By Faith (song)

Note: Though I didn't really write anything with a Christmas theme for the blog this year, these last three entries were all written in some ways as gifts for others, so consider them as Christmas presents to remember the Giver of all good gifts Who gave us the very best when He sent Christ that first Christmas to save us all from our sins. Merry Christmas! Praise God for His love. :-)

It seems that Christianity has some paradoxes that we will just never fully understand even though both are true. The age old question of faith vs. good works is one that has long confounded me in the course of my walk with Jesus. Of course, I know that we are saved by grace through faith and it's not of ourselves- it's all God's work so no one can boast. Of course, the very next verse where all this is stated (over in Ephesians 2:8-10) says that we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do the good works He intended us to do all along! So, let's be clear- good works don't save anyone because none of us have enough good works to meet God's standard of absolute perfection. (Leviticus 11:45, Matthew 5:48) Jesus Christ is the only One who has met that standard- because He is absolute perfection. Of course, once He saves us by His grace, we will naturally start to do good works because we are being molded into the shape of our Saviour- and the fruit of the Spirit is just who He is! Naturally, we're going to start looking like our Father. Good works show that we belong to God and that He is working in us to make us more like Himself all the time. But we lean wholly for our salvation on the good work that Jesus performed by dying and rising to pay for our sins. We don't do anything to earn salvation and we can never pay God back for what He's done. We can only humbly accept it with gratitude and praise Him for eternity for His amazing grace and love for us! I have struggled with assurance of salvation time and again throughout my walk with Christ, but as this song mentions- He sent me a special friend named Carmen (just as the original song speaks of a Carmen!) who reminded me of a simple truth that is sometimes hard for me and others to accept- God loves me for me! I don't have to be anything special or do anything special to make Him love me- He already loves me because I am His creation. And His love came down at Christmas so that He could save us all on Good Friday and Easter. I am very thankful for my friend who has been so helpful to me in reminding me of these truths. And I am eternally thankful that the weight of my sins is on Jesus who has paid for them all and has adopted me into the band of followers like Martin Luther (whom I reference in the song) and so many others who enter Heaven one way- through Jesus by faith.


"By Faith"
(parody of "The Weight" by The Band; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 10/29/2018)
(Isaiah 64:6, Isaiah 1:18, Isaiah 61:1-2, Ephesians 2:1-10, Ephesians 3:14-21, Hebrews 8-11, James 2, Luke 15, 1 John 2:15-17, John 6:40, Luke 4:16-30, Leviticus 11:45, Matthew 5 (particularly v. 48), Deuteronomy 18:13, Deuteronomy 30-33, Luke 6:20-49 (particularly v. 36), Galatians 3, 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 5:17, Romans chapters 1-7 (particularly 3:21-31; basically, just read the whole book), Jude 1:24-25)

He pulled into Nazareth- was reading out battle plan
He just reads the place where Isaiah- it says
"Lord's Spirit is upon Me- (to) share Good News and free oppressed"
Jesus then just shook them up- Yo! "Fulfilled," He said

61 Isaiah- take the scroll to read
It foretold His ministry- Covenant of Old- Christ completes

Like Nicodemus, I was looking not to grace, but pride
Got that flaw in garden with the devil- bought in to pride to life
God sent me Carmen- lightened the load of self-doubt
She said, "Our God loves us- 3 Ephesians- good works aren't how."

(You) take a load off, Nathan- Christ loves me for me!
Take a load off, Carmen- and we put the load right on Jesus!

I'm down with Moses- ain't under Law but Grace
It's 8 Hebrews- our new High Priest of the Covenant of Grace
6 Luke, Matt. 5- what about Deuteronomy?
He said, "You need My perfection (perfect Son)-
Once you're saved by Me- can't you see? It's done for thee!"

Take a load off, weary- in Matt. 11 read
Take My yoke on- easy
And you get a load light from Me.

Christ- He gestured "Follow Me" and He sought me when I was lost
Said, "I will trade your ash for beauty, Nate My dog"
I said, "Wait a minute, Master- You know I can't pay You back"
He said, "That's okay, boy- It's a free gift- no strings attached."

Take 3 Romans and read- Take Galatians 3
Take a note of James 2- saved by faith alone for good deeds!

