The Great Unknown

INTRODUCTION: ‘From Exploration of the Colorado River and Its Tributaries, John Wesley Powell’s account of his epic journey running the Green and Colorado rivers in 1869. Powell’s journey in wooden boats with nine other men took him into places where no white man had ever made a footprint, including the Grand Canyon.’

As we entered 2013 I wanted to share an excerpt from this ‘story’ in one of my favorite collection of classic survival stories. The excerpt is the August 21^st journal entry of John Wesley Powell in what has come to be known as ‘The Great Unknown’.

As we consider the state of our country morally, financially, and spiritually, I think this story is a very fitting picture of where we have been and where we are heading.  Sin is rampant in our states and violence is everywhere but one can’t help but think that we are responsible. With prayer and the Ten Commandments having been taken from our schools, Evolution, Humanism, and Relativism all being taught. Socialistic ideas are not only on the rise but now prevalent; ideas of a union of men apart from Christ. Thank God that we have signs also of an awakened church and revival among many youth.

“August 21^st ~ We start early this morning, cheered by the prospect of a fine day and encouraged also by the good run made yesterday. (America’s yesteryear has had some good runs) A quarter of a mile below camp the river turns abruptly to the left (we’ve turned left), and between camp and that point is very swift, running down in a long, broken chute and piling up against the foot of the cliff, where it turns to the left.

“We try to pull across, so as to go down on the other side, but the waters are swift and it seems impossible for us to escape the rock below; but in pulling across, the bow of the boat is turned to the farther shore, so that we are swept broadside down and are prevented by the rebounding waters from striking against the wall. (We’ve had many close calls) We toss about for a few seconds in these billows and are then carried past the danger.

“Below, the river turns again to the right, the canyon is very narrow, and we see in advance but a short distance. The water, too, is very swift, and there is no landing-place. From around this curve there comes a mad roar, and down we are carried with a dizzying velocity to the head of another rapid. On either side high over our heads there are overhanging granite walls, and the sharp bends cut off our view, so that a few minutes will carry us into unknown waters. (Year after year we rush forward)

“Away we go on one long, winding chute. I stand on deck, supporting myself with a strap fastened on either side of the gunwale. The boat glides rapidly where the water is smooth, then, striking a wave, she leaps and bounds like a thing of life, and we have a wild, exhilarating ride of ten miles, which we make in less than an hour. The excitement is so great that we forget the danger until we hear the roar of the great falls below;” (So here we wait ready to plummet over into the great unknown)

If our country is to succeed we will need to back off on our oars and, while if we can find a lull, pull out of the waters that will begin again to run swiftly and ever faster toward destruction. We need to find a landing. Stable ground. The church must lead the way.

Jesus said in His sermon on the mount, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.” (Matt. 7:24-25) We need to return to the old time religion and walk in right paths. We need to once again build our homes on the Rock.

The excerpt I share ends with “then we back on our oars and are carried slowly toward its head and succeed in landing just above and find that we have to make another portage.” We may have to make another long portage to find a safer passage then the one we have known. This country, and this world, is headed into ruin but it need not be on our watch. The immediate future may indeed be a great unknown but I am holding out with many others for another great awakening and revival in our communities, states, and whole regions in 2013.

Let’s not be foolish and build our houses on washing away sands.
Let’s heed Jesus’ warning and return to His principles once again.
Let’s confess together the sins of our nation and her people.
Let’s put away pride and contentions and warring and
let us intercede in humble repentance for revival.
Let’s allow Him to increase in our lives as
we decrease in our own self evaluations.

If we will see revival…
He must increase! WE must decrease!

Consider the Source

(Thoughts provoked by another blogger discussed over breakfast with my dear and wise wife.) You often hear people say 'Consider the source.' when there is criticism or complaining as if to just brush aside the discomfort of knowing that someone is not pleased with them. But in all reality, none of us are always right, in every avenue, all of the time. If a person feels passionately enough about something to say something, even if they are known to just like a fight or a 'good' gripe, perhaps there is something we can learn from the sometimes unwarranted news.

By all means don't let it ruin your day, but rather than brush it aside, first consider the gripe. Consider that there may be some truth to it. There is usually even a little truth to things said in jest. We can pray "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if [there be indeed any] wicked way in me," 

Consider that perhaps there is something the Lord wants to teach you about yourself. Don't you know if you sincerely ask Him to reveal it to you that He will. And if there is no truth to the complaint then God will surely assure your heart.

Consider the complaint before you consider the source. We have a tendency to exalt self and thereby ignore even the counsel of the Spirit in our hearts. This we must not do.

"He must increase, WE must decrease!"

HEROES & VILLIANS

“And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord?” (Acts 9:1-5a)

Every little boy wants to grow up to be just like their hero(s) and what they played as a child may give a hint as to what era and culture they grew up in. Cowboys & Indians, Red Coat & Rebel, Hero(s) & Villains. When I was a kid we used to run around with a towel feigning a cape and pretend to be super heroes OR run around with a stick feigning a gun as a commando.

I am sure it was no different for Saul of Tarsus. (Acts 7: 58) "and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul." Saul had his heroes too. Samuel, Elijah, Moses, David. How brave and right for David to challenge and kill Goliath! (Is there not a cause!) And the zeal and righteous indignation that drove Samuel as he hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal. (1^st Samuel 15:33) Look what Elijah did to the prophets of Baal. All 450 of them. (1^st Kings 18:14) Yes Saul had his heroes, and his villains. Saul’s heroes were deeply religious and passionately committed to the cause. (Is there not a cause!) Also a child’s heroes are found in his father and in his mentors. Think about Saul growing up under the shadow of rumors about our Jesus. And the lies and whispers of his father and fellow Pharisees. Think about how Jesus continually challenged their pride and how they hated Jesus. What must have been going through Saul's mind on that fateful day on the road to Damascus? 

