Faith Culture

I said I would write this week, so here I am. This is a continuation of last weeks blog.

I wanted to explore this notion of faith and healing because time and time again it seems like Jesus couples these two things together, especially in the book of Luke. I encourage you to read some of those stories on your own.

As I have read these things and evaluated my own life, I have seem to have come up with a few diagrams to emphasis our main point.

First we seem to have what I call "The Balanced Life" or "The New Pattern":

It all begins with hope which moves into hearing, then having faith, to finally acting. The cycle continues in everything we do as a believer. Connected to faith is where we find the development of righteous, which leads to being tested, which in return cultivates endurance. This cycle also continues as we have seen in the different seasons walking with the Lord. All of this diagram is based heavily on the book of Romans, Hebrews 11, and James 1.

On the flip side, if just one element falls out of our "Balanced Life" we get this:

This is the work of our enemy, the great adversary, the Devil. He starts off the cycle with tempting us and then, we do the rest. We rationalize or justify why we should disobey Yahweh, we then conduct the action, we feel guilty, and for too many of us then we allow Satan to bring shame.

An example of the unbalanced life-which keep in mind, can happen at any moment in the day, was when Peter denied knowing Jesus and when Judas betrayed Jesus. In Peter's case his faith was being tested, but he let fear creep its ugly head in; thus, transitioning him not into endurance but rather to sin instead. In Judas's case, he didn't let his faith develop and mature; thus, leaving him wide open for temptation from the world. Both men, both Jesus's disciples who sinned on the day He was crucified, experienced guilt. Except, Peter choose to begin again and have hope that Jesus would forgive him. Which in turn lead him to hear the words of Jesus again, which lead to faith, and so on. We thank Peter for beginning the Church. Judas, choose to allow his guilt to move into the deathtrap called shame. Judas choose to hang himself.

As you can see it is all about our choices, our daily, moment by moment choices. Yet, keep in mind the internal defines the external, not vice versa. We can choose to have hope in Jesus of Nazareth born of the virgin Mary and her husband, the carpenter, Joseph. The Jesus who thousands of years previous was foretold to come and rescue His people, the one who was God's son; yet, simply God incarnate. The one who never sinned, but died a criminal's death. The one who on the third day rose again to break the power of sin and death over mankind. The one who lives today and still echos these words "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

When we have this hope, we listen:

"...my sheep know my voice..."-John 10

When we listen, we have faith:

"...nothing will be impossible for you..."-Matthew 17

When we have faith, we act:

"...faith without deeds is dead..."-James 2:14-26

• So where are you? What does your life look like right now and why?
• What element have you taken out of "The Balanced Life" and why?
• Where is your greatest weakness? How do you get stronger?
• Are you doing this life with Jesus or alone? How is that working out for you? 

Note, it is only through doing this process with the Holy Spirit (not religion) that when you act out your faith will it produce good fruit:

love

joy

peace

forbearance

kindness

goodness

faithfulness

gentleness 

and self-control

-Galatians 5: 13-26

Can We Ever Be Well?

If I could, I would have the extraordinary superpower of miraculously healing people. Except the healing I would freely give would not be of the physical nature; no, rather it would be of the mental kind. It seems to me that healing mentally is superior to healing physically. Just ask those who suffer from phantom pain. Yet, don't just ask them. Ask those suffering from Bipolar, Depression, Eating and Social Orders. But don't stop there. Ask those you go to school with, who you work with; and heck, those whom you even eat dinner with. But most importantly, ask yourself:

"Can we ever be well?"

I would come then face to face with question. I would look it straight in the eyes, firmly grasp it in the face and say,

"No."

But I would say it in a tone like you would say to your dog who is about to grab something he shouldn't.

"No."

It would be a command, but yet said elegantly and full of vigor.

"No.

No, you pain will not last forever. You, sorrow and grief...you unforgiving heart, you tormented soul...no, you will not reside here any longer."

Then like a spell being released from my aura, I would give my nonnegotiable demand:

"You will leave this place. You will never return. Your grip on this person is no more. Your power has diminished. Your chains have been broken. And you will wonder in a wasteland like you once bound this body to."

Then to finish it up, I would breathe this incredible cool yet colorful mist over the person's head and speak my final words:

"You are free, my friend. You are free. Live and fully live. You are new today and for the rest of your days. There is no longer fear or shame, regret or hatred that ties you down or trips you up. You are no longer your addiction or disorder. You are you and that is: beautiful, handsome, precious, priceless, unforgettable, lovely, and worthy."

And just like that the people of earth would be made well, all thanks to my extraordinary superpower.

My downfall, however, would be...

Who's going to save me?

I need to tell myself that it is not selfish of me to want the same things the rest of the world wants; it's normal. And like a friend quoted to me, "It's okay, don't feel embarrassed about it. Just learn from it."

That is what life is all about isn't? Learning. Learning from our illness how to be well. But if we could, would we ask someone who had magical healing powers to just take it all away so we didn't have to fight...I mean learn so hard?  

