Where have I been? What have I done? What dreams of mine have I seen fulfilled? What significance will the sum of my accomplishments have when I am dead and absent from this world? How much potential have I wasted, how much time? How much time do I have left? The futility of life in general, my life, in particular, is getting to me. I am sad about the opportunities I have missed, lost and squandered. There are things I hoped to accomplish once.
Here's a list of things I once hoped to accomplish; I wrote this list in 2011.
Earn enough money working to support me and my family
Go on an Alaskan cruise
Fly somewhere
Visit Grandpa and Valeta in Colorado
Drive a car (or car-like vehicle)
Take the Coast Surfliner Amtrak route
Write a computer application
Witness a miraculous healing (Not an accomplishment per se, but wouldn't that be cool?)
I was highly motivated at one point. I thought I saw a clear path to employment, which seems to be a necessary prerequisite to most of my list. That dream died, after an extensive, state-supported job search that was ultimately unfruitful. At one point, I realized that none of these goals furthered God's kingdom. I was again motivated to share God's messages through writing. I'm not a bad writer. I manage to earn around $150 a month doing freelance writing. I could not however find a path to make writing for God happen. I could find no supplier of Christian content interested in my work. After working my theology blog for a solid six months, I had just 10-15 people who would read each post and minimal engagement with my readers.
Lord, this isn't right. This isn't the life You've called me to live. You've called me to live for You, to do great things for Your kingdom. What have I done? Where have I been? What goals of God's kingdom have I seen fulfilled?
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.
1 Timothy 6:11
Hmmm...
Friday, April 29, 2016
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Just the Way You Are
Recently, I had a conversation about the gender of God. I had an initial opinion on the subject, but I want to examine the subject in depth. This article is the result of my research.
I'd like to start by establishing something that should be an obvious fact; humans have gender. A person's gender is established from conception by his or her genetic code. Two X chromosomes make someone a female. One X and one Y chromosome, make someone a male. Many people would like to argue that gender is flexible, but this is not the case. We may perceive our gender incorrectly. Gender reassignment surgery, hormone treatments, and other techniques may change what we look like. Regardless of any of these situations or techniques, human gender is fundamentally immutable.
Is this the case with God? Does God have gender as well? The obvious answer is to say that God does have a gender. After all, when our Bibles use pronouns to refer to God, they are exclusively male. However, what is obvious is not always correct. While most English translations of the Bible use male pronouns, Elohim, the Hebrew word we translate as God may refer to male or female deities. For questions about God, the Bible is our best source of information. Here is what the Bible has to say on the subject:
“A time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
John 4:23-24
In this verse, we learn that God is a Spirit. In another passage, Jesus tells us that spirits do not have physical bodies:
“Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
Luke 24:39
Based on the Bible, God has no gender. When God chooses to appear in the form of a human, this form must necessarily have a gender; God is in no way defined by this physicality. If this is the case, why do we refer to God using terms like Father? There are three reasons:
No Gender-Neutral Pronouns
The English language has no gender-neutral personal pronouns, and with good reason. By definition, personal pronouns refer to people. Since people are either male or female, gender-neutral personal pronouns are not necessary.
Tradition
In addition to the limitations of English vocabulary, The Bible refers to God in male terms, and most people are comfortable using them. Anyone who reads the Bible, however, knows that God has little use for human traditions. Jesus blasted the religious teachers of His day in this and other similar passages:
“You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”
Mark 7:8
Following human traditions is a poor reason for doing anything, but there is one more reason that actually is valid.
Accurately Representing God’s Role
In human conception, men and women have different functions. Mothers are essential to the development of an infant, and they are perfectly capable of accomplishing this feat without the assistance of the father. Though I would never try to minimize the essential role of the mother, when it comes to conception the father takes the more active role. The father gives and the mother receives. This accurately represents God’s role in creation.
The words we use are human constructs. As such, they are limited by the human capacity for understanding. We cannot completely describe God because we cannot fully comprehend God. However, in the English language, referring to God using Father and other male pronouns is the best choice.
I'd like to start by establishing something that should be an obvious fact; humans have gender. A person's gender is established from conception by his or her genetic code. Two X chromosomes make someone a female. One X and one Y chromosome, make someone a male. Many people would like to argue that gender is flexible, but this is not the case. We may perceive our gender incorrectly. Gender reassignment surgery, hormone treatments, and other techniques may change what we look like. Regardless of any of these situations or techniques, human gender is fundamentally immutable.
Is this the case with God? Does God have gender as well? The obvious answer is to say that God does have a gender. After all, when our Bibles use pronouns to refer to God, they are exclusively male. However, what is obvious is not always correct. While most English translations of the Bible use male pronouns, Elohim, the Hebrew word we translate as God may refer to male or female deities. For questions about God, the Bible is our best source of information. Here is what the Bible has to say on the subject:
“A time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
John 4:23-24
In this verse, we learn that God is a Spirit. In another passage, Jesus tells us that spirits do not have physical bodies:
“Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
Luke 24:39
Based on the Bible, God has no gender. When God chooses to appear in the form of a human, this form must necessarily have a gender; God is in no way defined by this physicality. If this is the case, why do we refer to God using terms like Father? There are three reasons:
No Gender-Neutral Pronouns
The English language has no gender-neutral personal pronouns, and with good reason. By definition, personal pronouns refer to people. Since people are either male or female, gender-neutral personal pronouns are not necessary.
Tradition
In addition to the limitations of English vocabulary, The Bible refers to God in male terms, and most people are comfortable using them. Anyone who reads the Bible, however, knows that God has little use for human traditions. Jesus blasted the religious teachers of His day in this and other similar passages:
“You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”
Mark 7:8
Following human traditions is a poor reason for doing anything, but there is one more reason that actually is valid.
Accurately Representing God’s Role
In human conception, men and women have different functions. Mothers are essential to the development of an infant, and they are perfectly capable of accomplishing this feat without the assistance of the father. Though I would never try to minimize the essential role of the mother, when it comes to conception the father takes the more active role. The father gives and the mother receives. This accurately represents God’s role in creation.
The words we use are human constructs. As such, they are limited by the human capacity for understanding. We cannot completely describe God because we cannot fully comprehend God. However, in the English language, referring to God using Father and other male pronouns is the best choice.
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Careless Whisper?
What kind of relationship did Abraham have with God? Sometimes, I feel as if God is impressing me to do one thing or another. My rule of thumb is simple; if the impression I have makes sense based on what I know of God, I will do it, if I can.
Based on this process, I have done numerous things in the years such as reading or writing something, praying for a specific person or situation, making a monetary donation to a cause or researching a ministry, educational or job opportunity. These are all simple, small things that, for the most part, could be my own ideas. There are only a handful of situations where I can say that I was almost certainly led by God to perform some action or another.
Abraham, on the other hand, receives a message like this in Genesis 22:
“Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
If I had the tiniest impression in my mind of doing something horrible like this, I would immediately dismiss it as a thought from the evil one. How could Abraham have been so certain that God was telling him to complete this seemingly insane task?
When I think of the command from this passage, I can't help but think of another passage.
They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I did not command, nor did it enter my mind.
Jeremiah 7:31
Here, God says that the Israelites who were sacrificing their children as burnt offerings were doing something He did not command, something that had never entered His mind.
Is it possible that the Lord would actually have given Abraham this bizarre command? Is it possible that Abraham received this idea from some other source and that God stopped him before he could complete the task? Whether it was directed by God or preempted by God, the end result was a powerful foreshadowing of God's own sacrifice of His son.
A literal reading of this passage says that God did give Abraham this command. Is this the right interpretation for this passage, or could there be another interpretation? I simply do not know, but I do know this; every time I had trusted God, He has never let me down.
Based on this process, I have done numerous things in the years such as reading or writing something, praying for a specific person or situation, making a monetary donation to a cause or researching a ministry, educational or job opportunity. These are all simple, small things that, for the most part, could be my own ideas. There are only a handful of situations where I can say that I was almost certainly led by God to perform some action or another.
