IN THE BEGINNING, GOD CREATED

So many times the fifth word is left out. Many biblical scholars and writers refer to the first three. Many also add the fourth word. There's nothing wrong with stopping at either the third or fourth word. Scriptually, "I am the Alpha and Omega," (Rev 22:13) is said by Jesus.

But I think the fifth word is vital to understanding our Creator, our Maker.

While playing golf with Pastor friend Tom Harris, one day I commented on a beautiful sight, a great example of God's handiwork and said, "Isn't it amazing how the Big Bang was able to create such beauty?"

He replied,"Oh, I believe in the Big Bang Theory. God said there will be a Big Bang, and He made it happen."

Whatever the case, we would be foolish to take God out of the equation. It absolutely floors to me to think that many supposedly intelligent people do just that in the name of science. If one looks at a sunset, the ocean, the perfect formation of the human body, and millions of other things and still believes that it was scientific happenstance that created, that caused them all to appear without any hand directing, well then I'm sorry, but you've missed the whole picture.

And that is not even examining the spiritual nature of man. I'll discuss that in a future blog entry. For now, just stop, observe, and praise God for His creation.

PRESSING ON

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Phil 3:14)

In a recent article in Shape magazine 24 year old Leann Rimes says she was one of the lucky child stars. She went from a 13 year old singer of "Blue" to a young adult without having to go to rehab.

"Heeere's Johnny!" might be an appropriate epitaph on the tombstone for the Late Night Show host Johnny Carson. A self-professed atheist, Carson was one of the most recognizable stars in the world.

Sinatra's daughter left a bottle of Jack Daniels in his casket along with a roll of dimes, according to Pastor Leo of the Mission Valley Church in San Diego that I attended last Sunday. He explained that Sinatra's mob dealings often required he make a phone call to get him out of trouble. In those days the cost for a phone call was ten cents.

Lindsey Lohan, Brittney Spears, Paris Hilton--the list goes on and on. People recognized by the world. People who have made fortunes or had them handed to them. People who didn't press on, apparently. And I pray they did or have come to know Jesus. Or will soon come to know Him. My purpose is not to de-value them or judge them. But sometimes we're given bad examples to awaken us. Especially when we've ignored all the good examples that God has placed in our paths.

Shakespeare said, "the world is too much with us," but scripture said it first. Secular or spiritual. That's our choice. But I don't want "Here lies Ted" on my monument. My faith leads me to believe I won't be there.

AND CROWN HIM WITH MANY CROWNS



From the Hallelujah Chorus came, "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" from Rev 19:16. The hymn "Crown Him with Many Crowns" is a great one written by Matthew Bridges in 1851, but one which mixes tenses to some extent. The rest of the first line reads, "The lamb upon the throne".



When Jesus returns, He won't be the Lamb. He's been there, thankfully for us, and done that. Nothing I've read or seen so literally depicted that as Gibson's movie and Caviezel's acting in The Passion of the Christ. Moved to tears, I wept unashamedly in the movie, thinking that my Lord died for me. But when He returns, and He will for God never breaks a promise, He will come as a victorious warrior on a white horse (Rev 19: 11-14). And that's where the hymn, as beautiful as it is, falls short for me.



The vision that John had of Jesus' return as commander of heaven's armies is a beautiful one. The final victory over sin and evil. It's a comeuppance that is perfect in God's timing, long overdue in man's.



Perhaps I was too much a sticker to details for Mr. Bridges, because in verse 9 of the same chapter, Jesus is referred to as Lamb. But as a former English teacher, I have an awareness of tense. And after Christ's return, there will only be one tense--Present Perfect.

YOU JUST CAN'T BEAT IT. IT'S THE LOOK OF LOVE.

When I was a youngster ( I don't think I've ever called myself that before) I noticed the look of peace on the faces of some Christians. Roy Rogers had it. Dale Evans, too. Pat Boone, even as a teen in Bernadine had it. So did lots of people at church.

In Exodus 34: 29, Moses' face was radiant after talking face to face with the Lord. Actually a cloud came down and separated them, for no one can see the face of God and still live.(Ex 33:20) But his radiance was visible to the people. Now perhaps that's a stretch to say Moses' face and the Evans' and Pat and Christians at church had the radiance, but if it was visible to me, even though I defined it as peace, then there's something to be said about being with the Lord in prayer or the Word or both. There's a distinct difference as there should be. It's not the same as salt and light as examples. It may just be a reflection of God in us apparent to others. But there's a decided difference.



If not a radiance, maybe a glow. If not a glow, a look of contentment. A look of ease. A look of cool, not in the worldly sense, but in the more important Godly sense. It's been a long time since I first spotted it and wanted it. I still do.

ERADICATION ALL THROUGH THE NATION

It first hit me when I saw kindergarten graduation ceremonies. Complete with cap, gown, and diploma. While this old advertisement from United Airlines makes a good picture, it also makes a statement.

Why do we think we know anything about time? And timing? Why do we want to hurry our kids and grandkids into being little adults? Especially since when they get to be that age, they don't desire to hang around us old folks anymore?

As usual, scripture has the answer. In The Messianic Age as described in Isaiah 11:6-9 little children will lead the way in God's Kingdom where "wolf will live with the lamb/where the cow will feed with the bear/" and where in Isaiah 11:8, "the infant will play near the hole of the cobra." In that day, there will be a peace such as no one can ever imagine. Such are the works of the Lord.

David in Psalm 8:2 uses little children in his praise to God "From the lips of children and infants" . Or "from the mouths of babes," in current vernacular. And it's God's plan to utilize the little ones to stand against the enemies. Through God's empowerment, the least can overcome the beasts.

If God can have patience, if God can give value and such tasks to children, then let's let them be what they are. Childhood never lasts long enough anyway(s).

IT'S A GRAND OLD FLAG

As much as I love my country, and I do, I love my Lord more. So to me, the Christian flag is of much more importance on this Fourth of July 2007. So when the festivities and fireworks begin, let's remember there's another flag worth celebrating. Everyday. Like the song says. With Jesus is sweeter than the day before. Happy 4th.

ONE TO GO

It's taken me awhile to get through the Left Behind series of Christian fiction about the Second Coming of Jesus. It's a great read, easy read, biblically accurate account of what will happen when Our Lord returns.

Co-authors Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins wrote 16 books of 300 pages plus detailing what will happen in a catclysmic moment when the end of times occurs. In the 15th book, The Rapture, the authors add a very interesting view of what Heaven will be like. I guess it will entice me to read the final book, Kingdom Come. No, I know it will.

So why the picture of the CSI Crime tape? Let's suppose, and it's a huge supposition, that we knew the time that Jesus would return. Even He doesn't know. Only the Father has that information. But we were just supposing anyway(s). What would we do for the unsaved? How could we possibly keep them from being Left Behind?

And now, we're not supposing anymore. We don't know, we won't know. So what do we do? How can we reach the lost? We simply have to be more evangelical. Don't leave it up to the ministers, tent preachers, or televangelists. We have to be more outgoing, outreaching. Our Christian lifestyle is not enough. Our example may not lead anyone to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.

It is a crime to let a person die without being saved. There's not enough tape in that dispenser for every sinner who leaves God behind. We're commissioned (Matt 28: 18-20), so let's make a difference. One at a time.