Based on the number of Nervous Nellies, Worry-Warts and Fuss-Budgets filling the average church's pews, we may assume that scripture give lots of foundation for fastidious fidgeting. There's a passage that says, "The Lord cares about what is important, but doesn't give a fig about life's daily cares." (Proverbs 18:26 DSP[Devised Substandard Paraphrase])
Well, maybe that isn't the right scripture reference, but come on, it's got to be there somewhere. Fact is, churches have refined worrying to high-art, with Murphy's Law as their highest standard of behavior. Need proof? Try running the morning service's dismissal five minutes late. That's right, you would need a sharp knife to cut the atmospheric tension.
Someone, if you dare, please stand at the end of a worship service and read the following passage from the Holy Bible: No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? (Mat 6:24-27 KJVA) Be ready, though, to finish reading over the sound of appreciative snorting and throat-clearing. And the thought occupying the space behind all those stressed expressions staring at you would be something like, "Why on earth is Pastor so long-winded today? The line at the Smorgasbord will be around the block by the time we get there." Those thoughts harmonize rather well with Matthew 6:25, do they not? Though, this passage from Matthew's gospel has seen more Sunday-morning light than most, it has been heeded less than any other.
Maybe this vital portion of God's word would garner better reviews if the church leadership believed it more deeply than the pew-sitters. True, the under-shepherd must use his time wisely, with all those wandering sheep that need tending. The lessons of scripture, however, must be taught more by example than by sermonizing. A pastor is likely to have the most nobel of motives for being in a hurry(unless he's also worried about the Smorgasbord line), but Jesus never once hurried during his ministry, except to arrive on time for his crucifixion. Are our worldly concerns nailed to the cross of Christ?
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Elisha's Bones by Don Hoesel
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Elisha's Bones
(Bethany House March 1, 2009)
by
Don Hoesel
BUT FIRST, A WORD FROM OUR BLOGGER:
I would say, "Hoesel does it again," but this is Don Hoesel's first novel. As an editor, I could detect a touch of inexperience in places, but always in the form of non-effusive wordiness. Even so, Hoesel's command of language and subtle humor eliminated any potential boredom during the read and kept the entertainment level top-notch.
As Elisha's Bones was published by Bethany House, I knew it had to qualify as a Christian novel, but this gritty tale never once preaches at the gospel-weary reader, and conspicuously avoids Sunday-school-style conversion scenes. How refreshing! CBA authors, take note: Esperanza's transformed life demonstrates how the Christian way should be modeled in fiction. Believe-it-or-not, CBA authors, the literate public gets it ... even without having Jesus pushed on them.
Write on, Don Hoesel, we're waiting for your next adventure yarn.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Don Hoesel was born and raised in Buffalo, NY but calls Spring Hill, TN home. He is a Web site designer for a Medicare carrier in Nashville, TN. He has a BA in Mass Communication from Taylor University and has published short fiction in Relief Journal.
He lives in Spring Hill with his wife and two children.
Elisha's Bones is his first novel.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Every year, professor of antiquities Jack Hawthorne looks forward to the winter break as a time to hide away from his responsibilities. Even if just for a week or two. But this year, his plans are derailed when he's offered almost a blank check from a man chasing a rumor.
Billionaire Gordon Reese thinks he knows where the bones of the prophet Elisha are--bones that in the Old Testament brought the dead back to life. The bones of the prophet once raised the dead to life... but they vanished from history in a whisper.
Bankrolled by a dying man of unlimited means, Hawthorne's hunt spans the globe and leads him into a deadly conspiracy older than the church itself. A born skeptic, Jack doesn't think much of the assignment but he could use the money, so he takes the first step on a chase for the legendary bones that will take him to the very ends of the earth.
But he's not alone. Joined with a fiery colleague, Esperanza Habilla, they soon discover clues to a shadowy organization whose long-held secrets have been protected . . . at all costs. And he soon discovers those sworn to keep the secret of the bones will do anything to protect them. As their lives are threatened again and again, the real race is to uncover the truth before those chasing them hunt them down.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Elisha's Bones, go HERE
BUT FIRST, A WORD FROM OUR BLOGGER:
I would say, "Hoesel does it again," but this is Don Hoesel's first novel. As an editor, I could detect a touch of inexperience in places, but always in the form of non-effusive wordiness. Even so, Hoesel's command of language and subtle humor eliminated any potential boredom during the read and kept the entertainment level top-notch.
As Elisha's Bones was published by Bethany House, I knew it had to qualify as a Christian novel, but this gritty tale never once preaches at the gospel-weary reader, and conspicuously avoids Sunday-school-style conversion scenes. How refreshing! CBA authors, take note: Esperanza's transformed life demonstrates how the Christian way should be modeled in fiction. Believe-it-or-not, CBA authors, the literate public gets it ... even without having Jesus pushed on them.
Write on, Don Hoesel, we're waiting for your next adventure yarn.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Don Hoesel was born and raised in Buffalo, NY but calls Spring Hill, TN home. He is a Web site designer for a Medicare carrier in Nashville, TN. He has a BA in Mass Communication from Taylor University and has published short fiction in Relief Journal. He lives in Spring Hill with his wife and two children.
Elisha's Bones is his first novel.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Every year, professor of antiquities Jack Hawthorne looks forward to the winter break as a time to hide away from his responsibilities. Even if just for a week or two. But this year, his plans are derailed when he's offered almost a blank check from a man chasing a rumor. Billionaire Gordon Reese thinks he knows where the bones of the prophet Elisha are--bones that in the Old Testament brought the dead back to life. The bones of the prophet once raised the dead to life... but they vanished from history in a whisper.
Bankrolled by a dying man of unlimited means, Hawthorne's hunt spans the globe and leads him into a deadly conspiracy older than the church itself. A born skeptic, Jack doesn't think much of the assignment but he could use the money, so he takes the first step on a chase for the legendary bones that will take him to the very ends of the earth.