Abraham, on the other hand, receives a message like this in Genesis 22:
“Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
If I had the tiniest impression in my mind of doing something horrible like this, I would immediately dismiss it as a thought from the evil one. How could Abraham have been so certain that God was telling him to complete this seemingly insane task?
When I think of the command from this passage, I can't help but think of another passage.
They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I did not command, nor did it enter my mind.
Jeremiah 7:31
Here, God says that the Israelites who were sacrificing their children as burnt offerings were doing something He did not command, something that had never entered His mind.
Is it possible that the Lord would actually have given Abraham this bizarre command? Is it possible that Abraham received this idea from some other source and that God stopped him before he could complete the task? Whether it was directed by God or preempted by God, the end result was a powerful foreshadowing of God's own sacrifice of His son.
A literal reading of this passage says that God did give Abraham this command. Is this the right interpretation for this passage, or could there be another interpretation? I simply do not know, but I do know this; every time I had trusted God, He has never let me down.
Monday, December 22, 2014
The Advent as Described by a Shepherd
The first thing we felt was the silence. A strange hush seemed to settle over the
landscape. Nights were normally quiet,
but this silence was decidedly unnatural.
We all seemed to notice the silence at the same time, though none of us was
willing to speak. Then, we saw something
strange; a light appeared at the horizon, a light like nothing we had ever
seen. It was impossibly bright, brighter
than the midday sun on the clearest day, and yet we could stare directly at it
without blinking. Fast as a bolt of lightning,
it approached.
As it stopped, it took the form of a man. He was dressed as a soldier, with a sword
attached to his belt. His clothes glowed
white; they were the source of the light.
Though he made no threatening move, each of us knew he could have killed
us in a heartbeat. We were too terrified
to run; we fell to our knees in fear.
Then he spoke.
“Fear not!” His voice
thundered. We found ourselves gaining
courage, though not from ourselves. “I have
been sent to bring you good news, joyful news, for everyone. Today in Bethlehem, your Savior has been born;
he is the Messiah, the Lord. Look for
this sign: look for a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Thousands of men and women suddenly joined the man, all
dressed as he was. They were each armed;
the least of them would have been terrifying, if not for the command of the
first not to fear.
The army was singing, their voices distinct, but repeating
one message: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those
on whom His favor rests.”
Without warning, the company disappeared, leaving no trace
of their existence, save the courage that filled each of our hearts, nearly to
bursting. One of us said what we were
each thinking: “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened,
which the Lord has told us about.”
In Bethlehem, we found everything exactly as the angel had
described. We bowed to worship the child
and marveled that the Lord would choose us to witness arrival of the Savior. We went on our way, continuing to praise God,
and telling everyone what we had seen.
Saturday, December 20, 2014
It's My Life?
With all the hype surrounding the story of Brittany Maynard, an Oregon cancer patient who chose to end her life on November 1st with a lethal dose of sedative, the issue of legalized suicide has been thrust into the limelight. I have an extremely strong opinion on this matter, but my personal thoughts are not in question. The issue of suicide, government-sanctioned or otherwise deserves serious consideration. With this in mind, what does the Bible have to say about suicide?
The most obvious question is “Does suicide break God's law?” To my mind, the answer to this question is clear. Exodus 20:13, “You shall not murder.” As it is defined as the murder of oneself, God clearly does not condone suicide.
One might counter this command with a statement like this: “It's my life shouldn't I have the right to end it?” Is it, I wonder actually your life? You and I, like every other human, were brought to life through no action of our own; you didn't bring your life into existence, didn't earn it, didn't ask for it and cannot replace it. Based on these criteria, I would suggest that “your life” does not actually belong to you.
Let me use a crude example. Your life is a bit like a borrowed car. Imagine that you borrow a friend’s car. You use it as if it were yours; ideally, you put fuel in it, you take care of it as if it were yours. You do not by any means have the right to sell it. Your friend would be understandably upset if you carelessly wreck the car. If you willfully destroy it, you could be criminally liable for the damages.
We cannot do anything about growing old and eventually dying. We have limited power against disease and accidental death, but we can only delay our death at best. The Bible sums up the way we should treat our bodies in 1st Corinthians 6:19-20 when it says this: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
I can see two reasons someone could choose to end their own life. In the case of Brittany Maynard, she wanted to avoid the pain that her condition would cause her and her family as her terminal cancer proceeded. Far more commonly, a person will commit suicide during a time of depression. If either of these situations describes you, I understand how you feel. I have a severe disability myself, and I have dealt with depression. I have felt the temptation to end my own life. I have gone so far as aiming a loaded gun at myself during a particularly dark time. By the grace of God, and with the support of my family and friends, I made it through.
Now, to the most difficult part of this entry. I had originally intended to complete this entry in November. I was working on this post late in the night on November 19. I intended to finish it the next day, but as some of you know, my brother-in-law committed suicide on November 20. Out of sensitivity to my wife, I chose to delay this entry.
I find myself wishing I would have finished the entry on that night; maybe, just maybe, he would have read it and changed his mind. Now, I will never know. If you are considering suicide, I urge you to find another answer. No matter how bad you think things are, there is hope. No matter who you are and what your situation is, someone other than you will be hurt by your choice. Maybe you don't have any family or friends. Maybe there is no one who will miss you. In that case, consider the police officer who will find your body. Think of the paramedics who have dedicated their lives to saving others. Think of the coroner and detectives who will be forced to investigate the circumstances of your untimely death. All these people that you don't even know will lose just a bit of hope.
Finally, to the last part. What if a friend or family member has killed themselves? Some people will tell you that God cannot forgive this person. From my understanding of the Bible, there is no reason to believe this. The only death that is truly eternally significant, from the Biblical perspective, is the death of Christ. In Hebrews 10:5-18, the writer unequivocally states that by this one sacrifice, “He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”
If your friend or family member was seeking Christ, they will not be turned away. If they were not, let me encourage you with these verses:
“He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He.”
Deuteronomy 32:4
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9
You can trust that God will always make the right decision. He is the only one who knows all the facts, including the thoughts, attitudes, and desires of your loved one. You can confidently leave your loved one in His hands; I urge you to put yourself there as well, as I have.
The most obvious question is “Does suicide break God's law?” To my mind, the answer to this question is clear. Exodus 20:13, “You shall not murder.” As it is defined as the murder of oneself, God clearly does not condone suicide.
One might counter this command with a statement like this: “It's my life shouldn't I have the right to end it?” Is it, I wonder actually your life? You and I, like every other human, were brought to life through no action of our own; you didn't bring your life into existence, didn't earn it, didn't ask for it and cannot replace it. Based on these criteria, I would suggest that “your life” does not actually belong to you.
Let me use a crude example. Your life is a bit like a borrowed car. Imagine that you borrow a friend’s car. You use it as if it were yours; ideally, you put fuel in it, you take care of it as if it were yours. You do not by any means have the right to sell it. Your friend would be understandably upset if you carelessly wreck the car. If you willfully destroy it, you could be criminally liable for the damages.
We cannot do anything about growing old and eventually dying. We have limited power against disease and accidental death, but we can only delay our death at best. The Bible sums up the way we should treat our bodies in 1st Corinthians 6:19-20 when it says this: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
I can see two reasons someone could choose to end their own life. In the case of Brittany Maynard, she wanted to avoid the pain that her condition would cause her and her family as her terminal cancer proceeded. Far more commonly, a person will commit suicide during a time of depression. If either of these situations describes you, I understand how you feel. I have a severe disability myself, and I have dealt with depression. I have felt the temptation to end my own life. I have gone so far as aiming a loaded gun at myself during a particularly dark time. By the grace of God, and with the support of my family and friends, I made it through.
Now, to the most difficult part of this entry. I had originally intended to complete this entry in November. I was working on this post late in the night on November 19. I intended to finish it the next day, but as some of you know, my brother-in-law committed suicide on November 20. Out of sensitivity to my wife, I chose to delay this entry.
