Pluto Syndrome

“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. John 3:9

We have all lived through learning something that shook us. Something that we believed and thought was true was disproven or we were told it was wrong. For many of us that is the scary times in our lives, for others it’s the greatest moment of our lives. Many times these things are new discoveries or miracles in our minds. Now put yourself back 2000 years ago.

I know that most of the people that read the words that I have written are Christian. Many of you are probably very strong in your faith and no one can shake your faith. You could listen to Mormons for weeks and not be shaken or question your faith what so ever. God has blessed you with the foundation that he calls us to have, one built upon rock.

Now 2000 years ago, let us see ourselves as Jews instead of Christians. We have been told that a Messiah would come and save us. And just like today I’m sure that many of us see the world as being so bad that it has to come soon because it can’t get much worse. So we hope, but we see our world as we do and realize that there is nothing we can do about it, just as we could do nothing about the Romans that conquered us.

We go to synagogue and we pray, we keep our laws the best we can. Many of us are hoping that the Messiah will come soon to rescue us from the rule of Rome. We’re good Jews though and hold to our covenant the best we can. We want to be free from the rule of Rome so bad, but we know that it would take God himself to free us from Rome.

We have made up our minds in our fantasies of who and what this Messiah will be. We know that the Messiah will be something beyond belief. God in the flesh, wow. His beard must be perfect and take no grooming. A Jew’s Jew.

So we hear stories and rumors about this man down at the river talking about the Messiah coming soon. We want to believe, but we’ve heard his kind before. They are the crazy ones that yell on the corners holding signs. They are all crazy, he doesn’t even wash his hands properly, he can’t be Jew, let alone someone that God has given sight to.

A little more time goes buy and this carpenter’s son starts teaching that the Law is wrong. Even more that he is the Son of God in the flesh. This is not a Jew’s Jew, he’s no Messiah. That’s what your friends say. He is teaching all the wrong things, and he’s not here to free us from Rome. He is not what you pictured the Messiah as, he can’t be him.

Would we really believe the story unfolding before us? Would we believe that Jesus was really the son of God? That would be like us today believing the story of John Smith. He is adding to the bible, and the bible says that you cannot do that. We can read so many other Christian books to add to our faith as long as they are not adding to the Bible itself we are OK.

What do you think writings like these are doing? Building upon the word of God, but I’m not saying that this is the Book of Joe, stick it in there between 3 John and Jude. But let us go back to Jesus. He was an amazing man, we saw him do miracles, we try to corner him with biblical teachings and he knows the word better than most of us do. But he’s a carpenters son, this can’t be the Messiah.

How hard would it be for us to believe? Each society had their own beliefs and today is no different. Christianity is the largest religion in the world, but yet there are so many people that still do not believe. I want you to think about how hard it would be to believe when you are raised told that those Christians are crazy, they believe in things that Science cannot prove.

I mean let us be honest here, what is your opinion on the sacrifices that Mormons or Jehovah’s Witnesses make? Is it crazy that the watchtower denies their followers birthdays? Mormonism’s diet is very strict. We as Christians, what do we think of these sacrifices? They aren’t godly because our bible doesn’t say to do these things.

Let me tell you a secret, the same book that we use to guide our belief is the same book that the Jehovah’s Witnesses use to prove their way of life. It is all about interpretation of God’s Word. Am I saying that they are right? No, I can’t believe in that. I cannot believe that only 144,000 people will be allowed into heaven and be with God.  How do I view their personal sacrifices? I think that it is impressive that they believe strong enough to deny themselves of things like that. I am also glad that I am not called to sacrifice in that way.

Going back two thousand years ago, how hard do you think it was for Nicodemus to go seek out Jesus? How hard do you think it was for him to believe Jesus? God opened his heart and lead him to believe, but I don’t think it was that night that it all sunk in, because if that was true I doubt he would have asked some of the questions he had asked later in the gospel.  When our world is shaken to the foundation, it is hard for us to grasp onto everything.

These world changes can happen and they happen every day. Every atheist that sees that God is real, it happens. Every time a Pagan realizes that the Gods they serve are not truly Gods, it happens. Every time a Satanists realizes that Satan is not God, it happens. Every time a non-believer is added to the fold, it happens.

The more solid our foundation in what we are believing now the harder it is to turn from it. If you want to imagine what it was like for Nicodemus, just think about what if the Mormons are right for a moment. That’s all you need to do to put yourself in Nicodemus’ shoes. Now come back to what you believe God is God and Jesus is Jesus.  For Nicodemus to believe Jesus, it took something in his heart. He believed.

