A Lifestyle of Peace

Saturday, June 13, 2015

25 Jesus Images to Share on Social Media

Share your faith with passion and firm conviction. Share the faith with love and affection. Share it with quiet confidence and resolve. We share our faith on a daily basis in person. But we should also be sharing out faith on social media. In many ways the Internet and social media have become the public square of today. Discussions take place, bloggers stand about the roads of the internet super highway giving lectures and thoughts on life. I enjoy sharing images on social media, like Facebook prominently and also Twitter. Images have a way of drawing our attention and making us think. Here are some images I've discovered during my journeys about the internet super highway that I would suggest you share as your leisure. I do not own these pictures, but I freely share them. Please feel free to do so also.

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Saturday, June 6, 2015

An Appeal to Heaven: The Movement

As Tea Party patriots and Libertarians have adopted the Gadsden flag, a new Christian movement with a heart for political change has adopted the "Appeal to Heaven" flag.

The "Appeal to Heaven" flag was first used during the American revolution as the flag for the first American fleet of battleships. During that time in history the British empire was the single dominant sea power in the world. Even more powerful than her ground armies were her mighty fleets. One can imagine why the small American fleet would adopt a theme like "Appeal to Heaven" as they attempted to do the impossible. In much the same way Christians of today stand to do the impossible once again. The political situation in the United States is very troubling indeed. But a growing movement of culturally and politically minded Christians are rising to stand against the tide of tyranny and immorality.

I've seen some articles regarding the new movement. There are two books that came out recently focusing in on the "Appeal to Heaven" movement: The Next Great Move of God: An Appeal to Heaven for Spiritual Awakening by Jennifer LeClaire and An Appeal To Heaven: What Would Happen If We Did It Again by Dutch Sheets. Dutch Sheets is listed as the founder of this movement, and he tells his story in a Charisma Magazine article here.

"The phrase “An Appeal to Heaven “was created by John Locke from England in the mid 1600’s.  Locke was one of the great philosophers of his time, he like other English Philosophers were also influenced by the Iroquois in America. "An Appeal to Heaven" comes from his studies on “Natural Laws", a system of right or justice common to all humankind and derived from nature rather than from the rules of society and the only judge is that of our creator. It is in these laws where our unalienable rights come from and the foundation on which this country was formed. The phrase "An Appeal to Heaven" connotes that when all resources and justices on earth are exhausted that only "An Appeal to Heaven" remains. And so is the example of our country when our rights were taken away by the tyrannical acts of King George that we as nation after countless attempts to resolve, Appealed to Heaven as our final judge before breaking ties with the crown. " Quoted from ATH.US.COM

We find ourselves in a troubling situation in the United States. There are many problems. Some of the important ones are as follows:

1. Abortion, the genocide of children, citizens of our country being exterminated because they are considered "not human" while being inside the body of a female.

Solution: Abolish abortion legally. And culturally re-embrace God's ethic for sexuality, as reserved for the marriage covenant. Abortion is the logical ethic for people who consider sex as a casual everyday affair. When a child is conceived, kill it, for the sake of convenience.

2. Corruption in both political parties and government at large.

Solution: All citizens need to get involved in politics. This means abandoning the "entertainment lifestyle" many of us have come to embrace. We've abdicated our duty, and we all need to re-embrace a firm hand in politics. This means turning off the television, and redirecting time and effort to political causes. In addition, it means embracing liberty, the Constitution, and jettisoning the idea that government needs to solve all our problems.

3. God has been removed from public schools, government, and business.

Solution: The United States was founded by a deeply religious people. The Constitution itself was designed for the governance of a deeply spiritual people. When all references to God and ethics are removed from public schools and government, depravity and sin begin to take over. We've seen the growing immorality in media, music, television, and movies. This is an outworking of such decisions. The solution is to re-introduce the Bible to public schools, government, and business. Does this meaning forcing religious beliefs on others? Absolutely not. But it does mean offering that option, without exclusion. Our society has quietly ejected any mention of God from every area of society and study. This is unacceptable.

