No Man Can Steal What God Gives

Today, it seems peace and joy are elusive. Sadly, hope seems a bit out of reach. Yet, I know that God is ultimately in control of all my circumstances. Good or bad, if they are allowed by God, it must be for his purposes to help transform me to look more like Jesus. In the Bible's book of John, chapter 3 verse 27, John the Baptist is addressing the people: "John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven." This reminds me that things like joy, hope, peace and more - especially eternal life- cannot be robbed from me by the actions of anyone else. I need to remember that! Do you?

日本に新たな王国がやってくる

はるかに新しい何かが日本にやってくる。ファンタジースプリングスがこれからも成し得ないほど大きく、より良く、もっと印象的な何かが。信じがたいかもしれませんが、本当のことです。「神は世を愛されたので、独り子(イエス)をお与えになった。それは、神を信じる者はだれでも滅びず、永遠のいのちを得るためである。神が御子を世に遣わして世を非難したからではなく、神を通して世が救われるからです。(ヨハネの聖書)

そこで彼らは、盲目で口のきけな悪霊に抑圧されている人(イエス)をイエスのところに連れて来て、イエスが彼を癒したので、その人は話し、見ました。民はみな驚いて言った、「これはダビデの子でしょうか。」しかし、パリサイ人たちはそれを聞いて、「この人は悪霊の長であるベルゼブブによってのみ、悪霊を追い出すことができるでしょう」と言いました。イエスは自分の考えを知って、彼らに言った、「すべての分裂した王国は、その前に荒れ果て、分裂した町や家は、その前に立つことはありません。そして、サタンがサタンを追い出すなら、サタンは自分自身に対して分裂するでしょう。では、彼の王国はどうなるでしょうか?もし私がベルゼブブによって悪霊を追い出すなら、あなたの息子たちは誰によって悪霊を追い出すでしょうか。ですから、彼らはあなたの裁判官になります。しかし、もし私が悪霊を追い出したのが神の御霊によってであるならば、神の国はあなたがたの上に来たのです。(聖書のマタイ)

その時、私は新しい天と新しい地を見た。最初の天と最初の地は消え去り、海はもうなかったからである。そして、聖なる都、新しいエルサレムが神から天から来て、手入れの行き届いた結婚式のように夫のために準備されているのを見ました。そして、玉座から「見よ、神の住まいは人とともにある」という大きな声が聞こえました。神は彼らと共に住み、彼らは神の民となり、神ご自身が彼らの神として彼らとともにおられるでしょう。神は彼らの目からすべての涙を拭い去り、もはや死、嘆き、泣き、痛みはないでしょう。(黙示録)

That Thing You Do

Back to the beginning. Not quite the very beginning, but very close. Well, let's go at least back to the beginning where I really began to get connected to a local group of Jesus followers. In the city of Orange, at its very famous Orange Circle- the area was the physical centerpiece of the movie That Thing You Do- lies an old movie theater that was converted to a church. Back when the area was run down and the people on the street were falling apart, Pastor Joe Magliato brought Jesus and new life. Even in his 80's, he's still going strong. God bless him! As for me, I know God was faithful in a dark time. Oh, LORD, that thing you do as we trust in you...

Coffee Shop Wisdom #2

I just can't imagine gaining your life philosophy from some product's marketing campaigns or the latest fad of the month. Instead, think through with gusto what you believe. That said, I do pay attention to what is around me, and I am influenced by the world I live in. Yet, I'm also influenced by the spiritual world I live in- the one I cannot see but I know exists. Here's a truth found in a local coffee shop that I know without a doubt is built on truth. A notable and quotable from St. Augustine. 
 

Coffee Shop Wisdom

Here's some real coffee shop wisdom! When stopping into the local Starbucks or Caribou Coffee, I rarely expect to be confronted with this kind of real truth. But I found it in an unexpected place when I went to meet a friend in the Metro Denver area. You know, anytime someone attaches the name of Jesus to something, I have to think twice. This time, the message was so strong, I couldn't just walk by!

