Paul Stragas, Greek journalist, is laughing at the downfall of the Dutch coalition government, which failed to create and pass a compromise annual budget of austerity and reality.
The Greeks have no right to laugh. They have received massive bailout for the past two years, with nothing but procrastination and profligation to show for their stalling efforts.
Changes in national governments over the looming Eurozone debt crisis are no laughing matter. In truth, the Dutch people have demonstrated a more consistent capacity to budget and cut unneeded and overdrawn expenses than her Meditteranean partners. It is shameful that those failing states have spent more time laughing and detracting member states, whichshouldering similar problems more adeptly, rather than rolling up their fiscal sleeves and tackling the cradle-to-grave entitlement spending. This fiscal crisis has discredited socialist democracy in Europe, yet at least the northern countries are tackling the financial problems which threaten their future fiscal stability.
If the voters of the European Union, including the most weakened member in the Aegean, insist on electing leaders with a penchant toward paternalism instead of stern maturity, then either the Euro must fail, or the business and finance sectors of Europe will stall for an indeterminate period, regressively frustrating any recovery, and perhaps rendering Germany, once considered too big for Europe, too small for the world, as forever too pressured to ressurrect a currency and a common market of participants who cheated their way in and will inevitably force themselves out.
Monday, April 30, 2012
California Reconsiders Capital Punishment
As the state of California spends more time and money researching more humane methods for executing death row inmates, the voters of the state will consider once more whether to abolish the death penalty altogether. As inmates languish and die of natural causes before being forced under a fatal hypodermic needle, the taxpayers are reconsidering the worth of investing time and money in prosecution, appeals, and prison apparatus to prepare for state-sponsored executions which are increasingly delayed.
Despite the respectable research of certain political scientists, and in spite of the telling accounts of individuals who acknowledged the deterring power of the death penalty to restrain their vengeful passions, the death penalty has undergone one compleeing challenge after another. From the thirteen death row inmates exonerated on Illinois' death row during Governor George Ryan's tenure, to the growing number of miscarriages of justice reexamined and exonerated by DNA evidence, the fraught politics and emotional investigations of the death penalty argue for the abolition of the practice.
To those who view the unconscionable act of murder as deserving only the same in proper legal retaliation, opponents of capital punishment refer to the lengthy and costly procedures, all mandataed by federal due process, which indefinitely prolong the prosecution and enforcement of the death penalty in the state of California.
The Great Recession, which has depleted state coffers while exposing the financial ruin of the overextended state, has pushed the abolition of the death penalty to the forefront of the California initiative process once again. Because of the incalculable costs, because of the long, frustrating legal delays, because of the alarming number of falsely accused who have faced death unjustly, the death penalty must be abolished in the state of California.
Followed by the decriminalization of controlled substances, putting an end to capital punishment would save the state, the taxpayer, and the moral fiber of our courts from costly and pointless indictments, none of which have effected justice or the rule of law. The economic climate, which had so threatened the viability of the state, is compelling a proper reappraisal of the state, its expenditures, and its documented effects.
Despite the respectable research of certain political scientists, and in spite of the telling accounts of individuals who acknowledged the deterring power of the death penalty to restrain their vengeful passions, the death penalty has undergone one compleeing challenge after another. From the thirteen death row inmates exonerated on Illinois' death row during Governor George Ryan's tenure, to the growing number of miscarriages of justice reexamined and exonerated by DNA evidence, the fraught politics and emotional investigations of the death penalty argue for the abolition of the practice.
To those who view the unconscionable act of murder as deserving only the same in proper legal retaliation, opponents of capital punishment refer to the lengthy and costly procedures, all mandataed by federal due process, which indefinitely prolong the prosecution and enforcement of the death penalty in the state of California.
The Great Recession, which has depleted state coffers while exposing the financial ruin of the overextended state, has pushed the abolition of the death penalty to the forefront of the California initiative process once again. Because of the incalculable costs, because of the long, frustrating legal delays, because of the alarming number of falsely accused who have faced death unjustly, the death penalty must be abolished in the state of California.
Followed by the decriminalization of controlled substances, putting an end to capital punishment would save the state, the taxpayer, and the moral fiber of our courts from costly and pointless indictments, none of which have effected justice or the rule of law. The economic climate, which had so threatened the viability of the state, is compelling a proper reappraisal of the state, its expenditures, and its documented effects.
Congressman Gallegy and the Southern Sea Otter Conservation Act
The state of California is drowning in multi-billion dollar debt. The state pension system is going bankrupt. The tax receipts have dwindled so decidedly, that Sacramento cannot fund core functions of the state government. The same apparatus which has over-funded agencies up and down the coast has also neglected to promote a viable business climate for fishing operations or to support military operations along the coast.
Notwithstanding the grave issues which are threatening the survival of the state of California, environmentalists are primarily engaged in protecting the sea otter, an endangered species which they claim requires extended space to thrive and frolic for the mammal's population to replenish.
If there is an endangered species that needs protecting, it is the California taxpayer, whose wealth and worth are being wiped out in greater numbers by Big Government, which has placed plant and animal ahead of right and reason.
The Republicans in the House of Representatives have crafted legislation which would limit the boundaries of federal waters for sea otters. Authored by Congressman Elton Gallegy (R-Simi Valley), the Southern Sea Otter Conservation Act identifies the adverse affects to the military and commercial fishing by an expansion of the current federal sea otter sanctuary. To add greater irony to the conflict instigated by the green lobby, the Republican legislation bolsters its extended limitation on a proposed sea otter sanctuary by arguing for the protection of other endangered species: the abalone and the shellfish.
Between the dysfunctional growth of state power coupled with the over-involvement of environmentalist interest groups, the state of California is compromising the rights of the citizenry to protection and commercial investment against the projected expansion of one species, whose proliferation would threaten the recovering numbers of other endangered species.
Congressman Gallegy's legislation strikes an appropriate balance, one which properly recognizes the priority of the taxpayer, including his security and financial stability, while offering extended protection for sea otter and aquatic plant life.
No other bill better exposes the mixed and meandering goals of liberalism in California, an entrenched and enraging ideology which compromises proposals in the best interests of all Californians, but also contradicts the broad and undefined goals of protecting flora and fauna from the necessary and proper policies of human actors.
Notwithstanding the grave issues which are threatening the survival of the state of California, environmentalists are primarily engaged in protecting the sea otter, an endangered species which they claim requires extended space to thrive and frolic for the mammal's population to replenish.
If there is an endangered species that needs protecting, it is the California taxpayer, whose wealth and worth are being wiped out in greater numbers by Big Government, which has placed plant and animal ahead of right and reason.
The Republicans in the House of Representatives have crafted legislation which would limit the boundaries of federal waters for sea otters. Authored by Congressman Elton Gallegy (R-Simi Valley), the Southern Sea Otter Conservation Act identifies the adverse affects to the military and commercial fishing by an expansion of the current federal sea otter sanctuary. To add greater irony to the conflict instigated by the green lobby, the Republican legislation bolsters its extended limitation on a proposed sea otter sanctuary by arguing for the protection of other endangered species: the abalone and the shellfish.
Between the dysfunctional growth of state power coupled with the over-involvement of environmentalist interest groups, the state of California is compromising the rights of the citizenry to protection and commercial investment against the projected expansion of one species, whose proliferation would threaten the recovering numbers of other endangered species.
Congressman Gallegy's legislation strikes an appropriate balance, one which properly recognizes the priority of the taxpayer, including his security and financial stability, while offering extended protection for sea otter and aquatic plant life.
No other bill better exposes the mixed and meandering goals of liberalism in California, an entrenched and enraging ideology which compromises proposals in the best interests of all Californians, but also contradicts the broad and undefined goals of protecting flora and fauna from the necessary and proper policies of human actors.
Walker's Just War on Teachers' Unions
Contrary to the Capital Times stringent editorial indictment
against Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, I do not view his move to curb
collective bargaining rights for public sector employees as a “war on teachers.”
Instead, the power of collective bargain has created a war-torn battleground of
low expectations, wasteful extravagance in the name of educational reform, and
accepted student under-achievement in our nation’s schools, and the teachers’
unions shoulder much of the blame.
As a public school teacher in California, I was appalled
when the teachers’ union, which seized a portion of my paycheck every month
without my permission, donated these dues to causes and candidates which I
opposed. If anyone is declaring war on teachers, it would be the unions, which
protect themselves, not the teachers, and certainly not the students. Sadly, no
one bothers to consider the future well-being of the students who endure such
mediocre teaching, protected by ironclad tenure laws and well-financed legal
times from ever being disciplined or fired.
In large part because of teachers’ unions, educators settle
for staggered and minimal pay increases on an annual basis, an incremental
stipend which promotes failure and minimizes excellence. Because of patterned
bargaining and liberal groupthink, school districts have been pressured to offer
expensive health care benefits and pension packages with guaranteed life-time
employment, all of which reward bad teachers and enable unsatisfied and
unsatisfactory instructors to remain working a job that they hate or are
unqualified to have, hoping to collect a rich pension when they retire.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
La Fausse Monnaie -- and The False Mindset
For this study, I will be responding to the French, but with frequent assistance from the English translation in order to explain the original meaning of each text.
(English Translation)
-- Translation by Cat Nilan
28. La Fausse Monnaie
Comme nous nous éloignions du bureau de tabac, mon ami fit un soigneux triage de sa monnaie ; dans la poche gauche de son gilet il glissa de petites pièces d�or; dans la droite, de petites pièces d�argent; dans la poche gauche de sa culotte, une masse de gros sols, et enfin, dans la droite, une pièce d�argent de deux francs qu�il avait particulièrement examinée.
«Singulière et minutieuse répartition!» me dis-je en moi-même.
Nous fîmes la rencontre d�un pauvre qui nous tendit sa casquette en tremblant. -- Je ne connais rien de plus inquiétant que l�éloquence muette de ces yeux suppliants, qui contiennent à la fois, pour l�homme sensible qui sait y lire, tant d�humilité, tant de reproches. Il y trouve quelque chose approchant cette profondeur de sentiment compliqué, dans les yeux larmoyants des chiens qu�on fouette.
L�offrande de mon ami fut beaucoup plus considérable que la mienne, et je lui dis: «Vous avez raison; après le plaisir d�être étonné, il n�en est pas de plus grand que celui de causer une surprise. -- C�était la pièce fausse», me répondit-il tranquillement, comme pour se justifier de sa prodigalité.
Mais dans mon misérable cerveau, toujours occupé à chercher midi à quatorze heures (de quelle fatigante faculté la nature m�a fait cadeau!) entra soudainement cette idée qu�une pareille conduite, de la part de mon ami, n�était excusable que par le désir de créer un événement dans la vie de ce pauvre diable, peut-être même de connaître les conséquences diverses, funestes ou autres, que peut engendrer une pièce fausse dans la main d�un mendiant. Ne pouvait-elle pas se multiplier en pièces vraies? ne pouvait-elle pas aussi le conduire en prison? Un cabaretier, un boulanger, par exemple, allait peut-être le faire arrêter comme faux monnayeur ou comme propagateur de fausse monnaie. Tout aussi bien la pièce fausse serait peut-être, pour un pauvre petit spéculateur, le germe d�une richesse de quelques jours. Et ainsi ma fantaisie allait son train, prêtant des ailes à l�esprit de mon ami et tirant toutes les déductions possibles de toutes les hypothèses possibles.
