Category: Preacher

Humans have always been fascinated with the cosmos which is the universe in a structured view. Wikipedia says that mythological cosmology is a way to explain the cosmos based on the religious mythology of a specific tradition. Say what!

Before the telescope, humans could only see stars, sun, moon and some planets with the naked eye. An explanation of heaven corresponds to 7 objects seen that follow a pattern. These include our Moon, Mercury, Venus, Sun, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Everything else is great dark expanse and billions of stars. I have not attempted to pick out these seven classical planets as described by ancient astronomers, but I trust they can be found. These seven objects related to the seven heavens or divisions of Heaven, also referred as the abode of immortal beings.

In particular the third heaven is considered a lower level of paradise. In some readings of authority but not canonized in the bible, the third heaven is sort of a holding area on the journey to a higher paradise. It is also where those not worthy fall away. It is said the Lord rested there before going up into paradise. You get the picture I hope? Does anyone really know? Not sure if anyone has actually made the trip and returned to tell us. Many seem to have experienced the “out of body” phenomena. Debate continues on what causes this but it is hard dismiss regardless what we believe.

Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:2 refers to the third heaven and some scholars believe he is referring to himself as a revelation. He then says was given a thorn in his body to be humbled. (v7) He pleads relief but the Lord gives him grace enough as power is made perfect in weakness. (V9) What if someone today told you of an out of body experience where they explained entering into paradise and saw things that seemed unexplainable? I suspect most people would consider a candidate for the psychological treatments. A few may believe with some doubt and still a few more may believe 100%. What if the person was from your family or home town? Would that matter? Most likely you may say, “well he or she has always been out there in la la land.? Maybe? Is there any wonder why Paul backed away from his revelation?

How about that Jesus fellow? Where did he get his magic? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t he Mary’s son? His brothers and sisters all live close by and repulsed by his behavior. What an embarrassment to his family. Jesus had much more than an out of body experience. He made claims to a heavenly kingdom. Can you imagine the talk in the neighborhood? So what to do? Move on and share the good news with those who will listen. He even trained his twelve followers to do the same. (Mark 6:1-13)

Keep moving, keep sharing the miracles and focus on heaven’s vision.

T

How do you define equality? As I write this message, I hear fireworks going off in my neighborhood. The fireworks represent our independence in the USA. It is interesting to remember what being independent really means. That we are not under control or needing support from anyone else. Many of our children try to declare independence well before they are ready simply because they do not like to be controlled. Adolescence is too young an age to declare independence, but when is a good time to break away from support and control of our guardians? When can we claim equality which is a state of being equal in status, rights and opportunities?

Are we equal, when we are free from all things that try to control us? Perhaps, we are equal when our net worth is equal. But then how is someone’s wealth measured? Is it through bank accounts or through some other attribute that makes us wealthy? “Although he was rich, he became poor for our sakes, so that you could become rich through his poverty.” (2 Cor 8:9) How do we define equality? Is it the value of the gifts we give? “A gift is appreciated because of what a person can afford, not because of what a person can’t afford, if it’s apparent that it’s done willingly.” (2 Cor 8:12) The last part of that verse is so important to remember that it is not the gift but the willingness to give. The writer of Corinthians continues to say its a matter of equality so one day your surplus fills another’s deficient and visa versa. That makes us equal.

Jesus was asked to lay hands on an ill daughter of a prominent Synagogue leader. While he was traveling through the streets for that purpose, a woman with a bleeding issue for twelve years simply touched his clothes. She wanted to touch him because she had so much faith in his healing. Was she healed? Yes. The power left him immediately and he knew he was in the presence of a faithful person. Likewise, he healed the leader’s daughter. (Mark 5:21-43) Now, I ask you. Who was more deserving to be healed? The woman in the street became a living testimony of His healing grace. The leader was humbled by the mercy given to the woman but also testified the miracle of his daughter. They both became equal that day.

How do we define equality? I believe we first have to recognize the gift of life and life giver, through the eyes of others.

T

Independence is a condition or quality where we are not influenced or controlled by someone or something. It is freedom from outside control or support. Are we ever free and so-called independent? Battles are won between two powerful armies and to the victor goes the spoils. This phrase was first spoken in the context of an election. William L. Marcy used this phrase to describe the victory of Andrew Jackson in the election of 1828. Whether an election or battle between armies, there is usually a clear victor that take the goods or benefits away from the loser in the competition. If you are on the side of the loser, it is not fair, and resentment can linger for years or even centuries. If you are on the side of the winner, it is a celebration of independence. Losers may claim winners are idiots, if the victory is an election. Losers may claim an unfair advantage for some reason perceived beyond their control which can also turn into disdain for the winners. I have posted several messages in the past about independence. The post called “History” was about the battle of Hastings in 1066, Brexit in 2016, and the USA declaration of independents in 1776. The post called “Freedom vs Slavery” was about the dangers when we fail to guard our gift of freedom against all temptations and fall back into bondage. The post called “The Harvester” is where I point out that we cannot survive without reliance on each another which is interdependence. However, we should always consider the source to not harvest bad crops. I encourage you to re-read my past messages posted on this blog site.

