Setting the Record Straight

            I’m like one of those people with initials in their names.  Not “M.E.” like Quincy or “M.D.” like Doogie Howser, but PK and MK.  And I don’t know what you’ve heard about us, but pastor’s kids and missionary’s kids are not always the miscreants they’re made out to be.  But hey, I’m certainly not perfect because I’ve done and do plenty of stupid things in my life.  And having your dad as your pastor out on the mission field gives you plenty of stories to tell.

            I suppose at this point I should give you a little bit of background so you know where I’m coming from because after all, knowing is half the battle.  (I suppose actually fighting with all those fancy blue lasers and machine guns would be the other half.)  But I really hate doing this part.  Whenever people ask me that usually-simple-to-answer question for most people, I have no easy answer.  “Where are you from?”  Aaargh! There it is!  I don’t know.  I was born in Spain, grew up in Trinidad and now live in the United States. Take your pick.  This is both the frustration and joy that comes with being a global nomad of sorts. 

            I only spent about a year in Spain so I don’t remember anything of that.  I do remember growing up in the 1980s in the Caribbean twin island nation of Trinidad & Tobago.  (I was on the larger island, Trinidad.)  My parents were Christian missionaries and my father worked as the pastor of the church we were serving with in Trinidad.  I remember hearing about Jesus most all of my life!  I first came to know Him as Lord and Savior when I invited Him to live in my heart and take me as His own as a young child.  I had this great book that taught you the alphabet by giving you a verse for each letter.  I remember the first one was Isaiah 53:6.  “All we like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”  The text of that great hymn, “At the Cross”, was printed next to the verse with a picture of a little boy laying down this big burden from his back next to the cross at Calvary.  And one night during our family devotions I heard a story about a guy who took his pet pig with him on a cruise.  Apparently the pig fell overboard and the man dived into the ocean to rescue his pig from drowning.  This wasn’t a perfect picture by any means, but it drove home to me as a child just how much God loves us so much more than pigs because He sent Jesus to die for all the wrong and stupid things we’ve done and by rising again from the dead, He proved that He is God.  After seeing the good example of my older siblings, I made the decision myself to follow Jesus at the ripe age of about seven.  And that’s something I’ve been more and more thankful for every day since!

            There’re a couple of funny stories I remember from growing up in Trinidad.  There were all the different slang words that I had to get used to hearing.  When someone asks how you’re going, they just mean to see how you’re doing.  My parents, upon first hearing that phrase, once told a bank clerk that they had come by car and were going by car!  And then there’re those trips you take when you’re “going down the road to come back.”  Sounds like a likely plan.  It just means you’re taking a quick trip somewhere. 

And I sure remember some of the sermons.  As pastor’s kids, my siblings and I got to hear some of the messages over again and when we started hearing Dad preach from John 15 about staying in the Vine again, I remember leaning over to my brother and whispering, “Rerun!”  Or there was the oft-lampooned by our family infamous “hermeneutics” sermon series.  It was also known as “How to drive your church down to nothing” series by my family.  My father preached on Sunday nights about how to read and understand your Bible, which is definitely a good thing to learn.  Unfortunately, my father had a tendency to do a “quick review” of last week’s sermon throughout this series.  By the time the review was over and we had actually gotten into the current message, the service was definitely dragging on.  Sunday nights never tend to be a big attendance for many churches, but this series really drove away people.  What got me was when even one of our deacons, who had been coming each night and taking notes, stopped coming- then we knew we had hit the last straw.  There were some services where my whole family was the service!  My dad did the preaching, my mom played the piano, my sister led the worship songs, and my brothers and I prayed and took up the offering!  At the end of each of these messages, my dad would ask if anyone had questions.  My little brother would always crack us up by raising his hand to ask, “Are we finished yet?”  Though much as we joke about it now, I can still tell you to pray and ask God to give you understanding, keep the passage in context by reading what’s before and after it, and analyze the passage by finding the “Who”, “What”, “Where”, “When”, “Why” and “How” of it, when studying the Bible.  But I have to tell you the joke my father would always use.  Here’s how to make a case for suicide in The Bible. The Bible tells us, “Judas went out and hung himself.  Go and do likewise.  What you do, do quickly.”  The message here is to not take verses out of context!  (And I laughed every time at the absurdity of those verses out of context when he would tell this!)

            And let me just clear up this misconception that seems to float around about us PKs and MKs.  We’re not the finest Christians around, and we’re not necessarily the worst of the bunch either.  I am not perfect nor am I even good.  I do stupid and bad stuff all the time and there’s more instances than I care to recall.  The times I’ve lied, cheated, stolen, entertained sinful thoughts, lashed out in anger, fallen flat on my face in pride or said something really, really dumb all slip back into my consciousness from time to time.  And there’s still junk I did as a kid that I can remember that I’m still ashamed of.  On the other hand, I’ve never shoplifted, vandalized, done drugs, drunken alcohol, smoked a cigarette or cigar, and I’ve rarely used foul language.  (There was this one time as a young kid when I repeated a word I heard on television that I quickly found out was not cool like I thought it was!  I don’t believe I’ve ever said it or most any other swear word since.)  Oh yeah, and I’m proud to say that unlike Madonna’s song, I’m not like a virgin, but I am in fact a virgin and will remain so until I marry a Christian woman.  And I will be faithful to her and God alone.  All this I can do through Christ alone who strengthens me because apart from Him I’m nothing.

            So I guess you can say that life has been a bit different for me than many Americans.  I am an official American, but I’ll always be a Trinidadian in my heart.  I have fond memories of that country.  Growing up in a British school system with uniforms and playing cricket and football (soccer) during recess and lunch was great.  It’s also cool to be able to say I went swimming on Christmas Day!  I enjoyed weather from 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (or more) most every day!  I could go on about the many cultural differences from America, but I think one key thing I learned from living there is to respect and love everyone.  Everyone has an intrinsic value because “God don’t make no junk”, as the saying goes.  It makes no difference what color or gender you are because everyone is really the same.  And The Bible says that once you’ve committed one sin, it’s the same as doing all of them.  So I’m just as guilty as anyone else and can’t stand in judgment of them.  But Jesus calls us to love one another and be His witnesses and I try to do that as much as possible.  I think these are things I learned from The Bible that living in another country helped reinforce at an early age.  If only we could all learn to forget ourselves and think of others as better than ourselves, we would see that we’re all the same on the inside and God loves us all.  It hasn’t always been a normal and peaceful life, but I can’t think of a better one to have. Wherever He leads, I’ll go.

             

Copyright by Nathan Ludwick March 6, 2007

Urkel's Brain (song)

I love Jesus first and foremost. I also enjoy a lot of classic television shows, particularly ones that remind me of Jesus. I can hardly think of a more Christlike character on television than Steve Urkel on "Family Matters". There is even an episode where Steve gets saved and gives his heart to The Lord! Of course, while that always brings a revolution in one's heart- and surely it did for Steve- he was still the prince of the geeks and nerds to so many. I can identify as one who's been called Urkel myself (and Irwin "Skippy" Handleman from "Family Ties", for that matter). I take both as compliments. Steve certainly had confidence and determination and I can definitely respect that. Laura came to respect it too eventually as she was finally won over by Urkel's charm, personality, morality and certainly brain.

"Urkel's Brain" 

(Parody of "Purple Rain" by Prince and The Revolution)

(Parody copyright by Nathan Ludwick 6/5/2019)

(Proverbs 13:12)

I never meant to cause you any sorrow

I never meant to cause you any pain

I only wanted to spend time with (the) Winslow family

I only wanted to woo you

Laura with Steve Urkel's brain

Urkel's brain, Urkel's name

Urkel's brawn, Urkel's charm

Urkel's looks, Urkel's game

I know you want me (to leave you)

Wearing you down- Urkel's staying

All I ever wanted's to be your geek in armor

I always wanted to be more than just friends

Crazy for you! Could I steal you from another?

