cyber-life

Mere observation here. Logging into the current, status quo, social forum, myself, this morning... I saw an interesting post. Three simple words ....but they spoke volumes. Granted, a few of those volumes probably added by my own intuitiveness.

My friend had simply posted.... "Good morning facebook."

My mind "instantly" raced back to a movie I watched as a child.... "2001: A Space Oddyssey". This was a 1968 film. Just imagine.... in 1968, the year 2001 seemed significantly "futuristic". Well, 2001 sure changed our future. No denying that.

In this movie, an "intelligent computer", named HAL, is a key character; a character with tone in its voice, and nearly emotional. All I can really recall is the human character saying.... "Good morning HAL." ...as if this intelligent computer was able to comprehend the nearly ambiguous, certainly subjective, phrase of "Good morning".

No question ...my friend's posting was targeted to humans. In this case.... humans we refer to as "facebook". :) Astonishing! I can allllllmost see HAL. Just a short leap to waking up in the morning, walking into a central-room (probably the kitchen) and saying... "Good morning computer."

How "far" we seem to have come. A lunch-time talk show, today, was discussing how there are 10th-grade high-school students (..examples given..) who canNOT "sign" their names!! Many schools do not even offer / mandate a course in "cursive handwriting" any longer. It's seen as ill-efficient ...and just rather pointless. Why?? The younger you look in our generation ....the more that individuals main form of textualization comes in, just that, the form of "txt" .....as in "txt messaging". Astounding again!!

Technology is great!! I'm right in the middle of it all. I enjoy it. I benefit from it. But when a generation grows up whose skills do not include the "discipline" or hand-writing .....what a strange, strange world it will be.

End Blog!

Is "following your heart" trustworthy??

"...then hear from heaven your dwelling place and forgive and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways, for you, you only, know the hearts of the children of mankind," -2 Chronicles 6:30

Ever get confused about "trusting your heart"? I can think of several occasions where "following my heart" seemed to lead to a right decision ...and to little surprise, because "I just knew"! Lots of outside factors, too, likely constituted this confidence. On the other hand, I can think of at least as many instances where following that same heart, will, gut instinct ...was just flat wrong! It makes me doubt, and second-guess many times. What do I trust? How does one know "the right thing". Is "conscience", or "heart" a trustworthy guide? God, Himself, gave us this intangible we call "heart" ...or conscience. His words even indicate that it can be untrustworthy (Jeremiah 17:9).

So, what is the plumb-line for truth and right-ness? And just how much should I, or should I NOT, trust my own judgment? Here's the "really" good news. God "knows" your heart already! He knows the good intentions, and He knows the evil intentions ...and both are present! Yet God doesn't hold this error against us ...at least not without a way out!

If you read 2 Chronicles 6 you'll get a picture of King Solomon, son of former King David, and him pouring his "heart" out to God. Recognize some significant things.....

1. He built a temple for the Lord
2. He recognized that no earthly dwelling could contain Him!
3. Solomon's heart, in this instance, was in the right place

Solomon's love for the Lord was key. The temple, though impressive and honorable to the Lord, would have been mere stone and mortar (...well, a few other valuables...) were it not for a heart that desired to please God.

Your heart, and mine, are no different. Fallible, untrustworthy, and inconsistent. Yet ...it's a heart that God knows, even more than we know ourselves. We are to chase righteousness, and in everything we do! But when we make a "wrong" decision ....it is unnecessary, in fact... fruitless, to beat ourselves up. God knows that heart, and know it will make mistakes. He can use that same heart for His glory.

What's the key? The guide we trust! Remember the question posed above... "What do I trust? How does one know "the right thing".? If our own conscience is the leading, or only, guide ...things will end catastrophically. We're just too inconsistent (Jeremiah 17:9). If we trust His will, His way, His words ....then we can be confident that the end is not catastrophic! He doesn't promise a perfectly smooth road as we seek that. That's completely "beside the real point". But there is a "right way" and a "wrong way". His way is righteous. His way... is right. Place your trust in Jesus, as revealed in the Scriptures. Trust that those Scriptures are not only a guide, but God's very words intended for us to read, obey, believe, and trust. I won't promise a smooth life ....but His word promises something even greater.

