Myths and folklores
Sweet tales we'd like to jump into
Fireflies go round the flames
Sparks go up to our brains
Bright lights on black trains
And sirens for hurricanes
We alert the masses of these impending dooms
Scream for the world to hear
That disaster and trials are coming near
Don't forget these only cause a temporal loss
Warnings should include
Wishful thinking that holds our heads
We'd rather be ignorant
But by ignorance we'll be condemned
Bright lights on black trains
And sirens for hurricanes
We alert the masses of these impending dooms
Scream for the world to hear
That disaster and trials are coming near
Don't forget these only cause a temporal loss
I won't keep this silent
All should know
That even if the ocean should overflow
There's still hope beyond this
If we'd open our eyes
Though by darkness we're overcome
And even if the earth swallows us whole
There's life still beyond this
Through faith, grace, and love
Sleep time
Let's all pretend
It's just a dream that soon will end
Friday, January 22, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Humility and Edification
As I have posted in previous blogs, I have been reading "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices" by Thomas Brooks, and Puritan preacher from the 1600's. YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK. In the fifth section of the book, under the third device, remedy number 12 says something that completely destroyed me (in a good way). In case I've already said too much as though to bore the reader from continuing on and actually reading the quote, I will stop now and HOPE you will read this section in it's entirety:
"Humility makes a man peaceable among brethren, fruitful in well-doing, cheerful in suffering, and constant in holy walking (1 Peter 5:5). Humility fits for the highest services we owe to Christ, and yet will not neglect the lowest service to the meanest saint (John 13:5). Humility can feed upon the meanest dish, and yet it is maintained by the choicest delicates, as God, Christ, and glory. Humility will make a man bless him that curses him, and pray for those that persecute him. An humble heart is an habitation for God, a scholar for Christ, a companion of angels, a preserver of grace, and a fitter for glory. Humility is the nurse of our graces, the preserver of our mercies, and the great promoter of holy duties. Humility cannot find three things on this side heaven: it cannot find fullness in the creature, nor sweetness in sin, nor life in an ordinance without Christ. An humble soul always finds three things on this side heaven: the soul to be empty, Christ to be full, and every mercy and duty to be sweet wherein God is enjoyed (Footnote 59: Humility, said Bernard, is that which keeps all graces together). Humility can weep over other men's weaknesses, and joy and rejoice over their graces. Humility will make a man quiet and contented in the meanest condition, and it will preserve a man from envying other men's prosperous condition (1 Thess. 1:2-3). Humility honours those that are strong in grace, and puts two hands under those that are weak in grace (Eph. 3:8). Humility makes a man richer than other men, and it makes a man judge himself the poorest among men. Humility will see much good abroad, when it can see but little at home. Ah, Christian! though faith be the champion of grace, and love the nurse of grace, yet humility is the beautifier of grace; it casts a general glory upon all the graces in the soul. Ah! did Christians more abound in humility, they would be less bitter, froward, and sour, and they would be more gentle, meek, and sweet in their spirits and practices. Humility will make a man have high thoughts of others and low thoughts of a man's self; it will make a man see much glory and excellency in others, and much baseness and sinfulness in a man's self; it will make a man see others rich, and himself poor; others strong, and himself weak; others wise, and himself foolish (Footnote 60: The humble soul is like the violet, which grows low, hangs the head downwards, and hides itself with its own leaves; and were it not that the fragrant smell of his many virtues discovered him to the world, he would choose to live and die in his self-contenting secrecy"). Humility will make a man excellent at covering others' infirmities, and at recording their gracious services, and at delighting in their graces; it makes a man joy in every light that outshines his own, and every wind that blows others good. Humility is better at believing than it is at questioning other men's happiness. I judge, saith an humble soul, it is well with these Christians now, but it will be far better with them hereafter. They are now upon the borders of the New Jerusalem, and it will but as a day before the slide in Jerusalem. An humble soul is more willing to say, Heaven is that man's, than mine; and Christ is that Christian's, than mine; and God is their God in covenant, than mine. Ah! were Christians more humble, there would be less fire and more love among them than now is."