Don't feel the same? Our friendship never ends

All the same, you're my flame

Girl, you're sayin' Urkel's insane

Girl, I'm prayin' - Ride Love Train

I only want to be with you

Laura Lee, your royal pain

Harriette, Carl, Eddo 

Winslow- minds are changing

Richie, Rachel- shout out

Mom Estelle please, missing Judy

You take Stefan or Steve, girl

But though it seems (a) no-brainer, you'll find

Who loves you best- no contest

So yes- did I do that? Steve Urkel's saying

Girl, you're swaying (to) polka playing

(Has) Urkel changed or your heart changed?

Like Waldo and Maxine belong together

And 3J's on hand

Urkel's strange but rearranged

Your whole life- Want to see you

Happy- God blessed me! You'll

Wear Steve Urkel's ring!

............................................

Preach The Gospel to Yourself-and Stay and Watch with Jesus

   There's a saying that goes like this- "Sometimes you need to preach The Gospel to yourself." That's what the one minute video I've posted here talks about well.
I have had to do that at times, particularly whenever I struggle with doubts and questions about faith. Those who know me well probably know I've talked a lot about this before and wrestled with worries and fears about my salvation and Christianity in general at times. What if it's all untrue? That's a question some don't like to deal with much or at all. Yet The Bible itself deals with it. In a famous passage in 1 Corinthians 15:12-28, Paul under the Holy Spirit's inspiration tells us that if Christ has not been raised from the dead, then our faith is futile and we're still in our sins. All of Christendom rests on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
    That is a question along with many others that are worth pondering. I've usually had more soteriology questions than anything else though- and they usually have to do with my salvation experience. I've talked about this before but I want to try to address another aspect of this here. Though I have had passing thoughts before wondering if other religions are true rather than Christianity, as I've said before, I've doubted myself more than I've ever doubted God. I have come to realize something through all this. I think a large part of the problem is having so many competing voices, whether through jeers and accusations from non-believers along with genuine questions or from sincere insistences on denominational doctrinal teachings from different Christian voices. I find myself comparing my experience to that of others and if they don't seem to match up, I find myself panicking that somehow I didn't do something right in the salvation process, like I took a wrong turn on the Romans road. (And that would be a problem because the straight and narrow road doesn't have turns.) There are questions of having the right motives, really repenting "enough", or having an emotional experience. I'll admit that fear of the punishment of hell is what first me drove me to Jesus. I think He can still use that and deepen our experience and relationship with Him from there.
    It seems there are two extremes of polarity that people go to with faith in Christ. Either the life gate is swung open for all no matter what you do with Christ or it's locked so tight that it's only opened when perfection is achieved. Of course, both of those views are heresies. Somewhere in between those two extremes, you have liberal progressive views closer to one end that seem to make grace a license for sin and offer what is derided by others as "cheap grace" and "easy believism". One need only trust that Jesus Christ is Lord and God and that He died and rose to pay for our sins. This is commonly expressed in what's known as the "sinner's prayer". (And to be fair, Romans 10:8-13 sounds a lot like that prayer. And Ephesians 2:8-9 certainly says we're saved by grace through faith- and not of works.) The need for repentance seems to be mitigated and the very need for a Saviour- our status as people dead in our trespasses- is lost in an effort to soften the blow. (Jude 1:3-4 particularly speaks expressly against this, along with other passages like James 2 and Romans 6.)
     Closer to the other end are those who insist that repentance is a necessary act for salvation and decry the idea of the "sinner's prayer". This group insists that too many simply say a prayer like a magic spell and think they are then granted eternal life by simply agreeing with God that we are sinners who can't save ourselves and believing Jesus died and rose to pay for pur sins. Yet then they go on with their lives and nothing seems to have changed! There is certainly a danger here as Jesus said there are many who will do just this and say to Him on the Last Day, "Lord, Lord- didn't we do all these things in Your Name?" And He'll tell them, "Depart from Me. I never knew you!" (See Matthew 7) That's an eternal tragedy we can't afford to get wrong.
    After all, Acts 2:38 says we must repent and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and then we'll receive The Holy Spirit. (And here, things get extrapolated even further by some groups that insist you must be baptized in order to be saved and still others that insist you must speak in tongues as enabled by The Holy Spirit just as the disciples did in Acts 2 on the Day of Pentecost!)
     I want to be careful here to say that I am not trying to castigate any denomination for their beliefs, even if I may personally disagree on some. I am generally a fan of ecumenism in the sense of seeking to learn from brothers and sisters in Christ and be one church in Christ as Jesus prayed in the High Priestly prayer in John 17. There are some minor, non-salvific issues of faith that are really not worth arguing about. Rather, I just look to Philippians 1:18 and say praise God that the Gospel is being preached through them. And even though I disagree with them on some things, there are important truths I agree with all of them on and things that I learn from them and I am glad for that.
    With that said, I think I can say that constantly hearing from these different approaches and stances can leave me rather spiritually schizophrenic at times. As well meaning as all these groups may be, sometimes I find I need to get away from what others think about Jesus and The Bible and just dive into The Word myself and pray and wait to hear straight from God Himself. When I do this, things become more clear. There is truth in both sides of the matter. Yes, salvation is easy because Jesus makes it easy so that it takes only the faith of a child. Yes, salvation is hard in some ways because we have to let go of all pride and all our "good deeds" (which are as but filthy rags to the holy God - Isaiah 64:6) and realize that we are wretched sinners who can do nothing to save ourselves and need God to save us and change us- to help us repent from our sins and follow Him.
    I suppose what particularly rankles me is when the Gospel presentations seem to be so bent on beating that idea of depravity into someone via an examination of how closely one has followed the Ten Commandments. (Spoiler alert- we've broken all of them so many times over. James 2:10 says even breaking one part is like breaking them all.) I agree that people need to be aware of their sin and acknowledge it in order to turn to Christ for salvation from it. Where I feel things slip into legalism is when it seems like the people saying such things come off like they've arrived and seem to suggest that "real" salvation must include instantaneous repentance of all sins on the spot and immediate holiness from there forward. (Part of the confusion here may stem from the fact that some groups do believe people can lose their salvation but that's a whole other conversation.) Expectations of holiness with a "holier-than-thou" attitude make me think of Jesus' words to the Pharisees in Matthew 23 about being those who lay heavy burdens on others but don't lift a finger to help them carry it. The problem with this idea of repentance involving utter holiness going forward is that clearly there are examples in the New Testament that show the disciples of Jesus still struggled with sin even after being saved. Peter denied Jesus three times and was restored! He also later dealt with racism in regards to Gentile believers, which Paul confronted him about to correct. (Luke 22, John 21, Acts 10-11, Galatians 2)  Paul himself admitted to struggling with coveting. (Romans 7)
    Clearly, being saved by Christ does not mean we automatically become made holy. If that were the case, Jesus could just take us to Heaven after salvation. However, I think we are left here instead to grow closer to God through the sanctification process (which Philippians 3 talks about with the desire to forget what lies behind and press on to what lies ahead toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.) We are also here to be Christ's witnesses to the ends of the earth. (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8) We are justified and declared righteous when we're saved though because of what Jesus has done and our faith in Him- not from anything we've done. (Romans 3-4) We go through the sanctification process until we reach Heaven (either through death or Christ's return- whichever comes first) and then we are given glorification with new bodies. (1 Corinthians 15)
   To the other side of things, I also get upset at the watering down of the Gospel that seems to neglect mentioning sin or can't seem to call sin what it is- sin. The Gospel that makes every allowance for the flesh rather than putting it to death is very problematic indeed, as this isn't Biblical either. (Romans 6) Grace is not a license to sin- as Brennan Manning described it, grace is a reason not to sin! There has to be a balance between the two extremes. Jesus made it clear that we will show ourselves to be His disciples by our fruit! (John 15:8, Matthew 5:17-20, Matthew 7:15-20) This is also what James 2 clearly demonstrates- faith without works is dead!
     What is the solution? I think the two concepts meet beautifully at the cross. God's justice and His mercy crisscross in the beams of the cross as they meet there in Christ. Christ fulfilled The Law's demands for us and declares us righteous. He became sin for us so that we could become God's righteousness. (2 Corinthians 5:16-21) This is all the work of God- The Father draws us, the Son saves us and the Spirit indwells us. (John 6:44, Romans 5:6-11, Romans 8:1-11) Yet it does seem paradoxical in nature when we read passages like Philippians 2:12-13. We're told to work our own salvation with fear and trembling but right after that we're told that it's God who works in us to will and work for His good pleasure. Ephesians 2:8-9 is a famous passage that tells us we're saved by God's grace through our faith- it's God's gift and not from our works so none of us can boast. Yet verse 10 yells us that we're God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. And all of these verses are true, of course. The order is extremely important though. God does the saving work in us first and gifts us faith enough to even trust in Him and He works in us so that we do the good works He made us to do all along. The good works are a result of salvation- not a cause of it. Galatians 5:16-26 offers some good lists, both of bad qualities we should no longer display as well as good ones- namely, the fruit of the Spirit that should be manifest in our lives as a result of salvation. And God will keep working to make our lives align with those verses as time goes on in our walks with Him. And when we do fall, He's ready to restore us to Him when we repent and confess our sins to Him. He is always faithful- even when we're faithless. (1 John 1:9, 2 Timothy 2:13) And Jesus will never let go or lose those who are His own! (John 6:35-40, John 10:10-30)
   To circle this back around to my starting point, I had a session of preaching The Gospel to myself for a few hours through the night the other night. Besides my usual Bible reading and prayer time, I also read aloud to myself 1 John and portions of Romans and Philippians and Galatians, most of which I've quoted already here. In a reflection of God's timing, note how things were orchestrated to be on my mind at the right time. I had just finished reading a book called "Sightings of the Savior" by Rick Ezell. The last chapter dealt with doubts and used the account of Thomas' moment of doubt about Jesus' Resurrection, which soon became a great declaration of faith when he was confronted with the evidence. With Thomas, I declare of Jesus Christ- "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:24-31) As the book notes, doubts can often arise from insecurity and disobedience (among other sources.)  I feel like I've seen insecurity combine often when I fall into a spate of sin, particularly one that I have struggled with often, with moments of victory and far too many moments of defeat. It's easy to think that this sin is so horrible that God can't possibly know me fully as He says He does in Psalms 139 and still love me and be willing to forgive me when I return to Him. Yet He's always true and always there with arms of love that I collapse into in a puddle of tears. I believe I have heard God speak to my heart before and tell me that He knows me and who I am- the sinful man that I so often am, as Peter confessed, but He also knows the man I can be in Him and that's who He's making me to be. I trust Him to do that. And hearing a sermon on "Doubting Thomas" yet again the Sunday after I spent hours pouring my heart out to God over this and other issues is just more confirmation and assurance of God's timing and presence.
   The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 13:5 that it's necessary and good to do a heart check every so often and make sure we're in the faith. This is part of preaching The Gospel to ourselves. We remember who we are before God and the extent of our depravity. We remember what Jesus did for us because of how much He loves us! We reaffirm our faith in Him and we are reminded of the awesomeness of His grace. As Elizabeth Cecilia Douglas Clephane wrote in her great hymn "Beneath the Cross of Jesus", "From my smitten heart, with tears, two wonders I confess- the wonders of His glorious love and my unworthiness."
    As Jesus did in Mark 1:35, going out to a desolate place early in the morning to pray, I try to do the same during these times. I highly recommend this experience as often as you can. I will admit I'm not the best about getting up early in the morning, but thankfully any time is a good time to pray. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) As it says in Psalms 63:6, I remember God upon my bed and meditate on Him in the watches of the night. "At midnight I rise to praise You, because of Your righteous rules." (Psalms 119:62) I'm glad I'm in good company with Biblical night owls. Either way, I enjoy taking times to go by myself in the woods or a lonely park or perhaps at a quiet beach or on a mountain trail- anywhere in the midst of God's creation. I love to enjoy God's beautiful wonders outside! Of course, the other night I just did this kneeling down in my bathroom. Alone, I could read the Scriptures out loud to myself in the mirror and pray aloud to The Lord and wait for Him to answer as the Spirit brought other things to mind.
It's so good to spend this time reading God's Word in The Bible, praying, and sometimes singing songs of praise as well and perhaps taking notes with pen and paper or working on writing songs or poems of praise as well.
   However God might prompt you to spend times of renewal with Him like this, do it! These are great times of refreshing for the soul as well as laying bare the soul before the Creator and being totally honest with Him about everything on your mind and heart. He is our assurance when our hearts condemn us; He's greater than our hearts and He knows everything. (See 1 John 3:16-24) Jesus says in Matthew 7 that only do those who do the will of His Father will enter the kingdom of Heaven. What is the will of His Father? He says in John 6:40 that it's that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life and Jesus will raise us up on the last day. That belief in Him and His saving work is proved by the love we have in us for God and each other. We are set free by the Son and made a part of God's family forever. (John 8:32-36, John 1:12) We're joint heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:10-17) And nothing will ever separate us from His love! (Romans 8:38-39) Preach The Gospel to yourself and believe it- especially in times of doubt. Lean on the Everlasting Arms and trust what God says wholeheartedly. Anyone who trusts in Him will never be disappointed. The stories are true.

