Watched an excellent movie called My Boy Jack . Based on the true events of Jack Kipling enlisting and. death in WW1 . Based on the poem of his famous father Rudyard Kipling , author of books such a The Jungle Book and Gunga Din. It was brought to life by British actor David Haig , who wrote a play based on the poem . It was a one man production but in 2008 was adapted to film by Haig.
It is wonderfully done and a very moving piece of the tragedy and cost of war . If you get a chance to watch the movie do so .
What I found fascinating was the feature after the show . The actors that were involved spoke of making the film and gave commentary as well . But one comment made by Haig jumped out at me. Haig speaking about the death of Kipling's son and thousands of other young men in that war , and other wars ,reflected on how it truly impacts a community. That with each death the family is devastated. Then he mentioned , that with those without any faith or religious beliefs , it must be a feeling of utter hopelessness. The person that you loved is gone forever , off into oblivion .
The honesty to say hopelessness was so refreshing . Most who hold even atheistic beliefs will talk of death as if its somehow purposeful . That we can keep them alive in our hearts nonsense. But as Haig said in the segment , it must in truth lead to a hopeless agony. Apart from a faith in God and an afterlife , death in war or in any sense must lead to despair if one is truthful .
But the gospel invades this despair with hope and peace.Telling us there is more . Jesus Christ is our life giver. When He stood outside the tomb of Lazarus and called out for him to rise , He showed His power over death . Telling Mary and Martha , “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
(John 11:25-26 ESV) Jesus defeated sin,death and hell on the cross and opened the doors of heaven , rising from the dead.
That is the hope available to all who will acknowledge their sinfulness, repent and trust in Jesus . This the only true hope of all . I cannot even fathom living without this hope. Many do . So if we have this hope , should we not share it .
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
One of My Fav Magnum P.I Scenes
Magnum PI was one of my all time favorite TV shows. It had action,great chemistry between the actors , some comedic elements and some very gripping scenes.
The one featured is one . Magnum confronts Ivan and after asking the question about the sunrise , blows Ivan away . He had tried to kill Magnum but ended up killing his friend Mac. It just goes against the PC correct ending many would expect. Sometimes when dealing with evil , deadly force is needed . When I first watched it , I knew Magnum would not let Ivan walk away without paying for his evil deed.
Would I do this if in a situation similar ? If you know me , I guarantee you know that answer .
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Odds,Ends and Around The Bends
By now unless you are living under a big rock , you have heard or see the story of Ted Williams. He is a homeless man for Columbus ,Ohio. Panhandling on a busy corner with a sign saying he has a been blessed with a golden voice and would be grateful for any help . He has fallen into hard times due to drug addiction and had lost his job as announcer years ago , but is now apparently 2 years clean and sober . A local reporter featured the story , the video went viraland has now over 11 million hits. Since then its been a whirlwind for this man . He has been on TV , radio and has been offered numerous jobs for voice over work .
This is a feel good story . This man is going to be given a second chance after , by his own admission, making many mistakes and falling down. How many people do you know have made mistakes or sins , fallen down and now they need a hand to lift them to their feet . Not a handout but a chance to reboot their lives . If your a Christian , you have to believe in a fresh start and new beginning because you get one every day. God is a forgiving and loving God who in Christ , has supplied His grace and mercy to you by dong everything for us . I really hope and pray this man reboots, renews and stands firm in the chance God has given him . I will pray that he will not be tempted back into drugs or alcohol.
[22] The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
[23] they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
(Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV)
Second on my Odds and ends list is the collapse of Canada at the world junior hockey championship in Buffalo against the Russians . Taking a 3-0 lead into the third period , the Russians exploded for 5 unanswered goals and dominated the play. As disappointed as they must have been , labeling chokers as has been said is harsh. I'm sure they tried , its not like they intentionally wanted to let 5 unanswered goals in. Sometimes no matter how hard one tries or works at it , winning , running a succesful buiness or landing that great job just doesn't come true. So they lost ,get over it. Its hockey , not Armageddon.