"Humility makes a man peaceable among brethren, fruitful in well-doing, cheerful in suffering, and constant in holy walking (1 Peter 5:5). Humility fits for the highest services we owe to Christ, and yet will not neglect the lowest service to the meanest saint (John 13:5). Humility can feed upon the meanest dish, and yet it is maintained by the choicest delicates, as God, Christ, and glory. Humility will make a man bless him that curses him, and pray for those that persecute him. An humble heart is an habitation for God, a scholar for Christ, a companion of angels, a preserver of grace, and a fitter for glory. Humility is the nurse of our graces, the preserver of our mercies, and the great promoter of holy duties. Humility cannot find three things on this side heaven: it cannot find fullness in the creature, nor sweetness in sin, nor life in an ordinance without Christ. An humble soul always finds three things on this side heaven: the soul to be empty, Christ to be full, and every mercy and duty to be sweet wherein God is enjoyed (Footnote 59: Humility, said Bernard, is that which keeps all graces together). Humility can weep over other men's weaknesses, and joy and rejoice over their graces. Humility will make a man quiet and contented in the meanest condition, and it will preserve a man from envying other men's prosperous condition (1 Thess. 1:2-3). Humility honours those that are strong in grace, and puts two hands under those that are weak in grace (Eph. 3:8). Humility makes a man richer than other men, and it makes a man judge himself the poorest among men. Humility will see much good abroad, when it can see but little at home. Ah, Christian! though faith be the champion of grace, and love the nurse of grace, yet humility is the beautifier of grace; it casts a general glory upon all the graces in the soul. Ah! did Christians more abound in humility, they would be less bitter, froward, and sour, and they would be more gentle, meek, and sweet in their spirits and practices. Humility will make a man have high thoughts of others and low thoughts of a man's self; it will make a man see much glory and excellency in others, and much baseness and sinfulness in a man's self; it will make a man see others rich, and himself poor; others strong, and himself weak; others wise, and himself foolish (Footnote 60: The humble soul is like the violet, which grows low, hangs the head downwards, and hides itself with its own leaves; and were it not that the fragrant smell of his many virtues discovered him to the world, he would choose to live and die in his self-contenting secrecy"). Humility will make a man excellent at covering others' infirmities, and at recording their gracious services, and at delighting in their graces; it makes a man joy in every light that outshines his own, and every wind that blows others good. Humility is better at believing than it is at questioning other men's happiness. I judge, saith an humble soul, it is well with these Christians now, but it will be far better with them hereafter. They are now upon the borders of the New Jerusalem, and it will but as a day before the slide in Jerusalem. An humble soul is more willing to say, Heaven is that man's, than mine; and Christ is that Christian's, than mine; and God is their God in covenant, than mine. Ah! were Christians more humble, there would be less fire and more love among them than now is."
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Off Into Invisible
So much for fantasies
Drowning they seem
We create such treasures
In our thoughts and our dreams
Elaborate landscapes
Impossible dead
They're only delusions
Ideas in our heads
Off into invisible
Like moon and the stars
Dreams fade and falter
Increasingly far
Off into invisible
The sun never lasts
Leave us to our dreams
Please don't let them pass
Drowning they seem
We create such treasures
In our thoughts and our dreams
Elaborate landscapes
Impossible dead
They're only delusions
Ideas in our heads
Off into invisible
Like moon and the stars
Dreams fade and falter
Increasingly far
Off into invisible
The sun never lasts
Leave us to our dreams
Please don't let them pass
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
True Hatred
I've been reading a book called "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices" by the old Puritan preacher Thomas Brooks. This book is amazing and I think everybody should read it (it's only $9 on Amazon!!!).
I was reading in the fourth section of the book, which is "Satan's Devices to Keep Saints in a Sad, Doubting, Questioning and Uncomfortable Position" and something he said stuck out to me in from the fifth device Brooks says Satan uses. They are as follows:
1) Many people get caught up in finger pointing out certain sins, all the while ignoring other sins. People start obeying Jesus, but only certain things the Bible says, and not all of it. For example, in Matthew 23:23-24, Jesus says, " Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel." In the footnote (70) on page 163, Brooks says "True hatred is against the whole kind." I realized while reading Precious Remedies, that many of the legalists in our day get so focused on certain things and completely neglect things that they are failing in, just like the Pharisees in Jesus' time. One sign of true regeneration is a hatred of sin, not particular sins, but ALL sin. We must realize that every sin, both the things we do that are wrong and failing to do what is right, are first and foremost against God. Not one sin is more against God than another sin, though some sins have greater repercussions than others. With that in mind, we move on to my next point, which helps enlighten the first point, and why some people point at certain sins and not others.