Slapped Around By God

Have you ever felt like God has your number? Like He is paying attention to you and wants you to wake up to some awful thought or practice in your life? Boy, oh boy. This morning's message from the great Oswald Chambers and his classic My Utmost For His Highest hit me square between the eyes! So, let me share my personal correction from God with you:

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 He has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature.— 2 Peter 1:4

Through God’s promises, we participate in the divine nature. But if we want to express the divine nature in our human nature, we must form habits—and the very first habit we must form is the habit of recognizing God’s provision.

Do you often find yourself saying, “I can’t afford it”? One of the worst lies is tucked up in this statement. It’s considered bad taste to talk about money—how much you have or don’t have—and the same is true of spiritual riches. We talk as though our heavenly Father has cut us off without a cent. We think it’s a sign of modesty to say, “It was a real struggle, but I got by.” Meanwhile, all of God Almighty is ours through the Lord Jesus Christ.

If we obey God, he will tax the last grain of sand and the remotest star to bless us. What does it matter if our external circumstances are difficult? Why shouldn’t they be? If we indulge in the luxury of misery and give way to self-pity, we banish God’s riches from our lives. No sin is worse than self-pity, because it erases God and puts self-interest on the throne. It opens our mouths to spit out streams of complaint, and our lives become constantly craving spiritual sponges, with nothing lovely or generous about them.

When God is beginning to be satisfied with us, he will impoverish every source of phony wealth in our lives, until we learn that true wealth lies only in him. If we aren’t consciously aware of the fact that his majesty and grace and power are being manifested in us, God holds us responsible.

“God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). Learn to lavish the blessings of God on others, and his blessings will come through you all the time.

Death City and the Zombie Invasion!

They're coming! Clear the way! This is the real thing! More real than Death City! Universal Studios popular Halloween Horror Nights is coming faster than you can say, "Really! But Summer hasn't even started!" Ever been fascinated with zombies, vampires, and the occult? Boy, I have! Even going back to Dark Shadows television show of the 1960s. Looking back to a popular television series in the early part of this century, I found there's a lot of learning to do about zombies. Just check out The Walking Dead.

Poor Sheriff Rick Grimes! The long-standing hero of AMC's The Walking Dead, loses one beloved person after another to the zombie invasion. With almost four seasons under his belt, you think he'd be a bit tired from this zombie invasion...and become a walker much sooner than later.

Truth is, we're all prisoners or walkers. In the Bible's book of Romans, the Apostle Paul tells the readers we are all dead in our sins, doomed for eternal damnation without God. In a sense, we are prisoners of our own making. Think of what you have done in your past that brings you shame, that has hurt others, that has been dishonest or lacked love. If you're like me, that is quite a bit of things to regret and can be a heavy weight to live under. We're prisoners of our own doing!

And yet, Jesus! Thankfully, Jesus, the Son of God, paid the price Himself for our sin- my sin, your sin. And those that would put their faith in Him and live for Him, believing Jesus was raised from the dead for our benefit, would be given a new life. A life that begins anew here and one that will last for all eternity. Can I hear an "Amen!"?

But- and this is a big one- even those of us that know and love and trust Jesus- can act as if we are the Living Dead. How does this happen? It happens in a few ways: 

1- We can choose to live like we used to. Living a life that only pleases us, therefore we look and act no different than when we encountered Jesus. And the darkness in us grows stronger than the true light over time. 

2- We can insulate ourselves from the dying world around us. In the church, this is sometimes referred to as "the Christian Bubble". What happens is we hang out only with those who think as we do. The problem is, this kind of living creates a dullness in our souls. Why? Because we are made for more! We are made to love others and share the news of Jesus with them. 