Yes, Jesus Loves Me

      I had a great time at Level Ground at Brushy Creek Baptist Church tonight. (The one in Taylors, not Easley. ;-) We had a bit of mix-up with that but it worked out. Lol) One line in one of the songs hit me- "O Lord, You know the hearts of men. And still You let them live.") (from "Psalm 46 (Lord of Hosts)" by Shane & Shane) 
      This brought to mind two Bible verses immediately- John 2:23-25 and Matthew 5:43-48. In the first one from John, it explains that Jesus knows what's in the hearts of men. And the heart is full of deceit and desperately wicked. (Jeremiah 17:9) Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow of The Almighty knows! And He knows it for everyone. And yet, knowing all of our thoughts and intentions of the heart and deeds- despite all our evil- Jesus loves us anyway. He proved it by dying for us while we were yet sinners- and He rose again. (See Romans 5:1-8 and 10:8-13)
       As the Matthew 5 passage notes, God makes His sun rise (I like how the verse reminds us that the sun belongs to God- that's His basketball to slam dunk through Saturn's hoops any time He wants to do so! :-))- and He makes it rise on the evil and the good. He sends His rain on the just and the unjust. He is incredibly unfair to all of humanity! I say this because if He were truly fair in one sense, we'd all be in Hell now. God had every legal right to do that at our first infraction. The problem is deeper than just our evil deeds though. We're born into it because of the curse of sin that Great Great Great Great (etc. etc. etc.) Grandpa and Grandma Adam and Eve unleashed on the world through their sin. 
       Thankfully, God so loved the world that He gave His only Son to take the punishment for sin for us so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God didn't His Son to condemn the world (as I said before- if He had we'd all be in Hell now) but rather to save the world! In that sense, God is totally unfair, but so incredibly good, loving and gracious because in the midst of His righteous justice and judgment, He remembers His mercy and knows that we are but dust. And His salvation is so undeserved but so wonderful and freeing because we find all our needs met in Him!
       That's the incredibly good news of The Gospel! By faith in Jesus, when we ask Him to save us and we follow Him, He does just that and cleanses us from sin and declares us righteous instead. This isn't because of anything we've done- it's all because of what He's done.
Even for those who don't believe Him, He still lets them keep breathing and enjoy some of His blessings in this life. The fact that unbelievers haven't dropped dead yet- the fact that God sends sun and rain on them too and even allows them to prosper for a time on earth- that is a grace in itself. (See Psalms 73 for a reminder of their final fate though.)
        Knowing the utter depravity I still struggle with in my own heart though- the filthy thoughts and images that I allow to run around at times, the mean words I say at times, the shirking of duty that comes at times, the jealousy, the unrighteous anger, the worries, fears and doubts that run counter to the Truth I know and believe that crop up at times, the selfishness that surfaces, the lies that come out at times, the idols that crowd God out at times and so many other things that displeased God- it's amazing to think that He still loves me with an eternal love! (Jeremiah 31:3)
I may be an abomination, but I'm still God's pride and joy. (Borrowed that line from Phillip Yancey's "What's So Amazing About Grace?")
      A dear friend recently reminded me of this truth, I heard it and sang it again at church on Sunday (along with a great reminder in the sermon!) and I heard it again tonight in song- and it's still sometimes one of the hardest and most profound truths to allow to seep in, even for Christians. Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me- for The Bible tells me so. :-)
       He doesn't love me because of what I have done or haven't done. He loves me for who I am- His creation. Even though I've been His aberrant creation, He still loves me. And He loves so much He died and rose to pay for my sins so that I would never have to be separated from Him in Hell. Instead, I have an eternal love relationship with my Father and I will one day join Him in Heaven forever! I've been sealed by the Holy Spirit and I know He has saved me, is saving me and will save me- no matter what my feelings say. Faith is the victory that overcomes the world and even when my heart condemns me, the One who is greater than my heart and knows everything tells me that there is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (1 John 3:16-24 and Romans 8:1)
      Thank You for loving me, God. I love You because You first loved me. (1 John 4:7-21) Help me to love You with all I have and love my neighbours as myself.
I am drenched in Your love and I praise You for it. Help others to know Your love too.
Thank You also for those You have used and continue to use to help me be free from legalistic efforts and keep resting in Your arms through Your finished work. Help me to be more like You and less like myself.

