Forever Followers

 

Forever Followers
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 by Brave Knight Writers

 

M. Robert Mulholland Jr. wrote in his book Invitation to a Journey, “If you want a good litmus test of your spiritual growth, simply examine the nature and the quality of your relationships with others.”

Like all aspects of life, one must assess self and others:

 Lamentations 3:40 ESV Let us test and examine our ways and return to the Lord!

Romans 12:3 ESV For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

As our church encourages everyone to find their place within one of the church’s groups, we chose to join Forever Followers. Recently we attended a gathering of Christians at the home of a couple in the group. The setting exuded beauty and peace, the landscape was filled with gorgeous flowers and plantings. The attendees were a mixed bag of professionals, convenience store clerks, missionaries, and retirees. In attendance were both singles and couples. Basically, it was a cross section of educational and economic society. If anyone had any pretentious thoughts or attitudes they hid them well, because the mingling and conversations flowed between everyone without regard to worldly status. The world pushes its agenda of inclusivity, but inclusivity occurs naturally in another realm. Our short comings make us equal; all have fallen short of the glory of God.

What struck me most about our group was the laughter resonating from the smaller groups which formed on the patio, and in different rooms within the home, as everyone enjoyed the company of those gathered. The relationships derived emulate the standard of perfection the world cannot possibly produce. Such a standard can only succeed and be maintained in a spiritual realm and to a person, everyone at the gathering is aware they fall short in their own special ways but forgive each other for it. This is the essence of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and just like each fruit of the world has a unique flavor and texture, so do the fruits of the Spirit.

Pay attention to how the definitions of words are being skewed these days, what is that all about? It’s about creating doubt and confusion, blurring the realities and condemning every thought of a standard. When we speak of the fruits of the Spirit, we must hold to the definitions provided, in standards. Love is my first example. The word love gets applied in so many vague or strange ways, it loses meaning. The reason can be found in the inadequacies of our language where instead of creating or using more specific words to define our feelings we opt to just use the word love. True love, the one specific love of the Spirit is defined by selflessness, sacrifice, forgiveness. Hints of love’s flavor run through all the other fruits. So, what are the other fruits of the Spirit? What I saw at our gathering were these, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

What do Christians talk about when they gather for a house party? Non-believers shy away from Christians with fear, some of it based in hear-say, some from personal negative experiences, some totally unfounded self-doubts, or even just lazy thoughts (works don’t make you a Christian but being one takes work).

So how is it possible to hear laughter coming from a group of what non-believers might call judgmental sour-faced Christians who reject the offerings of the world? Well, for myself, I related stories to the group—of growing up above my grandmother’s tavern and how she always packed a pistol and had to have a six pack of beer with her. One female guest spoke of her time in the Air Force working on F-16s. Others shared stories of faulty misadventures in their youth, such as going to a strip club for a bachelor’s party. Surely there was some restraint in play but basically everyone appeared comfortable to share their follies in a humorous manner, making fun of missteps of the past. Another fellow confessed his hatred for a man he worked with and how he overcame it to become friendly with him. He made his journey of hate into a humorous anecdote. There were serious moments, as we started off the evening with a brief prayer and ended it with another prayer. One characteristic runs true in all who gathered, they want to be better people and want to create a peaceful community.

Just before we left for the gathering, I received a text message about my adult grandson being rushed to the hospital for a hole in a collapsed lung. The remedy involved removing a portion of the lung and scraping the inside of the chest cavity to create scarring to reinforce the support structure for his lungs. The surgery would take two hours, everyone at the gathering shared our concerns and offered to pray. How can you place a value on such support? In short, our common beliefs had created a community with common goals based on love. I ask you, as you look around your neighborhood, doesn’t it seem we are overburdened with chasing the things of the world? We barely know those who live near us and as Christians are accused by non-believers with being judgmental. Doesn’t such guilt fall on non-believers as well? Judgements based on the size and quality of houses, cars, lifestyles, race, and political views all ignore and mask the true inner workings of the person. These are the ways our communities end up in division.