3- We can live our lives as victims instead of as those victorious in Christ. I see this happen all the time. Let's face it- crap happens to all of us. Betrayal, deceit, disappointment, illness, misfortune, death. Jesus never did promise us an easy life- and He sure didn't have one. If believers in Jesus begin to own that as their identity, instead of realizing they love and serve the Living God, bitterness and sadness rule their lives instead of joy and peace. 

There's a Zombie Invasion in our world. People of all types are lonely, discouraged, and disappointed. The church itself has even taken on a victim mentality. (And I'm not saying it should be all wealth and health and prosperity- that's not a godly viewpoint nor one that is supported by reading the Bible as a whole.) What I am saying is that too many people who say they believe do not live as if Jesus has really overcome. 

Let's not be satisfied to live as a walker or a prisoner. Let's embrace new life in Jesus Christ- the only one who can give it- and live in freedom, joy, and peace- with a great eternity ahead as we persevere!

You ARE Being Watched!

You are being watched at all times, but not always in a creepy way like this! So, I write this today to a friend in need, (but it may apply to those of you reading here as well)- I read this today and thought of you: 

“You are the God who sees me.” He KNOWS you and where you are at. He cares for you and even if it may feel like you’ve been forgotten or tossed aside or wounded as a byproduct of someone else’s problem or sin, He - our wonderful personal God- loves you deeply and will take care of you.

                            Genesis 16:13

Indeed!

This was impossible. Were the women really seeing what was right in front if them? Early in the morning as the sun broke, they had gone to the tomb. Unexpectedly, what they found there startled them, scared them, and filled them with joy they never expected to have. "Don't be afraid." what an appropriate thing for this heavenly being to speak to the ladies. Quite fitting actually as many times, angelic beings began with these words before sharing something significant to humans. The next words out of his mouth stunned them: Jesus has risen from the dead and is going into Galilee. You'll see him there. In these days, the testimony of women was not considered reliable. The very fact that God continued to share incredible truths with women as well as men generation after generation was one more proof of their value. As they headed out from there to tell the disciples that Jesus had risen, they encountered him on the road. What they did next is what all mankind should be doing- they fell at his feet and worshiped him. Jesus, the one fully God and fully man had conquered death on a cross, proving he was who He said. His words, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." He wasn't being exclusive; He was being inclusive- making sure everyone had a chance to hear the truth when he knew false prophets would broadcast lies. Jesus told it straight up. No one will get to heaven without believing, having faith that He is who He says he is. Jesus has Risen. Indeed! 

 

The Unexpected Silence

The absolute silence was so loud it was deafening. Could this really be happening? Even if things went on as they always did, the truth was that the man they looked to was dead. He had promised so much. A new life. Hope. Peace. Joy in the midst of pain. And an eternity with God the Father. He said He alone was the path to heaven. He said following Him was a very narrow path but He was the only truth. The self-proclaimed king promised He was the one to give real life when the world only offered a counterfeit in an attempt to steal their lives and their future. Shockingly, the very people he'd come to love and care for betrayed him. At the direction of the authorities, the soldiers beat him to a bloody pulp. He was so weak, so broken, so physically shattered, that a man pulled out from the crowd was "recruited" to carry his cross. The very cross that he would hang on next to two common criminals. All he had done was challenge the system and offer freedom. But people didn't like that, so he paid the ultimate price. Spikes were pound into his hands and feet. Then he was raised up as if on display to those watching. Both his mother and his best friend watched with a mix of deep sorrow and confusion. The weather shifted, and the sky blackened as if in response to what was happening on the earth below. As he bled until the end, he asked his Heavenly Father to forgive them. His famous last words seemed odd: "It is finished." Those who followed him went home broken hearted. 

(Copyright Mark Taft.)

Waves of Sadness

I had such hope for reconciliation between some folks I know. Their conflicts seemed endless, and the misunderstandings between them went on and on. Didn't expect the impact on me. But it is real. I know the Lord will heal me as I pray and wait and watch. My heart wishes that each person involved could see the other just like God sees them: imperfect but forgiven and worthy of love. If they could only let go of offenses. Then maybe forgiveness could flow, and they would be free instead of held captive by bitterness. In the meantime, it hurts them, and it hurts me.

