Left-Field

I don't know about you, but I sometimes wonder if I am hearing correctly from the Holy Spirit. The very last thing I would want is to be in error. If I seem to be out of step with others in the Body, I begin to grow concerned about this. I try to research and back up with supporting scripture whatever I may be hearing or thinking about in the Spirit. I certainly don't want to take scripture out of context, or misapply it. I don't want to deceive myself, or others. So when I have felt out of step in this manner, I have said to God, "I feel like I am out in left field." Today I heard Him say, "Well, we need players in left field also!" 
I know very little about baseball. What is unusual about left field? As you can see from the diagram above, the left-fielder (blue circle labeled "LF") is positioned all the way at the top of the diagram. He and the other out-fielders are a good distance away from the bases, and other players. When looking up the position, I found a set of pointers for being a good left-fielder.
First of all, a left-fielder is a defensive position. Being successful requires practice and hard work. You need to be able to throw a ball for a long distance. I remember when I was young, I would throw one of those pink rubber balls extremely long distances. My friend, Sharon, and I would play catch in the elementary school playground, throwing the ball from one end of the long playground to the other. When I would get home from school, my friend, Robert, and I would play a similarly challenging game of catch. He would stand in the backyard of my tall 3-story house, and I would stand in the front yard. We would throw to each other over the top of the house. As the scriptures say, we need to develop strength and endurance in order to send that word or prayer wherever, and to whomever, it needs to go. We need to exercise and build up those throwing muscles to be up to the task at hand.  When we are needed to keep the ball in play, we can't say, "I'm too tired", or "It's too far," or "Let someone else catch it."
Not only are you throwing a long distance as a left-fielder, but you will probably have to catch balls coming towards you from a height and a far distance. This requires a good out-fielding glove with long fingers, and a deep pocket. In other words, a left-fielder needs to be properly equipped. Applied spiritually, we have to have a strong foundation in the word, a hearing ear stretched out to hear, and heart reaching out to receive. We need to have an appreciation for the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers that our Father has given to properly equip us in all spiritual truths (Eph. 4:11). They provide us with the long-fingered spiritual "gloves" we need to catch the ball, or truth, from the distance and height, and with the deepness of our spiritual glove pocket, we can hold onto the word that has been delivered to us without fear of dropping it. A spiritual left-fielder might sometimes feel out-of-step, or alone in what he is hearing from the Lord. These revelations are coming from long distances, and great heights. (WARNING- Do not even think about trying to catch these long, high balls bare-handed (in the flesh). For a left-fielder, it is disaster.)  
Someone who is not an outfielder on a spiritual team might not be equipped to catch or receive these revelations of the highest and farthest kind. These types of revelations are especially associated with Apostolic and Prophetic ministries. Mysteries are revealed, and first-hand, direct revelations from Jesus are received through these ministries. There are many examples of left-fielders in scripture (I Cor. 11:23, 1 Cor. 15:51, 2 Cor. 12:4, Rev. 4:1, Acts 10:11-16, Isa. 6:1-3). An outfielder receiving these types of spiritual things, might have to adapt the speed and height of the ball as he throws it in to a differently equipped teammate. We don't change the truth, but we make accommodations as to how the truth is delivered, otherwise our fellow player receiving our throw might be more likely to drop the ball, than to successfully catch it. I wouldn't throw to the shortstop in the same manner as I would while trying to throw a ball over my three-story house.
Another requirement that makes for a good left-fielder, is the ability to keep your focus and attention on the whole game, the big picture, not just your position. You always need to know where you have to throw a ball, if it comes to you. You have to know where the runners are, and where your nearest fellow defensive player is located. This is usually, but not always the short stop. You have to get the ball to him quickly, and hopefully, without making an error. It is comforting to have read that, generally speaking, errors by the left-fielder are rare. Spiritually, we have to be ready to give an account for our faith at any time, and we might be called upon at any time to deliver the truth accurately, without error. We have to understand that while our part is important, there is a larger, over-all plan of God. (Heb. 10:13, Rev. 11:15, Mt. 6:10, Rom. 11:25-26, 2 Cor. 5:17, Rev. 21:5). Spiritually, we have to understand that we are not alone, that the "team" or Body has many participating parts with whom we interact to get the good outcome (1 Cor. 12:12-14, Eph. 4:16).  We must understand where a challenge (runner) is coming from, be ready for it, and see the best way to counter it, or defend against it.
However, because you are playing out in left field, you are also expected to contribute to the team's effort by having a dependable bat. You need to be able to hit that ball when called upon. Other players may be faster, and involved in play more often, so the left-fielder must  show his value with hits. We are not allowed to sit back, spiritually, and spend our time waiting to catch a ball. We must give to the team actively also. The team is depending, not just on our gloves, but on our ability to help score offensively. So a spiritual left-fielder, especially, has to be diversified in his contribution to the team.
A left-fielder must also "back up" the third baseman. If the ball is overthrown, or misses the mark, we must be prepared to back him up, support him, catch the ball that he misses, or cannot catch. In the Spirit, we are the back-ups for the team member who drops the ball, or misthrows. When a brother drops the spiritual ball, we are there to pick it up without missing a beat.  A brother or sister likes to know we "have their back"  when we are needed (Gal. 6:2, 1 Thess. 5:14).  
A left-fielder should avoid showy feats like diving to catch the ball. You are positioned too far out for that move. Those risky moves can cause errors that can allow the opposing runner to get to the next base. It is better to allow a ball to land in front of you, and field it from the ground, rather than to try diving for it. Those balls, or spiritual truths, are precious, and our first and most important responsibility is to get hold of that ball securely, and pass it on to where it needs to go. The left-fielder is not what is most important in the game, but it is the ball, the life-giving truth, that is most important, and must be kept in play (Ps. 138:2, Mt. 24:35, Col. 1:17).
In the same way, trying to throw that ball to home plate from your left-field position, is also risky. It is better to throw the ball to another position, like the short-stop, or third baseman. You may not get the accolades, but you will have contributed more to a victory. Sometimes we want to make that great play, but better results come from throwing the ball to the correct receiver. If the ball falls to the ground between third base, and home plate because we insisted on throwing it to the wrong teammate, the ball falls out of play, and the opposing runner may cross home plate and score (Mt. 6:10, Mt. 26:42).
Lastly, the list of hints to left-fielders says the most important thing a left-fielder can do is exercise, and practice. Practice catching and throwing from long distances and great heights. Exercise to increase strength in the throwing arm. Do drills that increase speed and reaction times. Study to know the best way to interact with teammates in order to be most effective. What does this mean spiritually? We study the Word, to show ourselves approved. We exercise spiritual truths in everyday life to increase our endurance and strength. Our spiritual understanding should not just be theoretical, but for greatest effectiveness, it has to be experiential. Watching a baseball game from your living room is not the same as actually playing the game. It is only by repeatedly practicing and experiencing, that our spiritual muscles learn and memorize what needs to be done in any given situation. Our teammates depend on our being able to perform effectively as left-fielders (2 Tim. 2:15, 1 Cor. 9:24-27, Phil. 3:14, James 1:22).
Do you feel that you are out in left field sometimes also? Being a left-fielder isn't bad. God has equipped us well, and has entrusted us with those long, high balls from His heavenly throne. We just have to understand the purpose and value of our position, and our part in the "Big Picture".
See you out in left field!
"Play ball!"

