Identity du jour

     It seems as though the foundations of our society are being eroded, if not under full on attack.  If there is something that we once took for granted as being basic or foundational, we are now encouraged to treat it with suspicion.  Be it race, gender, political view and in a few nutty cases, even species!

     I had my DNA tested, like hundreds of thousands of other lemmings.  I find it bemusing that many people get their results back and seem joyfully satisfied, having learned their heritage from two, three, even five hundred years back.  They feel they can somehow identify with a people group from history and “paste” it into their worldview.  Some however, don’t bother spending the dollars on official testing and, just go straight to identifying with another group or ethnicity.  While some are happy with their lineage, others want to loudly and violently protest.  Some insist on impossible reparations to be made for past grievance.  But what would happen if they could get the skinny on their ancestors back another five hundred years?  What would we do if we found those generations enslaved or lead in the brutality of another people group?

     From schoolchildren to university we are taught the theory of evolution as being fact.  Some who may be more spiritual may couple their belief with a Big Bang theory.  So, all matter, and all energy, already existed?  “Sure, give us one cool miracle and we’ll take it from here.”  Some folks believe in the theory of creation.  And yet many of them believe Adam is just a generic name for all mankind in general. But Holy Scripture says that when (literal) Adam was 130 years old his son (literal) Seth was born.  What does this have to do with DNA or identity?  It is my opinion that we are all brothers and sisters in the human race.  Our migrations and lineage are fascinating.  But before we come to civil war…. Before our foundations are crumbled beyond repair… I wish we would find our true identity.  I pray that we could love one another as our Creator first loved us.

     I mentioned earlier that I too had my DNA tested.  I may be confused now more than ever though!  Turns out I have strong markers for American Indian, African, and Jewish ancestry!  I’m just not sure which banner to fight under?  Those who were terribly cheated, those who were brutally mistreated, or those who have fled under pogroms.. holocaust..and even rising anti-Semitism?  Just not sure which victim’s reparations window to stand in front of? 

     I leave you with this quote.  I wish I’d have thought of it.  That and my degree, might just buy me that proverbial cup of coffee.  “In an age of illusion… and utter confusions… Upon our delusions… we base our conclusions.”

“Seven Fat Cows”… and the Trump Era
What does “Seven Fat Cows” mean and how in the world could it tie in with the Trump Era?

Sometime between our last Presidential election and the Inauguration I feel Jehovah put something on my heart. I have waited quite some time to share it due to natural procrastination and also perhaps some fear of man and opinions. I felt it still lingering and now am taking the time to share it. Now may be a time when the ‘jury is still out’ regarding just what impact our current president may have upon our own country or on a global scale? I realize that even saying that my get quite a mixed reaction. I know that there are many Christians who think he is ordained by God to be the one in office for such a time as this. There are others who only know what the “talking heads” on their news feed proclaim. There are many who think he is practically the Antichrist himself!

Let me just explain what I feel may have been something prophetic and let the chips fall where they may. I wish to make the statement that what I am going to share does not reflect an endorsement of President Trump. Daniel 2:21 tells us: “He changes times and seasons, deposing some kings and establishing others. He gives wisdom to the wise; he imparts knowledge to those with understanding.” Also in Romans 13:1 we find: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.” I do missionary work is several countries with people I love, yet I am also very grateful to live in these United States. But, I am inclined to hold with Holy Scripture that declares that we as believers in Messiah are in fact citizens of another Kingdom. Philippians 3:20 tells us…. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
To refresh your memory you can read some of the following around Genesis chapter 41.

In the story, Joseph who was sold into Egypt becomes the powerful advisor of Pharoah, who is having bad dreams. In one of the dreams, Pharoah dreams of seven fat cows, devoured by seven starving cows. In the second, seven ripe, healthy sheaves of wheat are devoured by seven shriveled, dry ones. Joseph correctly predicts that this means,
“Immediately ahead are seven years of great abundance in all the land of Egypt. After them will come seven years of famine and all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten. As the land is ravaged by famine, no trace of the abundance will be left in the land…And let Pharoah take steps to appoint overseers over the land, and organize by taking a fifth part of the land’s produce in the seven years of plenty. Let all the food of those good years that are coming be gathered and let the grain be collected under Pharoah’s authority as food to be stored in cities.
Let that food be a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which will come upon the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish in the famine.”
Joseph’s understanding and forethought enable Egyptians, and ultimately his own family to survive the famine, in which “…there was no bread in all the world.“
I believe that in the next seven years or so we are going to witness an era of uncommon growth. I think there will be incredible opportunity for those with wisdom, many with entrepreneurial gifting, and a time to glean here and perhaps abroad, the likes we may have not seen in decades. Many will miss the opportunity, a majority will consume the increase upon their own lusts, and hopefully the wise will store up or use the increase to advance the Kingdom of the Most High.
I will not be surprised if there will be some great nuclear conflict before the middle of this era. Possibly this will be centered somewhere in the Middle East between Sunni and Shia followers of Islam. But the conflict will do much to advance the perception and agenda that the world needs some UNIFIED mutation of government and religion, all in the name of peace.
I believe near the end of the Trump Era we will see the signs of the end of the “Seven Fat Cows” being more engulfed by the years ahead.
I, of course, have my own personal theories as to some of the particulars possible in what I shared above. I do not wish to elaborate on that or put any more in print than what I feel Yahweh impressed upon me.
I am aware of what Scripture declares in Deuteronomy 18:20-22 with the following: But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death. You may say to yourselves, ‘How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?’
If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.
This post was not intended to cause an alarm nor more political hatred and divisiveness. I invite your opinion and response. If it resonates with anything you have felt Father has spoken with you please share it with me. If it makes you wanna look for stones, remember that MERCY was always allowed to be extended rather than the full letter of the law. If you still are determined to stone me, may I suggest Nerf Brand found on EBay and Amazon. ?

