Life

(Note: This is my sometimes annual birthday reflection. Thank You, God, for every moment. :-))

It's funny how we don't always stop and really think about time and the brevity of life until we reach milestones and holidays that give us pause long enough to contemplate our own mortality. As I was taught in journalism school, you shouldn't bury the lead, so I'll just say it. I'm forty years old today. Minus the few earliest years that I don't remember much, I now know what Caleb and Joshua felt like upon finally finishing their wanderings in the wilderness and entering the Promised Land!

It seems fitting that I have most recently been in Numbers in my Bible reading. I just finished it today actually because I decided to read two chapters today instead of just one and finish up the book. Sometimes we like to skip ahead in time and in life, especially when we're younger. It's funny how we desire more for time to slow down as we get older instead. Hopefully, we eventually become content with letting it progress naturally as God directs it. And hopefully we don't get too hung up on the numbers as we age, as they are just numbers.

And just as Abraham was instructed to number the stars to see how many his descendants would be, while I look back and number the years, I'm glad to be numbered among the many sons of father Abraham because of the Heavenly Father we both share who adopted us all through Christ. Thus, when my number's up, through my faith in Jesus' death and Resurrection that pays for all my sins, I know that my name will be numbered among those in His Book of Life and granted an endless number of days in eternity in Heaven.

"So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim Your might to another generation, Your power to all those to come. Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like You?" (Psalms 71:18-19)

Though I am glad I haven't gotten to an old enough age to have gray hairs yet (though funnily enough the definition of "old" always seems to get bumped up a few years as we reach new birthdays ;-)), I am infinitely more glad to know that if God is gracious enough to let me reach those years, He will constantly be with Me and use me to proclaim His might to the people of my generation and the ones coming up in the next.

"I will sing to The Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in The Lord." (Psalms 104:33-34) "The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of Your hands." (Psalms 138:8) "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." (Psalms 19:14)

That is my goal for this new year of life. That is my goal for every moment God grants me on this Earth and throughout eternity. May every breath of air be used to breath back out praise to the God of the universe who gives us all things bright and beautiful, all things wise and wonderful and every good gift- most of all, The Lord Jesus Christ! Thank You, Father God, for them all.

Help me, Lord Jesus, day by day, to do these three things I pray- to see Thee more clearly, love Thee more dearly, and follow Thee more nearly. I want to love The Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and love my neighbour as myself and speak The Truth in Love. Thank You for the perfect example in God The Son. And thank You for Your indwelling that moves me to do the good You made me to do all along, God the Holy Spirit. Blessed Three in One, hold me, mold me and embolden me to live each day for Your glory and to share Your Love and Truth and Goodness with others. Thank You for all Your many blessings- especially all the many people in my life who have loved me through all these years of life. I love all my family and friends dearly and pray You bless them all.

It's been said that life begins at 40. Of course, I know that life began again after 40 days and nights on Noah's Ark after the flood had receded. And in some ways, life begins again for me now at 40, as I seek to reassess my life situation and continue to reaffirm my faith in You, Lord, and trust that the construction You began in me will continue on to the day of completion as You have purposed. Thus, each day life begins again as each new day is another day to praise You for all You have done and thank You for the loveliness of another day that You have made and allowed me to live in. This is the day You have made and I will rejoice and be glad in it! Lead on, Lord Jesus- onward and upward- further up and further in.

Ever Read Ecclesiastes? (Song)

 Meaningless! Everything is meaningless! Does the world ever feel that way? Do you feel driven to despair? Many have felt that way for a long time since things on Earth first fell apart so long ago back in Genesis 3, when sin made everything get hairy. When you get down with these blues and get down to kneel, son- remember to look up to God alone who brings order out of the chaos, adds Life to our days and makes meaning in the midst of mediocrity. Everybody's talking at you saying all kinds of things about how to make your life meaningful. In the middle of all your searching for significance, ever read Ecclesiastes? Listen to what The Lord has to say about life and follow Him and let Him give you eternal meaning and Hope.

"Ever Read Ecclesiastes?" (parody of "Everybody's Talking" by Harry Nilsson; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 10/17/2020)    (book of Ecclesiastes; particularly 1:1-2, 1:9, 1:14, 2:9-11, 2:24-26, 3:1-11, 3:16-22, 4:9-12, 5:1-7, 5:18-20, 6:7-12, 7:1-4, 7:10-13, 8:10-13, 9:7-12, 10:1-4, 10:10-15, 11:1-7, 12:1-8, 12:11-14)

Everything's all vanity

Under sun there's no innovations

Go read Ecclesiastes 1:9

People shopping, striving

I can see they're chasing

Only the wind blows- passes them by

Ongoings have seasons and timing

That The Lord ordains

(We're) going to forever recompose

Breaking's hard for the cord of three strands

So fear God in utter awe please

When living's over we're going by His throne

(Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!)

All toiling under sun- keep smiling

Due to 5:18

Don't call old days better- dude, sin's old!

Banking all on The Lord brings wins

Assails us all- time, whimsy 

Foolishness pours forth but wisdom's a stepping stone 

Ecclesiastes 11:6 reads

Can't know what works- keep sowing 

Only The Lord knows- (so) enjoy Life 

Guys, don't let age leave Lord God behind

'Cause God will judge all deeds

(Whoa!)