Truth is (and I have to tell the truth as a Christian, it's one of the top commands or something), Jesus did not save you mentally. He saved you spiritually-that of which deals with the spirit. And He, as well as those who have the spiritual gift of healing, can save you physically-meaning cure blindness, leprosy, cast out demons (another spiritual gift but similar) and ect.

But don't lose hope nor faith, my brothers and sisters. 

For I have witnessed healing of those mind/the spirit. It is not an instantaneous phenomenon, rather it is an ongoing process that we have coincided with religion.

Read Luke 6:46-49 then answer the questions below

• Do you call Jesus "Lord?" Why or why not?
• If you do call Jesus "Lord", do you do the things that He says to do? Why or why not?
• If you do what Jesus's asks you to do, what is one thing that you find your self you can not do no matter how hard you have tried?
• Which foundation are you? How do you know?
• What are the "floods" and "rivers" in your life? 
• Are you constantly "rebuilding" or "redecorating?" 
• And lastly, are you well?   

I find it humorous that our English word for being "in a good or satisfactory way" is the same as "a shaft sunk into the ground to obtain water, oil, or gas." This homograph is extraordinary and implicit to our beginning scenario.

We can't breathe some colorful mist on each other and be well, but we can be well insured that our faith in Jesus will get us there. 

"Yes, my soul, find rest in God;

    my hope comes from him."

-Psalm 62:5

I hope to continue this exploration of the healing power of faith and invite you to join along with me. Please check back next week for more.

    

We Do This Together

My Jesus, my God
How fascinating you are
You never go away,
You never call me a shame.
You come effortlessly to my side
You take a hold of my hands
You whisper,
Everything will be alright.
Oh how your whispers are true!
Oh how they fill me up inside!
What could I do without you?
Where would I be without you?
You embrace me,
You cover me,
You free me,
You redeem me.
I am yours and you are mine
Together we walk
Side by side.
Every minute of every hour
My guilt tries to pull me over
I fear I have done too much,
That I have lost control.
But my story is nothing new.
When I look at you,
You never once sigh from disgruntlement.
My cup truly does run'eth over
From your presence
I truly am alive in you.
My purpose is found,
My strength is renewed.
What love has me now?
What grace revitalizes me now?
Come, come into the wake,
Out of the abyss,
Let Jesus take you now
To where you've always belonged.
I love your mercy, my King.
I love your power to save,
My Everything.
I feel it now residing in my chest,
It's like a fire
That will never be put to rest!
My demons and depression
Slip away.
Nothing can withstand the works
Of Your mouth.
Thank you Jesus.
Thank you Lord.
You see me, you hear me.
You came for me.
And together we do this,
This thing called life
Until eternity.
I can't wait to see your face.

Love

Black & White

Who Am I?

Do you ever evaluate what you need versus what you want? I don't know why, but I have been on this kick in my self-evaluation times consistently wrestling with this concept...

need

want

Maybe this came about from the fact that as American's we get more than what we need all the time and then, the consequence becomes that we start to believe that some of our wants are actual needs.

What do I mean? Well, just take a look around your room. What do you see? I see my orange tabby cat snuggled up in my Star Wars fleece blanket on top of my 1000 count yellow bed sheets. I see a variety of hair products on top of my 60's furnished dresser that has been poorly painted with glossy black paint-the poor paint job was done from me of course.

So what in those brief descriptions are/were wants? How about needs?

We rationalize and soon my answers become: well, my cat is a need because I need someone to keep me company (and listen to me talk to myself), my Star Wars blanket is a need because it keeps me warm in this freezing basement, my numerous hair products are needs because I have coarse, thick, dry hair...and so on.

How do any of these things relate to love? Well, I love those things. However, our terminology for love is so black and white, when indeed it comes in many colors. The Greeks in fact had six definitions for love:

Yet, this isn't typically listed in our needs list. Those needs instead just being "food, safety, and shelter."

Did you know that this is just an abbreviation of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs?  

 

And did you know this psychology was developed (I should say stolen) from the Native American Culture?

If "food, safety, and shelter" is an abbreviation of our needs-how far off we have become!

Makes you ponder what else are we "abbreviating" and thus, missing some key points doesn't it?

Let's check out some scripture: Ecc. 3

Staying on the topic of love, how many of you think there is a right or wrong time for "love"? Or right and wrong thing to love? Why or why not?

How does one know that "right time"? Their time? Does it come about with a specific age, after a special event, when you say you are ready, when certain stars align, when your internal clock says so? When? Why? Who? and How?

I don't know about you, but it seems like the collective thought is that after you graduate college and between the time you make that big career move, you are suppose to settle down...find that perfect person...that soul mate...and settle down. Then, only then have you reached the pinnacle of this life.

However did you take time to really read Ecclesiastes 3? Or did you shorten it like we typically do and just say: "oh that's the 'time for everything' chapter?"

