Monday, June 28, 2010
Searchings for self: Life
Life... Who is it? Where is it? What is it? Can it be reasoned in the depths of philosophy? Can it be found in the passions of theology? Are we left to figure it out on our own? Is there a perfect mold? Can it even be said that someone lived a perfect life? How and when can this be? Is it automatic or pursued? Can life be lived simply or does it have to be lived extravagantly? Who is it that decides what it means to truly live?
Where has my love gone?
Where has my love gone? It has faded from the most beautiful of days and been replaced by the darkest of nights. A tragedy that all creation groans against.
Yet what is this feeling of embrace I have toward this blackness? Why do I desire its cover?
Where has my love gone? Did I leave it on the way or forget it by the river? Can anyone help me find my love?
Yet it is the blackest of storms with the most dreadful display of soul crushing power. I relinquish my embrace for who can survive this disaster being played out through the ages?
Where has my love gone? I will brave the storm even if it cost me my life. The insanity wrapped up inside this emotion to find my love drives me to the brink of destruction.
Yet I will pursue my love until the storm dies and the blackness fades into a crisp morning sunrise. I will find you my love.
Yet what is this feeling of embrace I have toward this blackness? Why do I desire its cover?
Where has my love gone? Did I leave it on the way or forget it by the river? Can anyone help me find my love?
Yet it is the blackest of storms with the most dreadful display of soul crushing power. I relinquish my embrace for who can survive this disaster being played out through the ages?
Where has my love gone? I will brave the storm even if it cost me my life. The insanity wrapped up inside this emotion to find my love drives me to the brink of destruction.
Yet I will pursue my love until the storm dies and the blackness fades into a crisp morning sunrise. I will find you my love.
Precious things
I find myself longing each new day for a love that is driving me insane
This love is one like no other!
For I have never seen or heard of her.
I'm waiting but my heart grows fonder.
Yet with all my strength I can not hold this flower.
And even if I do, what will become of things?
For I am incapable of loving and cherishing precious things.
But Christ has given me a new life.
I can live and run in His light.
Now the capability of loving and cherishing precious things rest not in me but in the King of Kings.
I am complete in Him who has called.
So now I wait to love and cherish precious things.
This love is one like no other!
For I have never seen or heard of her.
I'm waiting but my heart grows fonder.
Yet with all my strength I can not hold this flower.
And even if I do, what will become of things?
For I am incapable of loving and cherishing precious things.
But Christ has given me a new life.
I can live and run in His light.
Now the capability of loving and cherishing precious things rest not in me but in the King of Kings.
I am complete in Him who has called.
So now I wait to love and cherish precious things.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Systematic Theology on the cross? - by: Richard Wurmbrand
"I once tried to explain “systematic theology” to a Russian pastor of the Underground Church, who had never seen a whole New Testament. Systematically, I began to explain to him the teaching about the Godhead, about its unity in three Persons, the teaching about original sin, about the Fall, about salvation, about the Church, about the sacraments, about the Bible as infallible revelation.
He listened attentively. When I had finished, he asked me a most surprising question: “Have those who thought out these theological systems and wrote them down in such perfect order ever carried a cross?” He went on. “A man cannot think systematically even when he has a bad toothache. How can a man who is carrying a cross think systematically? But a Christian has to be more than the bearer of a heavy cross: he shares Christ’s crucifixion. The pains of Christ are his, and the pains of all creation. There is no grief and no suffering in the whole world which should not grieve him also. If a man is crucified with Christ, how can he think systematically? Can there be that kind of thought on a cross?
“Jesus Himself thought unsystematically on the cross. He began with forgiveness; He spoke of a paradise in which even a robber had a place; then He despaired that perhaps there might be no place in paradise even for Him, the Son of God. He felt Himself forsaken. His thirst was so unbearable that He asked for water. Then He surrendered His spirit into His Father’s hand. But there followed no serenity, only a loud cry. Thank you for what you have been trying to teach me. I have the impression that you were only repeating, without much conviction, what others have taught you.”