But he's not alone. Joined with a fiery colleague, Esperanza Habilla, they soon discover clues to a shadowy organization whose long-held secrets have been protected . . . at all costs. And he soon discovers those sworn to keep the secret of the bones will do anything to protect them. As their lives are threatened again and again, the real race is to uncover the truth before those chasing them hunt them down.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Elisha's Bones, go HERE
Friday, April 17, 2009
Boneman's Daughters by Ted Dekker
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Boneman's Daughters
Center Street (April 14, 2009)
by
Ted Dekker
BUT FIRST, A WORD FROM OUR BLOGGER:
Ted Dekker is not new to the thriller genre, but as with all massive institutions, the publishing world is slow to catch on to his unique style and marketability. Hey guys, THIS AUTHOR IS GOOD, even if you've never heard much about him. I guarantee that if you read Boneman's Daughters you'll become a Ted Dekker fan.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ted is the son of missionaries John and Helen Dekker, whose incredible story of life among headhunters in Indonesia has been told in several books. Surrounded by the vivid colors of the jungle and a myriad of cultures, each steeped in their own interpretation of life and faith, Dekker received a first-class education on human nature and behavior. This, he believes, is the foundation of his writing.
After graduating from a multi-cultural high school, he took up permanent residence in the United States to study Religion and Philosophy. After earning his Bachelor's Degree, Dekker entered the corporate world in management for a large healthcare company in California. Dekker was quickly recognized as a talent in the field of marketing and was soon promoted to Director of Marketing. This experience gave him a background which enabled him to eventually form his own company and steadily climb the corporate ladder.
Since 1997, Dekker has written full-time. He states that each time he writes, he finds his understanding of life and love just a little clearer and his expression of that understanding a little more vivid. Dekker's body of work encompassing seven mysteries, three thrillers and ten fantasies includes Heaven's Wager, When Heaven Weeps, Thunder of Heaven, Blessed Child, A Man Called Blessed, Blink, Thr3e, The Circle Trilogy (Black, Red, White), Obsessed, Renegade, and Chaos.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Would you kill an innocent man to save your daughter?
They call him BoneMan, a serial killer who’s abducted six young women. He’s the perfect father looking for the perfect daughter, and when his victims fail to meet his lofty expectations, he kills them by breaking their bones and leaving them to die.
Intelligence officer Ryan Evans, on the other hand, has lost all hope of ever being the perfect father. His daughter and wife have written him out of their lives.
Everything changes when BoneMan takes Ryan’s estranged daughter, Bethany, as his seventh victim. Ryan goes after BoneMan on his own.
But the FBI sees it differently. New evidence points to the suspicion that Ryan is BoneMan. Now the hunter is the hunted, and in the end, only one father will stand.
If your an avid Dekker fan, and would like wallpaper and counters for your blog, go HERE.
You can listen to an audio clip HERE
Watch the VIDEO:
If you would like to read the first chapter of Boneman's Daughters, go HERE
BUT FIRST, A WORD FROM OUR BLOGGER:
Ted Dekker is not new to the thriller genre, but as with all massive institutions, the publishing world is slow to catch on to his unique style and marketability. Hey guys, THIS AUTHOR IS GOOD, even if you've never heard much about him. I guarantee that if you read Boneman's Daughters you'll become a Ted Dekker fan.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ted is the son of missionaries John and Helen Dekker, whose incredible story of life among headhunters in Indonesia has been told in several books. Surrounded by the vivid colors of the jungle and a myriad of cultures, each steeped in their own interpretation of life and faith, Dekker received a first-class education on human nature and behavior. This, he believes, is the foundation of his writing.After graduating from a multi-cultural high school, he took up permanent residence in the United States to study Religion and Philosophy. After earning his Bachelor's Degree, Dekker entered the corporate world in management for a large healthcare company in California. Dekker was quickly recognized as a talent in the field of marketing and was soon promoted to Director of Marketing. This experience gave him a background which enabled him to eventually form his own company and steadily climb the corporate ladder.
Since 1997, Dekker has written full-time. He states that each time he writes, he finds his understanding of life and love just a little clearer and his expression of that understanding a little more vivid. Dekker's body of work encompassing seven mysteries, three thrillers and ten fantasies includes Heaven's Wager, When Heaven Weeps, Thunder of Heaven, Blessed Child, A Man Called Blessed, Blink, Thr3e, The Circle Trilogy (Black, Red, White), Obsessed, Renegade, and Chaos.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Would you kill an innocent man to save your daughter?They call him BoneMan, a serial killer who’s abducted six young women. He’s the perfect father looking for the perfect daughter, and when his victims fail to meet his lofty expectations, he kills them by breaking their bones and leaving them to die.
Intelligence officer Ryan Evans, on the other hand, has lost all hope of ever being the perfect father. His daughter and wife have written him out of their lives.
Everything changes when BoneMan takes Ryan’s estranged daughter, Bethany, as his seventh victim. Ryan goes after BoneMan on his own.
But the FBI sees it differently. New evidence points to the suspicion that Ryan is BoneMan. Now the hunter is the hunted, and in the end, only one father will stand.
If your an avid Dekker fan, and would like wallpaper and counters for your blog, go HERE.
You can listen to an audio clip HERE
Watch the VIDEO:
If you would like to read the first chapter of Boneman's Daughters, go HERE
Monday, April 13, 2009
Deadlock by Robert Liparulo
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Deadlock
Thomas Nelson (April 2009)
by
Robert Liparulo
BUT FIRST, A WORD FROM OUR BLOGGER:
I find I must not recommend DEADLOCK to readers who tend to ignore their responsibilities when entangled in a thriller the likes of this book. And to those who empathize too strongly with well-crafted, three dimensional characters, Warning! This one will break your heart. But to those who love a gripping read regardless of the consequences, buy this book!
Liparulo possesses a uniquely compelling writing style and voice that digs down to the very heart of each character, whether hero or scuzzbag.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Robert Liparulo is a former journalist, with over a thousand articles and multiple writing awards to his name. Readers of his action-thrillers were not surprised when his visual storytelling style caught the eye of Hollywood producers. Currently, three of his novels for adults are in various stages of development for the big screen: the film rights to Comes A Horseman were purchased by the producer of Tom Clancy’s movies; and Liparulo is penning the screenplays for GERM and Deadfall for two top producers. He is also working with the director Andrew Davis (The Fugitive, Holes) on a political thriller. Novelist Michael Palmer calls Deadfall “a brilliantly crafted thriller.” March 31st marked the publication of Deadfall’s follow-up, Deadlock, which novelist Gayle Lynds calls, “best of high-octane suspense.”