Our Father can use some players in left field.

"Press Toward the Mark"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjmhQWcwQ7Q

"I Will Run the Race Set Before Me"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUcrJqGdPSg

"Who's On First?" (Abbott and Costello)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTcRRaXV-fg

Teacher

 

I think it was around 1966-67, and I was in 7th grade. I belonged to the Chorus of my Junior High School. We were about 40-50 students. We met an hour before school started, and our director was Miss Lyles, one of the music teachers in the school. I don't know what her first name was. She may not have had one. We were a little afraid of Miss Lyles, because she could be tough. She expected you to try your best, and she wasn't one to put up with nonsense.
It was just after our return from Christmas vacation, and we were beginning to rehearse for our spring concert a few months away. One of the selections Miss Lyles had chosen was "The Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's Messiah. None of us had ever heard it before, and when we got the music booklets, we were stunned because it was 14 pages long! We started at the beginning, learning each of our parts of the four-part construction of the piece. When we had learned a new section, we would end our rehearsal time by taking the piece from the beginning and singing up through the new part we had just learned.
It took us a couple of months, and in the middle of that time, Miss Lyles was absent for about three weeks, because her sister had gotten sick. Another music teacher had taken her place for our practices in order to keep us making progress through this piece. He was a nice, quiet man, but he was no "Miss Lyles". At the end of those three weeks, one morning during our practice time, Miss Lyles came running down the aisle of the auditorium, her coat flapping, still carrying her suitcase. We were so happy to see her return that we started cheering. She had a big grin on her face, and the other poor music teacher laid his head down on the piano in relief! Miss Lyles was back, and we immediately got down to real business.
On the morning that we finished page 14, the last page, we started from the beginning, and sang all the way through successfully to the end. We were thrilled. We had done it! It sounded great- to our untrained ears, anyway. We continued to rehearse it each morning.
One morning, Miss Lyles was late. When she finally came into the auditorium, we knew something was wrong. Miss Lyles made the announcement, "The Hallelujah Chorus is out. We're not going to be performing it."
We were stunned. After working on it for so long, how could it be out? We asked her if it was because were weren't good enough. Was she displeased with us? "No, no", she said. "It had nothing to do with that." "Then why, Miss Lyles?", we asked.
She told us that because we had worked so hard, we deserved to know the truth. She had been called into the principal's office that morning, and he had asked her what musical selections she had been preparing for the coming spring concert. She told him the selections, including, of course, "The Hallelujah Chorus" for the finale. He told her we couldn't do that selection, because it was too religious. She argued that it was a classic. He said "It's out." She told him that if he could just come to the auditorium, he could hear for himself how hard we had worked, and how well we sang it. He said, "It's out, period." He said he didn't want to hear anymore argument about it. We were shocked-nobody talked to Miss Lyles, of all people, so disrespectfully. She ended practice early, and told us that we would begin learning the new, substitute selections next time. I have to admit, I couldn't like that principal after he did that, although, now being older, I can see it's possible that someone might have made a complaint to him about the selection, and he had no other choice than to do what he did. But at that age, I felt it was his job as principal, to stick up for us, and stand for the right thing.
What are we teaching our children by what we refuse to teach them?
From that point on, I knew that there was something wrong with the world. I didn't know what it was, or why it was, but whatever it was, it could impact my life, even though I was still a kid. I also found out for the first time, through this incident, that some thought there was something wrong with being "too religious".
However now, whenever I hear the Hallelujah Chorus, I sing my part the way that Miss Lyles taught me all those years ago. I still remember it very well.