I find myself wishing I would have finished the entry on that night; maybe, just maybe, he would have read it and changed his mind. Now, I will never know. If you are considering suicide, I urge you to find another answer. No matter how bad you think things are, there is hope. No matter who you are and what your situation is, someone other than you will be hurt by your choice. Maybe you don't have any family or friends. Maybe there is no one who will miss you. In that case, consider the police officer who will find your body. Think of the paramedics who have dedicated their lives to saving others. Think of the coroner and detectives who will be forced to investigate the circumstances of your untimely death. All these people that you don't even know will lose just a bit of hope.
Finally, to the last part. What if a friend or family member has killed themselves? Some people will tell you that God cannot forgive this person. From my understanding of the Bible, there is no reason to believe this. The only death that is truly eternally significant, from the Biblical perspective, is the death of Christ. In Hebrews 10:5-18, the writer unequivocally states that by this one sacrifice, “He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”
If your friend or family member was seeking Christ, they will not be turned away. If they were not, let me encourage you with these verses:
“He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He.”
Deuteronomy 32:4
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9
You can trust that God will always make the right decision. He is the only one who knows all the facts, including the thoughts, attitudes, and desires of your loved one. You can confidently leave your loved one in His hands; I urge you to put yourself there as well, as I have.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Blood Moons?
I've had several people ask me about the so-called Blood Moons, and what they signify. I know that many teachers and preachers have made compelling cases for these astrological events heralding Biblical prophecy. I agree that on the surface even, these arguments sound compelling. I have one serious problem though.
The Bible is crystal clear, again and again, that we should avoid astrology, divining and anything like them. This is unequivocally stated in Leviticus 19:26, Zechariah 10:2, Jeremiah 10:1-2 and many other verses. When we search the skies for a message from God, as John Hagee and others are leading us to do, we are doing something God calls an abomination. I urge you to join me in helping others get past this nonsense of Blood Moons and the like and back to reality.
The Bible is crystal clear, again and again, that we should avoid astrology, divining and anything like them. This is unequivocally stated in Leviticus 19:26, Zechariah 10:2, Jeremiah 10:1-2 and many other verses. When we search the skies for a message from God, as John Hagee and others are leading us to do, we are doing something God calls an abomination. I urge you to join me in helping others get past this nonsense of Blood Moons and the like and back to reality.
Friday, November 7, 2014
Lifegroup Study, November 7, 2014
This is the study I wrote for the small group Bible study group I lead. I'm leading a discussion through the book of James, verse by verse. This week, we're covering James 1:13-15.
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
James 1:13-15
Who is responsible for my struggles with temptation?
The blame lies partially with satan, partially with me; I am responsible to turn away and not dwell on the temptation. If you continually struggle with the same sins, check your thought life.
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:5
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Philippians 4:8
Is it sinful to be tempted? What if I continually struggle with the same temptations?
It is not sinful to be tempted; Jesus was tempted during his time on earth.
“...and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.”
Mark 1:13
“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.”
Luke 4:1-2
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.”
Hebrews 4:15
What is the proper response to temptation; how did Jesus respond?
You have a choice. God will always provide a way out if you will choose it.
Respond with scripture. Jesus always responds to satan by quoting scripture.
If you don’t know the Bible, this will be very difficult; memorizing scripture is key, and you can do it.
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
1 Corinthians 10:13
Re-read verse 15, is there a progression here? Notice that sin “gives birth to death” only once it is “full-grown.” Does this mean that we can sin without it leading to death?
The Bible seems to say yes, though we could spend an entire semester on this topic. Discuss this until closing.
“If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is a sin that does not lead to death.”
1 John 5:16-17
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
James 1:13-15
Who is responsible for my struggles with temptation?
The blame lies partially with satan, partially with me; I am responsible to turn away and not dwell on the temptation. If you continually struggle with the same sins, check your thought life.
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:5
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Philippians 4:8
Is it sinful to be tempted? What if I continually struggle with the same temptations?
It is not sinful to be tempted; Jesus was tempted during his time on earth.
“...and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.”
Mark 1:13
“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.”
Luke 4:1-2
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.”
Hebrews 4:15
What is the proper response to temptation; how did Jesus respond?
You have a choice. God will always provide a way out if you will choose it.
Respond with scripture. Jesus always responds to satan by quoting scripture.
If you don’t know the Bible, this will be very difficult; memorizing scripture is key, and you can do it.
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
1 Corinthians 10:13
Re-read verse 15, is there a progression here? Notice that sin “gives birth to death” only once it is “full-grown.” Does this mean that we can sin without it leading to death?
The Bible seems to say yes, though we could spend an entire semester on this topic. Discuss this until closing.
“If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is a sin that does not lead to death.”
1 John 5:16-17
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Eye of the Tiger
I've let myself be in limbo for far too long. For far too long, I've let other priorities take precedence over my desire to serve God well. I find myself with little desire to read God's word. I find myself without inspiration to write.
Time is precious; life in this world does not continue indefinitely. These are facts that I should be aware of more than most people, and yet they do not seem to affect my life. I find myself now, having wasted so much time, wondering if there is still time left for me to accomplish something great with my life. I do not know what that great thing could be, but I know that I long for it.
Two things must change in my life if I am to reach this goal:
1. Whatever I do, I must strive to do well.
2. I must spend a drastically reduced amount of time doing inconsequential tasks.
I have willpower. I have volition. In my own strength, I could probably make both of those changes in my life, at least for a short time. This is not what I want, however. If the changes I make in my life are simply based on my choices, I do not believe that anything great will happen. To do something great, I must focus on something greater than myself. I must focus on God and by extension every person around me.
What I've actually done is to allow my own comfort to become far too important. As John the Baptist said in John 3:30, “I must decrease; He must increase.” This does not mean that I must stop caring for myself. On the contrary, I must become disciplined about caring for my mind, soul and body so that I can be prepared for whatever opportunities God places before me.
If I may ask, I will need prayer to accomplish any of this. If you want to support me in this goal, please keep me in your prayers, so that I can find God's will for my life and be faithful and disciplined to always be about my mission.
Time is precious; life in this world does not continue indefinitely. These are facts that I should be aware of more than most people, and yet they do not seem to affect my life. I find myself now, having wasted so much time, wondering if there is still time left for me to accomplish something great with my life. I do not know what that great thing could be, but I know that I long for it.
Two things must change in my life if I am to reach this goal:
1. Whatever I do, I must strive to do well.
2. I must spend a drastically reduced amount of time doing inconsequential tasks.
I have willpower. I have volition. In my own strength, I could probably make both of those changes in my life, at least for a short time. This is not what I want, however. If the changes I make in my life are simply based on my choices, I do not believe that anything great will happen. To do something great, I must focus on something greater than myself. I must focus on God and by extension every person around me.
What I've actually done is to allow my own comfort to become far too important. As John the Baptist said in John 3:30, “I must decrease; He must increase.” This does not mean that I must stop caring for myself. On the contrary, I must become disciplined about caring for my mind, soul and body so that I can be prepared for whatever opportunities God places before me.
If I may ask, I will need prayer to accomplish any of this. If you want to support me in this goal, please keep me in your prayers, so that I can find God's will for my life and be faithful and disciplined to always be about my mission.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Sunshine of Your Love
When the entire world seems to be headed away from You,
Lord, give me the strength to flee to You.
In Your strength, I can face anything.
Even if I am forced to fight against countless enemies,
if I am pressed to the point where I despair of my very life,
just to get a glimpse of You, I will fight.
I will fight to get to You,
For where else could I go?
Who but You, Lord, holds the keys
to life, and death and eternity?
No door can stay barred against You.
Even what is done in darkest secrecy
cannot stay hidden from You.
I am in anguish inside;
I am fearful that my wicked deeds
will be found out, yet I pray that You will find them.
I pray that you will find out my wicked deeds,
for I know that my depravity will melt away
when it is exposed to Your light.
Lord, please give me Your strength
so that I may master myself and
spend my remaining days doing Your work.
Lord, give me the strength to flee to You.
In Your strength, I can face anything.
Even if I am forced to fight against countless enemies,
if I am pressed to the point where I despair of my very life,
just to get a glimpse of You, I will fight.
I will fight to get to You,
For where else could I go?
Who but You, Lord, holds the keys
to life, and death and eternity?