Liparulo’s bestselling young adult series, Dreamhouse Kings, debuted last year with House of Dark Shadows and Watcher in the Woods. Book three, Gatekeepers released in January, and number four, Timescape, comes out in July. The series has garnered praise from readers, both young and old, as well as attracting famous fans who themselves know the genre inside and out. Of the series Goosebumps creator R.L. Stine says, “I loved wandering around in these books. With a house of so many great, haunting stories, why would you ever want to go outside?”
He is currently working on his next thriller, which for the first time injects a bit of the supernatural into his gun-blazing stories. The story is so compelling, two Hollywood studios are already in talks to acquire it—despite its publication date being more than a year away. After that comes a trilogy of novels, based on the critically acclaimed short story he contributed to James Patterson’s Thriller anthology. New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry calls Liparulo’s writing “Inventive, suspenseful, and highly entertaining . . . Robert Liparulo is a storyteller, pure and simple.” He lives with his family in Colorado.
ABOUT THE BOOK
John Hutchinson thinks it's no coincidence that Brendan Page runs this modern Praetorian Guard, and that the billionaire military industrialist must have had something to do with the atrocities his son Declan committed in Canada. The Canadian and U.S. Justice departments disagree, but Hutch has been digging for dirt ever since.
Brendan Page has some dirty not-so-little secrets. he's built an empire on supplying futuristic weapons and highly trained soldiers to the world's most powerful armies. But he's saved his most destructive weapons for himself.
When Hutch discovers the secret of Page's success, Page decides to teach him a lesson. But the operation goes terribly wrong, and Hutch's son is kidnapped. While a lone man stands little chance against the best black op soldiers ever issued M-16s, Hutch manages to survive longer than Page anticipated. As far as Hutch is concerned, high-tech helmets, machine guns, and hand grenades are nothing compared to a man determined to save his son. It's a lesson he sets out to teach Page-and one that he can only hope works as well in the real world as it does in his heart.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Deadlock, go HERE
BUT FIRST, A WORD FROM OUR BLOGGER:
I find I must not recommend DEADLOCK to readers who tend to ignore their responsibilities when entangled in a thriller the likes of this book. And to those who empathize too strongly with well-crafted, three dimensional characters, Warning! This one will break your heart. But to those who love a gripping read regardless of the consequences, buy this book!
Liparulo possesses a uniquely compelling writing style and voice that digs down to the very heart of each character, whether hero or scuzzbag.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Robert Liparulo is a former journalist, with over a thousand articles and multiple writing awards to his name. Readers of his action-thrillers were not surprised when his visual storytelling style caught the eye of Hollywood producers. Currently, three of his novels for adults are in various stages of development for the big screen: the film rights to Comes A Horseman were purchased by the producer of Tom Clancy’s movies; and Liparulo is penning the screenplays for GERM and Deadfall for two top producers. He is also working with the director Andrew Davis (The Fugitive, Holes) on a political thriller. Novelist Michael Palmer calls Deadfall “a brilliantly crafted thriller.” March 31st marked the publication of Deadfall’s follow-up, Deadlock, which novelist Gayle Lynds calls, “best of high-octane suspense.”Liparulo’s bestselling young adult series, Dreamhouse Kings, debuted last year with House of Dark Shadows and Watcher in the Woods. Book three, Gatekeepers released in January, and number four, Timescape, comes out in July. The series has garnered praise from readers, both young and old, as well as attracting famous fans who themselves know the genre inside and out. Of the series Goosebumps creator R.L. Stine says, “I loved wandering around in these books. With a house of so many great, haunting stories, why would you ever want to go outside?”
He is currently working on his next thriller, which for the first time injects a bit of the supernatural into his gun-blazing stories. The story is so compelling, two Hollywood studios are already in talks to acquire it—despite its publication date being more than a year away. After that comes a trilogy of novels, based on the critically acclaimed short story he contributed to James Patterson’s Thriller anthology. New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry calls Liparulo’s writing “Inventive, suspenseful, and highly entertaining . . . Robert Liparulo is a storyteller, pure and simple.” He lives with his family in Colorado.
ABOUT THE BOOK
John Hutchinson thinks it's no coincidence that Brendan Page runs this modern Praetorian Guard, and that the billionaire military industrialist must have had something to do with the atrocities his son Declan committed in Canada. The Canadian and U.S. Justice departments disagree, but Hutch has been digging for dirt ever since.Brendan Page has some dirty not-so-little secrets. he's built an empire on supplying futuristic weapons and highly trained soldiers to the world's most powerful armies. But he's saved his most destructive weapons for himself.
When Hutch discovers the secret of Page's success, Page decides to teach him a lesson. But the operation goes terribly wrong, and Hutch's son is kidnapped. While a lone man stands little chance against the best black op soldiers ever issued M-16s, Hutch manages to survive longer than Page anticipated. As far as Hutch is concerned, high-tech helmets, machine guns, and hand grenades are nothing compared to a man determined to save his son. It's a lesson he sets out to teach Page-and one that he can only hope works as well in the real world as it does in his heart.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Deadlock, go HERE
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Eye Surgery
God's word provides many rich symbols and images describing his truth. And his symbol for truth is, perhaps, the brightest of all. Jesus, as reported in Matthew 6:22-23, deals ruthlessly with the materialistic attitudes that we so easily allow to displace any deeper purpose in life.
The eye can mean ones perspective, or outlook on life. It can either be worldly, focusing on material possessions and personal image, or it can be spiritual, focusing on God's eternal perspective and his gifts and other blessings so liberally given us.
Lamp can be translated light, which is a symbol of truth. So a healthy eye is one that views life from God's eternal perspective, and the whole body is ones unique set of values, attitudes, beliefs, dreams and ambitions.
The bad eye, however is a perspective that is clouded by worldly cares, possessions, personal image, philosophies, attitudes and beliefs that yield only the darkness of fundamental error. Normally, darkness is simply lack of illumination, but this whole body darkness is even deeper than that. It is the darkness of a double-shielded chamber; first, no light exists within, and second, external light is blocked by the indelible prejudices that form around a life committed to worldliness and naturalism.
