As I sit here now trying to find an idea, seeking inspiration so that my timetable will stay in tact, I find nothing within myself worth putting to text.  Nothing.  Nothing at all within myself.  There are days that I sit here and type the entirety start to finish without a second thought.  Today I sit here, not much different than I normally am, but today my focus is different.  Today it is a thing on my list – to be crossed off and moved beyond.

Funny how under those conditions not a word of value or a speck of inspiration comes.  Not a witty conclusion or a story comes to mind.   That is the truth of these short little essays.  When written for my benefit and at the whim of when I am ready, I may sit and sit and sit, but it is for nothing.  Such writing is about me, and I am a sinner.  One of little note at that.  When compared against the measure of greatness, I will always fall short.  For what other measure is there of greatness except God most high?

When I tell God to show up, He may, but it is not because I said so, but because He has decided.  No the task is not in putting Him in His place, but reacquainting me with mine.   My place is at the foot of the cross, if I am feeling charitable, or on it if I am honest.  A sinner plain and simple, nothing more, and there is nothing less.

To sit here and think I can manufacture within myself something that changes hearts and minds…. The arrogance of a fallen sinner.  No it would have been better if I started fresh and began anew.  Yet what is the point of hiding this fact?  If I fix my eyes on Jesus and mold my life in that direction, something worth saying will come.

That something always has, and always will be, “Jesus loves you.”  Honestly what more is there to say?  What could compare to those words?  Certainly none of mine – unless that is what I say to you now.

Jesus loves you.

~JCPunk

The other day, whilst cruising about the internet, I saw a photo of a protester.  He had a big sign listing out huge portions of the US population (Democrats, Jews, Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah’s Whitenesses, Atheists, Homosexuals, Transvestites, Rapists, and about 20 more groups) letting them all know, in no uncertain terms that “You are all going to BURN IN HELL.”  That was it; that was his whole message.  Seems so sad.

I do not know this man, and I may never meet him.  I do know that he needs Jesus.  One of the few groups left out of his sign are Christians.  He professes a membership there; I will be among the first to tell you not to judge another’s heart.  The plank is already within your own eye.  So much hate, however, leaves one to question.  Where is the Fruit of the Spirit in this man’s life?  In his picketting of a funeral, I see not love.  I see not kindness.  I see not gentleness.  I see not self-control.  He has a smile on his face, this may be joy.  He seems not afraid of the police there, this may be peace.  He waited for hours so that he could attend, this is patience.

I can find elements of the Fruit of the Spirit in his actions,  yet this I know – he needs Jesus.  I remember Paul saying something about being a resounding gong without love.  It is so very wrong to only tell half of the truth.  In sin there is death, but in Jesus there is life.  It is easy to come down on this man.  His hate is so obvious, and his need for love so clear.  What then of you and I.  Whom have we failed to love?  Whom have we, by our actions, only told of death?

I we really any better?  I often have cause to doubt it.

~JCPunk

Anyone out there remember those “Where’s Waldo” books?  It is really a simple sort of book. There is this guy Waldo in a picture.  Find him.  Growing up where I did, I encountered not merely the phenomenon but also the shock, horror and disgust which got it banned for many libraries.  I will not tell you that I approve of the offending image, nor that I feel it was appropriate, but what followed was equally ridiculous.

I attended a private Christian school at the time.  Every other Friday we received an advertisement (which pretended to be a magazine, but I saw through their ploy)  for books that children of our age would enjoy.  When we got them there was a very simple exercise, read it and circle three books you would like to read.  But then the great Waldo hunt began, once it was public knowledge amongst the teaching staff, we added a new exercise to the mix.  First, when we got the advertisement we would search for all books published by Candlewick (publisher’s of Waldo books) and scribble all over their adds so that they could not be read by anyone.  Then we would look for books to read.  Of course the Waldo books from our library were already long gone.  Later that semester new books appeared in their place.  It seems Waldo could not be kept down so he had been “Christianized” and behold the “Find Freddy” series was born.  Freddy was a good Christian boy touring the great stories of the Bible.  You could find Freddy at the birth of Christ or the Resurrection (seems the Crucification was itself sanitized away).

