I was hacked by a former “friend” who contributed to my technical site, pkill-9.com. It took awhile to figure out how to properly restore things, but we’re sorta back again. I have several editorials about our favourite orange-haired guy that I need to post. But for now, I think you for your patience.
Wayno
There is no joy in Mudville tonight.
As I watched things de-evolve in the Trump orbit, I did begin to think that perhaps there are people who are really above the law. Nixon chimed: Well, if the President does it, it’s not il-legal. And yet, it was not so much the crime that brought him down; It was the cover-up.
Howard Baker asked the most important question during the Nixon probe: What did the President know, and when did he know it? But Trump’s own tweets made him self-impeachable. He told us that all he had was a nice conversation with the President of the Ukraine. When he said he would release the transcripts, I figured they would be doctored. In fact, they were not. They were the smocking gun.
The Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) decision, whether we agree or dis-agree, is the premise we have all operated under since the Watergate scandal. You can’t indict a sitting President.
So worried were the framers of our Constitution over the abuses of the President, they gave use but one option: impeachment for high crimes and misdemeanours. They left the language deliberately vague. The only prescription they gave us was the nuclear one. The I-Word. Impeachment.
This is a road, very less traveled. Only Johnson, Nixon, and Clinton have faced impeachment proceedings. Now a fourth is added to the list: Donald J. Trump. Three of these, all within my lifetime, and yours. At this time, there are in-sufficient votes in the US Senate, who will try Articles of Impeachment, brought by the House of Representatives. But it behooves us to look at how quickly things disintegrated for Mr. Nixon.
The evidence is not complete. The court of public opinion gets their say as well. I encourage you to write to your representatives nd voice your opinion, whether yea, or nay. I have already done so.
This is a journey that I wish we as a nation, did not have to travel. But we must. The sanctity of our union, and dare I say, that of our Constitution, are at stake here.
No. There is no joy in Mudville. For you, the might Trump, has struck out.
original copy
September 25, 2019
(Ironically, the same day Spiro Agnew asked to be Impeached).
Wayno Guerrini
Do Words Mean things?
Through the Looking Glass – Lewis Carroll, December, 1871
In the U.S. political arena, a word game is being played between the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch. The insipid nature of politics, have suddenly sparked interest in even the most mundane corners of the citizenry.
We seem padlocked in a never ending legal battle that shackles the fundamental foundations of Democracy. No longer can we sit as a deer bathed in headlights – frozen in time. We are experiencing a paradigm shift in how all future presidencies and legislative agendas will be adjudicated by the epochs of time.
It is time. It is time to either let words having meaning, and definition, or it is time to end this democracy, and surrender it to the kakistocracy of politicians that encompass the current administration.
If words have meaning, if they have consequence in the real world, rather then the shanghai-la of political demagoguery that exists in the current political landscape…Then it is time to let those words take definition.
Congress has been entrusted with over-site of the Executive Branch. Yet I have seen cowardice, in-action, and frankly a laissez-faire attitude on the part of our elected leaders. The electorate did not put you in a place of power to sit on your hands, and thumb noses at us. We decry the complacent attitude that permeates the halls of this hallowed institution.
It is time, gentlemen (and gentlewomen) to let words once again have meaning. It is time to act. It is time to hold Mr. Barr, Mr. Mc Gahn, and Mr. Trump in contempt. It is time to let words take flight and have meaning. It is time to move words that spew forth from the Twitter feeds, into the realm of real world consequences.
Congress should immediately jail those in contempt (real world consequences), or you should step down.
Either the words penned by Theodore Roosevelt have meaning, or they fall on deaf ears, and are truly devoid, bereft, impotent.
No man is above the law and no man is below it: nor do we ask any man’s permission when we ask him to obey it.
The time to open a congressional inquiry into impeachment, is now.
Wayno Guerrini
May 21, 2019
By Wayno Guerrini 1/30/2019
I. In the beginning –
A. Man was created == very good (Gen 1:31)
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” – Gen 2:16-17
Not just a physical death…..but a spiritual death.
II. So what is Sin?
A. Wilful disobedience. (Unbelief of what God has said.)
B. Always against a person. We forget – God is a person.
C. Multiplies exponentially.
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men[e] because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. Romans 5:12-14 ESV)
D. Stores up the wrath and anger of God.
Temptation – Lust, Sin, Death (the LSD of the Bible)
Ezek 18:20 – The soul that sins, shall surely die.
Romans 3:23 All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (come back to verses 24 & 25 – they are key to this study)
Romans 6:23 – Sin pays a wage…The wages of sin is death….but….
Romans 2:5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. (ESV)\
Love: God is love (1 John 4:8) Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (ESV)
God is righteous and judges: Righteous are You, O Lord, And upright are Your judgments. (Psalm 119:137)
God is Holy: For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, (Isa 57:15)
Go
Our Father who is in Heaven. Holy is your name….Matt 6:9
God is truth: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, You would have known my Father also. From now on you know him and have seen him” (John 14:6-7)
God is wrath: For
the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the
truth. (Romans 1:18)
God has many attributes. But He never stops being one to favour the other. God is always righteous, He is always truthful. He is always holy. He judges rightly. But at the same time, God is filled with wrath, against all ungodliness and unrighteousness.