Life's found in man's duty- keep God's commands! 

Love in all Seasons (song)

 Where does the time go? Steve Miller said it keeps on slipping into the future. He's right- time keeps marching on. Yet so many times it never seems the good moments in life are long enough. If I could have a little bit longer time in those sweet spots- carefree days as a kid playing on the playground, family time at home with Mom and Dad and siblings, dating that special someone, or just hanging out with my best friends in the world! 

   As another song says, we had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun. (Thanks to Terry Jacks for the memorable performance.) And there are sweet seasons in life we cherish and miss later on. Yet we are inexorably drawn forward in time. And we must learn to live and love every moment as the precious gift from God that they all are- and thank Him for all of them. And our love for those friends and family carries on as well, in as much effort as we are willing to put out. The love of Jesus is the one constant that carries us through the changes of time. He helps us "who belong to eternity stranded in time", as a Michael Card song says, to enjoy and live and love every moment. And He helps us realize that He is the One our hearts really long for in the end. And with Jesus in our hearts, no matter what stage we're at in this life or the next, we can enjoy Love in all seasons.

Love in all Seasons
copyright by Nathan Ludwick 1/17/2020
(Ecclesiastes 3, Psalms 90:12, Deuteronomy 33:27, Proverbs 17:17 and 18:24)

You thought it'd be forever
You thought it'd never end
The vows you made to stay together
And always be the best of friends
Oh, to be back in that place and age again

Chorus 1:
Everybody freeze! Put your hands up
If you want this world to stop
Let's stay 11 years old as long as we can
Everyone's here and everything here's alright
I don't want nothing to change my world tonight

Spin the time in a bottle and see where it lands
Count out 17 little grains of sand
Cruising down Lover's Lane with the one who caught your heart
Summer days with your best pal and your best gal at your side
What more do you need? Right here it's so good to be alive!

Chorus 2:
Everybody freeze! Put your hands up
If you want this world to stop
Let's hang out at the malt shop as long as we can
Everyone's here and everything here's alright
I don't want nothing to change my world tonight

Bridge:
Why do we move away and leave our best friends?
Why do we go to different schools and new jobs and new places to live?
Why do we marry, start a family and get wrapped up in our lives?
Why do we get old and grey and eventually die?
What we do with given time's all we must decide

Chorus 3:
Everybody leaves- splits the band up
And one day this world will stop
Let's enjoy our seasons in the sun as long as we can
Everlasting Arms deal those hands at the right time
The Ace up my sleeve holds every memory tight

Chorus 4:
Only God holds me when time hands me up
Now and on that day my world still rocks
For each time and season there's a reason- so love all friends far and at hand
Everyone's here and everything here's alright
Let my growth come from change- Love holds my world for all time

(Repeat Chorus 3 and 4 and fade)

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

Missed Moments (poem)

This is a sometimes annual thing of reflection I do around my birthday. It's basically a bit of reminiscing and some lamenting about choices made and consequences that come with them. I have said before that sometimes I regret not being as open to some friendships at younger ages or willing to further pursue possible romantic relationships- but in the end, I have to trust that God allowed things to happen as they did for a reason and He's still worked out His good plan for me moment by moment. This is also a "what if?" musing about spiritual choices, eternity, sin and righteousness.


"Missed Moments"
(Poem copyright by Nathan Ludwick 5/4/2020)
(Philippians 2:14-16, Hebrews 3:7-14, 2 Corinthians 6:2, Philippians 3:7-20, Ecclesiastes 9:11-12, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 25:11, Proverbs 27:1, Romans 9, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, Ecclesiastes 7:10-14, Romans 8:28, 1 Corinthians 3, James 3, Psalms 90 (Especially v. 12), Ecclesiastes 12:11-14)

A word aptly spoken makes golden moments
How quickly a word ineptly spoken turns them to dross
How many scenes of life could have been so different
If only a different door had been chosen?
The road not taken makes all the difference in the world
Memories meander through time and linger longer than we'd ever expect
Except the good ones seem far too fleeting and the bad ones far too abundant
Why did I say that stupid thing then instead of something else?
Why couldn't I just keep my mouth shut?
Words have a deadly power of permanence no matter how much
we might want to retract
The scorpion's sting still burns like fire every time the scab's reopened
Why did I do that back then? Why was I so dumb?
Apologies can be made but consequences must always be faced
What if I could slide down Alice's rabbit hole to another world?
What kind of person would I be if I had studied another subject?
What if I had taken up another career instead?
What if I had been more outgoing and taken more chances on friends?
What if I had kissed that girl and she had become my wife?
So many things replay in my mind that a time machine might fix
But lightning never strikes twice and thunder continues to roil in my soul
Sometimes the pain and sadness are so intense when sitting in quiet loneliness
Regrets haunt dreams and reveries with a parasite's tenacity
There's a desperation in lament that yearns to put right what once went wrong
The sins of commission resound like a gong in time with the sins of omission
Why didn't I take action when I knew what to do then?
Why didn't I speak up and say what needed to be said?
Time relentlessly passes and the moments are lost
Are they gone beyond all hope of recovery?
When the corner is turned and opportunities missed
They never come in exactly the same way again
And when eternal choices are made things are bound that can never be unbound.
Though tears flow like Esau's, the blessing is lost and
The time of God's favour comes to an end.
The past is gone and can't be changed but it can pass on its lessons.
The future still looms with possibilities of whatever we make it.
May The Spirit teach me His lessons in the present
so I can live in the light of each tense like Scrooge on Christmas morning.
The joy only found in Christ somehow sifts through
The wreckage of my life to find a rainbow in the silver lining.
The pangs of past pains hurt my heart but also mold it
to be shaped more like the Saviour's heart.
As He still works to work all these things together for good
according to His master plan,
may He use the missed moments to make my life
both now and in the future what He wants it to be.
His cross and empty tomb redeemed my life-
May He use all that I am in the time that is left
to share His truth and love with all around me.
With past faults behind me, the bad memories make me all the more
thankful for the good memories and they all spur me to
live every day for The One who loves me
and make choices of righteousness to redeem the time so
that His light shines- because Jesus makes the only golden moments in my life.
.......................................................................