Battles are won well before any blood is ever shed in our hearts and minds. The story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 is a perfect example of the spoils of victory going to one victor instead of the Philistine alternative. Can you imagine the army of Israel choosing a young shepherd boy to fight for their cause? Would you have accepted the challenge? David lived by faith not by sight as in 2 Cor 5:7. The Israelites believed in Saul’s judgment that this shepherd boy had already won the battle because of his preparation and his faith in the living God. David did not receive the grace of God in vain (2 Cor 6:1). Neither should we! On this Independence Day, let us continue to prepare for the battles in life going on faith of the victorious outcome even before the battle is won.

T

Failure is lack of success. It is an omission of expected or required action. Failure is used loosely to describe many aspects of our lives. For example, “She or he failed to get the grades to advance in their career, so this is the reason never going to amount to anything in life.” Would you say such a terrible thing to someone or perhaps think it? Here is another example. “She or he failed in sports because they did not win the championship, so they are losers forever.” Again, not a very pleasant thing to say or think about another person yet it happens all the time. It seems the news media feeds off failure or their perception of failure.  Every news channel focuses on their perception of failure all to influence their audience on their brand of group think. There could be other negative or positive events occurring all over the world but the so called free press drives home their agenda. One side points fingers shouting failure while the other side focus on counter points to success. The winner in this crazy matchup is the one who gathers the most attention hopefully towards their agenda. The loser is the opposition. I submit to you that we are all losers in the battle for influence whether perceived as righteous or falsely accused.

Roger Bannister was a British doctor who defied the medical world at the time to break the 4-minute mile. His best time was 3:58.8. He failed in the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki by placing 4^th, but still beat the British record in the 1500 meters. His failure to win inspired him to challenge the medical community that said the limit was 4 minutes for any human runner in a mile. The fear of an exploding heart did not overcome his faith that he could do it. Two years after the Olympics with minimal training while practicing as a junior doctor in May 1954, he broke the barrier. 46 days later after proving it could be done, others followed. He later became Sir Bannister and was a distinguished neurologist in England. Failure only became the stepping block to success. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “We live by faith and not by sight”.

Babe Ruth was another that recognized failure as a journey to success. Did you know he was known at the King of Strikeouts? He led the American League in strikeouts five times and accumulated 1,330 during his career. That stat is hidden by his 714 home runs, 2,873 hits, and 2,213 RBI’s but who’s counting?

Success is on the fringes of our comfort zone where fear holds us back until we have enough faith to overcome our fears. If we remain in our comfort zone, never to risk failure, we will not be fully used according to God’s plans. Some of us wonder why it is so hard to make disciples for Christ, but when we stretch out beyond the box walled by fear, the wonders cease and a new horizon based on faith is revealed. Why are we here on earth? Is it to demonstrate the art of failure? I believe we are here to live by faith anticipating failure, but knowing success is obtained by our efforts, and His grace.

T

What is gravity? In physics it is the force that attracts a body toward the center of earth. Acceleration of gravity is approximately 32 feet per second per second. If you were falling subject to the pull of gravity for only two seconds, you would fall about 8 feet. If the ground was between you and the 8 foot distance you might get hurt. In physics, speed is distance over time or velocity. When I was young and stupid, I used to jump out of airplanes for fun knowing that if my parachute did not open, my terminal velocity hitting the ground would be about 120 mph from a belly-to-earth position. Most likely, I would not be writing this post today, if that had been my fate.

Instead of physics definitions of acceleration and velocity, consider spiritual definitions of grace and gratitude. If acceleration is the increase of velocity in physics, then gratitude is the increase of grace. The result of increased grace to benefit more and more people, will cause gratitude to increase and glorify God. (2 Cor 4:15)

I believe God’s grace is available to us all but do we consider his grace as a means to improve ourselves through serving others? The more we increase our capacity to accept grace the greater we are to share his grace. By sharing his grace with others, gratitude by others are possible which in turn glorifies God. Acceleration of His grace equals increased gratitude. Now that is a formula all of us should memorize and put to use in our daily lives.

T