He said, “Who art thou, Lord?” (Acts 9:5a)

No doubt Saul had thought himself one of the heroes.

“And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks”

But at the reproof he discovered himself to be playing the villain.

“And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”

Jesus in an instant became Paul’s hero. The same can be said of him as what he by the Spirit wrote to the Corinthians, “For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge!” (2 Cor. 7:11) He in all things worked faithfully by grace and humility to shew himself to be clear in this matter from that time forward.

Who is your hero? Is Jesus your hero? Is He your Lord?...

“He must increase, and WE must decrease!”

I Can Fly

"Unless ye have believed in vain", or words similar, are frequently used in scripture. There are those who have believed that their 'belief' can save them. 

That's like saying I can fly because I believe I can. Putting my faith in my belief in this case would be rather pointless as I indeed cannot fly. But if I believe I can fly because I know an airplane can fly, and if I get on an airplane I will indeed fly, that makes all the difference. 

I am saved because Jesus saves. His death, burial, and resurrection for me has saved me. I am not saved simply because I believe, but because my belief is rooted in Someone Who is capable of saving me from my sin, and indeed has.

Joy Unspeakable

"And ye are witnesses of these things."

Luke's Gospel ends with.... "And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen." (v. 50-53)

Their Hope had been taken from them.
He had been removed far away and far above.
Why then the joy and not sorrow? Why praise and not despair for tomorrow?

It is even because in blessing them
He had given them a Divine Perspective,
"Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." Indeed He said, "These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me."

And their joy came from the Divine Purpose He had given them,
"And ye are witnesses of these things."

But He did not give them a task without a Divine Promise,
"And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."

His intent was not to leave them alone
but to give them His Divine Power,
"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Acts 1:8

This my believing friend is why you are here,
We are His witnesses of the things of Divine Penmanship,
And ought not we to think it a Divine Privilege, And with those men of old rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory as we witness of His Divine Pulse. His heart beats in unfathomable love for the world.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

"And ye are witnesses of these things."

Father Forgive Them

I know nothing of others pains.

Real.
Some ill conceived.
Or imagined.

 BUT I also have hurts.

Those who excel are those who look past their hurts and choose to love anyway. They look past a person's actions by faith and see the motive. Sometimes the wicked motives of others move us to compassion because we see the person in bondage to sin. "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." Sometimes misguided motives move us to understanding. Those who look past a person's actions by faith and see the motive choose to get better and not bitter. They recognize that behind every deed of friend or fiend is a Sovereign God who orders all things after the counsel of his own w

ill.

We need to be "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God;
lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you,
and thereby many be defiled;" Heb. 12:15

"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual,
restore such an one in the spirit of meekness;
considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." Gal. 6:1

If they will hear you,
you have won thy brother.

"For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty;
only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh,
but by love serve one another.

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this;
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
But if ye bite and devour one another,
take heed that ye be not consumed one of another."
Gal. 5:13-15

Will you say with Jesus,
"Father forgive them"?

Sand Spur Sunday School

A childhood memory written By Dr. Johnny Pope:

When I was ten and David was twelve, our father was taking us down to our swimming hole at Lake Hollingsworth. We had just crested the hill and we could see the lake. Dad would not let us get in the water unless he could see us. We implored, “Daddy, may we run for the water?” He said, “Go ahead boys!” We ran lickety-split for our delightsome destination. 

While racing barefoot though the grass, we encountered sand spurs! As soon as one foot was filled, we put the other foot down to pull them out, then the second foot was filled, so we had to sit down to attend to both feet and now we felt pain in places we would rather not mention. 

Soon Dad sauntered up to us, dressed in his normal preacher clothes, dress shoes, shirt and tie (he went casual that day; he left his coat at home). Evermore the teacher, he said, “Boys you are going to have to learn to walk circumspectly.” He then commenced taking off his shoes, then his socks. Those white feet had probably not seen the light of day for thirty years (...How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel!...Rom. 10:15). Then as nimble as a seasoned stag, Dad began to negotiate the sand spur infested field. He said, “Here’s how you do it, you slow down, don’t run. You must look very carefully. Ah! there’s a clump of spurs, I’ll just step around them. And there’s some more; I’ll now step over them. Well, my, my there’s another batch, I’ll back up and go this way.” The old master didn’t get one spur, not one!

Then he said, “Get those spurs out boys and follow me!” As we walked together, he said, “Watch me boys!” Pretending the clump of spurs were dangers in life we were to avoid, he continued as we walked down to the lake, “Uh-oh, there’s a juke-joint (city-dwellers call them night clubs); step around that place boys, don’t ever go there! Look out, look out, there’s some beer, step right around that poison! Don’t touch that, not a drop! And my, my there’s a temptation for tobacco, jut step right over that one, leave that nasty stuff alone. Look out sons! There's a pretty gal, but oh she’s loose; she’s wicked, don’t get near her, just back up go another way!” Then before we got into the water Daddy quoted, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15). David and I learned what it meant that day to walk circumspectly. We never forgot.

Dad did a great job at fulfilling Deuteronomy 6:6,7, which says, “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

Lazarus Come Forth

In John chapter eleven we have a series of divine paradoxes that our mortal, earth bound, finite minds cannot even begin to comprehend without the insight into the heart of God that the scriptures provide. Often we wrongly think of God as coldly pragmatic, and mechanical. But we think this way mostly because this is frequently the way many of us are in how we respond to the pain of others.