2) On page 164 of Precious Remedies, Brooks says, "It will not suffice a soul to see justice done upon one sin, but he cries out for justice upon all. He would not have some crucified and some spared, but he cries out, Lord, crucify them all, crucify them all. Oh! but now the conflict that is in wicked men is partial; they frown upon one sin and smile upon another; they strike at some sins yet stroke others; they thrust some out of doors but keep others close in their bosoms; as you may see in Jehu, Herod, Judas, Simon, Magus, and Demas. Wicked men strike at gross sins, such as are not only against the law of God, but against the laws of nature and nations, but make nothing of less sins; as vain thoughts, idle words, sinful motions, and petty oaths. They fight against those sins that fight against their honour, profits, and pleasures, but make truce with those that are as right hand as right eyes to them."
There is a lot to this, but the main thing I want to focus on is why people point out certain sins and not others. Now, it needs to be noted that we are to call out sin and not be idle when we and others who claim the name of Christ are sinning; the point is not being particular with sin when dealing with ours and others sin. All sin is sin (simple, right?). We know sin by knowing Jesus and his holiness. We know sin to be things contrary to the nature of God. We know sin by the Word of God.
The two main ways I see Brooks saying that people are particular with sins are as follows:
A) People point out and abstain from sins that go against the laws of nature. Many times these have to deal with sins involving sex (i.e. homosexuality, polygamy, fornication, pornography, etc. etc.), sins involving things that alter our state of minds (i.e. drunkenness, unnecessary drug use, etc. etc.), and many more of the like. People see these as sin not because they are against Jesus, but because they are against the "natural order of the world." This creates moralism. People see how things should be morally and outwardly and strive to obtain a place that fits a morally correct picture. This is contrary to what the Bible teaches and we must see that sins are not just against nature, but sins are first and foremost agains God. This will also cause us to realize that there are so many other sins that are hidden inside and might not manifest themselves outwardly so evidently.
There are sins that are against God even if they are not against the laws of nature.
B) People willfully ignore certain sins because they are pleasing to the self. Sometimes, people sin in order to keep their "honour", to keep their "profits", to keep their "pleasure". Rather than being humbled by mistakes, people lie, cheat, steal, and kill to keep their personal glory. They go to church every Sunday, they attend a weekly community group, the give more that 10% to the church, and they care deeply for poor; all the while they are liars and cheaters, covetous and greedy, worshipping the idols of themselves rather than Jesus himself, they want their glory more than the glory of God, and yet they think they are righteous because of their outward morals. People abstain from sins that are obviously not befitting of one of Christ's elect, yet they do not abstain from the sins that are festering in their very own hearts.
The point of all of this is this: we must hate sin. We must detest sin. Sin is the reason our God came to earth. He lived the perfectly moral life that we all have failed to live and then he died in our place for all of our sin, of which we should all rightfully be condemned to Hell. Jesus took on an eternity of Hell for all people so that we won't have to. This should make us hate sin, but not particular sins over others, rather ALL SIN. "True hatred is against the whole kind."
I was reading in the fourth section of the book, which is "Satan's Devices to Keep Saints in a Sad, Doubting, Questioning and Uncomfortable Position" and something he said stuck out to me in from the fifth device Brooks says Satan uses. They are as follows:
1) Many people get caught up in finger pointing out certain sins, all the while ignoring other sins. People start obeying Jesus, but only certain things the Bible says, and not all of it. For example, in Matthew 23:23-24, Jesus says, " Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel." In the footnote (70) on page 163, Brooks says "True hatred is against the whole kind." I realized while reading Precious Remedies, that many of the legalists in our day get so focused on certain things and completely neglect things that they are failing in, just like the Pharisees in Jesus' time. One sign of true regeneration is a hatred of sin, not particular sins, but ALL sin. We must realize that every sin, both the things we do that are wrong and failing to do what is right, are first and foremost against God. Not one sin is more against God than another sin, though some sins have greater repercussions than others. With that in mind, we move on to my next point, which helps enlighten the first point, and why some people point at certain sins and not others.
2) On page 164 of Precious Remedies, Brooks says, "It will not suffice a soul to see justice done upon one sin, but he cries out for justice upon all. He would not have some crucified and some spared, but he cries out, Lord, crucify them all, crucify them all. Oh! but now the conflict that is in wicked men is partial; they frown upon one sin and smile upon another; they strike at some sins yet stroke others; they thrust some out of doors but keep others close in their bosoms; as you may see in Jehu, Herod, Judas, Simon, Magus, and Demas. Wicked men strike at gross sins, such as are not only against the law of God, but against the laws of nature and nations, but make nothing of less sins; as vain thoughts, idle words, sinful motions, and petty oaths. They fight against those sins that fight against their honour, profits, and pleasures, but make truce with those that are as right hand as right eyes to them."
