ALookintoT

The word call has many synonyms. The list includes cry out, shout, yell, roar, and my favorite slang, holler. When you cry out in order to get attention, you call. We used to make a call on an old fashion telephone. Instead, we use more sophisticate devices like smart phones or hand held computers. The call may not even be verbal as many of us prefer to simply text or email to get someone’s attention. It is scary how communication has moved from verbal one on one to a group call. That may be a good thing, but I fear may become a point of contingency in years to come.

The past tense of call is called. Do you believe God has called you? Back in April of 2016, I asked the question, “Have you ever considered you path in life?….Life can be good but it can be difficult also. What keeps you strong and on the right path?… How were you called?”

Perhaps a more direct question would be, do you know if you have been called? In Hebrews 5 starting at the first verse, we learn that even high priests are chosen from the people and put in charge of things related to God for their sake. If the priest is truly called, then they are empathetic to the people and able to deal with people since they also have similar challenges. They are merely reflective of the current human existence. Aaron was called by God and created the lineage of the priesthood under the Law of Moses. Jesus did not qualify to be a priest according to that law. Instead, he was consider a priest in the order of Melchizedek because he too was not a descendent of Aaron. Aaron and Melchizedek were called by God. I believe Jesus was set apart from a mere priest.

Can we be called by God and not be considered a priest? I believe without a doubt we are all called to a purpose revealed when we are ready. How do you know right from wrong? I believe you are on the right path when you meet resistance, but feel compelled to keep moving. Likewise, you may be on the wrong path when things are so easy no one or no thing causes you any challenges. But, here is the miracle of being on the right path, in my opinion, the resistance begins to break off and you begin to see a higher purpose. Keep moving resisting fear until your faith prevails.

T

Way back in the fall of October 2015, I posted a blog on sharpness. Now that we are approaching cooler weather as fall tries to overcome summer in 2018, I am reminded of the same theme. I said in 2015 that we stay sharp by our actions not our words. By our love not hatred. By our compassion not intolerance. By our thankfulness not regret. Three years later perhaps I need to amend my words to say that sharpness is a two-edged sword. Actions can go both ways with positive or negative results. We can choose to be intolerant to another perhaps easier than being compassionate. 

By definition, to be sharp means, to have an edge able to cut. Do we cut away the fat and keep the good meat or do we just slash out with no regard for our actions? Sharpness is the quality or state of being sharp. Is our degree of sharpness bordering on becoming a real “A Hole”? Sharpness should be a quality within our traits that separate us from animals and defines humanity. But, are we sharp with our tongue to cut into another with verbal abuse? In these days of instantaneous opinions based on assumptions, is there still a chance to be sharp in a positive way? I believe that if we choose the dark side, we will be found out in due course. In my opinion, there is a day of reckoning for us all. No matter how much we think we can hide, our true selves will be found sooner or later.

“God’s word is living, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword….No creature is hidden from it, but rather everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of the one to whom we have to give an answer.” (Hebrews 4:12-13)

T

What is humanity? Is it demonstrated with reason, compassion or with contempt? In this day of opposing camps, contempt is all that we see. I just listened to a logical speech from a US Senator that helped me understand why opposing camps draw their battle lines. It is not about reason, compassion or contempt. It is about control. Those who do not have control become the opposing side, period. What they are opposing and who they destroy is not in their algorithm. What is humanity? According to Quora, it is a term referring to the human species and sets of qualities which define human nature.

An algorithm is a process or set of equations based on certain parameters which can be built into a computer model to predict results. Did you know social media has advanced to the point where elections could be decided without the need for human voting input? Our brains have already been tapped into to predict our behaviors. If you do not believe me, just go anywhere and do anything where your hand held device is used or you are programmed into a computer. For example, when you go to a doctor, you may spend more time with the receptionist filling out insurance to prove you can pay than actually seeing the doc. Later that day, you are targeted for some other unsolicited medical advise. How about taking a cruise. You are suddenly on a database for other cruises. Even charities share your information so you are targeted for multiple charities you may have never heard. And so it goes…

I recently read a book by Yuval Harari called “Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow.” where data-ism is all about the convergent of biological and software algorithms. He says “As we become increasingly skilled at deploying artificial intelligence, big data and algorithms to do everything from easing traffic to diagnosing cancer, we’ll transform into a new breed of superhuman…” The book is his interpretation but seems on track to suggest data-ism is more than just a philosophy. Humans as we know ourselves will become extinct. We will be replaced and data-ism will totally control us thus becoming our higher power source. You buy that?