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."-verse 11

Sometimes I think, "God, it's either now or never!" And God reminds me of

"...With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day..."-2 Peter 3: 8b

Then other times I think, "God, I know this is the one!" And God reminds me of

"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps."-Proverbs 16: 9

And if I do not think those thoughts, then I most certainly think, "God, you don't know what you are doing." And once again, God reminds me of

“Who is this that obscures my plans

   with words without knowledge?"-Job 38

So we demolish the physiological  rung by this simple faith:

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."-Proverbs 9:10

And the safety rung by this fact:

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."-Psalm 46:1

Do you really think you are managing this "love" thing all by yourself?

Perhaps, it is not circumstances and situations that stand in your way...but rather yourself.

I would challenge you to read my "I'm always thinking about who I'll get married to." Post

Maybe "the stars are aligned"", the timing is absolutely perfect, and God has miraculously placed in your lap the man/woman of your dreams...but you...you can't....

You can't for several reasons, but we both know that the root of that "can't" stems from a past of broken or tainted love. You didn't feel like you belonged then...and you don't feel like you belong now.

Growing up I was always afraid of my crushes...I hated for them to know how I felt...and a part of me still does. Why? Where did this originate?

...The fear of being known. The fear of being vulnerable. The fear of rejection...

It could very much have stemmed from my broken home-life.

But another thought occupies me as well and that thought being: I am not good enough.

I think about the individuals I have been attracted to either physically, emotionally, or spiritually and I think: they would look better with so and so...they need so and so...they don't want me.

My justification ironically all lie in external factors: my body isn't thin, my hair isn't straight, & my skin isn't white.

Why would they ever take notice in me? Why would they ever want to be with me? Why would they ever want to know me?

Well, you know if I have used scripture for the first two "needs" I am going to use it again. Although, I know that just quoting something doesn't change anything; rather it is you who have the power to allow it do its work.

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."-1 John 4

The verses preceding this one tells us exactly what is love...and when it came/comes.

Did you catch it?

So instead of saying what I am not, I need to start saying what I am (referring to my last blog post).

There is nothing more beautiful to me than reading the words in Song of Solomon when the expression given to one another is "my brother...my sister." Their love went deeper than just a physical touch. It was something spiritual. Dwelling in who God is, trusting what the Holy Spirit is doing, and resting in who Jesus says you are is what we all need. That person you "want" then will essentially be a reflection of that "need." But please, please do not post about having that perfect person that will complete you for eternity, because (I'm sorry, not sorry to say) that person will never come.

It all begins with taking care of yourself.

My True Face

There is nothing worse than being reminded of or being aware of the wrong you have done. There's nothing worse than having to sit in that hole of regret, shame, and self-hatred. No one likes to be told they are wrong, but more than that, no one wants to admit "I am bad."

Now, I know there is a flaw here. Like we have discussed before, the philosophy of mankind is not a matter of being good nor bad. But rather we are broken. We are capable of good and bad things; yet, those good thing will always fall short of the actual definition of "good" and those bad things will always out weigh the good.

So where is the hope?

Have you recently been reminded of your flaws, your failures, your short-comings?

I certainly have.

It's like that scene in Lion King 2: Simba's Pride where Kiara says: "You will never be Mufasa!" We, not only as Christians, but as humans, desire to be great...flawless...perfect but we never will be.

I am currently reading this book called Truefaced by Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol, & John Lynch. It's exactly what the title encapsulates-showing your true face. But it's also mainly about our "true face" being found in the identity God gives us through Jesus.

The thing about having a relationship with God, if you haven't discovered already, is that He flips everything upside down. What do I mean?

Matthew 10:39-Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my (Jesus) sake will find it.

Colossians 2:17-These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

John 14:27-Peace I (Jesus) leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Thus,

1.  We have all come to the realization that there is more to this life we currently live, but we have also discovered that "climbing the top of the success ladder" actually leads you to a deep, dark, empty pit. There then needs to be a surrender. A surrender of our expectations and our wants. It's a waving of a white flag so to speak, falling on your hands & knees everyday (sometimes every minute) crying the words "I can't do this."
2. What we really want are actual needs. And those needs are not money and fame. It is security and attention. We have all come to discover that no one (or thing) in our life will ever satisfy those needs 100% 24/7.
3.  Jesus gives you something no one (or thing) can ever take away. Not only what He gives you cover all of your needs, but His blessings are so abundant that they flow into defining our every want.

I am concluding my reading of the Gospel according to Mark and here we are again at Jesus's sacrifice. I caught myself saying either this week that "there is nothing worse than reading what Jesus did for me during a time in my life where I am so reminded of my short-comings." But the truth is, there is nothing more beautiful than reading what God did for me when I did not deserve it.

People often see me as a "goody-two-shoes." But those people are just the ones not in my inner circle. If they were, they would see a selfish, prideful, lying, sexually immoral person. I like to think that I am completely honest with people and that I don't wear a mask. But I am just like everybody else. There is nothing different about me. I am that person who in front of her friends shuns any media that incorporates sexual content, but behind closed doors reveals everything to strangers on chat websites. I am that person who is quick to correct a Christian found swearing, but here I sit in complete hate of another individual...often imagining physical abuse upon them. I am that person who encourages loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul & mind; but I am the person who struggles with re-occuring depression & painstaking loneliness.

