Don't let Him pass you by!

"[Jesus] saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, 'Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.'" -Mark 6:48-50

Isn't this fascinating? Jesus saw the struggles of His disciples in the rough waters, and when He walked on the water, He was about to pass them by. If it weren't for the disciples' cries, Jesus might have kept walking along. But, He knew (and we know) that He wouldn't pass by - Jesus heard the cries of His disciples and reminded them how safe they really were. But, that's the thing - Jesus is always within earshot; He sees our struggles and makes every part of Him available to us. All we need to do is call upon His name - He is faithful. Though the disciples did not recognize Jesus walking on the water (being fishermen, they had experienced many situations in their life on water - despite all of that, this encounter was one-of-a-kind), their cries still drew their Savior near. It's just like a baby who is crying. The reason for the baby's tears could be one of many: hunger, fatigue, being frightened. Whatever the reason, the baby's parent will come, upon hearing those cries, to meet the needs of the child and assuage him/her. Our Father in heaven is no different:

"Hear my prayer, O LORD;
listen to my cry for mercy.
In the day of my trouble I will call to you,
for you will answer me." -Psalm 86:6-7

Christianity is a very believer-driven way of life.

• "Thou shalt not steal." -Exodus 20:15.
• "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." -Deuteronomy 6:5.
• "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." -Matthew 22:39.
• "For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." -Matthew 7:8

These are commands of God and acts of men. God wants us to enact His will here on earth. If we are proactive, then God will work mighty things through us. But, we must call out, in full confidence that our Lord is close, He will hear us and He will come to our rescue.

"Where is Jesus in all of this?"

I was blessed by the Lord with an opportunity to speak on behalf of Him through His Word at the St. John's MTC Christmas Coffeehouse this past Friday, 12/26. God gave me such a boldness to speak for Him that day - praise Him!! I'm tellin' ya - not even six hours prior to the event, I was still unsure as to how to effectively present what I had put together. Content was coming together, but the remainder of the content, connections, and applications were still up in the air. But, God just literally told me to be quiet, focus in on Him, and let Him take care of all the details. He revealed Scripture to me in ways I had not seen before, solidifying everything. As the wise proverb says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5). How true that is! Thanks, God.

So, I've placed my notes for the message below. It might seem a little haphazard, but hopefully it'll be easy to piece together:

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Merry Christmas, NOT Happy Holidays (Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus [12/23]: a holiday for the "rest of us" popularized by Seinfeld's Frank Costanza) - Be proud and attest that assertion.
Notice how Christmas seems to be starting earlier each subsequent year (near Halloween now).
COMMERCIALIZATION OF THE HOLIDAY: Vacation time, Opening gifts, Family get-togethers, Pre-Christmas sales - 2 Black Fridays & 1 Cyber Monday (which is what draws people to Festivus)
Christmas in Japan (a traditionally Buddhist/Shinto nation) -> to promote goods and sales.
On the flip side, first public Christmas in Baghdad.
Multiple movie openings on Christmas Day:

1. Bedtime Stories (Adam Sandler)
2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
3. The Spirit
4. Marley & Me
5. Valkyrie

Also, notice in previous Christmases the opening of a horror movie, without fail!

...Jesus in all of this?

So much talk about a Savior prior to His birth (via the prophets):

1. Isaiah 9:6-7
2. Isaiah 7:14-15
3. Isaiah 11:1-9
4. Zechariah 9:9

So much "hullabaloo" in the community when Jesus ministered and walked the earth:

1. Magi travelling thousands of miles from the East to see the newborn King
2. John the Baptist's proclamation (see Luke 3:16)
   
3. Crowds in the thousands following Jesus
4. Three-year ministry (crowds, Pharisees, Teachers of the Law, rich people, poor people)

But now, absolute silence about Jesus centuries after He ascended to heaven (You may argue that we talk about Jesus all the time at coffeehouse, praise nights, Sunday mornings at church, and the such. Great, but where else?)