Life Goals

(Note: With my birthday coming up in about three weeks, this seems fitting for my sometimes annual reflection.)


   One thing that I think is important spiritually is stopping everything once in a while and taking stock of life. The prudent gives thought to his steps. (See Proverbs 14:8 and 14:15) While running/walking this evening, the thought came to mind for me in thinking about the ongoing struggle with sin and striving to live for Christ, as well as making choices for life's trajectory that are pleasing to Him-
Is my life about me or is it about Jesus? That was a sobering thought to ponder. How many times do I ask that in making a decision? How many times do I center my life around making decisions to do things that bring me pleasure rather than seeking to bring God pleasure and glory?
   If I am crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20) and I have died and my life is now hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1-4), and God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever and I desire nothing on earth besides Him (Psalms 73:25-26) and The Lord is my shepherd and I shall not want (Psalms 23) and a day in His courts is better than thousands elsewhere (Psalms 84:10)- then why do I not always live like it?
    Far too often I identify with Ecclesiastes 2:11 "Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun." In the same book, it says in chapter 3 (verses 1-8) that there's a time and season for everything. The book concludes in 12:13-14 by saying that the whole duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments. That's also the only place we really derive any meaning in life. As Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 says, apart from God, who can eat or have enjoyment?
    I have often found this with temporary goals on earth. There are things and pursuits that give me much pleasure and I enjoy them. There's nothing wrong with that, provided they are pleasing to The Lord. As Shakespeare said though, all good things must come to an end. I love reading and I can amuse myself with books, but eventually I finish a book series and that pleasure is gone. The same goes for watching every episode of a beloved television show or watching a favourite movie. The same goes for any life pursuit, whether it's marriage and raising children, career building, property acquisition or publishing of some sort. Even altruistic measures can fall into this pattern if the motivation is to make myself feel better and look good. What's the point of me saying something and bragging about something in the hopes that people will remember it and share it in the eulogy at my funeral? I won't even be there to enjoy that! (Which is all the more reason we should say all those nice things to people now rather than save them all up for the wake.)
    As one of my favourite poets, Robert Frost, has said, "Nothing gold can stay." I agree with him to a point. There is one gold thing that can and does stay- the streets of gold. Those are forever. And Heaven is where I want to always have my mindset. As C.S. Lewis has said, it is often those who thought the most of the next life that have done the greatest good in this life. Having a Heavenly mindset should cause me to do more good in this life for the sake of Jesus and others. That's where I find my joy- in The Lord and not in things. I can find fleeting happiness in some things but true joy only in The Lord. This is one reason I periodically do a purge of my belongings, as it helps remove idols from my life and makes sure I am focused on Jesus first.
    There's a certain panic and terror that comes at times when I have a quiet moment by myself to analyze my life. It especially weighs heavily as the clock keeps ticking onward and reminders of its passage come up, particularly birthdays. It feels more so that way to me as a single person. Perhaps this is due to having had an American ideal instilled through movies and TV shows of the American dream that everyone is supposed to have. After you get through school, you're supposed to go to college and get a degree and get a good job that pays a lot and get a house and get married and have children and eventually retire and enjoy your golden years together. I made it through school and got both a bachelor's and master's degree in college and I got a job I enjoy and I have a place of my own to live. But I am nearing the end of my 30s and I still have not gotten married and thus have not had any children.
     It feels bad to say but sometimes it is hard to be happy for the friends and family I have watched get married and have families of their own. I have gone to so many weddings and while I do celebrate with those who are rejoicing, there are twinges of jealousy and regret. I look back at times and think of opportunities for friendships that I pushed away at the time. I think of romantic possibilities not realized that I wish I had pursued more. I was never super interested in dating until my late '20s or so and I wonder if that wasn't partly because of subtle peer pressure when I saw what seemed like everyone around me getting married all of a sudden and it seemed like the thing to do. That's not to say I didn't have romantic thoughts about girls when I was younger and hitting puberty though. There have been a lot of women I have liked but few I have really dated and only one that I feel like I've truly fallen in love with though. And rejection can make you so introspective, desperately reliving every moment and analyzing them to see where a different choice could have been made so that things could have turned out differently and you could still be walking through the city hand in hand with her, feeling an excitement of euphoric exhilaration race through your body!
      Alas, when the relationship doesn't work out as you would like, it's hard to trust that God still has a good plan and knows best. It's hard to let go of that time when everything was right and you both felt like you and she loved each other more than anyone else on earth and that feeling of ecstasy felt so good.
There are moments in time I can flash back to and I just want to stay there for a while. But eventually I get awakened from my reverie by reality and I have to move on. And I wonder if I'll ever love another woman like that again and if I'll ever get married and have children. I do want to have all that for that experience and for the joy of loving someone like that and being loved by her like that and raising my own children. And to be really honest, I want to have sex and experience that beautiful union between husband and wife that is an intimate expression of their love for each other. I want to have that kind of intimacy that is honoured and guarded to the highest degree as my one and only who is my beloved and betrothed to me- and I am fully hers in body and mind and heart.