There is a lot to this, but the main thing I want to focus on is why people point out certain sins and not others. Now, it needs to be noted that we are to call out sin and not be idle when we and others who claim the name of Christ are sinning; the point is not being particular with sin when dealing with ours and others sin. All sin is sin (simple, right?). We know sin by knowing Jesus and his holiness. We know sin to be things contrary to the nature of God. We know sin by the Word of God.
The two main ways I see Brooks saying that people are particular with sins are as follows:
A) People point out and abstain from sins that go against the laws of nature. Many times these have to deal with sins involving sex (i.e. homosexuality, polygamy, fornication, pornography, etc. etc.), sins involving things that alter our state of minds (i.e. drunkenness, unnecessary drug use, etc. etc.), and many more of the like. People see these as sin not because they are against Jesus, but because they are against the "natural order of the world." This creates moralism. People see how things should be morally and outwardly and strive to obtain a place that fits a morally correct picture. This is contrary to what the Bible teaches and we must see that sins are not just against nature, but sins are first and foremost agains God. This will also cause us to realize that there are so many other sins that are hidden inside and might not manifest themselves outwardly so evidently.
There are sins that are against God even if they are not against the laws of nature.
B) People willfully ignore certain sins because they are pleasing to the self. Sometimes, people sin in order to keep their "honour", to keep their "profits", to keep their "pleasure". Rather than being humbled by mistakes, people lie, cheat, steal, and kill to keep their personal glory. They go to church every Sunday, they attend a weekly community group, the give more that 10% to the church, and they care deeply for poor; all the while they are liars and cheaters, covetous and greedy, worshipping the idols of themselves rather than Jesus himself, they want their glory more than the glory of God, and yet they think they are righteous because of their outward morals. People abstain from sins that are obviously not befitting of one of Christ's elect, yet they do not abstain from the sins that are festering in their very own hearts.
The point of all of this is this: we must hate sin. We must detest sin. Sin is the reason our God came to earth. He lived the perfectly moral life that we all have failed to live and then he died in our place for all of our sin, of which we should all rightfully be condemned to Hell. Jesus took on an eternity of Hell for all people so that we won't have to. This should make us hate sin, but not particular sins over others, rather ALL SIN. "True hatred is against the whole kind."
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
So Damn Hopeless?
These nights feel hopeless
Like sparks in the rain
They’re so hard to process
Yet so easily gained
Tell me why you think
The world just won’t end?
Sometimes I do feel
Like we’re beyond mend
So many people
Still feel all alone
Even church steeples
Won't do as our home
Confused, some so wrongly
Assume this is it
Yet I know so strongly
They’re not right one bit
Like sparks in the rain
They’re so hard to process
Yet so easily gained
Tell me why you think
The world just won’t end?
Sometimes I do feel
Like we’re beyond mend
So many people
Still feel all alone
Even church steeples
Won't do as our home
Confused, some so wrongly
Assume this is it
Yet I know so strongly
They’re not right one bit
Monday, January 4, 2010
The Clear Picture
This poem is probably 2 years old, give or take:
Beneath the stars and through the trees
I've thrown myself down on my knees
I'm at the mercy of the earth
I'll prove myself and show my worth
And though I'm nothing of myself
In him I find a stronger man
A toy, once placed upon a shelf
But now I'm loved into a plan
So in the mud I see so clear
The painting, once by dirt all smeared
Exuberant in the eyes of mine
And in the dark, still there you shine
I gasp for breath, to taste the air
To start the race from where I stand
And close behind I feel so bare
By grace, by love, I grab your hand
Beneath the stars and through the trees
I've thrown myself down on my knees
I'm at the mercy of the earth
I'll prove myself and show my worth
And though I'm nothing of myself
In him I find a stronger man
A toy, once placed upon a shelf
But now I'm loved into a plan
So in the mud I see so clear
The painting, once by dirt all smeared
Exuberant in the eyes of mine
And in the dark, still there you shine
I gasp for breath, to taste the air
To start the race from where I stand
And close behind I feel so bare
By grace, by love, I grab your hand
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