No door can stay barred against You.
Even what is done in darkest secrecy
cannot stay hidden from You.
I am in anguish inside;
I am fearful that my wicked deeds
will be found out, yet I pray that You will find them.
I pray that you will find out my wicked deeds,
for I know that my depravity will melt away
when it is exposed to Your light.
Lord, please give me Your strength
so that I may master myself and
spend my remaining days doing Your work.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
The Who?
Praise the Lord,
for He is exceedingly great.
Who but He could take my sin
and cast it away like trash,
never to be remembered or considered again?
Who but He could know my inmost being,
yet still care for me?
Who but He deserves everything I have to give?
There are three things that make God great,
Four things that make Him exceedingly great.
My God knows all.
My God sees all.
My God is eternal.
My God is faithful.
Oh, join me;
come, let us go
to the House of His People.
There, we will offer ourselves to Him,
though it is He who makes us acceptable.
Oh, join me;
come, let us go
to a world that is perishing.
There we will share His love
with those who have no hope.
Praise the Lord,
for He is exceedingly great.
Who but He is worthy?
for He is exceedingly great.
Who but He could take my sin
and cast it away like trash,
never to be remembered or considered again?
Who but He could know my inmost being,
yet still care for me?
Who but He deserves everything I have to give?
There are three things that make God great,
Four things that make Him exceedingly great.
My God knows all.
My God sees all.
My God is eternal.
My God is faithful.
Oh, join me;
come, let us go
to the House of His People.
There, we will offer ourselves to Him,
though it is He who makes us acceptable.
Oh, join me;
come, let us go
to a world that is perishing.
There we will share His love
with those who have no hope.
Praise the Lord,
for He is exceedingly great.
Who but He is worthy?
Monday, December 16, 2013
Find the Cost of Freedom
In Numbers 28 & 29, the line-up of sacrifices the Israelites were required to offer on a daily, weekly, monthly and annual basis is given. When everything is totaled, the numbers are shocking. Here is a table with the numbers of animals sacrificed and today's approximate market value.
So, all these sacrifices were offered; all these animals were killed, day after day, year after year. With all of these sacrifices happening, we could assume that forgiveness for sin was happening, right? Well, there's a bit of a problem with that. In Hebrews 10:4, it says this; “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins”. In fact, animal sacrifices are simply a reminder of the fact that we all are guilty of breaking God's laws.
So what hope of salvation did these early Israelites have? If the animal sacrifices were not capable of taking away their sin, then how could they find forgiveness? The answer to that question is actually simple, though it seems complex. The death of Jesus bought forgiveness for everyone who has ever sinned, from Adam and Eve, all the way down to those of us ask God's forgiveness today. As I have mentioned before, one of the attributes of God is the fact that He exists outside of the universe. Because he exists outside of the universe, He is not bound by time, as we are.
As it reminds us in 1 Peter, 1:18-20, this is the way that we are saved; it is not with perishable things such as silver or gold, with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world to be the sacrifice for all the sins of humanity. This is why in Isaiah 53:6, the writer can truthfully say that “the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
What a powerful statement this is; there is no person who has ever lived that was beyond the power of forgiveness, if only he or she asked for it. How many of us needlessly carry around burdens of guilt, over sin that we can be forgiven for. Though there was an incredible cost for our freedom, we need pay nothing for it. For us, the cost of freedom is $0.
| Lambs | Bulls | Rams | Goats | Total |
| 1093 | 113 | 37 | 30 | 1273 |
| $218,600 | $565,000 | $14,800 | $9,000 | $807,400 |
So, all these sacrifices were offered; all these animals were killed, day after day, year after year. With all of these sacrifices happening, we could assume that forgiveness for sin was happening, right? Well, there's a bit of a problem with that. In Hebrews 10:4, it says this; “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins”. In fact, animal sacrifices are simply a reminder of the fact that we all are guilty of breaking God's laws.
So what hope of salvation did these early Israelites have? If the animal sacrifices were not capable of taking away their sin, then how could they find forgiveness? The answer to that question is actually simple, though it seems complex. The death of Jesus bought forgiveness for everyone who has ever sinned, from Adam and Eve, all the way down to those of us ask God's forgiveness today. As I have mentioned before, one of the attributes of God is the fact that He exists outside of the universe. Because he exists outside of the universe, He is not bound by time, as we are.
As it reminds us in 1 Peter, 1:18-20, this is the way that we are saved; it is not with perishable things such as silver or gold, with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world to be the sacrifice for all the sins of humanity. This is why in Isaiah 53:6, the writer can truthfully say that “the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
What a powerful statement this is; there is no person who has ever lived that was beyond the power of forgiveness, if only he or she asked for it. How many of us needlessly carry around burdens of guilt, over sin that we can be forgiven for. Though there was an incredible cost for our freedom, we need pay nothing for it. For us, the cost of freedom is $0.
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Weekend Fiction - Armored, Full Circle
Arianne was unsure what to do. She was determined to find the answers to her problem. According to the store manager, Wilton was not an actual employee at the store, but trying to find him seemed like her only option. She put on a loose sweatshirt, hoping to disguise herself. She looked at herself in the mirror, but she was still too recognizable. She knew that she had to change her appearance more. She thought for a moment, then got a pair of large scissors. She had always worn her hair long; she pulled her hair into a ponytail, then cut it off, as short as she could. She continued cutting until she had a fairly uniform one to two inches of hair all over head. She put her hood up and walked out her door.
Arianne thought that parking behind the drugstore seemed like the best idea; she hoped to sneak in through the freight door and look at the personnel files. She was certain that Wilton's name would be there. She stopped the car a few hundred feet from the door and stepped out.
Arianne focused on moving quietly as she attempted to stay away from the lights. She didn't even notice the figure wearing dark clothing and weilding a crowbar. The assailant raised his weapon and swung, striking Arianne on the back of the head. Though it didn't actually hurt, the of the blow still carried enough force to knock her to the ground.
She got back to her feet as quickly as possible and found herself staring at the would-be thief from the drugstore. He stood frozen in place with the crowbar slowly creeping through the air as he followed through the arc of his swing. Arianne pried the crowbar from his hands.
Arianne wasn't angry, but she coldly considered the thought of killing the thief. She knew that he would not hesitate to kill her if their roles were reversed. She raised the crowbar and steeled herself to swing it at his head. Then, she thought back to the sound of Connor's heart monitor slowing and stopping. “I won't kill him,” she whispered to herself. She threw the crowbar away from her; it seemed to hang in the air, right where she let go of it.
“Why didn't you kill him?” Arianne turned to see young man, walking toward her. The figure continued, “You know that he would have killed you; why didn't you kill him?”
Arianne looked back at the thief, still frozen in place. “I'm not a murderer.”
The young man was beside her now, regarding the thief dispassionately. “Of course you aren't! You didn't kill Connor, you know.”
Arianne turned to face the young man. He wore a nametag that said “My name is Wilton; How May I Help You?”
“You! You were in the store last night; you have to help me!” Arianne said.
Wilton responded. “Help you with what?”
Arianne was dumbfounded. “I can't feel anything; I don't know why. Why can't I cry anymore?”
Wilton spoke more softly this time. “Don't you think you've cried enough? You deserve to be free.”
“Will I ever feel anything again?”
There seemed to be a gleam in his eye as Wilton answered. “You might be surprised.”
Arianne closed her eyes and took a breath. She was startled by the sound of the crowbar hitting the ground with a loud clang. She opened her eyes to find Wilton and the thief both gone. She looked around, but they were nowhere to be seen.
“What's going on out there?” Connor came out of the back door with a flashlight.
Arianne looked around warily, before answering. “Everything seems to be alright now.”
Connor wasn't quite convinced. “You seem a bit shaken; can I buy you a cup of coffee or something?”
Arianne smiled, as an unfamiliar feeling seemed to appear in her heart. “I don't drink coffee;” she replied. “I'd love a cup of hot tea though.”
Arianne thought that parking behind the drugstore seemed like the best idea; she hoped to sneak in through the freight door and look at the personnel files. She was certain that Wilton's name would be there. She stopped the car a few hundred feet from the door and stepped out.