Fighting from every side, the Church as a whole stole this successful idea as they censored the opposition.  Of course, as their pawn I was told nothing of why we hated Waldo.  For my “protection” I was kept innocent of what was done that merited such rancor.  Instead I was shown the way a Christian community responds to something inappropriate.  With hate, with censors, and with theft.

Sounds to me like somebody missed out on Love your enemies and pray for those how persecute you.  In the end we were their enemies by our choice and where the persecutors rather than the persecuted.  I know Jesus died for these people, that ought to be enough for anyone to show them love.  Ultimately that was not the most appropriate drawing, but the truth can be spoken in love.  It means something when you care enough to be tactful.  The end result of this sad little story is simply this, good caring Christians taught a school of children to hate without reason and without limit.  Go read Matthew 18:6 now.

The other day I was talking with someone about a ministry opportunity. Each of us remained convinced that this ministry was God’s Will, but I, to the one side, could not go and he, to the other, was not convinced it was the very best use of God’s money that we could find.

This prompted my thinking and I haven’t yet been able to put the idea away. Are we really to seek out at all costs the very best use of God’s money? In the end I think no, but let me show you why.

Perhaps a more relevant question is how we decide between two very good uses which is the best? I remember a story about a woman who took a years wages, in perfume format, and broke it on Jesus feet. Those assembled where horrified, yet Jesus called it a good thing. I wonder then if we can really say what is a good and holy without first understanding why this was a great act. I have heard hundreds of sermons preached on this very notion, to sum it up here in this space would be in appropriately brief. Yet I do believe what that all means about the expenses of the kingdom must be part of the answer

Lastly, my own pet theory, how exactly is it that you or I could say that this holy act is less important than than holy act? Are not all the ways of God valuable and worth every sacrifice? How do I judge between two lost souls? Which do I say is worthy of a gift and which do I say should have nothing given unto them? I do not know how this could be decided, and it seems that when I say the “very best” use of God’s money what I do is this: decide for myself what is and is not truly the will of God. If it is a holy and righteous act, then it is God’s will.  To seek the “very best” use of God’s money is more an act of my selfishness and controlling the will of God than it is seeking after Him. It is to say the best of the will of God is not good enough.

The will of God will be accomplished. If you believe that, then there is no very best choice – there is no best choice, there simply is in accord with and in challenge of. His will will be done – on earth as it is in heaven. To insist on a very best is to arrogantly partner with God. He is either Lord or He is not.

~JCPunk

Am I the only one who has gotten tired of the relentless “End Times” discourse?  I remember very clearly being there in kindergarten and hearing the teach tell us not to worry too much about mastering something because Jesus may return before we need to use it.  I recall a similar sort of discussion in my 4th grade Sunday School, in my 7th grade Gym class, and just about every single leaders meeting in a high school ministry I worked with. So much concern for the end of the world, but it really all seems for naught.

Bear with me here, but if Jesus is right about His return, then He should also be right about the circumstances there of.  In Matthew 24:44, Jesus says He is coming when we do not expect Him.  If we speak, then, at every turn of the return of God; what have we achieved?  If we honestly expect the end of things at this very moment, or at the next – have we not by our very actions worked counter to that occurring?  What does that achieve?

I have been often told that the coming end is a great motivator which spurs people onto great acts of ministry, but I have seen those same people years later working no great ministry, serving no people and waiting on God to end things so that their disappointment shall be gone too.  It is a wonderful thing to get your courage in line and go out into the world helping and hearing and ministering to all who have need.  Yet work on a deadline has its timetable.  It is a great thing to prepare the way of the Lord for Him.  All that must come to pass will, but not in our timetable and not in our way of thinking.  The foundations of this earth were laid without our consent and they shall be pulled up with or without our permission.  God shall move on His own, and in the end, it will be all of us who find it unexpected.

You may choose to argue the point.  You may find it to be absurd that we should ignore the coming end.  Jesus Himself told us to put our house in order and to stay awake and sober for when the bridegroom returns.  He did indeed command that, but what is more He commanded a life which lives a love of God and a love of people.  A life which lives out His actions, and models itself after His love and sacrifice is already ready already.  I cannot get my house in order without giving up on predicting the end of things.  To live a life like His, I must live here and now.  I must this very day take up my cross and follow Him – to whatever end.

~jcpunk