ALookintoT

Have you a standard? What is a standard? According to the definition, it is a level of quality or attainment. It is an idea or thing used as a measure or model to compare. Okay, so have you a standard in which you measure? I believe the danger in comparing one’s standard to another is that there are a whole lot of variables. Let’s take education. One person may have been blessed to have achieved a very high level of education compared to another. Does that make the one person greater in stature than the other? Some may measure the two and come to the conclusion, yes the more educated one is greater. In fairness, was there an evaluation to determine sufficiently equal enough to compare? Perhaps, but chances are, maybe not. You can use many things in this world to compare for a standard like politics (ie: Dems vs Reps. ; Libs vs Cons. ; Left vs Right, etc.). How about religion? There are many beliefs even within the Christian community. Within the Muslim world, there is not unity either. If we have difficulty trying to determine a fair standard, maybe we should lift our sights higher.

Ephesians 4:2-6 indicates to me that we should preserve unity. Attributes such as humility, gentleness and patience should be part of our standard as we accept each other with love. This is hard to do if our standards are set low. We play childish games with each other trying to prove our standard is better than theirs. Until we reach a higher plateau of unity, we may continue to struggle. “God’s goal is for us to become mature adults—-to be fully grown, measured by the standard of the fullness of Christ.” (Ep 4:13) Keep raising your standards until you reach maturity where you are no longer comparing your standard to others, but accept the one divine standard.

T

Have you heard the song that starts, “Why can’t we be friends”? Why can’t we get along? A state of belonging to a social group that has some commonality is ethnicity. The commonality may be national or cultural. The term ethnic usually relates to a sub group within a larger national or cultural group. So why do we care? This may explain to some degree why we can’t get along. We can’t cross over our prejudices to see another’s value. During the event where a team of boys, after soccer practice, were trapped in a cave in Thailand, everyone around the world witnessed the miracle of their rescue. Religious or political beliefs were put away as all humans came together in the hopes of seeing the miracle. Miracles are shared by all.

Jesus fed 5,000 with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Was that considered a miracle? Yes, but sometimes missed in the story is no ethnic group distinction. In other words, they all got fed. Some versions even specify 5,000 men so women and children were also fed. Perhaps, the number is far greater than 5,000. After the feeding, it was time to cross the lake for new miracles to be seen. Jesus walks on water. Go figure! (John 6:1-21)

Why can’t we bridge our ethnicity or social group to cross over to other groups? I believe we can, but first we must remove the stigma that breeds hatred for one another. In Ephesians 3:15, “Every ethnic group in heaven or on earth is recognized by him (God).” If God recognizes all, why can’t we? If the joy of sharing miracles can break down ethnic barriers, why can’t we spread love instead of hate?

T

One is a lonely number. Two is not much better, but when coupled as one, becomes so much stronger. Horses have proven the power of team work as alone, they can only pull based on their own strength. When coupled together side by side, they can pull three times their individual strength. Pretty awesome! Perhaps, us humans should learn a little more team work and less fighting about our differences.

In 2015, my wife and I made a trip to Ireland. It was a great trip and escape from the summer time heat in July. I learned about Saint Patrick. He was born in 385 AD and became a slave exiled from his homeland of Ireland. Yet, from this one humble slave, a Saint was born. How did that happen? He got involved in a monastery and when his training was over, given an opportunity to go where others had gone to grow Christianity. Us Christians find it sometimes the easier approach to stay in a safe group for our missions. We feel good about our efforts and justify our decisions. Patrick went by himself back to his home in Ireland. They tried to talk him out of it, but his mind was made up. I believe he had help from the Holy Spirit that instructed him that they would go together as a team. Was his decision popular among his peers? Doubtful, as humans really do not like individuals who buck the system. He went anyway. Was he welcomed in this pagan land he used to call home? No! Did that stop him? No! He lived to be 76 years old. He died on March 17^th, 461 AD. If you want to learn more, please explore history. We have no excuses!

How do we know Jesus lives and represents peace to all? All means all, as I understand the scripture. You must have enough faith to believe. Ephesians 2:14, says “He made both Jews and Gentiles into one group. With his body, he broke down the barrier of hatred that divided us.” He said we all have access to the Father by the one Spirit. When Jesus was tired he rested in a deserted place for a bit.The multitudes searching for miracles, found him. Wherever he went, he chose love to win them over regardless of their differences. Everyone who touched him was healed. (Mark 6:30-56)

St. Patrick believed Jesus was with him through the Holy Spirit. To be coupled with the Holy Spirit made him so much stronger. Their compounded strength made a difference bringing light into darkness. Perhaps, we are not meant to be a saint, but we can at least go on faith as the song, “Hymn of Promise” ends, “unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.”

T

In 1980, the average cost of a new car was $7,210. Only 10 years later, the average cost was $15,400. I have heard it said that inflation doubles the cost of things every 10 years so the average cost of cars is increasing at a little more than the rate of inflation predictions. Have you noticed that at least in the States, car commercials never use the total cost of a car anymore? Their advertisements all focus on how much savings are possible with a good credit report or good trade in or some gimmick to get you from the TV advertisement to their show room. Of course the deal seems to change during negotiations where games are played to distract the buyer from the final real cost. Can anyone tell me with a straight face what you paid for your last car? If you are like me, I got so mixed in with how much down payment I needed and what I would get for my trade in to get the monthly note down to a manageable number. Of course we can always just pay cash and forget about the monthly expense. Right? Well yes, but what about that savings we plan to use in the future? We then begin to leverage our savings with the cash outlay and eventually convince our selves it is a good deal to hold on to our cash for a future expense just in case. Then we need to decide how much of our savings are we going to part with as a down payment. Very stressful time I am sure if you are like most of us.

Have you ever considered the value we place on our mode of transportation or our place we call home or our vacation to get away from it all? It simple terms, a down payment is that initial payment made for something bought on credit. The deal is done when we negotiate how much to put down up front and how much interest we are willing to pay for the balance of the money owed. It is a promise we make with the seller to pay back in full with some extra over time for the right to use the acquired item in the present. The housing market took a huge hit that impacted all markets when sellers got overly zealous to hook buyers on homes they could not afford and did not need to live in comfort. The idea was too simple as sellers believed housing cost would always go up so buyers could always pay back. In many locations, that simple idea fell apart so that buyers were under water in debt on homes they could not sell nor afford. Care should be taken to never over value a thing over our ability to pay for the thing. True, but what value do we put on ourselves?

Herodias danced for King Herod and in return Herod promised too much. The final payment was the head of John the Baptist. (Mark 6:14-29) The payment for a human’s head was a dance. Seems absurd but the value of humans even today are miniscule when compared to some argument leading to a shooting or other tragic event. The damage to life is done and the value of a life lost does not compare. Consider your life for a moment. What value do you put on your life. Would you give your only son to save the life of another? We have received an inheritance in Christ as God’s plan for humanity. We are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit because we believed in Christ. The Holy Spirit is the down payment on our inheritance applied toward our redemption. (Ephesians 1:11-14)

Can we really place a value on our souls? The down payment is likewise as the Holy Spirit cannot be valued in today’s market. The Holy Spirit guides us and helps us and more importantly shows us how to live while we journey to redemption. It is a daunting task to be valued in such a way that our value is always increasing as we become more willing to accept the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our ultimate mission in life. Do not be like Herod who opened his mouth and made an open ended promise. Instead, be like Jesus who taught us how to live and sacrificed it all so that we could be sealed with the promise of everlasting peace.

T

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