    It seems cruel at times in having those desires but not being at that place yet and knowing there is no morally correct way of having a release for that sex drive until that time of marriage comes. That's where temptation can hit so hard to give in to sexual fetishes and fantasies and enjoy the erotic pleasures of an erection, which themselves are also fleeting and short-lived, and lead to only shame and guilt afterwards. When I think of those I know who are Christ followers who struggle with homosexual tendencies, I can't imagine what an awful struggle that must be in that same scenario and knowing there is no release on this earth. And if I remain unmarried, then I am in the same place as them in that regard of dealing with the desires of a sex drive that can't be fulfilled. Passages like 1 Corinthians 6 and 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 make this very clear.
    All of this gets back to my original point and question though. Is my life about me or is it about Jesus? If I am to follow Jesus as I say I want to do, then I must lose my life to find it. Jesus says I must take up my cross, deny myself daily and follow Him. (Luke 9:23) I must believe that His lovingkindness is better than life. I must store up my treasures in Heaven because Jesus is my real treasure. Even if I do get married and have children, my real joy can never be found in my wife or kids. Jesus is better than my potential wife and kids. Jesus is better than sex. Jesus is better than possessions. Jesus is better than sin. Jesus is better than anything this world affords today. Would I really rather have Jesus than anything my heart desires? Is Jesus really my number one passion and desire? Is He the ultimate lover of my soul Whom I am so in love with above all others?
I know don't desire God as much as I should but I want to desire Him more. I want to want Jesus and want nothing else. As Rich Mullins wrote, "The stuff of earth competes for the allegiance I owe only to the Giver of all good things." "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ...." (Philippians 3:7-8)
     Matthew 6:33 tells me to seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto me. What things? The things I need- not necessarily all the things I want. As I seek God more, I believe The Spirit will make the things of this earth to grow strangely dim (as the hymn "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" says) in the light of His glory and grace. Psalms 90:12 beseeches The Lord to teach us to number the days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom. To be sure, this of course applies for every follower of Christ. Married couples have to decide how best their union can glorify The Lord. How do the husband and wife help each other grow closer to The Lord and be used more by Him for His glory? There are some advantages for the single person as there is no entanglement with trying to take care of a spouse and children. The time and energy that would be spent in that can be spent in other things. Am I using time just to indulge myself though or am I using it to serve God and others? (See 1 Corinthians 7 for a lot more on this.)
     Jesus gives us the ultimate example. Philippians 2 is such a beautiful picture of how He humbled Himself and put our needs before His own. He gave up His rights and didn't count equality with God something to be grasped but instead took the form of a bondservant in the likeness of men- and humbled Himself to the point of death on the cross! For this reason God raised Him up and gave Him the Name above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. We are commanded to have that same mindset. (1 Corinthians 2:16 indeed says that we have the mind of Christ.) We are to do nothing out of selfish ambition and conceit but in humility count others as better than ourselves! As Philippians 2:21 says, too many folks- and too many times we ourselves are in this number- seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. My interests are to be those of Jesus Christ. I am to look to others' interests before my own.
   Just as Jesus said in regards to the most important commandments, I am to love The Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and love my neighbour as myself. (Matthew 22:34-40) I try to keep those two directives constantly in mind, along with Ephesians 4:15's admonition to be "speaking the Truth in Love." Part of loving God and my neighbour is sharing The Gospel with others as Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:18-20. I tell others about God's love that pays for all sins through our faith in Jesus' death and Resurrection and I show others God's love through helping with their physical needs as well. (James 2:15-17, 1 John 3:18)
    What can be said in conclusion then? How is my life demonstrating God's love and grace to others as well as warning about His judgement? How is my life pursuing and displaying the needs and desires of others and ultimately Jesus first? "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of The Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with The Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to The Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God The Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ." (Ephesians 5:15-21)
    I must give thanks to God in all things and for everything because it's all His blessings! He has me in exactly the time and place He wants me. (Acts 17:26) His plan for me will come through. (Psalms 138:8)
Thus, I must do all things without grumbling or disputing that I might be a blameless and innocent child of God without blemish, as Philippians 2:14-15 says. As it goes on to say, then I can be shining as a light in the world in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation. That is what I want my life to be doing and Jesus is who I want my life to be about always. I quote this next verse often as my writing goal but it's true of life in general: "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." (Psalms 19:14) Lord Jesus, may that always be true of me in all I say or do. May I always find my contentment in You because I know godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Timothy 6:6)
"For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21) 
 