Catch the prodigal's bro- Luke 15- such was I
My rags are stinking though- when I do "good deeds" it's a lie
Take me back, Jesus- Lord please! You know You're the only One
Who's sinless here- it's Your righteousness I rely on

Take a load off, Martin- Christ's reformed you- see?
24 in Jude and 1 Thessalonians 5- read!

Something for Nothing

As the saying goes, the world owes us nothing and this is true. And we owe the world nothing. Of course, God owes us nothing too, but God gives us everything through Christ Jesus. He had no obligation to save us at all. He would have been totally justified in destroying all of humanity and everything He had made in Genesis 3. But because of His great mercies, we are not consumed! (Lamentations 3:22-23) God is always faithful- we are the ones who have been unfaithful. We are the ones who went a-whoring after the false gods of self, hedony, idols, money, power, etc.- in spite of all this, God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) And He not only died for us, but He also rose again, in accordance with the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
        We owe God everything but we can never repay Him and we can never earn His love- and we never have to. God knew we can't so He did it for us. What we can and should do is thank Him ad infinitum forever and ever to infinity and beyond! (And those who put faith in Christ for salvation and follow Him will do just that in Heaven!) Jesus, be forever praised! We will all bow and declare You The Lord of all one day. (Philippians 2:10-11) Do it now willingly and lovingly before you are forced to do it kicking and screaming one day or in a desperate attempt at a bargain plea too late. God has loved us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3) but there is a time limit on God's free offer of love and forgiveness. (Hebrews 9:27-28) That's why today is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2)
         It's the devil who seeks to destroy lives. Jesus said clearly that the thief comes only to kill, steal and destroy, but He came to give us life and life more abundant! (John 10:10) As Jesus told James and John in Luke 9:55 [read the little note in your Bible about the part that some ancient manuscripts include]- The Son of Man didn't come to destroy people's lives but to save them! Amen. Thank You, Lord, for Thy salvation! Though we are nothing without You and we can see nothing in ourselves that You should think of us, You choose to love us anyway. (Psalms 8 and John 15). Thank You for Your love. May Your eternal Love flow through me in all I say and do. Make me all the more thankful and grateful for Your sacrifice and give me opportunities and the boldness to proclaim Your love, judgment, grace and mercy to everyone.

Pre-Fallen (song)

Note: This is another favorite from the archives. I thought it was fitting to pull this one out in tribute to Mr. Tom Petty in light of his recent passing. I hope he truly loved Jesus as he mentions the girl in his "Free Fallin' " song does and I hope he's in Heaven now.

This one is a bit like John Milton’s works. It describes how we got a “Paradise Lost” but it also describes how we can get “Paradise Regained”. Jesus has already done the job! And though we still live in a fallen world, it doesn’t have to be a heartbreaker as the initial outlook was. Rather, Jesus is a heart saver and when we give Him our lives, it’s like we’re pre-fallen!

“Pre-Fallen”

(parody of “Free Fallin’ “ by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)

(parody by Nathan Ludwick 12/31/2010)

(Romans 3, Romans 10, John 7:37-38, John 8:32-36, 1 Peter 1:18-23, Genesis 3, John 1:12, Matthew 11:28, John 14:1-6, Revelation 3:20, Matthew 10:8, Ezekiel 36:25-29)

In a good world, we’d love The Father,

Love Jesus and The Holy Ghost too

In a good world- baby, now sinless

Rejoices- it’s like Eden 2!

(And) it seems long away- living in Laodicea

There’s a tree with flaming sword to guard

What a sad day when we go and eat forbidden

We’ve been bad, boy- it’s breaking God’s heart

(Genesis) 3- the fall of man!

Adam (and) Eve- we’ve all sinned!

And it’s handed all down through Man’s family

Move east now- 1st. Peter 1- read on

And all the bad, oi- it’s planted in the marrow

But The Good Lord can form us brand new hearts

And now, uh- He’s – He’s calling!

Yeah, get a free- overhauling

He’s calling- it’s, uh- Jesus calling and uh,

We’ve fallen, read, uh- 3 Romans and uh,

I want ya right now- read in 10 Romans

In verse 9, get saved by The Christ

We’re gonna be called children of God then

Gonna leave this world far behind

[And we’re free

(Free falling into Jesus’ calling and uh)

We’re all in

(Free falling, I’m really all in and uh)

Yeah, we’re free

(Prefallen- it’s like we’re prefallen and uh)

We’re all in

(Free falling in uh, Matt. Eleven two eight (11:28)) ]

[Repeat above and fade]

(Recall in Matt. 10- free calling and uh)

Yeah, we’re free!

