Monday, June 22, 2015
Old Posts
I realize this blog is public and some of the posts I have shared when I was younger appear embarrassing or possibly even harmful to my reputation. Maybe even crazy looking or desperate at times! That is fine. Those who desire to judge may judge but even though that is the case, I will not delete those older posts. You may see my heart at times but God sees it too. There are some posts which I look at now and doubt whether the theology was correct or not. Even still, I will not delete those posts either. All was written with a desire to tell the truth and for that reason, nothing will be taken down. It is good to be able to go back and see the things that were once written.
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Nearly A Decade Later
WOW!
It's been awhile would be an understatement. It's been almost a decade since my last post! To be honest, I forgot this blog even existed. It has been enlightening to read through the posts I once made.
Rather than attempt to try to go over all that has happened in the last decade of my life, I'd rather simply just continue making posts. The content of my posts though may be a little different considering that I am no longer a seventeen year old kid anymore.
Actually, maybe it wouldn't be so bad to mention a couple of things. I'm twenty five now. The woman in my arms from the post on September 11th of 2007 eventually became my wife on April 10th, 2008. In fact, we're still married as of the writing of this post. The Lord gave us two children: Leah (age 6) and Noah (age 3).
Although we are still legally married, a divorce has been pending as of May 16th, 2014 sadly.
This is not my choice nor do I desire it. I believe divorce is never justifiable and marriage is till death do you part. It is very disheartening to even have to write what I just wrote because of the great love I had and have for that woman. It is very saddening to me.
In 2010 I started to work professionally as a Character Animator. Some of the work I did is very well known including animation for the movie Thor (among others)
and Nickelodeon's animated t.v. series Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomness. The animation industry though is not the most conducive to having a family. It required a lot of relocating and work was not very consistent.
Needless to say, I am afraid it would be a very accurate description to say that over the years the cares and riches and pleasures of this life have choked the word of God in my life that it is even quite possible I write this as an eternally damned man should I die.
Rereading the posts on this blog remind me of how my life once was, of a time when it seems nothing else mattered to me but the Lord. In those days, I would have given up everything for the Lord yet these days what cares do I have and what I withhold from Him as if I could!
It is true,
"Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods Before Me"
And how many gods we do have including wives, children, money, and homes.
To be carefree once again in my soul! To do the words of the Lord when He said not to take thought for tomorrow!
It is one thing to say we love the Lord above everything else but He knows if that is true and I'm afraid that if He put us to the test by stripping it all from us, we might just fail the test.
Nonetheless, I am back and this is just a post to share some thoughts as of late and give a very brief update.
As this is a journal of sorts, there may be new kind of posts that reflect new ambitions of mine. What I mean by this is that I believe the Lord wants me to do certain things in this present world as much as lies in me therefore some of my future posts may be reflections on that. I will explain more later when it is not so late but it is good to be back and have an avenue to write my thoughts and experiences down once again.
If this post was a little messy or this blog becomes that, bear with it please. If anyone cannot stand disorder, it is I!
Thanks for reading.
It's been awhile would be an understatement. It's been almost a decade since my last post! To be honest, I forgot this blog even existed. It has been enlightening to read through the posts I once made.
Rather than attempt to try to go over all that has happened in the last decade of my life, I'd rather simply just continue making posts. The content of my posts though may be a little different considering that I am no longer a seventeen year old kid anymore.
Actually, maybe it wouldn't be so bad to mention a couple of things. I'm twenty five now. The woman in my arms from the post on September 11th of 2007 eventually became my wife on April 10th, 2008. In fact, we're still married as of the writing of this post. The Lord gave us two children: Leah (age 6) and Noah (age 3).
 |
| June 15th, 2012 - Our Family |
In 2010 I started to work professionally as a Character Animator. Some of the work I did is very well known including animation for the movie Thor (among others)
Needless to say, I am afraid it would be a very accurate description to say that over the years the cares and riches and pleasures of this life have choked the word of God in my life that it is even quite possible I write this as an eternally damned man should I die.
Rereading the posts on this blog remind me of how my life once was, of a time when it seems nothing else mattered to me but the Lord. In those days, I would have given up everything for the Lord yet these days what cares do I have and what I withhold from Him as if I could!
It is true,
"Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods Before Me"
And how many gods we do have including wives, children, money, and homes.
