Give the flesh an inch and it will take a mile!

We have all heard the saying that anything I enjoy is either illegal, immoral or it makes me fat! The problem I find in giving into my appetites (even if they are not in and of themselves sinful), is that giving in never satisfies me and, in ever increasing volume/frequency/intensity, I want more. I mean it's easier to refrain from adultery altogether than to just do it a little (it's a joke!).

In the good old King James version Paul talks about buffeting the body. He was not talking about indulging in all you can eat buffets, he was talking about his need of self discipline, and that the phenomenon described above was his reason for fasting. Reluctantly, kicking and screaming, I am seeing the need of this myself. If I give me and inch, it seems I at least want to take a mile!

The horse you ride is every hand as high as those of the Fundamentalists you so despise!

I am the first to admit that there are expressions of what is passed off as Christianity, that make me cringe. It is said that Jesus was full of grace and truth, when some of us who seek to follow him speak, it is not always grace and truth that comes out of the mouth, even when it it truth.

But those who follow Christ are not the only ones who lack grace in their speech, even when it is true. Again I am the first to admit that there are, and have been, gross injustices and even violence against those who are perceived as different. I want to apologize for this, it seems that there are many times we “know not what we do!” But, and I speak to both sides, is it true tolerance if we only tolerate those people and views with which we agree?

My response, stated in the head of this post, was to one who was showing the very same attitude and contempt as those he was lambasting. Unfortunately the liberal agenda, while it has many things to say that we need to hear, too often is saying them in a way that is fast becoming tyrannical. Christian Lawyers are being barred from the bar, Christian therapies are being literally outlawed, people of faith being denied access to training in psychiatry, and even to political parties. One has to wonder whatever happened to “I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” The tyranny of Political correctness intimidates into silence any and all dissension, and seems self righteously content to do this, even when what is spoken is spoken with grace. I came across this example recently. Watch and judge for yourself.

http://www.godvine.com/School-Administrators-Tried-to-Make-This-Boy-Deny-Jesus-3-Times-But-He-Wouldn-t-And-Now-Whoa--5526.html?utm_source=GodVine%20Daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=06/20/2014

What people do not seem to realize is that it is only in a culture this has been heavily influenced by the Bible that democracy, human rights and equality can even be preached with a any expectation of being heard!

Consider it all joy when you fall into various trials. You're joking right?

The morning of the day I knew was going to be the most difficult in my life, I woke up with an old hymn on my heart:- “Oh joy that seeks me through the pain, I cannot ask to hide from thee. I trace the rainbow through the rain and feel the promise is not vain, that morn will tearless be.” Next came the memory of a verse from Hebrews speaking of Jesus “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross despising the shame.” I felt I was being told that pain is a barrier the other side of which is joy.

I have wrestled with the admonition in the title of this post. I know at some level secular Psychology and even common sense will tell us that “it is no use crying over spilt milk.” Your (my) kicking, screaming and staying in denial is not going to help! So why not just suck it up and get on with life? It all makes perfect sense logically, but our emotions (mine in particular) are not necessarily subject to cold cool and hard logic. Even the best advice is more often than not far easier to say, than it is to do!

But for me, there is One who works in me both in my desire to do and in the wherewithal to do what otherwise would be impossible. I did kick and scream for a while, before I came to the stage where I can say that I am learning to stop fighting the people and circumstances I have no influence over. It's called acceptance. But I can also say that I really am finding that path, and that strangely the deeper the trial the more (with His help) I am able to stay close to the One who comforts and strengthens me. In fact I am even having joy in these times. So no I am not joking and, by the way in case you did not guess it, His name is Jesus!

You make me mad! Really?

How many times do we hear this, but how can someone force you to be mad? Am I without control over my reactions to what others say and do to us. Is there a “mad” gene within us that absolves us of any and all responsibility of taking control over our lives?

The teaching about Jesus being the God man is important here. Being God, Jesus shows what God is like ("If you have seen me you have seen the Father" – gracious, kind, loving full of grace and truth). Being man, Jesus shows us man as God intends man to be (Man? Women are off the hook! :)). He demonstrates grace, kindness, love, gentleness and (in terms of this post) self control (i.e. all the fruit of the Spirit). As thy drive cruel nails through His hands and His feet He prays “Father forgive them, they do not know what they do!” So did they make Him mad? In the moment of greatest pain He is forgiving and looking after His mother. How is this possible? Only by the Spirit, and again part of the fruit of the Spirit is self control.

Certainly we loose our temper at times (I have not yet arrived have you?). Part of the problem is that we have failed to exercise the self control of those who, with constant practice, have by the Spirit overcome the sinful nature. We do not have a choice about what wrong is done to us, but we do have a choice as to how we react to the wrong done to us. More often than not, our response to wrong done is wrong too. We are told to be angry and sin not, and to cease from wrath (getting mad – in particular allowing ourselves to be out of control). We (I) need to change these patterns. As for me, I am not yet what I should be, but thank God I am not what I once was!

