The Holy Spirit, part one

Lately I've been thinking quite a bit about the Holy Spirit. I think over the next few blog posts I will be discussing the Holy Spirit. First, I am going to give a general introduction. This is a paper I wrote a few years back for a religion class, at a secular university. Be kind, I wrote it, like I did every paper, the night before it was due. :p

"Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit is, there is liberty” (2 Cor. 3:17). If there is one verse that could describe what the Holy Spirit meant to the First Century church, one could make a very well placed bet that the preceding verse would have hit the nail on the head, so to speak. The Holy Spirit has been a very important aspect of the Christian faith, both in times ancient and even still today. As seen in the book of Acts, the recordings of the earliest Christians, the Holy Spirit played an important part in emboldening the Apostles and early converts through signs, healings, and acts of supernatural means. This will show that through Scripture, the Holy Spirit is a part of God, given to those who follow Christ, as a testament of their faith as well as Spiritual guidance, as this is how the 1st century Christians saw the Spirit.

To understand the purpose of the Holy Spirit and its actions, as written in scripture, one must first come to understand the nature what the Holy Spirit actually is. The word used for the Holy Spirit in Greek, is most associated with wind or breath(1). Acts 2:2 says “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting”. The word usage of wind is not likely accidental. When one imagines breath or wind certain images come to mind. For example, if one were to look outside as the wind blew, one would be able to see the effects of the wind, while not being able to see the wind itself. The Holy Spirit is seen much in the same light. There is no record of the Spirit having ever taken a physical, seen presence. Instead, it is this invisible force that is only measured by the works that are performed by it(2). And just like wind, it can be very subtle, like a gentle spring breeze, or as a heavy wind, as seen in Acts 2. But, as mentioned, it’s not only seen as wind, but as a breath. Why? Breathing is a sign that a person is a life. It is essential for those who are alive to take breaths. Christian Scripture is loaded with rhetoric about new life, especially after baptism, when the Holy Spirit fills a person(3). The idea of filling a person is also tied into breathing. Take a breath. When one breathes in, one’s lungs are filled with life giving breath, until the point that one is so full of it that they have to literally expel some. Essentially, this is the same with the Holy Spirit. The idea is that God will pour so much of himself into a believer through the Spirit, that that believer will in turn pour it into others to witness to them the wonders of God. God is using a part of Himself to allow others to know him fully. Then again, how does one know that God and the Holy Spirit are of the same ilk?

Luke answered the aforementioned question in Luke, while narrating the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Acts 5: 3-4 says “Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.” Luke mentions first the Holy Spirit, as saying that Ananias had his heart filled with Satan, causing him to lie to the Holy Spirit. However, in the very next verse it says that God was lied to. It seems that the author realized that the connection would be made that God and the Holy Spirit are one. A similar word exchange is used in 1 Cor. 3:16 and 6:19, where the Christian is described as a Temple of God, and then as the Temple of the Holy Spirit. Both of these will be important later on when Christians begin to think more in depth about the relationship of the Godhead, in terms of Trinitarian theology. Matthew 28:14 has also been used to show that the Godhead is composed of multiple parts, including the Holy Spirit. Jesus says in that verse, that the Apostles should go and make disciples in the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, showing a relationship between the three. Jesus also is recorded as saying in Acts 1: 4-5, that the Father would give a gift to the believers, in the form of the Holy Spirit. Can the Father give away something that is not His? Surely this is the logic that many early Christians used when explaining the Holy Spirit.