By Faith Trust and Obey

         The point of doing God's will is not understanding. There are some things we will never understand until Heaven- and some we just may never understand period. And it doesn't matter. The point of doing God's will is obedience. Read through Hebrews 11, the chapter often called the "Hall of Faith", and you will see numerous people in The Bible who didn't totally understand (or at all) what God was telling them to do- but they were faithful to obey.
        By faith, Noah built an ark to save his family and two of every kind of animal from the flood. By faith, Abraham led his family out to a place that God would tell him about. By faith, Jeremiah faithfully preached the destruction of Jerusalem throughout his years of ministry, knowing the people would never listen to him. (God specifically told him this.) By faith, Isaiah went around naked for 3 years as an object lesson. (check Isaiah 20). By faith, Hosea married a prostitute- and took her back after she cheated on him. By faith, Jesus' disciples and the apostles boldly preached the Gospel of Christ to people- and many of them were martyred for it.
       There are numerous other examples that could be listed...None of these received the promise, since God had provided something better for us. They went through suffering just like we do as followers of Jesus. But they were looking forward to the coming glory of eternal life in Heaven with The Lord- and not just to this fleeting life. Jesus did the will of His Father and He certainly endured suffering just like we do. "Although He was a son, He learned obedience through what He suffered." (Hebrews 5:8) (see also Philippians 2).
       "But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, 'Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.' But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls." (Hebrews 10:32-39)

A Prayer of a Ragamuffin

        "We seem to have concluded that God chooses to only use spiritual giants, the highly gifted, multi-talented, faith-filled people of this world, and not spiritual pygmies like me and perhaps you. But frankly, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, God has a well documented history of working through the broken vessels of this world, the 'scalawags and ragamuffins'. For just one example, even after committing adultery, which led to murder, David was called by no less than God 'a man after His own heart.' "- From "The Art of Helping Others" by Douglas C. Mann

:-)       I'm so glad that God loves to use ordinary people to do extraordinary things. This way, it's easier to not get confused and think that the extraordinariness was anything from the person; rather, it's all from Jesus. I know I am just a ragamuffin in desperate constant need of "the reckless raging fury that they call the love of God" (as Rich Mullins put it). And I know that Jesus makes beautiful things out of the dust of me. As I have heeded Your call to "come and know Me better, man" (like James 4:8 might read in the Dickens translation ;-)), thank You for knowing and loving me, even though You know all about me and how much of a stingy, rotten, foul, greedy (and badly dressed ;-) Scrooge I am on my own. Thank You that just as Scrooge was changed by his supernatural encounter with ghosts, You have changed and are changing me by my supernatural encounter with The Holy Ghost. Thank You for salvation. Savior please, keep saving me. I have been saved, I am being saved and I will be saved- not by anything that I am or anything I've done- only by Your grace and favor. Help me to trust You more and stand firm in faith, not shaken by insecurities, worries and doubts from my many failings. Cleanse me from sin, wash me clean and keep me walking as before when I first made my good profession of faith in You- it's You who enabled that and led me to that and You who have maintained and continue to maintain everything- thank You for choosing to use ragamuffins like me. Hold me, Jesus and use me to encourage others to You too. Move in me because I'm nothing without You- there's no way I can make it without You or do anything without You. And whether I ever feel anything or not- whether I ever see a burning bush not consumed or a wheel turning within a wheel- like You said in John 20:29- blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. I trust You whether I see or feel any further confirmation or not- I trust You are there and working- Help me to be found faithful. Thank You for loving and using vain and weak things like me to confound the wise of the world. (1 Corinthians 1). Help me to walk confidently in the dark with Your light as my candle on a stand, glowing for me and all others so we can all glorify our Father in Heaven.
          John 15:5- Amen. I am nothing without You, Jesus. Galatians 2:20- I am crucified with You, Christ- I no longer live but You live in me. Colossians 3:1-4 - Help me to keep my mind on Heavenly things and not just earthly things, Lord. I have died and You are my life now. Live in me as You please. I need You to live and move in me because I have flunked this thing called Life so many times- it's the same result any time I do anything on my own strength. It's all on You, Lord- and I know You got this. And I know You've got me because You are faithful and I have trusted and still trust You to be there for me and hold me now. Thank You, Savior and Friend. Help me to show my thanks by my life.
        Galatians 5:1-12- It is for freedom Christ has set you free- stand firm and don't be burdened again by slavery. - also John 8:32-36 - If The Son has set you free, you're free indeed. Ephesians 6:1-20- walk confidently with the full armor of God on fast- belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet prepared with the readiness that comes from The Gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, Sword of The Spirit (i.e. Word of God) and pray and supplication at all times. Be bold and make known the mystery of The Gospel. (It's crazy but God loves us like crazy and did something crazy to prove it- Romans 5:8- Jesus' death and Resurrection forever declare the eternal love of God for all people.) Philippians 1:27-30 -whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of The Gospel of Christ. Don't be afraid- keep standing firm and contending for the faith of The Gospel. It's a sign to the opposition that they'll be destroyed but that we will be saved- and that by God!!! It's ALL by God- yet He still works in us too. It's been granted to us by Christ to not only believe on Him but to suffer for Him too. (Philippians 2:1-13) Be like Jesus in your attitude- humble and like a servant. Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God The Father and every knee will bow to Him. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling- but remember that it's God who's working in us to will and act according to His good purpose. Philippians 3:1- Finally, my brothers, rejoice in The Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. (Boy, do I need that safeguard over and over and over again.) Colossians 1:17- He (Jesus) is before all things and in Him all things hold together. (He created it all and holds it all together!!!) Thank You, Lord Jesus Christ. Keep reminding me of Your truth and Your love over and over and over again- it's always new and incredible and refreshing- let it flow out of me to be a fragrant aroma to others that draws them to You.

A Cry of Praise to The Lord (poem)

      There is a misguided notion that people often seem to get about following Jesus. For some reason, we think that the rest of our life on earth will be not only much improved but also somehow carefree. Sometimes we think everything is supposed to go well for us. After all, Romans 8:28 says that God works everything together for our good, to the good of those who love Him and are called by Him. That verse does mean God can bring bad things together for our good but our definition of "good" is often quite different from God's. Many times we go through some very painful circumstances as followers of Christ in order to bring about our spiritual good whether we can see it right at the time or not- or whether we ever see a good purpose in this life. Jesus Himself told us that we would suffer persecution in this life for following Him. We can still trust that our Father is always good and always has a good plan and purpose in mind. He seeks to help us and never to harm us because He loves us. It can be tough to remember that sometimes when we are struggling with such horrible pain. Yet we know that God Himself endured horrible pain and suffering Himself on our behalf and because we have a God familiar with suffering and temptation, we know He can identify and help us through it when we go through it. It's hard to hold to faith at times when our world is shaken- but it's especially at those times when we must remember that faith in Jesus is all we have to hold on to at all. And if Jesus could still say, "Not My will but Thy will be done" in the midst of His trial, we can still say the same to God and offer praise with Job in the midst of our suffering. "The Lord gave and The Lord has taken away; may the Name of The Lord be praised." (Job 1:21)