To be carefree once again in my soul! To do the words of the Lord when He said not to take thought for tomorrow!
It is one thing to say we love the Lord above everything else but He knows if that is true and I'm afraid that if He put us to the test by stripping it all from us, we might just fail the test.
Nonetheless, I am back and this is just a post to share some thoughts as of late and give a very brief update.
As this is a journal of sorts, there may be new kind of posts that reflect new ambitions of mine. What I mean by this is that I believe the Lord wants me to do certain things in this present world as much as lies in me therefore some of my future posts may be reflections on that. I will explain more later when it is not so late but it is good to be back and have an avenue to write my thoughts and experiences down once again.
If this post was a little messy or this blog becomes that, bear with it please. If anyone cannot stand disorder, it is I!
Thanks for reading.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Oh No, Not Another Nooma!
I was looking for the 7 volumes of Martin Luther's sermons on Christianbook.com and came across a NOOMA video (You can see it at http://www.christianbook.com/nooma?event=NOOMA18VHP although it may eventually be taken down). I've heard many things said against these NOOMA videos and the man featured in them, Robb Bell. Based upon what what I've heard, I made a rash, negative, harsh, judgment.Now though, I watched for myself this new video in the NOOMA series called "Name." I want to stay clear of being prejudice or critical.
I watched it bearing this in mind. I do realize the importantance of relevance. If I remember reading correctly, even Charles Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers understood the importantance of keeping up to date with the times. Well, the NOOMA series does just that (perhaps way too much though). A description on Christianbook.com of the DVD series says it best:"Today's generation demand a new format for getting Christian perspectives. Nooma is the new format. It's short films with communicators that really speak to us. Concise and to the point, 10- to 14-minute DVDs tackle topics like forgiveness, discipleship, and unconditional love, making biblical truths vivid and relevant for today's generation"
Before I get into the video I watched, we must understand that there is a line that must be drawn as to how relevent we, as professing Christians, are allowed to go. It's safe to say that if you must do away with the truth in order to be relevent, this is too far. Infact, I feel sadden when I think that a professing believer in the Son of God could ever do this. To toss the truth off to be relevent looks similiar to when Judas betrayed the the Christ with a kiss.
There are certain areas in which we need to be relevent but I think many of the ways in which we've become relevent aren't the ways we're suppose to. You might ask, "Well can you show us the proper way to be relevent?" To which I reply, no I haven't figured it out myself yet either. I will say this though. They're too many factors to take into consideration when finding an answer to that question.Anyways on to the video...I'm going to describe it as best I can neutrally. I've made a judgment regarding it but it's first by examing what I've seen in the video. Throughout the video you see various people taking off shirts and on the back of the shirt is a word or phrase. At first I didn't quite understand what these words meant but then I realized these are words that people use to describe WHO they are. Every new shirt they shed, you see a new word printed on the back which show all the factors and labels which can make up WHO a person is. The goal of the video is to get stirred up within people to find out the answer to the question as to their real identities, "Who are you?" It is at this point that I find a major problem. Indeed, I agree the question is an important one. However, the way Robb Bell assumes we find the answer to that question is by what we see. We're flesh and blood, we're neighbors, we're husbands and wives, we're teachers, we're on a more deeper level HIV positive as he shows in the video, we're liberal, we're orthodox, we're faithless, etc., we're made up of our history, this makes us who we are. Everything comes together, all the ingredients are mixed and out comes the results of our own individual unique persons.
Robb Bell is speaking in a fleshly sense. He talks as if they're isn't anything called "faith" whereby you lay hold of something which is the real substance. This is a very crucial key and for many I believe through this video, the spiritual, the invisible, which endures forever will be darkened. Whereas the flesh faileth and the world passeth away, yet by this video this is all viewers will know. I don't question Bell's sincerity in wanting to give a dying world hope but their hope isn't in this dying world that they're apart of; they're hope isn't going to be found in anything that they can see. To say it rightly, you aren't what you do, your deeds don't declare who you are, what declares who you are is God. That is what makes you who you are. I guess we can put our finger on the problem this way: the focal point of the problem, as this is the main reason of all problems is the fact that Robb Bell attempts to usurp Christ and God out of the picture. God's word has no power. Man's word and deeds do. What we see is what we get. God says your righteous in heaven though on earth your unrighteous. So what is the real you? If we used the devilish wisdom I'm assuming Robb Bell is using, it would be the flesh and what you do down here. Yet the life that is lived by faith, says the other. You really are not what you see but what you hope for.