Up to this point this paper has focused on what the Spirit is, including that it is part of the Godhead, and is of supernatural or divine origin, per Christian scripture. But what exactly does the Holy Spirit do? Several passages in the book of Acts reveals to us that the Holy Spirit preformed several miracles for believers to witness to them the power of God. The most famous example is in Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit comes down on the day of Pentecost to a group of believers in Jerusalem. The Spirit could have done a multitude of wonders for the believers and non-believers alike there, yet it chose to give the power of speaking in tongues to believers. One could only assume that the reason for this action is that the Holy Spirit desired to get people of various tongues to hear the wonder of Christ. Readers of the Bible know that the Spirit glorifies Christ(4) , so this would make sense as to why the Spirit chose this particular supernatural event. But perhaps another reason was attached to this. As mentioned before, the Holy Spirit was known by the Greek word for breath. However, it was also know by the word for Comfort, paraklete. Jesus said in John 15:26 ““But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.”(5) The Helper here is more accurately translated as comforter. In acts, we see the Spirit working as that comfort and that help. Take for example Acts 9:31: “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.”(6) Notice that the Holy Spirit here is seen as helping and comforting the believers by encouraging them. Though there was a time of peace, no doubt that many of them were unsure about the times ahead of them. The Holy Spirit gave them encouragement as well as strength in numbers, so that they could continue to do the work of Jesus Christ.

The last rather important piece of information about the Holy Spirit is that it has much to do with the process of salvation. While the Father begot a Son which died for mankind, it is the Holy Spirit which convicts people of their sin. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit this: “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8). Not only does He convict the heart of sin, but He also has a great deal to do with Baptism, and important Christian rite. In Acts, every time there was talk about salvation, there was talk about Baptism afterwards, and then the Holy Spirit would fill a person’s life. For example, Acts 2:37-38 is a point where Peter is speaking about what to do in regards to being saved. Peter said "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Even in the case of Jesus, the Holy Spirit only came upon Him once and only once He was baptized. This author personally believes that this is the case because the Holy Spirit is involved in a process known as sanctification, in which a person is cleansed of the past sins and desires through faith and acts of said faith(7).

Much more can be said about the Holy Spirit than what has been covered. Consider other works it does, such as giving wisdom(8) , interceding(9), giving guidance(10) , etc... One can even say that the fruit of the Spirit is a work of the Spirit(11). Or perhaps one could also consider a less spoken side of the Spirit, such as when people who were baptized were not given the Spirit(12). Yet, this author believes that with what has been said about the Spirit in the selected Scripture is sufficient to paint a picture of a force that is not of this world, which is divine in nature, and works miracles and wonders in whomever it comes in contact with. It is clear that 1st Century Christians relied heavily on the Holy Spirit. They relied on it for strength, guidance, hope, comfort, and so much more. And like a fresh spring breeze, it never failed, nor fails in this day and age, to comfort and bring serenity. At the same time, like a tornado, there is nothing, neither ancient nor modern, that can stand against its power.

---------------------------------------------
Notes:
(1)Pneuma is the Greek in this case.
(2)John 14:16-17: And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you
(3)Matthew 3: 16-17 says that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit after He was baptized.
(4)John 15:26, 16:13-14;1 Cor. 6:19-20
(5)See also John 14:16.
(6)Compare to Romans 8:26. The Spirit helps us in weakness.
(7)Romans 15:16
(8)John 16:13
(9)Romans 8:26
(10)Romans 8:14
(11)Galatians 5:22-23
(12)Acts 8:16

Boasting in Christ

Galatians 6:14 (NLT)

As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died.

Lecrae, Boasting

With every breath I take, with every heart beat,
Sunrise and the moon lights in the dark street.
Every glance, every dance, every note of a song.
It’s all a gift undeserved that I shouldn’t have known.
Every day that I lie, every moment I covet
I’m deserving to die, I’m just earning your judgment.
I, without the cross there’s only condemnation.
If Jesus wasn’t executed there’s no celebration.
So in times that are good, in times that are bad
For any times that I’ve had it all I will be glad.
and I will boast in the cross. I boast in my pains.
I will boast in the sonshine, boast in his reign.
What’s my life if it’s not praising you.
Another dollar in my bank account of vain pursuit. I do.
That count my life as any value or presence at all.
Let me finish my race, let me answer my call.