I will end with this what is a real attack on the Christian faith . Out west pamphlet were being spread around saying that God raped Mary . A clear and ignorant attack of Mary being conceived by the Holy Spirit. These type of juvenile attacks will be more frequent . Buoyed by the brashness of Hitchens and Dawkins , these type of assaults will increase. Now I do not mind if you want to argue against Christianity , but at the very least argue with an understanding of what your talking about . I do not fear healthy debate because God's truth will prevail .However we better be ready for these type of attacks . May we react with clarity and be clear in our gospel presentation.
This is a feel good story . This man is going to be given a second chance after , by his own admission, making many mistakes and falling down. How many people do you know have made mistakes or sins , fallen down and now they need a hand to lift them to their feet . Not a handout but a chance to reboot their lives . If your a Christian , you have to believe in a fresh start and new beginning because you get one every day. God is a forgiving and loving God who in Christ , has supplied His grace and mercy to you by dong everything for us . I really hope and pray this man reboots, renews and stands firm in the chance God has given him . I will pray that he will not be tempted back into drugs or alcohol.
[22] The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
[23] they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
(Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV)
Second on my Odds and ends list is the collapse of Canada at the world junior hockey championship in Buffalo against the Russians . Taking a 3-0 lead into the third period , the Russians exploded for 5 unanswered goals and dominated the play. As disappointed as they must have been , labeling chokers as has been said is harsh. I'm sure they tried , its not like they intentionally wanted to let 5 unanswered goals in. Sometimes no matter how hard one tries or works at it , winning , running a succesful buiness or landing that great job just doesn't come true. So they lost ,get over it. Its hockey , not Armageddon.
I will end with this what is a real attack on the Christian faith . Out west pamphlet were being spread around saying that God raped Mary . A clear and ignorant attack of Mary being conceived by the Holy Spirit. These type of juvenile attacks will be more frequent . Buoyed by the brashness of Hitchens and Dawkins , these type of assaults will increase. Now I do not mind if you want to argue against Christianity , but at the very least argue with an understanding of what your talking about . I do not fear healthy debate because God's truth will prevail .However we better be ready for these type of attacks . May we react with clarity and be clear in our gospel presentation.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
What I Have is Not My Own
Currently I'm not employed in any formal sense of the word . I do not rise and put on a suit or uniform , clock in and clock out . I have looked for work and tried to become self employed but so far that has had mixed results. Plus if another person asks me what I do during the day , I may just decide to write it down what I do . My day is full . From offering counsel to my sons and their friends , to making sure my wife is able to continue in her career ,one that she loves . I guess one could say I'm the house manager of sorts .
Would I like to find a place to be employed , that I could plant time and work well till at least I'm 65 (18 years Lord willing) of course. My body is not going to be able to do certain jobs anymore and I have accepted that. Plus I will not jump into any job , did that in the past too many times and it was a mistake. No this time I'm trying to bind my time.
But one thing that has happened over the last couple years has been the clear thinking that what I have been given is not my own . From money,to my sons and even my wife . All these blessing are from God. In His graciousness , he has given them to me under my headship to love and lead .Sometimes well, others I have fallen on my face . But I keep getting up like Rocky , dust myself off and enter the ring again a little wiser I hope.
As to money , the older I get the only real reason I want to earn a decent income again to to give back . First to God , wanting to support ministries that are having an impact preaching and defending the gospel , helping the poor , needy,orphan and widow. To my family by sharing what I have been given and Lord willing one day many grandchildren . Money is a gift to give away .
Why do people hoard it or live in such a lavish way it leaves little to share ? They have an idol and its greed and possessions. We should be responsible with money , we have to live but it its not our own .
[15] As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand.
(Ecclesiastes 5:15 ESV)
I have said it before and will again , but we take nothing with into eternity . From the womb we come naked and into the grave we go naked as well. So why do we hold onto things like it will go one forever?
[15] As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand.
(Ecclesiastes 5:15 ESV)
I have said it before and will again , but we take nothing with into eternity . From the womb we come naked and into the grave we go naked as well. So why do we hold onto things like it will go one forever?
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
If Only Time Could Stand Still
I always get a bit down after Christmas . Its the putting away the decorations and throwing out the tree . Signifying another year gone by probably has to do with part of it and as I approach the big 50 in a couple of years, time seems more precious to me .So when Christmas day occurs and we have not suffered missing family at the table , I just want to drink in the moment . To be thankful and grateful for family and friends.