I would say to be very careful of these NOOMA videos and Robb Bell. I've written the best that I can and I also understand my writing to be very imperfect. Also my intellectual powers aren't fully strengthened and illuminated but still I'm faulty in my thinking. Please forgive me for my errors and if you find any improvements that you might suggest to make, please let me know. However, from what I've analyzed up until this point, I say, be on guard against this!
Comments anyone? Want to hear your responses...
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Brainwashing
Have you ever been accused of “brainwashing” someone? Yeah, you heard me right, brainwashing! It can be a very devastating accusation. Well, I have. In the past, when I’ve been preaching, I’ve been accused of things like this and it’s never bothered me. However, now this accusation comes from a different source: my fiancée’s step-father. This time it has bothered me. It’s bothered me because he doesn’t allow us to be with each other and I think part of the underlying reason is because he believes I’m brainwashing her! How destructive this can be to someone. The truth is that I love her and want to marry her. I’m going to lay my life down for her as Christ laid down His life for the church. That’s the truth. Now when he makes this accusation and even mocks my fiancée for being with me, it makes me feel horrible and that’s because I have no power to do anything about it until she’s 18 (April 5th, 2008).
I looked up the word brainwashing in an American Dictionary from 1828 and it wasn’t even in there. So I had to go to websters.com and look up every definition on the word brainwashing.
The Definitions Of “Brainwashing”
1. A method for systematically changing attitudes or altering beliefs, originated in totalitarian countries, esp. through the use of torture, drugs, or psychological-stress techniques.
I don’t have a method for systematically changing my fiancée’s attitudes or beliefs. It’s not like we sit down and I say, “Ok, sit down, we’re going to spend the next few hours reading through this package I’ve made and we’re going to do this everyday for the next month.” Actually, this sounds more like what her step-father does when he forces her to spend 3 hours everyday doing math problems on the computer. Talk about brainwashing!
The second definition is:
2. Any method of controlled systematic indoctrination, esp. one based on repetition or confusion.
I’ve given my fiancée a Bible, I gave her some books I found to be good, I don’t force her to read her Bible or those books. I’ll admit that I’ve “indoctrinated” her by telling her what the Bible teaches and surely whenever someone learns something sometimes it might result in confusion but this is far from brainwashing! Indoctrination simply means “to instruct in a doctrine” So if brainwashing were to teach someone something, obviously we shouldn’t teach people anything! A father can’t teach his children. A husband can‘t lead his household else he teach them by example. I mean, it’s absolutely absurd! However, brainwashing isn’t simply “indoctrination” but “controlled systematic indoctrination.” It’s horrible that her step-father would accuse me of brainwashing because thus far we see, this is a long shot from the truth. It hurts me because the Bible says love doesn’t seek it’s own and that’s what a brainwasher does. He’s accusing me of not loving her and this is the greatest of sins. God said that the 2nd greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. How much more does He expect us to love our fiancée? Therefore, it’s a serious matter when he questions my love for her by bringing up an accusation of brainwashing. However, there’s still more definitions left, so maybe according to those, I’m “brainwashing.” Let’s see.
3. An instance of subjecting or being subjected to such techniques.
We’ve already ruled out that such techniques as defined above isn’t what I’ve done or am doing. Therefore, we can also say that I haven’t nor will I ever subject her to an instance of these brainwashing techniques. As we saw, how could I say I love her and yet force her to do anything? Love doesn’t seek it’s own, rather love is kind.
4. Intensive, forcible indoctrination, usually political or religious, aimed at destroying a person's basic convictions and attitudes and replacing them with an alternative set of fixed beliefs.
Obviously, as we’ve seen, I’m not intensely or forcefully teaching my fiancée anything. It says that it’s usually political or religious. In this case it’d be religious. It says that its usually aimed at destroying a person's basic convictions and attitudes and replacing them with an alternative set of fixed beliefs. I’ve never aimed at destroying my fiancée’s basic convictions and attitudes. Actually, I never knew them and still hardly know them. I will admit, I do wish false convictions and false attitudes would cease including the one’s that lie in me. I also will say that ever since I’ve been a Christian, my aim has been that the whole world and even myself would align up with those “alternative set of fixed beliefs” found in the Bible.