Speaking of prejudices, though, worldliness and naturalism are not the only ones that block the light of truth. Religious prejudice from deep-seeded human tradition can block truth at least as effectively as any secular lie. God's truth, quite tragic for those whose bad eye prevents its appreciation, makes no distinction between secular darkness and religious darkness. All who live in darkness, those who actively shun God's light, as well as those who passively miss its obvious existence in creation, will one day stand in judgment, in God's unapproachable light, and hear the fateful words that their choices made inevitable:
Some will complain that this final judgment is based on our works, while elsewhere, God's word states that we are not saved by our works, but by our faith alone. Such complainers will be disappointed to learn there is no conflict here at all. Simply put, we cannot have saving faith without first allowing God's light to shine into our fallen souls. First, God's light. Next, God's saving faith. Finally, obedience growing out of God's saving faith. No one can have the last without the first, and neither can one truly have God's all-encompassing light without producing the resultant saving faith and the obedient works that it produces.
The eye can mean ones perspective, or outlook on life. It can either be worldly, focusing on material possessions and personal image, or it can be spiritual, focusing on God's eternal perspective and his gifts and other blessings so liberally given us.
Lamp can be translated light, which is a symbol of truth. So a healthy eye is one that views life from God's eternal perspective, and the whole body is ones unique set of values, attitudes, beliefs, dreams and ambitions.
The bad eye, however is a perspective that is clouded by worldly cares, possessions, personal image, philosophies, attitudes and beliefs that yield only the darkness of fundamental error. Normally, darkness is simply lack of illumination, but this whole body darkness is even deeper than that. It is the darkness of a double-shielded chamber; first, no light exists within, and second, external light is blocked by the indelible prejudices that form around a life committed to worldliness and naturalism.
Speaking of prejudices, though, worldliness and naturalism are not the only ones that block the light of truth. Religious prejudice from deep-seeded human tradition can block truth at least as effectively as any secular lie. God's truth, quite tragic for those whose bad eye prevents its appreciation, makes no distinction between secular darkness and religious darkness. All who live in darkness, those who actively shun God's light, as well as those who passively miss its obvious existence in creation, will one day stand in judgment, in God's unapproachable light, and hear the fateful words that their choices made inevitable:
"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Mat 25:41-46 ESV)The Judge will not discriminate between varying shades of doctrine, ones faithful adherence to sacred ritual, or ones position within the church hierarchy. Jesus will simply judge the love shown, or not shown, to the least of these.
Some will complain that this final judgment is based on our works, while elsewhere, God's word states that we are not saved by our works, but by our faith alone. Such complainers will be disappointed to learn there is no conflict here at all. Simply put, we cannot have saving faith without first allowing God's light to shine into our fallen souls. First, God's light. Next, God's saving faith. Finally, obedience growing out of God's saving faith. No one can have the last without the first, and neither can one truly have God's all-encompassing light without producing the resultant saving faith and the obedient works that it produces.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Guard Against the Knife ... Armor and Other Military-type Stuff.
Ephesians chapter six gives the receptive Christ-follower some solid spiritual protein.
When Jesus mentioned an idea or command three times in quick succession, he was telling his listener(us) that this is important information. To a student, it would be as if a professor said, "Pay attention, this will be on the exam."
Vs. 11 begins with his first command to "Put on the whole armor of God." Paul also mentioned this theme of God's armor at the start of his letter to the Romans, demonstrating once again, the high importance of the concept. Here, he reveals his purpose in adopting this military theme, "that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil."
He places the devil here in the role a shifty, itinerant confidence man who engages the hapless pilgrim in conversation along the way. Inevitably, the conversation will wend its way into a conspiratorial grousing fest; oh, the deceiver agrees completely with the traveler's complaints about the weather, the road's condition, the danger of bandits, the intolerable Roman occupation, any pet peeve that will set the traveler's mind into a negative tail-spin. The devil veils his strategy with false empathy, bonding with the traveler in their seemingly common struggle against the System's unfairness. And of course, God is the System's distant, unapproachable, unsympathetic and judgmental King.
Without intending to, or even realizing it was taking place, the pilgrim becomes intimate friends with the sympathetic soul who came alongside in a difficult or frustrating time. The deceiver throws his arm over the traveler's shoulder in true fellowship, steadying him, distracting him from the object of his quest, all the while furtively unbuckling the pilgrim's God-given armor. Together they amble onto a side path and into an isolated place where the devil can uncover his weapon and, from point-blank range plunge his fiery bolts into the unwary traveler's heart.
Yes, this allegory smacks of Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan, which deserves all believers' close examination. So many Christ-followers, especially today, think of the devil as a horrendously ugly and powerful demon. And they envision spiritual warfare as specular exorcisms and blood-sweating intercession for those who are under Satanic attack. While that sort of violent intervention makes heart-pounding novels and movies, however, true spiritual warfare usually involves the enemy slithering into the good guys' trenches and taking on the appearance of an agreeable friend.
The lesson here is we must never let our armor slip, even when among friends, even when it seems so heavy we can't march another step without dropping it along the way. Though the war-drums' pounding fills the air and incoming projectiles threaten our very existence, the means of our demise is far more likely to be a knife in the back.
Then Paul explains in the most lucid terms, why we must don God's whole armor. This is like the early morning, pre-mission briefing that an officer gives his subordinates, identifying the enemy, clarifying the mission's objectives and rules of engagement, and trying to hype them up with a pep talk.
First, the officer/author breaks the news that the enemy they will face is not comprised of the garden variety of brawny, heavily armored, blood-thirsty soldiers. In fact, we won't be going up against common soldiers at all. Today's mission is going to be anything but a cinch as we fight against forces of an entirely different kind.
Our generation commonly plays electronic games where we engage a well armed enemy. We enter the fray with virtual particle-beam weapons blasting away any hapless monster that comes against us. We feel powerful, even invenceable; each time he takes us out we pop back up, having suffered nothing but a loss of points and capabilities. For one thing, our enemy is immortal; we can't kill it.
