Escaping the Captive Maker

We’re having an ugly fight here in the U.S.  Here is my 9 minute commentary about what’s happening to people caught in the heat of argument, and how they can thrive in it—by design. 

Fruit & Glory

Why I Will Watch the Inauguration of Donald Trump (And What Happens Now)

As a son of God, a citizen of heaven and an ambassador of the grace of Jesus, I am looking forward to watching today’s Presidential Inauguration, one of the most amazing and emblematic ceremonies in the world.  I have watched inaugurations since I was a boy, having parents who admired the free and peaceful transition of authority in my country.  Now that my perspective is from a far more grand position—I am in Christ, a Christian—I am not as caught up in the opinions of what will and won’t happen as I am in the meaningful and reverent spectacle itself. 

Each new administration is tasked with the impossible goal of conceiving and enacting righteousness.  As always, judgment awaits.  Not only do opinions vary greatly as to what the right thing to do is, but the angry fight over righteousness reveals the ancient struggle to achieve and earn what the Holy Spirit offers as a free gift.  The visible achievement and reward of every administration previous to the one being sworn in is filthy rags.  Nobody gets it right.  I don’t expect this one to be any different, but we will argue and criticize each other as if we can finally attain the impossible.

This is a struggle over righteousness.  If you’re a Christian and do not recognize the struggle as well as the arrogance of it, you might well be caught up in it and wonder why knowing and enjoying Jesus has vanished—replaced by an inferior “knowing” involving who’s right and who’s wrong.  Condemnations galore.  The pursuit of self-righteousness has a lure and passion all its own—one known for centuries of futility.  I’ve been told that we Christians must separate in our thinking the righteousness of this world from the righteousness of heaven.  But I think if we do that, we get tangled in the confusion of this world as though we are of it and not alien.  We forget who we are.  If you and I do not see what Jesus sees, if we don’t know what true reality is, then we fall to deception and act accordingly.  That’s going to be ugly.

So think about who you are, a son of God.  Think about where you are, in Christ.  Think about what your involvement with this world is to be mostly about—the offer of the gift of Jesus, and of life and righteousness in a world bent upon proving it can do without.  There are decisions worthy of debate, to be sure, so clarity and the leading of the Spirit going forward is our hope.  Until the government is no longer upon His shoulders only and is in His hands, it is the best offer there is.

Open

Do you wonder what I'm reading?  This is David Gregory's newest book, and I'm really loving it.  He's an excellent writer and a very good man, and I recommend everything he's done, including, "The Rest of the Gospel." Click the link to find out more.

https://www.amazon.com/Open-Get-Ready-Adventure-Lifetime/dp/1496413962/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1484072739&sr=1-4&keywords=david+gregory

Intimacy With God

Intimacy with God is not something you need to earn or achieve.  Intimacy with Him is something He already achieved and gave you, and is something you learn to enjoy.  It will never be your burden, but always His gift.

1 Corinthians 6:17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with Him in spirit.