If to desire this and even seek to make this be a reality is brainwashing, then surely I’m a brainwasher! Nothing more would please me to wash the brains that have been dirtied by lies!
5. The application of a concentrated means of persuasion, such as an advertising campaign or repeated suggestion, in order to develop a specific belief or motivation.
I’ll admit, since I’ve become a Christian, my desire is that the whole world would be persuaded to believe the truth. I have no concentrated means to persuade them though. The way I do try to persuade is by open-air preaching, passing out gospel tracts, and speaking to people in one-on-one conversations in which no force is used and they’re free to leave as they please. If brainwashing is simply standing up, opening your mouth, and speaking what is true then I‘m a brainwasher! We might as well just stand up and speak lies so the people can clap there hands and be happy! It says brainwashing is “The application of a concentrated means of persuasion…in order to develop a specific belief or motivation.” Obviously, when I speak to someone who believes the sun is black and I’m trying to persuade him to believe it’s proper color, my intention is to develop a specific belief. Now when it comes to truth and religion and the right way of living and God, is there anything wrong with trying to persuade a deceived person to believe what is true? Surely not. For a person who doesn’t believe in absolute truth, there’s going to be a big problem because they can have “their truth” and you can have “your truth” and we can all be ok. One can believe raising your children this way is ok and another can believe raising them another way is ok and they can both be right. There is no right way about anything anymore. When God doesn’t decide what is right and what is wrong, when He doesn’t even exist in a persons mind, this is the result of it, simply put chaos. Our generation seems to be the most violent of them all when it comes to anyone who tries to kindly help a neighbor into the light.
6. Forcible indoctrination into a new set of attitudes and beliefs.
It seems this definition and the word “brainwashing” itself brings a bad connotation with it. It seems to make you think that if a person changes his attitudes and beliefs, there’s something wrong with that. By no means is there anything wrong with that! Let me say it forcibly…there is nothing wrong with a person changing his attitudes and beliefs. The only time it’s wrong is when a person goes from truth to lies but when a person goes from lies to truth, then there isn’t anything wrong. Suppose an atheist believes God doesn’t exist and someone comes to him and says, “Sir, your in error. God does exist and I know Him!” If the atheist changes his belief and as a result his attitude, this is a most wonderful thing because he’s changed from believing a lie to believing the truth.
God is my witness. I love my beautiful fiancée. She is God’s little gift to me. I think any loving husband can only love as far as he loves as Christ loves. So here is our perfect example. It is written, “Christ…loved the church, and gave Himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
Let’s forget this brainwashing nonsense and move on. It’s nothing more than a hindrance from that baboon the devil.
I looked up the word brainwashing in an American Dictionary from 1828 and it wasn’t even in there. So I had to go to websters.com and look up every definition on the word brainwashing.
The Definitions Of “Brainwashing”
1. A method for systematically changing attitudes or altering beliefs, originated in totalitarian countries, esp. through the use of torture, drugs, or psychological-stress techniques.
I don’t have a method for systematically changing my fiancée’s attitudes or beliefs. It’s not like we sit down and I say, “Ok, sit down, we’re going to spend the next few hours reading through this package I’ve made and we’re going to do this everyday for the next month.” Actually, this sounds more like what her step-father does when he forces her to spend 3 hours everyday doing math problems on the computer. Talk about brainwashing!
The second definition is:
2. Any method of controlled systematic indoctrination, esp. one based on repetition or confusion.
I’ve given my fiancée a Bible, I gave her some books I found to be good, I don’t force her to read her Bible or those books. I’ll admit that I’ve “indoctrinated” her by telling her what the Bible teaches and surely whenever someone learns something sometimes it might result in confusion but this is far from brainwashing! Indoctrination simply means “to instruct in a doctrine” So if brainwashing were to teach someone something, obviously we shouldn’t teach people anything! A father can’t teach his children. A husband can‘t lead his household else he teach them by example. I mean, it’s absolutely absurd! However, brainwashing isn’t simply “indoctrination” but “controlled systematic indoctrination.” It’s horrible that her step-father would accuse me of brainwashing because thus far we see, this is a long shot from the truth. It hurts me because the Bible says love doesn’t seek it’s own and that’s what a brainwasher does. He’s accusing me of not loving her and this is the greatest of sins. God said that the 2nd greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. How much more does He expect us to love our fiancée? Therefore, it’s a serious matter when he questions my love for her by bringing up an accusation of brainwashing. However, there’s still more definitions left, so maybe according to those, I’m “brainwashing.” Let’s see.