And he is powerful in every way we can fear, which loads us down with terror and timidity. What soldier can fight while hunkered down in a corner trying not to be noticed? While his slaughter may be delayed by concealment, it is inevitable.
Our true enemy actually holds all temporal, worldly authority in his ugly claws. And his invisible minions bear his delegated authority, an authority usurped from God when Man first chose his own way over the perfect way God had prescribed for him.
And his most insidious power, his most dangerous and trusted weapon, is the wickedness of worldly religious authority. We Christ-followers have gotten the idea, diametrically opposed to the truth, that religion in any form is better than irreligion or no religion at all. Somehow we imagine that atheists are the greatest sinners because they desperately oppose the idea of spirituality, the visible trappings, and the influence of religion. But we are wrong ... deadly wrong.
If we study Jesus' example of confronting evil, we see that the one evil he most consistantly attacked was the Jewish religious authorities who bent and spun God's law for their own gain, trying—but never quite succeeding—to satiate their own lust for power.
How many sects of Christendom began with a nugget of God's truth, made perfectly clear to a man of God by his Holy Spirit through his word? And how many of those sects, or denominations, adopt values and traditions that directly oppose God's revealed will? Too many, that's how many.
Christ-followers raised in these denominational traditions become blind to God's truth, when their church paints ever more carnal values over their established mural of truth. Sure, the leadership has wonderful ideas on how to spiff up the Gospel of Christ so as not to offend. And to make it more interesting, they cover that heavenly mural's subtle, inspired tones with the garish, bright colors that saturate our commercial world. Since it is all religiously done in the name of Christ, we impotent-minded lemmings follow right along.
The solution? Some Christian fundamentalists would have us indiscriminately reject all of the traditional church's teachings, trappings and traditions as part of its vast apostasy, not realizing that the church's founders were godly men responding to God's Holy Spirit-illuminated word. Perhaps the greatest tragedy of this latter-day reformation, perpetrated by well-meaning, post-modernists, is throwing out the baby of truth concealed by the filthy bath water of humanism.
Our only strategy for avoiding religion's human contamination is to nurture our own "baby of truth" to maturity, continuing our steadfast quest, always remaining teachable, and thus, reachable by God's Holy Spirit. Those of us who recognize human religion's error will never succeed in assaulting its ivory-towered bastions by direct confrontation. Religions sear their constituents' minds and hearts against the light of God's word, making them even silver bullet-proof. No, arguing religion with the religious, or the irreligious, is useless.
Rather than attacking directly, Christ-followers would more likely succeed by infiltration; guerrilla spiritual warfare. After all, one of our prime directives is, "Let your light shine among men so that they will see your good works and glorify your Heavenly Father." While light dazzles the eyes of those in deep darkness, those who have some spiritual vision might just take a look at the "new guy's" life. Of course, that would mandate living a Christ-like, not necessarily religious, life. If that worries the Christian, however, he may as well plant his body on a pew and take root.
When Jesus mentioned an idea or command three times in quick succession, he was telling his listener(us) that this is important information. To a student, it would be as if a professor said, "Pay attention, this will be on the exam."
Vs. 11 begins with his first command to "Put on the whole armor of God." Paul also mentioned this theme of God's armor at the start of his letter to the Romans, demonstrating once again, the high importance of the concept. Here, he reveals his purpose in adopting this military theme, "that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil."
He places the devil here in the role a shifty, itinerant confidence man who engages the hapless pilgrim in conversation along the way. Inevitably, the conversation will wend its way into a conspiratorial grousing fest; oh, the deceiver agrees completely with the traveler's complaints about the weather, the road's condition, the danger of bandits, the intolerable Roman occupation, any pet peeve that will set the traveler's mind into a negative tail-spin. The devil veils his strategy with false empathy, bonding with the traveler in their seemingly common struggle against the System's unfairness. And of course, God is the System's distant, unapproachable, unsympathetic and judgmental King.
Without intending to, or even realizing it was taking place, the pilgrim becomes intimate friends with the sympathetic soul who came alongside in a difficult or frustrating time. The deceiver throws his arm over the traveler's shoulder in true fellowship, steadying him, distracting him from the object of his quest, all the while furtively unbuckling the pilgrim's God-given armor. Together they amble onto a side path and into an isolated place where the devil can uncover his weapon and, from point-blank range plunge his fiery bolts into the unwary traveler's heart.
Yes, this allegory smacks of Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan, which deserves all believers' close examination. So many Christ-followers, especially today, think of the devil as a horrendously ugly and powerful demon. And they envision spiritual warfare as specular exorcisms and blood-sweating intercession for those who are under Satanic attack. While that sort of violent intervention makes heart-pounding novels and movies, however, true spiritual warfare usually involves the enemy slithering into the good guys' trenches and taking on the appearance of an agreeable friend.
The lesson here is we must never let our armor slip, even when among friends, even when it seems so heavy we can't march another step without dropping it along the way. Though the war-drums' pounding fills the air and incoming projectiles threaten our very existence, the means of our demise is far more likely to be a knife in the back.
Then Paul explains in the most lucid terms, why we must don God's whole armor. This is like the early morning, pre-mission briefing that an officer gives his subordinates, identifying the enemy, clarifying the mission's objectives and rules of engagement, and trying to hype them up with a pep talk.
First, the officer/author breaks the news that the enemy they will face is not comprised of the garden variety of brawny, heavily armored, blood-thirsty soldiers. In fact, we won't be going up against common soldiers at all. Today's mission is going to be anything but a cinch as we fight against forces of an entirely different kind.
Our generation commonly plays electronic games where we engage a well armed enemy. We enter the fray with virtual particle-beam weapons blasting away any hapless monster that comes against us. We feel powerful, even invenceable; each time he takes us out we pop back up, having suffered nothing but a loss of points and capabilities. For one thing, our enemy is immortal; we can't kill it.
And he is powerful in every way we can fear, which loads us down with terror and timidity. What soldier can fight while hunkered down in a corner trying not to be noticed? While his slaughter may be delayed by concealment, it is inevitable.
Our true enemy actually holds all temporal, worldly authority in his ugly claws. And his invisible minions bear his delegated authority, an authority usurped from God when Man first chose his own way over the perfect way God had prescribed for him.
