SWEET SURRENDER, SWEET JESUS

.
The Bible is a book of war. “The Lord is a man of war” (Ex. 15:3). Heaven is a realm of war, as well as the earth. “And there was war in heaven” (Rev. 12:7). Jesus is a man of war. “Think not that I am come to send peace of the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword” (Mat. 10:34). “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them” (Rev. 17:14). David was a man of war. “Thou (Absalom) knowest thy father (David) and his men that they are mighty men, and thy father is a man of war” (I Sam. 17:8). David faced Goliath and took his sword. He was a man of war before he met Goliath. David is a type of Christ. His followers were men of war. “And there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker” (II Sam. 3:1). The sons of God follow a man of war! Thank God! as the battle rages the Christ within is waxing stronger and stronger, and the kingdom of the flesh is waxing weaker and weaker. So shall it be fulfilled — the natural man shall be subjected to the spiritual, the flesh shall be ruled over by the spirit, and then shall we see “all things in subjection under His feet” (Heb. 2:8). (author unknown)

All the violence, from the Amalekite baby dashed upon the rocks, to Jesus at Calvary, to the first church martyrs. All sacrificed their lives, that we might know "the Kingdom of God is within." The great and last war is fought within and blessed is the man, with a soul, that has raised a white flag in sweet surrender.

Jesus is Victor. When He rose on the third day, Jesus made death, and all the enemies of our soul His footstool. Those enemies aren't outside, they are within and how very few know this.

With the world in travail, many today are involved in eschatological discussion, searching for apocalyptic signs, to know how and when it will all go down. I personally have not time for discussions of eschatology except to proclaim, I have met the risen Christ and Jesus is Victor. He has taken my rebellious soul captive and laid it to rest in Love. That is my "apocalypse" and my eschatology is "only an eye for Him." Today, I no longer even bother to follow Jesus, for He has swept me off my feet and now He carries me as His surrendered captive in Love.

Ah, Sweet Surrender, Sweet Jesus. For me, they are the same.

Jack

WHAT DO THE STARS TELL US

.
In the summer, I love to look up at the stars in the night sky. Partaking of such a heavenly view, I find myself raptured by the random and prodigious thoughts, giving rise in my mind. I even enjoy more, the the rare occasions, upon which I write of the discoveries, scientists have made as they have searched the heavens. With that, allow me to share the thinking of a couple of familiar characters, as they gaze the night sky.

The Lone Ranger and Tonto went camping in the desert. After they got their tent all set up, both men fell sound asleep. Some hours later, Tonto wakes the Lone Ranger and says, "Kemo Sabe, look towards sky, what you see? "

The Lone Ranger replies, "I see millions of stars."

"What that tell you?" asked Tonto.

The Lone Ranger ponders for a minute then says, "Astronomically speaking, it tells me there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo. Time wise, it appears to be approximately a quarter past three in the morning. Theologically, the Lord is all-powerful and we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, it seems we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What's it tell you, Tonto?"



"You dumber than buffalo. It means someone stole the tent."

BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US

.
"Jesus does not give recipes that show the way to God as other teachers of religion do. He is Himself the way." Barth

To those liberal Christians, that look beyond Christ, I sometimes want to scream. "DO YOU EVEN KNOW HIM?!" This outrage arises from the very Truth, that above all, Jesus embodies the nature of intimacy in God. God through Jesus, saves all of men. He saves all men, one soul at a time, giving all of His love and all of His life, personally, to each of us.

It seems my outrage turns to sorrow, knowing, the soul that looks beyond Jesus, for his or her needs, has not been made aware of God's intimate care and affection through Jesus, yet.

"We love because he first loved us." 1Jn 4:19

Wesley writes, " We love him, because he first loved us - This is the sum of all religion, the genuine model of Christianity. None can say more: why should any one say less"

The paradox is, that while Jesus died for the whole world, He gave His life for me alone. Those that constantly liberalize Christianity, to where it has no bounds, know nothing of the nature of God's intimacy revealed through Jesus. I am sorry, they do not know this. I, however, am joyous that one day they will. With that my initial outrage turns to sorrow that is finally tempered with joy.

