excellent post at Slice of Laodicea

Division is Not Always Bad is definately worth the read.

Ouch that hurt

Root canals are no fun!

I had every intention of writing about something entirely different today. Being out and about I bumped into a few different people and have had a couple of conversations that started me thinking and then called me to prayer.

Why all the bickering within the body? We all come to Christ from different backgrounds. We all have had different experiences that have deeply affected our basic character and approach to life. We all come from different denominations and come out of some of the ones that do not hold with our born again beliefs. It seems to me that within the true church we should be willing to lay our differences aside for the sake of Jesus Christ. There will always be those outside of the body whose appearance is that of a body member who will attack and attempt to divide. They are outside the body of Christ; true believers do not act this way.

I am talking about those within the body of Christ who actively promote problems among fellow body members. Those believers, and some who are leaders of the church and pastors, who think that they can get away with murmuring things in secret without having their gossip discovered. And the Holy Spirit who always reveals reigns always. Those who refuse to settle differences, who refuse to promote peace with fellow Christians and refuse to stop gossipin while holding others to that high standard of accountability….what is all this about?

What do you do with believers, leaders, and pastors like that?

It is difficult when you are outside of a particular fellowship to call someone within a local body to task.

How much more difficult would it be for a home church to do something that an entire congregation struggles with?

Church discipline is necessary. It is painful.

It is the means that allows the truth to come out and unfortunately it is too often under the control of the one who needs it most.

Don’t be unwilling to deal with things here and now, even if you think that you will look bad, because what we don’t deal with here will be dealt with later on.

For a shepherd or leader to hurt one is the Lord’s, and to not allow reconciliation because of selfish pride, to the point of going on the offensive and gossiping would be a horrible place to find yourself in before our Lord Jesus on that day. We should all settle our differences here and now.

perhaps tomorrow

Kind of under the weather. An untreated (6 mos.) abscessed tooth has a hold on me. Antibiotics should kick in by tomorrow. Have a wonderful evening and peaceful day tomorrow.

Pastor Jon’s Blog – Presence of Mind

Presence of mind in all circumstances will be best to remember in the upcoming months too.

Read more at pastorjon.typepad.com/

and now for something we don’t want to talk about

UPDATED: In my lifetime I have been on the brink of death a couple of times. I really do not fear dying. I don’t really like to think about surviving without my family and friends. That, to me, would be a horrible fate. As a believer I know not to fear anything and a spirit of panic is just not what I am thinking here at all.

We used to raise chickens so I have known about the avian flu for about 4+ years now. I have had a lot of time to understand it and prepare for it. (I know little things like fish oil and borage oil help reduce the cytokine storm that occurs in this disease – don’t take anything with elderberry as that is for the other type of flu virus, etc.) My question is how is everyone else doing? How much preparation have you done, if any? Do you really think that it will be as bad as is being estimated now or do you think it is being over dramatized? Do you just try not to think about it at all?

If this breaks out into a full fledged pandemic at what point are you planning on staying home from work, church or school?

Reformation? Revival?

It wasn’t called secular humanism in the 1920’s but the movement that began then has fully emerged since then into its current most recognizable and wide reaching form. The generation that is passing now has been a part of the greatest change. It is not that they didn’t do their part in combating the evils of their day. The subtlety of the attack and the intrinsic comfort of the advances that were made in so many fields lulled them into a posture of complacency. The so called advances in science, government, education, and entertainment have turned social morality upside down. In the name of freedom we have become prisoners. Black became white and white became black as we rebelled against the Reformation that we thought was constraining us. We failed to realize then that it was the very fact that our society had moral absolutes which allowed us to be free and at peace. Now, we are not free, it’s an illusion, we have become prisoners to our own lack of moral absolutes.

It is hard to imagine a time when most people around this country were Bible believing and professing Christians, this was true up until the early part of the 20th century. While maybe not born again Christians, they knew the Gospel. The school system was entirely different. God was very much evident in the curriculum of our Judeo-Christian heritage. Thus, there were constraints to behavior and absolutes that prevented the turmoil that we are seeing break out today. The moral decline that I could recognize as a child of the 60’s was obvious with the Roe vs. Wade debacle and the free love, drugs and rock n roll era that I grew up in. That decline has continued. We kill our unborn babies! We can no longer speak about God without reproach! Marriage is no longer between a man and a woman! Sexual deviants teach our children, and we allow all of this! In our experiment to construct a society that allowed absolute freedom we have failed to recognize that absolute freedom brings utter abandonment, emergent chaos, and subsequently lack of freedom. We considered ourselves civilized and enlightened, what a colossal joke and that joke is on us.