And his most insidious power, his most dangerous and trusted weapon, is the wickedness of worldly religious authority. We Christ-followers have gotten the idea, diametrically opposed to the truth, that religion in any form is better than irreligion or no religion at all. Somehow we imagine that atheists are the greatest sinners because they desperately oppose the idea of spirituality, the visible trappings, and the influence of religion. But we are wrong ... deadly wrong.
If we study Jesus' example of confronting evil, we see that the one evil he most consistantly attacked was the Jewish religious authorities who bent and spun God's law for their own gain, trying—but never quite succeeding—to satiate their own lust for power.
How many sects of Christendom began with a nugget of God's truth, made perfectly clear to a man of God by his Holy Spirit through his word? And how many of those sects, or denominations, adopt values and traditions that directly oppose God's revealed will? Too many, that's how many.
Christ-followers raised in these denominational traditions become blind to God's truth, when their church paints ever more carnal values over their established mural of truth. Sure, the leadership has wonderful ideas on how to spiff up the Gospel of Christ so as not to offend. And to make it more interesting, they cover that heavenly mural's subtle, inspired tones with the garish, bright colors that saturate our commercial world. Since it is all religiously done in the name of Christ, we impotent-minded lemmings follow right along.
The solution? Some Christian fundamentalists would have us indiscriminately reject all of the traditional church's teachings, trappings and traditions as part of its vast apostasy, not realizing that the church's founders were godly men responding to God's Holy Spirit-illuminated word. Perhaps the greatest tragedy of this latter-day reformation, perpetrated by well-meaning, post-modernists, is throwing out the baby of truth concealed by the filthy bath water of humanism.
Our only strategy for avoiding religion's human contamination is to nurture our own "baby of truth" to maturity, continuing our steadfast quest, always remaining teachable, and thus, reachable by God's Holy Spirit. Those of us who recognize human religion's error will never succeed in assaulting its ivory-towered bastions by direct confrontation. Religions sear their constituents' minds and hearts against the light of God's word, making them even silver bullet-proof. No, arguing religion with the religious, or the irreligious, is useless.
Rather than attacking directly, Christ-followers would more likely succeed by infiltration; guerrilla spiritual warfare. After all, one of our prime directives is, "Let your light shine among men so that they will see your good works and glorify your Heavenly Father." While light dazzles the eyes of those in deep darkness, those who have some spiritual vision might just take a look at the "new guy's" life. Of course, that would mandate living a Christ-like, not necessarily religious, life. If that worries the Christian, however, he may as well plant his body on a pew and take root.
Monday, February 16, 2009
This Can't be Biblical
I subscribe to Daily Manna From The Net, and more often than not the daily Bible verse gives me pause to deliberate on some word or principle from God's word. Today, the Bible passage is from Leviticus chapter nineteen, and the verse that caught my eye is You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly. (Lev 19:15 NASB)
My usual reaction to a teaching from the Old Testament is, "Oh no, this is gonna be drier than cardboard." Most Bible-believers, whether or not they want to admit it openly, respond more-or-less with that attitude. Of course, simply because lots of folks agree with my prejudice does not mean we're right in our assessment.
Leviticus 19:15 is a case in point, with its command, "... you shall not be partial to the poor ...." With my eyebrows suitably raised with indignation, I proceeded to milk more information from the words, and those around them. Know what? This passage is right on the money.
God tells us through these words that we must disregard others' money and possessions―or lack thereof―when discerning their veracity. At first glance, this verse seems to fly in the face of Jesus' teaching, from his beatitudes to his treatment of the rich, religious establishment. But that shows what we mortals know. Jesus condemned preferential treatment based on wealth or lifestyle. He urged "sinners" to repent of their wickedness, but he also pronounced woes upon the hyper-religious who would walk a mile to avoid passing by one of the "unclean."
The Leviticus passage teaches the same balance that Jesus preached. Apparently, even in ancient Israel, do-gooders practiced their preference for the poor and downtrodden. This bias, however, is every bit as unjust as shining up to the rich and powerful. Jesus called the privileged few, "blind leaders of the blind." He pointed out that each class of people perpetuated their own specialized kind of blindness. The poor were dazzled by the lifestyles flaunted by the affluent, and unable to recognize the rich for what they were, spoiled, and spiritually destitute consumers of wealth. The rich, of course, embraced their blindness to the inate human value of each person, dismissing the poor as an inevitable annoiance, and kowtowing to other rich people hoping to curry their favor. That is not to say the poor had no purpose; God provided "those" people as vehicles for charitable giving. If there were no poor, how would one feel good about giving his or her pittance?
The lesson we must take from this passage is neither poverty nor affluence has value in God's eyes, but our righteous response to others' needs reveals God's grace within us.
My usual reaction to a teaching from the Old Testament is, "Oh no, this is gonna be drier than cardboard." Most Bible-believers, whether or not they want to admit it openly, respond more-or-less with that attitude. Of course, simply because lots of folks agree with my prejudice does not mean we're right in our assessment.
Leviticus 19:15 is a case in point, with its command, "... you shall not be partial to the poor ...." With my eyebrows suitably raised with indignation, I proceeded to milk more information from the words, and those around them. Know what? This passage is right on the money.
God tells us through these words that we must disregard others' money and possessions―or lack thereof―when discerning their veracity. At first glance, this verse seems to fly in the face of Jesus' teaching, from his beatitudes to his treatment of the rich, religious establishment. But that shows what we mortals know. Jesus condemned preferential treatment based on wealth or lifestyle. He urged "sinners" to repent of their wickedness, but he also pronounced woes upon the hyper-religious who would walk a mile to avoid passing by one of the "unclean."
The Leviticus passage teaches the same balance that Jesus preached. Apparently, even in ancient Israel, do-gooders practiced their preference for the poor and downtrodden. This bias, however, is every bit as unjust as shining up to the rich and powerful. Jesus called the privileged few, "blind leaders of the blind." He pointed out that each class of people perpetuated their own specialized kind of blindness. The poor were dazzled by the lifestyles flaunted by the affluent, and unable to recognize the rich for what they were, spoiled, and spiritually destitute consumers of wealth. The rich, of course, embraced their blindness to the inate human value of each person, dismissing the poor as an inevitable annoiance, and kowtowing to other rich people hoping to curry their favor. That is not to say the poor had no purpose; God provided "those" people as vehicles for charitable giving. If there were no poor, how would one feel good about giving his or her pittance?