"And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, but your eyes shall see your  teachers. Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left."           Isa. 30:20-21

"I will teach you by the hand of God; What is with the Almighty, I will not conceal." 
                                                                                                 Job 27:11


Our Father provides us with precious teachers.

"Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's Messiah  (Dedicated to Miss Lyles)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUZEtVbJT5c

 

Rome

As we leave this Christmas season, I felt a need to write about the Roman Empire. Some people are not very interested in history, but I am. As the saying goes, "You can't make this stuff up." Since this was the world system at the time of the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus, as well as at the beginning history of the church, the Empire plays an important role in those events. I think it also teaches and warns us about circumstances concerning our present time, and also the events of the future, as we will see.
We start out with Rome as a republic, being governed by a body called the Senate. The United States borrowed this model of government as part our own as our country was founded.
In the time when Rome was still a republic, three very powerful generals conquered foreign territories and brought great wealth, and slaves back to a Rome that consumed everything on which they could get their hands. They were early examples of what we currently see in our own society: conspicuous consumption and invidious consumption. Even we today sometimes forget that the food, clothing, electronics, and other items that we buy and consume daily at bargain prices may come from exploiting other people's and nations'  resources and poorly paid labor.  
Eventually, foreign slaves made up 30% of the population of Rome. The harvests of all Northern Africa fed Rome for 8 months. It took 200,000-400,000 tons of grain to feed the all-consuming Romans for 1 year. The great economy of Rome had become expectant and dependent upon the spoils of these three great generals, called the Triumvirate (headship, or leadership, composed of three persons). Marcus Crassus, Pompey "Magnus" (The Great), and Julius Caesar made up this group of three.
It was Pompey the Great who conquered the area of Syria and Palestine in 63 BC.
Eventually, as happens with ambitious man, these three generals became rivals for power. Crassus had died earlier, and Rome entered into a civil war with Julius Caesar and Pompey in the final power struggle. Pompey did not live through it. He fled to what he thought was a friend, Egypt, where he was killed immediately.
Julius Caesar became the great power of Rome. The Roman Senate decided to give him the title of Emperor, which would virtually end the Republic. Before the title could be conveyed, Caesar was assassinated by a conspiracy of some of the Senators with their assassins. After his death, the Senate conferred divinity upon Julius Caesar. Caesar was survived by his great-nephew by marriage, who was his adopted son and designated heir, Octavius. Since Julius Caesar was made "divine", Octavius could be called, at this point, a "son of a god". Caesar's only birth child, a daughter, who had been married to rival general Pompey, had died young.
A second triumvirate now arises with Octavius (Julius Caesar's heir), Marcus Lepidus, and the great Mark Antony as rulers. This triumverate split up the governing of the empire, and ruled their territories as dictators. Rivalry entered into this triumvirate as well causing Lepidus to be exiled, and Mark Antony to commit suicide after being defeated in battle by Octavius.
Again, the Roman Senate sought to convey the title of Emperor, and succeeded with Octavius. He was given the name Augustus Caesar, Augustus meaning "worthy of veneration and worship". Coins of the empire carried his image, with the inscription "CAESAR DIVI". Emperor worship was practiced in Rome, and the other territories of the empire. Even Pontius Pilate would one day build a temple in the Syrian province to honor and worship Emperor Tiberius in the years that followed. More modern kings of history would take the same name of "Caesar", adapting it into a royal title in their language: Tsar, and Kaiser, and even the English word "king" (cyn in the old language) being examples of this, so powerful became this name, and the legacies of Julius and Augustus Caesar.
Augustus proves to be a very efficient administrator, and Rome prospers as never before. Even the conquered territories see great building projects and expanded trade, although they were ultimately taxed into poverty, and their most precious goods were taken for Rome's consumption. The relative peace, order and affluence (for some) brought by Augustus was heralded with phrases like "PAZ ATQUE QUIETA", and "PAX ROMANA".  Some nations even invite the take-over of the Roman Empire because of the peace, order, and economic advantages of Augustus Caesar's reign. When the Judeans were offered Jesus as their king by Pontius Pilate, the chief priests cried out, "We have no king but Caesar." (Jn. 19:15).
It is a good place to note that, impossible as it may seem, nations and peoples are sometimes willing to give up their own sovereignty, identity, and personal freedoms in exchange for promises of peace, order and economic stability and prosperity. We saw this same circumstance again in the last century when a newly free German republic, because of economic collapse, and the threat of communism from within and without, handed power to a small, extreme minority political party headed by Adolph Hitler. He didn't have to take power because it was handed to him. He was invited into a position of government leadership. Scripture tells us that we will see this same type of occurrence again in the future, when much of the world will hand power to an evil devil of a leader who promises the same kind of "peace" and economic order.
Back to our story. The tales that spread heralding Augustus Caesar's great rule and accomplishments were proclaimed with the Greek term "euangelion", from which we get the term "evangelize", and is translated to mean "good news", or "gospel". These great tales only served to increase Imperial Theology: that the Emperor was a god worthy of worship. At the height of his reign, Augustus headed 25 Roman legions in addition to "Auxiliaries"- armies of foreign troops conscripted from territories ruled by Rome. (As a side note, it is rumored in history that this "divine" emperor was poisoned by his wife, Livia, who thought he had lived long enough, and she was anxious to see his step-son heir, her son Tiberius, come to power. She believed that she would have much more power and influence under her son's reign than she had under her husband's.) These are the ways of the kingdoms of men.
However, something greater than the Caesars and their kingdoms appeared.
In the middle of this man-made divinity of Augustus Caesar, and the Roman kingdom of so-called peace and order, a child is born, and a host of angels comes to bring the real evangelism, good news and glad tidings of peace and good will regarding the birth of a truly divine King of all kings, who is Christ the Lord of all lords (Lk. 2:10-14, 1 Tim. 6:14-15, Rev. 19:16). Human history was changed, and the Kingdom of God was inserted into the earth!
There is much more to tell of the history of the Roman Empire as it intersects with the history of the Kingdom of God, but this seems like a good place to stop for now. Perhaps I can continue the story for the Resurrection season.