Verse 2:
Tomorrow's never promised, but it is we swear
Think we holding our own, just a fist full of air
God has never been obligated to give us life
If we fought for our rights, we be in hell tonight
Mere sinners own nothing but a fierce hand
We never loved him we pushed away his pierced hands
I rejected his love, grace, kindness, and mercy
Dying of thirst, yet, willing to die thirsty
Eternally worthy, how could I live for less?
Patiently you turn my heart away from selfishness
I volunteer for your sanctifying surgery
I know the spirits purging me of everything that's hurting me
Remove the veil from my darkened eyes
So now every morning I open Your Word and see the Son (Sun) rise
I hope in nothin', boast in nothin', only in your sufferin'
I live to show your glory, dyin' to tell your story

Glory was solely meant for you
Doing what no one else could do
With all I have to give,
I'll use my life, I'll use my lips
I'll only glory in your Word
What gift to me I don't deserve
I'll live in such a way that it reflects to you, my Praise

I post this blog for the simple reason of reminding myself, and others, that we are nothing outside of Christ. Many boast about being saints, saved from the chains of sin. From this, we have people looking down upon non-Christians. But the only thing that separates us from a sinner is what Christ has done. It is nothing we can brag about, or take pride in. Did I save myself from death? Did I release my sickness? Did I bridge the gap between myself and God? No. Only Christ has done so.

And only Christ gives my heart the strength to beat, my lungs the desire to breathe. I cannot do this on my own! How shall I brag about being alive? Or should I boast about my abilities? Did I create myself with the ability to have intellect? NO! Only Christ did this for me. Therefore, I cannot boast in anything about myself, my life, or anything else surrounding me. I can only boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection, His wonderful life, powerful statements, and mysterious love. I boast in the wounds that He bore. I boast in the punishment He willingly took. I boast in His second coming. And I boast in eternity with Him. My whole life, therefore, should be, and hopefully will become, nothing but praise to Him.

I hope we can all say this.

A vision I once had.

I was going through some older writings of mine tonight, and came across something I wrote last year, in January, based on a dream I had. Here is what it says:

There were many church buildings which were large, and made of gold, silver and other precious metals, and were decorated with gems. The insides of the churches were equally exquisite and beautifully decorated. Inside one of these churches I saw a bunch of Christians, who were dressed in very nice, expensive clothing and jewelry. They were gathered around a large table, eating a great many things. They ate in excess, and were very loud to the point of being obnoxious. In one corner of the church there were people engaging in a large sexual orgy, doing many unholy things. I then went back outside and saw poor people in torn clothing, which looked very malnourished. They were clawing at the doors of the churches trying to get in. They were begging for food, clothing and shelter, but were ignored. The head of one church went to the door and began to curse those begging, telling them that the nice things inside were provided by God for those Christians only. He then shut the door and locked it. The people outside of the church began to die. Many killed themselves to keep from dying slowly. All around were bodies of many men, women and many, many children. The skies grew dark, and God spoke to the churches saying "You have betrayed my covenant, and ignored my commands. For this, I will forsake you and destroy your evil works and souls." Then the ground began shaking intensely, and fire spread across the land. The churches began to crumble to the ground. The precious metals were melted down, and the gems were broken. Then I saw all the people being gathered up. Many began to grab Bibles and crosses, hoping to appear pious, but were all thrown in the lake of fire. Fire then consumed the rest of the land, but as the fires slowly died I saw a large wooden cross which was not harmed by the fire.

Oddly enough, I've been thinking about this a lot lately. It is no secret that the American church is, in large, a bit messed up and turned around. There are many churches which operate out of a desire for fame, wealth, influence, and so on. Many pastors have been caught in acts of sexual deviance, robbing their people of money, teaching false doctrines to appease people, or whatever. There is little focus on missions, preaching the gospel, making genuine disciples, and so on. And it shows not only in the churches, but in the lives of those who are members of those churches.