I have hurt so many people...even in those instances that I thought I was only hurting myself. And often times, Jesus becomes just another person in the sea of faces of disappointment. 

Romans 5:8-But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

If you're anything like me, too many times I rest on that last part and not the full sentence. I see myself as a "sinner" rather than "loved." 

In the book Truefaced, they make an emphasis on the fact that we as Believers are not "sinners saved by grace" but rather "saints who sometimes sin." 

How can this be? How can a saint sin? 

Well, it goes back to our misinterpretation of the word saint. Read Ephesians 2:1-10 

Galatians 3:26-27-So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

I was challenged by someone to say those negative things about myself out loud and pretend I am saying it to someone I deeply love. The goal was/is to come to the realization that you are your own worse critic and that if you would never say those words to another, you shouldn't to yourself. 

This may work with some people, but not for me. 

We did this activity in church a few weeks ago where we wrote down all those negative comments we or others say about us and throw them in the trash where they were eventually burned. We then picked up a card that said our "true identities" as per written in the New Testament. This activity was nothing new to me, but still impactful none the less. 

But why is it that here I am again battling to not cut myself over the guilt I have over who I am? 

You might not cut yourself, but maybe drinking is your go to to "feel better" or "forget."

2 Corinthians 7:10-Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

"That's why Jesus came...because of that...Don't hate yourself because you are a mess without Him. There is nothing that you can do about that. Just embrace that you have His grace, love and mercy." -my beloved friend, Brittany Jordan.

Click and listen to Jon Foreman 's "Your Love is Strong" and spend some time in your Father's presence. 

      

