Category Archives: Christian

Evidence Not Understood

 CAM00445I want to begin with a word of encouragement. God’s light is the evidence of His active Kingdom within our being and it may appear to be having little to no effect on the darkness in the world around us, but that is an illusion. We are children of light and light is the fruit of our being. Also God is the source of our being and His Kingdom shines out from within us. The only thing that restricts the work of God’s light shining through us, is us.

 My pre-question is, if we shine a flashlight down a dark well how far will the light shine? From our human point of view, our perception is only as good as we are able to detect the reflection of light returning to our eyes. But from lights point of view each photon will continue from its source unless there is something to reflect it from its path. We humans say light is absorbed if there is nothing to reflect it back so we can detect it. But is that true?

 So when we judge the evidence of our light which is actually the light of the Presence of God that is within, are we detecting the reflections from a human point of view or are we measuring lights effects from lights point of view? These two points of view is the difference between a spiritual and a material (religious) perspective. Without this understanding bible interpretation can become subjective to the culture (point of view) reading the scripture. As children and ambassadors of God we need to view His light from His point of view.

 John 1:5 (NKJV) And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1:5 (NLT) The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

 It should be seen from both of these translations and interpretations above that there are two points of view. One is from the reader who is observing the light leave the source and the effect it is having on darkness. The other point of view is from light itself which understands that darkness has no effect on it. At the moment that darkness encounters light darkness is transformed into light and darkness exist no more. Also another property of light is that it is impossible to separate it from it source. The light in you is God.

 At first glance from our human material point of view it would seem that darkness has a power equal to that of light but that is not true. Even traditional scriptural interpretation tends to agree with that misunderstanding. If you happen to be open to prophetic words by our contemporary brothers and sisters some of them also confirm this misunderstanding of reality.

 Even the scientist of today interpret their observations by concluding that black holes, dark matter and the like have a power that even light cannot overcome. The current scientific mindset draws conclusions that a photon is no match for the gravitational pull of  a black hole’s darkness. Fear is the fruit of darkness and heaven help anything that becomes trapped within the gravitational effect of a black hole. And yet our universe is expanding 186,000 miles in all directions every second.

 My point is not to review the theories of emission and absorption as it relates to photons but to encourage us to add a different perspective in how we view reality and the kingdom of Light (God). Religion in my opinion is allowing fear to influence its world view by supporting an apocalyptic point of view that is focusing on the terrible (darkness) and ignoring the great (light) things that can and will happen in our future.

 In our personal lives of transformation we must acknowledge that we do not walk in perfect love (light) and therefore fear is a possible response to our perception of reality. Is the sun rising or is it setting in our understanding of scripture? Are we the last generation of Christians on earth or will our great-grandchildren get a chance to advance beyond our level of faith. More important have our spiritual communities reached their high water mark of faith and do we still think it possible for every member of our community to become like Jesus before we each individually give up the ghost? (Luke 6:40)

 Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT) “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 (NLT) For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

 For example if your car has ever broken down and you have been alone and stopped on a dark wooded road at night with your headlights on you will experience this illusion. The illusion is that darkness is swallowing the light and this experience creates the misunderstanding and belief that if we had a greater source of light the edge of darkness and fear would move away from us to a greater distance. The true reality is that if we could move out to the point of light it would be just as bright and the comfort and peace we experience next to the car would be just as true. In fact, if we were on a hilltop lost in the woods ten miles away and saw the light from the headlights however faint, peace, comfort and hope would flood in even thought we are still ten miles away.  Standing alone next to the car we could mark at twenty feet where the light dims our fear begins to rise. However from the point of view of a lost person ten miles away that same mark twenty feet away from the car the place as where their hope is at maximum and fear ends.

 The same is true when we are standing in our stained glass buildings on Sunday morning. During our times of worship we take comfort from the light of our Father’s Presence and we look at the world outside the door of our sanctuary as a scary place. But from the other point of view many of the estranged men and women driving by our buildings of stained glass see our glimmer of light that we hide all week and say if I can just make it 10 more miles I will be safe.