I hope you spend some time alone with Jesus today, and come to know, how very special you alone, are to Him.


.

FREE WILL MEETS YOU WON'T

.
FREE WILL, listen to it's vain voice:

"I WILL ascend into heaven, I WILL exalt my throne above the stars of God. I WILL sit upon the mount of the congregation... I WILL ascend above the heights of the clouds; I WILL be like the most High." Isaiah 14:13-14

I saw that scripture rendition of Isaiah. on Roach's new paper and put it together, with some emphasis, while also adding the state of man's vanity. Elwin also succinctly writes of man's mythical free will:

"Such madness makes man's will more sacred than God Himself."

The belief in "free will" comes from the vain spirit, that is ingrained in man. Eventually, we are made to fall by God's hand, that we might recognize our vanity, along with our overwhelming futility. We come to see our true state, as being descendant from the first Adam.

"For the creation was subjected to vanity and futility, not of its own will, but by reason of Him who subjected it, in hope." Rom 8:20

Yes, FREE WILL eventually receives a vanity crushing YOU WON'T, served up as humble pie, by our creator. Oh my, I well know the taste of that bitter meal. O Lord, I indeed do!
Today, that which was once bitter has turned into pure sweetness, and rest to my soul.

When we finally recognize God's absolute sovereignty, we do find glorious rest. We also become a new creation, after the likeness and substance of the Last Adam, our Christ Jesus. Bless His Most Precious and Holy Name!

Just thought to share a new way of illustrating the frustration, that man is born into, that he might know God. The old maxim, "experience is the best teacher" rings true. We must experience the opposing natural carnal nature, with which, we are able to measure, appreciate and hold Holy, the spiritual nature of God. Following our frustration, we are relieved, as we recieve the call to share in the Divine Nature. First the natural then the spiritual (1Cor.15:46).


Jack

THE CIRCUIT OF VANITY, FUTILITY AND FRUSTRATION

.
"The creature was made subject to vanity ..... " (Rom 8:20). So of course, the creature would think himself, a free moral agent (laughing out loud).

Another translation reads, "the creature was made subject to futility." Finally, some render the verse, as "the creature was made frustrated."

So, we might say, by using all three renditions, we have the vain creature chasing his tail in futility and becoming frustrated. Thank God, He pulls us out of this maddening circuit and to Himself, where we find glorious rest in His will, the one and only will.

"Why do we suffer such?" you might ask. One reason is, that in order to measure and realize selflessness, we must know it's opposite which be vanity. The same would be instanced, with futility and omnipotence, also, frustration and rest. So it is, we first suffer, for which to know the glorious well being in God. Thank you Father, for the One, come suffer for, with, in and through us. Thank you God, for Your Christ Jesus and our Christ Jesus, Bless His Most Holy Name!

"Then I realized how bitter I had become, how pained I had been by all I had seen. I was so foolish and ignorant. I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. Yet I still belong to you; you are holding my right hand. You will keep on guiding me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do." Psalm 73:21-28

"For it is GOD who works in you both to WILL and to DO of His good pleasure" Php 2:13

Yes, it is God, who works in us and His good pleasure is always, toward Love,

Jack

.

STAND BY ME

.
Christ has stood by you and He has stood by me. He has stood with is, by us and within us from all time, suffering and rejoicing, living and dieing, as man and as God. Christ died as the first Adam, to be raised as the last Adam. He stands His ground and raises it to Heavens farthest reach. We are Christ's earth, become Christ's heaven. What a plan, what a purpose we find in our Christ as He stands.

Today, many know Christ stands by them, tomorrow they will know He stands in them, and one day they will know they stand in Him. Most importantly, all will realize before Christ stood, Christ stooped. Such is the Love, we know as Christ. All praise be, to man's Christ and to God's Christ!
.
.

