Dear friends,
How can we thank you enough for the wonderful notes and encouraging words on the passing of our mother? Phil and I have felt your love and it has been an incredible experience. For me, losing Mom has also reinforced the value of supporting our friends in their time of need. I want to be there for you down the line.
Two things stand out about Mom as I reflect back on her life. She was incredibly giving and she marked everyone with whom she interacted. On her tomb, we left the words “Daughter of God;” That is the literal meaning of her name and says it all. In Scripture we read that “God is love.” Apart from Him, we know nothing at all about love. My mother taught me more about the meaning of that word than anyone else I have known. She was my real life hero. What a heritage to leave us as her sons.
Due to the pressures of time and other things going on in our life, we have decided not to have additional Memorial services for Mom in Michigan and Tennessee. I hope we will have your understanding on this decision.
Someone once said, “We don’t know how to live until we know how to die.” Mom knew how to do both well and we love her all the more for that.
Dan and Phil
http://danielsouthern.blogspot.com/2010/08/true-spirituality.html
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Silence
God has spoken; He is not silent. This is an axiomatic characteristic of God.
Therefore, if He has spoken; how has He done so?
Allow me to suggest at least six distinct ways in which God has spoken:
1. Through His Creation in Nature
"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows his handiwork." Psalm 19:1
"The invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen." Romans 1:20
2. Through Special or Direct Revelation
God appeared to Moses in the form of a burning bush, telling him exactly what He wanted him to do. Exodus 3:2--4:17
3. In our Soul
"That which may be known of God is manifest in them." Romans 1:19
4. Through other of his followers – the Prophets
“After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets.” Hebrews 1:1a
5. Through Jesus His Son
“…in these last days he (God) has spoken to us in a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he created the world.” Hebrews 1:1b
6. Through His Word in Scripture
The Christian Bible assembles all the messages God wanted us to have for our admonition and edification. It is the only source of fully accurate knowledge about God.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, so that the man of God may be perfected, being fully furnished for every good work.” II Timothy 3:16-17
If God has spoken, we should indeed pay attention to what He has said; Are you listening?
Therefore, if He has spoken; how has He done so?
Allow me to suggest at least six distinct ways in which God has spoken:
1. Through His Creation in Nature
"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows his handiwork." Psalm 19:1
"The invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen." Romans 1:20
2. Through Special or Direct Revelation
God appeared to Moses in the form of a burning bush, telling him exactly what He wanted him to do. Exodus 3:2--4:17
3. In our Soul
"That which may be known of God is manifest in them." Romans 1:19
4. Through other of his followers – the Prophets
“After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets.” Hebrews 1:1a
5. Through Jesus His Son
“…in these last days he (God) has spoken to us in a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he created the world.” Hebrews 1:1b
6. Through His Word in Scripture
The Christian Bible assembles all the messages God wanted us to have for our admonition and edification. It is the only source of fully accurate knowledge about God.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, so that the man of God may be perfected, being fully furnished for every good work.” II Timothy 3:16-17
If God has spoken, we should indeed pay attention to what He has said; Are you listening?
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Words
Throughout my life I have been guilty of the careless use of words. They have power to build or destroy. I am being more careful now as I get older … and wiser. Even lately, I have seen more success in this pursuit.
Jesus warns that we will be judged by every word that escapes our lips. I want to follow His example and be as careful with my words as He is with His words.
"You can be sure that on the Judgment Day you will have to give account of every useless word you have ever spoken. Your words will be used to judge you---to declare you either innocent or guilty." Mat 12:36-37
That is a fearful pronouncement. What if we have already said many things we should not have said? ... and we are bound to repeat the offense, even if we have the best of intentions. Even if our words are screened but our mind cries out in awful ways and we have never said out loud the things we have secretly harbored in our heart - we are still guilty!
Our words are the result of what goes on in our heart. What is in your heart? It will reveal itself in your words. Listen to your heart when you speak and determine to surrender it to the only one whose words are absolutely pure.
"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14
Jesus warns that we will be judged by every word that escapes our lips. I want to follow His example and be as careful with my words as He is with His words.