3. An instance of subjecting or being subjected to such techniques.
We’ve already ruled out that such techniques as defined above isn’t what I’ve done or am doing. Therefore, we can also say that I haven’t nor will I ever subject her to an instance of these brainwashing techniques. As we saw, how could I say I love her and yet force her to do anything? Love doesn’t seek it’s own, rather love is kind.
4. Intensive, forcible indoctrination, usually political or religious, aimed at destroying a person's basic convictions and attitudes and replacing them with an alternative set of fixed beliefs.
Obviously, as we’ve seen, I’m not intensely or forcefully teaching my fiancée anything. It says that it’s usually political or religious. In this case it’d be religious. It says that its usually aimed at destroying a person's basic convictions and attitudes and replacing them with an alternative set of fixed beliefs. I’ve never aimed at destroying my fiancée’s basic convictions and attitudes. Actually, I never knew them and still hardly know them. I will admit, I do wish false convictions and false attitudes would cease including the one’s that lie in me. I also will say that ever since I’ve been a Christian, my aim has been that the whole world and even myself would align up with those “alternative set of fixed beliefs” found in the Bible.
If to desire this and even seek to make this be a reality is brainwashing, then surely I’m a brainwasher! Nothing more would please me to wash the brains that have been dirtied by lies!
5. The application of a concentrated means of persuasion, such as an advertising campaign or repeated suggestion, in order to develop a specific belief or motivation.
I’ll admit, since I’ve become a Christian, my desire is that the whole world would be persuaded to believe the truth. I have no concentrated means to persuade them though. The way I do try to persuade is by open-air preaching, passing out gospel tracts, and speaking to people in one-on-one conversations in which no force is used and they’re free to leave as they please. If brainwashing is simply standing up, opening your mouth, and speaking what is true then I‘m a brainwasher! We might as well just stand up and speak lies so the people can clap there hands and be happy! It says brainwashing is “The application of a concentrated means of persuasion…in order to develop a specific belief or motivation.” Obviously, when I speak to someone who believes the sun is black and I’m trying to persuade him to believe it’s proper color, my intention is to develop a specific belief. Now when it comes to truth and religion and the right way of living and God, is there anything wrong with trying to persuade a deceived person to believe what is true? Surely not. For a person who doesn’t believe in absolute truth, there’s going to be a big problem because they can have “their truth” and you can have “your truth” and we can all be ok. One can believe raising your children this way is ok and another can believe raising them another way is ok and they can both be right. There is no right way about anything anymore. When God doesn’t decide what is right and what is wrong, when He doesn’t even exist in a persons mind, this is the result of it, simply put chaos. Our generation seems to be the most violent of them all when it comes to anyone who tries to kindly help a neighbor into the light.
6. Forcible indoctrination into a new set of attitudes and beliefs.
It seems this definition and the word “brainwashing” itself brings a bad connotation with it. It seems to make you think that if a person changes his attitudes and beliefs, there’s something wrong with that. By no means is there anything wrong with that! Let me say it forcibly…there is nothing wrong with a person changing his attitudes and beliefs. The only time it’s wrong is when a person goes from truth to lies but when a person goes from lies to truth, then there isn’t anything wrong. Suppose an atheist believes God doesn’t exist and someone comes to him and says, “Sir, your in error. God does exist and I know Him!” If the atheist changes his belief and as a result his attitude, this is a most wonderful thing because he’s changed from believing a lie to believing the truth.
God is my witness. I love my beautiful fiancée. She is God’s little gift to me. I think any loving husband can only love as far as he loves as Christ loves. So here is our perfect example. It is written, “Christ…loved the church, and gave Himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
Let’s forget this brainwashing nonsense and move on. It’s nothing more than a hindrance from that baboon the devil.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Update Part 1
Where do I begin? So much has happened in these last few months that I don't know where to start. Perhaps it's best to start with the one that I constantly think of, worry about, and painfully cry over and that is my lovely fiancee. After a year now of prayer, searching the Bible, and taking into account the experiences and advice from godly persons of the past and present regarding marriage, her and I want to marry.
