Christ the Lord is risen today

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!

Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!

Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!

Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!

Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious king, Alleluia!

Where, Oh death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!

Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!

Where's thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!

Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!

Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Truth

The trouble with our age is that all men speak the truth. How much better it might be to live in an age in which all men would lie but the stones would speak the truth.

Obedience

Pascal says, "The reason it is so difficult to believe is that it is so difficult to obey."

It is obedience which has disappeared from the world, and this explains the absence of character. As a rule the relationship should be something like this; Man understands what God requires of him and obedience or obligation knocks on the door. Will you do this at once? And obedience does it, dares not do otherwise, and this is character.

In today's world this isn't the case. We understand very well what God is asking of us, we are somewhat well informed about the demands and the ideals, but it comes to nothing. We don't submit to God, because we are masters over our understanding, should we do it or not, does it make sense for me, and if so, how much? Instead of becoming a person of character, we're split in two: a kind of modern sophisticate and poet. Character takes the back seat.

An examination of God's Grace

Le's reflect on the text from Hebrews 6:13 and 14: "For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying 'I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you.'"

Notice the wording above. Historically, God swore for the benefit of Abraham to whom he had made an extremely a lavish promise. Who was Abraham to whom God would sware, "I will bless" and "I will multiply?" God, out of the fullness of His glorious grace, told Abraham who had no heir that he was to have an heir, and a seed as numerous as the stars of the heavens and as the sands of the sea.

None of this would come about by anything that Abraham in himself could do. To make sure that Abraham would have no part in it or in any way capable of fulfilling this promise, God withheld its fulfillment until Abraham and Sarah were as good as dead, and in this condition and wholly beyond the time of life when a child could be born, the promise was fulfilled. This is pure grace.

In Romans 4:19 and 20, referring to Abraham, you'll read; "Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and deadness of Sarah's womb, yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, and giving glory to God."

People often resort to the philosophy which says, "God helps those who help themselves," but this is exactly the reverse of what the Bible reveals. God helps those who cannot help themselves. What could Abraham and Sarah do to help themselves? Nothing! They could only wait on god to fulfill his promise. The same thing applies to our relationship to God. People think they must do something to merit the favor of God, or after having received salvation, they must do something to keep it. The most difficult truth to understand is that of pure Grace. Romans 11:6 says, "But it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace."

We should rejoice in this grace from God. It is our promise that God has better things in store for us and they're things which accompany our salvation. God forbid that we should receive this grace in vain. God swore by himself and now we have full assurance!

May I be patient

There's this quiet little road I know, high in the Colorado mountains. It leads where few have traveled and beautiful treasures await those patient enough to explore it. The ground is covered with snow now and the trees have lost their leaves, but if you're patient enough to wait until summer, the rewards are sweet.

Near the end you have to start hiking through the forest. It's dark in places and hard to see, even in broad daylight. Your legs get tired from going up and down the steep hill. The dense trees and undergrowth make the going a little tough, but if you're patient, you'll be rewarded with a beautiful site.

This little creek found the easiest path over a long granite slab. Carving its way through, the burbling water rose up almost magically, leaving small pools of clear refreshment. We stayed here and watched, amazed at what God had done through the course of time. I stand amazed at my little road to Him, rough as it may be at times. May I be patient Lord and keep you in my sight.

SK on Mohammedanism

SK writes the following about Mohammedanism in his journals: "In the words, I am who I am, the personal eternal consciousness has already taken precedence and therefore does not develop a fatalism as does the cold "unity." Furthermore, these words, "I am who I am," are an excellent answer to out-of-place questions."

Creation

"For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of god.

For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves,waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?

But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it."

Romans 8:19-25

The Southwest

The Southwest is a wonderful place, filled with natural beauty and stunning vistas. Who is responsible? Who created it?

The heavens are telling of the glory of God;

And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.

Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed;

He will answer him from His holy heaven

With the saving strength of His right hand.

Some boast in chariots and some in horses,

But we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God.

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning, new mercies I see.

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided,

Great is Thy faithfulness Lord unto me!

I believe it

Merry Christmas! I believe in it. I believe that God alone brings ultimate satisfaction. It comes from nowhere else. In my thinking, we either live under pressure to grow to be something more to be authenticated and loved by others, or we celebrate His beautiful and breathtaking grace.

Too many people are set in their ways and convinced. They clench their fists and wave at God declaring the same as poet William Ernest Henley, "I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul." And so they move into life determined to survive and do it on their own.

You can see this sentiment exhibited in the lives of wealthy people and even successful actors, actresses, and athletes. There is a familiar sound of arrogance in their attitude, then when difficulty hits, there is a scrambling for a solution and some plan of action. They want something bad to turn into something good. This attitude permeates American culture. We think we have the wherewithal to take care of ourselves. But money won't always cure your cancer or bring your spouse back. God isn't necessarily going to give you a good night's sleep or less anxiety.

People don't want to know God, and when they do, they pursue the satisfaction God provides more than they pursue God. Neither is obtained as a result. We don't want to know God better and knowing him isn't really going to satisfy the need. Rather, we want to use God to get what we want. Fixed ideas like this are like a cramp, in the foot for example. And the best remedy is to step on them.

Knowing God does bring about many blessings and for me he has brought unpredictable times of peace and joy. And one day I know I'll live in an unimaginably wonderful place with unspeakable joy and happiness. So, we should enjoy the blessings when they come and persevere when they're absent and even when all good feelings are gone.

I know that today's advice to follow God is probably weak, but the rich fullness and nourishment of life is only available from God and through trusting him. He gave up all the riches of heaven and in humility came to earth as a child. Then he suffered as the poorest peasant, serving others, healing them, and teaching them about God. Then he was crucified for you and for me. That is the greatest present of all. Merry Christmas my friends!