"You can be sure that on the Judgment Day you will have to give account of every useless word you have ever spoken. Your words will be used to judge you---to declare you either innocent or guilty." Mat 12:36-37
That is a fearful pronouncement. What if we have already said many things we should not have said? ... and we are bound to repeat the offense, even if we have the best of intentions. Even if our words are screened but our mind cries out in awful ways and we have never said out loud the things we have secretly harbored in our heart - we are still guilty!
Our words are the result of what goes on in our heart. What is in your heart? It will reveal itself in your words. Listen to your heart when you speak and determine to surrender it to the only one whose words are absolutely pure.
"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14
Word
As I went through my mother’s things after her death, I found a fist full of cards with key Scriptures written down on them. She used them as part of her daily routine to fellowship with God. I have been carrying them with me since then and meditating on their application to my life.
Jesus is identified as the “Word” in the opening verses of the Gospel of John. The Christian Bible says that He is the perfect expression of God’s will and gives us what we need to connect to the Father in heaven.
When King Solomon was asked by God what he desired, he requested wisdom to rule Israel (I Kings 3:5-14). My one wish (my sincere desire) is to know and love His Word more than anything else.
"I have asked the LORD for one thing; one thing only do I want: to live in the LORD's house all my life, to marvel there at his goodness, and to ask for his guidance." Psalm 27:4
God has been excruciatingly careful in what He has said to us. His Word is flawless.
“See how I love your instructions, LORD. Your love never changes, so save me! The heart of your law is truth, and all your righteous judgments are eternal. Powerful people attack me unjustly, but I respect your law. How happy I am because of your promises--- as happy as someone who finds rich treasure. I hate and detest all lies, but I love your law. Seven times each day I thank you for your righteous judgments. Those who love your law have perfect security, and there is nothing that can make them fall. I wait for you to save me, LORD, and I do what you command. I obey your teachings; I love them with all my heart. I obey your commands and your instructions; you see everything I do. Let my cry for help reach you, LORD! Give me understanding, as you have promised. Listen to my prayer, and save me according to your promise! I will always praise you, because you teach me your laws. I will sing about your law, because your commands are just. Always be ready to help me, because I follow your commands. How I long for your saving help, O LORD! I find happiness in your law. Give me life, so that I may praise you; may your instructions help me. I wander about like a lost sheep; so come and look for me, your servant, because I have not neglected your laws.” Psalm 119:159-176
Jesus is identified as the “Word” in the opening verses of the Gospel of John. The Christian Bible says that He is the perfect expression of God’s will and gives us what we need to connect to the Father in heaven.
When King Solomon was asked by God what he desired, he requested wisdom to rule Israel (I Kings 3:5-14). My one wish (my sincere desire) is to know and love His Word more than anything else.
"I have asked the LORD for one thing; one thing only do I want: to live in the LORD's house all my life, to marvel there at his goodness, and to ask for his guidance." Psalm 27:4
God has been excruciatingly careful in what He has said to us. His Word is flawless.
“See how I love your instructions, LORD. Your love never changes, so save me! The heart of your law is truth, and all your righteous judgments are eternal. Powerful people attack me unjustly, but I respect your law. How happy I am because of your promises--- as happy as someone who finds rich treasure. I hate and detest all lies, but I love your law. Seven times each day I thank you for your righteous judgments. Those who love your law have perfect security, and there is nothing that can make them fall. I wait for you to save me, LORD, and I do what you command. I obey your teachings; I love them with all my heart. I obey your commands and your instructions; you see everything I do. Let my cry for help reach you, LORD! Give me understanding, as you have promised. Listen to my prayer, and save me according to your promise! I will always praise you, because you teach me your laws. I will sing about your law, because your commands are just. Always be ready to help me, because I follow your commands. How I long for your saving help, O LORD! I find happiness in your law. Give me life, so that I may praise you; may your instructions help me. I wander about like a lost sheep; so come and look for me, your servant, because I have not neglected your laws.” Psalm 119:159-176
Do you love His Word?
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Religion
What is religion? Here is a good definition: "an institution to express belief in a divine power."
I am not a seeker after religion. I am seeking God. Our religion must never become a substitute for our personal relationship with God.
The institutionalism and denominationalism we often see, even in legitimate faiths, can be an obstruction in our path to finding God; just as adherents to a particular faith can be disappointing to those who truly desire a relationship with God.