Friend this is just not the picture God has given of Himself. Although we were first created in God’s image, we are now a fallen, selfish, tarnished race, a million miles and more away from the altruism of our benevolent Creator.  We cannot think of God as one as we are; we mustn’t.

God’s thoughts are not like our thoughts, and Gods ways are not as our ways. He has a much bigger plan in mind that endeavors to save as many as ‘whosoever will’ from eternal separation from Him. He is not willing that any perish and will employ any just means necessary to prevent that from happening. However, even though this is true does not suggest that He doesn’t have a heart, rather it establishes how big and how great His love toward us is.

So what of these divine paradoxes? Well in this eleventh chapter of John I see several, but in this post I will, for the sake of time, only mention three.

As I read John 11:3-6

I find the first divine paradox (again perhaps there are more but this is what I see). Jesus had just received word that Lazarus was sick.  Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. Jesus who knew what was about to transpire, that Lazarus was about to breath his final breath (as we see things), that the hearts of His friends would be grief stricken, stayed put and wasn’t moved.

No one ever loved the way that Jesus loves! No one!

And yet “he abode two days still in the same place where he was.” Does not your heart hear the confusion in Martha’s voice,… “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”

And again the anguish in Mary’s voice as she falls at Jesus’ feet weeping, saying the same thing between heavy sobs,… “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”

No one ever loved the way that Jesus loves! No one, and yet He stayed put and wasn’t moved. Friend, Gods ways are not our ways.

As I read on and through John 11:11-15

I see yet another puzzling paradox in the words of Jesus. He said, “Lazarus is dead. And I am glad… that I was not there,”

WHAT?! INCREDIBLE! He is dead and I am glad.

Our minds, while understanding the compassionate heart of Jesus, have a hard time conceiving of these words coming from His mouth. But of course this is not all He said. And lest I be accused of reading out of context, let’s look more clearly at what was going on.

The death of a saint is precious indeed to God (Psalm 116:15), so much so that when Stephen was stoned Jesus stood at the portal of heaven to greet him, but that is another story altogether.

What of Jesus’ words? Do they not seem cold? Do they not seem all too very pragmatic? Forgive the suggestion, but at first glance that was what ran through my limited mass of gray matter.

No. Not true. Jesus said, “And I am glad for your sakes

that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe;”

He has eternity, and the hearts of men,

And His great eternal love for them in mind.

We mustn’t think of Him as such as one of us.

God is not cold and pragmatic; it’s just that His thoughts are not as our thoughts. He had said before, “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.” And to Jesus that was fairly straightforward.

Always remember, Jesus always has eternity and the hearts of men,

And His great eternal love for souls in mind.

I see other things that are different then perhaps the way we would do things, or even different then the way we would possibly expect God to do things, but for the sake of your time I will not mention them here now, except the final and greatest paradox that give us a beautiful glimpse into the heart of God, the heart of God the Son.

Now John 11:33-35 presents this greatest of all paradoxes.

(We get a kick out of kids when they, while quoting verses, will often with a sheepish childish grin quote this of the smallest yet most profound verses in all of the bible.) John 11:35 “Jesus wept.”

I once thought that He wept because of Mary’s trouble believing, but again no, Jesus does not weep for Himself. Indeed this may be why He groaned within Himself in the Spirit. The Spirit is certainly grieved with unbelief.  I believe that before He even prayed the Spirit groaned in prayer for them all. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Romans 8:27)

Jesus knew He would soon raise Lazurus, remember He had said before, “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.” And He knew that that would fill their hearts with joy, would fill them with faith in Him, and would fuel and empower the unbelievers to begin the carry out the awful foreordained counsel of God in the providing salvation to the world. Yet with all this knowledge, in a kind of paradoxical fashion, “Jesus wept.”

No doubt as He watched Mary and Martha weep He felt their pain.

He empathized with them.

Perhaps He thought of his mothers suffering when Joseph died and it was not God’s will for Him to intervene.

Perhaps He thought of their feeling of being forsaken and knew He would soon cry out also “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

Perhaps He looked again to the pain His friends and His mother would feel when they watched Him be beaten and crucified.

Whatever Jesus was thinking, He empathized with them. His tears were not tears of frustration. They were not tears of grief for the unbelief being displayed. No. Jesus felt their hurt, He was touched with their feelings of helplessness and He wept.

Do you think the scriptures says in vain “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?” (Psalm 56:8)

No God is not at all coldly pragmatic. Jesus has a heart.

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

You can trust the heart of God with your pain. With your doubt. With your struggle. With your heart. You can trust Jesus who sits to make intercession for us and on our behalf.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

“Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”

We need to give up our pragmatism 
and awake to compassion!
We need to truly weep
with those that weep.
Like Jesus did!

“Lazarus, come forth.”

NO MATTER WHAT

One Sunday morning between the morning services at my church I ventured toward the men’s room to make my morning a little more comfortable; if you know what I mean? Actually the doorman asked me how I was doing and I replied with the usual, “Good. Good.”

Then I said, “Actually, I will be doing a little better once I visit the Men’s Room.”
He chuckled and nodded in understanding. Then I continued on my way to that beautiful, helpful, necessary room which

we all take for granted and
very few express thankfulness for;
the bathroom.

Now, some of what I have to communicate here is of a bit of a personal nature, so I will try my best to be discreet, but I feel that the question that came to mind in the men’s room that morning, is something WE WHO SAY THAT we seek to love and serve ‘others’ need to ask ourselves regularly. That Question is ‘How committed to others are you?’