"...I will shake heaven and earth. I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms. I will overthrow the chariot and those who ride in them; The horses and their riders shall come down, everyone by the sword of his brother."

"Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"            Hag. 2:22, Rev. 11:15

The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Father, and of His Son!

*note: Map at the top of the page: The area ruled by the Roman Empire

"Unto Us a Child is Born" (Handel's Messiah)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-61gjgy9GiE

"Hallelujah Chorus" (Handel's Messiah)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUZEtVbJT5c

Snowglobes

Just this week, as the Christmas holiday approached, a memory was brought back to me from my childhood. When I was little, my mother would sometimes receive snow globes as gifts. At Christmas, she would put the snow globes out, and I would shake them, and look into them. They did not contain the beautiful, complicated scenes and figures you might see in snow globes today. These snow globes of yesteryear were made of plastic, and the scenes inside were very simple, almost crude in workmanship. I would shake them, watching the snow swirl around inside them, and I would wish that I could live in the scene inside the snow globe. I could picture myself playing next to the snowman inside one globe, or living in the little house inside another globe. The scenes were sweet and wintery, and for a few moments, with my child's imagination, I inhabited those scenes.
I wondered why this old memory would come back to me so suddenly. I think I know why now.
We cannot escape the works of darkness that seem to fill our times and events. Every day, we hear and see news items from our own country, and from around the world, that reflect the very worst of the sinful nature of man. We are bombarded with these images and words. Television and the internet have made it possible to know of these events almost at the instant of their happening, like never before in history. We hear and see the weirdest shenanigans of celebrities, politicians and neighbors. Not much can remain hidden any longer.
I also hear communications lately from friends, loved ones, even fellow believers, filled with sadness, anger, depression, discouragement, anxiousness, and worries.
We even begin to look at the Body of Christ, fellow believers, the same way we look at the events of the world. We see the faults, we feel disappointment, and even betrayal, the "let-downs". Our whole eye has become filled with the fruit of the darkness that we see around us. Our mind and emotions fall victim to this world darkness. We become what we look at, what we fill our eyes with. Scripture tells the story of Jacob changing the color of sheep by what he put in front of their eyes, and in their drinking troughs (Gen. 30:37-43).
Our souls and spirits have become sickened because of the dark reports we have been surrounded by, and we don't even realize it. No, contrary to recent stories, it's not the air freshener, or the candle burning in the room that's making us sick, but it's the evening news. Much of our society has "shadenfreude", being entertained by, or getting perverse enjoyment  from, others' misfortune and tragedy.
However, while we live in the world, our purpose is not the same as the rest of the world. While, granted, the reported events of this world hopefully bring us to prayer, our eyes should not be filled with the darkness of these things, lest we become like them, and begin to suffer from the same repercussions of that darkness from which the world suffers:
"My eyes bring suffering to my soul because of all the daughters of my city."  Lam. 3:51
Jesus said, "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore, your eye is good (healthy), your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad (evil, unhealthy), your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore, the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" 
                                                                                                    Mt. 6:22-23
Our vision should be like our words (Rom. 4:17): Seeing things not as they are, but seeing things as they are meant to be, calling and seeing those things that be not, as if they already were, processing those dark things internally, as if they are light. How can this be done?
What we "see" is not dependent upon current events. It is dependent upon us.
You may insist that, unlike when we were children, it is not possible to inhabit a snow globe. You may say that we live as adults in the real world. So we do. However, what is to be our reality in this "real" world? This reality is described as part of our calling:
"For you see your calling, brethren...God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world, to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base (lowly) things of the world and the things which are despised, God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence."  1 Cor. 1:26-29
We are here to bring those dark, proud things that exist to nothing. They shouldn't be becoming part of us, troubling and sickening us.
Jesus taught about the unrelenting darkness of the end of the age. He taught about deception, wars, earthquakes, famine, pestilence, fearful sights on earth and in the heavens, persecution, betrayal, accusation, men's hearts failing from the fear and expectation of what was coming. (Lk. 21:8-26). However, these same events should cause a different expectation in our hearts. Jesus says that these events should be seen by us as the coming of our redemption, causing us to lift up our heads, to look up and see His coming. When we see these things happening, unlike other men, we are to see the kingdom of God drawing near. He says we should see these things as like seeing the budding of the trees, which promises the coming green leaves and fruits (figs) of summer. (Lk. 21:28-31) This should be what we see, and expect. What others are processing as horror and fear, we are processing as coming hope.