Arianne focused on moving quietly as she attempted to stay away from the lights. She didn't even notice the figure wearing dark clothing and weilding a crowbar. The assailant raised his weapon and swung, striking Arianne on the back of the head. Though it didn't actually hurt, the of the blow still carried enough force to knock her to the ground.
She got back to her feet as quickly as possible and found herself staring at the would-be thief from the drugstore. He stood frozen in place with the crowbar slowly creeping through the air as he followed through the arc of his swing. Arianne pried the crowbar from his hands.
Arianne wasn't angry, but she coldly considered the thought of killing the thief. She knew that he would not hesitate to kill her if their roles were reversed. She raised the crowbar and steeled herself to swing it at his head. Then, she thought back to the sound of Connor's heart monitor slowing and stopping. “I won't kill him,” she whispered to herself. She threw the crowbar away from her; it seemed to hang in the air, right where she let go of it.
“Why didn't you kill him?” Arianne turned to see young man, walking toward her. The figure continued, “You know that he would have killed you; why didn't you kill him?”
Arianne looked back at the thief, still frozen in place. “I'm not a murderer.”
The young man was beside her now, regarding the thief dispassionately. “Of course you aren't! You didn't kill Connor, you know.”
Arianne turned to face the young man. He wore a nametag that said “My name is Wilton; How May I Help You?”
“You! You were in the store last night; you have to help me!” Arianne said.
Wilton responded. “Help you with what?”
Arianne was dumbfounded. “I can't feel anything; I don't know why. Why can't I cry anymore?”
Wilton spoke more softly this time. “Don't you think you've cried enough? You deserve to be free.”
“Will I ever feel anything again?”
There seemed to be a gleam in his eye as Wilton answered. “You might be surprised.”
Arianne closed her eyes and took a breath. She was startled by the sound of the crowbar hitting the ground with a loud clang. She opened her eyes to find Wilton and the thief both gone. She looked around, but they were nowhere to be seen.
“What's going on out there?” Connor came out of the back door with a flashlight.
Arianne looked around warily, before answering. “Everything seems to be alright now.”
Connor wasn't quite convinced. “You seem a bit shaken; can I buy you a cup of coffee or something?”
Arianne smiled, as an unfamiliar feeling seemed to appear in her heart. “I don't drink coffee;” she replied. “I'd love a cup of hot tea though.”
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Weekend Fiction - Armored, The News
Arianne stayed at home for the rest of the day, half expecting the police to arrive at her door at any moment. After an uneventful afternoon, she decided to turn on the local news. She was shocked to see that the events at the drugstore were being featured. The news station had obtained footage shot by the dash-mounted camera in the police car.
“Stop right there or I will shoot you!” she heard the police officer shouting. Her response was inaudible, but the video was quite clear. Arianne watched herself raising the gun, then she disappeared. The Taser leads fell harmlessly, a few feet beyond where Arianne had stood a split second before as the gun clattered to the ground.
“What you have just witnessed is real; this video has not been altered in any way.” the newscaster reassured the viewers. “Authorities are baffled by this occurrence. Anyone with any information is urged to come forward.”
After a few more comments, the station showed video of an eyewitness account. Arianne was shocked to see the thief from the drugstore. “Somebody like that ain't natural; they gotta catch her before she kills someone!” He continued his rant. “You just let me have a go at her; she won't bother nobody again!”
The newscaster returned; a close up shot of Arianne appeared on the screen beside her. “This is a photo of the woman the police are searching for. If you recognize this woman, please contact the police immediately.”
Arianne turned off the TV and sat down. She had no idea what to think of the days events.
“Stop right there or I will shoot you!” she heard the police officer shouting. Her response was inaudible, but the video was quite clear. Arianne watched herself raising the gun, then she disappeared. The Taser leads fell harmlessly, a few feet beyond where Arianne had stood a split second before as the gun clattered to the ground.
“What you have just witnessed is real; this video has not been altered in any way.” the newscaster reassured the viewers. “Authorities are baffled by this occurrence. Anyone with any information is urged to come forward.”
After a few more comments, the station showed video of an eyewitness account. Arianne was shocked to see the thief from the drugstore. “Somebody like that ain't natural; they gotta catch her before she kills someone!” He continued his rant. “You just let me have a go at her; she won't bother nobody again!”
The newscaster returned; a close up shot of Arianne appeared on the screen beside her. “This is a photo of the woman the police are searching for. If you recognize this woman, please contact the police immediately.”
Arianne turned off the TV and sat down. She had no idea what to think of the days events.
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Weekend Fiction - Armored, The Drugstore
At the drugstore, Arianne saw a man standing at the customer service counter. As she walked toward the counter, he spoke. “Good morning miss; may I help you?”
“I bought this machine, yesterday; but I don't think it's working right; I know it was on clearance, but I don't want it anymore. I don't care about the money; I just don't want it.”
The clerk reassured Arianne. “Don't worry about that; clearance or not, we'll refund your money. Can I see the box please? I need to scan it.” He scanned the box, but the computer buzzed, noncompliant. He tried again, then tried typing the item number by hand. The computer still refused to cooperate.
“This item isn't in our system;” he said, “are you sure you bought it here?”
Arianne may have been angry, if she had felt anything. “I'm certain I bought it here,” she said, producing the receipt, “at 5:15 pm yesterday.”
The clerk looked at the receipt. “I'm sorry; this receipt says you purchased a hair dryer and a can of ravioli.”
Arianne was confused. “That can't be correct; you can ask the person who helped me last night. Is Wilton in today? He helped me with it.”
The clerk looked at Arianne, and felt sorry for her. “Miss, I've been a manager here for two years. No one named Wilton works here.”
Arianne stepped back, looking pale. “That can't be right; I remember him.”
The clerk was starting to get nervous; he thought Arianne might be sick. “Is there someone I can call for you? Are you sure you're OK? Maybe I should call an ambulance.”
Just then, a man strode to the counter and shoved Arianne out of the way.
“Open that cash register right now!”; he screamed at the clerk. He was holding a small pistol, and nervously waving it at the clerk. Squinting at the clerk's nametag, the gunman continued. “Don't try to be no hero, Connor; I don't want you pressing no silent alarm.”
When she heard the name Connor, time seemed to stop for Arianne. The criminal's face froze into a sneer, with droplets of spit hanging in midair inches from his mouth. A loud roar began to build, growing to the point of becoming painful, then ending suddenly. Arianne looked around, trying to identify the sound; she realized, to her horror that the gun had been fired. The bullet was slowly creeping through the air towards Connor. Arianne didn't know what to do. She looked around, but everyone else in the store just stood, frozen in place.
Tentatively, Arianne reached out and touched the spinning bullet with her finger. She quickly jerked her finger away; the hot round had burnt her. The bullet wobbled slightly but continued on its path. Arianne steeled herself and struck the bullet with her hand; it careened off course, angling toward a display of bottled water.
“What the hell?!”; the thief barked as water showered the counter. He raised the gun, aimed and fired at Connor's head.
More confidently now, Arianne stepped into the path of the bullet and grabbed it from the air. The gunman stepped back, startled by Arianne's sudden appearance, seemingly out of thin air. “You think you're some kinda superhero now? I seen you here before; you're just some stupid chick that don't even talk!”
Seeming to move faster than a blink of an eye, Arianne grabbed the gun, wrenching it from the thief's greasy hand. The gunman stumbled back, suddenly afraid of Arianne.
“Wha, What in the hell are you?” he stammered; then he turned and ran from the store.
“You just saved my life!” Connor's voice broke Arianne from her state of shock. “How did you do that? I thought I was dead!”
“I... I don't know! Everything is so wrong today; I don't know what to do!”
“Just calm down;” Connor said, “everything is going to be all right. Just tell me what's happening.”
Before she could speak, Arianne heard the sound of sirens from a police car arriving in the parking lot. She still wasn't frightened, but she knew that the police would have questions that she didn't know the answers to.