So there we have it. Our sin is against the personhood of God. Through our disobedience, we are storing up God’s wrath. We are at a place in our society, where we fear man, much more than, we fear the Almighty. What is the end? Again, Ezekiel reminds us: Ezek 18:20 – The soul that sins, shall surely die.
Moral Law – the 10 commandments a sign post of what God is like. The law was a school-master – teaching us about God’s law. Remember that we are created in the image of God. The image of God, His righteousness, his holiness are revealed to us in the law. Has we ever sinned? Broken God’s moral law? Of course….All have sinned. Sin must be judged. We know that the penalty of sin, is death. The law was a
Is there then no hope for mankind? We see the first glimmer of hope in Gen 3:15
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and
between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your
head,
and you shall bruise his heel.”
This is called the proto-evangel. The first reference pointing the way to Christ.
III. At this point, I hope you are asking yourself, why did Jesus have to die?
The ceremonial law, the statutes contained in Exodus and Leviticus, was a foreshadowing. Sins were covered – but never atoned (paid). So the sinner had to come again and again.
8 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
Covered. But not paid. How could sinful man ever be reconciled to the holiness of God? We can’t do it. Never. Ever.
Again, Romans reminds us: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. (Romans 1:18)
As Charlie Brown would say: “We’re doomed!” And doomed we are.
So how do you propitiate? Satisfy. Appease. Reconcile?
IV. Propitiation – the Necessity of Christ.
God is full of wrath against the sins of mankind.
God demands justice. He demands death. How can we be saved from God’s wrath.
Yes – I will do good works. I will be a good upstanding citizen. Yes that will do it. God will surely let me into Heaven because of my righteous deeds. Ta da!
Will that work? Does that work?
V. The Problem
A. How can God remain just, yet justify the ungodly?
B. The answer to that delicious, delectable, dilemma, is why Jesus had to die?
To delight the Father. The Holy Spirit testifies to the glory of Christ, and Christ testifies to the will of the Father.
C. Let’s define some terminology:
1. Redemption (a commercial or commerce term). It means to buy one out of the slave market. The price is so great, that they could never, ever be sold into slavery again.
Redemption then, is Christ’s atoning work, on the cross towards mankind. He paid the ultimate price. The price was so high, it demanded the death of Christ. I will define atonement in a minute.
Propitiation. That is a term we don’t hear much today. In a very simplistic manner, it means satisfaction. God was satisfied with the death of his Son upon the cross, for your sins, and my sins.
Very simplistic: Redemption (towards man) (|
V
Reconciliation (an accounting term. restoration on friendly terms)
^
|
Propitiation (satisfaction Towards God). Jesus died to propitiate (satisfy) a Holy, righteous, Just God.
The justice of God demanded a sentence. The Bible tells us in Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)
Christ enrobed himself with the wrath of God for us. All the requirements of the law are satisfied. We have atonement: that is the repairing of of a damaged relationship.
Jesus’ death satisfied a holy, righteous and just God. Christ died to propitiate (satisfy) God’s righteous, and justified wrath. As the commercial goes: “But wait! There’s more!
Propitiation appeased the wrath of the offended person and brought about reconciliation (a change in relationship).
Because of Christ, my sentence of death, is expiated! I’ll bet you have never heard that term before.
It means we are not only held liable to pay for your sins, (not culpable) but the record is expunged (erased, obliterated (smashed to smithereens)), the account has been paid in full, and the records have been destroyed.
The foreshadowing can be seen in the old Testament’s description of the passover.
Atonement: Exodus 12:13 reminds us:
…when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you,…
Today, I would ask, when God looks at you, does he see the blood of Christ, that brings reconciliation, atonement, expiation, or are you still mired in doubt and guilt with the weight of sin crush down on you? Have you trusted in God’s remedy for sin, or are you relying on your “Good Works to get you into Heaven?”
When God asks, “What have you done with my son, Jesus?” What will be your reply? The answer has unfathomable eternal consequences. Just and Justifier:
It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3:26 ESV
Who is directing your eternal path? God or you?
Why did Jesus have to die?
W. Guerrini
February 13, 2019
1. What happens on February 14?
2. What is sin?
1. 2. 3.
Sin multiplies? Sin is always directed towards?
3. List some of the attributes of God?
4. Redemption: (towards man)
|
V
Reconciliation
^
|
Propitiation: (Towards God)
5. The justice of God demanded a sentence. What was the sentence? (Rom 6:23)
6. Propitiation – The Necessity of Christ’s
A. God is full of wrath against the sins of mankind. God demands justice. He demanded death. How can we be saved from God’s wrath?
B. The Problem?
1). How can God remain just, yet justify the ungodly?
2). The answer is a delicious. Delectable. Dilemma. The answer is why Jesus
had to die.