Jesus already told us above how to process the surrounding darkness, turning it into light and hope inside of us. The Apostle Paul also told us that we have been delivered from that power of darkness (Col. 1:13). In Phil. 4:4-9, he also said:
"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!...The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." 
When the Lord brought to my memory the scenes from the snow globes, and reminded me of how I used to desire to inhabit those scenes as a child, I think He was teaching me, in His unique way, what Jesus and Paul were teaching us above. In our spirits, we have the ability, even the power, to see darkness as light. We are commanded to see darkness as light. It is in us and through us, that the kingdom of darkness loses its power, and is transformed into the kingdom of light. It doesn't matter what everyone else reports and perceives, it matters, as sons of God, what we report and perceive. From the impression I have, I don't think Jesus kept His eyes on the workers of the darkness all around Him. He said that He did the works that He saw His Father doing, so His eyes were on His Father.  Where are our eyes looking?

Our Father reminds us to look into the snow globes.

"Whatever is True"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1M_-8dD_sI


"I Lift My Eyes Up (Psalm 121)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g4eqKDkDiw

Handled

The scripture that caught my attention and thoughts today is from 1 John 1:1:
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life-..."
The writer of this book, the Apostle John, wants to make sure his readers know that he is not just writing about something he heard second hand from others, but he is writing to them of things he heard, saw, and touched, himself. He makes the point that he handled Jesus, touching Him with his own hands. 
From the moment He was born to His resurrection, Jesus was touched and handled by others. He allowed Himself to be touched in so many different ways, and circumstances.
As a baby, His mother, Mary, wrapped Him, and cared for Him with a mother's tenderness.
The song, "Mary, Did You Know?" beautifully asks if Mary knew when she kissed her baby's face, that she kissed the face of God?
As Jesus travelled and ministered, and taught about His Father's kingdom, many touched Him.  The scriptures relate the story of a woman who was desperate to be healed, who only touched His clothes. Jesus perceived the healing power that had flowed out of Him. He asked "Who touched Me?" His disciples were amazed at the question because many were touching Him: "Master, the multitude throng and press You, and You say, "Who touched Me?" (Lk. 8:43-45). Not only did this woman touch Him, but He was pressed and thronged by many in that same moment, pressing against Him, grabbing at Him. Out of the many that touched Him in demand, He perceived the one who touched Him in faith, and hope.
In a much different manner, on a different occasion, Jesus' family and friends tried to seize Him, to take hold of Him, because they said He was out of His mind. (Mk. 3:21). What a terrible thing to think of now, when we know who Jesus is! And yet He had to endure this type of handling from friends and family.
Similarly, those who were angered by His words, took Him into their hands and thrust Him out of the town, taking Him to a cliff where they intended to throw Him off. (Lk. 4:29).
There is a precious story of a woman who touched Jesus in thanks and worship. She came into a dinner being held at a Pharisee's house, and began to wash Jesus' feet with her tears, and dry them with her hair. She kissed His feet, and anointed them with perfumed oil. He received her touch. However, because He allowed her touching and handling, the Pharisee who was His host, judged that Jesus could not be a prophet, or He "would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner." (Lk. 7:36-39). Her touching of Jesus greatly offended the Pharisee, but it didn't offend Jesus. The religious are offended, but the humble who handle Jesus this way are raised up.
Jesus allowed His disciples to physically lean against Him for support, and affection. (Jn. 13:23).
He was betrayed with a kiss from a friend. (Lk. 22:47-48).
Jesus was handled with violence upon His arrest, and crucifixion. He was punched, spat upon, hands grabbed His beard and pulled it out. He was beaten with reeds, scourged, stripped in humiliation, and punctured. This is also how men handled Jesus.
Other men's hands gently removed Him from the cross, wrapped a sheet of linen cloth over and under Him, and laid Him in the tomb.
After Jesus was raised from the dead, He encouraged one of His fearful and doubtful disciples, Thomas, to handle Him, to touch His wounds, to see that He was not a ghost, but the same Jesus the disciple knew and loved:
"Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"  Jn. 20:27-28
When Thomas handled Jesus at that moment, he received a life-changing revelation, even though he had witnessed Jesus in ministry and teaching many times before. At that touch, he declared to Jesus, "My Lord and my God!"
Men were allowed to "handle" Jesus. How they handled Him either condemned them, or saved them. The same is true today. He still places Himself into men's hands. How will we touch and handle Him?