Questions people ask nowadays are: Who is Jesus? What was Jesus? (As can be seen in the numerous Discovery Channel specials, such as "The Mystery of Jesus," "Decoding the Bible," "Bethlehem's Star," etc.)
The question should be: Where is Jesus?
To answer this, two people in the Bible provide one convincing answer.

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Paul - Acts 17:22-28

Paul's defenses of the Gospel against Felix, Festus, King Agrippa, the Sanhedrin, the Areopagus are like the trial portions of Law & Order episodes.
Paul spoke to the Areopagus like a skilled lawyer, making his case (recall the educated background of Paul).
vv. 27-28 -> All we need to do is turn and, lo and behold, He will be right there before us (He was there the whole time, right by your side.). (see also Revelation 3:20)
We live in Him! We move in Him! We have our being in Him! Every part and facet of us is enveloped in Him and by Him.

Jesus - John 14:8-11, 15-20

v. 8 -> Jesus actually answered Philip's request in the previous two verses, but his request should be our single-greatest request.
v. 10 -> Intimate relationship between Jesus & His Father. No relationship in history can match what is seen here. This puts into perspective (vividly clear) the agony that Jesus experienced in the garden of Gethsemane and on the cross, because of the pending separation He knew He would experience from His Father. If we have an intimate relationship with our Father, being separate from Him is not where we want to be. We long for the closeness.

** vv. 8-11 -> Dynamic relationship between Jesus & His Father
** vv. 15-20 -> Man's access to that dynamic relationship!

The Holy Spirit gives us access to that relationship. The sacrifice of Jesus tore the veil and we are not separate from our Father and His Son anymore. We are in Him, and He is in us! See where Jesus is now? He never left us our side. Barriers of sin and worldly desires cause blockages of view, but Jesus will never abandon the ones He love
"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." -Matthew 28:20

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"And the name of the city from that time on will be:
The LORD is There." -Ezekiel 48:35

Reflect on 2008, go forward confidently in 2009. Wherever you are, whatever you do, THE LORD IS THERE!

Immanuel = GOD is with us

A blessed Christmas to one and all!

Though Christmas day 2008 may have passed by chronologically, celebrate this special birthday every day for the rest of our lives. The fulfillment of a promise, the extent of a Father's love, the beginning of the greatest ministry of all time all came into realization in that stinky stable in Bethlehem. Praise the Lord!

"For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this." -Isaiah 9:6-7

1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD -

3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;

4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

5 Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.

7 The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

8 The infant will play near the hole of the cobra,
and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest.

9 They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea.
-Isaiah 11:1-9

"John [the Baptist] answered them all, 'I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.'" -Luke 3:16-17

Promise fulfilled. Proclaim it boldly! PTL!

Lovin' that liberation sensation!

At 1:45 in the afternoon today, I FINALLY finished all of the work for both of my semesters. Phew, talk about right until the bitter end! And, just like that, tomorrow is Christmas day. Normally, the buildup to the day is the most fun, filling me with much anticipation and allowing me to mull over the significances of these days. But, with work and school being so inundating until the very last possible moment, the schedule did not allow for such reflection time. I thank God for this timely, well-needed reprieve. He knew what I needed. My God supplies all my needs, according to His riches and glory. Now, I can set aside time to post here my journey through the Word (as if I hadn't set aside time thus far... ;) ). Before I realize it, this break will be over. So, I'm just going to enjoy each and every moment, rejuvenate, and live life in all its abundance, as Jesus would like me to do (see John 10:10).

Onward, forward, and upward!! PTL!

First public Christmas in Baghdad, Iraq

Christmas in Baghdad

The barriers are being broken down, friends. The love of Jesus cannot be stopped by political, regional, cultural borders. When people are released from oppression and tyranny, free people gravitate to Jesus, because it is a natural inclination. Now, of course, I'm not talking about immediate, 100% conversion there right now. Most people there probably see Christmas as a holiday for gifts and Santa Claus. But, the stage is set for the love of Jesus to do its work in that region. It only takes a spark to get a fire going.

