“ENSLAVED” – Feb. 24

“Then He said to them, ‘Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.'” Matthew 22:21

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I am a slave,
but I am not unique.
I am a slave,
but so are you.
We are slaves but
not in the way you think.

We are slaves of many masters.  We serve them all, typically without title but all hidden while still in the open.  Yet, their authority is enforced when the bounds of their reigns are transversed or challenged.  We were born into the bondage of our initial master, whose realm was established at the beginning, when it demanded our lungs to accept this new product called air.  Next, the bounds of nutrition were delineated through pangs in the belly.  The bounds of consciousness were defined by the needs of sleep.  As we mature, new bounds were yearly discovered.

We all labor to serve the Master of Flesh.  Our bodies demand obedience to biological needs, requirements for the preservation of life.  This realm redefines slavery as “self”.  You may say, “my body is not a master,”  I say, “are you free from it?”.  Try not obeying the Master of Flesh.  Try to exert your freedom from hydration.  Try to exert your freedom from food.  Soon, your flesh will punish your liberty with pain until you yield or die.  The Flesh is an unyielding task master.

Many live their entire existence solely under the tyranny of Flesh, laboring to satisfy its demands.  Some even cede more authority to the Flesh through addiction and/or neurosis.   Yet, all yield to the essential demands of the Flesh from the dawn of every day to its setting.

However, the flesh is not our only master.  As we mature, we enter the realm of another, the Master of Work.  Work’s realm includes all those activities mitigating Flesh’s tyranny.  I want leisure.  Therefore, I must work to be able to take a vacation.  I want amusement.  Therefore, I must work to be able to have a hobby, go to a movie, eat gourmet food.  I want more comfortable housing.  Therefore, I must work to be able to have a better home.  I want to be happy.  Therefore, I must work to be able to consume and feed my craving for happiness.

Work is not a private affair.  Work is a public engagement and therefore ruled by the cultural and governmental masters.  This realm redefines slavery as “citizenship”.  You may say, “my government is not a master.  I live under a constitution.”  I say, “are you free from it?”.  Try not obeying the Masters of Work.  Try exerting your freedom from taxation.  Try exerting your freedom to take another’s property.  Try exerting your freedom to live without clothing.  Try exerting your freedom to cry ‘fire’ in a fireless theater.  Transverse the bounds established by the Masters of Work and you will find your time relegated to satisfying the Master of Flesh.  You will become preoccupied with the necessities of existence because the means to mitigate the tyranny of the Flesh will be removed by the tyranny of Work.  Work is an unyielding task master.

We all yield to the essential demands of society in order to have a slice of the prosperity ensuing from our obedience as cogs in the economic mechanism of Work’s realm.  Even if Work could be freed from the Masters of government and culture, it can never be truly free because it resides in the realm of a third master.  Work cannot be free because work is not an end in itself.

The extent and quality of freedom in the flesh and work can only be experienced through obedience to the Master of the third realm in which we all reside.

The Master of the Divine inhabits a realm that was before the Flesh and before Work.  This realm defines the freedoms of those realms and our allegiance to those Masters.  God created the realm of the Divine.  He is the Master of all.  Yet, Satan rebelled against Gods’ rule and when he fell so did all of humanity.  You and I have been born into rebellion against the Master of the Divine.  Yet, we were not born free.  We were born under the tyranny of Satan, who bent the Masters of Flesh and Work into wicked task masters.  It was never meant to be this way.  The Divine has been redefined as “enlightenment”, “science”, “atheism”.

Our inward desire for liberty is an echoing call of creation.  We misunderstand it to be an inherent right of mankind.  It is actually a memory of creation, longing for a world ruled by the true Master; longing for a world where the flesh and work have no power to harm.  Our desire for freedom is incomplete.  It actually is a desire to be completely free to serve the Master as we were created to serve.

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Freedom is the freedom to do what we want.  When we are truly free, our nature takes us fully to God, the Master of the Divine.

So, I am a slave.  I am a slave to the Master of the Divine.  I live as an ambassador in the realms of the Flesh and Work.  I pay the requisite requirements to inhabit these realms, but they are not my Master.  I owe them no allegiance.  I will readily say my farewells to the Master of Flesh when the Master of the Divine bids me to return.  I will readily give what is due the Master of Work and give unto God what is His.