Today

Today a savior is born to you - and yet it was night when he was born. It's a metaphor, an eternal one. The word "Today" is a declaration of eternal time. God says Today, and its repeated from generation to generation, because every individual among those millions who become a Christian it says: Today a Savior is born to you.

Occupy

Without a doubt, business is dependent upon society and is a part of society. First year business students learn that the purpose of business is to create value. Business creates goods and services which enrich customers who can't or are unable to create it themselves. They pay for it, and value is created both ways. It's the American way.

Business is conducted in a social context and it's determined by community, church, state, and nation, as well as by business itself. Business and society are not discrete, separate entities in a community, they ARE the community. Occupy Wall Street cannot just clip it out. Business represents our values, our philosophies, our way of life. They produce both social climate and business enterprise.

Is government going to control our social life? How will it support free enterprise if this happens? And you can ask the reverse questions too. Is government going to control free enterprise and if so how will it support freedom? They forget that free enterprise is dependent on free men and women, and that restricted mobility, controlled thinking, and managed social orders are the paths to conformity, lassitude, and sterility.

SK on sin

SK writes; "The sinner, who after all was a woman and a sinner, dared go to see Christ at the Pharisee's house, where the Pharisees were all together at a feast - Nicodemus, who regarded himself as a righteous man, dared go to Him only at night.

Here also is the atonement. A man doubts that the sin he committed out of weakness can be forgiven. All is lost he thinks, and so he sins more. It takes the atonement to bring him to a halt."

Self-doubling

Just to clarify something about ethics I thought I would say something about Kant. He was of the opinion that man is his own law (autonomy), that is, he binds himself under the law which he himself gives himself.

Perhaps this reflects much of what society today believes. However, in a more profound sense, this is how lawlessness and experimentation are established. This thinking is not being really rigorous in any more sense than Don Quixote's self-administered blows to his bottom were vigorous. It is impossible for me to be really any more rigorous in A than I am or wish to be in B. There has to be some constraint if it's really going to be earnest. If I am bound by nothing higher than myself and I am to find myself, where would I get the rigorousness as A, the binder, which I do not have as B, who is supposed to be bound, when A and B are the same self?

The maxim which I give myself is not only not a law, but there is a law which is given me by one higher than myself, and not only that, but this lawgiver takes the liberty of taking a hand in the capacity of tutor and bringing pressure to bear.

Now if a man is never even once willing in his lifetime to act so decisively that this tutor can get hold of him, well, then it happens, then the man is allowed to live on in self-complacent illusion and make-believe and experimentation, but this also means: utterly without grace.

SK said, "Christ preached with authority - this "the clergyman" now also does, for in reserve he has the police and the house of correction."

Prayer of SK in 1847

Here is a prayer I liked written by Kierkegaard:

Father in Heaven! Do not side with our sins against us, but side with us against our sins so that when the thought of you awakens in the soul, and every time it awakens, it might not remind us of our trespasses but of your forgiveness, not of how we went astray but of how you saved us!

He goes on... Loving God! You have commanded us to forgive our enemies, our erring brothers, not seven times but 70 x 7 times. How would you ever then grow weary of forgiving an honest penitent.

Forgiveness

I think a number of people have a fundamental confusion about the meaning of forgiveness. God's forgiveness is never an act of leniency. God can righteously forgive only when the full satisfaction of His holiness has been met. The root of the meaning of the word forgive, in the Bible, is remission. It represents the divine act of separating the sin from the sinner. Human forgiveness is merely a lifting of the penalty: divine forgiveness is exercised only when the penalty, according to the terms of His infinite righteousness, has first been executed on the sinner, or his substitute. "This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:28). All divine forgiveness whether toward the unsaved or the saved is now based on the shed blood of Christ. When we were saved He forgave us "all trespasses." (Colossians 2:13). This is judicial forgiveness and means the removal of the grounds of condemnation forever. This is God's "Living water" for you and for me.

Power

I like what Henri Nouwen writes in his book In the Name of Jesus, "It seems easier to be God than to love God, easier to control people than to love people, easier to own life than to love life." He says that power is a temptation which is almost irresistible. Jesus asks, "Do you love me?" and then we ask, "Can we sit at your right hand and your left hand in your kingdom?" (Matthew 20:21). Perhaps there are a thousand little ways we seek power in our lives, instead of loving others and loving God. God does demonstrate that He is truly powerful in all things.

520 BC

Zechariah 12:10

The problem of evil

Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel relates in one of his essays an experience he had when he was a prisoner in Auschwitz. A Jewish prisoner was being executed while the rest of the camp were forced to watch. As the prisoner hung on the gallows - kicking and struggling in the throes of death, refusing to die - an onlooker was heard to mutter under his breath with increasing desperation, "Where is God? Where is He?"

From out of nowhere, Wiesel says, a voice within him spoke to his own heart, saying, "Right there on the gallows, where else?"

Theologian Jurgen Moltmann, commenting on Wiesel's story, astutely observed that any other answer would have been blasphemous. Ravi Zacharias asked the question, "Is there a more concrete illustration than the death of Christ to substantiate God's presence, right in the midst of pain? He bore the brunt of the pain inflicted by the wickedness of His persecutors - and showed us the heart of God. He displayed in His own suffering what the work of God is all about in changing our hearts from evil to holiness."

New eyes

Marcel Proust wrote "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." Perhaps the same is true as it relates to belief in God.

The facade I am pretending to climb was painted on the flat side of a building in Cortez, CO. Just about everything in the world; its art, its nature, its people, and even me is a fascination. In order to know God, I need to give up my fascination with things I see in the world and focus on the character and purposes of God. I am not the point. He is. I exist for him. He does not exist for me. To do this, I need new eyes.