Pouring It Like Salt

Theological Definitions & Explanations for Us Simple Folks

• God=Author, Creator of everything, Designer, (Hebrew:) Yahwey, "Father", God of Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob; Spirit, neither male nor female, begotten not made, The Beginning & the End/(Greek): Alpha & Omega, Good, Perfect, One
• Jesus=Son of virgin Mary & her husband David, born by the Holy Spirit, "God's son", the Word, the Light, The Way, Truth, & the Life, fully-God & fully man (hyper-static-union), perfect, Teacher, Healer, bore the whole world's sin died (crucified) and came back to life on the third day (resurrected), is coming again to judge the living and the dead
• Holy Spirit=God's breath, portrayed as a fire or wind, lives inside Believer's, instructs, guides, reminds us of scripture, is our seal/guarantee of God's promise for heaven, will never leave nor forsake us
• Believer=an individual who has chosen to have faith in who Jesus as in relation to the Holy Trinity and what He did on the cross
• Holy Trinity=Father (God), Son, & Holy Spirit. Three in one. All different in the matter of functions, but same.
• Crucifixion= an ancient Roman tactic for criminals, where a person is stripped and nailed to a wooden cross in a public area left to die
• Resurrection=raising back to life after death. Jesus did this after three days just like He prophesied. This defeated the power of Satan and death. Everyone will receive a resurrection during the End Times.
• Prophesy=a promise, a fore-telling of what is to come. This has to be true 100% of the time. The coming of a Messiah for the Jewish Community was fore-told hundreds of years before Jesus came and Jesus fulfilled everyone of those "qualifications." Jews who believe this Gospel are called "Messianic Jews" because they believe the Messiah has already come (Jesus).
• End Times=end of the world/everything, details found in Isaiah, Daniel, Revelation and other books in the Bible, entails a rapture of God's people (followers of Jesus), seven years of tribulation ("hell" on earth), restoration of everything-a new heaven & earth, God reigns among His people
• Rapture=where at a time only the Father knows, Jesus will come and take His followers in a blink of an eye to heaven
• Jew=a born Hebrew (an ethnicity) or convert into this culture that follows the Judaism religion. God's "chosen people" before Jesus came and "tore the dividing wall" between Jews and Gentiles. Jesus was a Jew, born in Nazareth (Jesus was not Caucasian, with blue eyes and long brown flowing hair)
• Gentiles=everyone not a Jew
• Baptism=a submersion in water that symbolizes this individual has been "barred with Christ & born again". This comes after an individual has accepted Jesus as their personally Lord & Savior (thus, not when they are an infant). This does not save you nor forgives your sins.
• Confession=the telling of your sins. Catholics have "confessionals" where individuals sit in a booth with a divider and you confess to the priest your sins. The priest then tells you are forgiven after you do/say a specific mantra. But only Jesus can forgive sins & only Jesus is needed to access the Father. God knows everything about you already, no need to feel shame.
• Shame=feeling that something is wrong with who you are
• Guilt=feeling bad for what you did
• Prayer=talking with God. Consisting of admiration, confession, requests and praises. There is no wrong way to pray. You talk & you listen. There are no special words to say, but typically began with "Dear God or Father" and "in Jesus name, Amen"
• Amen="Let it be so"/ "it is most certainly true" 
• Devotions=a "quite" time with mediating on God's Word, prayer, or singing songs, basically you separate yourself/set aside a time to just be in God's presence, encouraged to carried out everyday, not a command but our hearts need it
• Salvation Prayer=that initial prayer you say confessing you are a sinner that needs Jesus and you accept who Jesus is/what He has done for you into you "heart". 
• Saint=a doer of God's will, we are all saints as followers of Jesus and it's all because of Jesus 
• Baby Dedication=something some church's do in which the parent/guardian of a newly born baby will stand in front of the congregation and announce the will raise this baby in the Christian faith 
• Denominations=different sects (sections) /branches in the Christian faith, all really break-offs from Catholicism & Protestantisms
• Christian=someone who believes & follows Jesus, is a "little Christ"; this name was given to the early Church by outsiders-before Believers just said they were "followers of the Way"; Catholics are Christians, but not every Christian is Catholic.    
• Christ=not Jesus's last name. Means "anointed one"
• Messiah=leader
• Yahwey=the most holy name of God. "I AM the I AM" said by God Himself to Moses. YHWH is Hebrew and the correct pronunciation is unknown due to not suppose to be spoken
• Church=(capitalized) is the body of believers in Christ Jesus. We are one family.
• church=(lower case) denotes the building we as Believer's attend for weekly services. Note the first church began in the book of Acts in the New Testament
• Scripture=the Word of God in the Holy Bible. The Holy Bible is the complete and only true word of God. It doesn't matter what translation you have; as long as you understand the main points. 
• The Holy Bible=a book of sixty-six books written by different prophets and followers of God with all the words inspired by God's Spirit thus it has the power to change hearts; constructed in the the form we now see it by some old guys years ago at this important conference thing...It is separated in two parts-the Old Testament and the New Testament.
• Testament=means promise. The Old Testament is about the old promise or covenants made with Abraham and Moses. Jews use this. Christians add the story of Jesus found in the letters of the New Testament. The new promise is found in the Gospel.
• The Gospel="The Good News". God sent His son, Jesus, to die for our sins that whoever believes in Him will be forgiven and have eternal life; there is only one Gospel and it comes from the accounts of four different men: Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John
• Forgiven=(in God's view) only in/through Jesus are we viewed as clean, perfect & holy. God made the records straight between us & Him. He remembers our sin no more.
• Sin=missing the mark (an archery term), we all have fallen short of the commandments God set
• Commandments=more commonly known as the Ten Commandments, although there are hundreds of commands in the Old Testament. The Ten Commandments were the first and most sacred rules given from God to His chosen people-the Jews. However, this law is something that is "written on" everyone's heart. Thus, common sense. These laws though were only to show that we could never fill the gap between God and ourselves.
• Holy=set apart for God's use
• Sanctified= made clean
• Justified= made right 
• Redeemed=brought near
• Born Again=this is a spiritual awakening within the individual, a term used for when they accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior
• Lord=commander
• Savior=someone who rescues another from something
• Salvation=being rescued from something. Jesus saved us from the power of sin/ourselves
• Satan/The Devil=a fallen angel who is condemned to roam the earth until he is thrown into hell, temptor ,accusor, evil,deceiver, was the most beautiful angel but wanted to be higher than God
• Hell=where a soul of a person goes who has not chosen to believe and follow Jesus Christ, an eternity of torture, a place without God, burning fire, extreme pain and sorrow, a person choices this-God does not sentence you there nor is Satan the ruler of Hell
• Soul/Spirit="heart/mind" of a person, the unseen nature of an individual that lives forever, broken because of sin, made whole when untied with God
• Heaven=a place with God, where God dwells, for those who believe and follow Jesus, Jesus said he was preparing a place for us there, "mansions", "new bodies", & "new names", beautiful, glorious 
• Monotheism=believe in one God; Christianity is a monotheist religion
• Religion=a set of believes that constitute a specific tradition/way of life/culture, full of rules and regulations, is "cold", is man's attempt to make things right with God...Christians believe it is about a relationship not a religion 
• Grace=undeserving, unearned, never-ending, unconditional love given by the Father through Jesus to all of us
• Mercy=not giving you what you deserve, letting go of your punishment; the punishment for our sins was hell but Jesus redeemed us
• Love=(capital) God
• Trust=to lean into
• Worship=most commonly viewed as the service at a church that entails singing and teachings; it is a life-style/an everyday way of giving everything about you to God
• Praise=the songs you sing during worship
• Condemnation=a sentencing. God does not condemn us because He sees us through Jesus, but the Holy Spirit does convict us
• Convict=to make known that something is not right (we've all felt that feeling)
• Hallowed=Holy  
• Communion=a coming together to do a specific activity, in the church we have "Holy Communion" where the tradition goes back to the Jews exodus from Egypt. Jesus, however, in the New Testament said that the unleavened bread and wine were symbolic of his body and blood being broken/poured for all of man kind (talking about his crucifixion)-so we participate in this activity to remember/reflect                   

Halloween Shananagins

Halloween has always been a wishy-washy topic among Christians and their denominations. I am not exempt from that. However, we're talking about free candy here sooo there's that.