When I walked into the room there was already a young man standing at the first fixture taking care of his business so I proceeded to the first stall, knocked on the closed door and, when there was no answer, I began to enter.

It was then that I heard
 a high pitched, raspy,
kind of whiny voice protesting and saying,
“Hey!,… Hey!!”

Immediately I said,
“Oh I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”
I was so embarrassed.

But I really was in a hurry… I think I had to usher that morning… I can’t really remember why the rush. But I was in a hurry so I moved to the fixture where the boy had been standing to ‘move along’ and ‘move out’.

As I was standing there I heard that same high pitched, raspy, kind of whiny voice again. It came from a blind man in our church. He is a very independent man, so self sufficient that he is rude at times, but also so needy and lacking some manners that he is demanding at times also. He said, in his unique tone,

“CAN SOMEBODY HELP ME!!!”

I ignored him because I didn’t know what he wanted,
couldn’t even begin to guess,
I knew when I almost walked in on him that he was sitting down
and frankly, I didn’t want to be the one to help him.

And then I heard it again, “CAN SOMEBODY HELP ME!!!”

But then I heard another voice. I don’t know if it was the still small voice of God; I can usually recognize that voice. I don’t know if it was conscience or just my own prideful self saying, “How committed to others are you?” I knew what the voice was driving at, and I didn’t like it, but I responded rather reluctantly with,

“I can help you.
What is it that you need?”

The man said,
“I CAN’T GET THE PAPER OFF THE ROLL, IT’S STUCK!!!”
Oh thank God! Is that all?

I said,
“Well I can help you,
keep trying and when I’m finished with my business,
if you haven’t got it, I will come in and get it.”

This all happened in a matter of seconds mind you. I was not done yet and then I heard his voice again. This time an excited voice, “I GOT IT! I GOT IT!!!!”

Oh Thank You God!
“That’s good. That’s good.” I said.
I was so very relieved myself.
But you know what?
I would have helped him.
I didn’t want to.
I didn’t like it.
 I wished it wasn’t me. But I would have helped him.
What if he had needed help with something else?
I determined before I said, “I can help.”
that I would help him with 'whatever',
or find someone that could.
I committed myself to help another brother NO MATTER WHAT.

While I was sitting in church I thought of what had just happened.
What his question may have entailed.
And I looked around the sanctuary to see if I could see him anywhere.
For a long while I couldn’t. I had thought to go back and see if he was still stuck in the stall.
I looked around some more and was relieved to see him sitting where before a few heads had him blocked from my view. And after that I only thought of the incident a few times. But the question, “How really committed to the idea of ‘others’?” comes to mind constantly for me.

How about you?

How committed are you do the idea of ‘others’?

You know this Christian life…

It’s not about me and
it’s not about you.
It’s about Jesus and
Jesus is all about OTHERS!

He must increase in our lives as we serve OTHERS
and WE must decrease as we give up our self serving ways.

How committed are you do the idea of ‘others’?

“He must increase,
WE must decrease.”

Kissed by God's Tear

Walking last night in IL after preaching Sunday PM’s service, just spending some time talking to God. There were no stars out, no moon shining, just low lying wispy sort of clouds.

I got tired and it was about midnight so I laid down and looked at the sky. It seemed I was having trouble sensing that the Lord knew where I was, and the sky seemed just like life for me right now, sort of hazy and unclear.

The area I am in is in severe drought and all around me the grass was brown and dead. I simply said "Lord I sure would like to know that your eyes are on me right now." I love rain and I said Lord if you could let just a drop come down, I would feel it was a tear from your eye because you do know my name and every tear that I cry.

I walked a few more steps and one drop of rain landed on my lip. I began to tear up myself as I felt I had been kissed by His tear. A few moments more, and many drops came. In the midst of haze above me and the seeming barrenness around me, He cares and He knows my name even as the song says "when I am overwhelmed by the pain, He knows my name.”

~First Posted by Robert Hooker on Facebook

Bear Ye One Another's Burdens

Bear ye one another's burdens
and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Cain asked, 'Am I my brother's keeper?' 
The carnal christian will wonder the same thing.
It is no mistake that the Spirit placed hatred, murder, 
and heresies in the same list of 'the works of the flesh'. 

But he that is spiritual knows that he IS indeed his brothers keeper. 
He knows that he is duty bound by the Word of God to seek their restoration. 
"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, 
ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; 
considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." Galatians 6:1

Bear ye one another's burdens
and so fulfill the law of Christ.

But some may say, 'I have tried and they will not hear it.' 
Then you have delivered yourself from anyfurther obligation besides love. 
If they refuse then forbear WITH them in love but 
if they be divisive then you have no choice, 
you are also bound by theWord, to walk AWAY.

They shall bear their own burden.
But consider yourself lest you are tempted to 
respond in anger, wrath, or malice.

Bear ye one another's burdens
and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Count it ALL Joy

We never enjoy the forms our trials take.
Always quick to complain or cast in our minds that
there must be some easier, more desirable way. 

But no, if we desire that good, and acceptable, and perfect way of God
then there is no other way; it must be as He has decreed.

If He chose some other way,
would it be any less painful and still
perform the intended transformation? 

No we never will enjoy the trials we endure,
that is why they are so effective.
He who knows our hearts also knows
what it will take to subdue the will.

But when at once we acknowledge that God has
determined to form in us something stronger,
and to prepare in us a work more effective,
then we submit to His omniscient way
and our trial becomes a trying of our faith.

Only then by faith, can we count it all joy.