Now there are new discoveries nearly every day, but we can handle new understanding and knowledge when we know that we don’t know what’s there. It is when we believe we know what is real, that is when it is hard. It is not hard for us to believe in finding another planet in space that is similar to earth. It’s not hard to believe in discovery of a new star, but you downgrade Pluto from a planet to a lesser classification and that’s hard to believe.

What would happen to your faith if another sentient life form was discovered on many of the near earth planets out there? Would you doubt God’s word? You shouldn’t, nowhere in the bible does it say that he didn’t create man on more than one world. Man might look a bit different somewhere else, but it doesn’t matter, it’s not a faith thing.

So why talk about this? There are millions of people out there that know what they believe just as strongly as we know and believe in Christ. How do you reach them? You can’t only God can. Do you hate child that does not know things? No we teach them. Sometimes all we are called to do is cast a few seeds in the direction of the lost. Live by example and tell them why you believe. Look for opportunities to get to know people and have relationships with them.

You have to invest yourself into people’s lives a bit. Love first, let God be God. You realize that you do not have to tell someone that they are a sinner or damned to fulfill God’s commandments? You can love people as you would desire to be loved without mentioning God. It is when they ask how or why that you can let them know the how or why. That how or why, we all know, is God. Love first, let God be God. Cast the seed and let God water it.

“Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation.” D. Elton Trueblood

Faith: A Journey by Grace

“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift – not from works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

I had a wonderful conversation about God yesterday, during the conversation a question was asked to me. What would you say is the most important thing for people to know concerning with the Spiritual forces and demons? The answer was Faith, but it was not that short of an answer.

Faith is one of our greatest tools that we have as Christians. How do we know what we know? Well that philosophical question is a rabbit hole that goes very deep, but the answer for that to me is we put faith in what we believe we know. We put faith in what we believe. I don’t care what faith you have, your belief and the faith in that belief is where you will draw strength from it.

Jesus said that the faith the size of a mustard seed you can make a mountain jump into the sea. That alone should tell us just how powerful faith is. In the Armor of God, Paul states the Shield of Faith as the most important piece of that armor. Through our faith we do many things that we would not do.

Why is faith so important? Faith is the foundation of belief. We put faith in something and that develops into belief. Through our faith we are saved by Grace. Grace is something that we are given, and the only way we are able to measure up as it were. As we build our faith we draw closer to God and as we draw closer to God, we desire to do the things that God wishes us to do more.

This makes me think about the statement in James about Faith without works is dead. Why is faith without works dead? If your faith is alive and producing fruit, works is a byproduct. Works is part of what you are growing for the harvest. If you are going through a lull in your faith and striving to revive it, I’ve got a good idea for you. Go back to your Grey Door, that symbol that you have of the turning point in your life.

Once you are back at that Grey Door, pray for guidance and read the bible. Maybe you should read the Armor of God prayer for a few days. As you do these things you will begin to travel the spiritual path that you blazed before. Open your heart and allow your faith to build. As it builds you will find that there are opportunities to help out and do things that God wishes for us to do.

Some of us get tasks such as writing, or teaching. Others it may be a mission trip. It all depends on the spiritual gifts that you personally possess. Even more than that it could be something small and simple that does not seem to be your forte, but there is an opportunity there that will open the next door or show you the path that you missed or were not ready to travel down.

God has a plan and path for us, but it is only through our Faith that we can do these things. As your faith grows so does the desire to use the spiritual gifts that you have. Is your place warming a pew? No, it never is. There is always more for you to do.

Each of us has a story to tell and a walk to walk. Each of us is blessed with some kind of gift. What stops us from completing the tasks that we are given to complete? God provides us with all things that we need. If he has a purpose for us, he will provide us with the way to complete these tasks. It may be through the generosity of others, or it may be through some other process or procedure that he has in store for us.

These things cannot pan out if we do not have the faith that they will pan out. With that faith comes a calm peace that builds strength. We know that we have set our feet upon a firm foundation, we have taken refuge here in the storms, and we have the Faith in what we have seen and been told. We know that God does not let us go without things that we need. If God has a need for us to do something, this becomes a need for us. God does not let us go without what we need.

So how can you and I find our paths in all of this? This is the current struggle that I have. I do not see where my path is leading me, but I have Faith in the one that laid out the path before my feet. I know that the road will take me where I belong, because it always has. I have faith, and that faith has built the desire to do the works that God has called me to do.

I write because it is a gift that I have been given. What have you been given? How can you do the things that you have been called to do? Well that is part of the process. The opposition desires us to not complete these works that we have been called to do. They want us to be crippled by fear and depression. Perfect Love drives out fear, and that love is built on Faith.

You say that you don’t know what gifts you have. What are your strengths? How can you use them for God? Congratulations you have discovered one of your spiritual gifts. I say one of them because many of us have a lot of things that we are good at. Remember Jesus was a carpenter. I know a lot of people around that have things they need that would be a blessing if they were repaired.