Mais celui-ci rompit brusquement ma rêverie en reprenant mes propres paroles: «Oui, vous avez raison; il n�est pas de plaisir plus doux que de surprendre un homme en lui donnant plus qu�il n�espère.»
Je le regardai dans le blanc des yeux, et je fus épouvanté de voir que ses yeux brillaient d�une incontestable candeur. Je vis alors clairement qu'il avait voulu faire à la fois la charité et une bonne affaire; gagner quarante sols et le c�ur de Dieu; emporter le paradis économiquement; enfin attraper gratis un brevet d�homme charitable. Je lui aurais presque pardonné le désir de la criminelle jouissance dont je le supposais tout à l�heure capable; j'aurais trouvé curieux, singulier, qu�il s�amusât à compromettre les pauvres; mais je ne lui pardonnerai jamais l�ineptie de son calcul. On n�est jamais excusable d�être méchant, mais il y a quelque mérite à savoir qu�on l�est; et le plus irréparable des vices est de faire le mal par bêtise.
As we were walking away from a tobacconist's, my friend carefully sorted out his change: into his left vest pocket he slipped the small gold coins, into his right vest pocket the small silver coins; into the left pocket of his pants, a handful of large copper coins, and finally into his right pant's pocket, a two franc silver piece he had examined with particular attention.
"A singular and meticulous division!," I said to myself.
We encountered a poor man who tremblingly held out his hat to us. -- I know nothing more disquieting than the mute eloquence of those supplicating eyes, which contain at one and the same time so much humility and so many reproaches, at least for the sensitive man who knows how to read them. He finds something approaching these depths of complicated emotion in the tearful eyes of dogs being beaten.
My friend's offering was much larger than my own, and I said to him: "You are right: next to the pleasure of being astonished, there is none greater than causing surprise." "It was the counterfeit coin," he replied tranquilly, as if to justify his prodigality.
But into my miserable brain, always missing the obvious (what a tiresome faculty nature made me a gift of!), entered suddenly the idea that such conduct on the part of my friend was only excusable on the grounds of a desire to create an event in the life of that poor devil, perhaps even to learn the diverse consequences, whether deadly or otherwise, that a counterfeit coin might produce in the hands of a beggar. Might it not be converted into real coins? Might it not also lead him into prison? A publican or a baker might, for example, have him arrested as a counterfeiter or as a passer of counterfeit coins. But the counterfeit coin might also just as well serve as the seed for several day's wealth, in the hands of a poor, small-scale speculator. And so my fancy played itself out, lending wings to the spirit of my friend and drawing all possible deductions from all possible hypotheses.
But he brusquely broke my reverie by repeating my very words: "Yes, you are right: there is no pleasure sweeter than surprising a man by giving him more than he had hoped for."
I gazed into the whites of his eyes, and I was appalled to see that his eyes were shining with an incontestable candor. I then saw clearly that he had wanted to both perform a charitable act and make a good deal at the same time -- to gain forty sous and the heart of God; to get into paradise economically; finally, to earn for free the badge of a charitable man. I might almost have pardoned him for the desire for criminal enjoyment of which I had just recently supposed him capable. I would have found it curious and singular that he amused himself by compromising the poor, but I could never pardon him for the ineptness of this calculation. One is never excused for being evil, but there is some merit in knowing that one is -- and the most irreparable of vices is to do evil through stupidity.
What is the devious stupidity which the fraudulently charitable man has ignored? In giving a man a false piece, he has detracted from his very capacity to purchase. Baudelaire's on-looking protagonist has apparently no real knowledge of economics.
When more money is pushed into circulation, it depreciates, whether a man is aware that he is spending false money or not. When the government publishes fiat currency, it actually unmakes the very value of the money in the first place.
In giving the man more money to spend, he in fact diminished his purchasing power. This subtle irony defines man's every attempt to "gain the heart of God."
All our works are filthy rags (Isaiah 64: 6). The more that we try in our own efforts, forcing or faking our way to garner God's favor, we actually bring ourselves into great bondage. The fact that man in his flesh is dead in his trespasses, and that to be carnally minded is death, it follows subsequent that attempting to buy something that cannot be bought merely depreciates what is already of no value!
This irony, which touches on the nature of God's grace and the currency, is certainly an irony which the poet was unaware of.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Seven-Day Adventists and Pharisaism
In the past year, I have witnessed to two Seven-Day Adventists. They were kind people, until the matter of the Sabbath Day came up. Then they became very provocative and unengaging people.
The law has the tendency to bring out the worst in people,
who believe that their fellowship with God is dependent on something that they
must do.
Regarding the Sabbath day, or resting on one day out the
week, we are no longer required to do this in order to maintain fellowship with
God. We go to church, we rest on one day out of the week in order to rest our
bodies, but not out of strict adherence to the law, for by the law no flesh
will be justified.
Paul comforted the Colossians and warned the Galatians about
attempted infiltration of the law into the lives of the graced Believers of the
early church. We are not judged according to what we eat or what we do. All of
this rigid reticence about the rules is contrary to the Spirit. We walk in the
Spirit, we do not worry about the lusts of the flesh.
With one lady, I shared with her this passage from
Colossians, and right away she dismissed me with “Sabbath day”, but she made a
point of Sabbath Day, singular, as if that made any difference. Such is the reactions who place the tradition
about the Truth, who respect procedure, and not the Person.
We are not called to put our trust in our faith or in
traditions, but in Christ, and Him Crucified, the signal to the entire universe
and to all eternity that the work for salvation, redemption, and acceptance is
ended in Christ! Not in processes,
peoples, persons, procedures, or any other politic.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Calderon and His Country
Mexican President Felipe Calderon has had harsh words for the United States.
Before a joint session of the United States Congress, Calderon has denounced this country's immigration and drug enforcement policies.
Our leaders must hold their Latin American counterpart accountable for positions which have done more harm than good for his country.
For starters, the Mexican legislature remains a disorganized deliberating body, one which resorts to physical affronts, in some cases blocking the ascendancy of the winning party from the previous election from ascending the main dais.
The President has failed to secure his people from marauding drug cartels which attack police stations and corrupt the police force in a number of municipalities.
The greatest obstacle to individual liberty, however, beyond the failed drug policies which are turning Mexico into a war zone, is the lack of free market innovation. A nationalized petroleum company,along with the growing concentration of power in the hands of entrenched corporate oligopolies, has all but thwarted the power of the individual voter to make his voice and will heard in local and state governments.
The abysmal public school system is become a global laughing-stock of cronyism, union pandering, and low expectations combined with dwindling resources and demoralized staff.
President Calderon would serve his country best if he limited the role of the state in his country's business and trade policies. By decriminalizing drugs, by reforming the judicial system to greater trasnparency and acountability, the President would demonstrate to his people, his employees, and his party a desire to expand the welfare of the country beyond his term of service.
If he wants to promote the human treatment of his people as the emigrate from his country, perhaps he could begin by inculcating values, structure, and stability to municipal, statewide, and federal government, doing away with the fraud and corruption which has marred the legislative process while discouraging private enterprise and entrepreneurship.
Before a joint session of the United States Congress, Calderon has denounced this country's immigration and drug enforcement policies.
Our leaders must hold their Latin American counterpart accountable for positions which have done more harm than good for his country.
For starters, the Mexican legislature remains a disorganized deliberating body, one which resorts to physical affronts, in some cases blocking the ascendancy of the winning party from the previous election from ascending the main dais.
The President has failed to secure his people from marauding drug cartels which attack police stations and corrupt the police force in a number of municipalities.
The greatest obstacle to individual liberty, however, beyond the failed drug policies which are turning Mexico into a war zone, is the lack of free market innovation. A nationalized petroleum company,along with the growing concentration of power in the hands of entrenched corporate oligopolies, has all but thwarted the power of the individual voter to make his voice and will heard in local and state governments.
The abysmal public school system is become a global laughing-stock of cronyism, union pandering, and low expectations combined with dwindling resources and demoralized staff.
President Calderon would serve his country best if he limited the role of the state in his country's business and trade policies. By decriminalizing drugs, by reforming the judicial system to greater trasnparency and acountability, the President would demonstrate to his people, his employees, and his party a desire to expand the welfare of the country beyond his term of service.
If he wants to promote the human treatment of his people as the emigrate from his country, perhaps he could begin by inculcating values, structure, and stability to municipal, statewide, and federal government, doing away with the fraud and corruption which has marred the legislative process while discouraging private enterprise and entrepreneurship.
Holiness in Humility
How do we demonstrate humility in our lives?
The prophet Micah offered the sure way to go:
"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Micah 6: 8)
"Do justly" renders the original text עֲשׂ֤וֹת מִשְׁפָּט֙
The prophet Micah offered the sure way to go:
"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Micah 6: 8)
"Do justly" renders the original text עֲשׂ֤וֹת מִשְׁפָּט֙
| "Asaph Mishpat": "Do justice", or do what is right. "Love mercy", in which mercy is really חָ֫סֶד |
||
| "Chesed" also means "grace," or favor" "Walk Humbly" with your God "humbly" צָנַע How do we do justice? In Christ, every believer is made the righteousness of God. Because of His right standing upon us, we walk rightly by faith. To love mercy, or favor, means that we keep receiving God's favor over our lives. Not content with trying to do things ourselves, we trust in God's goodness to lead us and bless us in all that we do. To walk humbly with God, for the believer, is the easiest act of all. Since God dwells in us by the Power of the Holy Spirit (John 15: 4), His life animates us through all difficulties (Galatians 2: 20-21). We walk humbly to the degree that we receive from God more grace and grow in knowledge of the Lord, witnessing with the eyes of faith how He is working and moving in our lives. As we allow the Lord to live in us and lead us, we find ourselves doing the very good which God asks of us. The more we grow in awareness of the following: "As He is, so are we in this world" (1 John 4: 17), the more we will find that we do justly, love grace, and walk in Him, receiving all that we need. |
Jews, Social Issues, and the GOP
If there is any lesson that the California Republican Party, and the National Convention, need to learn, they must declare at the minimum a truce on social issues, many of which have needlessly alienated independents and disaffected Democrats who want to see less government and more fiscal responsibility.
Raphael Sonsenshein sheds a light of bright optimism for a party which is struggling to retain its national appeal while struggling with party purity in contested primaries.
The jungle primary, recently instituted in California, may assist moderate Republicans, as voters, no matter what their party affiliation, may vote for whichever candidate they prefer.
If the California GOP can emphasize their fiscal credentials without pressing their luck on social problems, the minority opposition may be able to seize some prominence in a state which has all but excluded Republicans for nearly two decades from the reins of power.
Still, I am amused and dismayed to see so many Jews support a president who has expanded state power so rapidly, curtailing individual liberty, even casting a dark pall over religious liberty with pretended lawsuits against the ministerial exception and professing "freedom of worship" instead of freedom of religion.
Jews would better serve themselves by promoting as little government as possible, which would enable private sectors investment and individual initiative to help repair the world.