"My brethren, count it all joy
when ye fall into divers temptations;"
James 1:2

EMMANUEL

Christian friend,

We serve an incredibly wise and gracious God.
"God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself."
He, the omnipotent God, walked here among men as a man to save mankind. (all of whosoever will) In His omniscience He knew you before you were born.

He is all powerful and all knowing but
let me ask you something friend, 'where is God?'.

You say 'well God is omnipresent, He ...is everywhere.'
And I say true He is. "In Him we live and move and have our being."

But that is not the most powerful answer you can give.
The most meaningful answer for me is 'God is here'.
"He is an ever present Help in time of need."
He is here with me at this very moment.
And He is there with you also.
That is powerful.

The omnipotent,
omniscient God is
our constant Companion.

'Here' makes it personal
and not simply doctrinal.
God is very near!
Incredible!!!

Terrific Tools OR Deadly Distractions

Imagine if you had an open invitation into another Christian’s life for just a few minutes on an almost daily basis. What would you do with that kind of privilege? Would you squander it and waste time with them on frivolity? Would you seize the opportunity for self aggrandizement? Or would you use the opportunity to build up others? I certainly hope you would use the time wisely; that you would use it to build up others and to build healthy, deep, meaningful, mutually fulfilling relationships.


Building relationships with other church members and friends is an exchange of ideas and interests that takes time. I have found in order to build deep friendships it takes much more than learning someone’s name and saying ‘hello’ on a frequent basis. It takes time, a lot of time; it takes caring and sharing, it takes compassion and cooperation. Time is a scarce commodity. If your church is like mine, usually everyone is so busy doing one thing or another that there is scarcely time for fellowship in, and around, and between various ministry activities and services.  So imagine if you had an open invitation into another Christian’s life for just a few minutes on almost a daily basis. What would you do with that kind of privilege?

Before Dr. Franklin discovered electricity, and before Alex Bell ramped up communications, and before Mr. Tucker or Ford or whoever it was (it wasn’t Flintstone, :-), but before someone discovered motorized transportation, and before the Wrights discovered we could fly; Before the Industrial Revolution things were simpler, relationships were simpler.  People are busy today.
Very busy. And church people are busy too.

I have come to the conclusion that among the other more Biblical things that the church is, It is a group of very, very, very busy people, with their own problems and concerns, and their own goals and dreams, and their own pressures and trials, all coming together in one place where they have One Person as their concerted, holy, supreme focus for a few hours.  And since His desire is towards people, and the love of Christ constrains the spirit-filled believer, we have a burden for the lost and a desire to encourage our brothers. (and sisters too.)



But people are busy today. Very busy. And church people are busy too. So imagine if you had an open invitation into another Christian’s life on almost a daily basis. What would you do with that kind of privilege?As we moved from the Industrial Revolution into a highly technological era, there are helps to building relationships that I think we have only begun to make proper use of in the church. Text messaging and e-mail have been among the most commonly used, but the internet and social networks such as FaceBook, Twitter, Google, and others have become the daily ‘meeting place’ for many. Now it’s not just the younger crowd getting comfortable with the tools of this century; there are many more 'technologically challenged' folks who are seeing the benefits of these tools as well. Also pastors, teachers, counselors, and other mentor type relationships are growing on the social networks at phenomenal rates. Pastors are building strong bonds of friendships with ‘their’ flocks, and others who have a heart for souls also, on an almost daily basis.


I have found that a Bible verse, or the words to a favorite hymn, or just some God-honoring thought can change a persons perspective and can turn a persons day around. We all need encouragement. I am so very encouraged when I get a text saying, "Hey Buddy, I just want you to know, I'm lifting you up to Jesus today." That does something in my soul friend. I certainly hope you will use the tools of our century, and use the candid moments wisely; that you would use them to build up others and to build healthy, deep, meaningful, mutually fulfilling relationships.

But there is another aspect of relationships, specially with regard to  personal time and private time, that I have not yet mentioned. It is the need for healthy boundaries and limits. Online we need boundaries to limit what we say to others and what we will allow others to say to us. There are predators out there that want to seduce you and eat up everything precious in your life. You must have solid, pre-defined boundaries. Also Paul warned the Galatian church, "But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another." (Gal. 5:15) And if this fleshy kind of thing can happen in our churches friend, don't you know that it can happen exponentially online. We need healthy boundaries. And we need to be careful what we text and type. Some things require a face-to-face meeting. Lets not be guilty of laziness in our communications.



You also need limits with regards to how your online activity affects your offline relationships, namely your relationship with your spouse and your children. I am told that here in Maine some guy named Farnsworth from Ellesworth invented something that has become of little worth to me. It's the television. The television is a major distraction for some, but so is the internet. Don't you know that these techno-tools that can help build relationships, can also tear them down. If we do not guard our time with our precious families we may find that we have much more 'free' time than we ever dreamed. It is deadly, it will kill your relationships. We need proper boundaries and we need to prioritize our use of time. Face to face encounters with those dear to us, and dear to Jesus, must not suffer because we are too busy trying to build techno-tolerant relationships.

A final thought;

Relationships require ‘give and take’, and truth is, often it is much more ‘give’ than take. If we have in mind to love and edify others, rather than love and exalt ourselves, then it should be our desire to give, to make investments in the relationship. To give without regard to whether or not we ever make withdrawals. We will want Jesus to become the supreme focus of another persons thoughts. (not us.) If this is our desire it should not bother us if the give is more than the get. Imagine if you had an open invitation into another Christian’s life for just a few minutes on an almost daily basis. What would you do with that kind of privilege?