 

Fry Everything (song)

Ecclesiastes 3 says there is a time and season for every purpose under Heaven- including a time to laugh. Hopefully, this silly ditty will help you meat up with some fun in this zoo of a blog. :-)

"Fry Everything" (parody of "Try Everything", as performed by Shakira in the Disney movie "Zootopia"; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 2/10/2020)
(Ecclesiastes 3, Acts 10, 1 Corinthians 10:25)

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh (×4)

I gassed up the fryer
It's just another night
Always gas up and just start again
The meat's lying down
My beef's on if cubed or ground
Marinade, ketchup's out, the season's next
Birds for next time
They're thawing now, all set up
No party's thrown and Thanksgiving is done

I won't give it up; no, I won't give in
Though I bleed Wesson
Morning- I'll start again
Through clogged arteries
I wanna fry everything
I wanna fry everything even though health could fail
I want Crisco soaking through my skin
'Til day reaches end
And then I'll start again
So I want heat
I wanna fry everything
I wanna fry 'til Mazola I exhale

(Chorus)
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh- fry everything! (×3)
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Look how fat I've become
I filled my heart with crud
Don't need "Lube Jobs 'R' Us"- Grease is on my breath
Don't grease myself up
At beach for sun to tan
Sometimes I'm so tan that I quote "Houseguest"

I go look up 1st. Corinthians
25- read in 10
And then I'll say "Amen!"
God said, "Kill and eat!"
I wanna fry everything!
In 10 Acts, fry Peter's whole buffet meal

I won't give it up- no, I won't go vegan
But I'll eat garden
Salad fried- start skillet!
Nothing fried I won't eat
I wanna fry everything
I wanna fry even goat milk, soup and kale

I'll keep on making country fried steaks
I'll keep on saying fried foods are safe
Don't do "missed steaks"

(Repeat Chorus)

Fry everything!

The Lake of Fire (song)

"The fear of The Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7) As much as it's important to not be held captive to fear, there is also importance in having some fear- a fear of The Lord. As Jesus said in Matthew 10:28, we should fear the One Who can destroy both body and soul in hell. We are all sinners by nature and all bound to eternal torment in hell because of our rebellion against God. That's a truth you don't want to be a Johnny-Come-Lately to learning- because there is a day it will be too late to do anything about it. (Hebrews 9:27) We will all die one day, unless The Lord Christ returns first. Either way, we will face judgment then. The Good News is that God loves us so much that He paid for all our sins by dying in our place and rising again! If we put faith in Christ for forgiveness and salvation and follow Him, we can have assurance of salvation from hell and the burning lake of fire and entry into Heaven instead. That's a truth you can cash all your chips in on. Cash it all in on Christ today. (2 Corinthians 6:2) Now is the day of salvation!


"The Lake of Fire"
(parody of "The Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash; copyright Nathan Ludwick 1/21/2019)
(Mark 9:42-50, Matthew 10:26-33, Revelation 20, Luke 16:19-31, 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, Romans 10:9-13)

God had rebellion break
And He made a fiery lake
Found by sin's desire
In Rev. 20- the lake of fire

Christ's Book of Life or burning lake of fire?
Written down (or) not found?
In the flames (or) Paradise, yeah?
Will you burn or turn?
The lake of fire's for Christ revilers
(You) might fall into the burning lake of fire
Teeth are gnashed and ground
And the flames won't tire
Forever burns, burns, burns
The lake of fire, the lake of fire

The grace and love of Jesus
Sin-hearts like ours need it
To hell we're doomed at the trial
Oh, but Messiah reconciled

Christ still endured the burning lake of fire
He went down- that's how
Jesus paid our price there
And He returned third morn
Offering was final- all sins (for) all time, there
Devil will stew in burning lake of fire
20:10- it's found
Revelation- right there
Forever burns, burns, burns
Mark 9:48- the worm won't die there
And God yearns- Return!
The cross of Christ's still
Saving from fire
Saving from fire
Saving from fire