I am a slave to only one Master and He is good.  I will serve no other.

PRAYER: Lord, forgive me for serving other Masters.  Forgive me for forgetting that you have set me free to serve you fully as I was intended.  Thank you for binding me to yourself.  Lord, you know that I am prone to wander.  Let your grace, like a fetter, chain my wandering heart to you.  Take my heart and seal it in servitude for your courts above.    I pray this in the precious name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen

 

“ADVENTUROUS PERSEVERANCE” – Feb. 17

“As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.” 2 Thess. 3:13

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An adventure, by definition, is the unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity. My wife and I embarked on an activity at the beginning of the year that is not unusual nor hazardous. Yet, adventure seems it’s most earnest title. The title might need to be categorized in order to do it justice. The adventure is more accurately described as an adventure of the mind. While still not unusual, it seems a little mentally hazardous to our self-esteem.

We have become rebels in the Code Red cult of weight loss. This particular cult is exemplified by specific rules; drink your water, get your sleep, eat real food, no snacking, and be done eating by 6:30 PM. Oh, and no sugar!

Our lives have been transformed due to this weight loss adventure. The adventure excitement emanates from when it is working, and swings to discouragement when it does not. One becomes a bit captive to the scale as rebels weigh every day. There is the adventurous excitement of fitting clothing long banished to the museum of “What I Once Was”. Then, there is the hazards of the plateaus of complete rule obedience yet the scale does not display equitable obedience.

These unusually hazardous circumstances baffles the mental resolve of any weight loss adventurer.

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This morning my scale sent me into the treacherous waters of uncertainty and questionable resolve. I had done everything right, earning the anticipation of celebrating seeing digits that I have not observed for 2 years. I don’t know why I create weight memorials in categories of 10, but I do. I excitedly anticipated the proclamation that I have once again entered into the 180’s weight class. For me, that can be 189.9 pounds. It simply means that I no longer will see a 1 and a 9 preceding the stubborn pounds that I am incrementally assaulting.

I have been on the frustrating plateau of the 190’s for a month and a half. Yesterday, the plateau of the 190’s was assaulted with monumental resolve and certainty. My morning  started with a chest and back workout of push-ups and pull-ups and ab-ups. Throughout the day, the rules of Code Red were followed like a good rebel religious zealot. The pincer maneuver, to ensure the success of this full assault, was a long bike ride augmented by the vigor of it being a windy day.

The assault had all the elements needed for a celebratory victory over the obstinate 190’s. Except, it didn’t. This morning arose with all the hope of a goal achieved only to be dashed by the reality of a 1.6-pound gain. Rather than basking in the celebratory light of realization, I find myself in the hazardous gloom of reality. Sometimes, when you do everything right, it simply doesn’t work out as planned and we rarely know the reason.

Expectation can be a hazardous adventure. Short-term expectations are the most hazardous. Perseverance characterizes the route through the hazardous barriers of unrealized expectations. One must trust the process, otherwise, hands flung-up in resignation will become the anthem of all our adventures.

Perseverance is essential for all adventurous endeavors; athletic, academic, career, relational, and spiritual. Perseverance is critical in the spiritual life of a Christian. Particularly, when we are residents in a nebulous plateau of spiritual doldrums. One might be doing everything right. One might make great assaults upon a goal with certain expectations only to experience regression and disappointment.

These are the times to trust the process. These are the times to trust the Perfecter.

“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Hebrews 12:1b-2a

Too often, we get fixated on the wrong things, just like my fixation with a number on a scale. My goal is not a number on a scale. My goal is to reduce the fat on my body. I want to be fit for all the benefits of fitness. Therefore, the short-term expectations of a scale display should not swing my resolve to such an extent.

Equally, my spiritual resolve should not be dependent upon expectations that are surrogates of faithfulness. Our spiritual goal as Christians should be fruitfulness, blossoming from minds set upon the Spirit, eyes fixated upon Jesus, daily; even when we feel unfruitful. The perfection of our faith doesn’t follow a standard operating procedure, nor a regimented timeline.