She planned to walk out the door, blend into the gathering crowd and slip away quietly, but she didn't realize that she was still holding the gun she had taken from the thief. As the crowd began to back away from her, an officer stepped out of his car and shouted at her. “Get on the ground right now! Drop your weapon and get on the ground!”
Arianne protested, speaking calmly; “You don't understand. I'm not the thief; he just ran out a few seconds ago.”
The officer was not interested in her explanation. He repeated his demand. “I said get on the ground right now!”
Arianne closed her eyes and took a deep breath; then she opened her eyes and addressed the officer; “I'm sorry, but I'm not going to do that.”
With that, she began walking toward the officer, hoping somehow to get away. The officer moved to cover, behind the door of his car, then raised his Taser and aimed it at Arianne's chest.
Arianne continued walking toward the officer. “Stop right there or I will shoot you!” The officer shouted.
Arianne held the gun by the barrel. “I'm sorry officer; I can't stay here.” She raised the gun above her head, signaling that she didn't intend to use it, but the officer mistook this for an aggressive move. He fired his Taser. For Arianne, time seemed to freeze again. She let go of the gun, which hung in the air right where she left it, then easily sidestepped the prongs and wires of the Taser. While everyone else seemed to be frozen in place, Arianne walked away, crossed the parking lot and got into her car. Only then did the world outside seem to go back to normal.
“I bought this machine, yesterday; but I don't think it's working right; I know it was on clearance, but I don't want it anymore. I don't care about the money; I just don't want it.”
The clerk reassured Arianne. “Don't worry about that; clearance or not, we'll refund your money. Can I see the box please? I need to scan it.” He scanned the box, but the computer buzzed, noncompliant. He tried again, then tried typing the item number by hand. The computer still refused to cooperate.
“This item isn't in our system;” he said, “are you sure you bought it here?”
Arianne may have been angry, if she had felt anything. “I'm certain I bought it here,” she said, producing the receipt, “at 5:15 pm yesterday.”
The clerk looked at the receipt. “I'm sorry; this receipt says you purchased a hair dryer and a can of ravioli.”
Arianne was confused. “That can't be correct; you can ask the person who helped me last night. Is Wilton in today? He helped me with it.”
The clerk looked at Arianne, and felt sorry for her. “Miss, I've been a manager here for two years. No one named Wilton works here.”
Arianne stepped back, looking pale. “That can't be right; I remember him.”
The clerk was starting to get nervous; he thought Arianne might be sick. “Is there someone I can call for you? Are you sure you're OK? Maybe I should call an ambulance.”
Just then, a man strode to the counter and shoved Arianne out of the way.
“Open that cash register right now!”; he screamed at the clerk. He was holding a small pistol, and nervously waving it at the clerk. Squinting at the clerk's nametag, the gunman continued. “Don't try to be no hero, Connor; I don't want you pressing no silent alarm.”
When she heard the name Connor, time seemed to stop for Arianne. The criminal's face froze into a sneer, with droplets of spit hanging in midair inches from his mouth. A loud roar began to build, growing to the point of becoming painful, then ending suddenly. Arianne looked around, trying to identify the sound; she realized, to her horror that the gun had been fired. The bullet was slowly creeping through the air towards Connor. Arianne didn't know what to do. She looked around, but everyone else in the store just stood, frozen in place.
Tentatively, Arianne reached out and touched the spinning bullet with her finger. She quickly jerked her finger away; the hot round had burnt her. The bullet wobbled slightly but continued on its path. Arianne steeled herself and struck the bullet with her hand; it careened off course, angling toward a display of bottled water.
“What the hell?!”; the thief barked as water showered the counter. He raised the gun, aimed and fired at Connor's head.
More confidently now, Arianne stepped into the path of the bullet and grabbed it from the air. The gunman stepped back, startled by Arianne's sudden appearance, seemingly out of thin air. “You think you're some kinda superhero now? I seen you here before; you're just some stupid chick that don't even talk!”
Seeming to move faster than a blink of an eye, Arianne grabbed the gun, wrenching it from the thief's greasy hand. The gunman stumbled back, suddenly afraid of Arianne.
“Wha, What in the hell are you?” he stammered; then he turned and ran from the store.
“You just saved my life!” Connor's voice broke Arianne from her state of shock. “How did you do that? I thought I was dead!”
“I... I don't know! Everything is so wrong today; I don't know what to do!”
“Just calm down;” Connor said, “everything is going to be all right. Just tell me what's happening.”
Before she could speak, Arianne heard the sound of sirens from a police car arriving in the parking lot. She still wasn't frightened, but she knew that the police would have questions that she didn't know the answers to.
She planned to walk out the door, blend into the gathering crowd and slip away quietly, but she didn't realize that she was still holding the gun she had taken from the thief. As the crowd began to back away from her, an officer stepped out of his car and shouted at her. “Get on the ground right now! Drop your weapon and get on the ground!”
Arianne protested, speaking calmly; “You don't understand. I'm not the thief; he just ran out a few seconds ago.”
The officer was not interested in her explanation. He repeated his demand. “I said get on the ground right now!”
Arianne closed her eyes and took a deep breath; then she opened her eyes and addressed the officer; “I'm sorry, but I'm not going to do that.”
With that, she began walking toward the officer, hoping somehow to get away. The officer moved to cover, behind the door of his car, then raised his Taser and aimed it at Arianne's chest.
Arianne continued walking toward the officer. “Stop right there or I will shoot you!” The officer shouted.
Arianne held the gun by the barrel. “I'm sorry officer; I can't stay here.” She raised the gun above her head, signaling that she didn't intend to use it, but the officer mistook this for an aggressive move. He fired his Taser. For Arianne, time seemed to freeze again. She let go of the gun, which hung in the air right where she left it, then easily sidestepped the prongs and wires of the Taser. While everyone else seemed to be frozen in place, Arianne walked away, crossed the parking lot and got into her car. Only then did the world outside seem to go back to normal.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Weekend Fiction - Armored, Morning
Arianne woke with a start to the sound of singing birds. Sunlight flooded her living room, the bright light making her head ache. Arianne got up, exclaiming with pain as the patches ripped from her arms. Removing the headphones, Arianne stumbled to the kitchen. Pouring a glass of water, she got two aspirin out of the cabinet. She noticed the picture of Connor on the refrigerator, and felt nothing. No sadness, no guilt, no tears.
“That's strange.” she thought to herself. Going to her desk, she found a letter that Connor had written to her a week before the senior prom. Re-reading the words of the tear-stained letter, she automatically reached for the tissue dispenser on the desk before she realized that a tissue was unecessary. She didn't feel any emotion whatsoever.
She looked around warily. Running to the closet, she took out a box filled with pictures, documents and newspaper clippings. She read the first few lines of an article headlined “Local Teen Killed, Girlfriend Driver Not Charged”, but the expected flood of emotion never came.
Arianne thought she should be frightened, but she felt no emotion whatsoever, only a dispassionate regard for her strange situation. She decided it would be best to take the ‘Armor’ back to the drugstore. She quickly dressed and walked out her door.
“That's strange.” she thought to herself. Going to her desk, she found a letter that Connor had written to her a week before the senior prom. Re-reading the words of the tear-stained letter, she automatically reached for the tissue dispenser on the desk before she realized that a tissue was unecessary. She didn't feel any emotion whatsoever.
She looked around warily. Running to the closet, she took out a box filled with pictures, documents and newspaper clippings. She read the first few lines of an article headlined “Local Teen Killed, Girlfriend Driver Not Charged”, but the expected flood of emotion never came.
Arianne thought she should be frightened, but she felt no emotion whatsoever, only a dispassionate regard for her strange situation. She decided it would be best to take the ‘Armor’ back to the drugstore. She quickly dressed and walked out her door.
Monday, October 21, 2013
Take Me Home Tonight
Here's a passage that's always bothered me. Before we proceed, I must make a disclaimer. The conclusions I'm about to discuss here do not appear in the Bible; they are my conjecture. However, I don't believe that the Bible contradicts my thoughts either. With this settled, we can continue.
When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose.
The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.