7. What is your definition of the following:
Redemption (commercial term):
Propitiation:
Expiation:
Atonement:
Reconciliation
8. What propitiates? Blood or death?
July 6, 2018
I received this email from the former Deacon in my church:
Dear Brother,
What is happening with our Communion cup? Someone asked today, What did we drink? I also wonder. I have talked to at least 5 people at DHBC (not counting you) about Communion, and they all know that Jesus used wine, and think we ought to do the same. NONE can explain why we don’t. You haven’t either. As one person said, Why don’t we use the good stuff like the Roman Catholics? My question is, Why are the Roman Catholics more Biblical on the cup than we? Why is our cup a mystery drink? What is your objection to being Biblical? One person thought alcoholism might be the reason. My response is, why should an alcoholic compel Christ’s Church to be unbiblical? Is alcoholism a sin more powerful than the grace of Christ? Some churches put both (unmistakable) grape juice and wine in the tray, one on the inside, the other on the outer. Jesus did not do this. But at least that allows some believers to worship Biblically. At DHBC none of us can. Please apply God’s Word to this continuing problem.
WoW! Interesting points. But let’s first look at the history of this debate.
I. History
For 1,869 years, the church used only wine. The concept of using grape juice was born out of the temperance movement in the United States in the 1800’s. It wasn’t until the year 1869, that Thomas Welch (yes that guy) who was adamantly opposed to the buying, selling, or use of intoxicating beverages. He discovered that Louis Pasteur’s method of pasteurization (it wasn’t until the 1880’s that pasteurization came into practice) prevented the natural fermentation of grapes.
Welch peddled his idea to churches in the area, who were quick to adopt this means of celebrating the Lord’s Supper.
We know from history, and the Bible itself, that Jesus did NOT turn the water into grape juice! (See John 2 for details). The biblical and historical precedence of using wine for communion was established at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:17-30).
II. What does Scripture say:
Biblically, we can’t make an argument for grape juice. It’s conversion into wine is a natural by-product of squeezing grapes. Mark 2:22 and Matthew 9:17 reminds us that no one puts new (unfermented) wine into old wineskins. The process of fermentation produces carbon dioxide gas, which causes expansion, and bursting. You really could not stop the conversion of grapes into wine. Until 1869. Which historically, is recent.
III. The controversy
The controversy then becomes one of conscience. Shakespeare reminds us in Hamlet: “…thus conscience doth make cowards of us all.” How perfectly candid, did Shakespeare understood the human condition.
So do we upset the order of things (traditions of man) to bring us back in harmony with the Word of God?
Yes…but. And this is my opinion. The Bible is replete with scriptures on causing others to stumble.
Romans 14 :13-23 is a strong warning against stumbling a brother. Here is the text:
13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (ESV)
Strong warning from Scripture. Do we serve wine, which is the Biblical order, or do we serve grape juice because of someone’s conscience?
Ay there’s the rub. Two diametrically opposed thoughts. The quandary is completed.
I offer this solution. For those of us who are able, wine. For those because of conscience sake, grape juice. Yes I know that grape juice is a MAP. (Methodist Approved Product).
Would this cause further dissension? I am one guy. What say you?
For further consideration: Wine or Welch’s
Wayno
June 11, 2018
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6
Dear Prime Minister Trudeau:
I want to apologise to you and the Canadian citizenry at large, for the shameful disrespect and open hostility U.S. President Donald Trump has displayed to you personally, and all of Canada.
Canada has always stood by her American ally. Anyone with a modicum of education, knows that Canada did NOT burn down the Whitehouse in the War of 1812. Under Trump’s leadership, the United States has alienated all her friends. The administration policies, do NOT reflect the value and core beliefs of this once proud nation. A cloud of suspicion hangs over the President who seems unencumbered by truth, ethics, and moral character.
A state of hostility exists between our nations. Economies are global. There is no reason to punish Canada, Mexico or any nation with tariffs. The economics of tariffs as you know, are a tax on consumers. The U.S. Government is filled with Crony Capitalism. As one journalist said, Crapitalism. The government now determines supply and cost.
My interests in Canada are personal.
Your priorities are distilled into protecting Canada, and its citizens from harm, whether that be physical, or economic. I believe Canada and Mexico have been diligent partners in negotiating a new NAFTA accord. I would not blame you (or Mexico) from walking away. I have always found Canada to be polite and reasonable. That can not be said of the current political landscape that exists in these former United States.
I am neither Democrat, or Republican. I am an Independent, whose dissent is quashed by current political underpinning. I wrote to you, to let you know Canada still has friends in America.
Rex Murphy said it best: “Twitter is NOT a conduit of enlightenment.” Q.E.D.
Respectfully,
Wayne Guerrini
An Overview of Worship
by Wayno Guerrini
May 10, 2018
Full Disclosure:
The outline for this talk was taken from:
(Francis Schaeffer Institute, God’s Pattern for Worship as viewed on May 10, 2018)
It is a very comprehensive article. I used the article as a template and interwove my comments with theirs. Direct quotes are so noted in the text.
This is a rough draft. I apologize if the transitions are choppy.
An audio version of this lesson is also available, if you want to listen.
———-
Worship conjures in the mind stirring renditions of music, emotionalism, and gushy sentimentalism. Worship is none of these. It is perhaps the most mis-understood aspect of Christianity today. We have preconceived notions of what worship is, and what it is not. If hard pressed, very few could adequately define its meaning, let alone grasp its importance to the life and well being both individually, and corporately to the church at large.