4. The redefinition of marriage to include homosexual relationships.

Solution: Lobby the Supreme Court and Congress to continue defining marriage as between one man and one woman. Many churches in our country have already gone into apostasy on this issue. This decision is still very much up in the air. But the culture is lobbying very hard to redefine marriage, and calling anyone a "bigot" who stands for traditional marriage. In fact many Christians have lost their businesses and jobs due to these hateful "gay activists." Religious freedom is under attack as well, all within this issue of gay marriage. Churches are also beginning to embrace gay marriage. Many things hinge on this issue, more than we might realize. It's important we stand up and speak out on this issue. Not by condemning people, but by standing firm for our convictions, while loving the people who suffer from issues of sexual confusion.

5. The Constitution continues to be eroded by Republicans and Democrats.

Solution: We need to get involved in politics, and recognize that this is not a red vs. blue issue. Both parties have walked all over the Constitution in the past twenty years. George W. Bush was just as bad as Barack H. Obama. Many Christians like to think that the Republicans are the good guys and the democrats are the bad guys. That is not the case. There are loyal Americans in both parties, and disloyal Americans in both parties. Unfortunately the majority tend to serve special interests, big banks, big business, and their own agendas. We need to be very careful to vote in candidates who support liberty and the Constitution. Unfortunately the mainstream media can't be trusted to provide us with the proper information anymore. We need to dig deeper. We need to know the Constitution, and stand up for our rights within it. The Constitution was designed to restrain government, and the Supreme Court has often walked on the bill of rights to support it's big government agenda. All three branches of government have walked on the Constitution, it's our job as the people to restore it and strictly adhere to it. Our liberty, our economy, our future are all upheld by the Constitutional restraints on government.

Given these five issues, and many others we wonder how things can possibly change. There is so much money, so many powerful people supporting the corruption and authoritarian changes happening in our government and society. How can we possibly turn the tide?

What can we do? It seems hopeless.

This is the moment. The deck is stacked against us. Big banks control our economy through the privately owned Federal Reserve. Billions from special interest groups flow into Congress. And the information media networks have betrayed us, and now support the agendas of big business, banking, and the political agendas of the rich. Child sacrifice has been legal for years now. Sex is a joke to kids and adults a like. Depravity reigns on the television channels. Alcoholism, drug addiction, and suicide are on the rise. The culture has embraced the LGBT agenda. Christianity is in decline. What do we do?

Our ancestors in 1776 stood against the most powerful nation on Earth. They faced massive well armed forces. They faced the most powerful navy on the planet. The British commanders had the best training money could buy. Meanwhile the colonies were divided. The Continental Congress debated the issues endlessly, caught in a deadlock over the issue of war with Britain. Many colonists considered themselves "loyalists" and actively attempted to help the British and subvert the patriots. The British had massive armies, and they had even purchased Hessian mercenaries by the thousands to join them. On top of all of that, the colonial armies didn't even have enough gun powder for their weapons. Many were deserting. Most of the colonial troops had no experience at professional soldiering. Yet despite all of those massive disadvantages, our patriot ancestors had one thing: God.

They appealed to heaven. And a new nation was born. A nation where men had the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. A nation that recognized no government has the right to take away anyone's right to due process, freedom of movement, and freedom of speech. Why? Because those rights do not come from any government, they come from God. The United States prevailed in 1776, despite facing the greatest nation on Earth at that time. The appeal worked. God granted his people liberty. And he will again.

Pray. Appeal to heaven. Appeal to God. He can and does do the impossible. Today. Hang an "Appeal to Heaven" flag on your wall to remind you and your family to appeal to heaven for the future of our country. Pray everyday. Weep and pray. Cry out in prayer. Cry out to God. Appeal to heaven, it is our last hope, and our last resolve. God is enough. In Jesus name, Amen.

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Thursday, June 4, 2015

Who I was and Who I am: A Poetic Observation

I was walking on a quiet night in the dark of a memory, imagining who I used to be and who I am, pondering the transition. A light was shining but it wasn't in front of me, but in my mind. Who did I used to be? Theologically speaking, fallen. Romantically speaking, existentialist. Optimistically at best a biased seeker. Marching in a sort of jaunt toward a great fearful unknown. And who might I come upon in the eye of the dream of the allegory in my mind of the inward introspective outwardly projected journey of discovery...? but none other than an ancient figure. Some called him an architect. Others call him a great man. Others call him a heretic. Still others call him a transcendent representation of the future evolution of man kind. I personally would learn to call him... God.

