." Titus 2:7

"Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed." Titus 3:1

"This is a trustworthy statement, and concerning things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to engage in good deeds?" Titus 3:8

"Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful." Titus 3:14

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Eph. 2:10

James, gives us this example of good deeds - 

"This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of God our Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." Jas. 1:27

 We are saved by Grace, not by works, but we are saved for good works, as plainly taught by Christ, and all the apostles. Jesus summarized the entire Bible in Mark 12:29-31 "Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

 In Luke 19 we read the story of Zacceus, pictured here, up in a tree so he could look at Jesus who was surrounded by crowds because he was a man of short stature. Jesus walked by the tree and looked up to Zacceus and simply called him by name saying, "Zacceus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house." This picture captures what might have been the look Zacceus had when Jesus spoke to him, a man despised in his community for building great wealth from his corruption towards those in his community. Shocked that Jesus would call him, Zacceus didn't hesitate but immediately came down and he was full of joy. Those in the crowd mumbled and complained because Jesus was going to eat in the house of a "sinner." 

At some point Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Lord, I will give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I will restore it fourfold.” 

After this single encounter with Christ his heart was changed, and because of that his entire community benefited and who ever had a legitimate claim against him was restored four fold! 

And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Oh the lessons within this story! The high position brought low, the outcast welcomed, the free invitation of Christ, the deeds that faith produces, the impact one person has in a community when Christ dwells in the heart. Truly this is the answer to our nations corruptions and evils!

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Ro. 12:21

Inspired by Pastor Eric, Jacob's Well, Spokane Wa. 

 Eph. 3:16 Roughly speaking, the prayer is divided into four petitions, of which each is the cause of the following and the result of the preceding-

1. ’That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man’  

2. ‘In order that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith,’ ‘ye being rooted and grounded in love’ 

3. The result of the first, and the preparation for the third. ‘That ye may be able to comprehend with all saints ... and to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge,’   

4. And all lead up at last to that wonderful desire beyond which nothing is possible-

’That you might be filled with all the fullness of God.’

I do not know what Christianity means, unless it means that you and I are forgiven for a purpose; the purpose being that we should be filled with all the strength and righteousness and supernatural life granted to us by the Spirit of God.

The Gospel is the gift of pardon for holiness, and its inmost and most characteristic bestowment is the bestowment of a new power for obedience and service.

And that power, as I need not remind you, is given to us through the gift of the Divine Spirit. The very name of that Spirit is the ‘Spirit of Might.’ Christ spoke to us about being ‘endued with power from on high.’ The last of His promises that dropped from His lips upon earth was the promise that His followers should receive the power of the Spirit coming upon them.