Bi-millennial Saline Sea of Salty Tears

Now that's a title! :)

I'm in the process of reading several books about Grace. It's an interesting, and
obviously very critical, concept. 

There is a quote in one of the books, and I am paraphrasing here, that suggests
that there is a natural danger of forgetting or undervaluing the suffering that
our savior, Jesus, bore both at the cross and in the hours prior to, because of the
fact that it has been almost two thousand years since that day at Golgotha/ Calvary.
The fear expressed is that those events can be looking upon without the emotional
attachment as almost factual, devoid of feeling.

I have never watched "The Passion of the Christ," depicting the twelve hours
leading up to the moments of the death of Christ simply because I'm not sure I could
handle what I would be seeing. Despite the fact that I know a lot more, now, about
those events than I did when the film debuted, I still feel horrified about what
took place. 

It's not only the pain, humiliation, loneliness...I could go on...that Jesus suffered,
it's the fact of who He was. His acceptance of sinners and outcasts, his empathy
for the many afflicted ones that came into contact with Him, His unyielding
devotion to His Father and his obvious love for the ones who would benefit from
what He had to go through, all make the image of this God/man hanging on a tree
so very difficult for my heart to endure. To be physically and emotionally
saddled with the sins of all men, to be separated from the one he loved so much,
to be deserted by those He taught and chose certainly are conceptually difficult
to accept.

If all of this still, after almost two thousand years, does not bring a tear to one's
heart and to one's eye, there probably is a serious disconnect in the understanding of
the gift of Grace that we are privileged to have received. Guilt...probably not a wise
 or intended emotion. Appreciation..there we go! Give that a captial A! Every moment,
every day appreciation for undeserved pain and suffering. No wonder we love
Jesus Christ with all of our hearts! Praise Him!

What I Believe....

I believe...
In God!
That God is limitless, in every facet
That life is precious and that every single heartbeat and breath we take is
   a gift
In grace...forgiveness that I may repent...not repentance so I may be forgiven
In the sanctity of life, from conception to its final breath
In Heaven
That God loves us even though He knows us
That all the answers we need to know will be revealed when we see God
That prayer is a two-way communication
That the two most glorious moments in the history of this world were
   the birth and resurrection of Jesus
That the Bible is truth
That there is good in every person, but that people are sinful and in need
   of salvation
That my daughter, Olivia, is precious to me..yet she belongs to God
That this Earth is a glorious place full of things that reflect the existence of
    God
That we were not meant to endure the difficult times in life alone
That a good book and a cup of Joe are an excellent way to pass time
That I will someday be able to hold the hands of Jesus from a kneeling position
That my every thought, feeling and desire are known to God
That I have been blessed beyond anything I may deserve

Now... what do you believe?

thomaskearns8@gmail.com

Simon bar-Jonah and self-preservation

I've been doing some reading about the disciple Peter, (Cephas), Simon and
have found it fascinating. Michael Card's book A Fragile Stone: the Emotional Life 
of Simon Peter is the one I am currently enjoying.

The bond and realtionship between Jesus and Simon is really one that I was
unaware of down to the basic fact that Simon is mentioned more frequently
and addressed personally more times by Jesus. The book paints a bond between
the two that must have been remarkable. 

Simon is seen as unpolished, quick to speak and act and, as the title
suggests, an emotional being. 

Even before reading these things about Simon Peter, I always found the
denial of Jesus, as foretold by our Savior, to be one of the most sad and
powerful moments in the Gospels; a moment that had to have been so very
tragic.

How can one explain it; I believe that it is the epitome of one of man's
most basic instincts, the powerful force of self-preservation.  Simon
is the one who declared Jesus to be the Son of God, who walked on the
water after asking Jesus to call him, who was first to declare himself
unworthy and a sinner, who rebuked the whole idea of Jesus dieing...
He was a very active and passionate follower, yet on that fateful
evening, even he could not overcome sleep when sorely needed and
the fear that caused him to deny his Lord.

Built into our dna is the need to remain alive, to protect ourselves
from death and pain. It is what makes those stories of men and women
who willingly die for others at the cost of their own existence so
powerful and hard to imagine. 

I believe that Simon Peter loved Jesus fully; yet, at that most frightening
moment. he was unable to overcome his fear. Jesus often said to Peter
"Do not fear," but the human condition got in the way.  Jesus knew He
was loved. Of course He knew what was to happen, and forgave completely.
That's what makes Him Lord of Lords!!!  
  

Swiftly Tilting Planet

Madelline L'Engle wrote a book with this title. She passed on to write in heaven
recently; her creative genius will be missed!
The title came to mind while I was reading The Ragamuffin Gospel, by Brennan
Manning. let me share a brief paragraph from the book....