~Richard Wurmbrand, 1909-2001, founder of VOM, “With God in Solitary Confinement
He listened attentively. When I had finished, he asked me a most surprising question: “Have those who thought out these theological systems and wrote them down in such perfect order ever carried a cross?” He went on. “A man cannot think systematically even when he has a bad toothache. How can a man who is carrying a cross think systematically? But a Christian has to be more than the bearer of a heavy cross: he shares Christ’s crucifixion. The pains of Christ are his, and the pains of all creation. There is no grief and no suffering in the whole world which should not grieve him also. If a man is crucified with Christ, how can he think systematically? Can there be that kind of thought on a cross?
“Jesus Himself thought unsystematically on the cross. He began with forgiveness; He spoke of a paradise in which even a robber had a place; then He despaired that perhaps there might be no place in paradise even for Him, the Son of God. He felt Himself forsaken. His thirst was so unbearable that He asked for water. Then He surrendered His spirit into His Father’s hand. But there followed no serenity, only a loud cry. Thank you for what you have been trying to teach me. I have the impression that you were only repeating, without much conviction, what others have taught you.”
~Richard Wurmbrand, 1909-2001, founder of VOM, “With God in Solitary Confinement
Sunday, January 17, 2010
The Cry
Its a poets cry to hear the whisper of the heart with a new melody, desiring to be bound with complete captivity to its relentless oppression; a danger to the one who reads and understands.
The cry longing to be heard in the depths of one possessing a passion for the rare beauty to transform language into a tasteful treat that will be a delight to all who partake; a timeless kiss that will be felt for generations to come.
This brings hope that all will hear the whispered cry that has passed through eternity, bringing the sweetest melody to a complete and tasteful fulfillment; a choice delight that was given before the world began.
But only in full abandonment can this melody sanctify the soul of the hearer to embrace the narrow road of love and grace fully embraced only by those who have fully abandoned all other whispers of lesser value if to only gain a taste of the cry of eternity.
The cry longing to be heard in the depths of one possessing a passion for the rare beauty to transform language into a tasteful treat that will be a delight to all who partake; a timeless kiss that will be felt for generations to come.
This brings hope that all will hear the whispered cry that has passed through eternity, bringing the sweetest melody to a complete and tasteful fulfillment; a choice delight that was given before the world began.
But only in full abandonment can this melody sanctify the soul of the hearer to embrace the narrow road of love and grace fully embraced only by those who have fully abandoned all other whispers of lesser value if to only gain a taste of the cry of eternity.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Refuge
Surly God is able
To save me from myself
Surly God is able
To help me overcome my flesh
If only I had
The strength to conquer my foes
If only I had
The strength to run into your fold
Then I would be sheltered under your wing
Then I would see a glimpse of eternity
For on that day every eye will see
That you are God and you’ll hold me for eternity
To save me from myself
Surly God is able
To help me overcome my flesh
If only I had
The strength to conquer my foes
If only I had
The strength to run into your fold
Then I would be sheltered under your wing
Then I would see a glimpse of eternity
For on that day every eye will see
That you are God and you’ll hold me for eternity
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Searchings in Mark 2: 13-17
He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him. And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
Sometimes I just feel like quitting. Sometimes I just want to run to my lusts and selfish desires. Sometimes I want to just lay down and die. There are times when I just want to lay down and sleep for days just so I will not have to fight my flesh. There are times when I hate reading the bible and there are days when I just say "forget it! I'm not reading!" There are days when my sin is so overwhelming that I can't imagine even being a follower of Jesus. I become so selfish some days that I cant think of any scripture to alleviate my thoughts. When I lay down to sleep I find myself drifting between fantasy and reality. When I seek to honor the Lord and do good I find that there is always sin in my intentions. Basically I am SICK!!! I am desperate! My sinfulness is so plan to see that some days I am incapacitated and then other days I walk around like a zombie, just going through the motions: wake up, brush teeth, eat, brush teeth, sleep........ O yes!!! I see that I am desperately sick!!!