I have heard of Christians say they don't pray or read scripture. Say what?! Yes, that is correct. I've heard other Christians say they never have fasted. I've heard some say they engage in carnal acts of this world. If I am honest, I admit that I have been in that position, even while in a leadership position. How can the Holy Spirit use a person who is carnally minded? And if they are a leader in the church, how will that church grow and do God's work?

I think about the evil kings of Israel, and when Israel ran away from God's purpose. They were called to be a blessing to the nations, and be God's holy people. Yet, there were many who saw the carnal lives of the pagan nations, and they were so carnally minded that they began to reject God's blessings in search of temporary pleasures. As a result, Israel was thrown into captivity, Jerusalem was sacked, and the temple was destroyed. God judged Israel for their rejection of His ways. He removed his blessings, and allowed them to be destroyed by the very evil they desired to imitate.

Much in the same, I see many churches subtly going this way, and even some not being so subtle. Sound doctrine has been thrown out the door, in exchange for supposed relevance. Instead of teaching about a Jesus who came to cure a sin sick people, many are taught about a Jesus who seems like He needs people to come to Him and accept Him. He is portrayed as weak and passive. He is seen as just a way to get what people want. I am not being merely hyperbolic; I can name examples of many things I have heard and seen in different churches. I can tell you about the people in a church who were supposedly filled with the spirit and were running around yelling and screaming and shaking, and praying loud for car, or a new tool box. I have seen a church spend more money on a sound system than it ever thought to spend on reaching the single mother who is struggling to feed her children. I have seen churches that preach that Jesus came to give us an abundance of things we want. I have been to churches which don't talk about repentance, sin, or holiness, but espouse "living our best lives now". These are but just a few problems with in just one community of churches. I know there are some places which are hot on fire for Christ, and other places which are far worse (I've heard of a Church in France that literally engaged in orgies on the altar, no joke), so it will vary from place to place. However, I believe that there is a trend which shows the decline away from the calling of Christ, and now is embracing a calling of flesh.

There are polls and surveys which back my claims, recently released.
http://futurestorm.blogspot.com/2009/03/new-survey-less-than-1-of-18-23-year.html
http://www.barna.org/culture-articles/462-six-megathemes-emerge-from-2010

Both shows a church which is in disarray. The sheep are scattered by wolves. And I believe those sheep which are lead astray will be devoured. I believe we will see, before long, quite a few churches close their doors, and many people leave church to embrace heretical ideas, agnosticism, atheism, or even fall into the sway of other religions.

In the end, these temples that have been constructed will ultimately be brought down. The false teachers will lead many astray. People will be judged. All like my dream showed me.

Yet....

I still have hope.

Because even though there is a great time of sadness and darkness coming, I also know that it is darkest before the morning light. So I accept this darkness, because I know the Son is coming again. I also know that fire purifies. When the forests get too thick with growth, they will dry up much of the ground, and cause things to be really fragile to the point of death. The death allows fire to spread quickly. The fire consumes the land. And after the fire is put out, new life grows in place of death. Perhaps we should consider a garden. Sometimes the wrong growth takes place, and weeds with strangle the life of a flower or a bush. We must pluck all the weeds to let the plants grow strong. In this same sense, we need a fall of the church. Let people lose their comfort, their status, their power, their wealth, and their earthly ambitions. Let the faithful few cling to the throne of God, and rely completely on the Spirit. The church, after all, was first started from a few, and spread like fire over the land consuming the hearts of many. Miracles were worked. People were saved. God was honored.

So ultimately, I want this to be seen as a vision of hope, and not of doom and gloom.
Christ is alive, and that is all the matters. He has won the war, no matter how the battles may look now.

Let us pray for an honest revival.

Amen.