Someone said, "Traditionalism is the dead faith of the living but tradition is the living faith of the dead." We can learn much from our forefathers but there is a trap to be avoided in clinging to dead ideas instead of a living person.
Here is the problem; we need to focus on a hero who is untarnished - that is Jesus Christ alone. No one else even comes close to his perfect example. All men have feet of clay and that is a fact.
Yes it is true that the church is full of hypocrites just as a hospital is full of sick people. I am sick and so are you. That does not mean that what we believe is false or that church is useless, but it does mean that no one is perfectly consistent in practicing their faith. We are all in a battle to become what God wants of us.
If a person hides behind the skirts of their faith and is insincere in their daily effort to pick up their cross to follow Jesus, they are not worthy to carry the name of the one they follow.
I am sick but aggressively seeking the cure. I am not the Messiah. I am just a follower who wishes to touch the hem of His garment.
I am not a seeker after religion. I am seeking God. Our religion must never become a substitute for our personal relationship with God.
The institutionalism and denominationalism we often see, even in legitimate faiths, can be an obstruction in our path to finding God; just as adherents to a particular faith can be disappointing to those who truly desire a relationship with God.
Someone said, "Traditionalism is the dead faith of the living but tradition is the living faith of the dead." We can learn much from our forefathers but there is a trap to be avoided in clinging to dead ideas instead of a living person.
Here is the problem; we need to focus on a hero who is untarnished - that is Jesus Christ alone. No one else even comes close to his perfect example. All men have feet of clay and that is a fact.
Yes it is true that the church is full of hypocrites just as a hospital is full of sick people. I am sick and so are you. That does not mean that what we believe is false or that church is useless, but it does mean that no one is perfectly consistent in practicing their faith. We are all in a battle to become what God wants of us.
If a person hides behind the skirts of their faith and is insincere in their daily effort to pick up their cross to follow Jesus, they are not worthy to carry the name of the one they follow.
I am sick but aggressively seeking the cure. I am not the Messiah. I am just a follower who wishes to touch the hem of His garment.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Ground Rules
Every pursuit needs to have rules by which it is conducted or we cannot fairly evaluate our progress or failure. Similarly, instead of just coming up with random ideas about God and calling them our worldview, we need to have a way to discern their validity. At a minimum, we should look at the origins of the faith, the originator or figurehead and the sacred writings which its adherents follow as their scripture.
Some people just collect ideas from all over the religious landscape which are often inconsistent with one another. For example, they may believe in the truth of the Christian Bible but reject certain of its teachings that do not correspond to some of their beliefs from other sources - thereby nullifying the authoritative nature of the Bible. Muslims say that the Christian Bible is a holy text in its original but that it has been corrupted and we no longer have access to the original. Mormons have added to the original with other writings which either supersede its orthodox interpretation or “expand” on its intended meaning; and Jehovah Witnesses have their own translation of the Bible with certain key changes - you get the point. What is the Bible you follow?
What about the origins of the faith? In Jamaica, we have a religion called Rastafarianism. It centers on the belief that Haile Selassie, the deceased Emperor of Ethiopia, was the true Messiah and not Jesus. But Haile Selassie was a Christ-follower and denied that he himself was the Messiah. Scientology is based on a science fiction novel which fomented ideas about where the human race originated and transmutated into a modern-day religion with many famous people embracing it as true. And just being old or established is not necessarily a proof of validity; Hinduism and Buddhism are two examples of this fact.
Who is the central figure of the faith? L. Ron Hubbard–convicted felon and tax-evader; Joseph Smith – fugitive from justice and polygamist; Mary Baker Eddy, Mohammad, Gautama Buddha, Krishna, Jesus? Take a good look at the person, not just their words. Even Judaism looks for the Messiah, but when Jesus came, the Jews denied His authority as being from God and crucified Him for claiming it was.
The point is that we must do a little investigation into the background; not just the claims of faith. There is more - much more – but this should get the wheels turning a bit.
