Flamingo or Pigeon?

 

I found this little banner at the Dollar Store the other day, and because I like flamingos, I bought it, not realizing it had a saying on it. When I unrolled it and read it, I laughed and hung it up outside as a decoration in my yard. It makes me smile when I look at it.

However, as I was contemplating the meaning, I saw that the most obvious meaning in a worldly sense means ‘to stand out from the crowd.’ It occurred to me that this could be offensive to some of the ‘pigeons’ out there who might choose to look at it negatively, but then I began to see a deeper meaning to it from a biblical perspective.

We are called to be “lights on a hill” to the lost—a bright light of God’s love for His creation. As ambassadors for Christ, how are we doing with that? 

Are we being flamingos, not in the sense of our physical beauty and plumage or lack thereof, but inwardly separated out of the flock of humanity? Or are we hidden in the crowd, doing what they do in order to fit in and be like them so we can be accepted?  We are called to be separate, a peculiar people unto the Lord. Again, as the "peculiar, set apart people" of God, how well are we doing with this?

The other thing I saw was that each flamingo was a different shade of pink—one dark, one medium, and one light.  Skin color doesn’t matter to God for He made us all. We can look at the natural world around us and know that He likes variety and lots of it.

There are all kinds of lessons to be found in the natural world if we but have seeing eyes and hearing ears.

Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.    1 Corinthians 15:46  

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:   Romans 1:20

Book Review: Daring to Think Again

Daring to Think Again : Restoring Jesus' Original Challenge to the Faith We Think We Know

by David Brisbin 

For any Christian who believes the Bible as the whole word of God; any who believe that Jesus is God in the flesh and He came to die for our sins and redeem us from it; any who believe that there is a hell and a coming judgment day; this book is not for you. 

While Mr. Brisbin is certainly persuasive in his writing and speaking technique (I went to his website and did some research), he spews forth a mixture of truth and lies that is highly deceptive and in direct opposition to the Doctrines of Christ as put forth in the Bible. He is a spin master of great skill.  

If you are new to the family of God or if you aren't well-versed in the Scriptures, the chances of you falling for the deceptions he is promoting through his books and website will be pretty high. 

I'm fairly certain he genuinely believes the ideas—which he admits he learned from a Jesuit priest in the Franciscan order—are the truth, and he now zealously passes on the deception to others with great sweetness of manner. The devil masquerades as an angel of light. Mr. Brisbin is masquerading as a Bible-believing follower of Jesus—what the original apostles/disciples would call a false teacher who should be avoided like the plague. 

I do not recommend this book to anyone. 

Doom and Gloom or Cause for Joy?

Gross darkness even now covers the world.  Photos courtesy of UnSplash

In light of current worldwide events in which the world seems to be going crazy right before our eyes, how are people handling all of this? Views and reactions seem to range from fear to hatred to total indifference and everything in between, depending upon whose report you have been listening to the most. The current pandemic is compounded with increased human violence, not to mention the increasing instability of the natural world with earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, and geo-engineered weather, etc., also increasing in frequency [for lists also check out Wikipedia natural disasters]. Even the sun is at the end of an 11 year cycle which could presage a solar drought “reminiscent of the Maunder Minimum period of 1645-1715” that would signal a “Little Ice Age” such as happened at the same time as the solar drought at the turn of the 18th century according to a Washington Post article. 

According to whichever media you listen to, the world-at-large projects doom and gloom while simultaneously encouraging you to look at some few incidents of kindness that direct you to think and believe that it's all going to be okay. The media and the powers that be would tell us that mankind can fix this. It may take a long time to resolve, but just wait for the vaccine that will soon be made available and will make everything okay, and meanwhile wear a mask all the time, keep your distance from others, and stay home like good little citizens and everything will turn out all right. Have as little physical contact as possible.  Focus on the good things, don't believe all the 'bad things' you hear; let the government and mainstream media guide your understanding, as well as provide you with billions/trillions of dollars of government aid that few seem to understand is meant to make you dependent upon your government so you can be more easily controlled; and above all be hopeful that we can all weather this storm together. Everyone's B.S. Meters ought to be off the charts.

Ummmm....excuse me. Is anyone reading their Bible or believing what it says?