Knowing God

Humans are social beings. Everything we do is based on social interaction with other humans. As a result, over the course of one's life, one will often build many bonds with other humans. Sometimes they are business fueled, or perhaps just an acquaintance in the neighborhood. Often times, those relationship are not as well remembered, or as meaningful as an intimate relationship with, say, a partner, best friend, or family member. Those are the relationships that matter the most to humans.

It's not surprising, then, that I have noticed quite a few Christians using phrases like "Not a religion, but a relationship" or talking about creating a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus. Now, don't get me wrong, I am not bashing that. I believe it is necessary for a person to indeed have a personal relationship with Christ, for them to enter into Eternal Life, and please God. My point of writing this is to cause people to examine what intimacy with Christ, really is.

I believe the mind set of most American Christians, is that intimacy with Christ is still just a Sunday thing. Unless you are really intimate, in which case its Wednesday nights too. I also believe that the image most people have about Christ is closer to a Greek god than the Living God. Many people hold Christ as a powerful man, who lived long ago, teaching and doing great things for humanity, and now sits far away casting judgment while sitting on His throne. Now, those things are all true, technically, but those people I just mentioned limit Christ to this. Others limit Him to a Holy ATM machine, asking things of Him, only when they need Him. And still others try to hold Him personal as the "Buddy Jesus", but fail to see His Holiness.

So, what does knowing Jesus mean? I look to the disciples, and my own experiences on this. The disciples knew Jesus pretty well. After all, they did spend three years together. This was three years of hearing Jesus snore. Three years of smelling His bad breath in the morning. Three years of seeing his bedhead. Three years of knowing when he had bad gas. Three years of close conversations, not just what was recorded in the Gospels.

I'll give some examples with my own life, which probably applies to most other people. Being in an intimate relationship with my parents, doesn't mean that I hold them as some great person living long ago, giving birth to me, and supplying my needs. That denies what actually makes them great. My dad is a chronic snorer. My mom sometimes has bad gas. I know them well. I know what makes them mad, depressed, and of course, what makes them happy. They have taught me things, and I have shared my ideas with them. They provide for me at times, and I am grateful, and show them that. We know each other.

Or take Dan Rigg and I. We were roomates, (actually sharing a bedroom) for one whole year. I knew when Dan got mad, and he knew when I was mad. We knew when each other had upset stomachs, bad days, colds, or what not. We had, and still have, a close, personal relationship with each other. He has taught me, and vice versa, and both of us have the utmost respect and love for each other. We are best friends.

Likewise, the disciples had this relationship with Christ. Everything he did in those three years, they likely knew about and vice versa. They were closer than brothers, excuse the cliche. They had a personal relationship. This was how Jesus chose how to shepherd, or disciple, those men into what they were to become. And He commanded them to do the same thing with their flocks. They were to become close to them, as they had been close to Him.

And we today, are called to this as well. But in a society that seems to be very disconnected, it is hard create close, meaningful relationships, and that seems to carry over into our relationship with the Lord. Again, we treat Him differently than we do with our closest friends. Why is that?

I challenge ever Brother and Sister to change this in their lives. Our relationship with Him is the most important one that we will ever have. Don't let it be restricted to Sundays. Or to your reading of the Word once a day/week/month/whenever. Or when you put in a Christian CD. Or when you pray to get something you want. As Paul said, "Take captive every thought", because every thought should be based on Him. Any thought not based around Him is a tear divide in your relationship. Every sin is a stab in the back. So then, every thought you think, every breath you are given, every word you speak, every blink of your eye, every life changing decision, every meal you eat, every item you purchase, every time you reflect...All of that should be focused on getting closer to Christ, knowing Him better than the moment before.

You talk to your closest friends many times a day. How often do you talk to Him? How often do you listen? How often do you seek to know the most intimate, secret, details about the One who made you? How often do you honestly seek to know the Christ intimately?

That is a question we all need to ask, and if we are honest, we should feel a little regret with the answer, because we can always be closer. It is a tough challenge, but we were made for it. All we need to do is allow ourselves to be transformed from what this world has nurtured us to be into the being Christ made us naturally.