   The earth's weight has been estimated at six million tons (that's a six with 21 zeros).  Yet it is
perfectly balanced and turns easily on its axis. It revolves daily at the rate of more than 1,000
miles per hour or 25,000 miles each day. This adds up to 9 million miles a year. Considering
the tremendous weight of six sextillion tons rolling at this fantastic speed around an invisible
axis, held in place by unseen bands of gravitation, the words of Job 26:7 take on an
unparalleled significance: "He poised the earth on nothingness."    

I am sure that you have read many accounts of the unbelievable majesty of
God's creation. There are many many examples of our big blue planet being
just within the parameters of allowing for life. Many of these facts are provided 
by men of science who then go on to suggest that we are dealing with mere
happenstance.

The image of the earth taken at moon rise from the moon itself is probably one of
of the most amazing images I have ever seen. Yes, man made that trip to the moon
with scientific excellence, but he couldn't have even left the atmosphere without
creative genius provided by God.

At the other extreme, of course, is the amazing nano world; the cell, which when
one studies, becomes not only the building block of our existence, but also a
miniature "solar system" in itself.

These are simply a  couple of examples of the wondrous creative power of        
our majestic God. Sometimes we look at the enormity of the known universe
and feel small and insignificant. We ought to look at the immense power of
our Creator with the realization that each of us matters to Him. We are, after
all, His very creation.

Makes me just smile!

Take a Knee (s)

These titles are fun! Taking a knee can be an adventure for someone my age, 65.  
In a sports vernacular, it means purposely ending a play with the realization
that the eventual result of the competition had already been decided. For
we men, taking a knee, usually one, is sort of a common position, if you will,
for purposing marriage to a lady.

Prayer can also involve taking a knee, or two. There really aren't prescribed
ways that we must speak to God. Jesus presented his disciples with a prayer
format in The Lord's Prayer. It was a guide or sequence that contained the
components for a proper prayer to the Father. Different people pray in
different ways, at different times. The most important thing is to pray a lot,
frequently.

I have found, and would recommend, getting down on both knees, wherever and 
whenever possible to commune with God the father. Yes, getting down and
managing to get back up can be challenging, but it seems to me that this
position of reverence, of supplication, of dependence sends a message that one
is very aware that God is above His creation and that the one in prayer
is glorifying and in a position to praise. I've never been one to think clearly
on my feet, anyway! 

I have the luxury of access to our church and can, therefore, find time 
during the day, to drive up and walk down the aisle to speak with my father
in heaven. It's quiet and calm so He can hear me, even if I am speaking in
reverent softness. It's just He and I. 

Try it if you haven't.... it's a wonderful communication, and you don't need
that cell phone!

Epiphany

I purposely give my daughter, Olivia, a journal each holiday season because I, myself, never
took the time to write down events that happened along this 65 year journey."Depending
on my memory"has become a bit of a joke!

My career was as a classroom teacher. I spent thirty-four years teaching middle
school English in the Worthingon, Ohio school system. I wouldn't trade those years
for anything; they were filled with wonderful students, great teacher friends and
many many good memories.

I cannot name the date, month or year beyond saying that this moment of revelation
occurred some time in the middle of my career, and transformed me both as a person 
and a teacher. It's been too long to remember what I was teaching, but I CAN recall the
atmosphere or feeling in that moment that may have led to my epiphany.

It was one of those teaching moments when things were just going right! That room
was filled with a bunch of great young people who were following my every word and
movement. (I never did a lot of sitting while teaching!) For whatever the reason,
the moment just froze in time. Along with this extended moment came a realization.
A major realization. 

I was not just teaching some lesson on literature or grammar, I was standing in front
of God's souls, precious young people who were children of God, created lovingly
to be on this earth. And that wondrous God had given me the privilege to be the focus
of their attention. The moment passed; the lesson never left me.

Never underestimate the effect you have on those you love, those you encounter, those
you impact. I learned, at that moment, to respect and care for those young people to
the maximum of my ability. They were precious...they were human children...they were
God's!!!