One More Goodbye

It's time to say goodbye to another friend. We weren't exactly what you'd call close, we didn't hang out a lot together, but we were always real when it mattered. And it mattered a lot! We worked together in a very high stress situation. His wisdom and good questions always had impact. As a man who followed Jesus and lived a life worthy of his name, I know when my time comes, we'll see each other again. That is a comfort. I hope you can say the same with certainty.

Words Get in the Way

With sincerest apologies to Gloria Estefan, my words get in the way all the time! They're not even always words of anger, they are often words spoken out of time or even confessions from my heart that get me into trouble. I do try to use my words to build others up, but that may be only when I'm on my very best behavior. the Bible's book of Proverbs says "... the tongue has power of life and death... (chapter 18, verse 21). Am I using my words to encourage people and strengthen them or do I use them to tear others down, thinking that's how I can build myself up? Oh, how I need Jesus!!!

Two Years In

Through a series of truly surprising events- including one I know without a doubt is divine intervention- I made a big change in my life that helped me feel more whole and alive than I thought possible. It was a very scary thing to commit to and to change the way I was living. Forgive me for being cryptic. It's just something so deep, I can't share it publicly. But I did want to "mark" it for the years ahead.
 

Notable and Quotable: Jelly Roll

 "“The way shame sometimes shows itself is not always the way we expect it to be. We think shame is somebody in the streets on their knees, with their head down. But shame sometimes is pride. Sometimes shame is just bravado. Behind real bravado, I can normally find shame. I can normally find guilt. I can normally find insecurity. I was the biggest, the loudest, the toughest, the meanest, the growliest, the fattest. There’s normally deep inside of that a really, really small, insecure human. I was that, for sure."

                                                        Jelly Roll

                                                                       from an interview in Men's Health

Gifted musician and recent massive weight loss champion Jason Bradley DeFord, aka Jelly Roll shows some incredible insights. Reflection and growth await all of us if we work at it. And for those who believe in Jesus or want to investigate his claims, we can discover a God who works on our behalf:

I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Psalm 34:4-8

Chilling Reminder from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

These words from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. chill me to the bone: "He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it." 

As a follower of Jesus, this incredible leader still makes an impact. I believe the only hate we ever saw in him was his hate of injustice. 

He also stood strongly in support of the State of Israel: “The whole world must see that Israel must exist and has a right to exist – and is one of the great outposts of democracy in the world.”

In a world that is increasingly moving to full hatred against this nation, we must heed the words of John the beloved apostle:

 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.  Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.  But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.

1 John 2:9-11

We cannot do these things in our own strength if they are to be done rightly and for long term impact. We must first be changed inside so we can move forward with the right heart and attitude. How? Dr. King shares the secret:

“By opening our lives to God in Christ, we become new creatures. This experience, which Jesus spoke of as the new birth, is essential if we are to be transformed nonconformists … Only through an inner spiritual transformation do we gain the strength to fight vigorously the evils of the world in a humble and loving spirit.”

                                                                        Martin Luther King Jr.

 

Faith solely rooted in God's love was the ultimate driving factor in all Dr. King accomplished. That was his legacy. What will be yours?

I Want This Man's Job!

Go to over 40 countries? Check! Go to every single continent? Check? Create a documentary on your findings and entice the world to tune in? Check! Yes, I want this man's job! Who is the man? The lucky man in question is Texan Dave Stotts, and he's the one who has created the series Drive Thru History. You can finds it on Prime.

This guy is also a man with a purpose. He takes a deep, hard look at the impact of Jesus Christ all around the world. Telling stories that are inspiring but totally honest, he travels as he speaks on the impact of the Twelve Apostles, other believers, and those who use the name of Christ to then kill indigenous peoples in order to gain their treasure and their land. He holds nothing back. This specific series is subtitled The Ends of the Earth- How Christianity Changed the World. 