Our Father gives us His Son to handle.

* Painting at the top of the page:
"Doubting Thomas" by Caravaggio


"He Touched Me"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW3BRX0B8f0

"If I Can Touch the Hem of Your Garment"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exs9KdAckD0

Light

During this season of Hanukkah and Christmas, we express a spiritual truth using lights. Hanukah is called the Feast of Lights, or the Feast of Dedication, and a menorah is lighted each night for eight nights, to celebrate the fact that the LORD extended the oil needed to keep the Lamp of the Temple lit beyond the one-day supply of oil that was on hand. As that Feast is observed today, the menorah is placed in a window, so the light of it can be seen by others.
The command of the LORD to Moses generations before regarding that Lamp in the Holy Place was that its lights should remain lighted continually:
"And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn (ascend) continually...Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening until morning before the LORD. It shall be a statute forever to their generations on behalf of the children of Israel."   Ex. 27:20-21
Our celebration of Christmas, the birth of our Savior and Messiah, Jesus, is also filled with lights. We cover our homes, trees, bushes, and anything that stands still long enough, with lights.
The quality and power of light cannot be separated from God:
"This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all."     1 Jn. 1:5
It is His first act of creation in Gen. 1. The darkness that had entombed the earth, before the command of light was given, was total, and so deep and thick, it was like the darkness at the bottom of a pit, or an abyss. The light of God, contained in the power of His word, broke through the darkness, and light and dark were separated, even severed. When He spoke "light", it was not just natural light. By meaning of the word, "or", it is the light of day, the light of a lamp, the light of life, the light of prosperity, the light of instruction, the light of a face. In this case, the light of the face of God.
The importance of the light of God is revealed in His word:
"For You are my lamp, O LORD; The LORD shall enlighten my darkness."    2 Sam. 22:29
The light of the LORD is His quality of righteousness and salvation:
"For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem's sake, I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns."
                                                                                                              Isa. 62:1
The Biblical prophecies of the birth of Jesus, and the description of His purpose and power, are very much tied into the lamp, and light of His Father:
"...By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined."    Isa. 9:2, Mt. 4:15-16, Lk. 1:79, Lk. 2:32
The light of a star gave revelation of Him, and showed the way to His presence in the manger, the place where God touched the earth in the form of a baby. (Num. 24:17, Mt. 2:2).
The light quality of Jesus' life was told in John:
"In Him was life, and the light was the life of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend (seize, overcome, overtake) it...That was the true light, which gives light to every man coming into the world."   Jn. 1:4,5,9
Jesus identifies Himself as the Light:
"...I am the light of the world. He who follows Me, shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life...As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."   Jn. 8:12, 9:5.
However, He didn't come to keep the light of God to Himself only, but to manifest it through men. He redefined those who would follow Him, and revealed to them God's great purpose in them:
"You are the light of the world. A  city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden...Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven."
                                                                                          Mt. 5:14, 16
Apostle Paul tells us this same thing beautifully:
"For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God, and not of us."    2 Cor. 4:6-7
During this time in which we live, it seems that darkness is raising its prideful head as never before in the earth. More than ever, the light of the promise of our Christmas Savior, and the lamp of Hanukkah, need to shine forth to dispel that darkness. It shines forth through us, by the Living Word, and Spirit in us. Out of the thick darkness, the voices are crying out. If we stop and listen, we can hear them around us. It is the light of God through Christ in us that pushes back that darkness. We should not be fooled, frightened, nor overcome by the darkness. Even more so, we should SHINE!
"Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising."       Isa. 60:1-3
Hallelujah! Merry Christmas, and Happy Hanukkah.