THE SPARROW AT STARBUCKS

.
I am blessed to study and contemplate, what I think, some deep things of God. However, my heart is always moved by the simple testimonies, where God just shows up unexpectedly in someones life. These kinds of stories always bring to me tears of tenderness. Be blessed with your reading of this beautiful account, of His grace bestowed.
Jack


The song that silenced the cappuccino machine....

It was chilly in Manhattan but warm inside the Starbucks shop on 51st Street and Broadway, just a skip up from Times Square . Early November weather in New York City holds only the slightest hint of the bitter chill of late December and January, but it's enough to send the masses crowding indoors to vie for available space and warmth. For a musician, it's the most lucrative Starbucks location in the world, I'm told, and consequently, the tips can be substantial if you play your tunes right.

Apparently, we were striking all the right chords that night, because our basket was almost overflowing. It was a fun, low-pressure gig - I was playing keyboard and singing backup for my friend who also added rhythm with an arsenal of percussion instruments. We mostly did pop songs from the '40s to the '90s with a few original tunes thrown in. During our emotional rendition of the classic, "If You Don't Know Me by Now," I noticed a lady sitting in one of the lounge chairs across from me. She was swaying to the beat and singing along.

After the tune was over, she approached me. "I apologize for singing along on that song. Did it bother you?" she asked.

"No," I replied. "We love it when the audience joins in. Would you like to sing up front on the next selection?" To my delight, she accepted my invitation. "You choose," I said. "What are you in the mood to sing?"

"Well. ... do you know any hymns?" Hymns? This woman didn't know who she was dealing with. I cut my teeth on hymns. Before I was even born, I was going to church. I gave our guest singer a knowing look. "Name one."

"Oh, I don't know. There are so many good ones. You pick one."

"Okay," I replied. "How about 'His Eye is on the Sparrow'?"

My new friend was silent, her eyes averted. Then she fixed her eyes on mine again and said, "Yeah. Let's do that one." She slowly nodded her head, put down her purse, straightened her jacket and faced the center of the shop. With my two-bar setup, she began to sing,

"Why should I be discouraged? Why should the shadows come?"
The audience of coffee drinkers was transfixed. Even the gurgling noises of the cappuccino machine ceased as the employees stopped what they were doing to listen. The song rose to its conclusion.

"I sing because I'm happy; I sing because I'm free. For His eye is on the sparrow And I know He watches me."

When the last note was sung, the applause crescendo to a deafening roar that would have rivaled a sold-out crowd at Carnegie Hall. Embarrassed, the woman tried to shout over the din, "Oh, y'all go back to your coffee! I didn't come in here to do a concert! I just came in here to get somethin' to drink, just like you!"

But the ovation continued.. I embraced my new friend. "You, my dear, have made my whole year! That was beautiful!"

"Well, it's funny that you picked that particular hymn," she said.

"Why is that?"

"Well . .." she hesitated again, "that was my daughter's favorite song."

"Really!" I exclaimed.

"Yes," she said, and then grabbed my hands. By this time, the applause had subsided and it was business as usual.. "She was 16. She died of a brain tumor last week.."

I said the first thing that found its way through my stunned silence. "Are you going to be okay?"

She smiled through tear-filled eyes and squeezed my hands. "I'm gonna be okay. I've just got to keep trusting the Lord and singing his songs, and everything's gonna be just fine." She picked up her bag, gave me her card, and then she was gone.. Was it just a coincidence that we happened to be singing in that particular coffee shop on that particular November night? Coincidence that this wonderful lady just happened to walk into that particular shop? Coincidence that of all the hymns to choose from, I just happened to pick the very hymn that was the favorite of her daughter, who had died just the week before? I refuse to believe it. God has been arranging encounters in human history since the beginning of time, and it's no stretch for me to imagine that he could reach into a coffee shop in midtown Manhattan and turn an ordinary gig into a revival. It was a great reminder that if we keep trusting him and singing his songs, everything's gonna be okay.

.