It is no doubt that Halloween has certainly transformed over the years. Nor is it a question that there are a lot of lies that come along with it...imagine that Hollywood lying to the public to get a quick buck?!

I don't typically watch scary movies anymore because they give me nightmares, but with this season of warm apple cider, colorful leaves, hoodies and scarfs-a horror film has to be thrown in there some where!...I know that sequence of things don't make sense, but when in life do we, as humans, ever make sense?

Tonight I watched The Possession (2012) and like most of the demon possession/exorcism  movies I've watched, they got it wrong. Terribly wrong.

Now, when I say this I am not saying it in the: "I know everything & I am absolutely right, you should listen me and only me" kind of way. What I am saying is this: read your bible. -implying the fact that most Americans own 1-3 Holy Bibles and only 20% (if that) actually reads them. 

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life...even in matters such like this. Jesus is a radical dude, you should check him out in the gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Jesus dealt with a lot of demon possession-Mark 5:1-20, Luke 8:1-3, Mark 1: 21-34
 just to name a couple of instances.

So what are the characteristics of a demon possession? First let us define "demon." A "demon" or evil-spirit is none other than the 1/3rd of the heavenly angels that were given free-will and decided to rebel along with Satan. They were all thrown down to the earth until the appointed time of their destruction. Isaiah 14:12-15 Revelation 12    

From watching my video you will also learn that these fallen angels do not look like The Grudge (2004). But neither do angels necessarily look like that thing we put on top of our trees. Have you ever noticed that the first thing out of angels mouths were: "Do not be afraid; do not not fear!" Hmmm I wonder why? Ezekiel 10

So now we are to the "possession" part. This is were we, Christians included, have really messed things up. Personally however, I do think there is some connection between our physical/mental aliments to a spiritual warfare...this does not mean that a runny nose equals a demon running through your body.

Possession, from what we see in scripture, is more than this little symptom. Rather, it is something that is very detrimental to the individual, to their friends, family, community, and relationship with God. The demon, again through the stories we read in scripture, can be violent, loud and harmful. Yet, note they all know who Jesus is. James 2:19

And thus, is our answer in conducting an "exorcism"=knowing who Jesus is. Mark 3:10- 34

Some priest, Jewish guy, or preacher with a shady past will not be your answer here. Nor will burning incense or a special number of candles, holding a crucifix and a Bible. No "holy" water nor "holy" oil. None of things are needed. Only Jesus is needed and your faith in Him. 

Check out this one time that the disciples tried healing someone Matthew 17:14-20.

What happened? What did Jesus say? What did He do?

Did this mean that His disciples were unable or unfit to combat the spiritual warfare? No, not at all. In fact fighting these things were/are encouraged: Ephesians 6:10-20

Their issue was a matter of faith...but note not the faith in themselves, but faith in who Jesus was in relation to them and others.  And what does God say about our faith? Read Matthew 17: 20 again.

Does this mean that when we don't get the results we wanted that our faith wasn't strong enough? No. We must remember that we do not see the bigger picture like the Author and our ways are not God's ways. God's thoughts are higher than ours. I know this sounds a lot like "oh it's God's will for this to happen"...but many people have perverted this concept as well. It is not God's will for your kid to have cancer or your husband to have died in that horrible accident. No, not one bit does God take delight in pain and suffering. That is Satan. He hates everyone.

But getting back on topic & concluding our matters-What does everything we have discussed tell us then?

1. Satan is real and active
2. Demons are fallen angels and angels look nothing like we imagine they do
3. Angels & fallen angels can be found anywhere Hebrews 13:2 (did you see the first story of exorcism took place in a synagogue?!)  
4. They can take over a human body and animal bodies 
5. Jesus is more powerful than Satan's dominion
6. Faith (relationship with Jesus) is all that is needed to overcome a possession
7. This faith can come from anyone who is in the demon's presence
8. Demon's have names (Do you know the only two angel's names listed the Bible?=Michael & Gabriel)
9. Satan/demons know God as well as yourself
10. That means, know your stuff girlfriend!
11. Thankfully, as Believers the one who is in us (The Holy Spirit) is greater than the one who is this world (Satan)  

If I Do Not, the Rocks Will

Scripture says that if I do not sing out, praise, shout for worship to the Creator of everything that the rocks will begin to instead!

Well, I am praising our God today and everyday! For what a marvelous God we have! Yes! Our God!

For as David Crowder, a well-known Christian artist, sings: "God is near to each one of us!"

Oh and how our God loves! Yes! How our Designer loves each one of us! Do you not know, have you not heard, or seen?!

In the beginning God created. God created everything; and everything was good.

That included you & I.

Free will is good.

Free will lead to us using our own minds, our own personalities, our own talents, our own imagination...and this pleased God.

We are created in our Designer's image.

Our free will also lead to us deciding to follow God's will or not. It was and is always a choice. Let no one tell you different!

God's will was laid through commandments that showed us exactly how perfect God was....and how we could never be.

However, this was not to shame us. This was a revelation! Something that should never be forgotten.