The TRINITY at The Shack

This is an interesting combination, eh? Probably one of the most difficult concepts for we humans to attempt to understand is the notion of the Trinity, and one of the most 
controversial manifestations of that concept is revealed in the book, The Shack. 
One God in three persons... Christianity may be monotheistic, but this makes things,
"interesting!"  
If you haven't read the book, a man trying to recover from the tragic kidnapping
and murder of his youngest daughter, is beckoned by a mysterious note
back to the very location where his daughter was killed. The
fact that the note is signed, papa, plays a part in his decision to return since his
wife refers to God in this manner.
Long story short, he is met after a transformation of the location from winter to
spring, by God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The presentation of these three persons
in one God is what many find problematic or worse. God is pictured as a large,
black woman, Jesus as a plain-looking middle eastern handyman and the Spirit as
a shimmering entity that comes and goes. The story never suggests that Father God
is female in gender, only that this manifestation will help this grieving father as he
attempts to come to terms with a world where tragic things happen.
The interaction among these three God components is very interesting and, to me,
rather refreshing.  Their purpose is to guide the father through a process that allows
him to understand sorrow, grief and God's love for him, his daughter and us all.
Personally, I feel this book, that became a sensation, could be considered a success
if it allowed people to spend some time thinking about the tri-une nature of God,
the love that He has for those He created and the realization that He is in control of
all things at all times. 
Sounds like a book report...but if you haven't read this book, you might enjoy it.

Atheism is a lie

One of the best parts of blogging is that one doesn't need to argue, just state an opinion.
I have never known or met an atheist. I have certainly spoken to people I would call
agnostics.

I simply do not believe that anyone, in the depth of his heart, can deny the existence of a
creator. Having been born in the image of He who created us, I contend that there is an inborn
desire to know God. Even someone who has never entered a church or picked up a Bible,
must "see" around them the design and beauty of a creator. It is this innate need to find God
that leads me to believe that an atheist is simply not telling himself the truth.

I'm skipping the ridiculous notion that our ancestors crawled out of a pond somewhere and
evolved into humans. Things do evolve but not cross-specie. Even on the days when I
wake up slowly and feel like slithering, I'm human and related to humans, only.

I'm perplexed that anyone could go through life feeling that there is no purpose, no meaning,
no hope, not future beyond this life. When such a person reaches his final moments, they may
state that they know no God, yet I am wondering if they, deep down, are searching and
praying, to themselves perhaps, that there is one.

Can people simply turn away, decide not to believe or place themselves in the position of'
God themselves? Yes, we are all able to reject God since He gave us free will. I wouldn't
suggest it! Nevertheless, I still believe that atheists are simply telling themselves a very
dangerous and ill-advised lie. I find this very sad, indeed.

God is the reason we live this life; praise Him and glorify Him with your lives!

Twice born..Once dead

All we humans are complex, differently unique and created by God. The two things we all
have in common are being born and facing death. I don't remember my birth in much detail, and that's probably a very good thing! In a previous blog entry I called the birth process Miraculous, and I stand by that assertion!

One of the things I found most odd prior to truly accepting Jesus into my life was the concept
of being Born Again. Like the man who questioned Jesus about the idea of retuning to the womb,
I found the concept almost amusing. I believe that Jesus makes it perfectly clear that this
rebirth is a prerequisite to being a part of God's kingdom. That makes things a lot more serious;
it's a process of changing from lost to saved, from world centered to God centered, from
prideful to humble...I could go on. It's a process performed at the heart level, it's passive
in the sense that it is done to us, not by us. Serious, yet simple in the sense that we simply have
to give our lives over to Christ Jesus.

Now on the other end of things, we all are mortal. The wages of sin is death. All of us will
face this inevitable end, even though we often refuse to accept it until it is happening. Having
a spiritual tie to Christ and to God makes it less fearsome. I truly am no longer afraid of
death, yet I am fearful of the dieing process. The fact that there is the eternal hope provided by
the gospel, that Jesus conquered death in his resurrection and that we are saved by grace to
an inheritance in the family of God, make this end point a lot less fearsome.

But...we do not want to die twice! That second death, yes second death, is the one facing those
who have rejected God. It's the death that follows judgement, the judgement faced by all of us
in the end, where we stand before God on our own merit or on the merit of the Son of God.
We cannot save ourselves from the wrath God holds for our sin, but we can accept
salvation through the atoning blood of our precious savior, Jesus.

As Rich Mullins says in the song,:" Everyman, "  There's room for everyone at the foot of the
cross! I'll see you there!

The cartoon on your shoulder

Remember (I'm dating myself, here) the cartoons where a person about to make a decision
had two little characters on his shoulder? One was a tiny angel with halo; the other was a tiny
demon complete with pitchfork! Kinda cute..... maybe not.

The understanding of right and wrong seems to be inate; we have a conscience provided by
our creator in whose images we have been created. I can remember feeling guilty at a very
early age! Now some ignore this moral thermometer; there are some who are labeled a sociopath,
someone who either does not know right from wrong or who chooses to ignore the difference.
But, sociopaths are the exception. So if we know what's right and wrong......?