“So we are even more confident of the message proclaimed by the prophets. You will do well to pay attention to it, because it is like a lamp shining in a dark place until the Day dawns and the light of the morning star shines in your hearts. Above all else, however, remember that none of us can explain by ourselves a prophecy in the Scriptures. For no prophetic message ever came just from the human will, but people were under the control of the Holy Spirit as they spoke the message that came from God.” II Peter 1:19-21
Some people just collect ideas from all over the religious landscape which are often inconsistent with one another. For example, they may believe in the truth of the Christian Bible but reject certain of its teachings that do not correspond to some of their beliefs from other sources - thereby nullifying the authoritative nature of the Bible. Muslims say that the Christian Bible is a holy text in its original but that it has been corrupted and we no longer have access to the original. Mormons have added to the original with other writings which either supersede its orthodox interpretation or “expand” on its intended meaning; and Jehovah Witnesses have their own translation of the Bible with certain key changes - you get the point. What is the Bible you follow?
What about the origins of the faith? In Jamaica, we have a religion called Rastafarianism. It centers on the belief that Haile Selassie, the deceased Emperor of Ethiopia, was the true Messiah and not Jesus. But Haile Selassie was a Christ-follower and denied that he himself was the Messiah. Scientology is based on a science fiction novel which fomented ideas about where the human race originated and transmutated into a modern-day religion with many famous people embracing it as true. And just being old or established is not necessarily a proof of validity; Hinduism and Buddhism are two examples of this fact.
Who is the central figure of the faith? L. Ron Hubbard–convicted felon and tax-evader; Joseph Smith – fugitive from justice and polygamist; Mary Baker Eddy, Mohammad, Gautama Buddha, Krishna, Jesus? Take a good look at the person, not just their words. Even Judaism looks for the Messiah, but when Jesus came, the Jews denied His authority as being from God and crucified Him for claiming it was.
The point is that we must do a little investigation into the background; not just the claims of faith. There is more - much more – but this should get the wheels turning a bit.
“So we are even more confident of the message proclaimed by the prophets. You will do well to pay attention to it, because it is like a lamp shining in a dark place until the Day dawns and the light of the morning star shines in your hearts. Above all else, however, remember that none of us can explain by ourselves a prophecy in the Scriptures. For no prophetic message ever came just from the human will, but people were under the control of the Holy Spirit as they spoke the message that came from God.” II Peter 1:19-21
Friday, August 6, 2010
True Spirituality
I have been seeking after a relationship with God and trying to understand His calling on my life since at least the age of 4. I know this because I am in possession of a letter my mother wrote after I invited Jesus to be my personal Savior in 1957.
I was recently corresponding with a longtime acquaintance about their spirituality and that conversation affected me deeply – to the point that I feel compelled to write about my faith so others can hopefully benefit from my thoughts. I don’t know that they will benefit, but I want them to do so very earnestly and feel that, at the very least, I will benefit from putting my thoughts down in this discourse.
The first point to acknowledge is that we come to God on His terms and not our own. Most of us sincerely believe that what we hold to be true, is rational and based on sound reasoning. However as I listen to other’s expressions of faith and understanding of God, it is apparent that their belief system is neither rational nor sound; but instead it is a hodge-podge of ideas that do not even fit together, let alone come from God. Whether we mean to or not, we are attempting to squeeze God into our little box instead of acknowledging how little we truly understand about Him. I am as guilty of this as anyone and am engaged in a lifelong effort to get outside of my own skin and see God as He really is; not just as I want Him to be. Will you join me in this pursuit of True Spirituality?
“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” I Corinthians 13:12
I was recently corresponding with a longtime acquaintance about their spirituality and that conversation affected me deeply – to the point that I feel compelled to write about my faith so others can hopefully benefit from my thoughts. I don’t know that they will benefit, but I want them to do so very earnestly and feel that, at the very least, I will benefit from putting my thoughts down in this discourse.
The first point to acknowledge is that we come to God on His terms and not our own. Most of us sincerely believe that what we hold to be true, is rational and based on sound reasoning. However as I listen to other’s expressions of faith and understanding of God, it is apparent that their belief system is neither rational nor sound; but instead it is a hodge-podge of ideas that do not even fit together, let alone come from God. Whether we mean to or not, we are attempting to squeeze God into our little box instead of acknowledging how little we truly understand about Him. I am as guilty of this as anyone and am engaged in a lifelong effort to get outside of my own skin and see God as He really is; not just as I want Him to be. Will you join me in this pursuit of True Spirituality?
“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” I Corinthians 13:12
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