Christ said "My Father and I are one". That is the key intimate relationship. We too, are called to be one in fellowship with Him.

Blessings.

A dog chasing his tail.

I love dogs. I especially love how silly they can be. I've seen many dogs who will do the craziest of things. My favorite, however, is watching a dog chase its own tail! They catch something moving back and forth rapidly, in the corner of their eyes and BAM! Their head snaps back and soon the rest of the body follows, going round and round and round. Sometimes the dog might capture a slight snap of the tail, only to have it shake away from its mouth. Other times it may catch it and begin to nibble, only to realize that the tail is a part of itself; A very disappointing catch. The rest of the time, the dog might just get bored and dizzy, after running around foolishly.

We can sit back and laugh at the dog, seeing it being so silly. However, aren't we the same way? I feel like I see so many people who are busy chasing things which they believe are important, but it ends up only being a silly game with nothing being achieved. And I have no room to speak out against others doing it, because, if I am honest, I do the same exact thing. I see something so alluring out of the corner of my eye, and I MUST have it. So I run around chasing it, as much as I can. I might get a little taste of it, but in reality, its just my silly ol' mind playing games. I am just chasing the hallucinations of a fallen heart. I am a fool, running around in circles, being very dizzy and not gaining anything. I am simply a dog, chasing his tail.

I want nothing more than to be the opposite. I try so hard to focus on Christ. I want to be only for him, all 100% of me. My prayer is thus:

Lord, I am tired of running after the foolish desires of my heart. No person, item, accomplishment, or status will ever fulfill me. I know true fulfillment is in you alone. I know that my eyes are to be focused upon your throne. But God I am so hungry for something, anything. I want to feel alive inside. I want to have purpose again. I want to quit hiding behind a mask of happiness on the outside. Please just pour yourself out over me, and allow me to taste of you again. Don't let me be fooled by imitations, for nothing can be like you. I am stumbling, but I still know that I must praise you, whether or not you grant this prayer. You alone are worthy. Praise to you God.

Amen.

I pray that if anyone else reads this, they too would realize the foolishness in chasing the things that are other than the Glory of Christ, and the Will of the Father.

Blessings and Grace,

(A slightly confused and exhausted) Thomas

Secret Cupid

I recently wrote a letter to a complete stranger as a part of this event I created for some single Christians, called "Secret Cupid". It is essentially the same idea as Secret Santa, except geared towards Valentine's Day. As a part of her gift, I wrote her a letter. In said letter, I felt it important to write a poem to her about Christ being lover of her heart. I want to share that poem, because I feel it is true for anyone, and not just for this young lady.

O Maiden,
Beautiful Maiden!

I have gazed upon the beauty in your heart
And I desire you so!

Such perfection,
Wonderful perfection!

How shall a man
tell you anything other than "I adore thee"?

I've watched you for years
waiting
hoping
wanting so much
to be by your side!

And now that I have you
I'll love you no man can
I'll never leave your presences
I'll never stop working
to show the desire of my heart
for you

So, -insert name here-
My Valentines
Promise you'll be mine
For I am forever thine

Love,
Your King, Jesus.



I feel it is important that everyone knows the intimate love which Christ feels towards his beloved bride, which are the elect in Him. We are His beautiful bride, awaiting the return of her Lover. I cannot fathom the greatness of when our marriage is finalized, and we feast with Him forever.

Praise King Jesus for being the ultimate example of love, for He is love. Amen


Blessings,

Thomas

Música, sólo música

I was reading through an old book that I had from one of my Spanish classes in University. The book is titled The Generation of 1898 and after. It has select works from the authors and poets between the period of the fall of a once glorious imperial Spain in 1898 to the Spanish Civil War, in 1936. A lot of the writings in the book detail the feelings of Spaniards during that time, about the decline of Spain. Many of the writings are political and very emotional. There is one, however, that sort of stands out, and I will post it for your enjoyment. It is by a man known as Jorge Guillen.