Jesus must be first.
He must increase, WE must decrease!

A Bus Parents Faith

Did you ever stop to think about the bus parents faith? I don't know about you but it would take a lot of trust for me to send my kids off in a bus with older kids I do not know, adults I do not know, to a place I have never visited.

Many of these parents were once bus kids too and the bus ministry to them IS church. To them sending their child on the bus is as natural as a bedtime prayer, they themselves are just unable to make it. For whatever reason they grew older and stopped going to church, but they send their kids. Amen!?! Something inside of them clings to the 'faith' of their youth. We need to work prayerfully and diligently to win these folks back.

Some of them however got hooked up in drugs either dealing or using, many just got 'too busy' for Jesus, many are just trying to use Sunday to recoup from the damage of Monday through Saturday in the world. We need to help them come to Christ, or come back to Christ, whichever the case may be.

Now I know many of the bus parents like having a 'sitter' on Sunday morning so they can sleep in, or go shopping, or do 'Lord knows what'.  Some few of them perhaps could even care less whether their kid even returns home. All the more reason we should love, and pray, and work to reach them.

Did you ever stop to think about the bus parents faith? Those kids who grasp and accept the gospel, those kids who have come to know Jesus. Don't you know their hearts break to see their families saved. Don't you know their little faith hopes to see the day. Don't you know Jesus delights to answer their prayers, don't you know that Jesus cares more about mom and dad than the bus kid does! We need to tell them, the bus parents, about Jesus! Not a Jesus who is distant and unmoved by their pain, but the Jesus Who died for their sin, Who was buried in a borrowed tomb, and Who was resurrected for their justification. (Romans 4:25) The Jesus Who knocks on their souls portal and says, 'Please, Will you let Me in?'. Jesus will not force them, but we must tell them!

He must increase, WE must decrease!

Right Here, Right NOW!

So many people I have met who were raised in church and who are now in their middle ages are wringing their hands and feeling that somehow they have missed the will of God for their lives.  

Is this you? I have to admit that for some time this was me. But what I have learned, and have been assured of from above, is that God's will is not some past turn in the road or some future unattainable place or purpose.  

God's will is in being obedient in the present, in the place you are right now in this very day. Where you are at the moment is where God has intended you to be. If you have maintained an obedient stature then God has placed you where you are. "The steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord." And if you have not maintained an obedient stature then God has a plan, where you are, for if and when you decide to obey Him.

Do you love God? Have you been called into a relationship with Him through the gospel of His Son Jesus Christ unto an unfeigned love of the brethren and an unfeigned love for souls? Then Romans 8:28 is for you. "we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose." (from memory - sorry if it is not exact) ALL THINGS work together for good. This means that all of your poor decisions, all of your hardships, all of your broken relationship somehow all have worked together to temper you and make you stronger for the purpose that God has designed for you. Our sin and failure, because those who are forgiven much love much, also work together or will work in you, to give you a passion for those who are still in bondage. God makes no mistakes and nothing catches Him by surprise. I have people in my life, people I have trusted, who have hurt me deeply. I thank God for them now because they have been used to temper me and give me a zeal and compassion that I do believe I would not have otherwise. When you are hurt it gives you a heart for the hurting.

Don't be clambering after God's will as though it is some yet undiscovered future ideal for you. IT IS, but God will bring you there, and as long as you strive after it you will have no peace and you will not be content.

Jesus said, "Take no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take though for the things of its own, sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" Don't fret my friend. God is perfectly omniscient and perfectly powerful. He is perfectly capable of placing you where He wants you to be and in the time that He decides.

Be obedient in the present; right here, right now. Don't lean on your own understanding; if in anything you be otherwise minded God will reveal it to you. Jonah knew what he was running from, he was not ignorant of what God had said.  Still others were busy working in the field, or fishing, or doing their accounting at the gate, and God met them where they were and commissioned them. More still were simply faithful in the place where they were and it is recorded in His Word, Hallelujah, that God saw fit to use their gifts, sacrifices of time, and service to further His work. 

You cannot miss Gods 'call' if you are in an obedient way today.  Submit to what you know you are supposed to be doing and God will direct your steps. Count on it. He will be glorified in your life and someday, whether you stand in a pulpit week after week or not, you will hear "Well Done! Thou good and faithful servant."

He must increase, WE must decrease!

Liar Liar

"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8)

The fearful lie and say "I'm not afraid to die, I embrace life!"
The unbelieving lie and say "I'm an Athiest, there is no God!"
The abominable lie and say, "I'm alright. Live and let live!"
Those who hate others lie and say, "I just don't like them."
Whoremongers lie and say, "It's just an affair, an indiscretion."
Sorcerers lie and say, "You can have power." 
Though they feel weak.
Idolaters lie and create a god after their own liking.

And all other "liars (also), shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."

All God wants really is for us to be honest with Him. He already knows what we're made of. He already knows our deepest and darkest thoughts. Those things that we are afraid to tell anyone about. Jesus knows who and what we are and loves us anyway. All He wants is our honesty.

He said, "I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life"
Anything other than honesty is the antithesis of Who and What God Is. When we in sincerity and humility come to God He then runs to our aid and salvation.

Cast off deceit, humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, and He will lift you up. But if you will not, 
"there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin."

Jesus died and rose again so you can be free!
Will you let Him be exalted, will you humble yourself?

"He must increase, WE must decrease!"