Jesus is the perfecter of our faith. This means that He is perfecting our faith exactly in the manner that He intends. We just need to trust the Perfecter and keep our eyes fixed on Him while running our race even when the course before us doesn’t seem clearly marked out.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to praise you from the plateaus.  Help me to keep my eyes fixed on you.  Teach me to set my mind on the things of the Spirit.  Thank you for the faith that you have pioneered within me and the perfecting of the faith, which you have already accomplished.  Lord, don’t stop.  Please continue to perfect me in the power of your Spirit for you glory and fruitfulness.  I pray this in the precious name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen

QUOTE (Walt Disney) – Dec. 5

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“Every person has his own ideas of the act of praying for God’s guidance, tolerance, and mercy to fulfill his duties and responsibilities. My own concept of prayer is not as a plea for special favors nor as a quick palliation for wrongs knowingly committed. A prayer, it seems to me, implies a promise as well as a request; at the highest level, prayer not only is a supplication for strength and guidance, but also becomes an affirmation of life and thus a reverent praise of God.”
~ Walt Disney

“I believe firmly in the efficacy of religion, in its powerful influence on a person’s whole life. It helps immeasurably to meet the storms and stress of life and keep you attuned to the Divine inspiration. Without inspiration, we would perish.”
~ Walt Disney

In honor of Walt Disney, a cartoonist, animator, and co-founder of the Walt Disney Company, who was born on this day in 1901.

Resources:
Famous Birthdays on this Day in History – December 5th
Notable Quotes > Walt Disney Quotes

QUOTE (Jonathan Swift) – Jan 13

“We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.”~ Jonathan Swift

In honor of Jonathan Swift, an Irish author and satirist, best known for writing Gulliver’s Travels, who was ordained an Anglican priest on this day in 1695.

Resources:
This Day in History for 10^th January
Goodreads > Quote by Jonathan Swift

 

QUOTE (Alexis de Tocqueville) – April 16

“I sought for the key to the greatness and genius of America in her harbors…; in her fertile fields and boundless forests; in her rich mines and vast world commerce; in her public school system and institutions of learning. I sought for it in her democratic Congress and in her matchless Constitution. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great. The safeguard of morality is religion, and morality is the best security of law as well as the surest pledge of freedom.” ~ Alexis de Tocqueville

In honor of Alexis de Tocqueville, French political thinker and historian, who died on this day in 1859. Tocqueville traveled the United States and wrote one of the earliest works of sociology and political science in his Democracy in America.

Resources:
This Day in History for 16^th April
Alexis de Tocqueville Quotes on America as a Christian Nation

 

QUOTE (George Washington) – Feb 22

“In politics as in religion, my tenets are few and simple. The leading one of which, and indeed that which embraces most others, is to be honest and just ourselves and to exact it from others, meddling as little as possible in their affairs where our own are not involved. If this maxim was generally adopted, wars would cease and our swords would soon be converted into reap hooks and our harvests be more peaceful, abundant, and happy.”
~ George Washington

In honor of George Washington, the first President of the United States, who was born on this day in 1732.

Resources:
This Day in History for 22nd February
George Washington > Quotes

 

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• Dave’s Quote Of The Day – George Washington Edition

QUOTE (Fredrick Douglass) – Feb 20

“I love the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ: I therefore hate the corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of the land. Indeed, I can see no reason, but the most deceitful one, for calling the religion of this land Christianity. I look upon it as the climax of all misnomers, the boldest of all frauds, and the grossest of all libels. Never was there a clearer case of ‘stealing the livery of the court of heaven to serve the devil in.’ I am filled with unutterable loathing when I contemplate the religious pomp and show, together with the horrible inconsistencies, which every where surround me. We have men-stealers for ministers, women-whippers for missionaries, and cradle-plunderers for church members. The man who wields the blood-clotted cowskin during the week fills the pulpit on Sunday, and claims to be a minister of the meek and lowly Jesus. . . . The slave auctioneer’s bell and the church-going bell chime in with each other, and the bitter cries of the heart-broken slave are drowned in the religious shouts of his pious master. Revivals of religion and revivals in the slave-trade go hand in hand together. The slave prison and the church stand near each other. The clanking of fetters and the rattling of chains in the prison, and the pious psalm and solemn prayer in the church, may be heard at the same time. The dealers in the bodies and souls of men erect their stand in the presence of the pulpit, and they mutually help each other. The dealer gives his blood-stained gold to support the pulpit, and the pulpit, in return, covers his infernal business with the garb of Christianity. Here we have religion and robbery the allies of each other—devils dressed in angels’ robes, and hell presenting the semblance of paradise.”
~  Fredrick Douglass