I always think Christmas is just a little taste of heaven . There is always a moment just before we open presents and having just read the Bible, telling of Jesus birth , I try to soak in that moment. Almost as if I'm trying to slow it down just a bit. We rush through so many moments in our lives . Neglecting or even begrudging at times , time spent with our children , our spouses , friends and even God . We act as if we all are going to be around on this earth forever , when the hard , reality is we are not. Each Christmas for the last 18 years, an empty spot is there without my Mom and with the recent passing of a family friend , not taking others for granted is weighing on my mind.
Parents lament and rush children out the door . Husband and wives in the pursuit of things work so much thinking that in retirement that is when we will connect , they get there and don't know each other. We fill our lives with so much we drown out time with God , failing to remember He is the life giver , redeemer and sustainer.
No , time cannot stand still like in some bad sci-fi show but we can use it more wisely . Getting our priorities right will help in going a long way in using the time God has given us to serve and worship Him and love our families, neighbors well.
So with that in mind , may we indeed use our time well .
I always think Christmas is just a little taste of heaven . There is always a moment just before we open presents and having just read the Bible, telling of Jesus birth , I try to soak in that moment. Almost as if I'm trying to slow it down just a bit. We rush through so many moments in our lives . Neglecting or even begrudging at times , time spent with our children , our spouses , friends and even God . We act as if we all are going to be around on this earth forever , when the hard , reality is we are not. Each Christmas for the last 18 years, an empty spot is there without my Mom and with the recent passing of a family friend , not taking others for granted is weighing on my mind.
Parents lament and rush children out the door . Husband and wives in the pursuit of things work so much thinking that in retirement that is when we will connect , they get there and don't know each other. We fill our lives with so much we drown out time with God , failing to remember He is the life giver , redeemer and sustainer.
No , time cannot stand still like in some bad sci-fi show but we can use it more wisely . Getting our priorities right will help in going a long way in using the time God has given us to serve and worship Him and love our families, neighbors well.
So with that in mind , may we indeed use our time well .
Monday, January 3, 2011
A Christian Without a Church ....Really !
Once again I heard this statement uttered and like a kick to the gut , it gets me a bit bothered under the collar.Why you might ask ? Well there was a fool that uttered these very words and it just didn't pan out too well . That fool would be me . I mentioned before on this blog about my wandering in the wilderness of self affliction , thinking I was so right . Needless to say and without going into all the gory details , it was a mitigated disaster .
So when one says I can be a believer and not go to Church , my first reaction is , your joking right! Now let me clarify , I do not believe going to Church makes one a Christian and in extreme circumstances , one may find one self without a place to attend for a brief season due to doctrinal issues or health . But with the advent of a car and transportation , one can surely find a decent Church to go to . perhaps it won't be all perfect doctrinally , but unless its preaching rank heresy , you are called to attend.If you do not and you become a nit picker , its root is pride . What you are saying is I'm all knowing . I know the Pastor is this , the people are that , the teaching is this and one hides their disgust towards Jesus church , pretending to be all pious .
But in reference to the statement that I heard , here is the rub of the matter. If I say I love my wife and children and truly desire a relationship with them and I neglect to spend time with them then how can that statement be true . Love shows itself in action. To love ones wife is to talk with her and listen , to serve her and be intimate with her . Same with children , one needs to be with them , enjoying their company .
When God calls us out of darkness , He doesn't place us back into isolation and say go your merry way , good luck. No , when Peter preached his famous sermon in Acts and thousands were saved , it says they were added to the Church . The Church was bought with Christ blood . He laid down his life to establish the Church , made up of His sheep.
Acts 2: 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
The act to gather together came about quickly . There was no lone ranger believer attitude . Even when some began to drift away from faithful fellowship , the writer of Hebrews admonishes to not do so (Hebrews 10:25) but to continue on meeting to encourage one another. To say you love the Lord Jesus Christ and want nothing to do with His Church is at best a contradiction and at worst shows a spiritually sick heart , one that even deceive oneself in thinking they are in the right but in truth it can hide a self righteous and legalistic spirit. See it , been it and had the T-shirt.