Hebrews 1:2 says that God did not put the world under the angel’s control. Someone declared “What is humanity that you think about them?… You put everything under their (Angels) control.” Now we see Jesus who was lower than the angels for a while, but now is crowned with glory. He suffered death to taste it for us all through God’s grace.

The dispute continues. Is there a living God and was Jesus sent to us to restore humanity with greater qualities than if left on our own? I say Yes!

T

By definition, a wanderer is a person who travels aimlessly. Not a good thing if you have no direction in your life. In my opinion, it will only lead to a dead end. I believe we must have some purpose that drives us down the road of life. If guided by faith, the purpose will be revealed through our good actions.

Dion DiMucci released a song in 1968 called the “Wanderer” Verse 1 reads, “Oh well, I’m the type of guy who will never settle down where pretty girls are, well you know that I’m around. I kiss ’em and I love ’em cause to me they’re all the same. I hug ’em and I squeeze ’em; they don’t even know my name.” Refrain reads, “They call me the wanderer. Yeah, the wanderer, I roam around, around, around.”

It was a great hit in the 60’s and still going strong now. I bet some of you who just read these lyrics are now playing the tune in your head. Right? It is all well and good to produce a hit with a beat, but the words tell a different story. The “MeToo” movement in these days may very well say perhaps this song provided encouragement to many a young man to follow the innuendoes suggested. Now, I am just saying, the song could have been one of many influences in a young guys road to maturity. Hopefully, most of us guys during that time considered the beat, enjoyed the music, but kept on a course to maturity. However, some wanderers never turn back from a dead end existence.

James 5:19 tells us that if any of us wander from the truth, we are a sinner on the wrong path. But, if any of us turn back a wanderer, we will save them from death and will bring about forgiveness of many of our sins. I admit and so should you that I am a sinner. Admission is the first step in our recovery and turning back to the truth. I believe in having fun, dancing to the tunes (left feet and all), enjoying life but also believe we need to guard ourselves from becoming a wanderer.

Mark 9:50 says salt is good but if it looses its saltiness then that is not so good so maintain salt among yourselves and keep peace with each other.

T

By definition, a series disagreement or argument is a conflict. We are incompatible with one another. I believe in our current state of political discourse, we are in conflict at a level of absurdity. If the a person says the sky is blue then the another may say no it is overcast and going to rain somewhere. True but maybe not here and today. Someone is always going to want to rain on your parade. But, do we succumb to the negative press about ourselves or about what we believe as the truth? There is a source of conflict like there is a source of wisdom. Where do you get your conflict and where do you obtain your wisdom? This is a complicated question. Last week I wrote about meanings of Shrew, Rudder and Tongue. The later as in the Taming of the Tongue to not speak cursing. Instead, speak blessing. Where is the fun in talking blessing when many of us thrive on making statements or claims that only cause discourse and conflict. Why can’t we get along? I believe it comes down to where we get our strength. When we see stories of people in crises from a major weather event on TV, it is not just a story on the news. It becomes a 24 hour, 7 day a week repeat of the event and the aftermath. We watch and feel blessed that it did not happen to us. Some of us act with donations, some act with pity, some just watch and ask why government is not doing more. Likewise, when an event happens in the political arena, some act to say this is ridiculous while others say crucify him or her. Unfortunately, our source of conflict and wisdom comes from an inanimate box in the corner of our house called a TV or a hand held device rapidly replacing our brains. Too hard? Maybe, but where do we get our source of conflict?

James 3 starting at verse 13, questions our wisdom and where it comes from. Are our actions good with a humble lifestyle or do we have bitter jealously and selfish ambition in our heart? This is not the source of wisdom from above but comes from the earth, natural and demonic. (V 15). If our wisdom is pure, peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions, fair, genuine and we sow our seeds of justice by our peaceful acts, then that wisdom comes from above earthly influence. (V 17,18)

What is the source of conflict among you? (James 4:1) Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you. Come near to God, and he will come near to you. (V 7,8)

T