Let's Start From The Beginning

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete." -1 John 1:1-4

It is simply fruitless, and pointless, to deny.... "Jesus, the man". Men and women (..whether follower or hater..) saw him and touched him ...and heard him. The rub comes when we begin to speak of the deity of Jesus Christ. This is where "Christianity" makes its stand, and where it, daily, takes it stand. No easy-believ-ism. No fashioning and customizing "God" to meet our own needs, at our own whims. This "Jesus" said "I am the way, and the truth, and the life...!

Tell me.... when did history last record a sin-less man? When, in all of history, was man's own, and admitted, frailty not exposed, sooner or later, ...resulting in the absolute, and known, reality that we "all have sinned, and fallen short of God's glory." Not only were His sins not recorded, because He knew no sin, but His "deity" was recorded in the miracles He performed, and the sword by which He spoke.

This "man" would had to have been the most prolific charlatan in His personal knowledge of the God of the Scriptures. He would had to have been the craftiest of magicians "ever" ....in a culture and time where no camera trickery or special effects apply ...demanding a slight-of-hand modern illusionists could only dream of. A calculated and schizophrenic mastery ....only to end it all in a suicidal sacrifice no one before, or since, has been willing to make.

"Liar, lunatic, or Lord" ...is right! My friend... I firmly believe, being as flatly honest with myself as I know to be, that it truly does require more faith to believe otherwise ...than to believe in Him; Jesus, the Christ. The God-man, who crafted the universe "manifest" Himself for the sake of His own creation ...whom He loves. Yes, a demanding, righteous God! No distant God-head-only belief will suffice. "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." (John 3:18) Yet, His grace demonstrates that this demanding "belief" is enacted by a simple "act" of faith.

Our trust is either in the Christ of the Scriptures, the witnessed. heard, touched, and followed Jesus ...or our trust is in a god whom we have crafted on our own, or in our own image. "Choose this day, whom you will serve.

"As we think about personal bible study, we shouldn't view it as another intellectual excercise lke the study of math, science, history, or anything else that interests us. When studying these disciplines the mind is engaged, but not the heart. God wants us to increase our knowledge of His word with our minds, but He also intends for the power of His Word to affect our hearts and that our lives will be changed to become more like Christ's.

Concern for a change of life was expressed by the Lord Jesus for His disciples when He prayed "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth." (John 17:17)"

From "How To Study The Bible", published by Barbour Publshing Inc. Used by permission.

For Your Good

“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good?" -Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (ESV)

I've often heard the question asked... "If God loves us so much, why doesn't he just save us from ourselves? Why does he allow us to get into situations that he sees as sinful?" Good questions. And I believe a good answer is to look, in His Word, how many times He "has" provided a way for us to flee from sin; to chase after righteousness. The "freed" Israelites were a "stubborn people". Like us today, their present troubles caused them to forget all about their former enslavement. They crafted other "gods" ...themselves as one!

What if we stop blaming God for our own mistakes, trespasses, and sins against Him and others? Just take responsibility for our own actions ....and then seek His forgiveness, through sincere repentance? Or are we just too proud (stubborn) to do that?

Trust in God's plan and obey what He says. He commands it! Let's live our lives for His glory ...and our benefit! Besides ...don't miss what He said. It is "for your good".

The Sins of We Fathers

“The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. And he said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.” -Exodus 34:6-9 (ESV)

Why would sins affect children and grand-children? Why "wouldn't" our sins affect generations to come? "...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8 ESV)

Oh fathers and mothers ....may we all "bow our heads and worship"; asking the Lord's forgiveness, praying.... Lord, God please leave my sins with "me" and behind me. May my sons not bear the trespass, the sins of their father.

May my sons surrender to Your gracefulness, rendered through Your Son.... You who "..as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us."

Please Don't Shoot The Messenger

"Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” -Exodus 17:2 (ESV)

Ever been "desperate"? Whether backed into a corner by someone, or some situation, people will generally defend themselves. Maybe it's the animal instict, or maybe it's our sin-nature. And not only defend ourselves ...but we'll shift the blame to whoever is closest and most obvious.

In the Exodus story... Moses is called, by God, to lead His people from the bondage of Egyption slavery to a land, flowing with milk and honey, promised by God Himself. Clearly, God never promised it would be a simple walk in the park... to get there ..and it wasn't. In desperation the people began to quarrel with Moses ..but they were really quarreling with God. Moses was simply carrying out, reluctantly to begin, the task God had placed before him.