To gather in God's house to worship , to hear God's word preached , to commune with other Christians is a sweet breath to the soul. We come together not as a perfect family , but one who acknowledges we are broken , sinners in need our a Savior . Yes , the Church will have warts , it will have problems but like the great preacher Spurgeon has said , if your looking for the perfect Church , you won't find one because as soon as you join , its not.
Jesus in Revelation even commends the faithful Christians who remained faithful in a not do perfect Church but He doesn't say go out in the forest and sit and worship , alone. Attending Church regularly shows a heart willing to submit under God's word . It also recognizes the need to be accountable to a larger community . The preached word acts like a surgeon's knife and without a weekly dose of the gospel , one can be so close off to ones blind spots . We can hold one to pride, be unforgiving , hold grudges etc... and think we are all right with God .
So please , unless you are on a desert island with your Bible and a coconut , do not say I can believe and be a faithful Christian without the Church . You will be open to sin and attack . It can show up as real rebellion and a fall or a moralistic , self righteous,false piety . Equally as dangerous and against the gospel of grace .
You cannot have God for your Father
Unless you have the Church
for your Mother.
Cyprian, Third Century Bishop of Carthage
"The bible knows nothing of solitary religion." John Wesley
"Church attendance is a vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man." D.L Moody
So when one says I can be a believer and not go to Church , my first reaction is , your joking right! Now let me clarify , I do not believe going to Church makes one a Christian and in extreme circumstances , one may find one self without a place to attend for a brief season due to doctrinal issues or health . But with the advent of a car and transportation , one can surely find a decent Church to go to . perhaps it won't be all perfect doctrinally , but unless its preaching rank heresy , you are called to attend.If you do not and you become a nit picker , its root is pride . What you are saying is I'm all knowing . I know the Pastor is this , the people are that , the teaching is this and one hides their disgust towards Jesus church , pretending to be all pious .
But in reference to the statement that I heard , here is the rub of the matter. If I say I love my wife and children and truly desire a relationship with them and I neglect to spend time with them then how can that statement be true . Love shows itself in action. To love ones wife is to talk with her and listen , to serve her and be intimate with her . Same with children , one needs to be with them , enjoying their company .
When God calls us out of darkness , He doesn't place us back into isolation and say go your merry way , good luck. No , when Peter preached his famous sermon in Acts and thousands were saved , it says they were added to the Church . The Church was bought with Christ blood . He laid down his life to establish the Church , made up of His sheep.
Acts 2: 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
The act to gather together came about quickly . There was no lone ranger believer attitude . Even when some began to drift away from faithful fellowship , the writer of Hebrews admonishes to not do so (Hebrews 10:25) but to continue on meeting to encourage one another. To say you love the Lord Jesus Christ and want nothing to do with His Church is at best a contradiction and at worst shows a spiritually sick heart , one that even deceive oneself in thinking they are in the right but in truth it can hide a self righteous and legalistic spirit. See it , been it and had the T-shirt.
To gather in God's house to worship , to hear God's word preached , to commune with other Christians is a sweet breath to the soul. We come together not as a perfect family , but one who acknowledges we are broken , sinners in need our a Savior . Yes , the Church will have warts , it will have problems but like the great preacher Spurgeon has said , if your looking for the perfect Church , you won't find one because as soon as you join , its not.
Jesus in Revelation even commends the faithful Christians who remained faithful in a not do perfect Church but He doesn't say go out in the forest and sit and worship , alone. Attending Church regularly shows a heart willing to submit under God's word . It also recognizes the need to be accountable to a larger community . The preached word acts like a surgeon's knife and without a weekly dose of the gospel , one can be so close off to ones blind spots . We can hold one to pride, be unforgiving , hold grudges etc... and think we are all right with God .
So please , unless you are on a desert island with your Bible and a coconut , do not say I can believe and be a faithful Christian without the Church . You will be open to sin and attack . It can show up as real rebellion and a fall or a moralistic , self righteous,false piety . Equally as dangerous and against the gospel of grace .
You cannot have God for your Father
Unless you have the Church
for your Mother.