 Our mission is simply to bring light to the lost. But it is only from lights point of view (Kingdom of God) will we ever be able to truly judge the impact that one photon can have as it penetrates the consciousness of a person who by all appearances just seems to crush the life out of every spark that escapes the source within us. We can hide the light if we choose, but we should know that it is the only hope for a world that cannot believe that they too are children of Light.

 John 6:63 (NLT) The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

 2 Peter 1:19 (NLT) Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.

 Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV) So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

 John 1:4-5 (NLT)  The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

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Evidence Of Things Not Seen

2013-11-04_egcc ripplesWhat humanity knows to be hidden and understands as spiritual truth has normally been explored by the various religious communities across the globe. Modern science has also awakened the human understanding to the sub-atomic world of quantum particles. Likewise the field of psychology continues to expand and probe the bounds of human consciousness which is located in the soul of every human individual. So as the 21st century dawns these unseen worlds, are being greatly explored by various sectors of humanity.

 The reason for the exploration is obvious. The visible material world on earth has many growing needs such as food, disease and energy. People of both science and faith explore with the hope of providing solutions to humanity’s problems by increasing our understanding of the reality that is not obviously visible to the naked eye. The scientific world markets its solutions so that we humans will use its newly developed technology. But what is the strategy being used by the faith community to get more humans to use the fruit of its revelations and deeper spiritual truths?

 Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

 Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

 Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

 If science is seeking its solutions in the material realm then we who are awakened to the Spirit realm obtain our solutions from that realm. In an open and free market of ideas the persons or groups that can bring the solutions to the table reap rewards for solutions that benefit humanity. If the religious people want God to get the glory then the marketing strategies need to make clear that by faith spiritual solutions are received from God for the benefit of all humanity.

 A key to strong faith is our connection to God and His Spiritual Kingdom. Some religious organizations seem to focus their marketing strategies on icons, books, videos, memberships and other material objects that can be exchanged for money instead of spiritual solutions and practices. God is spirit and that which he gives is spirit because spirit is the substance of all material things, and spirit itself has no material substance. So what applications and technology do we of the spiritual community use to turn spiritual substance into material items such as food, health and energy for all in humanity?   …Prayer!

 Prayer is the link between the realms of spirit and material. Humans are the unique part of creation that has access to both material and spiritual substance. Now that should make all humans feel special and equal. However unless we maintain an active consciousness of this link to the spiritual realm we limit our solutions to the material realm only.

 Luke 6:40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.

 Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

 Matthew 6:31-34 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

 John 2:10 (The description after Jesus turned water to wine) And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”

 Jesus provided us with an excellent human example for obtaining benefits and solutions to the problems that humanity is now facing. He demonstrated a way that can transform humanity by helping each person to reach into the fullest potential that is coded within our designed. There is a consciousness of the relationship between Spirit and material that is beginning to emerge in the minds humankind.

 Today we find that some people of the Christian religion are exploring eastern styles of religion such as Buddhism in search for a religion more focused on personal transformation and non-traditional expressions for their spirituality. These people are finding common ground with people of eastern religious culture who are also in their search for truth and many are experiencing the benefits meditative and contemplative prayer. However because their first love was the Jesus of western culture religion they are wondering why Christianity does not offer like religious practices of meditative prayer that helps to transform the conscious mind as they search for deeper spiritual understanding.

But that is actually what is being rediscovered and explored by an emergent movement in Christianity today. In the main-stream of Christian communities these spiritual technologies were relegated to the monastic sub-culture of Catholicism and mostly ignored by the Protestant culture after the reformation. But now the value contemplative prayer and meditation are quickly becoming rediscovered as new technology and is once again being incorporated as essential spiritual practices in new emerging Christian communities.