Let’s start with what Worship is not. Worship is NOT routine. It is not something we do to occupy time on Sunday mornings between 9 am and 10:30. It is not mundane. It is not ordinary. Yet to many, it is the only time of the week, when the concept of worship enters our minds.
Worship is NOT for unbelievers. A worship service is designed for believers who have been redeemed by Christ to praise Him. An unconverted person (one who has not surrendered their life to the Lordship of Christ) is incapable of of worship. How many wait in joyful anticipation of a Sunday Worship Service? Certainly fellowship is part of the reason many attend church. But our focus is on me, and not Christ. What is the reason you attend church on Sunday morning?
Worship should be relational. And it should be impacting. Let’s delve into those aspects in more detail.
Many of us seem to have the concept that God is somehow a cosmic bell boy. He waits for our call to do whatever we command. It’s not like that. God is personal, not distant. Worship is a call to express our gratitude and gratefulness for God’s un-merited favour bestowed freely on us. The worship dynamic involves relationship between the Creator and the created. The relationship starts when a person surrenders to the Lordship of Christ (Rom 10:9-10).
Worship is centred in relationship. We come with no expectations save to acknowledge our need for a Saviour. Psalm 100 serves as an ideal focal point to begin our discussion:
A Psalm for giving thanks. / Psalm 100
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100:1-5 ESV)
I like what verse 2 says: “Know that the Lord (or Self-Existant One), is God.” What is the first step? Psalm 46:10 reminds us: “Be still, and now that I am God.” It means removing ourselves from the thoughts and cares of the world, so that there is a singularity of thought. God. Remove the clutter and distractions of this temporal existence, into the realm of knowing God personally. That requires relationship; not lip service. Verse 2 later states: It is he who made us, and we are his. Does your life and attitudes reflect a dedication to the Saviour, or the world? Matthew 6:24 reminds us that “no one can serve two masters.” Whom do you serve. The World, or Christ?
The promise of God is found in the Old Testament. Ezekiel 36:26-27
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. Ezekiel 36:26-27 ESV)
Worship only takes place in context of relationship. God will circumcise our heart of stone, and give us in return a heart of flesh, that yearns to worship. This relationship requires a commitment on our part to the honesty and veracity of Scripture itself. What is the Bible then? It is the story of a trustworthy God revealing himself, in a trustworthy manner. Our focus needs to be anchored in eternity (Ecclesiastes 3:11) not this world. Where is your focus? The World or God?
Why is an eternal perspective important? If our hearts are not focused on things that have an eternal value, then life becomes dross and becomes meaningless; devoid of both meaning and purpose. Our focus must be vertically oriented (Heaven-ward), not horizontal. Heaven not the world. Our focus gives definition to our purpose and goals. Larry O. Richards said it best: “We must live in a post-Christian world, but God wants to inoculate us, from its value system.”
Worshiping God requires a daily commitment to truth renewal. You won’t grow as a Christ Follower if your Bible remains unopened on your desk. Truth renewal is daily. Romans reminds us:
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2 ESV)
A living sacrifice. You know what the problem is with a living sacrifice? We crawl off the alter. We are enticed by our desires and a penchant to glorify our flesh. Did we forget the words of the Disciple’s Prayer. Matthew reminds us: Your kingdom come, your will be done, (Matt 6:10 ESV). His will, not ours.
I would be remiss if we didn’t talk about music as an aspect of worship. Today, as John Mac Arthur said: “We have people with no talent, playing music with no meaning, except to debase the culture.” It is a testament of how far removed from God, society really is. Music is NOT worship.
But it can be a component of worship. Worship is the heart of man ascending to God in thanksgiving and gratitude. Music is music. Worship is worship.
David Hart was both my Pastor, and my friend. Dave and I carefully did research for Dave’s book: “It’s all Rock and Roll to Me.” I was his research assistant. All of the pull out quotes you see in the book, are ones I gleaned from reading countless magazine articles on each band and compiling a profile based upon that research.
Dave said this: …”Today’s music shouldn’t be so easily dismissed by Christians. It invades every portion of our lives and affects every aspect of our being: body, heart mind, soul and spirit. Anything with his much potential power in our lives should be examined more carefully for its spiritual impact. After all, the Bible says we are to take every though captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor 10:5) (Hart, David S. (1996). It’s All Rock-n-Roll to Me. (pp 7) New Song Publishers)
The original intent of music is to uplift the soul and spirit and to bring praise to the Self-Existant One. That purpose seems lost today. Youth Specialties co-founder Wayne Rice and I were part of the National Network of Youth Ministers in San Diego, California. He had this to say:
Jesus forsook the beautiful music of the heaven-lies to become a man and endure the music of sinful humanity. He couldn’t save us from a distance and he didn’t. In the same way, we who do youth work believe in incarnational youth ministry. That means we believe it is important to enter the world of today’s youth and try to speak their language. Otherwise they wouldn’t hear what we have to say….But we can’t do that by remaining aloof. We can’t do it from a distance. We must show kids [and others] that we are interested in their world, and one good way to do that is to pay attention to the music they enjoy.