The "Good Ol' Days" and The Glorious Day

       Don't ask, "Why were the old days better than today?" It's not good to ask such things.... (see Ecclesiastes 7:10-18 and chapter 12).... As Acts 17:24-28 tells us, God set men and women in history at exactly when and where He wanted them to be for His purposes.... (which doesn't mean that God won't move you at some point too though ;-))- But part of finding our identity in Jesus as His follower means being happy with who God made us to be- boy or girl, Asian, Hispanic, Native American, Pacific Islander, African descent, Indian descent, Caucasian, mixed, etc., Spanish, Trinidadian, American, German, Swiss, South African, Ukrainian, Argentinan, Brazilian, Eritrean, Japanese, Chinese, Australian, Indian, Senegalese, Antarctican, etc.- whatever the social class- whatever other label we put on each other....... God made us above all those things in His image (Genesis 1:26-31). And when we're in Christ, none of those things matter anyway! (Galatians 2:20, Colossians 3:1-4, John 13:34-35, Galatians 3:25-29) And as Colossians 3:11 says, "Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all."
    We are all infinitely important and infinitely loved by God. (Jeremiah 31:3) And we are all valuable in His kingdom, where the elder learns to serve the younger and the younger cares for the elder- where each thinks of others as better than themselves and each seeks to love each other truly and forgive from the heart...
     No, these aren't the "good ol' days"- but as I like to say, the only good ol' days this planet has ever seen were Genesis 1-2. We won't have any more truly good ol' days until Revelation 21-22 come to pass. But Jesus makes the in-between time more abundant when we follow Him, as John 10:10 says. :-) And during our faith journey with Him, He shapes us to be more and more like Him in character and empowers us with spiritual gifts to bring a touch of The Divine to a fallen world so badly needing of redemption. To be sure, the final Redemption culminates with the coming of The Lord- but until then, we're like the Planeteers with our power rings, sent forth to bring God's restoration to the world through our love and good deeds and sharing of the Greatest Love of all shown to us on the cross and in the empty tomb (Romans 5:8). And way better than Captain Planet, and the Avengers who "have a Hulk"- we have Someone Real Who can do something about our situation (Hebrews 11:1-6)- we have a Savior- Jesus Christ- Whom we eagerly await to come back from Heaven! We have The One Who alone bears the title of King of Kings and Lord of Lords! We have The One God Who holds all things together and by Him all things exist!
    Like DC Talk said, "God is doing a nu thang"- through His followers- His agents of change upon the earth. (Habakkuk 1:5) And as Jesus said in Acts 1:8 (in essence)- The Power is yours! :-) (So use His gifts and be His witness in all the world.)

Look On Up

         I just had an observation today. It's not meant as an indictment against anyone who enjoys watching television and movies, etc. (particularly since this is coming from someone who LOVES watching a ton of [albeit usually older ;-)] television shows and movies). It just is funny to me how branded properties become verbs over time- as in the way that one can now apparently "Google" something (and/or "Wikipedia" something- though one does not seem to too often "Yahoo" or "Bing" something, much less "Encyclopedia Brittanica" something or "various reputable print book, magazine and professional journal sources" something). [1 Thessalonians 5:21-22....but that's a separate post in itself.] And particularly the way that one apparently can now "Netflix" something. This reference works if one actually has Netflix access and/or is aware of how it works.
        Since I currently do not have television access whatsoever, I can definitely say that I haven't missed it. Yes, there are a very select few things I might like to watch- but nothing I can't do without. I was wondering though, why Netflix releases an entire season's worth of shows on one day. I suppose there is some convenience to that and it doesn't necessarily follow that one will or should or must watch them all in one day. (Though some may enjoy such marathons- again, I understand that and I've done some limited television marathons myself.) I guess I'm just saying that I find it a bit disturbing when people speak of terms like "binge watching". It seems there are very few things we should binge on- if anything, why not binge on God's Word and His creation?
Let me reiterate that I say all this as one who struggles with this myself- I'm not perfect or always good at this either. There is a certain pleasure and comfort in getting lost in such bouts of entertainment. But I want to make sure that I'm not so tied to the things of the world that I lose sight of the things of God.
"The stuff of earth competes for the allegiance I owe only to the Giver of all good things."- Rich Mullins in "If I Stand".
          May my heart always be attuned to the only Giver of all good things' heart- and seek Him above anything else. A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions- or in the abundance of his time watching televisions. (Luke 12:13-21) Let's be rich toward God always first- before laying up any treasure for ourselves on earth....some treasure is okay- but as I like to misquote .38 Special- "Hold on loosely to earthly gold- if you cling too tightly- you're gonna lose your soul. First, baby- seek kingdom of Jesus- and all that you need will be given." :-)
Teach me to count the days aright, Lord, so that I may get a heart of wisdom. (Psalms 90:12)
Before I get lost again in the impermanence of the finite, let me remember the infinite and work for that imperishable crown....May my tongue stick like peanut butter to the roof of my mouth if I forget Jerusalem and don't make her my highest joy....The joy of The Lord is my strength. I as your spiritual Gomer to Your spiritual Hosea- keep drawing me back from my whoredoms and let me feast once more on your flesh and blood, as a spiritual cannibal vampire might (even though I know that's a contradiction in terms ;-)). Thank You for Your love and sacrifice and New Life that grants me real life and life more abundant.
Help me and us all to keep looking to You above all- make You our highest joy- and Look on Up. :-)

Relient K | Look On Up (Official Audio Stream)

"Look On Up" from Relient K Get it today: https://rk.lnk.to/look…

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Love Comes Knocking (poem)

I wanted to get one more poem in under the wire for National Poetry Month in April and so here is this entry. The last minute nature of it seems appropriate since it talks about how love can seem the same way at times. It never seems to come at an opportune time but the opportunities for love are there all the time, if we take time to follow the Spirit's lead and engage them. This poem is inspired by a real life encounter with one such opportunity.