   As many people return from eastern religions and join those that are emerging within old Christian religious traditions are newly rediscovering meditative styles of prayer such as Lectio Divina and Centering prayer which are becoming the new traditions of spiritual expression.  This blending is removing the cultural hostility and barriers between people of eastern and western religious traditions and establishing bonds of love and cooperation that is rippling throughout humanity.

 Not only does this technology provide material resources it actually strengthens the link between the spiritual and material realms. It is during times of silence and stillness that removes the dualistic thinking that separates the sub-cultures of humanity and integrates the realms of material and spirit into God’s Kingdom on earth. So be encouraged, humanity is on the brink of an evolutionary period that will benefit all humans in ways that cannot be seen as of yet. By using this style of prayer and meditation every person is without excuse and can bring forth evidence of things unseen.

1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

Galatians 3:26-28 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Daniel 7:14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

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Is There Sufficient Evidence That We Are Living Justly?

10-12-2013_1034093_12351166Am I living justly? Most people would not incriminate themselves and would answer to the affirmative if this question was posed to them. We as Christians have this notion that if and when our life is called to be examined we would appear before our Father in heaven with Jesus as our advocate and Satan would play the role of accuser of the brethren. But who has imagined that they would be called as witnesses or to give testimony about the events and the people in their lives? What would the witnesses of our lives say if perjury before God is not an option?

 Psalm 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face

As Americans citizens we pledge to live as one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Scripture also states that justice is foundational to God’s Kingdom. Therefore I pose these questions to all of us. Is there sufficient evidence that we are living justly? This should immediately cause us to ask, what proof could I offer to substantiate that I do indeed live a just life?

Psalm 82:2-4 How long will you judge unjustly, And show partiality to the wicked? Selah 3 Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. 4 Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked.

Psalm 82 calls to all humans to live justly.  It also reveals that as children of God it is in the capacity of humans to be just to one another. As humans we are all members to various ethnic, cultural and religious groupings. But as humans we are all the same and aware that we are children of Adam and Eve. However also dawning on our consciousness is the understanding that we are also children of God. This makes us heirs to some remarkable human capabilities and living justly is one of them.

 Galatians 4:1 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all,

Our lives as members of the Kingdom of God (KoG) should be showing forth the evidence of justice because it is foundational to our Father’s Kingdom. In August of 2013 we Americans celebrated some transformational victories in the laws that made our culture more just for some of its citizens.  But the KoG is about the transformation of our hearts. So. after 50 years we can watch the constraints of laws being removed as we wonder about the conditions of the heart. Has the heart of the American citizen been transformed to where it does not need external laws or will it revert back to living unjust as it did prior the restraints put in place by laws?

Justice for others will always be a big test, a private test that each of us will continually take. As circumstances change will we do justly to one another or will we seek to fulfill the desire of our lust. Justice’s call requires that we constantly evaluate for every “neighbor” in our society and defend those who need help.  Each of us has this call and God’s design and perspective will be measure by which we are held to account.

 If I am unjust to someone because he or she is not a part of my religious, ethnic, social order then I am missing the point of Kingdom living. I want to encourage us all to remain aware of others around us and judge our attitudes, emotions, and feelings we have towards others. Then we must examine the use of our resources, our affiliations and the motives and outcomes of our votes for political and social issues.

This blog is about the evidence of our lives. Does it reflect the spiritual values of the King of our Kingdom? Or does it reflect the material values of the social order and traditions of our culture and religious associations? Is our field of “neighbors” expanding or are we still limited by the legal definition of American citizenship or the denominational lines of our Christian membership. Is justice applicable to all humans equally? Is God’s Kingdom open to all humans universally?

As Americans we believe that before the law all citizens are indivisible with liberty and that we all get equal justice. We also know however that this is a work in progress. But as members of God’s Kingdom do we attempt to live from His perfection or are we satisfied the imperfection of our social order? We are truly Disciples of Jesus and children of God therefore by faith I believe that our lives are capable and do show forth the evidence of our just living.

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

Luke 18: 1-8 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man,5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’” 6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said.7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

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