A Cry of Praise to The Lord
(poem copyright by Nathan Ludwick 6/9/2017)
(Matthew 5, Psalms 6, 10 and 31, Proverbs 14:10 and 13, Proverbs 15:13 and 16, Proverbs 18:14, book of Ecclesiastes (especially verse 7:13), Psalms 139, Habakkuk 3:17-19, Micah 7:18-20, Proverbs 12:25 and 13:12 and 13:19, Proverbs 14:26 and 30, Proverbs 25:20, Proverbs 27:1 and 14, Proverbs 15:30, Isaiah 53, Luke 22:39-46, Psalms 46:10, Hebrews 11-12 and 13:1-16, book of Lamentations, Joel 1:13-14 and 2:1, Joel 2:12-16, John 14:27, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, John 6:68, Jeremiah 9, Psalms 51 and 88, Psalms 42 and 103, Job 1-2, Job 13:15, Job 42, 2 Corinthians 7:8-13, Revelation 21-22)

Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah! Praise ye The Lord!
It used to be so easy to cheerfully sing those words
With shouts of joy and songs of praise
I'd be at the lead taking the crew to church
But now the praise rings hollow coming from a broken heart
Somehow I keep a smile pasted on when my world's fallen apart
Do you really want to know how I'm doing? If we're real, here's what you'll find
A scream of fury and frustration that could shatter ear drums and souls
A cry of utter misery and sadness enough to rend garments and hearts
But neither of us wants to face the desperate longings of despair trying to hold to Hope
So instead I'll steady myself again and say our calming phrase, "I'm fine."
And that mantra lets us go through the paces in the places we don't want to let go
If I ever do open up, the inside pent up feelings might just explode
Through tears of grief and stammering tongue, this should bring relief to my soul
But my tears are my food and you've poured vinegar on my soda with your words
Miserable lot of comforters- why do your consolations sound so glib and trite?
While you revel in the happiness you are always so quick to share and tout?
Your platitudes and attitudes just leave me disillusioned and jealous of the image you project
Sometimes all I want and need is your listening open ear and your unopened mouth
And I'll try to tell you what's going on, even though I don't always know myself
Why are you downcast within me, O my soul? Where's your hope in God?
A Pollyanna theology is so quickly thrown when met with Job's lament
Yet though He slay me, I will still trust Him- He's the only Hope I've got
So I'll sing a song of praise, racked with pain- to The Lord familiar with pain
Where else could I go? You are the One with the Words of Life
And while I offer the praise ever due His Name, I gasp it out between tears
Awake! Weep all and wail- this is a time to mourn- better mourning than feasting
Ezekiel can't cry for his wife while Hosea's crying for his!
I can't blithely just lip sync songs of praise without telling God of the sadness that
roils inside me like a hurricane
Sometimes I'm awash in its fierceness in the quiet moments when I'm alone
Yet I'm not alone in the grief- we just all learn to bury it so deep beneath
Eden sank to grief and the whole world's been crying ever since
I'm on the run with Elijah from violent men who seek my life
Or I'm on the run with Jonah from The Lord who wants to use me to help save some other lives
I'll grasp the heel and then the side and wrestle with a broken hip until blessing Divine
I'm in the time of Jacob's trouble looking for Jacob's ladder
Clutching the cross like Simon of Cyrene wanting a life that's serene
But the narrow path of blood soaked sweat and tears cuts through my facades of protection
And drive me back to my Lord to weep at His feet and wash them with my hair
Firmly grip the horns of the altar like Adonijah and beg like Haman at Esther's legs
And though the crops have failed just like my heart almost did,
I've got to back it up in another direction- who can straighten what He has made crooked?
Better a broken Hallelujah than none and I think maybe that's the kind He likes best
So I'm trusting that the mourning may last for a night, but joy cometh in the morning
Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted
And even my lament shall be worship to the One whose mercies are new every day!
So I'll sing praise with Job- like the morning stars shouted for joy at Creation!
"The Lord gave and The Lord has taken away- blessed be the Name of The Lord!"
Paul's thorn in the flesh wounds deeply but Your grace is sufficient
Hold the hem of His robe like this daughter of Israel and know that His power's flowing
Even as they nailed You to the cross-
Father, Thy will be done! Mt. Moriah's ram and later Lamb remind me that God knows my pain
Let me mourn like Daniel and Ezra, not just over a ruined city, but ruined hearts
Sin is crouching at my door too- the source of so many souls crushed
The trumpet in Zion sounds- a call to fast and lament
May my eyes be red like Jeremiah's with lamentations for the beautiful cities wrecked
Who is the maker of my woe but the man in the mirror himself?
The old, haggard face that haunts me still when I let the cravings take control
Yet I know that man is dead because he was crucified with Thee on the tree
May that ghost be banished forever by The Holy Ghost-
The struggle is with me now, but I know that day will come
Even as the sadness may engulf me at times and I feel so utterly alone
I know Your Presence is here, Father, whether I feel it or not
And You've never abandoned me once on this journey You've wrought
Let the sorrow for suffering be stretched beyond to the Godly sadness for sin
Good grief! That's exactly what I need
It forces me to see how everything else always fails to satisfy
And it drives me ever closer to my loving Lord God Father who alone meets all my needs
Thank You for tears that tear open the shell I encase myself in
Thank You for salvation that lasts forever- starting here and through eternity
I know the Joy's coming and one day He will be here again to
forever wipe away all tears from my eyes
And until The Glory of Heaven descends from the skies
May His love flow through me to all so we all feel the warmth
And I'll cry tears of sadness for now trusting they'll be one day transformed to joy
And I'll sing His song in the land of my sojourn and forevermore
Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah! Praise ye The Lord!

All Out For Love (song)

Everybody loves love. The entire world's population all has that desire to love and be loved- to have someone to hold and talk to and care for and to know that this person does the same for them. It's been said that we need love like the air we breathe. But what happens when that air supply runs out? It seems for many people, they fall into love easily enough but then they later fall out of love as well. It's certainly true that feelings come and go- and that's exactly why a marriage can't be based on feelings and physical attraction. It has to be deeper than that! A marriage covenant is a vow taken before God and man that unites one man to one woman in holy matrimony until death do them part! The rise of the "no fault" divorce laws led our society away from God's standard and gave people an easy out to to avoid putting the blame on any one individual. There is no such thing as a no fault divorce- either you truly commit to giving the rest of your life to another person or you don't. God hates divorce and only allowed for it as a concession for man's hard hearts. (And Jesus further clarifies that it's only allowable in the case of marital unfaithfulness. See Matthew 19) And commitments are not often easy to keep- they take a TON of hard work and effort, but the end results are always worth it. And for those in Christ, we don't undertake this effort alone; we can only truly have a successful marriage of Godly love for each other when we are in Christ. When we have experienced the love He showed through His death and Resurrection that pays for our sins, we can then share that love with others. (1 John 4:19) And when we love, we must show that it's real by our actions! Just as the Good Samaritan literally went out of his way to cross over and help the hurt Israelite, we must go totally out of our way- give of our money freely- give of ourselves- do whatever it takes- to share the love of God with others. The example Jesus gave in His parable in Luke 10 shows us a picture of real self-sacrificing love. That's exactly the kind of love God shows us- and the love He expects us to show others. We don't fall out of love- we must go all out for love!