[alternate line for repeats]

…………………………………………………………………………………………

Obscure Clarity (poem)

     This is a poem I wrote a while back that I wanted to post on the blog here as I came across it in my old writings today. [Every now and then I like to repost some of my older writings from previous blogs and such just for archival purposes, and also because they are meaningful to me and I hope God may use them to encourage someone else too. :-)]
    It's kind of making fun of poems that are so deep with their meanings and have all these big words that you have to wade through to try to get to what you think the author meant. And the ambiguity that's almost purposefully put in place sometimes gets me annoyed sometimes- because you need to say what you mean and mean what you say. (Like Jesus said in Matthew 5:33-37) Of course, it's also written in a similar style as part of the joke. But catch the punchline at the end. (Bonus points to catch the references :-))
    Well, thanks to everyone who reads these things for faithfully doing that and for your prayers and God bless us, everyone! Hallelujah! Praise The Lord Jesus- He reigns! :-)

Obscure Clarity
....................
(copyright Nathan Ludwick 8/16/2008)
(Matthew 13:11-15, Proverbs 25:11, 1 Corinthians 1:25)

Insipid, vapid, rapid drips onto my page
Conspired, desired, inspired attempts in vain
What does it mean to glean meaning?
Is the inkwell deep or has it run dry?
Behind every conjured image does a metaphor hide?
Tired, mired, attired phrases to decipher
Incited, recited, invited analysis forms a cipher
Where everything is possible and nothing is as it seems
Enter the labyrinth to find out what it means
And the minotaur is just men who tire
Contrived, imbibed, arrived at what should be
Controlled, retold, untold concealed revealed themes
The world's foolish wisdom in majestic rhyme schemes
The Lord's wise foolishness plain, real and free

Bush on Fire (song)

This song relays a key event in Moses' life. In Exodus 3, he has an encounter with the living God. And God has a task for him- go down to Egypt and set His people free! Moses had some excuses but God provided for each one and He got a fire burning in Moses fueled by The Holy Spirit coming upon him and God used him to do just what He said He was going to do for Israel! Moses followed the game plan God had for his life. This was the theme for the soccer camp I helped with that my church sponsored in the summer of 2014 and that definitely inspired this parody. :-)

Bush on Fire
(parody of "Girl on Fire" by Alicia Keys; copyright Nathan Ludwick 9/29/2014)
(Exodus 3-4, Isaiah 40:28-31, Hebrews 11:23-29, Hebrews 12:28-29)

He's from Israel and he's out hiding
Slaughtered an Egyptian peep- Moses hits the highway
He's sitting by a well and gets a fight on
Filled troughs- watered the sheep- Girls' hero- gets invited to stay

Ohhhh oh oh oh oh!
"Please God," groan people out loud
And He's heard Israel now
Ohhhh oh oh oh oh
At Mt. Horeb He comes down
And Moses (is) walking 'round

This bush is on fire!
This bush is on fire!
It burns without dying!
This bush is on fire!

Looks at the bush and it's in flames
Some sight- Moses turns his eyes
Exodus 3- I'd say, "Wayz!"
You can bet that he'll never forget that day
He hears God call his name
Holiest Lord God then does say

Ohhhh oh oh oh
"Take shoes off feet- it's holy ground"
"Israel's burdened- go down!"
"Goooo go go go go!"
God has heard His door pound
But Mo's got excuses now

This mouth has a stutter
I'm 'bout to retire
They'll balk and require
Some sign I've seen Father

(Ohhh!)

Every doubt he airs, The Lord provides
'Cause He can feel the pain that Israel cries
Balking? Then just show them these 3 signs
You're gonna go and meet Aaron- he'll speak
And if they want I.D.
Then you go tell 'em "I AM has sent me, baby"

This God came as fire
There's no one who's higher
He's a consuming fire!
This God will not tire

Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhhh
oh, oh, oh, ohhh,
oh, oh, oh, ohhhh (x4)

He got Israel set free by His power!

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