Genesis 6:1-2, 4
Who are these "sons of God"? Are they angels, demons? Who are they and where did they come from. Have you ever seen the last episode of Battlestar Galactica? If you didn't, don't bother; it's a depressing mess that asks more questions than it answers.
Let me say one thing first. These "sons of God" were not demons. Even if demons could assume human form, which is not documented anywhere in the Bible; there is no reason to believe that they could produce viable sperm and father children. Search the Bible and you will find that angels only appear in physical form at the direction of God. So now, the question remains; who were these "sons of God"? Check out this passage from Luke's genealogy of Jesus; Notice that Adam is referred to as "the son of God."
...Adam, the son of God.
Luke 3:38
An idea that I've been thinking about for a while is the idea that when Adam and Eve were created and placed in the garden of Eden, there may have already been people living on the earth. This theory began as my attempt to reconcile the Biblical timetable (based on the ages given for the Adam and his descendants) with the existence of Neanderthal, Cro-Magnon and other ancient, proto-humans, known in the anthropology community as Archaic Homo Sapiens.
All of these early humans used tools; they also cooked and hunted. They formed complex societies and likely even believed in an afterlife, evidenced by the preparations they made for their dead. These early humans were generally more robust, tougher and stronger than their modern counterparts, AKA us; the descendants of Adam's line.
When animals of two closely related species interbreed, a few strange things occur. The offspring are usually sterile, but they are quite often larger, stronger or tougher than either parent species. Consider the mule; which is a hybrid of a horse and a donkey. Mules inherit traits of both horses and donkeys but are typically able to work longer, walk further and endure harsher conditions than horses or donkeys. How about another example. If you have seen the movie Napoleon Dynamite, you might be pleased to find that the Liger is actually a real animal, though they are not bred for luck and/or magic. This odd hybrid of a lion and a tiger exhibit features and markings reminiscent of both species. They often grow 10 - 15% larger than tigers, making them the largest cats on earth. This odd phenomenon is known as hybrid vigor.
Returning to the point, it is possible that the descendants of Adam, who could be thought of as "the Sons of God" could have fathered children with the early humans who lived on earth. These people could have been larger, stronger and tougher, making them likely candidates to be heroes of old.
Though this scenario is possible, there could be other interpretations of this passage. I'd like to know what you think; feel free to comment!
When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose.
The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.
Genesis 6:1-2, 4
Who are these "sons of God"? Are they angels, demons? Who are they and where did they come from. Have you ever seen the last episode of Battlestar Galactica? If you didn't, don't bother; it's a depressing mess that asks more questions than it answers.
Let me say one thing first. These "sons of God" were not demons. Even if demons could assume human form, which is not documented anywhere in the Bible; there is no reason to believe that they could produce viable sperm and father children. Search the Bible and you will find that angels only appear in physical form at the direction of God. So now, the question remains; who were these "sons of God"? Check out this passage from Luke's genealogy of Jesus; Notice that Adam is referred to as "the son of God."
...Adam, the son of God.
Luke 3:38
An idea that I've been thinking about for a while is the idea that when Adam and Eve were created and placed in the garden of Eden, there may have already been people living on the earth. This theory began as my attempt to reconcile the Biblical timetable (based on the ages given for the Adam and his descendants) with the existence of Neanderthal, Cro-Magnon and other ancient, proto-humans, known in the anthropology community as Archaic Homo Sapiens.
All of these early humans used tools; they also cooked and hunted. They formed complex societies and likely even believed in an afterlife, evidenced by the preparations they made for their dead. These early humans were generally more robust, tougher and stronger than their modern counterparts, AKA us; the descendants of Adam's line.
When animals of two closely related species interbreed, a few strange things occur. The offspring are usually sterile, but they are quite often larger, stronger or tougher than either parent species. Consider the mule; which is a hybrid of a horse and a donkey. Mules inherit traits of both horses and donkeys but are typically able to work longer, walk further and endure harsher conditions than horses or donkeys. How about another example. If you have seen the movie Napoleon Dynamite, you might be pleased to find that the Liger is actually a real animal, though they are not bred for luck and/or magic. This odd hybrid of a lion and a tiger exhibit features and markings reminiscent of both species. They often grow 10 - 15% larger than tigers, making them the largest cats on earth. This odd phenomenon is known as hybrid vigor.
Returning to the point, it is possible that the descendants of Adam, who could be thought of as "the Sons of God" could have fathered children with the early humans who lived on earth. These people could have been larger, stronger and tougher, making them likely candidates to be heroes of old.
Though this scenario is possible, there could be other interpretations of this passage. I'd like to know what you think; feel free to comment!
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Weekend Fiction - Armored, Opening
As she opened the box, a single page of instructions fell out first. “Begin by finding a quiet place.” the first line read. “Carefully remove all of the items in the box, ensuring that no items are missing or damaged.”
As Arianne absentmindedly inventoried the box, she found her thoughts drifting back to Connor. His eyes, his smile. Then, as always, she saw him in the hospital bed, body mangled, monitoring lines going flat, one by one as he lost his struggle for life. “I killed him.” she whispered, tears beginning to flow as if it had happened yesterday.
Arianne looked at the contents of the box, blinking back tears. The box contained a plastic bag that contained 2 self-stick patches connected to wires and a set of headphones. Also inside the box was a bottle of liquid marked ‘Enhancement Elixir’, a blister pack of pills labeled ‘Emotional Accelerant’ and an electronic box about the size of a Walkman with one jack marked ‘Headphones’ and two jacks marked ‘Pad A’ and ‘Pad B’. On the face of the electronic display was a button marked ‘Start’, a dial marked ‘Intensity’ and an LED display beneath a label calling the box a ‘Sympathetic Nervous Stimulator’.
The instructions weren't very helpful. A diagram of how to place the patches on the arms, and a paragraph instructing the user to take one dose daily of the Enhancement Elixir and Emotional Accelerant and to limit the use of the SNS to 30 minutes per day filled the rest of the page.
Still crying, Arianne ignored the warnings and took all of the Emotional Accelerant pills, washing them down with the entire bottle of Enhancement Elixir. She placed the patches on her arms and put on the headphones. Turning the Intensity dial to maximum, Arianne punched the Start button.
The sound of static filled her ears. Her arms and legs began to feel heavy. As she felt herself beginning to pass out, Arianne glanced down at the instructions, noticing too late the fine print that read ‘Use with extreme caution, serious side effects may result.’
As Arianne absentmindedly inventoried the box, she found her thoughts drifting back to Connor. His eyes, his smile. Then, as always, she saw him in the hospital bed, body mangled, monitoring lines going flat, one by one as he lost his struggle for life. “I killed him.” she whispered, tears beginning to flow as if it had happened yesterday.
Arianne looked at the contents of the box, blinking back tears. The box contained a plastic bag that contained 2 self-stick patches connected to wires and a set of headphones. Also inside the box was a bottle of liquid marked ‘Enhancement Elixir’, a blister pack of pills labeled ‘Emotional Accelerant’ and an electronic box about the size of a Walkman with one jack marked ‘Headphones’ and two jacks marked ‘Pad A’ and ‘Pad B’. On the face of the electronic display was a button marked ‘Start’, a dial marked ‘Intensity’ and an LED display beneath a label calling the box a ‘Sympathetic Nervous Stimulator’.
The instructions weren't very helpful. A diagram of how to place the patches on the arms, and a paragraph instructing the user to take one dose daily of the Enhancement Elixir and Emotional Accelerant and to limit the use of the SNS to 30 minutes per day filled the rest of the page.
Still crying, Arianne ignored the warnings and took all of the Emotional Accelerant pills, washing them down with the entire bottle of Enhancement Elixir. She placed the patches on her arms and put on the headphones. Turning the Intensity dial to maximum, Arianne punched the Start button.
The sound of static filled her ears. Her arms and legs began to feel heavy. As she felt herself beginning to pass out, Arianne glanced down at the instructions, noticing too late the fine print that read ‘Use with extreme caution, serious side effects may result.’
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
Recently, someone asked me to “educate them on the Holy Spirit.” This seemingly simple question is actually a topic that I could spend months or years researching and writing about without explaining it fully. This is what I wrote to this individual, submitted here for your edification.