Well, that little devil on your shoulder is very very powerful! He is the personification of sin and
he is cunning, wise, knows us all too well and is quick to provide rationalization when we let
him lead us astray. The Bible talks about putting on the full armor of God. That armor is
specifically designed to help us fend off the sinful nature that is within all of us. We need all
the help we can get because the "pull" of sin is a substantial enemy. We can believe that we are
strong, that we can make the right decisions, that we can remember the cost Jesus paid on the
tree to provide atonement for our sins... and yet, it seems that even that cannot erase the temptation
to fall back, to sin and to disappoint.

Not so easy to flick that little demon off of our shoulder, is it? Go ahead, put on that armor and
fill your heart with the determination to do what is right. That and prayers to God will help make
this battle a bit more even.

Flick!!!

Taps and a Whisper

In an earlier post, entitled, God Spot, I suggested that each of us has a longing and a desire
to find God. There are many perspectives on exactly how this happens, but the Bible suggests
that it is God, not us, that makes the initial move. I believe that He does this in a subtle, almost
covert way...I will call it Tapping Us On Our Shoulder.
I'm not one to argue the whole concept of predestination or election; I do feel that God reaches
out to us in His own way and His own time. Does he reach out to everyone? There's scripture
that would argue both ways. The point is that God will do what God will do! I believe that
the initial wooing, if you will, is very quiet and gentle.
When I look back, I can, at the age of 65, remember many situations where it appears that
God was tapping. Like a lot of people, I was too busy with this world and it's troubles to
identify those taps. Yet, thinking back, I'm positive that He was there, communicating. I also
believe He is persistent. It's all a part of His loving-kindness, His caring, His desire to bring
souls in. Nevertheless, He has given us the free will to accept or reject. Apparently unawareness
and rejection are separate issues.
Once God has filled that open spot in our hearts and souls, we need to get quiet and listen. His
way of "talking" to us is also very subtle. His messages are ones that require calm listening and
intense observation. To some, a voice manifests. In others, actual answers come in ways that
may not be audible, yet these messages require patient, intense listening. Whispers cannot be
heard when the heart and mind are busy. Fine tuning is a must. He's there and He's reaching
out to you! Shhhhh!

That sovereignty thing...

The ugly truth is that sinful human beings deserve nothing from a holy God. We cannot manipulate God in prayer. We cannot expect a rich, pain-free life, as touted by the prosperity gospel. Neither can we expect to reach heaven because we are a "good person." Jesus Christ has been provided to us as the way to heaven. (John 14:6)

I borrowed the above off of the internet. I was looking for a definition of God's sovereignty. It seems to me that this sovereignty thing really brings out the defensive pride in us humans. It's really tough to think that we're not in charge. What are we servants or something? 

I, for one, have no trouble with realizing that I am NOT God! I spent some years of my life thinking that I was the one driving this life of mine. Well, that really didn't work so well, thank you. I wasn't a very careful driver.

I am pleased and blessed that God is in charge. He truly doesn't owe me any explanation for what happens because He is God; and I am not. All things work for good in His plan. It's quite honestly a relief to know

that this transcendent, all-knowing God goes out of His way to give me free will, listen to my prayers and shower me with his loving kindness...all of which I humbly recognize are not things that I have earned.

He created me and I desire to bring glory to His name. He does all the hard work; I just have the blessings of being His creation.

He is sovereign!!! 

Breaking fast the right way

Nutritionists suggest that the first meal we take in the morning is vitally important for the rest of our day. I'd like to join many others in suggesting that this first meal should be surrounded by a look at the Gospel.
Beginning the day with the Gospel works wonders for our humility. A realization of what God has provided through the death and resurrection of His son, Jesus, cannot help but start our day off with a sense of humility. Being aware not only of our sinful nature but also of the single path provided for atonement starts the day with a tone of gratefulness for receipt of something we did not deserve
nor earn.
In essence, I teach myself the Gospel message each day. It's profound but also simple in length. It's glorious and filled with the realization that God's complete rejection of sin has been accomplished through the ransom of the blood of Christ. I would suggest R. C. Sproul's short but succinct writing on the
Gospel.
I also have started picturing the three crosses at Calvary, visualizing the reality of what our Lord Jesus accomplished and endured in the greatest moments in the history of our world. The Cross of Jesus is the miraculous place where our sins were exchanged for the righteousness of the perfect, spotless Lamb of God.
I hope you will join me in beginning each day glorifying our God and His plan for redemption and salvation.

Will you be there?