Just Accept Me For Who I Am!
“I just want to be accepted for who I am.” That was a remark a good friend made recently at a cookout we had. I suppose we all feel that way from time to time. I know it’s a common statement but it got me thinking. What does that mean anyway?
Some people are quirky. Maybe they want people to accept them in their unique expressions of themselves and not feel they have to be like everyone else?
Some people may be a bit lazy or underachieving and just want people to ‘lay off’ and not push them?
Some people are rude or abrasive and just want to get it out there that they have no intention of being neither politically correct… nor civil for that matter?

In my humble opinion, “just accept me for who I am” might work fine for Mt Rushmore… but in the case of the human species, I’m not so sure it fits. Humans are in a constant state of change. Sometimes it is subtle like the changing of seasons or in the evolving of our perspectives and beliefs. Sometimes it comes with different roles we play as the stages of our lives unfold: i.e. child, spouse, parent, retiree, and caregiver. Sometimes it comes upon us suddenly or even tragically… “Your child has a syndrome,” “I want a divorce,” “I’m afraid the test came back malignant,” etc.

I can’t speak for anyone else, but I also think there are times when even we ourselves don’t really know the “who I am” let alone expect others to follow through with the “accept us” part of that saying. How many times do we run after things in life to somehow placate a poor self-image, or compensate for a weakness we perceive EVERYONE MUST PLAINLY SEE? We also have the mental ‘tapes’ running in our heads that have been recorded into us by those who raised us, coached us, or wounded us. On top of this we have the barrage of impressions in advertising that try to mold us into the perfect body type, “normal” family, and current SHINY OBJECT that would distract us from our comparatively boring life.

Aren’t you glad we have the Holy Scripture given by the Creator to help set our identity crisis at rest?
Matthew 6:28
Do Not Worry
25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

2 Corinthians 3:18 …as all of us reflect the Lord’s glory with faces that are not covered with veils, we are being changed into his image with ever-increasing glory. This comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Philippians 1:6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his creatures who are created in Yeshua The Messiah for good works, those things which God had from the first prepared that we should walk in them.

There is truly One who does indeed accept us as we are. He is ever mindful of our frame and makeup and yet calls us to become who we were created to be. Yahweh is the only one worthy of being the Author and Finisher of us, our faith, and His desires placed within our hearts!
Shalom

If there has to be a circus…and only one act can have top billing,  then perhaps only one carnival act has a chance of replacing the other?  I recognize with astonishment that one groups champion is often another groups clown.  Where once America looked to a “Citizen Statesman” to guide her, now political correctness may cry out for a StatesperLGBTson?  

I myself take comfort in a dusty old notion that the Most High is still on His throne.  It is He who guides the affairs of men and nations during “His-Story.”  In the Holy Scripture tells us in Daniel 2:  20Daniel said, “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him. 21“It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding. 22“It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, And the light dwells with Him.…

Know that one day we will have to declare our citizenship… and not just at the boarder.

CW

“No skin in the game.”  Have you ever heard that phrase?  It is one of several colloquialisms that i have heard in my life.  Another one is “I got no dog in that fight.”  It sounds rather cool and catchy.  Sometimes it describes somebody’s  lack of concern or wish to stay out of a conflict or controversy.  It can be used from situations as small as gossip or a schoolyard squabble all the way to involvements of nations on a global scale.

When thinking about this i was drawn to the book of Ezekiel.  The Holy Scripture tells us this in Ezekiel when speaking about God, Meshech, and Tubal….”This is what the Sovereign Lord says:  I am against you O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.  I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws, and bring you out with your whole army……”   I am not going to speculate on who exactly is God and the other players in this as there are a few opinions.   What strikes me is that Jehovah himself can draw kings, nations and people groups into involvement on the stage of His-story— history.

