The FBI and IRS are being weaponized against truth and justice.  They are in the hands of and doing the bidding of evil, corrupt people.

This is the case here in the United States and also of course in most nations of the world in its various forms.

Our cities are becoming deeper cesspools of every form of the lewd and vile treachery.

Our lands are full of desperately hurting people, suffering injustice, abuse, neglect and violence.

Far too many of our leaders are inept, complicit and generally disinterested due to the enslavement of their soul to the pit of hell and all of its tricks. 

Liars, thieves, harlots and spineless knaves hold massive power and their decisions are impacting the future of the land where your grandchildren will grow old.

His beloved are here too, but the atmosphere of our culture is growing steadily foul.

Micah 6:8 speaks to answer some of the most fundamental questions we must come to terms with.

What is good?

What does the Creator of all that is; the One and only, Mighty and Holy and Rightfully Eternal King YHWH, require of me?

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?”

Christian,

What is our role in this society run amook?

“Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.”

What does our Lord expect of His people?

“Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.”

How ought we engage with this culture?

“Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.”

Distinguish the Way of Jesus from the self satisfying yoke of slavery we see around us everyday.
Distinguish freedom from bondage.
Distinguish light from dark.

Walk in the light as He, the One and only begotten Son is in the Light.

Our Savior and King Jesus reigns above all the ill-begotten tyrant fool kings of the Nations and they who oppose Him are to be like stubble in the furnace of His scorching wrath at once their time has come.

We are born of His majestic and unconquorable grace; His chosen, His redeemed. His beloved.

It is the Glory of God to reveal his goodness through the faithful obedience of His saints.

Prepare like Joseph and build like Nehemiah.

Raise the banner of your King.

If you are familiar with Joshua Nations, you have very likely heard or read numerous references to the Great Commission.  And for good reason too!

The Great Commission, as recorded in the 28^th chapter of Matthew are the final words of our Savior, to his Disciples; the capstone teaching of his time on earth with those whom he chose to reveal his Glory.

So, what did our King say?

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” NKJV

This is, to the Church as a body and on the heart of every true believer, the answer to an entire array of philosophical and societal questions which when left unanswered are plaguing our time.  We as the followers of Christ have this glorious truth and love from He that is light and just and was before all else that is!

Take heart Christian, ALL authority is in His Good, capable and battle worn hands!

He’s not obsessed by the news.  He’s not taken aback. He’s not afraid.

You have been called out of the chaos and given an inheritance of access and richness to walk joyfully, eternally in that abundantly good news! 

Go tell it on the mountain!

Proclaim with your life that “The Lord, the Lord God, (is) merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.”   Exodus 34: 6-7 NKJV

Wait, what was that last part about visiting iniquity?  Yes, that is good news too.  Our God is merciful, but what is mercy if there is no wrath?  There is no justice without condemnation of the guilty. 

Our God is a consuming fire, remember.  That is a good thing, fiercely good.

Our Savior now, in the commissioning of his lieutenants includes these words: “teaching them to observe all things that I have COMMANDED you.”

He has commandments too, to go along with all that unmerited favor.  

This isn’t a free for all. There is no “Good News” without this part, can’t you see! There is no joy that exists outside of obedience, no peace without repentance, no safety without the Kingdom.

So where do we go from here?  What is his Great Commandment?

“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39

Restart here today, will you?  Love God and Love your Neighbor. Do it well.

What if the church was to stand apart by taking this portion of his commandment to heart?

Jesus said it was like, a pretty big deal.  

I dare you to love your next-door neighbor.  Yea, that one.  

Does it even occur to you or are you too busy with work, church service, Instagram reels, youth group, Snapchat, bible studies, choir practice, small groups, soccer, piano, pulling daisies, watching paint dry or literally anything to keep you from having an awkward conversation?

Obey your King and love your neighbor.   

The one next door whose kids are the reason we pay HOA dues. Yes, that one.  The one with the scary accent, the one with an immaculate lawn and the one with dirt. The family up the street who could become your best friends if only one of you would look the other in the eye.  The one constantly cooking curry.  They are your people to love.  Ask them their name, about their day, their work, their family.  Go to them, where they are and bring a little light along.  Invite them into your life. Our Christian community has grown far too complacent in this area.  We’re letting the culture drive the tenor of our neighborhoods and it’s, surprisingly I know, not at all working. Do something about it.  He cares about your love for your neighbor more than most, oh yea, everything on that list of things keeping you busy, the reasons you may not be loving them already.   

Every worthwhile destination in this life requires a consistent, steady approach. This approach ought to be expected to be full of difficulties of all sorts.