Walking along the highway, observing my protestations, gravel crunching underneath foot, weary and worn, in need of rest I wondered about who I had been before.

The same man had walked these very steps a hundred times before. So often I had walked along the road pondering the meaning of life. So many times I had listened to music in the pale moonlight. I was much the same as I am now. Yet so different. I had been so troubled. Yet not in desire of changing that fact, necessarily. I knew I wanted something different. Yet as the fallen man I had taken a deep pleasure in falling. And all the natural positions of the mind in that state tend toward homeostasis.

It most certainly took an object from outside that system to effect any possible change. And what a change it has been. So different, yet essentially the same person. One might say a new attitude, but that might suggest the change was simply one of attitude, and it was most certainly not.

My atheist friends think I'm delusional. My agnostic friends think I'm a dreamer. And as Lennon said, if so, I'm not the only one.

Looking in retrospect definitely becomes a troubling parallax. The same, yet different. Effectively doomed, as a feeling had been the prior state before the intervention of a certain Jesus Christ, a rather ancient man, born in Nazareth over 2,000 years ago, apparently being exactly who he claimed to be, to my eternal surprise. I honestly hadn't expected that. The modern descriptions of it had been so cheesy, simplistic, and uninspiring it seemed proven entirely false. Much to my surprise I was wrong.

Perhaps the greatest experience of becoming a "Christ-follower" has been learning to realize my wrongness and embrace rightness, for the sake of myself, others, and the universe at large. Being wrong about something isn't so bad. As long as I remain aware that the most important thing is not being right, but knowing the truth. And even following the truth. Dare I even say, embracing the reality of my own moral shortcomings? Oh my, dare we go there? We all so love to pretend to be "basically good." The irony is upon meeting this "J.C." we are just that. But not before.

I must've walked the path along the wooded road from my house 700 times at least. I would walk every night. Sometimes on drugs. Sometimes not. Sometimes sad. Sometimes excited. Sometimes downright lost. Still I would walk. In fact the field across from my house became the setting for a short story I would write later about the spiritual journey of a young boy named Jacob. I had sailed kites in the field as a boy. It had always inspired my imagination.

Life, death, philosophy, religion, spirit, space, time, science, logic, so many ideas to explore. So many things to know... Yet so much trouble. So much pain. So much trouble. Such a downward angle to the path. So many dips, unquenched desires for turn abouts.

The transition, the new life was like a worst case scenario. You can survive, you can have new life, you can be fundamentally changed. But you must embrace the thing you least want to face: the truth. It was a bittersweet exchange, calling on Jesus Christ at rock bottom. I had to give up my own eternal selfishness. The brutal core of every problem of Earth from genocide to boredom: selfishness. The self seeking default ethic of every person born on the planet... well. Save one.. a certain peasant named Jesus. Amazing and interesting that one perfection is the door out. Yet turning that over was possibly worse than dying a thousand deaths. It meant stepping into a total undesirable unknown. But once through the door, the transition came from a constant downward journey, to an upward journey. A new attitude, of no longer feeling doomed. But feeling essentially free, and set apart.

Please don't think for a moment that I'm exxagerating or overplaying this "feeling of doom." Well we all have our tough days is not what I mean, not even close. I mean a constant basic state of feeling essentially lost. Day in and day out. Walking around feeling like there is a hole in your chest describes it so well. But desperately, so desperately not wanting to believe that some ancient archaic bizarre notion like Christianity, Jesus Christ could fill it. The mere mention of such a "solution" filled me with rage. It filled me with resentment.

The deepest desire after that transformation is wanting others to experience it. Why? I have the cure to basic malady of every human being on the planet. There it was all those years hidden in plain sight. Surrounded by a bodyguard of lies. There it was. Now I have it. And now I must deal with the scorn of those who can't understand it, and don't want to see it. But was I so different only three short years ago?

Returning to the basic assertion... I could not trigger the change. God had to directly intervene in my disaster. No one could show me. He had to make himself known.

In conclusion, walking the road tonight along the path I'd walked hundreds of times before reminded me of a few things. It reminded that the change is real, fundamental, basic, and total. It reminded me that experience of walking after Christ is a worthwhile venture despite the tortures. The stark contrast between who I was and who I am is one I will never grow tired of rehashing. It is the purest evidence of the existence of God that I carry.