Our Christian group does not refrain from exposing their human side, their weaknesses and flaws. One fellow, who is highly educated and professional shared the story of failing to learn French in High School. It was his worst subject, he was failing his second term while all his other grades were stellar. His French teacher took him aside and confided she would grant him a minimal passing grade as she saw no likelihood the French language would have any bearing in his future. Well as fate would have it, he found himself working in France for thirty years, married a French-Canadian woman who was a French language professor and he now owns homes in France and Quebec. This is how a community rolls, to hear other people’s experiences and life journeys endears them to you, builds a community, and relieves the fear of judgment. Before you throw someone under a bus, get to know their story first. There will always be another bus coming along later.

George Alexander Aberle (April 15, 1908 – March 4, 1995), known as eden ahbez, (he never used caps in his name) was an American songwriter and recording artist who said, “So you see it's not an issue of black and white, it's an issue of lovers and haters." In his song recorded by Nat King Cole, he wrote “"The greatest thing you'll ever learn, Is just to love and be loved in return"

Most of this post has attempted to define love, so what about hate? If we look at 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV 4 Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. If hate is the opposite of love, then we must assume it to be impatient, unkind, envious, boastful, proud, it dishonors, it is self-seeking, easily angered, keeps records of wrongs. Doesn’t the opposite of love look a lot like selfishness or self-love? The greatest book on the human condition and love is the Bible. Non-believers can dis on it, but without studying the Bible, their words are dribble. Healthy minds study their world. Christianity has been a major influence, standard, and guiding force in our world. The best approach to gaining knowledge is to refer to the basics, so study scripture, while tuning out the static noise generated by haters and mockers.

A Christian who wants to grow (and following Christ is inherently a lifelong journey of walking closer with Christ) takes on the endeavor of lifetime study and seeks fellowship within a community of students. Expect a life of quizzes and exams, the most important aspect comes in the acknowledgement you were challenged. Some challenges you will pass, some you will fail, but take ownership, write your name in bold letters across the top of them all.

1 John 4:8 NIV 8 Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love.

So, what does it mean when someone declares, “I don’t believe in God!”?

We recommend among other authors, the works of Richard W. LaFountain, such as Time Alone with God.

More than Swearing

 

Taking the Lord’s name in vain
Sunday, September 1, 2024 by Brave Knight Writers

Taking the Lord’s name in vain

You may ask, has the Holy Spirit touched me? Am I truly a Christian? To answer yourself, ask another question—am I a giver, or a taker? Right away a red flag goes up, the church wants my money. The truth is, God wants your time. And what is more valuable than your time?

If you have concerns about how your financial tithings are being used, you are probably in the wrong church. If you want to be sure how things are being managed, get involved and contribute your time and skills. Remember this, but don’t make it your reason: as you shovel out to others, you’ll find God has a bigger shovel and will replenish you.

Malachi 3:10 says, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”

Don’t be the person calling oneself a Christian while engaged in doing selfish things. According to dictionary.com one definition of vain reads: ‘without real significance, value, or importance; baseless or worthless’. We’ve all experienced such people or read about them. Some rise to be leaders of mega churches; others use it in business—or worst of all, to physically and emotionally abuse others.

When using the Lord’s name to disarm or trick people, the Lord’s name depletes in value, importance; and becomes worthless to many. The individual exhibiting such practices turns others against Jesus and hinders the efforts of true Christians from bringing people to Christ.

So, don’t think taking the Lord’s name in vain refers only to swearing or cursing. Although doing such is a grave sin, it pales to the damage don’t by wearing a Christian label, in name only. When we claim to be Christians just to make money or get on other people’s good side, we take the Lord’s name in vain. If you do these things, you serve the anti-Christ.

Ephesians 4:18 “They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.”

When you use the name Christ in your prayers, take His name as an identifier, but then deliberately ignore the Word—His name, you take in vain. (Philippians 2:9-10). Every knee shall bow for the name above all names, Jesus Christ.