The lesson we must take from this passage is neither poverty nor affluence has value in God's eyes, but our righteous response to others' needs reveals God's grace within us.
Monday, February 09, 2009
Golden Chains
Psa 139:1 ESV To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O LORD, you have searched me and known me!Psalm 139 begins with a statement only a God-lover could make, and not resent it. What solace it is to know that I am known, and there is one Person from whom I cannot hide, one with whom I can communicate honestly, without reproach.
That's right, without reproach! When Adam sinned, did God suddenly blast him with a thunder bolt? NO! God walked through the garden in the cool of the day. When Adam failed to run to Him as was his custom, God called out to him.
If only Adam had run to his Father/Creator, fallen on his face and confessed his sin in brokenness. But only when he realized he couldn't hide, his first words were an excuse. I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.(Genesis 3:10) Even then, God refrained from condemning Adam. In vs. 11, God said, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat? Just a question, still leaving Adam the opportunity of confessing his sin.
But how did Adam respond to God's grace? The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate. What a lame excuse! Adam, who was intelligent enough to name all the animals of the garden, gave a small child's excuse, as if he was caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
Then, as a last resort, so history could not say He failed to give them a chance to confess, God addressed Eve on the issue. Her answer? The serpent deceived me, and I ate. Confession, yes. But with blame, demonstrating she had learned nothing and her heart was hardened to her own guilt.
Only then, did God pronounce the judgment we know so well.
So, back to King David, a man who could have his every whim, but found it necessary to praise God for the limits, or confinements, of his life. The man whose circumstances knew no limits saw the value of control from without; he knew so well that his self-control was not enough. In Psalm 139:5, he wrote:
You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.
No wonder God named him The man after God's own heart.
Father, I too praise you for reigning over me by reining me in before and behind. Your grace is without limit. Your love is beyond knowing. Your peace is a river of life. Your works are marvelous. Yeshua's blood washes me throughout. Thank you, Father.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Gatekeepers (Dreamhouse Kings #3) by Robert Liparulo
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Gatekeepers
(Dreamhouse Kings #3)
Thomas Nelson (January 6, 2009)
by
Robert Liparulo
BUT FIRST, A WORD FROM OUR BLOGGER:
If Robert Liparulo's series of youth novels, Dreamhouse Kings, with his grasp of drama, use of vivid detail, intimate characterizations, clever story-crafting and subtle use of metaphor is reserved for kids, then call me the Tricks® silly rabbit. Nancy and I can't wait for these crunchy, sweet, richly colored nuggets of fiction to pop forth from Liparulo's fruitful imagination. And woe to the kid who tries to spoil our fun.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Robert is an award-winning author of over a thousand published articles and short stories. He is currently a contributing editor for New Man magazine. His work has appeared in Reader's Digest, Travel & Leisure, Modern Bride, Consumers Digest, Chief Executive, and The Arizona Daily Star, among other publications. In addition, he previously worked as a celebrity journalist, interviewing Stephen King, Tom Clancy, Charlton Heston, and others for magazines such as Rocky Road, Preview, and L.A. Weekly.
Robert is an avid scuba diver, swimmer, reader, traveler, and a law enforcement and military enthusiast. He lives in Colorado with his wife and four children.
Robert's first novel painted a scenario so frighteningly real that six Hollywood producers were bidding on movie rights before the novel was completed. His acclaimed debut novel, Comes A Horseman, is being made into a major motion picture by producer Mace Neufeld and his short story "Kill Zone" was featured in the anthology Thriller, edited by James Patterson.
Bob has sold the film rights to his second book, GERM. And he is writing the screenplay for a yet-to-be-written political thriller, which sold to Phoenix Pictures, for Andrew Davis (The Fugitive, The Guardian) to direct!
And his third book Deadfall. debuted to rave reviews!
ABOUT THE BOOK
.jpg)
Bob Liparulo wants to give away a signed 3 book set of the DreamHouse Kings books! Send an email to Bob [at] Liparulo [dot] com and put "CFBA" in the subject line. He will pick a winner next week!!!!
In the third novel of this young adult series, the mystery deepens in a house that is more than meets the eye.
The Kings have been in the creepy old place, their new home, for only a few days, but they've experienced enough terror to last a lifetime. And the mystery is growing even more baffling. Shadowy and shifting, the big house conceals doors into other worlds that blur the line between memories and dreams-and the slightest misstep can change history forever.
At least, that's if they believe the trembling old man who shows up claiming to know them. "There's a reason you're in the house," he tells them. "As gatekeepers, we must make sure only those events that are supposed to happen get through to the future."
The problem is that horrors beyond description wait on the other side of those gates. As if that weren't enough, the Kings are also menaced by sinister forces on this side-like the dark, ancient stranger Taksidian, who wants them out now.
It's hard to believe that things could have gotten worse for the King family-but they have. Dad's in handcuffs, the school bully has just found the secret portal that leads from the high school to the house, and Xander is sure he's found Mom, but they can't get back to her. Then Jesse arrives, and he seems to be a virtual Obi Wan of knowledge about the place. But is he the key they need to unlock the secrets, or just a crazy old man?
Dangers are increasing from within and without when Xander makes a startling discovery that explains why they haven't found any rooms that lead to the future. Alongside the threats, though, they're also starting to find some surprising allies.
All they have to do is get organized, get psyched, and get Mom. But that isn't nearly as easy as it sounds.