Raphael Sonsenshein sheds a light of bright optimism for a party which is struggling to retain its national appeal while struggling with party purity in contested primaries.
The jungle primary, recently instituted in California, may assist moderate Republicans, as voters, no matter what their party affiliation, may vote for whichever candidate they prefer.
If the California GOP can emphasize their fiscal credentials without pressing their luck on social problems, the minority opposition may be able to seize some prominence in a state which has all but excluded Republicans for nearly two decades from the reins of power.
Still, I am amused and dismayed to see so many Jews support a president who has expanded state power so rapidly, curtailing individual liberty, even casting a dark pall over religious liberty with pretended lawsuits against the ministerial exception and professing "freedom of worship" instead of freedom of religion.
Jews would better serve themselves by promoting as little government as possible, which would enable private sectors investment and individual initiative to help repair the world.
Response to "Showdown time for SB 1070"
The Arizona Immigration Law SB 1070 has elicited strong reactions. Those who favor a tougher stance on stopping illegal immigration have celebrated the legislation since its passage in 2012. Civil Rights Groups and Minority advocates have argued with growing alarm that the law will permit law enforcement to wage unrestricted human rights violations against immigrants and legal residents of color. Within a month of Governor Brewer's signature, President Obama challenged the law in court, claiming that the Sunshine state was attempting to preempt the federal government's role in dealing with illegal immigration. Now the Supreme Court will rule on the constitutionality of the law, whether the legislation is open to broad interpretation permitting racial profiling, whether the law conflicts with federal statutes, and if key elements of the bill violate the rights of citizens and residents.
Before evaluating the merits of the law, let us recapitulate the key elements of the law:
The four key elements of the Arizona Senate Bill are as follows:
1. Require every immigrant in the state to carry immigration papers indicating legal status.
2. During a legal stop or detention, law enforcement are required to determine the immigration status of an individual if there is a reasonable suspicion that the individual may be in the country illegally.
3. Forbids state agencies and private institutions from preventing the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
4. Punishes those businesses or individuals who harbor, aid, or transport illegal immigrants in the state.
These four requirements do not conflict with federal law, contrary to the assertion of the United States Solicitor General. The third and fourth elements are the state's statutory expressions to enforce the federal laws. To require immigrants in the state to carry identification papers will protect immigrants. The state of Arizona has every right and necessity to ensure that every individual, citizen, visitor, or legal resident is safe in his person and his effects in this country. As a citizen of the state of California, I am required to present valid identification when I am detained by a police officer, as is every individual who is detained for reasonable suspicion or probable cause in this country. To require an individual to carry on himself proof of his status in the country is not a burdensome requirement.
Having established that the four elements of Arizona's laws are neither deviant nor draconian, I am compelled to criticize the ongoing slanderous allegation that the Arizona legislature is enabling racial profiling.
It is both alarming and disturbing that major newspapers like La Opinion insist on persisting with the flagrant falsehood that the state of Arizona has legalized racial profiling in order to tackle illegal immigration. Every member of law enforcement , whether as state or federal officials, is expected to uphold the law of the land. During a routine traffic stop or detention based on reasonable suspicion, a police officer commands the requisite discretion to determine if an individual has not only broken the law, but currently resides in the state illegally. Police officers can make these determinations based on a number of factors, including the lack of a proper license, the presence of a number of individuals in the vehicle who have no identification papers, or even the inability of drivers and passengers to speak English. These methods of discernment are not discriminator, but discretionary and are utilized in many instances.
The state of Arizona deserves recognition and respect, not condemnation and prosecution, for taking a much needed stance against a problem which harms everyone, and which the federal government has refused to deal with effectively or appropriately. I sincerely hope that the Supreme Court upholds the law, recognizing that the law complements rather than conflicts with federal statutes. Furthermore, Arizona, which has borne the greater part of illegal immigration in its state, is upholding the United States Constitution by maintaining the safety and security of the state and its residents, both legal and illegal.
Before evaluating the merits of the law, let us recapitulate the key elements of the law:
The four key elements of the Arizona Senate Bill are as follows:
1. Require every immigrant in the state to carry immigration papers indicating legal status.
2. During a legal stop or detention, law enforcement are required to determine the immigration status of an individual if there is a reasonable suspicion that the individual may be in the country illegally.
3. Forbids state agencies and private institutions from preventing the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
4. Punishes those businesses or individuals who harbor, aid, or transport illegal immigrants in the state.
These four requirements do not conflict with federal law, contrary to the assertion of the United States Solicitor General. The third and fourth elements are the state's statutory expressions to enforce the federal laws. To require immigrants in the state to carry identification papers will protect immigrants. The state of Arizona has every right and necessity to ensure that every individual, citizen, visitor, or legal resident is safe in his person and his effects in this country. As a citizen of the state of California, I am required to present valid identification when I am detained by a police officer, as is every individual who is detained for reasonable suspicion or probable cause in this country. To require an individual to carry on himself proof of his status in the country is not a burdensome requirement.
Having established that the four elements of Arizona's laws are neither deviant nor draconian, I am compelled to criticize the ongoing slanderous allegation that the Arizona legislature is enabling racial profiling.
It is both alarming and disturbing that major newspapers like La Opinion insist on persisting with the flagrant falsehood that the state of Arizona has legalized racial profiling in order to tackle illegal immigration. Every member of law enforcement , whether as state or federal officials, is expected to uphold the law of the land. During a routine traffic stop or detention based on reasonable suspicion, a police officer commands the requisite discretion to determine if an individual has not only broken the law, but currently resides in the state illegally. Police officers can make these determinations based on a number of factors, including the lack of a proper license, the presence of a number of individuals in the vehicle who have no identification papers, or even the inability of drivers and passengers to speak English. These methods of discernment are not discriminator, but discretionary and are utilized in many instances.
The state of Arizona deserves recognition and respect, not condemnation and prosecution, for taking a much needed stance against a problem which harms everyone, and which the federal government has refused to deal with effectively or appropriately. I sincerely hope that the Supreme Court upholds the law, recognizing that the law complements rather than conflicts with federal statutes. Furthermore, Arizona, which has borne the greater part of illegal immigration in its state, is upholding the United States Constitution by maintaining the safety and security of the state and its residents, both legal and illegal.
Mind Over Media
I do not accept the view that the media has the power to transform attitudes and affect mass behavior.
The only reason why Joseph Goebbels effectively amassed widespread hatred of Jews is that he was capitalizing on a latent anti-Semitism in a nation where intellectuals and celebrities had debated the role of Jews for hundreds of years, and in many cases celebrities -- Richard Wagner, for example -- published anti-Semitic pamphlets. Even the champion of religious liberty Martin Luther extolled anti-Semitic sentiment following his attempt to convert the Jews to believe on Jesus Christ as the Messiah.
Luther's own words were later purloined by Adolph Hitler in his stirring and offensive speeches.
In his seminal work The Affluent Society, now deceased Canadian Economists Kenneth Galbraith deluded the intellectual, read liberal, political class into believing that advertising actually leads people to buy things that they originally had not intention of buying. In reality, advertising stirs individuals who already invest in a certain product to buy a different brand. A beer drinker will be enticed to a buy a different brand advertised; yet for individuals who do not drink in the first place, they will not be swayed to start purchasing and consuming beer just because of unique or innovative propaganda.
Inevitably, the human mind will overcome propaganda which does not inform or reinforce the initial beliefs, attitudes, or prejudices already inherent in a person's perception of the market.
The only reason why Joseph Goebbels effectively amassed widespread hatred of Jews is that he was capitalizing on a latent anti-Semitism in a nation where intellectuals and celebrities had debated the role of Jews for hundreds of years, and in many cases celebrities -- Richard Wagner, for example -- published anti-Semitic pamphlets. Even the champion of religious liberty Martin Luther extolled anti-Semitic sentiment following his attempt to convert the Jews to believe on Jesus Christ as the Messiah.
Luther's own words were later purloined by Adolph Hitler in his stirring and offensive speeches.
In his seminal work The Affluent Society, now deceased Canadian Economists Kenneth Galbraith deluded the intellectual, read liberal, political class into believing that advertising actually leads people to buy things that they originally had not intention of buying. In reality, advertising stirs individuals who already invest in a certain product to buy a different brand. A beer drinker will be enticed to a buy a different brand advertised; yet for individuals who do not drink in the first place, they will not be swayed to start purchasing and consuming beer just because of unique or innovative propaganda.
Inevitably, the human mind will overcome propaganda which does not inform or reinforce the initial beliefs, attitudes, or prejudices already inherent in a person's perception of the market.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Update the Nicene Creed with the Eternal Gospel
The Good News of the Gospel has been set and declared for us from the beginning:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:" (Ephesians 1: 3-4)
and
"Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you," (1 Peter 1: 20)
What is the Gospel, succinctly?:
"Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
"Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
"Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." ( 2Timothy 2: 8-10)
"Christ Jesus with eternal glory" is an element which seems lacking for many believers. If they understand that Christ lives in every one of us, that it is His life and faith that move us and motivated us to be obedient, then more Christians would witness greater victory in their life by faith.
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8: 18)
and
"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
"But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." (1 Corinthians 2: 9-10)
This glory is revealed to man's Spirit, which must be worked out by faith in "fear and trembling" (Philippians 2: 12), a Hebraism of great joy and humility.
This glory is Christ in us (Colossians 1: 27), our new identity as sons of God (John 1: 12)
In fact, God sees His Son when He sees us:
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)
John is more explicit of our new identity in Christ:
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)
Paul writes:
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Romans 8: 37)
In order to appreciate our status in Christ, we must acknowledge that we are born again in our spirit, and that in our spirit we have the same power that raised Christ from the dead:
"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
"And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
"Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 1: 17-20)
The element of Christ in us is conspicuously missing from the basic Creed which outlined the doctrinal truth of Christ.
To combat the manifold heresies that were threatening the Body of Christ and confusing many believers, the worlwide Christians communities gathred in Nicea to provide a summary defining Christ in line with the Scriptures. The Nicene Creed does not err in terms of doctrine, at least for what it contains. The lack in the Nicene Creed, which has deprived many believers of the fullness of Christ's majesty and power within them, must be corrected.
Here is the entire Creed. In bold-face type, I have included elements of the Good News which need to be included:
I believe in one God,
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:" (Ephesians 1: 3-4)
and
"Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you," (1 Peter 1: 20)
What is the Gospel, succinctly?:
"Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
"Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
"Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." ( 2Timothy 2: 8-10)
"Christ Jesus with eternal glory" is an element which seems lacking for many believers. If they understand that Christ lives in every one of us, that it is His life and faith that move us and motivated us to be obedient, then more Christians would witness greater victory in their life by faith.
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8: 18)
and
"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
"But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." (1 Corinthians 2: 9-10)
This glory is revealed to man's Spirit, which must be worked out by faith in "fear and trembling" (Philippians 2: 12), a Hebraism of great joy and humility.
This glory is Christ in us (Colossians 1: 27), our new identity as sons of God (John 1: 12)
In fact, God sees His Son when He sees us:
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)
John is more explicit of our new identity in Christ:
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)
Paul writes:
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Romans 8: 37)
In order to appreciate our status in Christ, we must acknowledge that we are born again in our spirit, and that in our spirit we have the same power that raised Christ from the dead:
"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
"And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
"Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 1: 17-20)
The element of Christ in us is conspicuously missing from the basic Creed which outlined the doctrinal truth of Christ.