Let us segment them out into two categories.

Challenges in the realm of:

1: Circumstantial obstacles

2: Moral character  

Say we intend to build a garden.

It would be of no great surprise to expect that we will need to overcome a circumstantial obstacle if, at the moment, we have no seed.  A garden without plants is sad, indeed.  So, we simply must make the decision and take action in an effort to change the circumstances in our favor. We must acquire plants if we intend to create a garden. This physical boundary to the existence of a garden necessitates our interaction with one another.  For if I am in need, I must seek out he which is in plenty.

To Home Depot I go.

In this vein, if you intend to homeschool, you must acquire a curriculum and materials.  If you burst a pipe, you must find the leak and make the repair.  If you are in debt, you must spend less, save and earn more. You and I do this sort of problem-solving of Circumstantial obstacles on a regular basis.  It is the most elemental and common human experience. 

However, a solitary one of us creatures, “a little below the angels,” can of our own accord accomplish very close to nothing on a larger scale.  Operating en-masse, however, either intentionally or accidentally, we are of the mightiest forces here on the Earth. It is as though God made us in His image, with a heaven sized appetite for all things great and wonderful; hanging gardens and towers and airplanes and aqueducts, then, in a jolt of genius and mirth, He placed that heart and mind, his grand creative masterpiece, in a physical shell with a peapod of volume capacity for individual accomplishment.  We must join together in “co-operation” to bring about the produce of our potential.  We see this play out both for exceedingly abundant good and, leading us towards our second concern, for commiserating evil.  

The second realm of challenge, concerning the morality of it all, throws the entire gardening comparison into the weeds, if you will.  For despite our incomprehensible potential for great and good, “I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink,” we are frustratingly prone to every malady of contemptuous failure. 

The joy of a Garden is not so much about the colors and shapes of plants as it is the outgrowth of one very simple, and unobstructed truth. Plants do not have the autonomous ability to make choices in conflict with their Creator’s design. They do not squabble amongst themselves and dither about in absent-mindedness, failing utterly as if they are not sure which way is best. They do not spend countless precious moments of their lives attempting to become a Sunflower if they are a Pine.  They simply seek the Light.  Each plant is constantly in the state of perfect adherence to its lower form of “Moral Character.” From whence the light shines is the direction their entire being is devoted, and as the Light above moves, a plant wisely adapts accordingly. Oh, how we ought to admire and contemplate the fingerprint of God’s divine intention for all of Creation. For we are but seeds in the Master gardener’s hands. Where He desires, we are cast down upon the ground. Oh, how we ought to pray that we land on fertile soil and praise His mighty name if we have taken root.  Somehow, we know how we ought to be, as if through memory, and yet the parable of the Sower strikes us violently with a note of resounding familiarity.  Human “seeds,” unlike our created second-cousins in the plant Kingdom, make choices, many of which are to the Gardeners eye, most detrimental.

Remain steadfast on the path. Similar to plants we must also work and strive to overcome our circumstances if we are to survive and thrive in our fullest bloom. If you need water, go get it.  Unlike plants, we do have to make choices of moral character.  We must choose often between Light and Dark. The Light often requires a willingness to make sacrifices of preferences and comfort in order that we may become disciplined in our adherence to the model of God’s created purposes for our lives.  To become as our Gardener intends us to be, we must seek the light, yes, and we must also tread where others have gone before us, “co-operating” in the footprints of Jesus and those who call him LORD.  The great opportunities and challenges of this life are not entirely new to the human story.  “There is nothing new under the sun.” Where we are being called, others have been.  Where the Body of Christ has laid down a pathway, we would be wise to join in and follow.  “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

“We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.  For He says:

“In an acceptable time, I have heard you,

And in the day of salvation, I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

2 Corinthians 6:1-2

I would rather be ashes than dust.

I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot.

I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

The function of man is to live, not to exist.

I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them.

I shall use my time.  

Jack London’s Credo

I read a news article today that was quite terrifying. Terrifying, because it hearkens my history loving mind of a story that has come again and again into the heart of men.  A story full of lies.  A story that appeals to the weaker parts of all men’s hearts. A story that says “I am here, I am good, you can trust me.” in spite of an origin from which the same simple heart would shudder in fear were it to see the truth behind the veil.

The story of comfort, appeasement, frivolity, limitless seduction and an elimination of one’s ultimate duty. A story once seen to its end plays out just like Adam in the Garden; to undoubtably still one day stand before the Creator God and be, according to His law; judged, eternally restrained from the foolish abandonment of accountability, to feel the overwhelming and undeniable truth as it were all along, completely opposed to one’s sandy foundation.