"All Out For Love"
(parody of "All Out of Love" by Air Supply; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 2/18/2018)
(Ruth 1:16-17, Song of Songs [or Song of Solomon] 8:6-7, Jeremiah 31:3, 1 John 3:16-18, John 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 13, Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:8-12 and 4:19, John 13:34-35 and 15:13, Matthew 5:27-32, Philippians 2, Matthew 19, Malachi 2:13-16)

We're tying the knot 'til we're dead and we're gone
I'm linked in with you better or worse
I know I loved you but what's up now with you?
Lamenting we've drifted apart
You wish I would stare at you like that first March
Some time in our life we let go
I could beg you, "Don't leave"- what a sorrow it'd be
But baby- is it really so? Love has ceased to flow

We're all out of love- our vows have come untrue
You know that sometimes the feelings say, "So long!"
We fall out of love- it's not me, it's not you
We'll call it "no fault"- just say that our love's gone wrong

I want things to come back as they were before
The way Jesus long ago designed
Well, read Genesis 2- Do you see 24?
Go Matthew 19- quoted by Christ

And what does it say? A man and woman unite
They're wed- the two become one
Let no people break- pull apart what God's made
Let's love please with all we've got- all through God

We're all out of love- And 1 John 4:8's true
I know You define the meaning of real love
You showed how to love- Crucified; empty tomb
No love is so great as laying life down for buds

So what do you think of this?
What 10 Luke teaches us
Priest and Levite pass by
Samaritan goes to assist

Went all out for love- To go cross street to dude
You know priest, Levite- they leave him- say "So long!"
They talk about love- what is it without proof?
You must demonstrate to show it's not a gong!

It's all about love! 1 Corinthians 13
It's patient and kind- believing in all things
No self-proud with love- No envy- it's not rude
Endures everything- rejoices with Truth not wrong

(You) don't fall out of love- It hopes in all things, dude
Its own way denies- Unending- No "So long"s
(So) go all out for love! We're nothing without it, crew
Of faith, hope and love- the greatest is love- God's Love!

[Background vocals:
In 8 Song of Songs- Love's as strong as death, dude
The knots- it keeps tied....]
.....................................................................................................

House Cleaning

         A thought came to mind one day when I was cleaning my new-ish apartment. I was thinking about how we clean our apartments and houses so well when we know company is coming because we want everything to be neat and nice for them. It's interesting to consider how social media becomes that way as well- it's like our house that we want to keep clean for others in some regard. (Thus, the sometimes felt obligation to respond to comments with likes and more comments, etc.) Now we should feel free to be ourselves on our own social media account and be our honest selves- and everyone should be able to listen to each other and experience that honesty and either agree or disagree with it, but still respect and love each other. 
          Of course, just as we take care of our physical houses in anticipation of company and our virtual houses as well, we should take care of our physical bodies, which is our spiritual house, if you will. "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) [This is assuming you have given your heart and life to Jesus and made Him Lord of your life personally.] 
           Jesus uses a house as a spiritual picture in at least two places that came to mind for me. In Matthew 7:24-27, He compares those who hear His words and put them into practice to a wise man who builds his house upon the rock and it stands firm against the floods and rains. (Likewise, He compares those who hear His words and don't put them into practice like a foolish man who builds his house upon the sand and the winds and rain beat it down flat.)
          In Matthew 12:43-45 and Luke 11:24-26, Jesus uses another picture of a house. In this case, He talks about what it's like when an unclean spirit leaves a person and passes through water-less places in search of rest but finding none. Eventually the evil spirit says that it'll return to the house from which it came. When this happens, it finds the house empty, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and finds 7 spirits more evil than itself and they enter and dwell there- and the last state of that person is worse than the first. Jesus says so also it will be with this evil generation. Again, we have the same message here. It's one thing to claim faith in Christ and seemingly try to sweep the house clean and get things in order. But if we don't truly put faith in Him and prove it by putting His words into action, then we're actually worse off (particularly when those eight demons come looking for room and board.)
As Jesus asks in Luke 6:46, "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord' and not do what I tell you?" (If you go on to read Luke 6:47-49, you will see that the parable of the wise and foolish man is repeated here too.) Also check Luke 6:43-45 - Good trees produce good fruit and bad trees produce bad fruit. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks! Of course, none of us are truly good. No one is good but God Himself.
            And that's the whole point of Jesus coming in the first place. None of us are good and none of us can be good. We need the only good One to come and be good for us- which Jesus did by fulfilling all of The Law (Matthew 5:17) and bringing an end to The Law's hold on us (as Romans 10:4 declares) through His sacrificial death on the cross. He paid for all our sins through that. And then He rose again to prove He's God. We can avoid the punishment of sin (which is Hell) when we put our faith in Jesus and follow Him- obey His commands. (I say this to emphasize that salvation entails more than just mental assent to Christ's claims. It involves the surrendering of the heart and life to Christ and putting all faith in His grace given us through the cross of Calvary. Then, we should obey Christ out of gratefulness to Him for the saving work He has already done. But note that the salvation comes through faith alone in His grace alone- it's not by works. However, if we truly have real faith in Christ, the good works should come as a natural outflow of response to Christ- not as a misguided attempt to earn God's forgiveness or pay Him back. We can't and we never have to do so- God loves us all like crazy and He gives us His grace freely! (But to be clear, it cost God plenty- but it is free to us. Therefore, freely you have received, so freely give.)
          Thus, as Jesus told us in John 14:15, if you love Me, you will obey Me. "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Praise God for His love! :-) Keep loving Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and loving your neighbor as yourself. And speak the Truth in Love. God bless. 
            To carry the picture even further, 1 Peter 4:17-19 says, "For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the Gospel of God? And 'If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?' Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good."
            Again, the commandment is there to be doing good, but this is not a prerequisite for salvation. We entrust our souls to a faithful Creator who saves us by grace- then empowers us to do the good works He wanted us to do all along. But if He brings judgment first to the house of God, what will happen for the ungodly and the sinner? We must seek to keep the house of God in order and be holy unto The Lord through His power- and lovingly seek to rescue the perishing, so that they may come to know Jesus' love and grace too.            
               In Luke 12:35-48 (and other places), Jesus gives us the picture of servants called to be faithful to their master while he's gone. They know he will return one day and he will come on a day unexpected- and the servant that is not taking care of the house will be cut in piece and put with the unfaithful. Jesus uses this picture a number of times in warning us to stay awake and be ready for the Son of Man's return, for He is coming at an hour we do not expect.           
               "Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and Godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." (2 Peter 3:11-18)(Love how Peter gives a shout out to his brother Paul here. :-))              
               And I love how The Holy Spirit inspired him to write all this down for us and remind us to make every effort to be found without spot or blemish, but at the same time we know that we are growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He's the One who really helps make us with spot or blemish more so every day! (Philippians 1:6) And while we are waiting and watching for Jesus' return, we must continue to be working as well. We seek to keep our houses clean for His glory and out of gratitude to Him, and also so that Christ may be exalted and lifted up in our lives- and Jesus said when that happens, He will draw all men to Himself. It's He who draws us all to Himself to begin with in any case. But He can definitely use us to help draw others to Him. So every day, from here forward to the day of His glorious appearing, we seek to live each day for His glory, loving Him with all we've got and loving our neighbors as ourselves and sharing His love with others, with gentleness and respect. And we trust in His grace always- knowing that His grace saved us, is still saving us and will save us in the end. Praise The Lord!              
               I also wanted to note that a lot of this is inspired at least some by "My Heart- Christ's Home" by Robert Boyd Munger, the basics of which I remember my youth pastor explaining to me in youth group a few scant years ago. That picture still works so well in explaining how Jesus cleans out every single part of us and gives us an extreme makeover because He traded spaces with us on the cross and rose again.  :-)
                I'm so thankful for my youth pastor for the time he took to invest in me and help disciple me in following Christ more. And I'm thankful for all the others God has sent me at times to help expand me in my understanding of what it means to love and follow Jesus and open my eyes to places where perhaps I had turned a blind eye to before. God is really good at making you see all kinds of stuff that you hadn't considered before- probably on account of His thoughts and ways being so much higher than our own (Isaiah 55:8-9)- there is always so much more to learn. That's what the sanctification process takes from here to eternity to complete- but God is faithful and He will do it! He will present us before Himself pure and blameless in Christ one day. He's gonna get us there in His time! (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)
           "By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches." (Proverbs 24:3)"Unless The Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain." (Psalms 127:1) It's all through The Lord!