Many people today lament the “power” of rock music over our kids. Some like to blame the music for all sorts of problems and attitudes that are so evident in today’s youth culture. But if rock music and other forms of entertainment have any power at all, it is the power by default. It only flies the void left by the absence of significant [relationships] in their lives.
[People] won’t listen to us when we simply criticize and scold. But when we listen to them – and their culture – they become much more receptive to the guidance and direction that we offer. (ibid, Hart, pp 5-6)
For me, I have found if I can get a kid to talk about the music they listen to, I have a window to their internal world. I created a bridge into their life. What’s going on in the inside. I am going to date myself here. Groups like Van Halen and Madonna promote hedonism. That is the “eat, drink and be merry philosophy.” Materialistic, and self-centred. Sound like anyone you know.
Groups like Nirvana and Nine Inch Nails promote Nihilism. Destroying something, until there’s nothing.
If life is meaningless you can respond in two ways: you can give them despair, or your can make them laugh. Groups like Anthrax and Gwar. Or perhaps the philosophy of or rage and rebellion. Groups like Metallica, Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, Morbid Angel, Ice-T.
What are you feeding your soul? Are you feasting on the world’s music, or music that transcends and brings glory to God? Lamentations 3: 21, 24, 26) reminds us: This I recall to my mind and therefore I have hope…the Lord is my portion, saith my soul, there fore I will hope in Him. It is good that a man should have both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.
This can only occur if our focus is on the eternal, not the temporal. Music needs to be evaluated as to its impact, spiritually and morally. The deeper meaning of music is not just tune, lyrics or beat, but we need to carefully examine the lifestyle that created the music. What does it say?
Worship means we are to Glorify our Lord.
There is no place in scripture that talks about boredom and worship. If our focus becomes detached from Christ, we will be bored. We must first engage our hearts. Form is not as important as function.
What is the chief purpose of man? To sit around and grumble and complain about life’s lot? Or as the Westminster Confession reminds us, the chief purpose of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. We must be laser beam focused on His will, and not ours. It means surrendering.
People will ask, how should we begin to evaluate what we do? What criteria would you use? Should we use the old mantra of What Would Jesus do? While that may sound like the right platitude, it is not. This puts God in situations that are not biblically based. Instead we should ask: Soli Deo Gloria? How does what I propose to do, bring honour and glory to Christ?
As some of you know, I recently abandoned Facebook. Why? I was tired of all the vitriol and acerbic commentary played out on my Facebook Wall everyday by those of political extremes. Stop for a moment (and I am preaching to myself here). How does making snide comments about politics on my Facebook Wall, bring Glory to God? I am reminded of these words from Proverbs:
When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,
But he who restrains his lips is wise. (Proverbs 10:19 NASB)
Unless you are talking about praying for leaders (as we are commanded in 1 Tim 2:1-2) my opinions do not bring God the Glory. It’s all about Him. NOT me. That’s one of the reasons why I nuked 100 vitriolic contacts from Facebook last night. So I can focus my attention on God, and not the world.
I have done something that I don’t normally do. I put my phone into airplane mode. No internet. No messages. No charming bells or whistles. I can begin focusing my attention on serving God and his people, not divisive politics. Life is again, wonderful.
Let’s focus on what unites us. Our common belief that there is salvation through Christ alone.
Worship means we are to Fear our Lord
Fear in the old testament (yir’ah) is perhaps better translated as reverence with trembling. Proverbs 9:10 might be better translated: “The [holy] reverence of the Self-Existant One, is the beginning of wisdom.” If we have reverence for God, we not only have respect for the person, but it means we also have a relationship. But the flip side of that is we also know that God judge’s righteously, and our disobedience, results in death (Rom 6:23). Not just physical. Spiritual. I like the way the New Living Translation puts it:
“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28 NLT
Let’s continue on the sojourn of worship. Worship means we are to fear Our Lord. We come to God in humility (1 Peter 5:6). The fear helps us realise God’s holiness and our unworthiness. It means God first; me second.
Worship is to be Real
I like what the Francis Schaeffer Institute had to say: “We need to know Him before we can truly honour Him.” The purpose of a gathering is to worship Christ. He wants our heart, not our abilities. “The congregation is the performer. The worship team is the leader. God is the audience. Don’t mix that up!” (opcit Schaffer)
We worship out of a heart of gratitude to Christ. It is not about me, it’s about Him. Soli Deo Gloria. To the glory of God alone. How many people fall into the pattern of worshiping God with their lips, and not their hearts? (Matt 15:8 “‘This people honours me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;” ESV). The “fake it to you make it” is never a part of worship.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24 KJV)
Remember the words of Christ:
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matt 22:26-40 ESV)
What is our attitude? Do we pay lip service, or do we worship because of who God is, and what he has done for us? (Rom 2:4 – God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance ESV).