This story, this enslaving trap of foolishness is being told, here.

In one form or another the story is always being told.  However, the hearts and minds of those who see the truth for what it is, who rest in the comforting embrace and love of our father God, when united against this deception are able to save men’s hearts from this story’s cruel intentions.

Freedom, Economy, True Liberality, Progress, Education in the Treasures of Knowledge and the Arts; a Society unencumbered by it’s limited Republican representative government of the people and for the people; accountable to an agreed upon covenant with God and sovereign Nation exists only in such a land that looks to God with proper fear and reverence and sets out to agree upon Society and Governance of men, under His Law.

Without a coherent love of God, the heart of men is destined for bondage.

This is true whether or not you have made a decision to love that God, regardless of your refusal, denial, rebellion, or ignorance.

This is as it is.

Whether your entertainment, education, family and friends acknowledge this truth or not, it remains an unalterable reality.

Over the last century, the story of lies has been told by many names. Most notably, we know it as Communism. This particular name, however, has become synonymous with many others; to include collectivism, socialism, liberalism, progressivism, et al. It adheres to the tenants of a great many other foolish ideas rooted in selfishness and licentiousness.

Atheism paves Communism’s way into the heart of men who are unknowingly desperate for truth and yet now, so simply led astray. Like a man deprived for water in a desert but convinced rescue is just beyond that next impossible expanse will end his life by choosing a way lacking in all of his most immediate and ultimate needs.

Whoever controls the narrative controls the people. We are up against an enormously powerful foe, one which has obtained control of the most often immersive and easily accessible means of disseminating and acquiring information and ideas.

What the printing press was, the Internet now is.

We must win the Internet or we will lose our land.

 

We’re all searching for it, most have at least tasted it, if brief and fleeting, some it seems are awash in it, and others seem to detest it.

 

There is a richness in it that raises above all other experiences, that draws us out of our darkest caves and dares us to reach high overhead.

 

Kings crave it and slaves can find peace in it.

 

Man will drive himself crazy in search of it while, sadly, ignoring those who so desperately desire to share in it with him.

 

We’re tortured by its obvious realness in a world convinced there’s nothing real beyond the physical.

 

Men will mutilate themselves, seeking penance for crimes against it which they refuse to acknowledge from a God they’ve convinced themselves is dead.

 

It is intoxicating, its presence is as powerful as an ocean tide when it approaches, and yet man will hang his head in shame and walk away from the shoreline of its inviting and intimidating immensity and breadth.

 

It is alluring; and yet in a world going wild after every pursuit that can possibly offer a moment of pleasure, it is discarded for the next shiny distraction.

 

We’re desperate for it and terrified of it.

 

It is not easy.

 

It is Love.

 

I suppose one could find reason to discard the thoughts of a man who is divorced and without children on the topic of love, and perhaps there’s sound reason for doing so.

 

I’m certainly not a master of the art, nor one whose relationships have always ran awash in its unbridled goodness, and yet, I am you.

 

I am here, I am broken, I am awake, I am grateful, bitter, thoughtful, rash, passionate, lazy, disciplined and motivated. I, like you, laugh from a deep part of my soul when with people I love and sharing in the joy of the craziness of this life.  Humor is such a gift of heaven, it truly is.

 

We all are in this dome of reality together, wrestling against those principalities and powers, against our flesh, and all that glittering gold.  We’re all failing and succeeding, raising and falling, worshiping and backsliding, seeking and finding, loving and hating and loving again.

 

We’re alive, we’re real and yes, it all matters.

 

He’s there, He knows, He Sees, He Cares, He is Love, and His Love is the Best thing out there.

 

Let’s go get it. Let us be bold enough to see the light through the fog and take action to draw nearer to it.  Set the sails, turn the wheel, throw off the weight that encumbers, and take aim at the source.

 

This is what Jesus called us to do.  He showed up to show us that the light was real, that it was approachable, that is was compassionate and powerful, tender and fierce, willing and able, available and patient.

 

Jesus came to reveal that light to all the world, so that man could finally find what they had been so desperately longing for.

 

Through Jesus, we’re offered the opportunity to take hold of that which never fails, to be swept up into the arms of protection, to walk through the storms with calm in our hearts and through the Valleys of Death with confidence.

 

He is the answer to our madness, the key to our understanding, the wellspring of all that is good.

 

If you knew who you could be talking to, you would ask for everlasting water, and it would be given freely.

 

He is the Way, The Truth, The Life, and yes, it is true, No man will come to the Father, but by Him.