Recently France was attacked and terrorized in a brutal plot.  Just before that Russia — after flexing military muscle in Syria- had a passenger jet blown out of the sky.  Even countries such as Germany, that have no military involvement, are facing staggering problems as refugees pour into their country.  Suddenly, life as many knew it— plans that were not supposed to be interrupted– and people who felt they were far removed from chaos now have “skin in the game- and dogs in a very real fight.”

Now, maybe more than ever before in our lives we must remain vigilant.  We should be mindful of where our security lies.  Be careful to not be pulled into any other fight than the fight of faith.  And be not surprised.  If you are a believer in the Messiah,  you are a citizen of another kingdom.  This world is not your home and it has always been a battlefield.

Shalom

I suppose occasional transparency is in order.  I confess i have a little problem with four letter words.  Perhaps the spelling of words like S#!* or F#@@ might have made you think i am talking about certain, shall i say, vulgar words?  OH MY!  How your mind did wander.  No, i do not have much trouble with vulgar words– although some sure seem to fit particular scenarios.  Scripture tells me in Ephesians 5:4  to use wholesome speech and avoid obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking.  By God’s grace that has never been too hard for me.

The kind of four letter words that seem to be a snare for me might just also be a problem for others.   Up above–S#!* stood for the word “Stay” and F#@@ stands for “Free”.   Galatians 5:1 says “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.”  Sometimes in this world it can be very hard to stay free.  I doubt i am not the only one who struggles to stay free from old habits that would ensnare me once again.  Those habits we have or had are not usually the deeper issue.  They are often but crutches we use to help us limp along from some other hurt or weakness far more harmful.  Stay free from things like:

1.  Negative comparisons to others.  Gal 6:4

2.  Guilt and remorse over past failure– or loss.  Eph 3:13

3.  Pollution of the world.. religion…  James1:27

Some who are in the “grace camp” might try to make me think that if i truly am in Christ i simply let him do all the work– this talk of struggle work is unscriptural.  I have to disagree.  There is another four letter word that may be even harder for me than what i revealed above.  Gulp–How did i get myself into this confession booth?  How about the word ‘obey’?  Am i the only one who has difficulty with that?  Again– Some would holler out– “Love is all you need”… even in the Christian community.  Certainly it is the greatest of all attributes and gifts, as stated throughout the bible and in Corinthians 13…. but Yeshua himself had to go and make “love” something more than some ethereal – to each his own- experience.  He stated that if i love him i am to “obey” him.  That is an active word in my opinion.  It agrees with Scripture that “faith without works is dead”.

Maybe this post has left some of us feeling defeated or discouraged.  I will leave you with another four letter word that gives me great hope.  The word is rest.  We who are born from above– born again in Messiah can REST.  Rest from our works to earn salvation.. rest in the power of the Blood.. rest in His great love for us…. Eph 5:6 “being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.”

 ** WARNING **—Blasphemy: 

I’m an observer.  I watch people celebrating their lives and all those things that seem to make it important.  Be it secular or sacred.  Don’t get me wrong., I like football.  I played it – coached it—know a couple things about it , and to this day (decades after) often when I smell freshly cut grass in the early fall … my mind goes right back to memories of practices and games!

I don’t know about the region of the country where you live, but where we are located I swear—folks are crying out for revival.  Really!  They are hungry for renewed team spirit.  They are rejoicing for new management.  They are truly seeking first the things of their “kingdom” – convinced that all these things shall be added unto it.  (AFC title—league and regional respect—economic upturn.)

There are some among us who are eagerly looking for spiritual revival.  We who know history are aware that God has swept through this part of the country in powerful ways in times past and are praying for an even greater outpouring ahead.

As I watch people I am reminded of how similar we are to our ancestors centuries ago.  We still often choose the profane over the holy.  We still often reject the only ONE who can lift us and lead us.  The masses still cry out “Give us Barabbas.”

Racism or PCism

 Old Mr. Sterling finds himself in quite a stew.  Seems he made some insensitive remarks to his mistress!  Of course adultery is just an archaic notion mentioned in some dusty Commandments.  Ah, but prejudice is now holocaust-al in scope.  I wonder if he will be forced to sell his franchise at fire-sale prices?

   While I am no seer, I can envision more coming from this than meets the eye.  As I observe the world around me I take notice.  I recall how one professional athlete got belittled for making too much of his faith…. and I see another recently getting headlines and “tweeted” all over creation for his boldness to be the first openly gay athlete in a certain sport. I can just overhear some team owner now exclaiming “Ain’t no &%^**4#  way somebody’s gonna make me put in a separate bath or shower for some gay player who decided to come outta the closet.”  He might be well advised to hold his tongue or check his emails if he is inclined to be so brash.  Editor Joel Belz writes:

     ..it is time to take note that there is nothing funny at all about the growing debateover so called gender sensitive restrooms in public places across the  country.  Want to know how to bring a great nation to its knees?  Want to know how tohumiliate  the United States of America?  Take ever so seriously, then, this supposedlylofty discussion about whether we owe it to the “transgendered” folk among us (or others who are still gender-confused) to spend vast sums so that they can relievethemselves without discomfort or embarrassment.”