Right now, I'm in the most hellish state on earth that I've ever been in. These few months have grown darker and darker. It seems as though God has abandoned me but I know He is with me always, even to the end of the world (Matthew 28:20).
I love my fiancee immensely. Her beauty is very great. When she tells me something by a whisper, it is that "gentle and quiet spirit" that comes forward and gives me a glimpse into just how beautiful my fiancee, this little creature of God, can be.
The trouble comes for me when God "stands back" as it were and watches certain things happen that cause pain. It gets worse when I beg God to remove these burdens and they're still on my back. One of those burdens is her parents. They don't allow me to see or talk to her anymore. They falsely accuse me of certain things.
What brings me the most terrible sadness I've ever felt is to think that within a few months from now, she will decide something else.
Another burden is how I'll be able to provide for her. God watches as I worry myself to the grave. He knows the desire of my heart is that on April 5th, 2008, I'll have my precious bride and she'll have me. He also knows that this cannot be unless I'm making at least $1,000 a month to provide for her.
To be continued...
Friday, June 29, 2007
The Way Of Salvation
by Paul Mcgrade - written on June 22nd, 2007
"And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, you Son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, You Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they called the blind man, saying to him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calls you. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said to him, What will you that I should do to you? The blind man said to him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said to him, Go your way; your faith has made you whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way." - Mark 10:46-52
"And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging."
Notice Bartimaeus is blind, he's sitting by the highway side, and he's a beggar.
Martin Luther's last written words were "We are beggars; this is true." Like Bartimaeus, we're blind and we sit by the highway side begging.
"And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, you Son of David, have mercy on me."
If you read Matthew, in it you'll find that the lower a person's view of Christ, the less He was responsive to them. It's as if He would have walked right past them. On the other hand, the higher a person's view, the more intimate He was with them.
Bartimaeus had a low view of Christ. He called Him just the Son of David.
"And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, You Son of David, have mercy on me."
There will be many things that charge us to hold our peace. That is, many things will attempt to suppress our cries to Christ for mercy but we must cry the more a great deal. Bartimaeus desired to see; our desire is to be saved. Therefore, it's a greater matter for us to beg of the Lord.
"And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they called the blind man, saying to him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calls you."
I had to ask myself why didn't Jesus keep walking? What made Him stop now? I highly doubt it was because of anything on Bartimaeus' part.
We desire to be saved, we've cried out for what seems like forever until finally Jesus stands still and commands us to come to Him. I want to emphasize the word command. The power that was behind the command "let there be light" is the same power behind this command. It's irresistible grace. How much does a man on fire desire to be cooled? In the same way, we desire to be saved, Bartimaeus desired to receive sight, who's not going to come when the Saviour and the great Physician calls? Obviously, those who don't want a Saviour, nor a Healer.
Yet, we desire to be saved and He calls us. "For I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Therefore, we can be comforted. Those who doubt their salvation, need not fear, for He has heard your cries, if indeed you have cried. Those who doubt their salvation but have not lifted up one single prayer to God about it, how shall the Master hear you as He passes by?
"And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus."
Now that we've heard His call to come, again, He says "Come to me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest;" we may cast away our garment, rise, and go to Jesus. Here is a picture of repentance. Remember what He said "For I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Therefore, let us cast off our garment. Whatever we are holding onto is our garment. Then let us rise and go to Jesus.
"And Jesus answered and said to him, What will you that I should do to you? The blind man said to him, Lord, that I might receive my sight."
Imagine Jesus asking you one question "What will you that I should do to you?" Now for Bartimaeus it was that he wouldn't no longer be blind. For me, it would be that I might be saved.
"And Jesus said to him, Go your way; your faith has made you whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way."
"For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any many should boast."
Something wonderful that can be seen here is the liberty given by Christ to those who are saved. Notice what He said to him "Go your way." He didn't ask him to follow Him. He didn't command him to follow Him; he simply said "Go your way." Neither did Jesus manipulate him. He didn't say "If you follow me, I'll heal you but if you don't follow me, I won't heal you." He was going to heal him, regardless of what he did afterward. Now, in the wisdom of God, He knew that Bartimaeus would follow Him. Likewise, that is the result of true salvation. We follow Christ when we've been truly saved. Like Peter, we say, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."