 Understand all the significance of being a Christian. Your actions and words must portray the commands, for you have entered a loving submission. Do not misrepresent Christ, either intentionally or in ignorance of the faith Scripture proclaims. If you say you love Jesus, but truly don’t, we take His name in vain and put ourselves among those to whom Christ will say, “I never knew you. Away from me” on judgement day. (Matthew 7:21-23).

Galatians 6:7-8 tells us, “Do not be fooled: You cannot cheat God. People harvest only what they plant. If they plant to satisfy their sinful selves, their sinful selves will bring them ruin. But if they plant to please the Spirit, they will receive eternal life from the Spirit.”

So, you have a dream. Some may support you, while others see you as a target. Here we’ll share a personal example of two aspects of spiritual warfare: taking the Lord’s name in vain versus the power of prayer. Building our homestead (The Instead) was our dream, but it turned into somewhat of a nightmare before a nail was driven. The local building inspector turned down the drawings I had done. An architect’s stamp was required before the plans could move forward. We didn’t know an architect, but as I searched, I had two things in mind. One, I wanted an honest person, and two; I thought if we worked with a female, it might make my wife more comfortable. The search efforts fell on me and soon I had found the answer—a female architect who professed to be a Christian. Our first meeting went well. The architect worked from her home and as we came up the walk, Christian symbols and Bible quotes greeted us.

Matthew 12:36-37 says, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Well, the architect took my drawing and had us sign a very simple contract. Simple. But with a hook. Any delays in the progression of the designs would incur penalties. We assumed no delays would occur since I had completed drawings.

Meeting after meeting ensued, each identical to the one before, no progress made. Caught in a loop, we lived ground hog day at every meeting. The architect informed us the penalties were mounting, so I contacted my attorney, who told us were hooked. He sent her a letter ending her contract and asked for a bill to settle the issue. We owed ten-thousand dollars with nothing to show for it. She claimed the prints were her intellectual property and refused to give them back. Our dream crashed and burned. We were emotionally bankrupt and financially hurt. Weeks passed before we reconciled ourselves to the idea of forging ahead with a new architect.

“Pray.” My wife was standing over one of those old-fashioned yellow paged telephone directories, and pray we did. Our only expectation was to start fresh with an honest architect. There is no way to explain what happened as my finger dropped through the list of names, but I stopped on one. We set up an appointment where we confessed our story of deception and named the culprit. His eyes lit up. He knew her. As a matter of fact, she had worked for him. He said she had ripped off clients and almost bankrupted him. He said he would love to intervene on our behalf, as he knew where the buried skeletons lay.

It took a couple of weeks before he called us to another meeting to give us our prints. He even made some corrections and stamped them; he said it was quite a privilege to do business on our behalf. You never know when you’ll meet an angel. We’ve lived in the home we built from those prints for 16-years now.

2 Timothy 2:16 ESV says, “But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness.”

What the first architect did will be between her and God. From what we read in scripture; it will not bode well for her. We weren’t alone in her deceptions. As we later found out, she had ripped off our insurance agent in much the same way. She played the Christian until her prey took the bait and was well within her trap, then she collected the blessings of the anti-Christ.

Christians give. They don’t take. And God replenishes.

Nothing left to lose

 

Freedom- Just another Word
Thursday, August 1, 2024 by Brave Knight Writers

One of the great desires espoused by people the world over is to be free. Freedom is also one of the high marks of Christ and Christianity. Yet so many people continue to crucify Christ and enslave themselves. One may wonder why or how these things can be—is it because the human mind creates its own truth or embraces short-term pleasures at the price of long-term peace? Our chemistry tricks us, it fluctuates and becomes influenced by our lifestyles. One of the best chain breakers is to indulge in true love, but issues may lie in confusion over the real meaning of freedom and love. Love should have its basis in freedom and giving support to others. Love never seeks to control or oppress, but it also doesn’t ignore.