To combat the manifold heresies that were threatening the Body of Christ and confusing many believers, the worlwide Christians communities gathred in Nicea to provide a summary defining Christ in line with the Scriptures. The Nicene Creed does not err in terms of doctrine, at least for what it contains. The lack in the Nicene Creed, which has deprived many believers of the fullness of Christ's majesty and power within them, must be corrected.
Here is the entire Creed. In bold-face type, I have included elements of the Good News which need to be included:
- the Father, the Almighty,
- maker of heaven and earth,
- of all that is, seen and unseen.
- I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
- the only Son of God,
- eternally begotten of the Father,
- God from God, Light from Light,
- true God from true God,
- begotten, not made,
- of one Being with the Father;
- through him all things were made.
- For us and for our salvation
- he came down from heaven,
- was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
- and became truly human.
- For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
- he suffered death and was buried.
- On the third day he rose again
- in accordance with the Scriptures;
- he ascended into heaven
- and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
- In the place of Highest Honor,
- Christ Jesus justifies and intercedes for His Body
- The community of saints
- He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
- and his kingdom has have no end.
- We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
- who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
- Who was poured on all flesh, as prophesied, on the Day of Pentecost
- By whose presence Christ lives and dwells in every believer
- Through Whom we have Reconciliation and Union with God the Father
- By the Holy Spirit, We are transformed from glory to glory
- Destined and determined to be one in likeness with Christ Jesus
- Being made the righteousness of God in Christ
- Infused with His power and honor and Resurrection Life
- who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
- who has spoken through the prophets.
- We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
- We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
- We look for the resurrection of the dead,
- and the life of the world to come. Amen
- (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_versions_of_the_Nicene_Creed_in_current_use)
Let Go and Let God? He Already Has, So Let Him!
It is amazing how behind we are when it comes to the movement of the Holy Spirit. Yet Jesus portrays God the Father as already involved and invested in our lives:
"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
"But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
"Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows." (Matthew 10: 29-31)
If we need anything, He already knows about it:
"For your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." (Matthew 6: 8)
So, what are we worried about? Jesus disputes such man-made terrors straightaway:
"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?" (Matthew 6: 25)
Followed later by the following:
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
"Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." (Matthew 6: 33-34)
Jesus Christ is as good as His Word, His Word will never pass away (Mark 13: 31), for He is the Word (John 1: 1)
Yet for a long time, I lived my life as if every time I faced a hardship, or I was stuck in some uncomfortable set of thoughts or emotions, that I had to do something, that I had to "let go."
I have learned that I do not have to "do" something in order to be set free. I need only renew my mind to the Truth, the Truth that is in me, with which I now and forevermore identify with as a believer:
"But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine." (Isaiah 43: 1)
In Christ, we have already been blessed and pardoned fully from all sin:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
We have all things provided for us within our Spirit, which has been resurrected, made one with God in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.
"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
We were set to be in Christ, who was set aside to die for us before Adam and Eve were even created, and sinned. We are holy, we are blameless in His love. This is a done deal for believers, not something which we have to strive, earn, or work for.
"Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
As believer, we are the predestined to be children of God. We are heirs of all things through Christ. God wants to do this. This is not somehing which He accomplishes for us out of force or fiat, but which He accomplishes justly and in good faith.
"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
We are accepted, it's a done deal. We do not have to earn our place at the table, so to speak. We are acceptable to God because we are in His Son, we are one with Him. As He is, so are we in this world! (1 John 4: 17)
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;" (Ephesians 1: 3-7)
Redemption is done for us, for Christ is our redemption (1 Corinthians 1: 30). We have the forgiveness of sins for all things.
We do not have to do or get or be anything which has not already been done for us through Christ Jesus. He instills us with His power, and by Him we bear fruit of righteousness:
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15: 4-5)
So, if we are in Him, and in Him we can do all things, and without Him we can do nothing, then where do we get the notion that we must "Let go and Let God"? We do nothing without Him. Even the faith by which we live this life is not ours:
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
"Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2: 8-9)
Paul informs us what kind of faith we have flowing within us:
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 20-21)
Jesus Christ is everything for the believer. Our Life, and the Way and the Truth one where and how to live out this Life, He provides all (John 14: 6).
We have nothing to begin with. We may be deceived into thinking that we must do something about something else, but in truth, Jesus Christ has us and all things in His hands, and therefore we do nothing but rest in Him, and He leads us!
Do not try to let go -- He already has whatever you are concerned about. Instead, meditate on the following:
"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? " (Hebrews 9:14)
What work could be more dead than letting go of something that you never had in your hand in the first place? Let us stand fast in the liberty which God has given us through His Son! (Galatians 6: 1)
"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
"But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
"Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows." (Matthew 10: 29-31)
If we need anything, He already knows about it:
"For your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." (Matthew 6: 8)
So, what are we worried about? Jesus disputes such man-made terrors straightaway:
"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?" (Matthew 6: 25)
Followed later by the following:
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
"Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." (Matthew 6: 33-34)
Jesus Christ is as good as His Word, His Word will never pass away (Mark 13: 31), for He is the Word (John 1: 1)
Yet for a long time, I lived my life as if every time I faced a hardship, or I was stuck in some uncomfortable set of thoughts or emotions, that I had to do something, that I had to "let go."
I have learned that I do not have to "do" something in order to be set free. I need only renew my mind to the Truth, the Truth that is in me, with which I now and forevermore identify with as a believer:
"But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine." (Isaiah 43: 1)
In Christ, we have already been blessed and pardoned fully from all sin:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
We have all things provided for us within our Spirit, which has been resurrected, made one with God in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.
"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
We were set to be in Christ, who was set aside to die for us before Adam and Eve were even created, and sinned. We are holy, we are blameless in His love. This is a done deal for believers, not something which we have to strive, earn, or work for.
"Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
As believer, we are the predestined to be children of God. We are heirs of all things through Christ. God wants to do this. This is not somehing which He accomplishes for us out of force or fiat, but which He accomplishes justly and in good faith.
"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
We are accepted, it's a done deal. We do not have to earn our place at the table, so to speak. We are acceptable to God because we are in His Son, we are one with Him. As He is, so are we in this world! (1 John 4: 17)
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;" (Ephesians 1: 3-7)
Redemption is done for us, for Christ is our redemption (1 Corinthians 1: 30). We have the forgiveness of sins for all things.
We do not have to do or get or be anything which has not already been done for us through Christ Jesus. He instills us with His power, and by Him we bear fruit of righteousness:
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15: 4-5)
So, if we are in Him, and in Him we can do all things, and without Him we can do nothing, then where do we get the notion that we must "Let go and Let God"? We do nothing without Him. Even the faith by which we live this life is not ours:
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
"Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2: 8-9)
Paul informs us what kind of faith we have flowing within us:
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 20-21)
Jesus Christ is everything for the believer. Our Life, and the Way and the Truth one where and how to live out this Life, He provides all (John 14: 6).
We have nothing to begin with. We may be deceived into thinking that we must do something about something else, but in truth, Jesus Christ has us and all things in His hands, and therefore we do nothing but rest in Him, and He leads us!
Do not try to let go -- He already has whatever you are concerned about. Instead, meditate on the following:
"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? " (Hebrews 9:14)
What work could be more dead than letting go of something that you never had in your hand in the first place? Let us stand fast in the liberty which God has given us through His Son! (Galatians 6: 1)
I was Trying to Be What I Already Am
The more that I tried, the worse things seem to get in my life. I was trying too hard! I was trying, instead of abiding in Him, as He abides in me (John 15: 1-5)
I am a good teacher. I am a good writer. I am able and skilled to do all things. I have the peace and good will within me to do all things.
How do I know that I have peace?
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" (Romans 5: 1)
I have peace with God. Christ dies on the Cross for me, that I may receive peace. In fact, Christ Himself is my peace:
"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;" (Ephesians 2: 14)
Of course, peace is also a fruit of the Holy Spirit, through whom Christ comes to live in us:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
"Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Galatians 5: 22-23)
How do I know that I have the good will to do all things?
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4: 13)
To every believer, this is truth. He lives in everyone of us, and it is He who works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2: 13)
Then why did I struggle with uncomfortable emotions, doubts, and fears? Because I did not know who I was:
"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4: 4)
Christ is within me! But there's more:
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." (1 John 5: 4)
So my faith overcomes the world, and all of its troubles and hardships. Yet what am I supposed to be doing? I would get stuck in "my part", always waiting for some sign, something outside of me to tell me what was the right or the wrong thing for me to do.
Then I learned what faith lives in me:
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 20-21)
It is Christ who now lives in me. His life animates me. I am not living this life -- it is Christ who lives in me, who leads me, who guides me and every believer.
The problem for every believer, as Paul explains, is that we frustrate the grace of God in our lives. How does this happen? By trying to be obedient:
"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
"For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
"For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." (Galatians 5: 4-6)
So, I do not try to live this life. I receive by faith, taking God at His Word, trusting that He is and rewards those who desire Him, that He is working in me. Then I faced another issue: I still struggled with empty thoughts, fearful and pessimistic thinking. I would have negative emotions and thoughts from the past and fear for the future. I never knew what to do, because these bad thoughts would distract me.
Then I discovered that we have all that we need in our spirit man:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" (Ephesians 1: 3)
As for my body and mind, those I yield to Him for renewal:
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12: 1-2)
My body I submit to God, by faith trusting His Spirit to guide me, as He promised:
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." (John 16: 13)
But there was still the matter of my mind. I still had bad thoughts, fearful thinking. What to do about this?
The writer of Hebrews provided me the answer that would renew my mind:
"For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9: 13-14)
I also learned that I do not have to do anything, necessarily, but instead I meditate on God's Word, that I remember who I am in Christ, that He lives and thrives in me, no matter how I feel, or what I may be thinking. I am not trying to live this life, although for every believer that becomes the great temptation, to believe -- falsely -- that we are all alone in the world, and that I must move on my own.
I cannot live out this life, for this life is Christ in me, the hope of glory (Colossians 1: 27).
He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14: 6). He knows the Way, He quickens me on the Way to Go, and He ascertains my Way in peace -- in Himself.
I cannot be separated from Him, and I cannot lose my place in Him. I do not worry about sinning, for I have been made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21), and by walking in His Spirit, I do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5: 16).
The real challenge for me, and fore every believer is to renew the mind to the truth of who I am in Christ, or otherwise I may fall into the temptation that I must do something in my own effort, as opposed to letting His life live out through me.
Yet even if I attempt in my own efforts to be obedient instead of believing on Him, which is the only work that I must do (John 6: 28-29), I rest in this promise:
"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8: 1 NASB)
If I try, it means that I am under condemnation, that I must do something. Since I am now in this world as He is, there is no condemnation, even if in my mind I yield at any time to the spirit of error which deceives me into believing that which is not true. He is always there, always within me, always working within me, and my feelings or thoughts cannot war against the truth of who I am in Christ.
I am a good teacher. I am a good writer. I am able and skilled to do all things. I have the peace and good will within me to do all things.
How do I know that I have peace?