In conclusion, I'd like to add that this passage of scripture is very beautiful. It teaches us the way of salvation. I'd recommend this passage to be studied carefully and meditated upon, especially if you don't know if your saved but are tormented with fear.
"And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, you Son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, You Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they called the blind man, saying to him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calls you. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said to him, What will you that I should do to you? The blind man said to him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said to him, Go your way; your faith has made you whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way." - Mark 10:46-52
"And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging."
Notice Bartimaeus is blind, he's sitting by the highway side, and he's a beggar.
Martin Luther's last written words were "We are beggars; this is true." Like Bartimaeus, we're blind and we sit by the highway side begging.
"And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, you Son of David, have mercy on me."
If you read Matthew, in it you'll find that the lower a person's view of Christ, the less He was responsive to them. It's as if He would have walked right past them. On the other hand, the higher a person's view, the more intimate He was with them.
Bartimaeus had a low view of Christ. He called Him just the Son of David.
"And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, You Son of David, have mercy on me."
There will be many things that charge us to hold our peace. That is, many things will attempt to suppress our cries to Christ for mercy but we must cry the more a great deal. Bartimaeus desired to see; our desire is to be saved. Therefore, it's a greater matter for us to beg of the Lord.
"And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they called the blind man, saying to him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calls you."
I had to ask myself why didn't Jesus keep walking? What made Him stop now? I highly doubt it was because of anything on Bartimaeus' part.
We desire to be saved, we've cried out for what seems like forever until finally Jesus stands still and commands us to come to Him. I want to emphasize the word command. The power that was behind the command "let there be light" is the same power behind this command. It's irresistible grace. How much does a man on fire desire to be cooled? In the same way, we desire to be saved, Bartimaeus desired to receive sight, who's not going to come when the Saviour and the great Physician calls? Obviously, those who don't want a Saviour, nor a Healer.
Yet, we desire to be saved and He calls us. "For I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Therefore, we can be comforted. Those who doubt their salvation, need not fear, for He has heard your cries, if indeed you have cried. Those who doubt their salvation but have not lifted up one single prayer to God about it, how shall the Master hear you as He passes by?
"And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus."
Now that we've heard His call to come, again, He says "Come to me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest;" we may cast away our garment, rise, and go to Jesus. Here is a picture of repentance. Remember what He said "For I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Therefore, let us cast off our garment. Whatever we are holding onto is our garment. Then let us rise and go to Jesus.
"And Jesus answered and said to him, What will you that I should do to you? The blind man said to him, Lord, that I might receive my sight."
Imagine Jesus asking you one question "What will you that I should do to you?" Now for Bartimaeus it was that he wouldn't no longer be blind. For me, it would be that I might be saved.
"And Jesus said to him, Go your way; your faith has made you whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way."
"For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any many should boast."
Something wonderful that can be seen here is the liberty given by Christ to those who are saved. Notice what He said to him "Go your way." He didn't ask him to follow Him. He didn't command him to follow Him; he simply said "Go your way." Neither did Jesus manipulate him. He didn't say "If you follow me, I'll heal you but if you don't follow me, I won't heal you." He was going to heal him, regardless of what he did afterward. Now, in the wisdom of God, He knew that Bartimaeus would follow Him. Likewise, that is the result of true salvation. We follow Christ when we've been truly saved. Like Peter, we say, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."
In conclusion, I'd like to add that this passage of scripture is very beautiful. It teaches us the way of salvation. I'd recommend this passage to be studied carefully and meditated upon, especially if you don't know if your saved but are tormented with fear.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Genesis 17:21
"But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto you at this set time in the next year." - Genesis 17:21
If this verse can teach us anything about God, it shouts that God knows the future and whispers to us that God knows the past and present. We could go even further than that and say this verse teaches us another thing. This verse shows us something of the power of God. It gives us a glimpse of what God meant when He said "I am the Almighty God." Men usually like to talk about the "free will of man" but this verse shows us the "free will of God;" that He does what He wants in the heavens and in the earth.
If this verse can teach us anything about God, it shouts that God knows the future and whispers to us that God knows the past and present. We could go even further than that and say this verse teaches us another thing. This verse shows us something of the power of God. It gives us a glimpse of what God meant when He said "I am the Almighty God." Men usually like to talk about the "free will of man" but this verse shows us the "free will of God;" that He does what He wants in the heavens and in the earth.
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