But God wanted more than your acknowledgment, God wanted/wants your heart. Why? So you're a captive? No. Because God knows your a captive to this world of creation that never satisfies.

So, God came down. He walked, breathed, & lived among us. His name was Immanuel. Jesus.

Jesus, perfect yet fully man, took all of the world's sins to make us right with the Father.

How good is our God?! Our Savior?!

He does not say sinner or wretch or condemned. He says saint and lover and friend.

His grace sets you free. You are free.

Don't you by pass this truth today or any day. You are God's.

Discover who Jesus really was in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

God does not lie. God keeps the promises made. That includes never leaving or forsaking you. No matter what. No matter where you are.

Oh! Isn't this joyous and exhilarating!

I can't keep from singing! From dancing! From weeping with pure joy! That through Jesus I am forgiven.

Say it with me now: I am forgiven.

I am forgiven. And God loves me.

Ask for God to prove this to you today, this minute.

Seek & knock and the door shall be open.

God never fails.

Yesterday, today, tomorrow...God is the same.

Yahwey.

What a lovely name. The name above all names, my brothers & sisters!

Backseat Driver

Dramatic, much laughs
Wrestling with making turns
Passions never stop

Youth, you bring much youth
Teaching others without words
Jesus guides you now

Left or right decides
Giving up the wheel is rough
Who's ready for love?

Unknowingly stop,
In this rain & fog we're caught
Yet connected, yes.

Languages are not
But a concept of burdens
Yet a solid prize

You're eyes reveal all
Brightest blue like all oceans
Swimming in great songs

Roads are high & low
Blazing cross-country we know
Friendships will not die

Time is awaiting
You & I are a drive-by
Can we make it pause?

Longing to know this
Making something out of clay
Or is it too late?

Feet on gas pedals
Rubbing on a new highway
Warn me about risks

Stop & mediate
Repeats are forbidden, friend
Want & need more time

A bend comes around
Leaving you to make a move
Images will fade

Grace outlasts stories
Everyday in His presence
Note that this will work

Self-Reflections

Black & White

Who Are We?

Some would think that this would be my easiest semester since it is my last. However, moving into the second week of studies it is proving to be my hardest. Not academically...rather psychologically. All of my classes involve interactions with different cultures, ethnics, religions, philosophies,-people. (Cough, cough says the introverted biracial mid-twenties girl living in America)

Being a Christian, I solely believe that we are supposed to be all inclusive. But what does that look like in my daily life? I am finding that despite my grasp on what some would say "my religion,” that rather the small town in Illinois that I grew up in has more influence on me than I would like to admit. I am undeniably learning how to be humble in ways I did not think where necessary. A.K.A: this is Samantha waking up to the world of Social Work.

It seems like every little thing I do or say can/could be offense to someone. Should I be afraid of this? Why or why not? Doesn't the Bible teach that we should not live to please man (Gal. 1, emp. vrs 10.)But where does God's grace fit in? Doesn't He desire everyone to know Him- Jesus? (2 Peter 3, emp vrs 9) But then where does love...true love that comes with discipline/correction...come in? (Hebrews 12). I am not just facing this conundrum as a student going to a commuter university downtown Denver, but as someone who desires to work in the missionary field…i.e India.

Does anyone have the right ways? The right steps? The right theories and approaches? Is it always just “black & white?” Or it is mainly always “the middle ground?” How does one effectively not just live in “peace”, but minister to someone who is 100% different than themselves and not take away from that other party but respectively add to the other person’s way of life?

Speaking of “black & white”…I have never really spoken of this much but this too may soon change. For those who do not know me I am both black and white. I guess I could say “African-American” and “Caucasian.” Yet, all I really know is the “white” side of life. I have a black father. But for those who also do not know, I have never met my biological father. I have had one man in my life who has been there since day one. I now call him Dad. He is African-American. Despite this inclusion, I do not know…truly know my roots. Thus, I was the “black” kid in my family. I often forget that I am “of color”…but these last few years of living in Denver with an African-American elderly woman, I have been more aware of exactly who I am.

There were times when I was just a child I wished/prayed I was white so I would fit in more, sure…I have always hated my afro-frizzy hair, yes. But as much as tried to fit in with everybody, it seemed that I most excluded from the “black” kids. Even this summer when I did an internship in Raleigh, NC my coworkers (all black or Hispanic) referred to me as “the light-skinned girl.” I have come to understand that this “middle-ground” battle is nothing new for people like me.

Will this tension ever dissolve? Both internally and spiritually? I don’t know. Just like the question that we debated in my Community Change class yesterday, is collaboration the ultimate answer/solution to everything. I don’t know.

… 

The Divinity of Jesus part 2

God's Will is Not Perfect....

Please turn or click to  Mark 1 and grab a sheet of paper. 

• What characteristics do you see from Jesus right off the bat (immediately)?

This is what I saw: Jesus preaching. Jesus healing.  Then, Jesus proceeded to preach and...Jesus continued to heal. Lastly, Jesus preached and...surprise, surprise He did some more healing. 