 

His Love is Where We Find Real Joy

 

I’ve been taking communion, the “Lords Supper” on a consistent basis for close to three decades but the Spirit of God spoke a fresh and new perspective into my life this morning and I was encouraged by the same spirit to share this truth and the perspective I’d been subtly awakened to. This is nothing new doctrinally; nothing to add to what the Word already has to say, but simply the loving and compassionate Word of our Lord Jesus Christ speaking love and encouragement into His bride, the Church, speaking life into me.

Imagine for a moment that you were there in the upper room on that night with Jesus, as one of those closest to him. You are one of His closest friends, one of those He’s called into the sanctuary of His presence as He pushes onward towards the fulfillment of the Father’s purpose for His time in the flesh here amongst fallen man.

Imagine having seen Him heal the lame, give sight to the blind, lift up the brokenhearted and break down the prideful.
Imagine you heard Him teach on the Kingdom of Heaven, watched Him speak tenderly, simply and wonderfully of the greatness that is the Fathers Love.
You’ve wrestled, trying to believe His Word that this Kingdom is like that precious coin being found, that son returning home, that light on the hill, the precious treasure buried in the field.
You’ve seen and heard and witnessed the overwhelming power of His presence, His love, His authority, His FULLNESS.

And now then, in that room, with candlelight flickering upon the walls and joyful friendship echoing around you, He looks at YOU, breaks the bread and passes the cup and says “Take and eat, for this is My body, broken for YOU. Take and drink, for this is MY blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins”

All of His Goodness, All of His Love, All of His Grace, ALL of the Fullness of the Glory of the Father in Heaven is being offered in that moment, to YOU.

He’s handing YOU that piece of bread; his body, the bread of life is giving you of Himself, asking you to take Him into you. He wants to dwell within you. To be a part of you.

A sinner, a doubter, a liar, a cheater, a fraud.

He still wants you. HE STILL LOVES YOU!

He that was before everything, He that IS Everything is saying “Take me.”

Church, you NEED HIM. You cannot do life without Him.

You cannot walk this walk without HIM.

Church, I ask you to, Take Him, Take hold of all that He is.

Let him abide in you, let Him awaken you.

He’s offered you the Kingdom, the “everything”, the reason that we live and that only that matters after we’ve died.

He is giving you Himself. Take Him. Trust Him. Love him and let him work in you to make you like Him!

The battle with sin is largely about the level of Trust you have that God is Good.It is not as if because of our faith we lose the desire for sinful lusts, but rather that we can choose to Trust the boundaries defined by God to be in our best interest as they are in line with his intentions for my fullest form of existence.We trust that the truest forms of Joy, Peace, Enjoyment, Satisfaction, Purpose, Meaning, etc. all come from Him alone.We trust that He alone is able and willing to satisfy the deepest cravings of our soul, and does so with abundance, fuller and richer than all of the falsities presented by evil and accepted by the foolish world as desirable substitutes.Simply put, I live a better life without sin that I did with it and it is so overwhelmingly obvious to me that He has my best interest in mind.He is the best thing, and beyond giving me the best life I could hope for, He conquered death and sin for me, inviting me into the immortality he intended.Yea, I am a Christian and it is good, in fact, it is better.

There is within each of us a longing for what can simply yet inadequately be called “home,” a yearning for an experience that can equally inadequately be called more “full.”

The awareness of the sought after “fullness” is awakened through glittering moments of life in which we notice the inextricable goodness that seems to flitter about as a fairy of some ancient tale. Its effect indisputable, its essence impossibly unknown, too grand to imagine.

We seek it haphazardly and yet only ever seem to taste it when it’s the furthest thing from our minds.

There’s a dance beyond the veil, a chorus of unending depth and undulating melodies.

Its appearance dances with my soul like a hummingbird, its untimely exit as predictable as it is painful.

It is here but it is not at home here.

Nor am I.

Yet here we are and in this arena, I will chase you.

It is true as it is beautiful that the process of putting to death our old self and with it the grip and weight fastened upon our hearts, a gateway is opened for rebirth to come upon us with the sweet newness of hope and of a renewed limitlessness of possibility, wonders, awe and expectations.

This season, as leaves fall, let the weight of death fall too from your shoulders. As the trees prepare to stand naked and unencumbered by the weight of vanity to withstand the onslaught of a violent winter, learn from their determined firmness, holding fast to their foundations as tempests rage about them, death winning the day.

You too then, reach deeper into what cannot be moved while the frailties of the temporal are shattered and torn from your limbs until all that remains is hope in the eternal goodness to come once more. For while hope alone cannot make the sun again rule over the night, it is by hope that the night is survived.