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" (Romans 5: 1)
I have peace with God. Christ dies on the Cross for me, that I may receive peace. In fact, Christ Himself is my peace:
"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;" (Ephesians 2: 14)
Of course, peace is also a fruit of the Holy Spirit, through whom Christ comes to live in us:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
"Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Galatians 5: 22-23)
How do I know that I have the good will to do all things?
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4: 13)
To every believer, this is truth. He lives in everyone of us, and it is He who works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2: 13)
Then why did I struggle with uncomfortable emotions, doubts, and fears? Because I did not know who I was:
"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4: 4)
Christ is within me! But there's more:
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." (1 John 5: 4)
So my faith overcomes the world, and all of its troubles and hardships. Yet what am I supposed to be doing? I would get stuck in "my part", always waiting for some sign, something outside of me to tell me what was the right or the wrong thing for me to do.
Then I learned what faith lives in me:
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 20-21)
It is Christ who now lives in me. His life animates me. I am not living this life -- it is Christ who lives in me, who leads me, who guides me and every believer.
The problem for every believer, as Paul explains, is that we frustrate the grace of God in our lives. How does this happen? By trying to be obedient:
"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
"For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
"For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." (Galatians 5: 4-6)
So, I do not try to live this life. I receive by faith, taking God at His Word, trusting that He is and rewards those who desire Him, that He is working in me. Then I faced another issue: I still struggled with empty thoughts, fearful and pessimistic thinking. I would have negative emotions and thoughts from the past and fear for the future. I never knew what to do, because these bad thoughts would distract me.
Then I discovered that we have all that we need in our spirit man:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" (Ephesians 1: 3)
As for my body and mind, those I yield to Him for renewal:
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12: 1-2)
My body I submit to God, by faith trusting His Spirit to guide me, as He promised:
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." (John 16: 13)
But there was still the matter of my mind. I still had bad thoughts, fearful thinking. What to do about this?
The writer of Hebrews provided me the answer that would renew my mind:
"For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9: 13-14)
I also learned that I do not have to do anything, necessarily, but instead I meditate on God's Word, that I remember who I am in Christ, that He lives and thrives in me, no matter how I feel, or what I may be thinking. I am not trying to live this life, although for every believer that becomes the great temptation, to believe -- falsely -- that we are all alone in the world, and that I must move on my own.
I cannot live out this life, for this life is Christ in me, the hope of glory (Colossians 1: 27).
He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14: 6). He knows the Way, He quickens me on the Way to Go, and He ascertains my Way in peace -- in Himself.
I cannot be separated from Him, and I cannot lose my place in Him. I do not worry about sinning, for I have been made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21), and by walking in His Spirit, I do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5: 16).
The real challenge for me, and fore every believer is to renew the mind to the truth of who I am in Christ, or otherwise I may fall into the temptation that I must do something in my own effort, as opposed to letting His life live out through me.
Yet even if I attempt in my own efforts to be obedient instead of believing on Him, which is the only work that I must do (John 6: 28-29), I rest in this promise:
"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8: 1 NASB)
If I try, it means that I am under condemnation, that I must do something. Since I am now in this world as He is, there is no condemnation, even if in my mind I yield at any time to the spirit of error which deceives me into believing that which is not true. He is always there, always within me, always working within me, and my feelings or thoughts cannot war against the truth of who I am in Christ.
Mrs. K and Student Teaching at Dana Middle School
Student Teaching was tough for me, as it remains a challenge for every new teacher.
One thing that most veteran teachers forget is how hard it is to be a teacher. My mentors acted as if they had it all figured out, although they seemed to make the same elementary mistakes which I fell into, just more often than they. Many days, I operated almost like a robot, just going through the motions, not puzzling myself about the feelings that come with trying to teach a bunch of students, many of whom cannot read or who have no support system at home to keep them in line. Some of these students endured years of trial and hardship, only to slip into more trouble. On any given day, a student would be escorted off-campus in handcuffs. Fights were a regular occurrence, and in some cases students would get beaten down severely.
The first year and a half are grueling for most educators. They have to serve through the baptism by fire of student-teaching, in which most students either regret your presence, because they like the mentor teacher better, or they look forward to messing with the student-teacher because he or she is less experienced in the ways of the school than even the students themselves.
Either way one looks at it, student teaching is a demanding ritual for anyone who wants to be an educator. Serving without pay for a semester -- in some schools, an entire year -- student teachers are expected to learn the ropes, learn the tropes, and ferret out the dopes in a short amount of time.
It is a demanding venture, to say the least. At the school where I was assigned, there were originally two student teachers, besides myself a P. E. teacher. He eventually quit, but I do not know what happened to him afterwards.
My student teaching went awry the first week, in which the assistant principal, who was responsible for assigning me, did not even contact me until one week after the school year had begun. It was not too late to start, though. I was fortunate enough to receiving one section of Sixth Grade History as well as two sections of Eighth Grade U.S. History.
The elderly lady who taught the sixth graders was not as organized as the eighth grade teacher. He was a real squirrel, full of energy and tricks of the trade. I learned more from him, although the sixth grade teacher was a grandmotherly type at times who comforted me in some darker points. Still, she would make a point of trumpeting her own prowess as a teacher, when oftentimes I would walk into her class and witness a number of students talking over her. One time, the class was so unruly, within two minutes students were jumping out of their seats, sharpening their pencils, talking out of turn. She just smiled at me with a dismissive grin, as if I would not notice the chaos ensuing.
I bring up this mentor teacher's conduct in part because she could be a nasty gossip. This I learned, with undue disdain, when she shared with other teachers in the faculty lounge that one of the science teachers was going to quit. I remembered what they young lady had endured, but I did not take it to heart at the time, so consumed was I in trying to present to teachers, staff, and students that I knew what I was doing.
I will call her Mrs. K for now. She was a bright, lively young lady, and she had just transferred from a nearby district, which had refused to grant her tenure after three years of service. As a new hire for LA Unified, she was automatically granted tenure. She also received more pay working at Dana Middle School. I met her briefly during the student-parent back to school night.
Over the next few weeks, though, her mood dipped considerably. Sometimes, she would curse in the teacher's lounge. She seemed to have a hardened aspect about her at that point. Later that week,
I paid a visit one time to her class, in part because I was record to visit certain classes and take notes as par of earning my credential. That day, she showed me her course syllabus, including three boxes, where she could record when she contacted students' parents. "CYA, I always say," she informed me.
But I will never forget one conversation that she had with another teacher. See, Mrs. K was an Asian lady, and the students were of a different ethnic background, to say the least. They had little qualm for harassing her because of her race. She admitted that she had briefly debated one day within herself whether to write a referral or not when one kid began pulling at the sides of his eyes, making a racist gesture. The other teacher congratulated her for summoning the courage to throw the student out. I was glad for her, too - although that was not the end of that sad story.
However, a few days later I found her once again in the faculty lounge. "I have never had to put up with so much disrespect," she confided to me, more out of despair than any regard for me, as if I were a worthy confidant for her or anyone else's woes. I was definitely not worth confiding in at the time, since I was barely learning the ropes, and I was convinced that any trials I was enduring were just par for the course. I should have paid closer attention to what she was going through, because when I had served as a teacher for a few years, I would find myself enduring the same hardships, the same shock of mistreatment at the hands and voices of students who were immune to any sense of compassion, so it seemed.
Mrs. K. began to weep. I was surprised. "You know what they gave that kid who mocked me?" She posed this question to me, very rhetorically. "Just a detention!" She was certainly disappointed with the lack of respect not just from the students, but also from the administration, who did not respect the frustration which she was enduring. For such a racist gesture, she had expected at least a suspension -- I would have certainly agreed.
Eventually, word got around that Mrs. K was going to resign after the Christmas break. My sixth grade mentor teacher pressed her about it, and Mrs. K. just lost it -- and I for one did not blame her for it. "Who told you that?" she snapped back, as reported by my sixth grade teacher. Of course, most of the teachers were not surprised that anyone snapped back at her. She was such a nosy, snoopy, even fractious gossip, that she had something to say about everyone. At least once a month, so it seemed, some teacher would be leaning into her about some petty remark or breach of privacy.
But Mrs. K. I really liked her, I just wish that I had honored the pain that she was going through while on the job. This lady was an experienced teacher, yet she felt harassed, threatened, and demeaned on the job. If I had not been so busy with barely keeping one step ahead of my own mess, I may have taken the hint and stepped away as soon as I could.
Her story was not the only teacher tragedy which I witnessed, nor would she be the only teacher whom I would hear about who quit before the school year ended. It is amazing the limits that some teachers are expected to go to when teaching. The amount of disrespect can be intolerable. Either a teacher has to put up with, or do what I have done, and throw two or three students out on a routine basis, which becomes a tired joke very quickly. Yes, the teacher is there to teach, no questions about it. But if students have not learned respect, then there can be no learning, and certainly no teaching.
Mrs. K., for all her learning, for all her experience, for all her self-respect, would not tolerate the rampant abuse which she was forced to endure. I have not seen her lately, but I certainly hope she knows that she did the best that she could, and that her choice to resign was not a defeat, but a win for a teacher who refused to put up with disrespect.
One thing that most veteran teachers forget is how hard it is to be a teacher. My mentors acted as if they had it all figured out, although they seemed to make the same elementary mistakes which I fell into, just more often than they. Many days, I operated almost like a robot, just going through the motions, not puzzling myself about the feelings that come with trying to teach a bunch of students, many of whom cannot read or who have no support system at home to keep them in line. Some of these students endured years of trial and hardship, only to slip into more trouble. On any given day, a student would be escorted off-campus in handcuffs. Fights were a regular occurrence, and in some cases students would get beaten down severely.
The first year and a half are grueling for most educators. They have to serve through the baptism by fire of student-teaching, in which most students either regret your presence, because they like the mentor teacher better, or they look forward to messing with the student-teacher because he or she is less experienced in the ways of the school than even the students themselves.
Either way one looks at it, student teaching is a demanding ritual for anyone who wants to be an educator. Serving without pay for a semester -- in some schools, an entire year -- student teachers are expected to learn the ropes, learn the tropes, and ferret out the dopes in a short amount of time.
It is a demanding venture, to say the least. At the school where I was assigned, there were originally two student teachers, besides myself a P. E. teacher. He eventually quit, but I do not know what happened to him afterwards.
My student teaching went awry the first week, in which the assistant principal, who was responsible for assigning me, did not even contact me until one week after the school year had begun. It was not too late to start, though. I was fortunate enough to receiving one section of Sixth Grade History as well as two sections of Eighth Grade U.S. History.
The elderly lady who taught the sixth graders was not as organized as the eighth grade teacher. He was a real squirrel, full of energy and tricks of the trade. I learned more from him, although the sixth grade teacher was a grandmotherly type at times who comforted me in some darker points. Still, she would make a point of trumpeting her own prowess as a teacher, when oftentimes I would walk into her class and witness a number of students talking over her. One time, the class was so unruly, within two minutes students were jumping out of their seats, sharpening their pencils, talking out of turn. She just smiled at me with a dismissive grin, as if I would not notice the chaos ensuing.