Can we take a split second

to recognize that the "first exorcism"

took place in a synagogue (Jewish temple).

Although the focus of this post is going to primarily be pertaining to verses 40-45, I want us to keep in mind the setting and posture of Jesus here.

This passage and passages similar to it has always puzzled me. This whole scenario of Jesus warning/advising people He has healed to not tell others. Isn't this contrary to what we "church folks" have been taught? If you are re-reading the Gospels with me or perhaps reading them for the first time and following this blog, didn't we just read in Matthew 10: 27 that Jesus wanted us to proclaim what He has done from the rooftops?!

However, we see a different command from Jesus here. But, like other things in the Holy Bible we must remember that this was a circumstantial command. 

I use The Apologetics Study Bible and they note this for verse 44: 

"If Jesus was the Messiah, why did He not allow

the man with the skin disease to spread the news

about Him? Jesus did not want His program

co-opted  by others (see John 6:15, 7:3-6). He would

reveal Himself on His own terms when

the time was right..."

Does anyone else find it interesting that Jesus has wants? Maybe let me ask you this question after you read Mark 2.

• What characteristic(s) do you see in Jesus now?

I'll let you know what I immediately saw was: mind-reader! (vrs 8) 

Later on we also see Jesus having the capability to know the future in some sense.

So let me point out my previous statement again in light of this new information about Jesus-Jesus has wants. 

How is it possible/conceivable that someone with the intuition and fore-knowledge like Jesus would have wants?

Jesus wanted this man that He just healed to not tell anyone about what happened. Why? Well, as mentioned above it is believed that Jesus basically wanted His ministry to be unhindered. Meaning, He wanted everything to happen in its proper time. He wanted to get the most uninterrupted time with the people. He wanted His preaching to be open, accepted and declared from the rooftops. However, Jesus knew that this could not happen when more and more news of his radical actions reached not just the masses, but the religious leaders. Could His ministry have lasted longer than just three years if the people he healed and told not to tell anyone actually did not tell anyone???

This all made me question God's will. God knew before time began what was going to happen. He holds all things in His hands; nothing is out of His will. 

And yet, I  am puzzled by why He would still have wants. Why tell people not do something when you already know what they are going to do?

I was instantly reminded of Romans 12: 1-2. 

"...His good, pleasing and perfect will."

Jesus wanted something done a certain way. Why? Because it would have been easier for both Him and mankind? Is this what makes His plan/will perfect? When things are easy?

Well, according to the Google dictionary Perfect means:

being free or as free as possible from

all flaws/defects

God's will still happened although this man (and many of us) disobey His commands. But, was/is His will made perfect in that flaw/defect of sin?

I would say no. But this is just a theory. 

I knew I blow some minds by saying "God's Will is Not Perfect" as my subtitle. I left the statement open-ended on purpose though. For the first part in Romans 12 give us our conclusion. 

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

You see I don't think that God's wants and God's will is the same thing. God's will happens regardless of His wants (desire to posses or do something). As the lady I live with commented, "It is six of one, half dozen of another" when it comes to either us choosing the easy or hard road in regards to God's will. But God's wants seems to say, "it's my way or the highway." The highway is not His want for you, but He will accomplish what He set out to do regardless. Just like how Jesus's end goal was to still die on the cross for our sins. The path getting there just may have looked differently if we obeyed  along the way...then again...I guess if we obeyed everything, we wouldn't have needed to Jesus to die for our sins...and thus, this is where some philosophers/"Christians" get into the conundrum of saying everything happens for a reason.

I don't know if I agree..

• Does everything happen for a reason?  

All in all we must ask, what does God want?

Now that ladies and gents is the real age ol' question...not "what is God's will?".

I can not proceed without questioning my new theory. Is saying that God's will is not made perfect unless it is in correspondence with our obedience actual Truth? How can a flaw (a sinful being) ever be put together/ be a part of flawlessness (God)?

The answer is simple. And it is all in the name of this "series". Jesus.

It is important to remember that God does not need me. 

But God wants me. Big difference.

How can a Perfect Being (because He not only wills/wants perfection, but He is perfection) allow imperfection? This answer is a little bit more complicated. For the major flaw is not/would not have been the sin...stay with me now...the major flaw would have been creating humans with robotic love towards Himself.

He has wants and thus, He instilled in us to have wants. For we are His image-bearers says Genesis. However, those wants we have are thought to be satisfied by another other than God. This is where sin enters the picture. 

So again, God sees the bigger picture-a genuine and intimate relationship with Himself and His creations.

• What do you think? Am I boxing God in by saying His will is not perfect unless it is in addition to our obedience/love?
• Can we really limit God?
• Can we change God's plans? If yes, how?

I want to say yes and no based off other stories we read in the Bible. Don't get me wrong, I believe God's wants of perfection are reached regards if the path is straight or curvy/upside down/backwards/bent/ or broken (like our selves). It is that one road incorporates just His sovereignty, while the other adds in grace.

Like I said, the answer is always Jesus.

Click & listen to Robert Frost's "The Road Less Taken"