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." -Matthew 28:19-20

Justice, Mercy, Grace

Heard this from a preacher in Texas (pretty sure he's from Texas ... or was it Virginia? Can't remember his name for the life of me! He's a good guy - I've seen him a couple of times, thus the forgetting of his name):

Justice = getting what you deserve
Mercy = not getting what you deserve
Grace = getting what you do not deserve

Think about it. Make sure to let it simmer for a bit. Then, never forgetting that God gave Jesus what we deserve, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."- I Thessalonians 5:16-18

From the "You have got to be kidding me..." department:

So, this is what the world is coming to... (Coming to? Sorry, it's already there and it's stubbornly refusing to turn back.)

Calif. Court: Would-Be Good Samaritan Can Be Sued

By PAUL ELIAS

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES

Proving that no good deed goes unpunished, the state's high court on Thursday said a would-be Good Samaritan accused of rendering her friend paraplegic by pulling her from a wrecked car "like a rag doll" can be sued.

California's Supreme Court ruled that the state's Good Samaritan law only protects people from liability if the are administering emergency medical care, and that Lisa Torti's attempted rescue of her friend didn't qualify.

Justice Carlos Moreno wrote for a unanimous court that a person is not obligated to come to someone's aid.

"If, however, a person elects to come to someone's aid, he or she has a duty to exercise due care," he wrote.

Torti had argued that she should still be protected from a lawsuit because she was giving "medical care" when she pulled her friend from a car wreck.

Alexandra Van Horn was in the front passenger seat of a car that slammed into a light pole at 45 mph on Nov. 1, 2004, according to her negligence lawsuit.

Torti was a passenger in a car that was following behind the vehicle and stopped after the crash. Torti said when she came across the wreck she feared the car was going to explode and pulled Van Horn out. Van Horn testified that Torti pulled her out of the wreckage "like a rag doll." Van Horn blamed her friend for her paralysis.

Whether Torti is ultimately liable is still to be determined, but Van Horn's lawsuit can go forward, the Supreme Court ruled.

Beverly Hills lawyer Robert Hutchinson, who represented Van Horn, said he's pleased with the ruling.

Torti's attorney, Ronald Kent, of Los Angeles didn't immediately return a telephone call.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Copyright © 2008 ABC News Internet Ventures

So, this is where we are at now? You can't help someone in a dire situation without looking over your shoulder in fear that you'll be sued. HELPING SOMEONE IS SUBJECT TO LITIGATION! Wow... What if the rescuer left the victim in the car and then the car exploded, as the rescuer feared? The victim would probably sue Torti for "inaction, leading to my death." Instead of being grateful for being alive, she focuses on her present state and needs to place blame on what has happened to her (Would I be the same way?) This litigious society is just getting ridiculous. And, of course, the Beverly Hills lawyer is "pleased with the ruling." Anything to make a buck...

Looking at the Good Samaritan parable (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus makes it clear. Any neighbor (the original roots of this word suggest anyone you would have a fellowship with) who is in need is our primary responsibility and we must do what it takes to fulfill that need. Look at verse 33 carefully: "But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him." No hesitation. As soon as the Samaritan saw the wounded man, his compassion was immediate. There is no indication that the Samaritan ever saw the fallen man prior to this encounter, but his response was automatic. Note that the wounded man is never given an identification about who he was or where he was from. On the other hand, all passers-by were of different types. Bottom line: Irrespective of who we are, if any man or woman needs help, we must answer that call, without hesitation. I might get sued, yes. But, I would rather be sued than bear the knowledge of not providing vital help to a fallen neighbor. Our whole being is naturally inclined for the betterment of others.

It's mercy, folks. Have mercy for your neighbors, just as the Lord has shown his mercy towards us. Go above and beyond for your fellow man or woman. Oh Lord, have mercy on us, your litigious-minded children!

And, furthermore...

Following up the previous post:

[Paul prayed], "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better." -Ephesians 1:17 (I came upon this during my daily morning devotional. See how God works?!)

And, furthermore:

[The Lord says], "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity." -Jeremiah 29:12-14 (WOW... Talk about a verse sending shivers down the spine. So powerful.)