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Being a Single Christian in a Sexualized Culture: The Modern Ethic vs. the Christian Ethic

Single Christians... can we get some love?

As if being a follower of Christ wasn't hard enough, imagine being a single Christian! That is the predicament for many in the world, and in the United States today. Including myself. I'm 30 years old, single and I have no children. I follow Christ. And as a Christ follower I'm unique in that I must impose certain limitations on myself when it comes to romance and sexuality.

Being a single Christian is perhaps one of the most difficult situations to face. An individual of either sex is fully sexually active by age 13-14 (Penner & Penner, 2003). The sexual desires are extremely intense beginning in puberty. However in the culture of the United States it's becoming increasingly common for couples to wait until their middle to late twenties to marry (Penner & Penner, 2003). In addition, masturbation and lust are sins according to the Bible (Matthew 5:28). Pre-marital sex is also quite obviously a very serious sin (1 Corinthians 7:2, Ephesians 5:5). The Bible makes references to sexual immorality many many times. So it's clearly a very important area of conduct for followers of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:18, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, Matthew 5:28, Hebrews 13:4, 1 Corinthians 7:2, Colossians 3:5). But how serious is it?

Ephesians 5:5 (English Standard Version) goes far enough to say it like this: "For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God."

This is the point during youth group when the kids will probably start rolling their eyes and tuning you out. But are we followers of Christ? If "no" then there's the door. If "yes" then we necessarily must take every word of the Bible, especially the New Testament very seriously. In addition, I believe many Christians today have been lulled into a false sense of security. They believe they may accept Christ and then live however they please. But that isn't the case. We need to be obedient workers of righteousness.

Anyone hanging around youth group long enough may notice a attitude regarding sex virtually synonymous with non-Christians (Morris, 2015). I attended a Cru (CCFC) event at a local college about six weeks in a row. By the end I had heard a lot of good teaching. But in between sessions I heard a lot of drinking, sex, and joking about lesbians (by one of the leaders). I know I'm not alone in that frustration. Many of us have felt that way in large groups, and many of us have been that person making a crude comment when maybe we should've just shut up. I know, I know, I've been that person too. We're not perfect, but we're called to obedience.

Again and again in scripture we notice how faith and trust in the work of Christ is undeniably married to Christian obedience, or in other words, repentance and the keeping of his commands (1 John 3:24, Luke 6:46, John 8:51, James 1:22-25, John 15:10, Philippians 2:12, 2 John 1:6-9, Romans 6:16).

Given the importance of moral sex conduct, what is the single Christian to do? The mainstream media would have sex before, during, and after marriage. Sex is quite often portrayed as occurring on the first date. Young and old alike see that portrayed in enough movies and eventually it becomes a normal attitude. It's basically expected. Christians and non-Christians alike are bombarded by sexually enticing imagery daily. How is the single Christian to stand against temptation?

Churches can help single Christians by beginning to generate a dialogue regarding important issues like sexual intimacy (Morris, 2015). Churches can also help by creating better support systems for the single Christians they serve (Morris, 2015). It's very important that single Christians have a place they can come to frankly discuss sexual frustrations and past sexual hurts (Morris, 2015). If single Christians don't have a place within the Christian community to discuss straight forward sexual issues, then they will most likely go outside the church with their questions and concerns (Morris, 2015).

For single Christians, there are certainly options for dealing with these issues. In many cases single Christians have unknowingly believed lies they've been fed by the media and culture (Morris, 2015). Men and women are programmed to believe that sexual intimacy is synonymous with emotional intimacy. Of course it's not. Women assume they can "get" emotional intimacy if they offer sex. Men assume if they can "get" sex their deep internal desires will be fulfilled. Of course both of those assumptions are entirely false. Singles assume that the best way to "keep" a prospective mate is to "put out." Yet studies have shown that the sooner sexual intercourse occurs in a relationship the more likely it is to end in break up (Penner & Penner, 2003). Studies have shown that those who wait longer to engage in sexual intercourse actually tend to stay together longer (Penner & Penner, 2003).