I bring up this mentor teacher's conduct in part because she could be a nasty gossip. This I learned, with undue disdain, when she shared with other teachers in the faculty lounge that one of the science teachers was going to quit. I remembered what they young lady had endured, but I did not take it to heart at the time, so consumed was I in trying to present to teachers, staff, and students that I knew what I was doing.
I will call her Mrs. K for now. She was a bright, lively young lady, and she had just transferred from a nearby district, which had refused to grant her tenure after three years of service. As a new hire for LA Unified, she was automatically granted tenure. She also received more pay working at Dana Middle School. I met her briefly during the student-parent back to school night.
Over the next few weeks, though, her mood dipped considerably. Sometimes, she would curse in the teacher's lounge. She seemed to have a hardened aspect about her at that point. Later that week,
I paid a visit one time to her class, in part because I was record to visit certain classes and take notes as par of earning my credential. That day, she showed me her course syllabus, including three boxes, where she could record when she contacted students' parents. "CYA, I always say," she informed me.
But I will never forget one conversation that she had with another teacher. See, Mrs. K was an Asian lady, and the students were of a different ethnic background, to say the least. They had little qualm for harassing her because of her race. She admitted that she had briefly debated one day within herself whether to write a referral or not when one kid began pulling at the sides of his eyes, making a racist gesture. The other teacher congratulated her for summoning the courage to throw the student out. I was glad for her, too - although that was not the end of that sad story.
However, a few days later I found her once again in the faculty lounge. "I have never had to put up with so much disrespect," she confided to me, more out of despair than any regard for me, as if I were a worthy confidant for her or anyone else's woes. I was definitely not worth confiding in at the time, since I was barely learning the ropes, and I was convinced that any trials I was enduring were just par for the course. I should have paid closer attention to what she was going through, because when I had served as a teacher for a few years, I would find myself enduring the same hardships, the same shock of mistreatment at the hands and voices of students who were immune to any sense of compassion, so it seemed.
Mrs. K. began to weep. I was surprised. "You know what they gave that kid who mocked me?" She posed this question to me, very rhetorically. "Just a detention!" She was certainly disappointed with the lack of respect not just from the students, but also from the administration, who did not respect the frustration which she was enduring. For such a racist gesture, she had expected at least a suspension -- I would have certainly agreed.
Eventually, word got around that Mrs. K was going to resign after the Christmas break. My sixth grade mentor teacher pressed her about it, and Mrs. K. just lost it -- and I for one did not blame her for it. "Who told you that?" she snapped back, as reported by my sixth grade teacher. Of course, most of the teachers were not surprised that anyone snapped back at her. She was such a nosy, snoopy, even fractious gossip, that she had something to say about everyone. At least once a month, so it seemed, some teacher would be leaning into her about some petty remark or breach of privacy.
But Mrs. K. I really liked her, I just wish that I had honored the pain that she was going through while on the job. This lady was an experienced teacher, yet she felt harassed, threatened, and demeaned on the job. If I had not been so busy with barely keeping one step ahead of my own mess, I may have taken the hint and stepped away as soon as I could.
Her story was not the only teacher tragedy which I witnessed, nor would she be the only teacher whom I would hear about who quit before the school year ended. It is amazing the limits that some teachers are expected to go to when teaching. The amount of disrespect can be intolerable. Either a teacher has to put up with, or do what I have done, and throw two or three students out on a routine basis, which becomes a tired joke very quickly. Yes, the teacher is there to teach, no questions about it. But if students have not learned respect, then there can be no learning, and certainly no teaching.
Mrs. K., for all her learning, for all her experience, for all her self-respect, would not tolerate the rampant abuse which she was forced to endure. I have not seen her lately, but I certainly hope she knows that she did the best that she could, and that her choice to resign was not a defeat, but a win for a teacher who refused to put up with disrespect.
Eve the Legalist
Before Eve succumbed to the temptation to eat the forbidden fruit, she succumbed to the temptation of legalism. When the serpent tempted Eve regarding the Lord's prohibition, she replied:
"But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die." (Genesis 3: 3)
The Lord did not give such a prohibition to Adam:
"But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."" (Genesis 2: 17)
Just do not eat of the tree. God said nothing about touching the fruit.
Also, Eve referenced the tree as in the midst of the garden. Not so the Lord:
"And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil." (Genesis 2: 9)
God places the tree of life in the midst of the garden, but Eve became fixed on the forbidden tree. She was also wrong regarding the consequence of eating from the tree. "Lest ye die," when the Lord has said "thou shalt surely die." To partake of the forbidden tree would end the life of God's creation both physically and spiritually, for spiritual death is to be cut off from God.
Even the serpent inadvertently corrected Eve, then went about tempting her to eat from the tree:
"And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
"For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3: 4-5)
The original text reads "Elohim" for "gods", which means "God" -- when in fact Adam and Eve were already like God:
"For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and have crowned him with glory and honor." (Psalm 8: 5)
Young's Literal Translation reads:
"And causest him to lack a little of Godhead, And with honour and majesty compassest him."
We have already been made a little lower than God, yet for the believer in Christ, we now sit in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 2: 6), at the right hand of the Father, under no condemnation, infused with the same righteousness as Christ Jesus!
Satan tempts us to ignore or to forget who we are in Christ, yet we assist Satan in his efforts when we make more rules for ourselves, as if being more cautious will enable us to stay safe and sound. Just as Eve added a prohibition to God's warning about the Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil, so do believers today create rules, procedures, and traditions for themselves, as if these rules will safeguard and maintain their right standing before God.
The Bible is clear regarding such attempts:
"For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." (Galatians 5: 3-4)
So, rather than depending on our law-keeping, we are called to rest in the Spirit:
"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
"But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." (Galatians 5:" 16-18)
And the Holy Spirit within us produces fruit of righteousness, not our own efforts.
Let us stop focusing on right and wrong, let us focus on Christ, the Tree of Life, who also feeds us the Way to live and the Truth to live by! We do not need more rules, or even to live by the rules, but rather let us allow the Ruler of us all to Rule within us!
"But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die." (Genesis 3: 3)
The Lord did not give such a prohibition to Adam:
"But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."" (Genesis 2: 17)
Just do not eat of the tree. God said nothing about touching the fruit.
Also, Eve referenced the tree as in the midst of the garden. Not so the Lord:
"And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil." (Genesis 2: 9)
God places the tree of life in the midst of the garden, but Eve became fixed on the forbidden tree. She was also wrong regarding the consequence of eating from the tree. "Lest ye die," when the Lord has said "thou shalt surely die." To partake of the forbidden tree would end the life of God's creation both physically and spiritually, for spiritual death is to be cut off from God.
Even the serpent inadvertently corrected Eve, then went about tempting her to eat from the tree:
"And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
"For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3: 4-5)
The original text reads "Elohim" for "gods", which means "God" -- when in fact Adam and Eve were already like God:
"For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and have crowned him with glory and honor." (Psalm 8: 5)
Young's Literal Translation reads:
"And causest him to lack a little of Godhead, And with honour and majesty compassest him."
We have already been made a little lower than God, yet for the believer in Christ, we now sit in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 2: 6), at the right hand of the Father, under no condemnation, infused with the same righteousness as Christ Jesus!
Satan tempts us to ignore or to forget who we are in Christ, yet we assist Satan in his efforts when we make more rules for ourselves, as if being more cautious will enable us to stay safe and sound. Just as Eve added a prohibition to God's warning about the Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil, so do believers today create rules, procedures, and traditions for themselves, as if these rules will safeguard and maintain their right standing before God.
The Bible is clear regarding such attempts:
"For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." (Galatians 5: 3-4)
So, rather than depending on our law-keeping, we are called to rest in the Spirit:
"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
"But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." (Galatians 5:" 16-18)
And the Holy Spirit within us produces fruit of righteousness, not our own efforts.
Let us stop focusing on right and wrong, let us focus on Christ, the Tree of Life, who also feeds us the Way to live and the Truth to live by! We do not need more rules, or even to live by the rules, but rather let us allow the Ruler of us all to Rule within us!
No Need to Talk to Yourself
There is no further reason to challenge ourselves to be obedient– we receive the blessed message of our Lord and Savior, whose blood cries out forgiveness:
"And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel." (Hebrews 12: 24)
While Abel's blood cried out for vengeance (Genesis 4: 10), the Blood of Jesus grants us everlasting righteousness (Hebrews 9: 24) and oneness with Him, and heirs of God the Father:
"And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3: 29)
What is this promise? The Holy Spirit:
"Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." (Acts 2: 33)
This Holy Spirit guides us into all truth (John 16: 13), convicting us of righteousness (John 16: 10)
Let us listen to the message and witness of the Holy Spirit within us, not our sense of right and wrong. For the blood of Jesus Christ once and for all has done this:
"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9: 14)
Here, "dead works" speaks of our own efforts to make ourselves right before God, which none of us can do.
So, we must no longer talk to ourselves, saying "I have to do something" or "What if. . .", because such thinking is not in line with the truth, that we are made forever righteous before God, filled with His life by the Holy Spirit, who leads us in the paths of righteousness.
"And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel." (Hebrews 12: 24)
While Abel's blood cried out for vengeance (Genesis 4: 10), the Blood of Jesus grants us everlasting righteousness (Hebrews 9: 24) and oneness with Him, and heirs of God the Father:
"And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3: 29)
What is this promise? The Holy Spirit:
"Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." (Acts 2: 33)
This Holy Spirit guides us into all truth (John 16: 13), convicting us of righteousness (John 16: 10)
Let us listen to the message and witness of the Holy Spirit within us, not our sense of right and wrong. For the blood of Jesus Christ once and for all has done this:
"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9: 14)
Here, "dead works" speaks of our own efforts to make ourselves right before God, which none of us can do.
So, we must no longer talk to ourselves, saying "I have to do something" or "What if. . .", because such thinking is not in line with the truth, that we are made forever righteous before God, filled with His life by the Holy Spirit, who leads us in the paths of righteousness.
Perfect Love Casts out Fear -- Already!
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath
torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."
I used to read this verse, convinced that if I got afraid, it meant that I still had to do something. It reads "He that feareth is not made perfect in love."
So, my reasoning went something like this: If I get afraid, God must not love me, or that I had cut of fellowship with God. With that kind of thinking, I found myself fighting a needless and fruitless two-front war. On one hand, I was trying to maintain or restore my relationship with God. On the other hand, I was trying to fight off my fear.
Of course, the following scriptures make very clear that I do not create, nor can I prevent, God's love from flowing through me:
"And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5: 5)
and
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
"Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 37-39)
Nothing can separate us from God, for God is love (1 John 4: 16), and God dwells in us through Christ (Colossians 1: 27) and through the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5: 22-23)
In fact, the same chapter in First John explains that His love is perfected in me:So, my reasoning went something like this: If I get afraid, God must not love me, or that I had cut of fellowship with God. With that kind of thinking, I found myself fighting a needless and fruitless two-front war. On one hand, I was trying to maintain or restore my relationship with God. On the other hand, I was trying to fight off my fear.