"Love Comes Knocking"
(poem copyright by Nathan Ludwick 3/23/2018)
(2 Corinthians 4:7, Revelation 3:20, Philippians 2, 1 Corinthians 13, Song of Songs 8:6-7, Luke 10:25-37, Matthew 25, Luke 15, John 13:34-35, Hebrews 13:2, 1 John 3:16-18)

Love comes knocking
Throughout each day
And at all hours of the night
Never pushing and demanding
Just wishing and hoping with a hand out
It's never on time but it's never too late
It takes you by surprise with its weight
You're hit with it at your lowest time
Right when you feel you can't take any more
It's always inconvenient for those who don't have time to take time
But it's a giver not a taker
And it gives you more than you could ever give
Nothing you lose compares to what you gain
Its every appointment is divinely ordained
It's the only thing you get more of when you give it all away
Love crosses the street to reach out and pull up
Love pours itself all out- not just half way
Love is the greatest and it always abides
Love is what makes life truly life
It pulls its wool over our hides
It clothes us with its brand so others can believe their eyes
Love knows no stranger- only long lost friends
Love invites all to come on in
Love declares all of infinite value
Love gives in sacrifice to show by action that it is real and alive
Love never gives out and never gives up
And Love is as strong as death
And rises to forgive in extravagance
Love is the answer and the antidote to all the world's evils
Love flows deep and wide like a river at the base of a tree
Love changes your whole world and it's what the world needs now
Love is true and right and the only Good in this world
And when you open your heart
Love comes in quietly, softly and tenderly
Love never fails- He is forever!
Let Love give and give Love- for free
Love won't force the locked in
- Love comes knocking

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Christ Extends and Tarries (song)

Whether you're in the dawn of your life or the twilight years, one thing holds true for all of us- we all will die one day. (Unless you get a cool deal like Enoch or Elijah where God just takes straight up home to Heaven without dying. ;-)) And one day, we will all meet God and all face His judgment. And none of us match up to His standards of perfection. Thus, the judgment we all face is one of absolute guilt that deserves absolute punishment- eternity in hell. This is not the outcome The Lord wants for anyone- He loves us all so much He sent Jesus to die for us and rise again so that we would have an escape. Jesus met the standard of perfection for us and when we accept the work He's done on our behalf, God imputes Christ's righteousness to us and sees that in us instead and accepts us as His own children. Of course, it is up to us to grab hold of God's offer of love and forgiveness and trust Him, even as He continues to seek us out. One day He will return and time for that will be up. We don't know when that day will come or when we will die, but we do know that The Lord is patient and long-suffering with us- to Him a day is like 1000 years and 1000 years like a day- He has waited 2000 years since Christ's death and resurrection and He's waiting still. He doesn't want anyone to perish but for all to come to repentance. Come accept His offer today while there's still time.


"Christ Extends and Tarries" (parody of "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 1/8/2017)
(Hebrews 9:27-28, 2 Peter 3:1-10, Isaiah 54:8, Jeremiah 31:3, John 3:16-21, John 6:35-50, John 10:27-30, 2 Corinthians 6:2, Romans 10:9-13, Ezekiel 18:23, Romans 2:4)

Heartbeats pass
Count on it- promise it!
Now to the grave
(Do) you stand with God? Well, I'm afraid you'll fall
But what will you stand there on?
Self-righteous doubt? Suddenly goes away as you bow

Once it's over...

(Chorus 1)
Christ has died and been raised- (He's) waiting for you
2 Peter 3:8- with The Lord a day's like a thousand years
Millennium's a day to The Lord!

Christ waits still
Dutifully calls Jesus
"Call on My Name"
I will not have anyone cast away
Whose handed by Father to Me
All He draws- 44 in John chapter 6

Come- you're chosen

(Repeat Chorus 1)

(Chorus 2)
So call upon God- believe- Christ will find you
Christ has got you eternally- He has loved you with eternal love
His love wants to see no one lost

Come, whosoever
God has chosen

(Repeat Chorus 1 and Chorus 2)

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Christ is the Reason (for the Season) (song)

Here's a late Christmas present for you! (Of course, since scholars think Jesus was probably born closer to April than December, it still seems a fitting time.) Of course, any time is a good time to celebrate Christ's birth. And when it is that time of the season, there are lots of fun things to enjoy- Christmas carols, cookies, church services, presents and family time- but the greatest gift of all is the salvation God sent us through Jesus' death and Resurrection. He paid for all our sins so that when we were wandering through life like zombies- the living dead, as we were dead in our sins- we could have the chance to be truly alive with abundant life in the here and now and eternal life in Heaven instead of hell as we deserve. Just as Jesus came at the right time (as Galatians 4:4-5 say), in that sense Time adopted the Eternal One and Joseph adopted Mary's Son born of the Immaculate Conception through The Holy Spirit's work. (To be clear, I know the "Immaculate Conception" term is used in reference to Mary; while I don't agree with that doctrine, I am using the term here to refer to Jesus Christ being kept free from original sin by His virginal conception. ;-)) And in turn, Jesus redeemed those under the law so that He could adopt us as well! Praise God for His love! Merry Christmas! Happy Easter! God loves you! :-)

(And as a special bonus with this song, my brother Kevin and I have collaborated to provide for an audio file that you can stream or download for free, thanks to Karaoke Version and Tency Music, who provided the excellent karaoke tracks that we used! :-) Stream or download the song for free at Kevin Ludwick's Bandcamp page! And while you're there, check out some other collaborations Kevin and I have done (including original songs) and Kevin's collection of his own original songs.) You can also listen to it from this blog in the player below!