The twenty episodes are 25 minutes each. Each area of the world is covered. The photography is just as breathtaking as the stories Dave tells. Just to keep things even more interesting, his journeys are taken in a wide variety of cool cars and other modes of transportation.

Like I said, I want this man's job! Where do I apply? 

A Better Experience Than What Disney Offers

Let's continue the new year together by thinking about others instead of ourselves. There's a great joy in serving, in having your eyes opened to something and stepping in to make a difference. The simple act of our obedience in taking action can lead to surprising, life changing results. (Usually, it changes us just as much as the people we serve.) Yet, we do not do this alone. God is always working: 

“Look among the nations, and see;

wonder and be astounded.

For I am doing a work in your days

    that you would not believe if told."

Habakkuk 1:5

Put God to the test. Ask Him to open your eyes to where you should make a difference and then walk in with your heart open. It may be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life!

Has My Ship Sailed?

When I first began the Insights and Sounds blog many years ago, 18 to be exact, it was never intended to be "All Disney All the Time". That's just not where my heart was. I certainly was tempted at times to go that route as so many folks were doing because of all the perks of being invited to special events and such. But I'm glad I stuck to my guns. 

Later, I also toyed with the idea of monetizing the site and then decided against that. You have little control of ad content on your site. Sadly, I've also seen un-family friendly material- actual pornography in the truest sense of the word- show up on family friendly sites I used to visit. One great one never recovered. All due to hackers I suppose, but it is unfortunate that there are those who want to expose children to such things.

Maybe most importantly, I wanted to be able to freely write about what I wanted to write about at any given time. Music, issues of faith and more. Or I chose not to write at all, as evidenced by stretches of time when there just wasn't anything of interest worth blogging about.

You Tube vlogging has now surpassed traditional blog sites. I do not have a face or a voice for video, so that is not a route I am going to follow. 

We will see what happens in the future. I certainly have many more things to write about and have some great posts planned. Will readers follow along or will they jump ship? Hard to say I guess.

Come back tomorrow for my first big Disney related post of the year...

New Year, New Beginnings

A fresh year! A chance to start again and reimagine our future! I just love the hope that a new year brings and the opportunity to refocus and begin again. Let yesterday's failures fall behind you. Join with me on the beginning to a new path, a new life, a different way of seeing yourself, others, and God. He is for you! His love is so deep that he sent Jesus to the earth to redeem us from our broken state and offer us eternal life if we follow Him. As good as that is in itself, our God also promises to be with us each step of the way giving us the strength we need to live out our lives in a way that honors Him and blesses us.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

                                              Hebrews 12:1-2

We don't have to do this on our own! In fact, God goes before us. 

Let me encourage you further with some great words from Oswald Chambers on how God sees our past, our present, and our future. This is from the book My Utmost For His Highest, taken from the entry for December 31:

"You shall not go out with haste,

. . . for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard" —Isaiah 52:12

Security from Yesterday. “. . . God requires an account of what is past” (Ecclesiastes 3:15). At the end of the year we turn with eagerness to all that God has for the future, and yet anxiety is apt to arise when we remember our yesterdays. Our present enjoyment of God’s grace tends to be lessened by the memory of yesterday’s sins and blunders. But God is the God of our yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual growth for our future. God reminds us of the past to protect us from a very shallow security in the present.

Security for Tomorrow. “. . . the Lord will go before you . . . .” This is a gracious revelation— that God will send His forces out where we have failed to do so. He will keep watch so that we will not be tripped up again by the same failures, as would undoubtedly happen if He were not our “rear guard.” And God’s hand reaches back to the past, settling all the claims against our conscience.

Security for Today. “You shall not go out with haste . . . .” As we go forth into the coming year, let it not be in the haste of impetuous, forgetful delight, nor with the quickness of impulsive thoughtlessness. But let us go out with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel will go before us. Our yesterdays hold broken and irreversible things for us. It is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ.

Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.