Of course, the following scriptures make very clear that I do not create, nor can I prevent, God's love from flowing through me:
"And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5: 5)
and
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
"Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 37-39)
Nothing can separate us from God, for God is love (1 John 4: 16), and God dwells in us through Christ (Colossians 1: 27) and through the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5: 22-23)
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world" (1 John 4: 17)
If there is any one thing that can break the illusion of fear away from our minds, it is that God the Father does not see us in our sinful, fallen bodies and minds. Instead, He sees His own Son:
"And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's." (1 Corinthians 3: 23)
and
"Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." (1 Corinthians 12: 27)
We are so close to God through His Son, we are one with Him:
"I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." (John 17: 23)
– but we still live in a fallen world that will tempt individual believers to get afraid. We have the Holy Spirit’s love bursting through us.
If you feel afraid, just rest in the grace and knowledge of the Lord, knowing that He who is within you is greater than he who is in the world (, and that includes yourself. We are no longer fearful people, we are no longer our thoughts and feelings:
"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6: 11)
His love is more than perfected. We do not fear in our spirit man, therefore – and if our thoughts an feelings tilt toward fear, we just repudiate it – we are not defined or pushed around because of our feelings or thoughts. The writer in Hebrews dispels once and for all even the thought of sin in our lives:
"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9: 14)
We have no need to be afraid of even doing something wrong. Our fallen minds may be tempted to fear, but the believer can reject such a temptation by resting in the knowledge that we are even cleansed from the sense of judgment, of the even the foreboding possibility of wrong-doing in our lives!
"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9: 14)
We have no need to be afraid of even doing something wrong. Our fallen minds may be tempted to fear, but the believer can reject such a temptation by resting in the knowledge that we are even cleansed from the sense of judgment, of the even the foreboding possibility of wrong-doing in our lives!
You have perfect love within you already, for God is Love, and His love is thriving and pouring out of you already! You cannot stop His love of you, in you, or through you. Only your mind, your conscience, may be tempted to doubt His love, but your thoughts and feelings cannot stop Him. Walk in this love, therefore (Ephesians 5: 8)– and watch what Jesus does in your life!
No Reason to Fear or Be Careful -- Christ through the Comforter Cares for Us
I have learned that there are certain lines of thinking which I am simply not entitled to take – Philippians 4: 8 tellsus exactly what we need to be thinking about!:
"8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4: 8)
"8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4: 8)
I used to think that a little bit of fear was good for me –then I became confused because I was always taught to live by discernment, yet I loved in unrest so much of the time, that I could not rely on an inner witness, at the time, which would tell me when to fear, when to panic.
The Bible is very clear: The Holy Spirit guides us, and we do not need to add our recriminations or premonitions to His guidance.
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
"Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (John 14: 16-17)
As Comforter, literally παράκλητος, ο paraklétos, or an advocate, comforter, helper. The Holy Spirit is with us, reminding us of who we are, our right standing, and the righteousness that God is leading us to walk in.
Through the Holy Spirit, Christ abides in us, and He is our wisdom (1 Corinthians 1: 30)
He is the Spirit of truth within us, so that we do not have to solicit advice at length and at random from other people.
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14: 26)
The Holy Spirit is not a lawyer in the sense that He reminds us of what we must do. Better than that, He puts God's laws on our hearts and minds, and as the peace of God rules in our hearts, we are directed by the Spirit to be obedient to His will!
The Holy Spirit glorifies the One who sent Him, the One who died for us, who justifies and intercedes on our behalf:
"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
"And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. " (John 15: 26-27)
Because of the Holy Spirit, our very presence can then bear witness of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Also, the Holy Spirit convicts us of righteousness:
"Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;" (John 16: 10)
We require this constant reminder, as our flesh can easily divert us to trying to earn the status and blessings which God freely gives to us through the Finished Work of Christ Jesus.
The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth, and into all knowledge:
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
"He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
"All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you." (John 16: 13-15)
"Guide you in all truth" -- We do not seek the Truth, for the Truth within us guides us to where we should go and what we must do and say.
We have this most excellent testimony within us. As we read God's Word, we grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord, of the One who lives and thrives in us. Our faith -- which is really Christ's faith (Galatians 2: 20), becomes more prominent, pushing away the doubts and fears in our lives. We no longer take heed on our own, we no longer feel compelled to look over our shoulders. We rest in who we are in Christ, and Christ in us leads us and prompts us through His love.The Bible is very clear: The Holy Spirit guides us, and we do not need to add our recriminations or premonitions to His guidance.
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
"Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (John 14: 16-17)
As Comforter, literally παράκλητος, ο paraklétos, or an advocate, comforter, helper. The Holy Spirit is with us, reminding us of who we are, our right standing, and the righteousness that God is leading us to walk in.
He is the Spirit of truth within us, so that we do not have to solicit advice at length and at random from other people.
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14: 26)
The Holy Spirit is not a lawyer in the sense that He reminds us of what we must do. Better than that, He puts God's laws on our hearts and minds, and as the peace of God rules in our hearts, we are directed by the Spirit to be obedient to His will!
The Holy Spirit glorifies the One who sent Him, the One who died for us, who justifies and intercedes on our behalf:
"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
"And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. " (John 15: 26-27)
Because of the Holy Spirit, our very presence can then bear witness of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Also, the Holy Spirit convicts us of righteousness:
"Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;" (John 16: 10)
We require this constant reminder, as our flesh can easily divert us to trying to earn the status and blessings which God freely gives to us through the Finished Work of Christ Jesus.
The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth, and into all knowledge:
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
"He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
"All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you." (John 16: 13-15)
"Guide you in all truth" -- We do not seek the Truth, for the Truth within us guides us to where we should go and what we must do and say.
There is no reason to fear, there is no reason to practice self-restraining caution out of fear of doing something wrong.:
"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
"But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." (Galatians 5: 16-18)
It could not be any simpler. A life of faith, seeing the invisible Holy Spirit moving and thriving about us, and behold we not only uphold the law, but we live out the love, joy, peace, and all other fruits borne by the Holy Spirit within us.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Reflections on "My Utmost" April 24
Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you . . . —Luke 10:20
They are not subject to us per se, they are subject to Christ in us, our hope of glory (Colossians 1: 27)
Worldliness is not the trap that most endangers us as Christian workers; nor is it sin. The trap we fall into is extravagantly desiring spiritual success; that is, success measured by, and patterned after, the form set by this religious age in which we now live. Never seek after anything other than the approval of God, and always be willing to go “outside the camp, bearing His reproach” (Hebrews 13:13).
We already have God's favor, or grace:
"Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace." (Philippians 1: 7)
We are called to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3: 18)
Because the Lord is with us, we are already a success (Genesis 39: 2; Romans 8: 37; Ephesians 2: 6)
We bear Christ's reproach to the extent that we live in His glory, and thus the world hates us:
"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you." (John 15: 18)
The real issue with "spiritual success" stems not so much from the preeminence we cull from it, but the spirit of separation and condemnation which stems from it. If we think that we are doing anything, then we are in our flesh, not in grace.
In Luke 10:20 , Jesus told the disciples not to rejoice in successful service, and yet this seems to be the one thing in which most of us do rejoice. We have a commercialized view— we count how many souls have been saved and sanctified, we thank God, and then we think everything is all right.
Everything is all right for us before God because we have been made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21) We must never think that our standing before God depends on anything but the grace of God, on which our hearts are established before Him.
Yet our work only begins where God’s grace has laid the foundation. Our work is not to save souls, but to disciple them. Salvation and sanctification are the work of God’s sovereign grace, and our work as His disciples is to disciple others’ lives until they are totally yielded to God. One life totally devoted to God is of more value to Him than one hundred lives which have been simply awakened by His Spirit.
Chambers evinces some of the "commercial spirit" which he has already condemned. We are all God's children by grace through faith, and we are well-pleasing to Him, as we are accepted in His Beloved Son (Ephesians 1: 6)
As workers for God, we must reproduce our own kind spiritually, and those lives will be God’s testimony to us as His workers. God brings us up to a standard of life through His grace, and we are responsible for reproducing that same standard in others.
Chambers categorizes us as "workers", when even Jesus appraises us better than that:
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing" (John 15: 5)
Jesus does the work in us. We abide in Him by faith, which produces obedience.
"Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." (John 15: 15)
This spirit of separation between God and us, as implied by Chambers, is soundly rebuked. We are friends with God, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8: 17)
Unless the worker lives a life that “is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3), he is apt to become an irritating dictator to others, instead of an active, living disciple. Many of us are dictators, dictating our desires to individuals and to groups. But Jesus never dictates to us in that way. Whenever our Lord talked about discipleship, He always prefaced His words with an “if,” never with the forceful or dogmatic statement— “You must.” Discipleship carries with it an option.
Discipleship is for those who think that they can follow or obey God in their own strength. Throughout the gospels, Jesus speaks of discipleship with an immense, impossible cost:
"If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14: 26)
This is a stern challenge, one which no one can fulfill in his own strength. In effect, we have to die in order to break free of our former familial relationships.
"And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14: 27)
What purpose does it serve for us to die on the Cross? Our bloodshed would not appease God the Father's righteous wrath against our sins. However, every person who presumes on his own efforts to follow God is in effect saying that he can and will endure the very punishment that God's Son would endure. Jesus put the price of discipleship so high, so that men would despair of their own efforts and trust in His Finished Work on the Cross.
"So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14: 33)
Yet we as fallen humanity are dead in our trespasses (Ephesians 2: 1). We have nothing to give up, for nothing in effect really belongs to us, as before Christ quickened us with life-giving faith, we were dead, and a dead man owns nothing. Moreover, in the Jewish culture, it was simply impossible for a man to give up all of his property, without of course giving up his entire identity. Even the sacrifice of all our possessions cannot break us free from our sin debt. Only Christ's death on the Cross accomplished that.
We already have God's favor, or grace:
"Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace." (Philippians 1: 7)
We are called to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3: 18)
Because the Lord is with us, we are already a success (Genesis 39: 2; Romans 8: 37; Ephesians 2: 6)
We bear Christ's reproach to the extent that we live in His glory, and thus the world hates us:
"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you." (John 15: 18)
The real issue with "spiritual success" stems not so much from the preeminence we cull from it, but the spirit of separation and condemnation which stems from it. If we think that we are doing anything, then we are in our flesh, not in grace.
In Luke 10:20 , Jesus told the disciples not to rejoice in successful service, and yet this seems to be the one thing in which most of us do rejoice. We have a commercialized view— we count how many souls have been saved and sanctified, we thank God, and then we think everything is all right.
Everything is all right for us before God because we have been made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21) We must never think that our standing before God depends on anything but the grace of God, on which our hearts are established before Him.
Yet our work only begins where God’s grace has laid the foundation. Our work is not to save souls, but to disciple them. Salvation and sanctification are the work of God’s sovereign grace, and our work as His disciples is to disciple others’ lives until they are totally yielded to God. One life totally devoted to God is of more value to Him than one hundred lives which have been simply awakened by His Spirit.
Chambers evinces some of the "commercial spirit" which he has already condemned. We are all God's children by grace through faith, and we are well-pleasing to Him, as we are accepted in His Beloved Son (Ephesians 1: 6)
As workers for God, we must reproduce our own kind spiritually, and those lives will be God’s testimony to us as His workers. God brings us up to a standard of life through His grace, and we are responsible for reproducing that same standard in others.