:-)
:-)

The Itch and Ol' Scratch and the Healing Balm

"Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man." (Psalms 12:1) "The Lord tests the righteous, but His soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. Let Him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. For The Lord is righteous; He loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold His face." (Psalms 11:5-7) I read these passages today in my daily time with God in His Word and prayer. Sometimes I can really feel the weight of that first verse I quoted there. The godly ones are gone- the faithful are vanished from among man. And it often feels like I'm part of that number. What happened to all those claims of following Christ and trying to live out His Word when you find yourself falling into and even reveling in some of the same sins you struggle with so many times over? And then you really feel like a hypocrite trying to share Christ with someone else who's a seeking skeptic- even though you've repented of those sins and asked for forgiveness. (As you may have figured out, this post is largely an autobiographical one of my day today.) This is not a post to call anyone else out on their sin. (Not that I necessarily try to call anyone specifically out on sin when I post in any case. I just try to speak what God's Word says- and that applies to all of us. We're all called out on sin by God's Word- there's no one righteous, no, not one.(see Romans 3:10-18) Particularly when I post things like this, I'm mainly preaching to myself. Like St. Augustine and Usher said, "These are my confessions." And like Michael Jackson said, "I'm starting with the man in the mirror. I'm asking him to change his ways. And no message could have been any clearer. If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make a change." 'Cause it's me, it's me, it's me, oh Lord- standing in the need of prayer. It's not my brother, not my sister- but it's me, oh, Lord- standing in the need of prayer. It's not my mother, not my father- but it's me, oh Lord- standing in the need of prayer. This is a post to confess my sin before The Lord and before others. This is a post to say that when I get lonely by myself or just distracted or bored, my mind can run the gamut of despicable, wicked thoughts. I can find myself saying things I ought not to say or seeing things I ought not to see. And sometimes I have the audacity to push the Holy Spirit's urges aside and indulge in sinful behavior anyway. And I feel like saying with Peter, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." (Luke 5:8) That point came home to me today when The Lord showed me something. The urge to sin eats away at us at times and though it's crouching at our doors, desiring to have us- we must master it. And we know what it will do when we give in- we know that it will be harmful. But the insatiable urge tugs at us and we give in once again and scratch the itch. But the itch feeds itself with the scratching. The more we scratch, temporary relief may come, but then we find the itching desire all the stronger. And eventually, we end up with blood oozing out. The scratching just leaves us bleeding and then maybe we finally wake up to the harm that we're doing to ourselves. And then we're frantically trying to blot the bleeding and get things back under control again. And vows are made not to do this to ourselves again. And maybe we really mean it this time. But then, not even a hour or more later, we find ourselves doing it again. And we repeat the process. And maybe somewhere during the day, we finally do stop the cycle when we get out and force ourselves to focus on something else. And God finds unique ways to bring Scripture to mind- to give us a run-in with someone- to make us focus back on Him again and remember the One who died a cruel, torturous death for us to pay for all those sins we found ourselves indulging in today. And then we finally get shaken up again and come back to reading in His Word again- praying with fervency- and trusting Him to help us keep our minds focused on Him and thinking on the things we ought, like Philippians 4:8 talks about. Of course, it's comforting to know that just as Jesus spoke kindly to Peter and told him to fear not because he was going to be a fisher of men from then on and be working for Jesus, He still speaks kindly to me and reminds me that I am still eternally loved even when I am busily grieving my Father's heart. (Jeremiah 31:3) In John 2:23-25, we find that Jesus doesn't need anyone to tell Him about man- He knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men. And the Shadow of the Almighty keeps those who have put their trust in The Lord delivered from evil when we let Him. He is always faithful- even when we're not. (2 Timothy 2:11-13) We can't just go on sinning so that grace will abound though! We can't just go on sinning because we're under grace and not under law though! We must count ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. We can't keep presenting ourselves to sin to be used for unrighteousness, but we must present ourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life! We can't be slaves of sin anymore- we're slaves of righteousness! Yet even though I know these things to be true, I still find myself doing what I don't want to do. I don't understand my own actions. I know the good I want to do and I desire to do it- but I don't have the ability to carry it out! Ultimately I delight in the law of God, but too many times I find myself delighting in sin! What a wretched man I am! Thank God for Jesus Christ our Lord who delivers me from this body of death! (Largely based on Romans 6-7 here. Check 6:1-14 particularly, but basically the whole chapter. And particularly 7:15-25, but the whole chapter is incredible.) "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by Whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs- heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him." (Romans 8:1-17) I could basically go on and quote the whole chapter- it's all so good! So we must learn to set our minds not on the flesh but instead on the Spirit! Lord Jesus, please help me to keep my mind set on You! SO many things distract me from the only One I should always be thinking about.Help me to live according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh. Thank You for Your adoption that allows me to cry out, "Abba! Father!" Save, O Lord! As a fellow heir with Christ, help me to be ready to suffer with You, Lord, so that I may also be glorified with You in due time. Thank You for Your sacrifice on the cross that makes it possible. Thank You for sympathizing with me in my weaknesses as One who has in every respect been tempted just as I am, yet You are without sin. You bore the full weight of fielding every lie and temptation of the devil for 33 years on Earth- constantly saying, "No" to the devil and self and a resounding, "Yes" to God. "Not My will, but Your will be done," You prayed. Father, please let it be- not my will, but Thine be done. Forgive me for half-hearted promises promptly broken and roaming eyes and a mind that set themselves so quickly onto sin. Forgive me for relinquishing and relishing the sin, even while knowing it sickens and disgusts You and breaks Your heart- so much so that it drove You to take the nails on the cross for me. Thank You that despite Your hatred for sin, You still have a love for me- a covetous old sinner, as Dickens described Scrooge, and You still desire to restore me and reuse me again for Your glory. You amaze me with Your steadfastness and resoluteness. Keep burning away the chaff and let my cries of agony at the pain remind me of the greater pain of not dealing with it. Thank You so much for Your promise to never leave me or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5) and to present me faultless before Your throne one day. (Jude 1:24-25) Please take away the itch and help me not to scratch it. But if not, help me to remember that Your grace is sufficient for me and that You are good and a taste of Your sweetness is better than any ill-gotten gravel rock candy I might gorge on otherwise. You alone truly fulfill all my soul's cravings. Keep me near You with my mind stayed upon Jehovah- and may my life be consecrated, Lord, to Thee. O may my little eyes, hands, feet and mind be careful what they do- for The Father above is looking down in love- and I want Him to be pleased with what He sees.

God is Good All the Time (And All The Time God is Good)! (Bless The Lord at ALL Times) :-)

We're not quite to the end of the year, but I've seen a lot of people write 2016 off as a loss. (I know it may be in jest at times or it may be a statement of true frustration and exasperation with the outcome of events.) And it's okay to express honest feelings at times, in polite terms.

And we should be honest with the course of events- a lot of bad things have happened in the world- natural disasters, refugee crises, warring conflicts, the sad loss of life for so many- and many other things. (Of course, on a side note with that- I notice that a lot of people mourn for celebrities they've never met and don't really know- which is by no means wrong; it's very sad to hear of their deaths. However, it's weird that we don't mourn for the deaths in every single one of the obituaries in all the newspapers of the world that are published every day as well. Everyone's equally important and it's sad when anyone dies.)

It's really sad to me to see the hopelessness in so many people- especially after the 2016 US election. (And as a qualifier here, let me reiterate again that I did vote, but not for either of the major candidates- and I'm not particularly happy or upset with the outcome. I just have faith that God is in control as always and He will take care of me as always. He allows people to be in power and He also takes them down. His will will be done. "Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?.... The Lord in Heaven laughs at their plans. Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve The Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him." (see Psalms 2))

I was rather surprised at the election results and as I said- wasn't particularly happy with them or particularly sad- but I was hopeful and trusting that God knows what He's doing. And since I've been in a mood to listen to a lot of Rich Mullins lately (okay- that's pretty much all the time :-))- I had a time of worship playing some of his classics- "Sing Your Praise To The Lord", "Awesome God" and "Sometimes by Step". It wasn't because I was particularly happy with the results- it was because praising The Lord is always the appropriate response. It's because He is God and He reigns forever and He has done good things and my soul will bless the Lord and forget not all His benefits. He loves me enough to send Jesus to die and pay for all my sins and rise again! He has forgiven me through my faith in Him and He continues to make me more like Him as I seek to follow Him. He has promised me eternity in Heaven with Him! I have every reason to always be optimistic- yes, even in times when I may feel anything but.

"Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in The Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, The Lord, is my strength; He makes my feet like the deer's; He makes me tread on my high places. (To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.)" (Habakkuk 3:17-19) (i.e. Yo! Strike up the music, bro! Let's get some praise on for The Lord Almighty! :-))

Note the verses don't say, "Because all these bad things are happening." They say, "In spite of these bad things, I'm still going to praise God." Just like Job's response- hey, Job- you've just lost all your cattle (i.e. food and wealth), and all your kids- what are you going to do now? "Naked I came from the womb and naked I will depart- may the Name of The Lord be praised!" Do what? You mean you don't want to go with the flow like your wife said and just curse God and die? "Nah, bro- shall we receive good from God and not receive evil?" Even after you just got these awful sores all over you? Yep- even so, it is well with my soul. (Now, to be fair- Job did get pretty bummed (to say the least- he was near suicidal at some points, arguably)- but at the end of the book, God restores all of Job had lost- he has more kids and he gets his cattle and wealth back. In fact, he gets twice as much as he had before. And God points out that Job spoke rightly of Him (versus his three friends Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar).

Especially with the time of Thanksgiving coming up in the USA- it seems really appropriate to take time to thank Jesus for all He's done and praise Him! :-) 2016 has been a hard year in some ways for my family personally- but that could be true every year. God has also done some awesome things this year for my family- He provided my dad with a new job! He provided my brother and his wife with a new house they recently bought! He provided my other brother a new job! My sister's daughter got baptized this year and my dad was able to perform the baptism! :-) He provided my grandmother with better health. He provided one of my aunts a new job! He provided a new house for my other aunt and uncle! He provided me with a chance to visit some of my dearest friends in the world this summer! And He's provided me opportunities to have medical work done in the last few years and that's been a blessing. He provides for me financially all the time and just in general in life all the time. (As my mom says, He must have like a multitude of guardian angels working overtime with me. ;-))

So yeah- no matter what the situation is- my response is this: "Give thanks to The Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for His steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for His steadfast love endures forever." (Psalms 136:1-3- by the way, that refrain is stated 26 times in that chapter- and usually that happens in The Bible because God really wants us to remember it! :-))

To the One Who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love- the One who doesn't deal with us as our sins deserve and repay us according to our iniquities- the One Whose love is as great for us as the heavens are high above the earth- the One who removes our transgressions from us as far as the east is from the west- the One who shows compassion to those who fear Him- Whose steadfast love is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him- all praise, honor, glory and power be given! "The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all." (Psalms 103:19- just read the whole thing.)

I will bless The Lord at ALL times- His praise shall CONTINUALLY be in my mouth! (Psalms 34:1)

So yes- 2016 has had its sad moments- but it's also had its awesome moments! Praise The Lord for 2016 and all other moments of life He allows me to have! I call this to mind and therefore I have hope always:

"The steadfast love of The Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in Him.' The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of The Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him; let him put his mouth in the dust- there may yet be hope; let him give his cheek to the one who strikes, and let him be filled with insults. For The Lord will not cast off forever, but, though He cause grief, He will have compassion according to the abundance of His steadfast love; for He does not afflict from His heart or grieve the children of men. To crush underfoot all the prisoners of the earth, to deny a man justice in the presence of the Most High, to subvert a man in his lawsuit, The Lord does not approve. Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless The Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come? Why should a living man complain, a man, about the punishment of his sins? Let us test and examine our ways, and return to The Lord! Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in Heaven..." (see Lamentations 3:21-41- better yet, just read the whole chapter and the whole book.)

(Keep in mind that the context of this chapter is of Jeremiah lamenting over the destruction of Jerusalem, which happened as punishment for the people's sins. And there is a time when we need to test and examine ourselves and let God examine us- see if there be any wicked way in us- and repent and let God cleanse us! [see Psalms 139] But there are also times that calamity comes because we live in a fallen world- but even when God might cause grief, He doesn't do it from His heart! He doesn't do it to grieve people! He isn't a sadist! In the midst of it, He has compassion according to the abundance of His steadfast love! As Jesus said in John 9, sometimes bad things happen so that the glory of God can be seen in our lives- just like what happened with the blind dude in that chapter that Jesus made see again!)

So yeah- even when things feel like a nightmare and it's like I'm locked in prison- I'll make like Paul and Silas did while in jail in Acts 16:25 and be praying and singing hymns to God! I'll make like Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane and say, "Lord, not my will, but Thine be done." And The Lord's will might be that I need to go through some suffering. Even so- I'll count it all joy because I know the testing of my faith is going to produce steadfastness! And boy- do I need steadfastness to be full in effect in my life. And what great joy it is to know that I've got steadfast Love that never ceases that keeps following me everywhere I go! :-) (Seriously- you just can't shake it. Surely goodness and mercy- (or as other translations render it)- steadfast love- shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of The Lord forever. (see Psalms 23:6)

So wait- what was I complaining about again? "The joy of The Lord is my strength." (according to Nehemiah 8:10) It's God's will in Christ Jesus for me to be rejoicing always and praying without ceasing and giving thanks in ALL circumstances. (Word up! 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) (Again- not necessarily for them, but definitely in them- and in the long run, I may even wind up being glad for them because they helped me get somewhere that I needed to be that I wouldn't have been otherwise. It's like the "DuckTales" theme song- "The worst of messes become successes. DuckTales- Woohoo!") And like Romans 8:28 says, "We know that all things work together for good, to the good of those who love God and who are called according to His purpose." So I best be busting out those spiritual songs and psalms and hymns and sing and make some melody to The Lord with my heart- and give Him thanks for everything- just like The Holy Spirit led my man Paul to say over in Ephesians 5:19-20. (Dude man reiterated this whole attitude of being joyful and the command to rejoice in The Lord always- and again I say, rejoice- over in Philippians 4:4. And don't forget that he was doing the jailhouse rock while writing those lines down.)

Check out how back in the day the walls of Jericho came down- when Joshua and his Israelite peeps obeyed The Lord and marched around the town for 7 days (7 times on the last day- and ended things with a shout to The Lord! :-) I daresay they were getting some praise chants on there.)

Jumping Jehoshaphat! He was probably doing some of that and getting down in 2 Chronicles 20, when Jahaziel laid out the game plan for battle and let him know that the battle wasn't his, but rather God's. And so Jehoshaphat put the singers first before the army- and they went out singing and praising The Lord and The Lord brought victory!

What more can I say? If God is for us, who can be against us? (It's a rhetorical question, but the answer is, "No one!") (see Romans 8:31- and read the whole chapter while you're at it and read about the amazing grace and love of God for us that nothing can ever separate us from!)

As Psalms 137 talks about, how can we sing God's praise in a foreign land? ('Cause we are foreigners in this land, but nonetheless- as Rich Mullins called it- it's the land of my sojourn and I will sing His song in the land of my sojourn!) So may my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth like peanut butter if I forget New Jerusalem- if I forget The Lord- and don't make Him my highest joy and praise! How can I keep from singing? Praise God for all His many blessings- the Giver of all good things! (James 1:17) Praise The Lord with singing and dancing! (see Psalms 149)
Let everything that hath breath praise The Lord! (Psalms 150) Our God is an awesome God! :-) (see Deuteronomy 7:21)

"Whom have I in Heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Psalms 73:25-26) "Make a joyful noise to The Lord, all the earth! Serve The Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing! Know that The Lord, He is God! It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name! For The Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations." (Psalms 100) "Praise The Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens! Praise Him for His mighty deeds; praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp! Praise Him with tambourine and dance; praise Him with strings and pipe! Praise Him with sounding cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise The Lord! Praise The Lord!" (Psalms 150) (Sounds like a heavy metal concert going on there! :-) Or any style music- it doesn't really matter. Just praise The Lord! :-) Praise Him with singing and dancing and with how you live. :-))

"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." (Jude 1:24-25)

The little heading in my ESV Bible calls these verses the "Doxology" section of Jude. So, to reference one of my favorite singers ever again once more, as Rich Mullins was fond of doing at the end of his concerts, let's end this off with the Doxology song-

"Praise God from Whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye Heavenly host. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen." :-)