The Holy Spirit is one of the beings that make up the trinity of God. Along with the Father, and Jesus, the Holy Spirit is one of the three distinct personalities of God. The Holy Spirit has many purposes or functions that are found throughout the Bible. Here are three functions, with the appropriate Scriptures.
The Holy Spirit Points Out Our Sin (Convicts Us)
“When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.”
John 16:8-11
When we do something wrong, as all of us do, the Holy Spirit points out our error. Once we know that we have done something wrong, we know that we need to ask God to forgive us. We know that when we ask Him, He will do it.
The Holy Spirit Helps Us Pray
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”
Romans 8:26-27
Quite often, we truly don't know how to pray. When we can't find the words, the Holy Spirit expresses our struggles.
The Holy Spirit Cleanses / Purifies Us
“But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
The Holy Spirit dwells inside of us. Because of this power, we do not have to be slaves to sin any longer. It is quite likely that we will still fail and sin from time to time, but this does not have to be our normal state of being anymore.
Just as I said to this other individual, please don't just take my word for what the Holy Spirit is and does. Rather, I encourage you to be just like the Jews that Paul encountered in Berea who are described in the 17th chapter of Acts.
“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.”
Acts 17:11-12
The Holy Spirit is one of the beings that make up the trinity of God. Along with the Father, and Jesus, the Holy Spirit is one of the three distinct personalities of God. The Holy Spirit has many purposes or functions that are found throughout the Bible. Here are three functions, with the appropriate Scriptures.
The Holy Spirit Points Out Our Sin (Convicts Us)
“When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.”
John 16:8-11
When we do something wrong, as all of us do, the Holy Spirit points out our error. Once we know that we have done something wrong, we know that we need to ask God to forgive us. We know that when we ask Him, He will do it.
The Holy Spirit Helps Us Pray
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”
Romans 8:26-27
Quite often, we truly don't know how to pray. When we can't find the words, the Holy Spirit expresses our struggles.
The Holy Spirit Cleanses / Purifies Us
“But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
The Holy Spirit dwells inside of us. Because of this power, we do not have to be slaves to sin any longer. It is quite likely that we will still fail and sin from time to time, but this does not have to be our normal state of being anymore.
Just as I said to this other individual, please don't just take my word for what the Holy Spirit is and does. Rather, I encourage you to be just like the Jews that Paul encountered in Berea who are described in the 17th chapter of Acts.
“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.”
Acts 17:11-12
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Weekend Fiction - Armored, Awake
The screech of the alarm clock woke Arianne from her fitful sleep. She tried to calm herself, struggling to control her rapid breathing.
“It was just a dream, it was just a dream...,” she repeated to herself.
Arianne hadn't been in love since she was a teenager. Even though everyone told her it was nothing but a simple High-School romance, Connor was still the love of her life. The first and only man she gave her heart to. Since the accident, she had not even been able to look at a man. She had never been able to convince herself that the accident wasn't her fault.
Arianne dressed and went to work. She made a living working as a filing clerk in the records department at the local university. It was not a well-paying job, but it had the advantage of having few coworkers.
On her way home, Arianne decided to stop to pick up a few items at the local drugstore.
The package on the clearance shelf was labeled 'Armor'. The label said that it was helpful for those trying to recover from emotional trauma.
The label read: “Through a combination of natural medicines and cutting edge subliminal therapy, the contents of this package will allow you to insulate yourself from the negative emotions that are a result of traumatic experiences in your past.”
“Something like this really should require a prescription.” Arianne thought to herself as she picked up the package. It was surprisingly heavy for its size.
“Actual results may vary.” said the disclaimer, in fine print.
“For 20 bucks, I'd say it's worth a try,” a young clerk said, startling Arianne.
Arianne turned, noticing a short, thin teenager. His name tag said “My name is Wilton; How May I Help You?”
“What's your return policy?” Ariane asked.
“Ummm, that's a clearance item.” Wilt replied. “We don't allow returns. That's actually the last one in stock.”
“Thank you for your help.”
Arianne carried the package to the register, stopping to pick up a can of miniature ravioli. She paid her $22.54 and left the store, opting for a paper bag. At home, she ate her meal from a paper plate, carefully rinsing the can and placing it in the recycle bin. Ordinarily, she would eat in front of the TV, sharing her evening meal with the same faithful friends she ate with every evening at 5:30, but tonight she was eager to open her recent acquisition.
“It was just a dream, it was just a dream...,” she repeated to herself.
Arianne hadn't been in love since she was a teenager. Even though everyone told her it was nothing but a simple High-School romance, Connor was still the love of her life. The first and only man she gave her heart to. Since the accident, she had not even been able to look at a man. She had never been able to convince herself that the accident wasn't her fault.
Arianne dressed and went to work. She made a living working as a filing clerk in the records department at the local university. It was not a well-paying job, but it had the advantage of having few coworkers.
On her way home, Arianne decided to stop to pick up a few items at the local drugstore.
The package on the clearance shelf was labeled 'Armor'. The label said that it was helpful for those trying to recover from emotional trauma.
The label read: “Through a combination of natural medicines and cutting edge subliminal therapy, the contents of this package will allow you to insulate yourself from the negative emotions that are a result of traumatic experiences in your past.”
“Something like this really should require a prescription.” Arianne thought to herself as she picked up the package. It was surprisingly heavy for its size.
“Actual results may vary.” said the disclaimer, in fine print.
“For 20 bucks, I'd say it's worth a try,” a young clerk said, startling Arianne.
Arianne turned, noticing a short, thin teenager. His name tag said “My name is Wilton; How May I Help You?”
“What's your return policy?” Ariane asked.
“Ummm, that's a clearance item.” Wilt replied. “We don't allow returns. That's actually the last one in stock.”
“Thank you for your help.”
Arianne carried the package to the register, stopping to pick up a can of miniature ravioli. She paid her $22.54 and left the store, opting for a paper bag. At home, she ate her meal from a paper plate, carefully rinsing the can and placing it in the recycle bin. Ordinarily, she would eat in front of the TV, sharing her evening meal with the same faithful friends she ate with every evening at 5:30, but tonight she was eager to open her recent acquisition.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Weekend Fiction - Armored, The Hospital
This is a story I've been working on, on and off for almost 7 years. It's finally done though, and ready for your critique.
The Emergency Room doors burst open to admit a young man on a stretcher being pushed by two paramedics.
“We have an accident victim; male, 17 years old with severe crush injuries to the chest. Heart rate is uneven and tachy at 130, respirations shallow. Name, Connor Bailey.”
Doctors and nurses quickly surrounded Connor as he was wheeled into the nearest trauma bay. His shirt and tie were torn off, making way for the patches of an EKG machine.
“This kid doesn't look good. Have we contacted the family yet?” a doctor barked.
“They're on the way!” a nurse replied.
“I need a central line.” Consulting the hastily written notes on the chart, he continued. “Get 4 units of B positive hung up now!”
The rhythmic beeps of the heart monitor began to slow, growing more uneven.
“We're losing him! Get the paddles in here!”
Arianne stood just outside the trauma bay, wearing a prom dress and crying. “I killed him.” she whispered.
The Emergency Room doors burst open to admit a young man on a stretcher being pushed by two paramedics.
“We have an accident victim; male, 17 years old with severe crush injuries to the chest. Heart rate is uneven and tachy at 130, respirations shallow. Name, Connor Bailey.”
Doctors and nurses quickly surrounded Connor as he was wheeled into the nearest trauma bay. His shirt and tie were torn off, making way for the patches of an EKG machine.
“This kid doesn't look good. Have we contacted the family yet?” a doctor barked.
“They're on the way!” a nurse replied.
“I need a central line.” Consulting the hastily written notes on the chart, he continued. “Get 4 units of B positive hung up now!”
The rhythmic beeps of the heart monitor began to slow, growing more uneven.
“We're losing him! Get the paddles in here!”
Arianne stood just outside the trauma bay, wearing a prom dress and crying. “I killed him.” she whispered.
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