In honor of Fredrick Douglass, arguably the most important black American leader of the 19^th century, who died on this day in 1895.

Resources:
Today in Christian History – February 20
Frederick Douglass > Quotes > Quotable Quote

Related articles

• Today in Black History: February 20, 1895 “The Death of Fredrick Douglass”
• Day 1: Fredrick Douglass #Black History Month

RUBE-GOLDBERG’S OF GOD – Dec. 25th

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.” Luke 2:1

I appreciate a simple and elegant solution to a difficult problem. God had a little problem with the birth of the Messiah. Mary was in the wrong city. There were a myriad of solutions to get her to travel: business, family responsibilities, friends, etc. but God didn’t take a simple solution.

Rather, He took the superpower of the age and made them do a census. The US just employed 635,000 people & paid $13 billion to do a census. Augustus’ census was probably propositional and resulted in multitudes of people traveling across the face of the earth.  The real purpose of all that effort was to getting one teenage couple from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

That sort of seems like a complicated way of doing things.

God could have gotten Augustus to send out messengers announcing the birth of the Messiah just like they did for the census.  He did not use scrolls or official announcements; He used the sky.  The birth announcement of the Son of God was made with the ink of planets and constellations.

Seems like a complicated way of doing things.

It all seems like a “rube goldberg” solution, until we consider why. Why does an NBA basketball player do a slam dunk when a lay-up or just a dunk will do? A slam dunk is a statement. The census of Caesar is a mankind slam dunk – a statement by God in relation to humanity and our political systems. The Star of Bethlehem is a cosmic slam dunk – a statement by God in relation to the entire physical universe.

God’s redemptive plan is about His glory even down to the details of getting people into the correct locations and the birth announcement. Caesar, any political leader or superpower, is not beyond God’s control and never has been; God can even use pagan Rome to accomplish His purposes; slam dunk – statement!

The orbit of planets and stars are not beyond God’s control. God placed them where He wants them to be and they go where He tells them to go and always have.  Nothing is too hard for him. He writes in the sky even when all but a tiny handful will miss the real meaning. God can use the universe to accomplish exactly what He wants; slam dunk – statement!

God’s glory is about God.

God does because He can.  We should be encouraged in all situations and give Him all the glory because He deserves it. May our eyes be open to the reality that God is doing “slam dunks” all the time. We just need to be looking to see how awesome our God is.

PRAYER: Lord – you are so far beyond me that I tremble in fear of your vastness. I feel my smallness when I consider the displays of your glory. I am astounded that you would send your own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh for sin, in order to remove the condemnation that I faced in my flesh. I am in awe that the righteous requirements of your law is fulfilled in me as I walk not according to the flesh but according to your Spirit. Thank you, Lord. Thank you for sending your Son to save me.   Amen

RUBBER PRAYER – Dec. 12th

“And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” Luke 18:1

I think every praying person has experienced a night of intercession futility; the discouragement of spewing forth your heart to a blank ceiling; a night of pleading to your God under a canopy of stars that speaks only to your smallness. Those nights can cause us to question the value of prayer. Why pray to a God who knows everything about me? Isn’t that just telling Him what He already knows? What is the point of prayer?

We need to consider what came first – the feeling of ineffective prayers or the discouragement. For me, my struggles with prayer have come when I was already low.  My discouragement proceeded the nights where it seemed as if I was merely talking to myself.

I think that we often overlook this aspect of prayer. This verse tells us that we ought to always pray and not lose heart. There is a link between the two. It is a link between our praying and our confidence.