Cyprian, Third Century Bishop of Carthage
"The bible knows nothing of solitary religion." John Wesley
"Church attendance is a vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man." D.L Moody
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Forward , Onward and Upward
Took a couple days off of writing. Had a funeral to go to on New Years Day of a friend that died after a battle with cancer . He was a solid Christian. So it kinda framed the rest of the day for me as I entered 2011.
Then yesterday I also took advantage of the weather and went to visit my Mom's grave site. So in the quiet of the grave yard , with the wind slightly blowing over the snow covered ground I prayed .
I resolved to look forward . For way too many years I have spent too much time lingering and dwelling on past sins ,mistakes and failures. I do believe one should try to heal hurts one has caused , seeking forgiveness and reconciliation , undoing the wrongs one has done to the best of ones ability but at the same time if we dwell there if things don't go the way we want , we will be stuck in the past. We must except that if we confess of sins , God is faithful to forgive our sins . To linger and let them bog us down is ultimately an insult . Therefore looking forward I will resolve to read Psalm 51 daily , to mark my life with repentance and trust in the promises that in Jesus Christ , I'm whiter than snow . My sins are remembered no more .
I also resolve to move onward in the call to take up my cross ,deny myself and follow my Lord where He leads me (Mark 8:34 ). To truly desire growth and grow in grace in my life not for the purpose to naval gaze , but to exult Jesus Christ ,to glorify the Father and be filled with the Holy Spirit so that I can be more effective in my witness to others and service to my home Church . I want to love more, forgive much and share more .
Finally I want to press upward ." I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."Philippians 3:14) I want to set my eyes upward and set my sights on Jesus . This life can pummel you and leave you barren and weak. The flesh(sinful nature) the world and the devil want to rob your joy and peace one has in the Lord. So the the hope that is found only in Christ , is what I wish to press towards. Just as a runner that sprints for the finish line , one must fix ones eyes on the finish line . Most successful runners will tell you , to run well you must not focus on who is behind,beside or even ahead of you . One should focus on your goal that you see for yourself ahead to succeed . May the gospel of Jesus Christ, the wonder of the cross and the power of the resurrection be ever in our sight.
So those are my brief resolutions for 2011. May this year be full of God's grace and His glory be the goal . God bless .
Then yesterday I also took advantage of the weather and went to visit my Mom's grave site. So in the quiet of the grave yard , with the wind slightly blowing over the snow covered ground I prayed .
I resolved to look forward . For way too many years I have spent too much time lingering and dwelling on past sins ,mistakes and failures. I do believe one should try to heal hurts one has caused , seeking forgiveness and reconciliation , undoing the wrongs one has done to the best of ones ability but at the same time if we dwell there if things don't go the way we want , we will be stuck in the past. We must except that if we confess of sins , God is faithful to forgive our sins . To linger and let them bog us down is ultimately an insult . Therefore looking forward I will resolve to read Psalm 51 daily , to mark my life with repentance and trust in the promises that in Jesus Christ , I'm whiter than snow . My sins are remembered no more .
I also resolve to move onward in the call to take up my cross ,deny myself and follow my Lord where He leads me (Mark 8:34 ). To truly desire growth and grow in grace in my life not for the purpose to naval gaze , but to exult Jesus Christ ,to glorify the Father and be filled with the Holy Spirit so that I can be more effective in my witness to others and service to my home Church . I want to love more, forgive much and share more .
Finally I want to press upward ." I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."Philippians 3:14) I want to set my eyes upward and set my sights on Jesus . This life can pummel you and leave you barren and weak. The flesh(sinful nature) the world and the devil want to rob your joy and peace one has in the Lord. So the the hope that is found only in Christ , is what I wish to press towards. Just as a runner that sprints for the finish line , one must fix ones eyes on the finish line . Most successful runners will tell you , to run well you must not focus on who is behind,beside or even ahead of you . One should focus on your goal that you see for yourself ahead to succeed . May the gospel of Jesus Christ, the wonder of the cross and the power of the resurrection be ever in our sight.
So those are my brief resolutions for 2011. May this year be full of God's grace and His glory be the goal . God bless .
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