Worship is to Praise God
Hebrew 13:15-16 reminds us:
15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (ESV)
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise ⎯ the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (Hebrews 13:15-16)
Our offerings today are not about dragging our livestock or pets to be sacrificed. Jesus was our sacrifice. So then, what do we bring? We bring ourselves! We bring a heart that desires Him, a will that is surrendered to Him, and a life that is dedicated to Him. Our sacrifice today is what flows from our heart, our love and adoration of our Lord. We are to be so full of love for our Lord that it flows to those around us. Our praise, as drawn from this text, is a peace offering of thanksgiving. This means our Lord wants us to be devoted to Him with our whole being, all the time and in all that we do.
There should be no circumstance we could ever face where praise does not flow from our lips. Our
praise is to acknowledge Christ alone, by faith alone, and by His grace alone. There should be nothing from us but that faith. What we have to sacrifice is our person, ability, and availability to His purpose. When we first give ourselves, everything else will be easy because pride and hoarding will be eliminated as well as materialism. We can sacrifice our wallets and purses to His service. Time, talents, and treasures should flow willingly from us to Him in service with joy and gladness. This involves our intellect in knowing Him as well as our emotions in praising Him.The biggest praise is what flows from our lips. The thanksgiving for His saving grace should flow with passion and conviction. The primary testimony that we are effectively praising God is the result our praise has on our friends, family, and neighbours. When we are in a healthy relationship of praise, the church reaps benefits of health and vitality. This beckons to the world who our Lord is and what He does. This is the sacrifice of praise because it distracts from our ego and self and points toward His presence. True praise places our focus on our Lord and helps remove us from our sin and selfish nature. (op cit Schaffer)
Impacting Worship
When we hear the word impact, most of us think about cars being impacted. But in this case, impact becomes a change agent. God impacts us, and we in turn impact the world around us. It continues the relationship we have with God, re-affirming His sovereignty and Lordship in our lives. A life committed to the Kingdom which is yet come, and not the vane trappings of the world. Again, our focus must be eternal, not ephemeral.
How much of what Christ has done for us, do we give back to God? A fraction, or as Romans reminds us, a living sacrifice. Romans 13:10 tells us: Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (ESV)
If love is the fulfillment of the law, then how to begin to let God use us to change our corner of the universe? “No Christian, no matter what the education or an their job title, can grow, mature and lead purpose driven lives, if we do not have the correct reverential view of God (Hebrews 11:6: And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. ESV). (op cit Francis Schaeffer)
Real impacting worship will help us connect to God, then to one another, and then to the community. When we are not impacted, we are not worshiping rightly, and our connections with God and others will be skewed and messed up. (op cit Schaeffer)
Finally, lets examine our priorities in Worship.
Priority One – Commitment to Christianity
Love. Worship. Praise God. Psalm 42 reminds us: As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. (Psalm 42:1 ESV)
Abide. To remain. We know who God is. We need to be rooted in Christ, otherwise, as it says earlier, we will die. Only when we are rooted in Christ are we receiving our sustenance from Him, and can continue to mature. How do we abide? Prayer is our connection. Our link that like a chain, is forged. Our obedience to the commands of Christ, result from a focus on worship.
Are we worshiping out of obligation, out of social reasons, or out of habit? Or do we worship out of a response to His deep love for us? Is our worship so formatted that we never see his presence, or is our worship so hard that we are as dry as the effort we put into it? Spurgeon wrote “We ought to be Prevalent pleaders, and not formal worshipers.” (op cit Francis Schaeffer)
Priority Two – Commitment to the Body of Christianity
Are we committed to serving the needs of others…or do we focus upon self? A commitment to the body of Christ, embraces the idea servant-hood. What did Christ say? The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Matt 23:11-12 ESV)
In a post-Christian era – we tend to forget other people have needs. Maybe it is helping a neighbour who is infirm go to the store. Running errands for them. Cooking a meal. Spending time. Listening to a heart that has been touched by the heartache of loss, grief, or loneliness.
I believe it was Lucy Maud Montgomery, the author of Anne of Green Gables who said: “Grief is the price we pay for love.”
Often we will find that: The loneliest people are the kindest. The saddest people smile the brightest. The most damaged people are the wisest. All because they do not wish to see anyone else suffer they way they do.
–Anonymous
We are ambassadors of the King. Do we display that to others…or do we prejudge based upon some external value system? God gave us 2 ears, and 1 mouth. Listen twice as much as you speak.
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. (Galatians 5:13-15 ESV)
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Romans 12:16 ESV)
Minister to the needs of those around you. This too, is a form of worship; taking care (ministering to) of the body of Christ.
Priority Three – Commitment to the Mission of Christ
The church, of necessity MUST be evangelical. What do I mean by that? If we are to change our corner of the universe (notice I did NOT say the world), we must focus on Christ’s command: Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Mark 16:15 ESV That doesn’t mean occupancy in a pew only on Sunday morning. It means the Gospel gets out of the chair, has 2 legs, and can walk and talk.
Our lives are a reflection of our commitment to Christ, and to worship. Through us, and our lives, we have a place in the ministry to others. Not by people seeing our mouths flapping. By people seeing our life working. We are the only testament someone will read. How important is it to have Christ’s compassion indwell us, so that we can minister to those in need? Our mouths will not convince anyone of God’s love. Your life, will.