Our Father shines His saving, glory light through us.


"Mary, Did You Know?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE

"Light A Candle"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6K2ocj4BvUQ

"Go Light Your World"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsM5lt9tCFo

Sin

There is a great debate in these End Times about sin. The scriptures prophesy about this very thing, and we are seeing it come to pass. There are many across the globe who want particular things to no longer be considered as sin. Many are demanding that society, and even the Church and synagogues, no longer label certain activities as sin. Their argument is that times have changed, and the insistence of faiths in labeling these activities as sin must change also. Some faiths have acquiesced to these demands, although it was not the institution, but God, who set the standard to begin with.
Contrary to how we sometimes think, sin is not an A-Z list, starting with, say, "Adultery", and ending with "Zoroastrianism", with many things listed in between. It is not a matter of man arrogantly or ignorantly shifting an item from the "Sin" column, to the "No Longer a Sin Because Times Have Changed" column, or the "No Longer a Sin Because Everybody Does It" column. Sin is not a list of words and behaviors about which we can debate. It is also not a list of items of which some are considered minor, and others are considered major offenses. All sin results in the same consequence-death: mental, emotional, physical, spiritual death.
So what is sin then? Are there specific things mentioned in scripture as sin? Oh yes, but the definition of sin in both Greek and Hebrew is: to be without a share in, to miss the mark, to err, to be mistaken, to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor, to do or go wrong, to wander from or violate God's law, a violation of divine law by thought or deed, to miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, to bear loss, to lose one's self, to wander from the way, etc. The definitions point to the imagery of an archery target where any arrow that does not strike dead center, or the bull's eye, is "missing the mark". Any archer will tell you that hitting that bull's eye dead center is a difficult feat.
What is that mark or standard that we must reach or hit? Scripture says, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Rom. 3:23, 5:12).
The standard that the Law of God demands is to the holiness, perfection, and glory of God, Himself (Lev. 20:7, 1 Pet. 1:15-16, Gen. 17:1, Mt. 5:44-48). This is the center of the target, the bull's eye, that we are required to hit. No amount of debate, changing times, offence, or insistence can change this absolute and eternal standard. Even if we just miss this mark, this bull's eye, by a slight margin, it is as if we have missed the whole target entirely.
If we do not know the whole Law of God, Jesus gave us this guideline when asked what the most important commandment was:
"...you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the prophets."
                                                                   Mt. 22:37-40
So we have already reduced a very long A-Z list of items to two. The question is, how many of us fulfill even these two commandments? No, we don't get partial credit for just knowing our neighbor's name!  In case any of us have successfully met this standard, which is very doubtful, Jesus continues His point as a wonderful young man comes up to Jesus and asks Him sincerely, what "good thing" is required of him that he may have eternal life. Jesus tells him to keep the Law, the commandments. The young man assures Him that he does this, and has done it from his youth. Jesus then tells the young man that if he wants to be perfect (this is our standard mentioned above), he must sell all that he has, give the proceeds to the poor, and come follow Jesus. Jesus assures him he will have treasure in heaven, but the young man turns away heartbroken, because he knows he can never do it. He is very rich. (Mt. 19:16-26). Does Jesus ask him to do this because we should not own anything? No. Jesus saw in the young man's heart that there was something more important to him than God, something the young man loved more, needed more. It was so important to his life that he could not walk away from it, even for the benefit of gaining eternal life.
According to the guideline Jesus gave us, we are supposed to love God above all else, and with everything within us. Nothing is to be more important to us than our love of God. We may think that we could give up anything if God required it of us, but as God searches our hearts, He can always find something that we love more than Him, even if we don't want to admit it. He could easily show us our shortcomings by pinpointing those things, and asking us to walk away from them. If He were to ask this of us, it would break our hearts, because we wouldn't be able do it in many cases. So we can't really say that we keep even the two commandments Jesus mentioned above.
Jesus also tells us that if we have an A-Z sin list, we must remember that there are subcategories of categories, because even just our thoughts and feelings have the same consequence, and carry the same guilt, as if we actually commit the act. (Mt. 5:21-22, 1 Jn. 3:15). For this reason, if for no other, the law cannot save us, because we cannot keep it. Hebrews 7:19 tells us that the law made nothing perfect.
Does this mean that Jesus didn't think sin was important? No. He would tell those to whom He ministered to go, and sin no more. Sin means death, and Jesus came to destroy the power of death over us. The Good News, however, isn't about keeping the list of sins. Heated debates about changing the definition of sin will come and go, and we get very upset, even angry, by these debates. It is very sad to our hearts to see men's disregard for God, and for His word. We despair as we see the laws of our land changed as a result of this disregard, but we will see the real fruit of righteousness come when we change. We must change. I must change. I am looking for the world to change, but the world is groaning, looking and waiting for me to change. I am looking to manifest to the world the miracles of Jesus, but I must also manifest the greatest miracle of all, the miracle of salvation and renewal and change in my own life.