My Cup Runneth Over

As I sat trying to get our growing toddler to take a nap I noticed that her sippy-cup was leaking. I kind of hate those stupid things... It doesn't matter the brand we buy they always seem to leak. The trick is to get the fluid into the untrained mouth without this happening but it occurred to me also that spiritually speaking this sort of thing is supposed to happen.

If you are a newly born-again Christians, that is a person who has recently come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and have called on Him and Him alone for your salvation from sin's consequences, if you would be "laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:" (1 Peter 2:1-2) then your cup will run over too.

Have you tasted that the Lord is gracious? Then lay aside any personal agenda you may have and dig into the Word of God, as you grow you will also begin to glow. Your light will shine before men, they will see your good works, and will glorify God... they will take note that God is doing a work in you. Your cup will run over.

The Psalmist prayed "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever." (Psalm 23:5-6)

Whether you are a new believer or an aged-saint God will prepare a table for us as we feast on the riches of His grace, He'll anoint our heads with His Spirit, and our cups will run over. We can't help but overflow with joy when we are in this way! Follow hard after goodness and mercy, goodness and mercy will then follow hard after you! And God's glory will increase in and through us!

"He must increase, WE must decrease!"

Thy Law Cherished

With my last two posts I contrasted law and grace, and I intend to keep on this track. Contrasting law and grace, and contrasting liberty and sin. With all this talk one might think that I follow the familiar mantra, "We're not under law but under grace!" And while I do believe we are no longer UNDER the law I do not foolishly think to dismiss law. The law is to be our delight, and the fulfilling of the law in Christ is our wellspring of life abundant.
David understood this... "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But HIS DELIGHT IS IN THE LAW of the LORD;
and IN HIS LAW DOTH HE MEDITATE day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth SHALL PROSPER" Psalm 1:1-3
No I don't think to do away with the law in my blog, just simply to frame it where God intends it to be according to the Word. Jesus is the fulfilling of the Law.
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but A NEW CREATURE.   And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God."
Galatians 6:15-16
As many as walk according to this 'rule'. This word is, kanon, it is often used metaphorically of any rule or standard, a principle or law of investigating, judging, and living, and acting.

No I do not want to dismiss the law, I want to embrace the law in the context of faith.
As James put it...
James 2:10-13 KJV
"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment."
I want to understand the law in the context of love,
"Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." Romans 13:10 KJV
How about you?
As for me The Law is Cherished they are Cherished Laws of Life.

The Law a Shadow

This is a continuation of yesterday's post about Hebrews 10:25. I made mention in my post yesterday that we see similar thoughts being conveyed to the church of Galatia as we read here in Hebrews, the more I read and re-read this book the more I see this to be so. To me it is incredible. In Galatians Paul spells out in no uncertain terms the difference of wrongly embracing the law for salvation and sanctification and properly embracing the grace of God through faith also for both salvation and sanctification. It is the difference really between genuine faith and hypocritical faith, if you want to call the latter faith at all. Really it is not faith, hypocrisy is a show of faith where the one who puts on the show is deceived. By deceived I mean they don't even really know they are doing it. There is faith involved in this to a point but then it is blurred and obscured by critical and judgmental attitudes towards some 'not-so-spiritual' others. Again I only say this because I walked several miles in those same shoes. Keep in mind that only God knows a persons heart and motives. It is not for us to identify hypocrisy in others, we must learn to identify it in ourselves. The Pharisees of scripture and what God had to say about this group of men is a great place to look to identify and evaluate the issue of hypocrisy. It is the only safe place, if we try to identify it anywhere else we will find ourselves slipping on those shoes and I don't want to go there again.

Now concerning the weakness of the law and the power of resting our faith in the Person of Christ, chapter ten, and again all of Hebrews lays this out quite nicely for us. And perhaps if we were Jewish, and even possibly if we were Pharisees or doctors of the law and scribes we would see this even more clearly.

Hebrews 10:1 says "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect."

The Law is simply a shadow, or a foreshadowing of good things to come. What wonderful and awesome and powerful good things they are too! For by one offering Jesus Christ has perfected forever them that are sanctified. Once, for all, forever! Wherefore the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us (verses 14-20) that the way into the holiest of all is now made manifest. He says we may now have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. Praise God the vail has been rent and we can now enter into a most holy and precious union with our Lord. In this union we can lay aside the letter of the law and embrace the Spirit of things. We can in holy sacred sacrificial christian love fulfill all that is spelled out to us in verses 22-25. We can draw near with a true heart. We can provoke one another to love and to good works. We can exhort one another to look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Praise God the vail has been rent! With this in mind, I think you will find it most edifying to go back and read in your Bible chapter ten of Hebrews, and I will continue this my own personal study notes and commentary another day.

TO BE CONTINUED...

For Goodness Sake Don't Forsake

There are so many halfhearted Christians running around doing things 'willy-nilly', if you will. That is to say... without much thought, consideration, or concern for others or the glory of God. Not according to the will but according to the whims of their own hearts. They may be faithful, or have a show of faithfulness to the sanctuary but in their hearts they are so many millions of miles away from the Lord, figuratively speaking.

Oftentimes they are Pharisee-like in their attitude towards church attendance, and even use Hebrews 10:25, a negative assertion, as a sort of 'bully club' to keep others in line and on the church bench. Trust me on this, I was there. I was Pharisee-like in many of my spiritual disciplines for quite some span of time.

Now concerning Hebrews ten, apart from the negative assertion of 'not forsaking the assembling' there are so many positive affirmations that can scarcely be missed if one would read all of the chapter carefully and prayerfully. God certainly does not want us to forsake the assembling of believers together in corporate worship, He never would have included that verse in His Word if it were not so, but in all reality if we would give much diligent attention to all of Hebrews ten and indeed all of Hebrews then the forsaking of ourselves together would not even be a consideration. I suspect it is added simply because it is the manner of some.