Xander, David, and Toria must venture beyond the gates to save their missing mother-and discover how truly high the stakes have become.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Gatekeepers
(Dreamhouse Kings #3), go HERE
What they're saying:
(Dreamhouse Kings #3)
BUT FIRST, A WORD FROM OUR BLOGGER:
If Robert Liparulo's series of youth novels, Dreamhouse Kings, with his grasp of drama, use of vivid detail, intimate characterizations, clever story-crafting and subtle use of metaphor is reserved for kids, then call me the Tricks
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Robert is an award-winning author of over a thousand published articles and short stories. He is currently a contributing editor for New Man magazine. His work has appeared in Reader's Digest, Travel & Leisure, Modern Bride, Consumers Digest, Chief Executive, and The Arizona Daily Star, among other publications. In addition, he previously worked as a celebrity journalist, interviewing Stephen King, Tom Clancy, Charlton Heston, and others for magazines such as Rocky Road, Preview, and L.A. Weekly.Robert is an avid scuba diver, swimmer, reader, traveler, and a law enforcement and military enthusiast. He lives in Colorado with his wife and four children.
Robert's first novel painted a scenario so frighteningly real that six Hollywood producers were bidding on movie rights before the novel was completed. His acclaimed debut novel, Comes A Horseman, is being made into a major motion picture by producer Mace Neufeld and his short story "Kill Zone" was featured in the anthology Thriller, edited by James Patterson.
Bob has sold the film rights to his second book, GERM. And he is writing the screenplay for a yet-to-be-written political thriller, which sold to Phoenix Pictures, for Andrew Davis (The Fugitive, The Guardian) to direct!
And his third book Deadfall. debuted to rave reviews!
ABOUT THE BOOK
.jpg)
Bob Liparulo wants to give away a signed 3 book set of the DreamHouse Kings books! Send an email to Bob [at] Liparulo [dot] com and put "CFBA" in the subject line. He will pick a winner next week!!!!In the third novel of this young adult series, the mystery deepens in a house that is more than meets the eye.
The Kings have been in the creepy old place, their new home, for only a few days, but they've experienced enough terror to last a lifetime. And the mystery is growing even more baffling. Shadowy and shifting, the big house conceals doors into other worlds that blur the line between memories and dreams-and the slightest misstep can change history forever.
At least, that's if they believe the trembling old man who shows up claiming to know them. "There's a reason you're in the house," he tells them. "As gatekeepers, we must make sure only those events that are supposed to happen get through to the future."
The problem is that horrors beyond description wait on the other side of those gates. As if that weren't enough, the Kings are also menaced by sinister forces on this side-like the dark, ancient stranger Taksidian, who wants them out now.
It's hard to believe that things could have gotten worse for the King family-but they have. Dad's in handcuffs, the school bully has just found the secret portal that leads from the high school to the house, and Xander is sure he's found Mom, but they can't get back to her. Then Jesse arrives, and he seems to be a virtual Obi Wan of knowledge about the place. But is he the key they need to unlock the secrets, or just a crazy old man?
Dangers are increasing from within and without when Xander makes a startling discovery that explains why they haven't found any rooms that lead to the future. Alongside the threats, though, they're also starting to find some surprising allies.
All they have to do is get organized, get psyched, and get Mom. But that isn't nearly as easy as it sounds.
Xander, David, and Toria must venture beyond the gates to save their missing mother-and discover how truly high the stakes have become.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Gatekeepers
(Dreamhouse Kings #3), go HERE
What they're saying:
Review
"If you like creepy and mysterious, this is the house for you! Every room opens a door to magic, true horror, and amazing surprises. I loved wandering around in these books. With a house of so many great, haunting stories, why would you ever want to go outside?" --R.L. Stine (Goosebumps)
Review
"A powerhouse storyteller delivers his most fantastic ride yet!"
-Ted Dekker, bestselling author of Kiss, Chosen and Infidel
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
SELECTIVE MEMORY
My wife Nancy believes my memory picks out what it will keep handy and what it will throw away. To her, that choice is based on what is in her interest versus what is in my own interest.
Pleas of innocence, unfortunately, fall on deaf ears, as I must grudgingly admit to some—purely unintentional—consistency in my forgetfulness. On other occasions, however, my memory drops things I desperately want to remember, to my ultimate frustration.
Wouldn't a purposeful, selective memory come in handy? We could remember everything that is important to recall, and forget the thoughts that drag us down or limit our potential. Those we love would benefit from our forgetting their accidental gaffes and offenses. A clean slate can be a beautiful thing.
Memory preserves events from everyone's past, events we would rather forget. Past unthoughtful words, lapses of character and corrupt thoughts that prick our consciences, become lashes that stripe the backs of our minds long after we've begged forgiveness and made reparation.
We recall the guilty feeling we get when a state trooper hangs in our car's rear-view mirror; "How fast am I going? Did I violate some obscure statute and attract his attention to my driving?" What a relief, when his patrol car finally roars past, leaving us to continue down the road without having seen flashing lights in the mirror.
That trooper's vision can't penetrate our minds and consciences, leaving our skelletons safely in their closet. Imagine, however, standing before the all-seeing Judge, weighed down by memories of our past offenses, some of which we have tried to correct, and some we have burried deep in the closets and basements of our minds. His memory has no involuntary dropouts, and you feel naked under his penetrating gaze.
If only we could make some excuse that would matter. If only our goodness could compare in the slightest way to his perfect holiness. The prophet Isaiah gives us the Judge's perspective, But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
(Isa 64:6 KJV)
Since we have no basis on which to cop a plea, what hope do we have for an eternity of peace with God? Jesus' apostle Paul voiced his own despair when considering his personal uncleanness, For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
(Rom 7:14-25 NASB)
If this renowned man of God could make no claim of personal righteousness, what of the rest of us?
Contrary to popular Christian lore, Jesus did not come two centuries ago to show us the way to his Father God. Rather, hear his own words, the kernel of his good news to humankind:
Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him."
(Joh 14:5-7 NASB)
Some feel that such a view is not inclusive enough. They throw out a smoke screen of questions like, "What about all those who have never heard of Jesus?" Or such pseudo-wisdom as, "There are many ways to every destination." Through the crystal-clear eyes of faith, however, we see the absurdity of such questions and philosophies. Jesus' eternal truth contradicts and rides above all human wisdom.
How, then, must we be saved from sin's shackles? God's simple truth is, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
(Rom 10:9 NASB)
Jesus said, "And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God."
(Luk 12:8 NASB)
And what of all our clever excuses? For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(Php 2:9-11 NASB)
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