No society can persist in a chaotic state and I expect that some of us ignorantly will applaud a return to the authoritarianism that will take place when the pendulum swings back, as it always does. Some will welcome the emergent leader who will seemingly solve the problems of our social ills, he will offer peace and safety, but he will be the deceiver, the enemy of our souls. And he will come; we know this to be true. The problem now is that we have failed to understand that what we have grown to cherish; our technology, our science, our love of the earth will be what we do not want to give up. We have failed to take seriously the warning of Scripture which tells us that we are in a battle.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places”. Ephesians 6:10-12.

Why do we allow ourselves to be lulled into a false sense of security time and time again? Ephesians 6:10-12 is true, and it is relevant for today! This entire world is under the control of the enemy, the evil one, who wants to devour each and every one of us. He has had free reign for far too long to devour our children. We have allowed him the victory. We have allowed him to ruin every God made institution in our society. Think about it. What is left, what remains sacred?

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and then after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints”. Ephesians 6:13-18

We must realize by now that we have not really taken these verses to heart. We understood them and knew them to be true; we just never really knew the intensity of their reality. The only offensive weapon is the Word of God and we have allowed that Word to be stripped from our history, from our science, from our schools, from our media and now with the emergent movement, the truth of the Gospel will be stripped from our churches, if possible. How much God allows the light of truth to be snuffed out at this stage in our prophetic history we can only wonder, but at some point He will say enough and send His Son for His bride. How much will we decline and what state the bride will be in is the question.

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A side note: The reason that I reveal so much about my life is that I truly want to help others. I have no pity for myself. I have not an ounce of sympathy for myself. I have no chip on my shoulder either. I am really quite happy even with all I have been through. I have had an amazingly traumatic life though. I look forward to seeing the other side of the tapestry and this excites me. I used to be the type of person who used to constantly dwell on the whys. Why did this happen? Why did this one say this thing to me? Etc. The most recent change in my life is that I don’t ask why anymore. Thank you Father! The why doesn’t matter and knowing the answer isn’t part of the experience or the healing. The introspection in “why” is too much of self and that just elevates me above my Savior, no thanks. So if you wonder at all why I reveal so much, its because I would love to help even though I don’t have the answers.

Cerulean Sanctum

Absolutely interesting topic. Can’t wait to read the comments to this post.

Read more at www.dedelen.com/cerulea…

finally done

Cutting down trees getting ready for the “big burn” next week! That and the mysterious plumbing leak that finally got fixed took all my time today. Oh yeah, and the little siesta

a new name

I have had three names that people have known me by at different times of my life. I was born and given the name Theresa Mary by my birthmother. That name was changed to Catherine Anne by my adoptive parents when I was two weeks old. I have had nicknames of Kate, Katie and Cathy all throughout my life. None of those names really fit me. I certainly am not a Catherine, Katie, maybe. When I was in college I had a professor who was a bit senile. I must have reminded him of someone who he had great affection for because it was with this fondness that he called me Jackie. That name somehow suited me and has stuck with family and friends who know the story. I now introduce myself as Jackie. It just fits, besides Jackie rhymes with wacky so well.

There are many instances in the Bible when God gave someone a new name. Abram – high father to Abraham – father of multitude. Simon – God has heard to Peter – rock, Jacob – supplanter to Israel – having power with God. Usually the name change established a new identity. Even after Peter was given his new name Jesus would refer to Peter as Simon when he was exhibiting some of the qualities of the “old man”. God would call on “Jacob” when he needed to be reminded to rely on Gods strength rather than his own strength. Up until the day my mother died hearing her call me Catherine was a sore reminder that I did not live up to her expectations as a daughter, she rejected me because I became one of those “born again” types, homeschooled my kids and did not remain a Roman Catholic, all that is another story for another day. When God resurrects us into His Kingdom he will give us new names that will fully show to the entire Kingdom what our very existence has been about. If we overcome sin, strife, division, and self interest and if we are peacemakers and lovers of one another in Christ, if we have loved God with all our heart, soul and mind, we will have the honor of a glorious new name for all of eternity.

Somethings Up!

An Exhortation on Hell
We ain’t got time to compromise

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar. ~ Psalm 51:7-19

Spirit of Elijah and Fire in the Last Days
Are you Ready?

Anger

The emotion that no one wants to admit they have. That seething emotional riptide that is repressed and denied by those who are good or Godly and the emotion embraced and nurtured by those who are not. This is the emotion that once exposed to the light drags all sorts of unpleasant, ugly baggage with it. Baggage that may be decades old, that was once thought to be long thrown into a dumpster but found to be collecting dust in the attic all along. What do we do with anger? What is the Biblical method of dealing with this God given emotion? What purpose does it serve in our lives? What is the impact of anger on us as individuals, as families, as a culture?