How kind these words are to my ears! How sweet the fragrance is to my senses! I scarcely doubt that there have ever been better words penned. These words bring Hope and Peace. These words grab our attention and our affections. How sweet they are. Jesus Christ, the only true God in the flesh, came to be crushed under the wrath of God on the Cross, becoming sin who new no sin. God who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, o how will He not give us all things!!!! CHRIST CAME TO SAVE SINNERS!!!!!! Of whom I am the foremost!
I confess my need! I confess that I am desperately sick, beyond hope of being revived (apart from the Grace of God). I am a sinner and I embrace it!! I cling to the truth that there is nothing good in me. I am worthless in and of my self. My thoughts are sick! My actions are sick! My dreams are sick! I am a SINNER... and I embrace it! Christ came to save sinners.... If I do not embrace my inadequacy to obtain righteousness by my own works then there is truly no hope for me, for I still see myself as righteous. It is only when I come to grips that I am a sinner that I can be saved. Light must shine into the darkness of my heart to reveal how truly ugly I really am; the light comes from the gospel message of Jesus Christ. By Gods grace I am able to see this and in response to this ugliness I look for someway to clean myself because I know that I was not able to do so by my own power. I need a Savior and then I see Jesus. O how beautiful the savior is! In my ugly sinfulness I see the light of the Savior's righteousness and I know that he came to save sinners therefore I rest in the truth of the Saviors words that He "came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
I am a sinner.... and I am so thankful because the more I see my sinfulness, the more beautiful the Savior becomes to me. I need you Jesus!!!
Sometimes I just feel like quitting. Sometimes I just want to run to my lusts and selfish desires. Sometimes I want to just lay down and die. There are times when I just want to lay down and sleep for days just so I will not have to fight my flesh. There are times when I hate reading the bible and there are days when I just say "forget it! I'm not reading!" There are days when my sin is so overwhelming that I can't imagine even being a follower of Jesus. I become so selfish some days that I cant think of any scripture to alleviate my thoughts. When I lay down to sleep I find myself drifting between fantasy and reality. When I seek to honor the Lord and do good I find that there is always sin in my intentions. Basically I am SICK!!! I am desperate! My sinfulness is so plan to see that some days I am incapacitated and then other days I walk around like a zombie, just going through the motions: wake up, brush teeth, eat, brush teeth, sleep........ O yes!!! I see that I am desperately sick!!!
How kind these words are to my ears! How sweet the fragrance is to my senses! I scarcely doubt that there have ever been better words penned. These words bring Hope and Peace. These words grab our attention and our affections. How sweet they are. Jesus Christ, the only true God in the flesh, came to be crushed under the wrath of God on the Cross, becoming sin who new no sin. God who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, o how will He not give us all things!!!! CHRIST CAME TO SAVE SINNERS!!!!!! Of whom I am the foremost!
I confess my need! I confess that I am desperately sick, beyond hope of being revived (apart from the Grace of God). I am a sinner and I embrace it!! I cling to the truth that there is nothing good in me. I am worthless in and of my self. My thoughts are sick! My actions are sick! My dreams are sick! I am a SINNER... and I embrace it! Christ came to save sinners.... If I do not embrace my inadequacy to obtain righteousness by my own works then there is truly no hope for me, for I still see myself as righteous. It is only when I come to grips that I am a sinner that I can be saved. Light must shine into the darkness of my heart to reveal how truly ugly I really am; the light comes from the gospel message of Jesus Christ. By Gods grace I am able to see this and in response to this ugliness I look for someway to clean myself because I know that I was not able to do so by my own power. I need a Savior and then I see Jesus. O how beautiful the savior is! In my ugly sinfulness I see the light of the Savior's righteousness and I know that he came to save sinners therefore I rest in the truth of the Saviors words that He "came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
I am a sinner.... and I am so thankful because the more I see my sinfulness, the more beautiful the Savior becomes to me. I need you Jesus!!!
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