Christians of today are more impacted by the media and culture than I think we'd like to admit. We watch secular shows, listen to secular music, read secular books, go to church on Sunday, and assume we're acting on Christian values. Then why is sexual immorality such a problem for Christian youth and young adults? Maybe we're getting messages we don't realize we're receiving. Maybe we're believing falsehoods without even consciously noticing.

Stolen waters are portrayed as so much sweeter than those forged in relationship and time (Proverb 9:17). Yet those who have taken stolen waters often testify to the emptiness and guilt found there in. Though a one night stand, or sex with someone already married to someone else may be exciting and intoxicating at the time, later guilt, shame, remorse, and trouble come as a result. In addition, in those occasions when sex occurs rapidly and out of marriage, there is no spiritual aspect. Only the flesh is temporarily titillated. But the flesh will the next day simply cry for more, more, more (Proverb 27:20). And that desire fed is never ending, and never satisfied.

In stark contrast is the sacred spiritual sex between husband and wife within the bond of marriage. In that sacred union of bodies there is not only fleshly enjoyment, but also a spiritual communion, and an intense love and connection between the two. Such a sexual experience is not simply emotional or intellectual, or joyous, but also a spiritual act of closeness that draws the couple even closer together. Such an experience is the reward for patience and vigilance when seeking the person God has fore-ordained us to be with. It is most certainly worth it to wait. True love is worth the wait. And the beautiful thing about sex within marriage is that it's meant to be enjoyed frequently, passionately, and constantly (Proverb 5:19).

Many young Christians unknowingly trust in the sexual ethic of the world, thinking they will find fulfillment within that game of chase, manipulation, control, and indulgence. But instead many find longings cracked open that can never be closed again, like sexual addiction, sexual illness, and broken patterns of relationship. At face value the sexual ethic of the world may seem appealing, yet God's word is proven right despite our best ideas again and again, as we see divorce on the rise, broken families, children born out of one night stands, and young people hurting, confused, and lost. Thankfully it doesn't have to be that way, if we would just trust that God is in fact right about sex. He provides the strength. But we need to do the footwork. We need to examine our own root convictions and adjust them into alignment with the biblical truths found in the word (Morris, 2015).

Proverb 4:23 (ESV) says "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." And in the Song of Solomon three different times the woman in the poetic saga urges the young women of Israel: "Do not awaken love until the time is right" (Song of Solomon 2:7, 3:5, 8:4). Our hearts have a tendency to bounce around in a hundred different directions. The culture often tells us "trust your heart." But instead I urge you to trust the Spirit. Access the Holy Spirit within, and request His guidance. Seek his wisdom. Do not look to our hearts, which are often so fickle, selfish, and flighty. We must guard our hearts. With threats like pornography which may seem "harmless" at the time. We need to remember that these things we see in life cannot be unseen. And so often these displays trigger in us desires that can never be truly fulfilled. They are dead ends.

As it says in the Song of Solomon, men and women be gentle with hearts. We have incredible power over those who may have romantic feelings for us. Don't trigger love. Don't play on emotions, play games, and endless hollow flirtations. Be cautious how you dress. Do not awaken the love in another's heart until it is time. We have many blessings in our physical appearance, the clothing we wear, and the beauty we carry. Let us be humble, and wise with it's application in daily life.

In conclusion, the battle is difficult. But we can indeed stand, if we truly address the lies we may be believing and replace them with the truth of God's word. Many would probably still say: "Well you're probably right, but I'm still going to do it my way." In that case, just as in any other, when we decide to play god about what is right and wrong, we have that choice, but we do not have the choice of determining the consequences of those actions we take. We can let God teach us through the Bible or we can learn it the hard way. I was one of the people who had to learn the hard way. I acted out and lived foolishly. Ultimately it was hollow, empty, and emotionally troubling. Today I choose God's way. It is the best way, and truly the way of real fulfillment. God will provide. Trust him.

But ultimately it's your choice! Make it a good one.

References

Morris, S. H. (Director) (2015, May 27). CCOU 303: Single Sexuality. Issues in Human Sexuality. Lecture conducted from Liberty University, .

Penner, C., & Penner, J. (2003). The gift of sex: A guide to sexual fulfillment. Nashville, TN: W Publishing Group.

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