   Like I said, I cannot predict the future.  But I was a builder for over thirty years and know something about the cost of adding a “hooter” or two.  Columbia University in New York has already stated they will be remodeling several of their buildings this year to accommodate such demands.  To be politically correct and not guilty of PCism is getting more and more interesting!

  Psalm 11:3 says “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”  But, there I go again–  looking at that dusty old Book for wisdom!

Ya might be a groupie if:

* You would much rather know or be in the company of the “person on the platform” than the woman who watches the nursery so others can worship.

* You knowingly support those whose lifestyle and activities quite clearly speak of upward mobility, excitement, and performance rather than servant-hood and humility.

* You don’t really like it- but you are willing to accept a “one-way street” relationship.

Feel free to add more to this list.

GROUPIE
Noun informal
* an ardent fan of a celebrity or of a particular activity.

That doesn’t sound so bad, does it? I mean, we are supposed to be passionate about things in life right? Nobody likes to hang around an Eeyore for very long. What can be the harm?
I might agree with all the above if i saw more people in the world and especially in the “body of Christ” that were healthy emotionally and fully satisfied. Instead i see far too many that are insecure..both in their relationship to God as well as in their own skin!
There are so many wonderful books on the subject of the believer’s identity in library or online. I encourage one to do a scriptural search as well. I do like the following quotes:
“I call myself a Christian because I discern in the New Testament a man whose life, death and central teaching penetrates more deeply into the mysterious reality of our condition that anyone or anything else has ever done. In the Gospels, Acts, and the Epistles, I find a total view of what man is, or what he could be and ought to be, which evokes a response in me such as no other writings have ever done.” ~Phillip Toynbee~

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,…… And i pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ…” As a prisoner for the Lord, then I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love.” ~Paul.. the apostle~

Fall into the NOW ~

I heard someone say something that caused my mind to really wander. Maybe that’s how I am ending up here. What does it mean to fall? Usually I think we picture something hard… like maybe they “fell upon hard times” or if we’re real spiritual we might think of scripture that thayeth—pride goeth before a fall. At any rate it seems like it is going from a higher place to a lower one. I remember falling out of an airplane once. It was a trip to somersault off the foot rest below the open door and see the small plane leaving while I was falling from 9,500 feet! And while that was amazing and surreal, it was still a fall, and had not the chute deployed….thurreal goeth before a thplat!
I titled this blog “Fall into the NOW” because falling is something that is not often natural. It speaks a bit of being out of control. The word now of course means the present, but more than that. When I think of the past I think of phrases like somebody ‘carrying their past, bound by the past, or living in the past.’ It just doesn’t seem healthy. But the word NOW.. that speaks of something fresh, maybe even something challenging. And yet, what am I going to do about that word “fall?” I mean, I wonder if fall doesn’t always have to be hard—to maybe end up with a splat? I wonder—can you fall –UP? I think maybe you can. I think maybe one can fall up to a higher level! Before you yawn and declare I’m nuts, think about love. Love is not rational. It oftentimes does not follow a real or logical plan. If you’re in a relationship, I hope you fell in love. Not that I don’t think love does involve choice, and even duty or responsibility.. but real love.. exciting love just kind of takes you over. You rejoice in it and celebrate it. Real love is hard to contain or control, and it’s a mystery. You fall deeply in love, hopefully not downward.. but upward, toward completeness….toward a hopeful unknown!
The word NOW I am speaking about is much the same. It is toward a hopeful unknown. If I want to impress you with a little geek, I mean greek..it is kairos and not chronos. Kairos lets us know there a certain God times.. seasons if you will, that are ordained by God. Times when He speaks to our heart and calls us to something better, strategic, and even consequential. The word now can also be used regarding points that are timely and progressive, when He wants to bring us to another level, a higher level.
Like it or not, believe in it or not, we are all subject to gravity. When I fell out of that plane I was operating by a principle that was teaching me at a rate of like 130 miles per hour! When I ask you to consider to “fall into the NOW” I am asking you to take your hand off the control of your life. Let yourself fall. Know that it is possible to fall up. More than even possible, it is God’s good pleasure to bring us into places of faith, peace, and purpose that we cannot even imagine. Perhaps some excerpts from His love letter will give you the courage you need. The HOLY BIBLE says:

“……now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to the power that is within us….” Ephesians 3:20

Are you facing any NOW times or opportunities? Let me know how (or if) you land. 🙂