How is your life working these days? Does it send a warm inviting tone to people, or are they blasted away through our judgmental attitude and prejudices? Make it a priority in your life to be amongst those who bless people, (Romans 12:14) and don’t curse them.
Let people see …the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
Conclusion
I purposely did not define worship earlier. Because I want you to leave with this singular thought: Worship (proskuneo in Greek) has the idea of turning and kissing. Like a dog that laps its owner’s face. That is what worship means. The dog doesn’t care about food. He doesn’t care about the needs he might have. He is focused upon one thing and one thing only: His Master.
Is your heart turned toward Heaven, or the value system that the world proffers? If these words have spoken to your heart today, please come and see me, Pastor Dan, Tim or Michael afterwards.
While the concept of theosis (man becoming God) is a hallmark belief of the Mormon Faith, I was surprised to find out, that it was a part of another groups religious beliefs.
The Shema, which marks the beginning of a section of the Torah: Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! Deut 6:4 (NASB)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Heb 13:8 NASB)
This passage establishes the immutable (unchanging) nature of God.
The character and nature of the Godhead, has not, will not, and forever will be the same. But I think it necessary to define terms.
Theosis to me, means the deification (elevating man to the level of God) of man to a state equal in stature with the Godhead.
This has many problems. When it says that man was created in the image of God (Gen 1:26), what does that mean? Tsehlem in Hebrew means resemblance. How do we resemble God? I believe we resemble God in: Spirit, Intellect, and Morality (a free moral agent – which is NOT the same as free will). Psalm 8 reminds us that God created man a little lower then then angels. (Psalm 8:4-5)
Who was the first that “want to be like the most high?” We know the story from Isaiah 14:12-21. It was Lucifer. And who was the second? We don’t have to turn far:
The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! 5 For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Gen 3:4-5 NASB
And thus was the fall of mankind. We inherited a sin nature from Adam and Eve. Those who have tried to “be like God” have never, and will never succeed.
The incarnation of Christ is crucial. The hypo-static union – the union of God and man was crucial to satisfying the full wrath and anger of God. Most people don’t like to hear about the wrath and anger of God.
Man can never be God. Hear, O Israel! The Self Existent one is our God, the LORD is one! Deut 6:4
There is no room in the Godhead for man. The immutable nature of God makes that clear. The deification of man (elevating man to the same level as the Godhead) is inconsistent with the nature and character of God. What do the first two commandments say from Exodus 20?
3 “You shall have no other gods [b]before Me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself [c]an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. (Exodus 20:3-6 NASB)
You will have no other gods before me. That means we can NEVER be on the same level as God. God after all is a jealous God.
But let’s look at the passage cited by the article in 2 Peter 1:3-11 (NASB)
seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us [d]by His own glory and [e]excellence. 4 [f]For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral [g]excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
Again it is necessary to define terminology. What is meant by partakers of the divine nature? The word “divine” (theios in Greek) is used in verses 3-4 means God’s nature. The word does NOT mean essence. It refers to God’s moral character, as verses 5-11 go on to explain.
We need exegesis, not eisegesis. Full and complete context.
Colossians 2:8 reminds us:
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. (NASB)
Let’s cut to the quick. Where in God’s Holy Writ does it say: God became man so that man might become a god? (St. Athanasius of Alexandria)
The passage does NOT mean the elevation of man on equal par to the Godhead. This is not an ontological issue. The problem is NOT that man is a creature and needs deification. The issue is that man is a sinner. As R. C. Sproul Jr. said: (They) believe that the glory of Christ is not that he atoned for our sins, but the incarnation. That God became man. We don’t have that problem. Not in the reformed world. We don’t think that our problem is that we are creatures. But do we really believe that our problem is, that were sinners?
Theosis is scripturally inconsistent with the character of God as revealed in Scripture. Perhaps now you can see why Reformed Doctrine (and l) place an emphasis on Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone).
This was an email I received from a friend, after he read my article on gun control entitled, A Blast to the Past. He is: Pro Gun, Pro NRA, Pro Trump.
He said:
You list a few places where criminal acts were committed with guns. What is conspicuously not listed is the countless years and hundreds of thousands, if not millions of gun owners who do not commit crimes. The complicit media also suppress the many times mass murders were prevented by private persons intervening with the guns on their persons. The statistics of occasions and persons who properly use weapons compared with those who do not render the anti gun argument worthless. Inanimate things do not sin or commit crimes. Fallen men do.
Part of this in a summation from David Pakman.
Let’s recognise that we have some informational incongruities.
1. For example. Abortion should be safe vs it should be illegal.
2. The importance of an issue. Gay marriage is an important issue vs it is not important.
3. People are unaware of the issue all together. For example: Oh climate change? I have never heard of that.
We are at level 3. The most dangerous.