The wisdom of this world may help you understand a few things, but the wisdom of God will help you know HIM better - the God who created ALL of these things you so futilely try to understand on your own. Know God, then everything else will follow.
Seeking the treasures and satisfactions of this world can only satisfy you so much, and that satisfaction is temporary and fleeting. God knows that when you have exhausted all of the worldly options, you will see that God is the only satisfaction you ever really needed. God knows that you will seek Him and you will find Him. "I will be found by you," says the Lord. He waits patiently. He knows how foolish His children are, trying to satiate themselves with the ways and desires of the world. But, still, He waits, the loving and patient Father that He is. When we have nowhere else to turn, we turn to Jesus, where we should have turned to all along. With all your heart, when you take that first step to Him, you will be free, freed from "captivity." No more shackles, no more burdens - the wisdom of God sets us free. PTL, AMEN!!


On a totally random tangent, how can you not think that this is the funniest thing you've ever seen? Man, he's quick for a Dubya.

Freely given Wisdom (with a capital W) from above

"We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written:

"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him" — but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit." -I Corinthians 2:6-10

"We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words." -I Corinthians 2:12-13


In a time when people are searching for worldly sources to satisfy their knowledge and desires, the above passages give us a reality check as to the wisdom that is granted to us by the Spirit and awaits for us to tap into it if we just go and seek it. "God's secret wisdom" is not something God wants to withhold from us - He has prepared it for us and will reveal it to us ... if only we seek. Look at how Solomon asks for wisdom from God:

"So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong." - I Kings 3:9

Solomon wants nothing else. He doesn't want exorbitant riches or long life. He wants (doesn't just ask) the ability to discern between right and wrong. That's what wisdom is all about. It's more that just collecting knowledge. It's how the knowledge is used and should be used, by the guidance of the Spirit.

If only His children would seek it... You think you'll find great wisdom and riches from earthly sources? This same God who put the clockwork stars in place, who knows the number of hairs on your head, who knew how to save us from our eternal damnation, has a wisdom ready and waiting for us, "destined for our glory before time began"! Don't tell me that God does not consider us important! For those who love Him, this is what He has prepared.

And, equipped with this wisdom, we are to speak with "words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words." In other words, the content and manner in which we speak reflects the wisdom of God. To hear the filth that comes out of some people's mouths nowadays is a shame. As James says, "Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be" (James 3:10). Earthly words bear no substance and are as fleeting as the wind. But, words that reflect God's love, God's forgiveness, God's compassion - these spiritual words should be flowing out of our mouths, glorifying God ultimately.

We need to check ourselves. Are we seeking God's wisdom or settling for worldly wisdom? God has His wisdom ready and waiting for those who seek it truly. Are our words expressing spiritual truths, taught by the Spirit? Or are we abusing the vocal gift God gave us to shine in front of some and at the expense of others? As the song says, we must always ask God to give us clean hands, give us pure hearts so that we can be a generation who seeks Him. Our words, as well as our whole being, must reflect Him.

There's only one true Source of wisdom, folks. Be like Solomon. Go get it! It's yours.

Halfway home

Just finished my Foundations in Mathematics final. I hope to salvage something from that - I dominated the midterm, but this final ... oh boy, hoping for the best but expecting the worst.

That completes the TC semester. Still have a boatload left to do in terms of finals giving, grading, and posting. I hope to get most of the preparatory work and grading done this weekend. Then, the onslaught commences on the 22nd and 23rd. Oh how distant and paradisal the 24th seems...

As forewarned, note random thoughts above.

And here we go again...

I should be sleeping now, but upon recalling a passing recommendation from the youth chaplain, I wanted to set this up now before I forgot. An ex-blogger from days of yore, I've decided to focus in and use this as a venue to note down my discoveries and ruminations from the "instruction manual for human life," i.e. the BIBLE. This will be a great place for me to put those random profundities which I discover from reading the Word that I wish not to disappear by the wayside. That'll be the primary focus, but don't be surprised if other random, passing fancies grace these online pages. Thanks to God for inspiring me to start this and giving me time to sit down to begin its assembly. Hopefully, with my break just around the corner, I'll put this to good use. Amen, good night, PTL, and AMEN!