Our Good News is that even though we all fall short of God's holiness, perfection, and glory, Jesus offered Himself as our only hope and remedy. That is our message, and that is the truth we offer. As far as the sins of others are concerned, Jesus instructed us that if we forgive others' sins, they are forgiven, and if we retain the sins of others, they are retained (Jn. 20:22-23). So concerning the sins of others, that is our commandment. The Torah agrees when it instructs in 1 Chron. 7:14 that we are to humble ourselves, as the people of God, turn from our own wicked ways, and repent, seeking the face of God. If we are willing to do this, our whole land can see revival and healing. So why hasn't our land seen this revival and healing? Perhaps because we, God's people, are not following this instruction. If we are going to measure guilt and failure, what greater failure can there be than to keep revival from our land because we, the people of God, cannot, or will not, humble ourselves individually in repentance?
Jesus asked how we can see to remove the mote in our brother's eye, when we have a beam in our own eye. First, we must remove the beam from our own eye. Otherwise, He used the term we all dread to hear: "Hypocrites". Once our hypocrisy is revealed, our whole testimony, our whole message, becomes worthless and ineffective to others.
Jesus was challenged by the religious folk with the accusation that He did not keep the law. On one occasion, He was asked about the stoning of an adulterous woman, caught in her guilt. As the encounter ends, Jesus says to let the one among them who is without sin cast the first stone.  As her accusers leave, he instructs the woman to go and sin no more. (Jn. 8:4-11). What do I do about these sayings of Jesus? Do I read past them as quickly as possible, and go on to the next scripture? I had better not.  What is He telling us? Is He saying that it doesn't matter if we sin? No. When He says, "Judge not, that you be not judged." (Mt. 7:1), how do I incorporate this into my thoughts on sin? Jesus said it is the one who was forgiven much, who loves the most (Lk. 7:47).
My real condition is this: sadly, while I quickly gloss over my own shortcomings and sins, I am very quick to see and condemn in my heart the sins of others. While my own mind and heart are full of destructive thoughts and feelings, I ignore them to focus on the failings of others. All the while, I have the key to revival and healing in my very hand, not just for myself, but for my nation, but I do not use it. How will I face God with this reality? I had it in my hand the whole time, yet I would not use it.
Our whole nation, and even the nations of the world, are being destroyed not by an enemy from without, but by an enemy from within, which is our own sin and rebellion. The Word tells me that the remedy begins with me, and my own repentance for my sins, my own salvation. This is the beginning point, the spiritual turning point. No, I will not compromise what I know is the truth of God's Word, no matter what society may demand. However, that truth needs to not just come out of my mouth, but through my life, as well. In fact, that truth will be most powerfully exhibited when it comes through my life.
The Apostle Paul mourned and wrestled with the fact that he was a wretched man because, even though he tried his hardest, and desired it with his whole heart, he could not be perfect (Rom. 7:19-25). If the Apostle Paul examined himself in this manner, then I think the rest of us should have plenty to keep ourselves occupied. He urged his own churches to examine ourselves (1 Cor. 11:28).
For this very reason, which is our own failing unto death, our Father sent His only Son, who allowed wicked men (all of us) to open His body, and His veins, so that His blood could cover us, cover our sins, cover our shortcomings, and bring us to the mark of the holiness, perfection, and glory of God, and to give us life instead of death if we will accept His provision for us (Jn. 3:16-18, Jn. 17:22).
Does that mean that any effort to avoid sin is hopeless, and therefore should not be even attempted? Does it mean that those who demand that certain things now be removed from the "Sin" column are right after all, because it is impossible to accomplish? No, our knowledge and awareness of our sin, even in list form, can be the first step to change, even as that same knowledge of it condemns us. When we are aware that we fall short, and our hearts' desire is to please God, and to be free from the calamities and death from sin, God can do a changing work in us. Paul said that many in the church had been guilty of certain sins, but were now cleansed (1 Cor. 6:9-11). However, while we are flesh, this conflict will be in us, and with us daily in some form. That A-Z sin list reminds us of how far short we fall, and how widely we miss the mark. It reminds us daily of how very thankful we are that Jesus became our righteousness to make up for the lack of righteousness within each one of us. He is the One who becomes the holiness, perfection and glory of God in our place, and on our behalf, as we continually miss the mark. Changing the sin list will not change the reality, as some might hope or contend, but God can change the reality:
Who then can be saved? "Jesus looked at them and said to them, With men, this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Mt. 19:26).

Our Father has given His Son for our sin.

"How Can It Be?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ben2wwGyOk

"Nothing But the Blood of Jesus"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYjhGeAIG6k

"Lord, I Need You"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuvfMDhTyMA

"Because He Lives (AMEN)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBvU7arNhQs

"Redeemed"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzGAYNKDyIU