With all of her beauty, She still has a few blemishes and retains some scars from her past. Perhaps predominant among Her foibles is the nature of Her origin.

My Nation came to be through the commitment of men to the ideas of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, but in order to be birthed, Her leaders had to rebel against their own leaders.

The Land of Liberty was born through rebellion. While I agree with the need to create this country and to stand up against tyranny and “taxation without representation”, the fact of the matter is that defiance to authority was the midwife in this nation’s first moments.

I grieve for my Nation because I do not believe she has left behind the nature of Her birth. Rebellion, defiance and lack of respect for authority pervade our nation, perhaps now more than ever.

Truly, rebellion is part of Man’s nature. One of the first words most children learn is “no”. That first time my own children openly defy me is one of the hardest ones in my life. Obedience is not easy. It is not what most people want to do.

This Nation has difficulty accepting the concept of obedience. It pervades our society. For the past forty to fifty years, our leaders in the culture have celebrated new ways to defy any authority. From burnt bras to crosses dipped in urine, cultural heads have proclaimed all things as fair game for defiance and rebellion.

The idea of freedom of speech has superseded any commitment to righteous living. Things considered sacred are intentionally targeted for ridicule and hate – because these purveyors of “personal liberty” prefer to proliferate a passion for pluralism, rather than perfection and purity. The most insane thing to me is that those who would demand their freedom to say whatever they wish at the same time mandate that anyone who believes that Truth is not multifaceted or multi-headed must be silenced, shunned and stilled until they come to the righteous conclusions of a correct understanding of cultural diversity.

Even though our forefathers had this inherent weakness in this nation’s founding – rebellion – they understood the need for obedience to something greater. They created the Constitution to guide us and form a bond with the people of this nation to promote equality among its citizens who would not be governed through fear or tyranny, but through reasoned discourse by God-fearing leaders – which brings me to the whole point of this article.

We are a nation of people who have lost hold of the importance of the practice of obedience. Nowhere in society, except for those professions which involve armed force, is obedience an appreciated trait.

Not only should our citizens be clamoring for our leaders to be obedient to the foundational truths of our nation as found in the Constitution, we should question ourselves as to whether or not we are being appropriately obedient to the One who made us.

So many issues facing our country today could be solved simply by focusing on the question, “Am I being obedient to the revealed will of God?”

“But!?!?” Someone will retort, “You can’t push your moral and religious views on the nation!”

Why not? Everyone else is? All the issues we deal with are moral. All of them have something to do with a theological outlook. Is God central to our thoughts and practices? Or are we more concerned with ourselves and our own thoughts?

Regardless of what “religion” anyone is, the core of the will of God can be summed up in a statement that is not only reasonable but foundational to all men. “Love God with your whole self (body, mind, spirit), and love your neighbor as yourself.” How can we get more simple (or profound)?

We must be obedient to these commands if we hope for a brighter tomorrow and a better self. Love is the Answer and the Key to Truth. Give it a chance. Seek to love God with your whole self. Seek to love your neighbor as yourself. It ain’t easy, but it’s right.

See, what intrigued me was not the licorice or the brand or the packaging, but the fact that when I saw it, I remembered Grandpa. He died about ten years ago. My parents divorced when I was young, and I was raised by my mother. She moved “back home”, and we lived with her parents for many years. Grandpa remains in my heart and mind as a very foundational figure.

If I were to compare him to any “commonly” known fictional character, I would have to refer to him as Archie Bunker. Grandpa was a cantankerous sort. He liked to argue simply to shake things up and make others think. If you did not have a decent argument to come back with, you were wise not to try to argue. He enjoyed discussion for discussion’s sake. He believed that if you could not defend your arguments then you did not need to bother expressing them.

Unlike many today, he did not base his ideas on emotions. He would get emotional about his beliefs, but he methodically constructed his defenses and arguments through reason. He was a very typical white, Anglo-saxon, Protestant in mindset and opinion.

I remember at times being frustrated with some of his views; although I probably could not tell you exactly why at this point — that was decades ago. Through his consistent reminder to think and process thoughts, I believe I have become a fairly well-reasoned individual.

Like him, I am very conservative in most of my religious, political and social views, and like him, I look towards reason to inform my thoughts and decisions. I know that if he were alive today, he and I would have discussions aplenty about things that we probably would disagree — I tend to be a little more progressive in my thoughts regarding “race” and women’s rights than he was. However, I think I would probably win him over to my thinking through well-reasoned, probably somewhat heated discussions.

As I was saying before, I found this bag of black licorice candy that reminded me of Grandpa. I never knew a lot about him, but one thing I remember quite vividly was his fondness for black licorice.

It was never my favorite candy, but I liked it.

I am now a father of five (with a sixth on the way). I hope to teach my own children the value of reason and thoughtful discussion.

There are so many things I am thankful to God for about Grandpa — so many memories that bring back good times from my childhood where he might have taken me fishing or to work or the like.

I bought the licorice. Each bite brings back little memories of him. Each taste reminds me of times long gone — times special to me because I was blessed to know my Grandpa.

I remembered as a child the really neat toys that I wanted. The G.I. Joe Aircraft Carrier would have been so awesome! A customized tree house/play set to go on imaginary journeys and secret myself in a hideout for hours on end. At one point, I desperately wanted a “Trash 80″ computer (TRS 80) which I had learned to use in middle school. Oooo, and then there were those compact laptop computers carried by Radio Shack. I wanted all of those toys so bad and many, many others.

I never got most of them, and I’m thankful now that I didn’t. I recognize that getting all the things you want can lead to a fat life full of self and devoid of understanding of true want, real need and compassion for others.

I do not want to misrepresent myself here. I am pretty happy in my life and understand that I have chosen to give up certain things to lead the life I lead. At times though, the questions rise up and the desire for “things of this world” rears its all-too-often ugly, yet embarrassingly real head.

As I contemplated these things, however, the following thoughts occurred to me:

Each of the things I want costs money. I would have to spend something on them. What then am I spending my money on now that I would have to change?

House, utilities, food and clothes (for five kids and two adults), medical bills, toys for the kids and the like.

None of these things are “toys” for me. Where’s my smart phone or tablet computer? Why can’t “I” have a “Gamer’s” game console or a PC dedicated to high end graphics and video game play? Why should I not have a super zippy fun sports car to fly through traffic?

Then, through the fog of selfish these thoughts, a still, small voice spoke into the recesses of my soul… “I gave you something better than toys. I gave you children.”

My mind stopped its deep questing for a moment and lay silent. You know… if I stopped looking at my children as obligations (which I truly don’t “only” do)… if I took each one of them and reacted to them as the most awesome toys ever given to anyone, then perhaps my entire perspective on the joys of life might be fundamentally altered.

You see, no computer can do the cool things my kids can do. They can imagine games instantaneously that put to shame any computer game ever devised. They can outperform any robot in abilities to move, run, jump, follow orders, be creative, etc. They have the potential to be soldiers, doctors, ministers, leaders, mothers, fathers, that make any imaginary heroes life pale in comparison. They can learn from me and teach me. And most importantly of all, they love me — not just in return for the love I give them but in spite of me.

And one cool bonus, I get to keep them as my children forever, and one day I hope to call them friends, boon companions as well as fellow-heirs in Christ.

One last “cool” note: As I sit typing this piece, the song “Treasure” from the album Beyond These Shores by Iona is playing in the background. In it is quoted a tidy bit of Scripture, “Where your treasure is, there is your heart.” Where is our treasure? Do we value the gifts God gives, even when they might not be just what we thought we wanted?

I hope you do. I pray I will not only treasure these incredible God-given toys, but that I might embrace each moment with them as a chance to enjoy God’s riches in glory through these little pieces of joy handed to me for such a short time.

God bless you.

Love,
K+

*** Here’s the link to my friend, Anna’s, blog: http://annawood.wordpress.com/ ***

Anyway, here goes:

“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
(Matthew 16:24-25)

If God has called you to be truly like Jesus in all your spirit, He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility. He will put on you such demands of obedience that you will not be allowed to follow other Christians. In many ways, He seems to let other good people do things which He will not let you do.

Others who seem to be very religious and useful may push themselves, pull wires, and scheme to carry out their plans, but you cannot. If you attempt it, you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.

Others can brag about themselves, their work, their successes, their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing. If you begin to do so, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.

Others will be allowed to succeed in making great sums of money, or having a legacy left to them, or in having luxuries, but God may supply you only on a day-to-day basis, because He wants you to have something far better than gold, a helpless dependence on Him and His unseen treasury.

The Lord may let others be honored and put forward while keeping you hidden in obscurity because He wants to produce some choice, fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade.

God may let others be great, but keep you small. He will let others do a work for Him and get the credit, but He will make you work and toil without knowing how much you are doing. Then, to make your work still more precious, He will let others get the credit for the work which you have done; this to teach you the message of the Cross, humility, and something of the value of being cloaked with His nature.

The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch on you, and with a jealous love rebuke you for careless words and feelings, or for wasting your time, which other Christians never seem distressed over.

So make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign and has a right to do as He pleases with His own, and that He may not explain to you a thousand things which may puzzle your reason in His dealings with you.

God will take you at your word. If you absolutely sell yourself to be His slave, He will wrap you up in a jealous love and let other people say and do many things that you cannot. Settle it forever; you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit, He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue or chaining your hand or closing your eyes in ways which others are not dealt with. However, know this great secret of the Kingdom: When you are so completely possessed with the Living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, you will have found the vestibule of heaven, the high calling of God.

Doesn’t everyone? Granted, some claim to want to be a “villain” or “anti-hero” — usually so they can get what they “want” — but most people (in their right mind) seem to want to be a hero.

Why is that? What is it about being a hero that is so endemic to our nature?

I suggest it has to do with whom God intended us to be. We are supposed to be leaders, thinkers, believers in the dominance and power of love. Love is not solely about nice things we do or sweet feelings.

Love is about defending the fatherless and the widow. It’s about taking care of the sick and the homeless. Love is about defending the honor of the maiden from the hands of those that would seek to do her evil.

We want to be heroes because deep down inside we know that true love is about heroic action in life.

Jesus shone forth that Truth to the utmost — He gave His life so that we might live. “What greater love is there than a man lay down his life for his friends?”

Go on, be a hero. Work at loving your neighbor.

I want to. I need to. I yearn to love as God loves and to be a hero like my Jesus.

Do you?

Not that I agree with the theories of Macro-evolution and Darwinianism. Far from it… I become more beholden to my “creationist” roots nearly every day as I read what “science” purports to be “evidence” for evolution (read: change). It is just as logical to me that God could create the world in six days as He could over millions or billions of years. And given the testimony of Scripture — which has stories supposedly passed down from Adam himself — I do not have an incipient need to reject their assurances of God’s design and activity within the created order.

Because of our “scientifically”-oriented culture, the word “evolve” has evolved into a word that conveys some sort of primal power. When some use the word “evolve” when explaining what they plan to do in life, it is truly laughable when its cognate “change” is used. We go from someone being high-minded to someone sounding utterly foolish, when they’ve never actually said anything different.

For example, Tom Brady’s statement that the Patriots will “evolve” due to one of their player’s injuries would sound inane or at least silly coming from this supposedly intelligent and reasonable individual. His statement becomes “our team will have to change a little bit” without the player. Really?!?! Do you think so? Wow! Imagine that.

I think what people expect from usage of the term evolve nowadays is that we become better through the changes we endure which is not always true. We can overcome the negative things in our lives and eventually find ways to better ourselves, but not all change is good nor beneficial.

Simply put, please stop using the word evolve with this false sense of superiority that seems inherent in its use, as though through evolution we’ll get better. It’s not the change that makes us better — it’s our response to change that determines how beneficial it is.

Okay, thanks for letting me bend your ears. Rant off.

I don’t have much to say right at the moment except to let you know I’m still around and to post something.

I’ll try to get more up soon.

Always,
K+

Later,
K+

Isaiah 33:5

Zion, the holy City of God, is filled with His judgment.

What does that mean?

God knows the secret desires of our hearts, and He weighs us by not only our actions but the thoughts behind them. The evil and good-hearted dwell together. Those who seek after Christ live in the same world as those who would despise God’s loving mercy. One day will come when those who have rejected the Christ and His Way will find the reality of the sorrow of their sin.

God will not abide for sinfulness to be in His presence.

That’s why we need to turn our hearts completely to Him, repenting from our evil ways and rely completely on Him to help us love one another.

Let us lift our hearts to God as living sacrifices, calling out to Him for His wisdom and love, that we may love as He loves and trust Him in all things.

Always,
K+

So, take some time out and pray for your minister (and me too!). We need it. Also, pray that God will increase the number of those willing to sacrifice some of the “good things” in life to serve Him. It would be nice to own my own iPhone, Porsche, Xbox and all those other cool things in the world, but I’ve made a choice in my life where those are generally out of reach. That’s okay — no complaints. Sometimes though, it seems as though it would be nice to be “wealthy”.

Regardless, it’s time for me (and all of you too) to get our hearts prepped for the coming of our Lord. Open up to Him. Pray for His guidance, and don’t forget to ask Him to bring in more men into the ministry to serve Him.

May His peace reign in your hearts.

Always,
K+