I am most encouraged when I see my God at work. I am most encouraged when I see God working in a very personal way in my life but how do I know when it is God working or just the random chaos of the universe.  Consider what prayer is.  Prayer is my communicating with God (my praise, concerns, hopes, fears, plans) and God responding in accordance to His will. When I see him respond to something that I have specifically asked for, then I know it is Him and I am encouraged; I am protected from losing heart because my God is very real to me.

Now, what if I had not prayed? It is entirely possible that God would do exactly the same thing but there will be missing aspect – my encouragement. I will be the one missing out.

As a parent, it is important for me to tell my kids why they are being rewarded or why they are being disciplined. It creates a cause-effect relationship for them that I hope will result in encouraging or discouraging a specific behavior. Prayer creates a cause-effect opportunity for God to teach us. When we see God answer a very specific request that we have laid before Him then we are encourage and respond with praise. We give him the glory that he is due.  We fulfill our purpose.  That is good for us – that teaches us.

Jesus told us that “we have not because we ask not”.  God is not a begrudging Father that is selfishly not giving us good things because we didn’t say please. Have you considered that God is not giving you something because He wants the best for you? The best for you is that you are encouraged in your faith and you respond in praise to him.  That is the best for you!

We will maximize the opportunity for God to respond to us when we are in constant prayer. There will be more cause-effect opportunities for us to behold, the more we pray.  We will be more encouraged, the more we praise. We will have more to glorify God for, the more we pray.

Pray – it is good for you.

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for being a God that listens and responds.  Thank you for knowing and providing the things I need that I don’t even have a clue to ask for.  Forgive me for neglecting the incredible blessing and priveledge of coming to you in prayer.  I feel so foolish to have not valued that gift I should. Lord – make me into a man of prayer; I want to see you more, please bless my time of prayer with you to fulfill that.    Amen

 

1+1 = GOD – Dec. 8th

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Psalm 19:1

What if we lived in a world where 1 + 1 did not equal 2? What if you could never be confident in the sum really being equal to two. What if we could not rely upon the observations of the world around us?

We could not know anything with confidence.

Einstein’s theory of relativity states that everything is relative to the observer. The consequence of this theory is that the sum of 1 + 1 for one person might not be the same as for another person. The sum depends upon what is going on with each person. If you’re in a car speeding along at 60 mph and pass another car going 40 mph, then that car will look like it is going 20 mph to you.  However, that car will look like it is going 40 mph to a person alongside the road.  The appearance of the speed of the car is relative to the observer.

The theory of relativity can be ignored in our daily lives because we are all hurling through space at the same speed, on the same planet. This very special case allows us to look at the world around us and with confidence know that 1 + 1 does actually equal 2.

Consider what a blessing God has given us in just this one aspect of creation. God could have created a world where Newton’s elegant law, F=ma, did not apply.  Our world could have been dominated by the uncertainty of the general theory of relativity.  I am not really sure what that would have looked like, since this world is all I have ever known.  However, we are told that God is outside of time. That means that God is outside the realm of Newton’s laws and the general theory of relativity, for that matter. So, there is a reality that we cannot even comprehend; physics laws that are beyond us. It is a place where our math does not work.

Therefore, God made this world different than His realm. Why? Why would God create this world in a manner that we can rely upon 1+1  actually and consistently equalling 2?

To declare his glory; to proclaim his handiwork.  It is necessary for us created beings to be placed in a world where math works.  It is necessary for math to work for us to even begin to make sense of what the heavens are telling.  A world in which 1 + 1 always equals 2 is a world within which we can look at the sky and see his handiwork.  That is an incredible blessing that we daily overlook. Just consider all the aspects of this creation that may exist, which we may never even know about that allows us to know God. It is staggering to consider.

God’s glory and handiwork is all around us if we just take the time to look. It is even in the fact that 1 + 1 = 2.

PRAYER: Lord – I am astonded by the works of your hand.  I know that I get so preoccupied with my daily life that I miss so much of what you have displayed around me. You are great and greatly to be praised.  Thank you for making me and making a world in which I can see and know your handiwork and glory.    Amen

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