There is an ease with being drawn into the physical aspects of life, but the spiritual realm requires effort and courage. Mathew 15:19 states: “For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander.” All things which enslave us, either by self or by others. Notice, we use the heart to symbolize love but never to symbolize any of these words. Such deceptions mask reality. In Jeremiah 17:9 we see, “The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable—who can understand it?” These two passages are stand-alone truths. If you find a need to argue over them, you are perhaps under the influence of one of the things listed in Mathew.

In our attempts to bring others to understand the truth in our faith, we must remain mindful of Mathew’s words. Christianity was never meant to be spread by oppression. Christ made offers and let those who heard him use their freewill to make their decisions. When Christianity looks like a baited trap, all is lost, and the enemy uses this approach to undermine all efforts of good.

“Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose”, so the lyrics of Janice Joplin go. How tragic. Such words were spoken by someone self-enslaved by chemical stimulants. Even so, the words bear truth and can be found boldly stated in the Bible when Jesus said to his disciples in Mathew 19:21 “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Now that is a hard sell, but it is one way to prove pure love. Anything less is less.

If you look at Proverbs 21: 26, “He is filled with craving all day long, but the righteous give and don’t hold back.” Surviving in a physical world requires selfish thoughts and actions, this makes the above difficult to grasp, we see trickery and selfish motives in these commands because what we see in others is what we know of ourselves. God doesn’t want us to live in poverty, what he wants is for us to loosen our grip on the physical, to clench the spiritual.

 Keep in mind, this world and all it offers only exist for today. Tomorrow is not guaranteed so view what surrounds you as of little value. To be free, cling to nothing of this earth. Janice and the Bible speak the truth, and as in John 8:32, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Freedom requires courage. Untethered from all your perceptions and experiences, you may have the urge to run back to familiar things. Those who seek to control any aspect of existence will never experience freedom, but when we let go of the controls an inner spirit takes over. That can be a frightful concept. Human nature clings to stuff, it helps with terrestrial balance.

 Freedom can be likened to standing on water in a raging storm, clinging to nothing but faith. Even though letting go of faith will drown you, the urge overcomes you and you sink beneath the waves.

We have free will, we make choices. And many of them are counter-intuitive to our best interest. Yet we continue to make our bad choices, then double down to defend and justify them.

So where do we put our freedom to work and what results can we expect? What if someone close to you says, “You are the last person in the world I would ever want to work with”? Two years later, they need help, and you chip in.

Or what if you buy an expensive piece of equipment and you need help to pay for it? So, you offer to do work for someone in a close relationship and instead they hire a stranger? A year later they asked to borrow the equipment. You lend it to them.

You find out your partner has been lying to you for years and unrepentantly cheating. Instead of destroying all you worked for, you help them establish a new independent life.

 What if you generously overpay someone to do work for you, mostly so you can get to see them? As a gift, they hand you a book with the premise “Don’t Expect Those You do Favors For to Owe You”. In this case, it only means they have no idea wherein lies your heart and who you are.

Freedom can be painful, challenging, and on the surface appears to be without reward. The liberty to float above the mess refreshes and frees one from the bondage of revenge and grudges. Don’t expect your actions to change others. But watch for signs and pray for understanding.

In the end, God gives us a get out jail free card. Strive to love no matter the circumstance. Love is not the easy road, it’s the best road.  Romans 5:8 tells us “But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Sacrifice your needs and wants in honor of Jesus Christ. Vengeance begets more pain and suffering. Free yourself.

In The Four Loves, C.S. Lewis said, “Christ did not teach and suffer that we might become, even in the natural loves, more careful of our own happiness. If a man is not uncalculating towards the earthly beloveds whom he has seen, he is none the more likely to be so towards God whom he has not. We shall draw nearer to God, not by trying to avoid the sufferings inherent in all loves, but by accepting them and offering them to Him; throwing away all defensive armour. If our hearts need to be broken, and if He chooses this as the way in which they should break, so be it.”

In Luke 9:23, Jesus said, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it.”