"Christ is the Reason (for the Season)"
(parody of "Time of the Season" by The Zombies; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 8/31/2016)
(Galatians 4:4-5, Romans 5:8, Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2, Mark 1:1-3 and 14-15, John 1:1-29, 1 John 4:19)

(Ah!) (x4) (Repeated after first 4 lines and in-between verses)

It's the time of the season
When God sent Christ
Christmastime- sing and let's be jolly
The light still shines in darkened lands
To save you by The Son for Promised Land
Go 4:19 1 John
It says Christ is the reason for loving

(Ah!) (x4)

Jesus came (Jesus came)
Who's His Daddy? (Who's His Daddy?)
(He is rich) He's the richest King (the richest King)
(But He laid) But He laid it all aside (it all aside)
And though He was God, became servant
Saviour meek and lowly
Showed us how love really ought to go
When He died- that's His reason for coming!

(Ah!) (x4)

What a Name! (What a Name!)
Man of Sorrows! (Man of Sorrows!)
(Yet He's the King) Yet He's the King of Kings! (King of Kings!)
(In Galatians) In Galatians 4:4- Time (4:4- Time)
(And Joe) And Joseph adopted God's Kid

He and Mary obeyed
Christ adopts the redeemed from the law
Christmastime! Happy Easter- God loves us!
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released January 15, 2017
Singing, mixing/mastering: Kevin Ludwick
Lyrics: Nathan Ludwick
Music: Karaoke Version (www.karaoke-version.com) and Tency Music (www.tencymusic.com)

Paradise in God's Time (song)

Do you ever dream about Heaven? Not just in the metaphorical sense, but also in the literal sense- do you ever have dreams of Heaven? I have dreamt about Heaven and the return of Jesus Christ at times. I know that my ultimate Home is there with Christ and that though I take comfort in knowing God is always with me here on earth, I know I am always a wandering stranger and foreigner passing through this alien land gone crazily awry with sin. I know God has taken care of that problem through Christ. I await the better promise of life with Christ in Heaven. And until such time, I live on earth seeking to do His will and be an agent of His change for the world, to show the world the kingdom of God as it reigns now and always has and will in the future. And that calls for endurance on the part of the saints. As James 1:12 says, "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him." And I know that everything that happens to me is tailor-made by God and is all part of His plan. One day, I will be walking the streets of gold by the sea of glass in eternal peace and joy knowing as I am known and serving The Lord forevermore infinitely better than I try to now- and it's all only through faith in Jesus, Who loved me and gave Himself for me. He died on the cross to pay for all sins for all time and all who put their faith in Him and follow Him have crossed from death to life and can know that they have been rescued from Hell and are instead destined for Heaven. And Jesus makes all things new!
I know that because of Jesus' grace and my demonstrated faith in Him, I will one day be in Paradise in God's time. Of course, there are times in the here and now on earth when I like to think of what it will be like and I'm gone to Paradise in my mind. :-) One day the faith will be sight- praise The Lord!

"Paradise in God's Time"
(parody of "Carolina in my Mind" by James Taylor; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 4/7/2015)
(James 1:2-4 and 12, 2 Corinthians 6:2, 2 Peter 3:8-9, Romans 10:8-9, Philippians 1:21-30 and 3:8-21, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:49-58, Luke 23:39-43, 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 and 17, Romans 13:11-12, Hebrews 12:1-4, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 2:9, Revelation 21-22)

In my mind I'm gone to Paradise- yeah!
Can't you see The Son shine?
Can't you just feel all good inside?
And it's just like the ending line
To "Once Upon a Time"
Yes, I'm going to Paradise, yeah- in God's time

Heaven- read Revelation
First earth passed away and like a bride
New Jerusalem in 21
God wipes all tears away from us
No crying when we're
Gone to Paradise, yeah- in God's time

There ain't no pain and no one's dying
With God, the former things are gone
He makes all things new- verse 5
And we'll praise Lord Christ forever
No dying when we're
Gone to Paradise, yeah- in God's time

And the light is God in Paradise, yeah
We don't need the sun to shine
'Cause Jesus is the Lamp light
Me and Jesus- we've been friends (a) long time
To see Him for first time-
Yes, I'm agog in Paradise (yeah) in God's time

Guarding angels at gates outside
12 tribes inscribed on them by a high, great wall
It keeps outside the dogs and liars
The seers, killers, immoral- won't
Be going- not going
They're gone to lake of fire for all time

With The Holy Ghost just constantly hounding
While I was in darkness and aloof
And I reached to Him, throwing all my sins to Calvary
Jesus forgave me- now I'm up and going to
Paradise, yeah- for all time

In God's time, I'm going to Paradise, yeah!
Can't you see the Son shine?
Can't you just feel all good inside?
And it's just like the ending line
To "Once Upon a Time"
Yes, I'm going to Paradise, yeah- in God's time
Going to Paradise, yeah- all through Christ
And I'm going to Paradise, yeah- for all time
Going to Paradise, yeah- in God's time
Home with God- I'm going!
Take Christ's grace and join me- come and go Home now
Got to carry on 'til last day- then I'm gone

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