But there is another manner of some that is far more harmful to the body than the forsaking of ourselves together.  It is adhering to the letter of things and insisting that others also comply without following after the Spirit of things. We find this same admonishing, behavior, and strong reproof to the church in Galatia and without the involvement of the Spirit of God it is very damaging to the spirit of man. To say the least but there is more.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Three Forks in The Road

THERE are two ways by which a man may lose his own soul. What are they?

He may lose his soul by living and dying without any religion at all. He may live and die like a beast, prayerless, godless, graceless, faithless. This is a sure way to hell. Mind that you do not walk in it.

He may lose his soul by taking up some kind of religion. He may live and die contenting himself with a false Christianity, and resting on a baseless hope. This is the commonest way to hell there is.

What do I mean by useless kinds of religion? I will tell you.

The first thing I wish to say is this. A religion is entirely useless in which Jesus Christ is not the principal object, and does not fill the principal place.

There are only too many baptized men and women who practically know nothing about Christ. Their religion consists in a few vague notions and empty expressions. "They trust they are no worse than others; they keep to their Church; they try to do their duty; they do nobody any harm; they hope God will be merciful to them! they trust the Almighty will pardon their sins, and take them to heaven when they die." This is about the whole of their religion.

But what do these people know practically about Christ? Nothing: nothing at all! What experiential acquaintance have they with His offices and work, His blood, His righteousness, His mediation, His priesthood, His intercession? None: none at all! Ask them about a saving faith - ask them about being born again of the Spirit - ask them about being sanctified in Christ Jesus. What answer will you get? You are a barbarian to them. You have asked them simple Bible questions; but they know no more about them experientially than a Buddhist or a Muslim.

And yet this is the religion of hundreds of thousands of people who are called Christians, all over the world.

If you are a man of this kind, I warn you plainly that such Christianity will never take you to heaven. It may do very well in the eyes of men; it may pass muster very decently at the church vestry-meeting, in the place of business, in the House of Commons, or in the streets: but it will never comfort you; it will never satisfy your conscience; it will never save your soul.

I warn you plainly, that all notions and theories about God being merciful without Christ, and excepting through Christ, are baseless delusions and empty fancies. Such theories are as purely an idol of man's invention as the idol of the Hindu Juggernaut. They are all of the earth, earthy: they never came down from heaven. The God of heaven has sealed and appointed Christ as the one and only Saviour and way of life, and all who would be saved must be content to be saved by Him, or they will never be saved at all.

I give you fair warning. A religion without Christ will never save your soul.

But I have another thing yet to say. A religion is entirely useless in which you join anything with Christ in the matter of saving your soul. You must not only depend on Christ for salvation, but you must depend on Christ only and Christ alone.

There are multitudes of baptized men and women who profess to honour Christ, but in reality do Him great dishonour. They give Christ a certain place in their system of religion, but not the place which God intended Him to fill. Christ alone is not "all in all" to their souls. No: it is either Christ and the Church; or Christ and the Sacraments; or Christ and His ordained ministers; or Christ and their own goodness; or Christ and their own prayers; or Christ and their own sincerity and charity, on which they practically rest their souls.

If you are a Christian of this kind I warn you also plainly that your religion is an offence to God. You are changing God's plan of salvation into a plan of your own devising. You are, in effect, deposing Christ from His throne, by giving the glory due to Him to another.

I care not who it is that teaches you your religion and on whose word you build. Whether he be Pope or Cardinal, Archbishop or Bishop, Dean or Archdeacon, Presbyter or Deacon, Episcopalian or Presbyterian, Baptist or Independent, Methodist or Plymouth Brother - whosoever adds anything to Christ, teaches you wrong.

I care not what it is that you add to Christ. Whether it be the necessity of joining the Church of Rome, or of being an Episcopalian, or of becoming a Free Churchman, or of giving up the liturgy, or of being baptized by immersion, whatever you may practically add to Christ in the matter of salvation, you do Christ an injury.

Take heed what you are doing. Beware of giving to Christ's servants the honour due to none but Christ. Beware of giving the Lord's ordinances the honour due unto the Lord. Beware of resting the burden of your soul on anything but Christ, and Christ alone. Beware of having a religion which is of no use, and cannot save.

It is an awful thing to have no religion at all. To have an immortal soul committed to your charge, and neglect it, this is dreadful.

But it's no less an awful thing to be content with a religion than can do you no good.

Do not let this be your case. - J. C. Ryle

He Makes The Difference

There is No Difference

Between the Jewish or Greek

There is No Difference

For we also are Weak

There is No Difference
Though contrary they Speak

There is No Difference

From those who can Win

And from those who do Lose

There is No Difference

But Christ Who enters In

And Christ IF we Choose

There is No Difference

For all on self have Relied

There is No Difference

Except Jesus Who Died

He Makes the Difference
If to Jesus you've Cried

There's Only One Difference
Between those who are Lost

And those He has Saved

He made the Difference

By sins tempest Tossed

And By Right He was Raised

He Is Our Difference
His Glory be Praised

Though He is Our Difference
And we're creatures Brand New

There is No Difference

From the False and the True

There is No Difference

Unless His Spirit Fills You

Let Christ be The Difference
He wills that you do

Rom 3:21-23   “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference : For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

Rom 10:11-13   “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Gal. 5:14-18 “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. 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.”

THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE

Let Him be the difference
In you for you

"He must increase, WE must decrease!"