I think this devotional is speaking directly to the Christian; because with anything else in life, maybe the fault is our own. Maybe we are persuading others according to our own desires, will, and even best intentions. Maybe we are to be blamed. At the very least ...we must take responsibility when leading anyone."Taking shots" is just the nature of the beast. But if you are a Christ-follower, and have felt the burden of giving a defense for that which you believe ...take heart, the battle belongs to the Lord.

Don't take every argument / quarrel involving you ....as being specifically targeted "against" you; ....concerning "spiritual things". You and I don't spin the planets and make eternal decisions. Like Moses ....we are called to be a deliverer, a messenger. While that places us as the first, and most obvious, warm body for arows to be launched ....it doesn't make the battle any more our own. Why would we even be surprised if someone quarrels with us about eternal things?? We should thank God for those quarrels ...that folks have enough eternal fore-thought to want to argue it!! This is far better than blind, dumb, indifference.

Deliever the Good News! Do so with a conviction, which you would have / should have wrestled on your own, or are maybe still wrestling ....resulting in a "faith" that can walk a mile in a doubter's shoes! While we need to, must be able to, give an evidence for our own faith ...we also must realize that, at the end of the day, it boils down to just that ..."faith". "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him." (John 6:44 ESV) ...was Jesus' own statement. Our responsibility lies in simply being "faithful" ..in doing that which God has called every Believer. If you have an argument beyond that ...you might help a non-believer wrestle, but you will ultimately defer them to Source.

Do You Have To Be Right All The Time?

I recall being asked this question a few times over my years ...and the answer has, historically, been .....YES!! At least, I want to be right as often as I can. As I grow older, however, I am learning that I don't have to have my hand in "everything". I do not have to be on top of every detail, or in control of every situation. I haven't yet "arrived" ...but it's all about the journey, right?? This requires some degree (lesser or greater, depending on the situation) of "trust" ...faith.

Besides that, isn't it selfish, on my part, to not let go? What if someone else needs to learn something? What if someone else just might do a better job than I? "Let go, and let God" would apply here.

"And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness." -Genesis 15:6

Abraham, as he reasoned with God, saw that he was child-less; no "family" heir to his household. But God surprised Abraham. He told him to try and number the stars. If he could, this would be the number of Abraham's offspring. What was Abraham's response to God's promise?? "...he believed the LORD..". The Scriptures say that "..He [God] counted it to him as righteousness." Abraham had no control over his situation, but was completely dependent upon God's provision. He didn't have to be "right" ...but his faith made him righteous.

Growing older, I've taken on a new perspective. I'd rather be made right, than to be right!! The LORD, God is in charge. He is the One who is right. We are to trust, in Him, for righteousness.

My Own Way

"This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:5-10 ESV)

Whose standard, of life and living, do you live by? Is it "your" own standard? Is it someone else's standard? I know some who say they simply cannot trust a God whom they cannot see; who won't manifest Himself, physically, to them. I know those who will not trust a God who allows man to make his own choices (this usually refers to the bad choices. We're ok on our own for the rest.). In one form or another this usually equates to "....I'll follow my own path, my own standard, and way of living."

Everyone serves someone. None of us are an island unto ourselves. All of us follow someone's teaching or someone's standard. When we go to work, or school, each day ...we follow another's teaching, another's standard, and those standards, directly or indirectly, influence our lives. We follow them, humbly, because "we gotta' do what we gotta' do." The question of "who's teaching" we follow is probably more in relation to our own personal needs, at a given time in our lives, than it is relative to what we believe.

There was a time, even as a "stated" follower of Christ, that I really followed what suited me, and my present situation at that time. My decisions felt "right" to me. They even felt justified. Yet, I could not align those decisions with God's word ...which I claimed to believe. I had a decision to make ....which I would follow; my will (which is influenced by the world's will) or His will as, made clear in His word (..and after regaining clarity..) in my own heart.

Though I consider myself a slave to Christ, a bond-servant as the Apostle Paul put it, my choice to follow Christ was left completely at my doing. Joshua 24:15 says it best..... "And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Yet I could not choose Him merely because I wanted to ...but because He first presented Himself to me. "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day."(John 6:44 ESV)

Finding one's way "in this life-time" is one thing. Most of us have a cafeteria-plan of choices in front of us; even the most resource-poor among us. We can argue that we pulled ourselves up by our own boot-straps, but few would argue..... life-influences played a role.

Finding one's way "beyond this life" is a matter of faith and humility. We don't make up the rules. We either adhere to them ...or we do not. Truth is... the way beyond this life greatly influences our lives now. It has, apparently, been given to us to "choose" our own way.