This is called Música, sólo música

Por los violines
Ascienden promesas.
Me raptan? Se entregan.
Todo va a cumplirse

Implacable empeño
de metal y cuerda:
un mundo se crea
donde nunca hay muertos

hermoso destino
se ajusta a su temple.
todo está cumpliéndose,
pleno en el sonido.

se desliza un mundo
triunfante y su gracia
de forma a mi alma
llego a un absoluto?

Invade el espíritu,
las glorias se habitan.
Inmortal en vida:
todo está cumplido

And for a not so accurate translation:

By the violins
they elevate promises.
Do they abduct me? They deliver.
All is going to comply.

Implacable pledge
of metal and cord:
a world is created
where there is no death

Beautiful destiny
is adjusted to its temper
All is being complied,
full in sound

It slides a world
triumphant, and its graces
forms to my soul.
Do I arrive at an absolute?

It invades the Spirit,
the Glories are inhabited.
Immortal in life:
all is polite.

Make of that what you will.I've always had a love for music, though I've never been able to play, read or write it. Music is a beautiful escape from the realities of life. There are, indeed, worlds created, where no death exists. I can think of pieces of music that I hear, and entire universes explode into my mind, captivating my imagination, and even my soul. Every note is another living, breathing creature. Or perhaps a mountain rising out of the void of the sea. Or maybe its the love felt between two young lovers, gazing into each others' eyes. Music is this, and much more.

When I worship the Lord with music, at home alone, I often end up finding myself on the floor, face down, completely lost in the glories of God, as the music carries my soul into the presence of God. Or perhaps the music simply allows God to step down into my room with me? Either way, I get completely lost, as space and time ceases. Fears and regrets, sorrows and anger, life and death; all fade when music carries my heart away.

I end with this: “Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul.”

Blessings,
Thomas

Didache

Sometimes I like to read the texts of the early Church to try and get an insight of their mindset. So many times we will read the Bible and try to apply its words to our desiring, right? We have to make it about us. Which, the Bible does speak to all men through all time. However, it is important to remember the context in which it was written. To help with that context, I read what the Church Fathers said and did in their lives. To clarify, I consider the theologians, teachers and bishops who were alive with in 3-5 generations of the Apostles as church fathers. These are people like Polycarp, Clement, and Ignatius.

Among the writings of this early group of believers is what is called the Didache. It is a series of teachings and sayings that were supposedly delivered from the apostles to the early church to take to the Gentiles. While that cannot be exactly proven, reading through the Didache makes it clear that whoever wrote it borrowed heavily from New Testament texts, or possibly the long fabled "Q" document.

Anyways, I was reading through the Didache tonight, as I do every now and then, and thought I'd share something out of it. It is my favorite part, a thanksgiving prayer to God:

After you are filled, give thanks like this:

We thank you, Holy Father, for Your Holy name which you made to dwell in our hearts, and for knowledge and faith and immortality as You made known to us through Jesus, Your Servant. Glory to You forever.

You, Lord Almighty, created all things to show forth Your name. You give both food and drink to man to enjoy, and everlasting life through Your Servant. Above all, we thank You because You are mighty. Glory to You forever. Remember Lord, Your Church, to deliver her from all evil and mature her in Your love. And gather her from the four winds, separated into Your kingdom which You have made for her, because You have the power and glory forever.

Let grace come and this world pass away. Hosanna to the Son of David! If anyone is holy, let him come. If anyone is not, let him repent. Maranatha. Amen

There is such beauty in the heartfelt cry of children to their Father. I pray that we may always remember to thank our Father in Heaven for all the numerous blessings that He bestows upon us.

Praise Him, always.