So you are a mechanic and a Christian, good. How many times have you passed someone on the side of the road that was broken down? Maybe each of those times was a chance to be Jesus for someone in a desperate situation. It might be you that God is sending to be Jesus to not only save them from their physical problem, but also to tell them about God and share the Good news.

Maybe you are a lawyer. I’m sure there are plenty of desperate people that you can reach out to in bad situations to share with them what God has done for you and through you. Talk about being someone’s savior and then telling them that it wasn’t you that saved them, but It’s Jesus that can save them. A fisherman can feed people.  Maybe make a blanket forthe poor like St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Shrewsbury, PA.

The Starks say the truth, “Winter is Coming.” A warm blanket for someone in winter; talk about being Jesus for someone. What is your gift? What can you do for someone? How can you be Jesus for someone? Let me tell you from experience, writing a complete stranger that is locked away in Jail can bring that person hope. Hope can kindle a fire that can spur them to make life changes that they had not made before.

We are put here to Glorify God and how can we do that if we only spend our time around other Christians? How can we show others the glory of God and the power of Faith and Grace if we do not get out and do the things that God has asked us to do? Who knows, God might move you to the Caribbean to do his good work.

Through Faith and by the Grace that dwells within us, all is possible. What is keeping you where you are? What is stopping you from taking your next step for God? Why have you not taken that step that will lead you on such an adventure that you may have never dreamed possible?

“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step” Lao Tzu

Two Men of God

There are two men, both of which were born Jewish, both of which are responsible for committing murder, both were locked in Prison for the rest of their lives; while incarcerated both wrote for God. Yet one of these men we as Christians hold up in high esteem and the other many of us think has gotten more than he deserves and still condemn him for what he has done. This story is about two individuals with similar stories that go down two different roads that lead to the same place. This story is about Saul and David Berkowitz. They are better known as Paul and Son of Sam.

Many of you know the story of Saul who spent many years seeking out and killing Christians. He was an upright Jew of that day and age that was hell bent on snuffing this thing called Christianity. While on the way to get some more of them and kill them God intervened and struck him blind. God sent him to a Christian where he saw the light and saw again. This did not stop him from being locked up and sent to Rome where he spent the rest of his days.

Many of you know the popular portion of the story of Son of Sam. He’s a serial killer, so how can I even compare him to Paul? Son of Sam, after spending 10 years in Prison for crimes that he committed and admits that he committed, God found a way into his heart. He wrestled him down and took him through the motions of his rebirth.  This is something that I have gone through first hand. It takes a lot to look at what you have done and admit it before God, to yourself and to the world.

David did this, but how can God use someone that is locked away from the world? Well he showed us this in the past, when we look at half of the New Testament, it was written by a man that was locked away in Prison serving a life sentence. The sentence he was serving however was one based on what God asked him to do outside of Prison, not for the crimes that he committed to other human beings before becoming a Christian.

David was arrested for his crimes he committed before he became a Christian, but God has shown him the mercy of forgiveness that none of us deserve. He too has written for God, his book is titled “Son of Hope” for there is hope for everyone. His road was a very ugly one dealing with issues from childhood including sezures that he described as feeling like something was coming into him. There is proof of this in the bible where Jesus came across the boy who suffered from sezures as well. Jesus asked the demons name and they said “Legion for we are many.” Jesus cast these demons into a herd of pigs.

Demonic possession can cause one to do a lot of things, I can attest to this myself.  David does not blame these demons for the whole issue, he considers it a contributing factor, but not the cause. The flesh is weak and can be tempted with many things. Son of Sam killed six people. Saul was responsible for hundreds of people losing their lives. Yet we hold up Paul, and we would not spit on the Son of Hope if he were on fire. Why is that?

God does not state that either of them are any better than the other. God states the exact opposite; he states that they are equal. Today Paul is a saint and David is another prisoner sitting in prison eating up tax payer’s money. Paul is inspiration for all of us. David is only a mass murderer. My question to each of you is this, do you forgive people that you do not know? Are you capable of forgiving Casey Anthony, Amanda Knox, Son of Sam, Charles Manson? Are you capable of forgiving Joseph Craig, your neighbor on the sex offender registry, or the boy that stole your car or just hurt your daughter?

We do not question or even hold offense to Saul because he’s Paul; we saw what God did with him. We do not yet know what God will use all of these people for. So let me ask you again, why can we forgive one or some of these and not the rest? Why can YOU forgive some, but not all? Why do we believe that God can use Saul and not the Son of Sam? Do not question who God’s servants are, only God knows our hearts.

Son of Hope's Testimony:  http://www.ariseandshine.org/Testimony-&-Translations.html