Chambers categorizes us as "workers", when even Jesus appraises us better than that:
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing" (John 15: 5)
Jesus does the work in us. We abide in Him by faith, which produces obedience.
"Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." (John 15: 15)
This spirit of separation between God and us, as implied by Chambers, is soundly rebuked. We are friends with God, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8: 17)
Unless the worker lives a life that “is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3), he is apt to become an irritating dictator to others, instead of an active, living disciple. Many of us are dictators, dictating our desires to individuals and to groups. But Jesus never dictates to us in that way. Whenever our Lord talked about discipleship, He always prefaced His words with an “if,” never with the forceful or dogmatic statement— “You must.” Discipleship carries with it an option.
Discipleship is for those who think that they can follow or obey God in their own strength. Throughout the gospels, Jesus speaks of discipleship with an immense, impossible cost:
"If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14: 26)
This is a stern challenge, one which no one can fulfill in his own strength. In effect, we have to die in order to break free of our former familial relationships.
"And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14: 27)
What purpose does it serve for us to die on the Cross? Our bloodshed would not appease God the Father's righteous wrath against our sins. However, every person who presumes on his own efforts to follow God is in effect saying that he can and will endure the very punishment that God's Son would endure. Jesus put the price of discipleship so high, so that men would despair of their own efforts and trust in His Finished Work on the Cross.
"So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14: 33)
Yet we as fallen humanity are dead in our trespasses (Ephesians 2: 1). We have nothing to give up, for nothing in effect really belongs to us, as before Christ quickened us with life-giving faith, we were dead, and a dead man owns nothing. Moreover, in the Jewish culture, it was simply impossible for a man to give up all of his property, without of course giving up his entire identity. Even the sacrifice of all our possessions cannot break us free from our sin debt. Only Christ's death on the Cross accomplished that.
Response to LA Times Editorial -- To Fire a Teacher
The Los Angeles Times made a stink about how school districts do not possess many options when it comes to dismissing and ineffective, incompetent, or immoral educator.
The contractual agreement forced upon principals, school boards, and first-year teachers explains more than enough.
Teachers without tenure, during the first two or three years of their professional career, have no protection. They can be fired for the way they cut their hair or the clothes that they wear. It is ridiculous. If any class of teachers needs more protection, it would be the new teachers, many of whom are struggling to get in the rhythm of running a classroom.
Tenure for life following three years of consecutive work is too much, though. Still, teachers deserve protection.
Administrators in our school sites also deserve protection. In most schools, administrators can be fired at will. In a growing number of cases, administrators have no courage to make difficult decisions of face challenging parents for fear that they will be summarily dismissed. The tenuous nature of a principal's assignment compromises his or her capacity to lead a school, in which the leader is held responsible and accountable for decisions and actions over which the administrators have little sway beyond persuasion, exhortation, and coercion.
The contractual agreement forced upon principals, school boards, and first-year teachers explains more than enough.
Teachers without tenure, during the first two or three years of their professional career, have no protection. They can be fired for the way they cut their hair or the clothes that they wear. It is ridiculous. If any class of teachers needs more protection, it would be the new teachers, many of whom are struggling to get in the rhythm of running a classroom.
Tenure for life following three years of consecutive work is too much, though. Still, teachers deserve protection.
Administrators in our school sites also deserve protection. In most schools, administrators can be fired at will. In a growing number of cases, administrators have no courage to make difficult decisions of face challenging parents for fear that they will be summarily dismissed. The tenuous nature of a principal's assignment compromises his or her capacity to lead a school, in which the leader is held responsible and accountable for decisions and actions over which the administrators have little sway beyond persuasion, exhortation, and coercion.
If school districts want to invest their school staff with greater flexibility to dismiss teachers, they need to start by firing the teachers’ unions. This collective agent of political intimidation pushes hard against meaningful reform, enough to pressure school boards and school site administrators to pick on only the weakest, unprotected elements among them: substitutes and new hires.
Intimacy and Identity in Christ
In Christ Jesus, intimacy becomes identity. We are more than mere lovers, we are one! We are married more than more or woman ever could be.
I used to think that our relationship in God was based on growing in greater connection with Him. We start out as His children, say, then we become like a married couple.
I looked at passages like:
"And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali." (Hosea 2: 16)
and
"For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." (2 Corinthians 11: 2)
But then I read in Jesus' prayer before His trial and execution:
"I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." (John 17: 23)
And of course:
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)
Then I return to the first chapter of John's Gospel:
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" (John 1: 12)
For the believer, our intimacy is our identity in Christ Jesus. For this reason Paul wrote:
"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
"May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
"And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. " (Ephesians 3: 17-19)
God is love (1 John 4: 16), and we are one with Him in our Spirit man, but He desires us to work out this salvation, presenting our bodies a living sacrifice and renewing our minds to the Truth (Romans 12: 1-2).
Intimacy is identity in Christ realized to our minds and senses through receiving His Word.
I used to think that our relationship in God was based on growing in greater connection with Him. We start out as His children, say, then we become like a married couple.
I looked at passages like:
"And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali." (Hosea 2: 16)
and
"For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." (2 Corinthians 11: 2)
But then I read in Jesus' prayer before His trial and execution:
"I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." (John 17: 23)
And of course:
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)
Then I return to the first chapter of John's Gospel:
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" (John 1: 12)
For the believer, our intimacy is our identity in Christ Jesus. For this reason Paul wrote:
"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
"May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
"And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. " (Ephesians 3: 17-19)
God is love (1 John 4: 16), and we are one with Him in our Spirit man, but He desires us to work out this salvation, presenting our bodies a living sacrifice and renewing our minds to the Truth (Romans 12: 1-2).
Intimacy is identity in Christ realized to our minds and senses through receiving His Word.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Grown-Ups are Failing our Young Ones
Grown Ups must make the illicit and irreverent behavior of adolescence marginal.
Cliques, bullying, harassing the different, indifference to the needs of others -- these are sophomoric behaviors which have no place or presence in civil discourse.
Boorish behavior, rebellion, an insistence on questions and challenging everything -- these are normal among adolescents, to the degree that they have not been properly raised at home. To the degree that they face challenges to receiving a mature upbringing from parents and family. That does not mean, however, that the school or the local community as a whole must shoulder the responsibility.
Unfortunately, a growing number of teachers and staff have refused to take on the challenge of bringing up the students who congregate on their campuses from day to day. For many of them, rebellion has become the only viable response to a hostile and defiant world.
Cliques, bullying, harassing the different, indifference to the needs of others -- these are sophomoric behaviors which have no place or presence in civil discourse.
Boorish behavior, rebellion, an insistence on questions and challenging everything -- these are normal among adolescents, to the degree that they have not been properly raised at home. To the degree that they face challenges to receiving a mature upbringing from parents and family. That does not mean, however, that the school or the local community as a whole must shoulder the responsibility.
Unfortunately, a growing number of teachers and staff have refused to take on the challenge of bringing up the students who congregate on their campuses from day to day. For many of them, rebellion has become the only viable response to a hostile and defiant world.
The marginal culture of protest and rebellion lingers on in the underground media and abstract art. Protest will always have its place in a culture that nurtures longer lasting values and virtue.
Currently, however the margins of society have become mainstream in the art world, in which offense, scandal, and opprobrium now feature next to modern and classical works of art. This startling trend is hurting our nation's sense of concert and community. Outrage has no meaning if there is nothing to rage against, and a society which has not order, no borders, and no shoulders on which the next generation can stand on, will diminish into imbecility or insanity. The standard of excellence, of liberty, of purpose cannot be thrust away so flippantly.
As Grown-Ups continue to refuse to define the lines of good and bad, acceptable and unacceptable what choice do Young Ones have but to make the rule up as the go? The result of this untimely resignation of authority includes granting more power, right, and discretion to the younger generation over their education, at the expense of harassed and uninvolved parents and teachers who are doing all that they can to make due.
Grown-Ups cannot be the model they are destined to be for the younger class of persons in our country if we do not command the respect which we in turn hope that they will appropriate for themselves. Independence,:yes indeed, for students who are seeking their voice and their place in an expanding world. Individualism: not all, for no man is an island, no one takes a step without infringing or recognizing the role and right and respect of the others in their wake and awareness.
Currently, however the margins of society have become mainstream in the art world, in which offense, scandal, and opprobrium now feature next to modern and classical works of art. This startling trend is hurting our nation's sense of concert and community. Outrage has no meaning if there is nothing to rage against, and a society which has not order, no borders, and no shoulders on which the next generation can stand on, will diminish into imbecility or insanity. The standard of excellence, of liberty, of purpose cannot be thrust away so flippantly.
As Grown-Ups continue to refuse to define the lines of good and bad, acceptable and unacceptable what choice do Young Ones have but to make the rule up as the go? The result of this untimely resignation of authority includes granting more power, right, and discretion to the younger generation over their education, at the expense of harassed and uninvolved parents and teachers who are doing all that they can to make due.
Grown-Ups cannot be the model they are destined to be for the younger class of persons in our country if we do not command the respect which we in turn hope that they will appropriate for themselves. Independence,:yes indeed, for students who are seeking their voice and their place in an expanding world. Individualism: not all, for no man is an island, no one takes a step without infringing or recognizing the role and right and respect of the others in their wake and awareness.
Police Union Opposed Beck’s Impound Law
For once, the public sector union is opposing a law, and an just and unseemly one, at that.
Commissioner Charlie Beck wants to go easy on illegal immigrants, who cannot get driver’s licenses, and who thus cannot get their cars back when they get impounded. Individuals living in this country illegally do not deserve the privilege of driving in this country. They pose a danger and an undue risk of civil liability for private citizens, businesses, and public agencies who cannot sue them for redress.
The Comissioner’s policy flies in the face of state law and state safety. This transplanted bureaucrat from Long Bach man wants to command one of the largest police departments in the country, and he is more concerned about alienating illegal aliens in this country. This man is living on another planet!
Normally, I am not thrilled with the machinations of public sector unions. But in this case, I applaud the Los Angeles Police Protective League for standing up to an unsupportable ordinance which will do more harm than good.
Prohibition in Manhattan Beach
"If certain people cannot drink, then no one should drink". So goes one line of reasoning regarding the Upcoming Centennial Celebration in Manhattan Beach. The conflict between individuals with money and those who want to save their income for sober purposes certainly do not deserve to be punished for choosing not to drink in a sequestered section of the beach.
However, prohibiting alcohol on the beach was a matter of civil and civic opinion long before an exception was considered.
Alcohol consumption contributes to community dysfunction if left unchecked. If a group of party-goers are willing to shoulder the cost of alcohol consumption, then so be it.
However, I believe that they should have their fun somewhere else. I have witnessed unchecked alcohol consumption and abuse. Individuals under the influence have no place in public during a community celebration.
Of course, the community has already denounced alcohol on their beaches – and the will of the voters must be respected. The City of Manhattan Beach belongs to everyone who lives in that city and pays taxes to maintain its pristine coastline .
Prohibiting alcohol on the beach is not an untoward prohibition. The Manhattan Beach City Council did not attempt to create a dry city.
I definitely second the sentiment of Manhattan Beach councilmember – people can have fun without drinking. People who insist that they cannot have any fun unless they have a drink can party at home – why go to the beach if you just want to drink your day away?