On open letter to Emma Teitel concerning Trinity Western's covenant (Maclean's 12th May 2014)

Dear Emma,

Against what I consider my better judgement, I am finding your article on Trinity Western University (TWU) persuasive. I can see clearly, at least from your point of view, why you feel that lawyers graduating from TWU should not be allowed to practice law. The article is well thought out, well written and is perhaps one of the better representatives of your point of view.

On the other hand, I find your rewording of the TWU covenant as “in other words Gays are not welcome,” a bit puzzling. You yourself admit that this covenant has been in place for a long time, long before homosexuality was at the forefront of our thinking in terms of sexuality. Why do you not say heterosexuals are not welcome? Is that not equally logical (illogical)?

While it is certainly true that Gay rights have been trampled and need to be upheld, should we trample the rights of others in an attempt to rectify that? What about the rights of those of us who do not want to be defined by our sexuality, who want to find some shelter from the seductive forces of the current pseudo hyper sexuality of our society? Your article seems to trash any such rights. From the point of view of one who discovered the hard way that promiscuity is destructive in many ways, I also want to promote such rights which are increasingly being trampled.

I did not always felt the way that I feel today. I came to my current position by graduating from the school of hard knocks. I came to see that my self gratification was not about love, but rather selfishness, as I looked back on the trail of destruction and broken hearts (my own and others). Even after I stopped sleeping around, got married and was faithful to my wife, the addictive effects of my former behaviour continued to impact the intimacy in my marriage. I have come to feel that sexuality is a precious gift from God and not to be squandered and devalued outside of a monogamous life long relationship. I want better for my children and grand children, and hope that they can learn from what I now consider to be my wrong moves. Is this not what lies behind the impetus of the non-religious “second virginity” movement? Do not those of us who feel this way have rights too, or must we bow to the god of Political Correctness?

Respectfully Phil Heath

Saved from the penalty, being saved from the power, will be saved from the presence of sin

Been studying Psalm 103 in the fellowship. As far as the east is from the west so far has He removed our transgressions from us. That is even further than the North is from the south (I can keep going east or west forever!) But in what ways are our transgressions (sins) removed? Well first and foremost it means that He has separated me from the penalty (eternal consequences) of my sin. He is just to do this because He Himself has paid the penalty on the cross. I don't fully understand this, but I gladly and gratefully receive it.

When my attitude is right (walking in gratitude for what He has done for me) He is then actively at work also removing (separating) me from the power of my hurts, hang ups and habits. When I confess and choose with His help, the ongoing process of forsaking the wrong things, He is quick to forgive and restore me to full fellowship with Him. In this way He is involved in the complicated process of separating me from the power of my transgressions. I may not yet be what I (and probably you) want me to be, but thank God that, through this process, I am not what I once was! This process (called sanctification) even helps to separate me from my negative attitudes such as ingratitude, unforgiveness etc., all of which tend to drag me down. My sanctification will only be finished when I meet Him face to face.

And there is one more thing that helps with my ongoing growth in Him, and that is the sure hope that it will not always be wrestling with my hurts, hang ups and habits. Since I will be with Him for ever and ever and ever, it is necessary that I submit to this process of refinement, because when I finally get to go home with Him, I will be separated not only from the penalty, not only fully separated from the power, but also fully separated from the very presence of sin. Just think about it, no more hate, no more put downs, no more manipulation, no more grief (He personally will wipe away every tear), no more death, no more separations.

I know that I have not yet arrived (if you know me you will know that too), but on that day the process of sanctification will be complete. Just think all the annoying things about me will disappear! What a hope that up there, I will not even want to do negative things as He, in the blink of eye, changes me. Hallelujah – praise (hallel) the Lord (jah)!

Repentance requires greater intimacy with God than with our sin

It is a quotation from Rosaria Champagne Butterfield a former lesbian convert to Christ, who considers herself healed. But what does she mean?

Christianity is not primarily about rules and regulations, though they do play a part. Christianity is first and foremost about relationship with God. Jesus himself said as much in His high priestly prayer to the Father where He said “this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” There is a reality about relationship. You cannot have a relationship with something or someone who does not exist, but those of us who have known true intimacy know it's reality, be it an earthly or Heavenly relationship. The problem though is that our passions get in the way, at least mine do, and I think Rosaria's too.

Passions are a lot like appetites. Those of us who gain weight by even looking at deserts know full well that left to our own devices we would soon become as big as a house. What seems to happen is that the more we indulge, the grater our capacity to indulge. I am told that when we eat a lot, our stomachs stretch, and that creates greater hunger pangs. Part of what we need to do when trying to loose weight is to starve ourselves a little so that our stomachs (and hence our appetites) shrink.

I have experienced the same thing with desires that lead me away from God. The more I feed the desire either by indulging it, or by fantasizing, the further away from God that I feel, and the less real my relationship (with God) feels. In order to get back to the intimacy with Him, I need to starve my inapropriate passions. I need His help for this, and it is help He freely gives when we ask. The point is that I seem to be a leaky vessel (for the Holy Spirit). But I miss Him when I am not close, and I need to exercise discipline to return (repent). I think this is at least part of what Rosaria is saying!