There are so many positive and wonderful aspects to believing on Jesus, worshiping God and looking forward to living in the presence of He who created everything. Nevertheless, with all the realities that go with the above, there is, in my life and quite likely in the lives of many, the haunting realization that someone we have loved in our lifetime may not be in heaven when we are called. I'm not one that understands the concept of purgatory or the praying or buying another's inclusion into God's heaven. It doesn't seem to be a part of the gospel preached in the word of God. I do not have the power to get myself into heaven, let alone the power to wish hard enough to put someone there. I don't believe that tithing at any amount can purchase membership for another because I truly believe salvation is not for sale. My earthly father passed away about three years ago, painfully. He was and is someone that fills my heart with love each and every time I think of him. He was wonderfully imperfect, a very good person, generous to a fault, and loving. Yet he passed away from this earth without leaving any certainty about his relationship with Jesus; and I did nothing to bring assurance that he had a relationship with God. I was consumed with sadness and fear, and I was simply not, at that time, solid in my own beliefs. I told him that God loved him. That I loved him. I was there at his side when he passed away. He is either in heaven or in the absence if God, which is my definition of hell. So I am left with a weak hope, prayers that I am not sure are valid and the wish that I will someday be able to put my arms around him and toss away the fears that he would not be there.
 Oh please, God!
The lesson is simple: share faith with those you love...today.

Baaaaa...

Yep, I always looked upon myself as more of a sloth...
I don't enjoy wearing wool, but I am a sheep.
I'm not overly intelligent,
I tend to wander and become lost.
I am afraid of rushing waters
  and unknown paths!
Yes, I need that Good Shepherd
  who calls me by my name,
  protects me from fear and danger
  and guides me home.
He rescues me, He redeems me, He Remembers me
  and restores me.
For He is the Lamb of God, the Scapegoat
  and the Shepherd all in one.
He has proven that he will give His life
  for sheep like me!
I am blessed!

Can You hear me now?

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep
If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take!
God bless.............

That's about as far back as my prayer memories go. This was done on my knees,
hands folded prior to jumping into bed and being tucked in, usually following
a sing session with my father on the harmonica.

Unfortunately, many years followed, too many, when "prayers" were just rote,
obligatory, meaningless words spoken without conviction. Prayers before meals
at holidays or with friends. (One close friend would follow a prayer asking that
food be blessed by throwing salt over his shoulder. Kind of a weird conjunction
of prayer and superstition) Prayers before sporting events, both as player and
coach. Prayers, far too many, at funerals.

Then there were the prayers spoken in desperation. These were in those times
that all of us encounter when we are desperate. Times of financial troubles, loss
of family members and friends, marital difficulties, depressions...the list goes
on and on. These were prayers uttered without the slightest understanding or even
care about whether they would be heard or just be echoes sent out into a void.

At a house church meeting in Oxford, Ohio, in the midst of the prayer, I was
suddenly clobbered with the realization that there was quite possibly someone
important at the receiving end of the prayer. Well, things have progressed, thanks
to finding a God-centered church that provides ample opportunities and teaches
the need and joy of praying to God.

And somewhere along the path, following baptism and lots of practice, I became
ABSOLUTELY certain that my conversations and prayers ARE heard and listened to.
It's probably associated with faith growth, with the redeeming work of God's spirit and
the conviction that God wants me to talk with Him, often.

What a glorious blessing! You CAN hear me now!

The God Spot

We are wonderfully created in the image of God, all unique, as suggested by our fingerprints, etc.
Yet within each of us exists an emptiness, an incompleteness, a loneliness we seek to fill. Sometimes
it's subtle, sort of in the background, but it's always there. Into this round hole we attempt to
pound the square pegs of this world: money, fame, occupation, friendships, family, etc. In the end
the only filling answer is the grace and love of the Holy God of Israel!
Praise His Holy Name!!

Oh yes you do

My given name is Thomas. You will find it on my birth certificate, checks, my will, etc.
I was Tommy in my early years..that changed to Tom as I got a little more connected. If
I was called Thomas, it usually meant I was in trouble. Thomas Howard meant I needed to
begin running, very fast.
But it's really not my name at all! You see there is a name that will be called out at that
glorious moment when I enter into the house of my Lord. The great thing is that I know
that I will recognize it immediately, respond to it immediately. It's that name that was
written before the beginning of creation by God when he determined that He would grant
to me Grace and loving kindness by allowing my sins to be forgiven through the blood of
His precious son.There will be no changing of that name! I won't have to worry about
running when I hear it. What I will be doing is falling upon my knees and humbly thanking
Him, for eternity.
Oh yes, you do have such a name. Your real name. A cherished name forever!