The end of my article stated clearly:
—–
Current Gun Laws
Two things seem to fuel gun violence in Arizona. One was the Assault Weapons Ban sunset which occurred in 2004. [22] The expiration of this ban, provided Jared Lee Loughner with legal means to purchase a high capacity 30 round clip for his 9 mm Glock. Secondly, the Arizona legislature is considering allowing concealed weapons on Arizona’s college’s and campuses. [23]
These two items can only foster security and safety issues. What prevents any of these events from occurring again? Guns do NOT kill people. People do. But we need better screening and training, to prevent future tragedies such as these from happening. Perhaps just like in the movies of the Old West, the bad guy will help us out, by wearing a Black Hat.
“I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government.”
— Henry David Thoreau — Civil Disobedience
Yes I agree that guns do not kill people. People kill people.
Laws, as we have seen, do influence the culture. (Positively or negatively). Take marijuana for example. it was once illegal. (Pakman) Now it isn’t. We have seen a plethora of states legalising marijuana. California being the latest.
We have a unique problem that does not exist in other cultures. A gun fetish. dictionary.com defines a fetish as:
any object, idea, etc., eliciting unquestioning reverence, respect, or devotion:
to make a fetish of high grades.
Eliciting unquestioning reverence, respect or devotion. That inculcates, permeates and uniquely identifies the American Culture and its love affair with guns. That was conspicuously absent from your article.
We need at a minimum, the following changes to laws (my opinion):
And Wayne LaPierre’s statement: The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun, is a good guy with a gun.
LAME! Where was the good guy with a gun when Loughner killed 6 people? Why is La Pierre’s statement lame? It took Loughner only 15 seconds to fire those fatal and mortally wounding rounds. Not enough time for the good guy with a gun to react, and shoot the bad guy with a gun.
Imagine this scenario for a moment. One bad guy with guns vs 20 good guys with guns. The Swat team shows up. Chaos ensues. Whose the bad guy? Maybe he will help us out and by wearing a black hat. Just like in the movies. If we arm teachers, then death my teacher will become a thing.
Why does John Q. Citizen need an assault style weapon? They are a weapon of war unitasker: their singular purpose is to kill the maximum amount of people in the least amount of time. I don’t know about you, but I have never heard of anyone going hunting (for other than humans) with an AR-15.
Your list was an ad hominem. There were no sources cited. I cited sources. It is one man’s opinion. I have written op-ed pieces without citing sources. Op-ed’s by definition, are an ad hominem.
As a journalist, I MUST cite sources….It is essential and morally reprehensible to NOT do so. If I am unwilling to cite sources and so ordered, rather than compromise, I must be willing to suffer the consequences of my actions; That would mean jail.
Let’s agree to discuss politics offline. For the most part, politics and religion should probably not mix — except when it compromises what the Word clearly states. Abortion for example.
Finally….These are my ad hominems for the night:
Personally, I see Trump as one of God’s instrument of judgment to America. Others hail him as a Saviour. Both of us can’t be right. Ir-regardless, God commands us in 1 Timothy 2, to pray for those in authority over us. It is tough, but my prayer is that God would make known His Salvation in the halls of our government. Can you name a politician who isn’t morally bankrupt? Neither can I.
We are moving towards an economic singularity. The TBTF Banks will fail. The economy will be in shambles, and people will wrongfully blame the President. It is pure Central Banking (The Federal Reserve). IMO, the second greatest evil ever unleashed upon mankind.
The talking heads I follow (non-Keynesian: Peter Schiff and Chris Martenson for example) are rightly convinced thst the burgeoning debt load, rising bond rates, tanking US Dollar, and rising oil prices, will usher in a depression, mostly likely within 18 months. Some are saying this year. I would not be surprised if we see oil priced in another currency, like the Chinese Yuan.
Will Rogers was absolutely spot on when he said: We have the best politicians that money can buy.
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” Rev 6:9-10 NIV
Wayno
Okay.. This is going to trend toward being a {rant/rave}.
I spoke with my friend Chris last night. And I think our priorities are askew. We tend to forget we are servants of the King. We do HIS will; not ours. (Matt 6:9-13)
Don’t ask the question: What Would Jesus do? That to me is heretical. It puts God in situations that are not biblically based. Instead the question should be: Sola Gloria Deo. How does what I purpose to do, bring Glory to God alone?
Stop for a moment (and I am preaching to myself here). How does making snide comments about politics on my Facebook Wall, bring Glory to God? I am reminded of these words from Proverbs:
When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,
But he who restrains his lips is wise. (Proverbs 10:19 NASB)
Unless you are talking about praying for leaders (as we are commanded in 1 Tim 2:2) my opinions do not bring God the Glory. It’s all about Him. NOT me. That’s one of the reasons why I nuked 100 vitriolic contacts from Facebook last night. So I can focus my attention on God, and not the world.
I have done something that I don’t normally do. I put my phone into airplane mode. No internet. No messages. No charming bells or whistles. I can begin focusing my attention on serving God and his people, not divisive politics. Life is again, wonderful.
And while there is debate as to the origin of this quote, I will continue to attribute it to Philip Melanchthon. Without Melanchthon, there probably would have been no Martin Luther.
He said: “In essentials, unity; In non-essentials, liberty; In all things, charity.”
Let’s focus on what unites us. Our common belief that there is salvation through Christ alone.
Our second priority should be, “How may I pray for you this week?”
{end rant/rave}
Wayno