Blessings,
Thomas

Talking to plants

The other day I was talking to a friend of mine about silly things that we do. I told her about pretending my car is a fighter jet when I am driving long distances, to keep from being bored. She told me that she talks to her plants, trying to carry a conversation. Plants, of course, don't respond, so we made a few jokes back and forth, and that was that. Well, that was that until last night.

Last night, I was watering my plant and I remembered the conversation and had a little giggle over it again, but soon after I began to think about how futile it would be to actually try conversing with a plant. I thought to myself "It's about as logical as arguing with a wall, or talking to a dead person!" Then it hit me: I talk to 'plants', everyday. Let me explain.

Last night at work, I sat at a table with a few people at break. It was myself and another Christian, and two people who are not believers. Suddenly one of them said something like "Man if Jesus came back right now, I'd be going straight to hell" to which my Christian friend replied "I don't think you realize the gravity of the situation of going to hell". What happened next was 20 minutes of us going back and forth trying to explain God and the Gospel. At the end of this conversation, the young man still thought it was funny to joke about himself going to Hell, and proceeded to mock our beliefs. It was as if I was at home speaking to my plant. No matter how much I could appeal to it, it will not respond to what I am saying. This young man did not respond to the beauty of the Gospel. Quite a few people do not ever respond to the Gospel, despite our best appeals.

I was listening to a pastor speak on his pastoral training once. His professor took his class to a cemetery and proceeded to tell them to preach the Gospel to the dead people, and get them to repent and live forever with Christ. The students all giggled at the thought, because it was such a silly idea. However, the professor stood there seriously. One brave student stepped forward and awkwardly began to preach to a tombstone, calling it to repentance. Nothing happened. Other students then gave it a try. Some where very articulate, some focused on emotional appeal. All had the same result. The professor ended the class by saying "What you have done today is very similar to what you will do out there in the future".

In Romans 1, Paul lays out a case that the Gospel is the power of God to save men, yet man is so sick and twisted that they exchange the truth of God in order to worship created things. They are dead to truth, and live for lies. This makes what we do as Christians extremely difficult. I am not sure of the numbers, but I can imagine that the rate of people truly converting to Jesus Christ is a low number. I am not talking about the big revivals where people give their lives to Jesus for the 37th time, and in two weeks continue to live like they were still in captivity. Those conversions, I honestly believe, are not true. The parable of the soil says that some seeds fall on bad soil, and immediately spring up, but because they have no good root system, they wither when the sun gets too hot. These are not true conversions then. So if we look at actual conversions which turn into a disciplined Christian life, then I think the number is quite lower than we expect. But that is the world that we are given.

What are we to do then? 3/4 of the seeds sown in the parable result in nothing. And if its true that preaching to the world is like preaching to a cemetery of dead people, then it seems futile to carry on. Yet, we read that Jesus left the 99 to go find the one. It might seem ridiculous to leave 99 perfectly good sheep to go find one dumb sheep that lost its way. Jesus felt that it was necessary to do so. And because we were once that one lost sheep, we now must become like the Shepherd who came after us. Even if the task seems silly, futile, or outright impossible, we MUST go and preach the Gospel to people. We know that for at LEAST 3/4 of the people we speak to, the seed will not grow into a fruit bearing, life changing experience, we still must have the desire to still keep sowing the seeds. If God were to say to any one of us "Go to this far away land where there are no believers. You will preach the gospel to many, but only one will receive it" we should then begin to pack our bags. That one soul is worth it.

And you know what else? Despite the overwhelming odds against us, we have God who has the power to create all of existence by a few words. This is the same God that tells us to GO!

To sum this up, I say this: We have a great task befallen to us. If we are honest, it seems, well, impossible. Yet, before Jesus hanging on the Cross, the world thought it impossible to be fully reconciled to God. Before His resurrection, it was impossible for a man to come back from death. We have a God that did both, against all the odds. And the same power that rose Christ from the dead is given to us to go to others and bring them out of death.

That is our task. Let's do it.