Anger the fever of the soul. It is the emotion that is a symptom of a greater problem that needs to be examined, repented of and healed. A problem that is lurking waiting to devour our soul and quench the spirit and threatens to shut off all communication with our Father. Usually the problem is pride. Our pride that is hurt is a huge spark that fans the flame to our core. We fail to search it out like the leaven of our souls. We fail to uncover it, confess it and heal from its wounds. Sometimes we fear an avalanche of emotion that once we acknowledge it exists will overtake our very being.

It is there though isn’t it? As a nation we are angry. Our society is filled to the brim with hordes of people who are angry, likeminded citizens who have banded together in their perceived oppression, in their shared anger. Entire segments of our population are banded together and whose voices are barely heard above the din but whose anger is seething, great gobs of biliousness that is just dripping with hatred toward anyone or anything that is not moving fast enough to escape. The angry and fearful masses, oh what a combination, which are ready to lash out at whoever is closest no matter who has generated this response, if anyone.

How are those in our society that are angered most by these perceived hurts or imagined betrayals going to find counsel when the only counselor that is all sufficient is nowhere to be found? Not found because we have stripped our society of the map to the treasure. Where will the truly victimized among us go to find relief when there is no one willing to embrace them and show them the way to healing? If we Christians who have been healed by our Fathers’ loving kindness fail to express these hidden truths in our lives, if we hide, if we retreat, our society will crumble. There will be no revival; there will be panic and chaos. That great avalanche of hellishness will surround the world and the one who is coming will be the false solution. What is our responsibility as the church of Laodicea, that lukewarm church that will be spewed from His mouth? This panic is coming. The hammer is cocked; a finger is on the trigger.

The fear will spread and the anger will erupt and we will hide unless we realize what is needed NOW. Revival, revival now! We need revival not because of our fear, or our anger but revival because our Father will be glorified. We need revival because we know that He is the only one who is the answer. We need revival because this is what He wants for us all. We need revival because Jesus sacrificed Himself, was obedient to the Father and went to the cross so we can be allowed to be revived. How dare we ignore His sacrifice by falling into petty division, strife, and disillusion? How dare we sacrifice Him again, on the altar of political correctness? How dare I do any of that? How dare I deny Him? It begins with me.

The Revival Hymn

The Revival Hymn

Listen please! “Come so you can bring glory to the Father.”

a follow up to Dan’s post

Battling the enemy? This is how I failed and then He got the victory. This is why I am standing firm now. Only because He is holding me up. Here are my two cents worth from my experience but who am I but a lowly Christian just trying to grow in the Lord. If I can assist a few others along the way, as the Holy Spirit allows, then that would bring me joy.

The enemy first attacked in my flesh. I had tremendous life pressures and when I was a non-believer my way of dealing with stress was what I was tempted with once again as a believer. In my mind I minimized the damage that can be done to a believer if they fail to obey, once saved always saved, right? Well, yes that is true but…

I failed to be sober-minded (although I don’t drink alcohol). Then the enemy attacked my soul, my emotions. I have always been an emotional person and because of my life’s story that is where I am weak. Recently, my father, mother and aunt died and I have a brother that is still missing. There is illness in my family. All was and remains very stressful at times and yes life can be filled with emotion. Body (the physical battle) and soul (the seat of emotion and thought), these are and were the two main attacks for me. The intensity sometimes can be unbearable. My spirit was not attacked, this time. I remained strong in my faith knowledge just not my faith practice. Not trusting the Holy Spirit in the other two areas was a denial of my faith practice, I denied His strength in how the attack could be deflected by the Word but my knowledge of our Lord Jesus and the tenants of our faith were never in question.

The main attack ended with me being obedient. It was as simple as that. I had to stop the disobedience in the physical first, and pray for the desire to be obedient, then the prayer for my Father to have mercy on me and give me strength to obey. The answer to those first prayers lifted me up so that I could ask for strength to gain victory in my soul. This is where I am still not completely through this. I battle in my emotions because of hurt which stems from a prideful heart. I am learning very slowly and I get very frustrated with myself. The key is to remember to give each thing where we realize that there is an attack, to our Father. He will only take what we give him and it is pride in ourselves that keeps us from giving Him everything. We are lulled into thinking that we have everything under control. This is still an attack in the soul since our soul is our intellect and emotion etc. If our soul is not right, our spirit is not right and we do not have proper relation with the Holy Spirit, so communion with God is impossible and we are left weak and drained. And yet we learn because God is allowing this in our lives for our good, so we can be sanctified. All this is probably pretty unclear because I have not yet fully woken up for the day ahead. Perhaps I will post again later. I am learning to wait on the Holy Spirit to lead otherwise I post drivel. See ya later.