Obviously, this message is intended for believers in Jesus Christ worldwide; to those who consider themselves to be a part of the body of Christ even if only in a vague way.

1 Corinthians 2:13-15  13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.  14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  15  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

God's judgments are targeted,
only doing what He specifically desires.

1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Peter wrote this in the beginning of the first century. It would seem God has been dealing with the church for two millennia as evidenced by famines, pestilences, earthquakes, storms, etc., throughout the last 2,000 years! God is not always going to strive with man. There is a time limit on this. We are in the beginning of sorrows that Jesus talked about in Matthew 24. Who is recognizing the signs of the times? 

Understand the time in which we live. Psalm 30:5 quoted below talks about joy coming in the morning after the night of weeping. Morning has not arrived yet. Darkness is covering the face of the earth. Now is the time for repentance and returning to God, not for joy and revelry. It is now time for calling upon our Creator while He may yet be found. It is a time for weeping in repentance for our hard-heartedness and coldness towards God, both as a church and individually; for our lack of obedience to His Word; for throwing out parts of His Word and declaring them null and void because of a lack of understanding of God's “grace,” when in truth His grace has been at work since before the foundations of the world were put in place; for our adulterous co-mingling with the world until no one can tell the difference between the godly and the ungodly. Now is the time to repent of our Laodicean attitude of lukewarmness towards God that He might not vomit us out of His mouth. Revelation 3:14-22

We are called to be holy as our God is holy. We are called to be a peculiar people, set apart unto God. How are we doing with that?

Deuteronomy 26:18-19  18 And the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;  19 And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the Lord thy God, as he hath spoken.

1 Peter 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

The Bible—the Word of God—is still as valid today as it has ever been.  2 Timothy 3:16-17 ¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

God has not changed. He is Holy, Righteous, and Just in all of His ways, including His judgments, which in truth are full of mercy, grace, and compassion. However, the cup of His wrath towards the ungodly is almost full. This includes and begins with His people are wandering about in the world doing what the world does and thinking like the world thinks. We have been lulled into a sense of safety that God's wrath is still far off; that His longsuffering will last way into the future; therefore, we need not get in any hurry; we can frolic with the world a while longer. Unfortunately, we have been blinded to His truth having inherited lies from previous generations. NOW is the accepted day of salvation.

2 Corinthians 6:1-2  6 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.  2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Recognize that we are in a war and there is an adversary who hates everyone and everything, but especially he hates God and His people. Without the grace and power of God in play we cannot defeat the enemy. The greatest tools we have available to us are obedience to the laws of God and the Blood of Jesus. If we in any way deny those things, we are lost, unable to lead anyone else to Jesus for redemption and salvation. We, the church, have lost our way and succumbed to the lies, doubt, and unbelief dangled before us by the adversary—the devil, Satan, Lucifer, whatever you choose to call him—and we, and the generations before us—have risen to the bait like hungry fish, swallowing hook, line, and sinker the lies placed so invitingly before us. The church has become the perfect picture of the blind leading the blind further into the darkness.

God is our Creator, our heavenly Father, and He disciplines those whom He loves. Judgment is the discipline. It comes out of the Father's loving grace, compassion, and mercy. Judgment/discipline demands a response—a correct response, i.e., turning from our spiritual adultery and fornication with the ungodly in the world, and returning to He Who made us, Who loves us, even in the midst of our defection and abandonment of Him and His laws.

As surely as the Lord disciplined His people as has been written in the Scriptures for our example, He is NOW disciplining His people today. 2 Chronicles 7:13-15 13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; [All of this is currently happening somewhere in the world today and and in the past as it has been recorded all throughout Scripture.] 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

God does NOT rejoice in evil. Just as He used the ungodly nations around His people back then to discipline them, even so is He doing today. As long as the church stubbornly continues in its gross sinning with the ungodly, refusing to fall on our faces before the Living God; as long as we ignore His call, refusing to seek His face with a repentant heart and turn from our wicked ways, things are only going to get worse. 

Nahum 1:3   The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Joel 2:12-14   12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:  13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

2 Peter 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

The Lord has continually pleaded with His people to do what is right, to repent and return to Him that we may be healed and walk in the covenant blessings that He has provided to us throughout all of history as we know it. Hear what the Spirit is saying. We are in a covenant with the Lord. Through Christ we are the seed of Abraham, who received the covenant promises of God by faith and are now co-heirs with Christ, Who paid the ultimate price for our redemption and restoration back into covenant relationship with God. 

God's covenant carries within it what I call “the IF factor.” IF my people who are called by by name, will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I heal their land. IF you love Me, keep my commands, do that which is right in My sight. IF you obey my commands... IF you will follow My ways.... The IF factor requires a correct response. IF we will return to Him and obey His laws and commands and statutes, morning will come bringing with it the joy.

Psalm 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Those of the body who remain focused on Him, who do their faithful best by the Holy Spirit and the Word to walk in obedience to God, remaining under the cover of the Blood of Jesus, can even now have a deep joy at the signs of our Returning Bridegroom-King, whilst also weeping for the lost and dying yet wandering out in the world. We have a job to do. We have a purpose on the earth. We have an identity as sons of God in the earth, here to do God's will, not our own. We are here for God's pleasure, not for our own or comfort.

If you don't understand what is being written here, you are spiritually deaf and blind. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your ears to hear and to open the eyes of your understanding that you may discern what the Spirit is saying to the church. Recognize the signs of the time. Repent for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand, even now knocking at the door. 

What response will we make? Whom will we choose to obey? Whose report are we going to believe? There are only two choices available—disobedience that will land us in hell OR obedience that will bring us Life eternal. 

May we choose wisely.

STICK WITH GOD | Denzel Washington Inspirational & Motivational Speech

What an amazing little video!!

Not Under The Law?

The Trans Tribulational Church

Raw Art - Portrait of Reality?

I was working on something this morning and took a short break to go out and have a smoke. (I had quit and recently picked it back up so now I have to start all over. grrrrr) As I was apparently mindlessly sitting there, I suddenly realized I was singing a tune in my head. It took singing it out loud about three times before I caught on to what I was actually singing and to what tune. I was trying to remember the real phrase that went with the tune in my head from the song "Enjoy Yourself". (I  had to look it up first. Turns out the only thing I remembered accurately was the tune. The song actually is about suicide.) Instead of the correct wording 'Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself, it's later than you think," I was singing: destroy yourself, destroy yourself, destroy yourself with me".

I was somewhat aghast at what I heard coming so nonchalantly and unthinkingly out of my mouth. Nothing happens by accident, so I started asking myself 'why'? I'm struggling with the whole smoking thing, totally disgusted with myself. I believe that was what was behind the little ditty I was singing. With recognition of that, the ideas for some pieces of art came streaming through my mind. I had to run inside to the computer and get to work. I wanted to make something to stick up on my wall to remind me why I want to quit smoking. I eventually came up with at least three decent designs out of it that I thought were also appropriate for this time of year. The content is pretty raw but that happens to be how I've been feeling. Raw art is almost always what I'm drawn to and what I hang on my walls to constantly look at. My artwork is usually an expression of some inner battle I'm fighting, a commentary I need to listen to and remember, and, therefore, I 'label' myself as an expressionist.

Art is great therapy. In fact I can look over the artwork I have done over the past three to four years especially, and see where I was then, where I am now, how much I've changed, how I changed, and where I'm heading.  That's a lot to get from somewhat haphazardly throwing stuff on to a page I think. While I can draw fairly well, I find it takes too long, so I tend to go for things like collage and mixed media which I can throw together more quickly. Once the piece is 'done', or at least acceptably balanced to me, I can go back and disect what I'm saying or trying to say to myself. So far that process has been working well for me.

The amazing thing is that I can look back on different pieces years later and get something entirely new out of it that my subconscious apparently knew at the time, but my conscious self certainly didn't. As I grow in knowledge, experience and understanding in various areas of my life, my interpretations of previous works seem to take on greater depth. I love this about art. And its why I often encourage others to start an art journal. It's not about making 'perfect' art. It's about putting down your feelings on paper as a record of your life at that time. You can learn amazing things about yourself through this kind of process. It's works for journal writing, too. And you don't have to show any of it to anyone you don't want to.

It taught me to trust myself in ways beyond my understanding at that time. This is extremely important in a culture that runs mostly in the shallows of life, doing everything it can to help us avoid thinking too much, or feeling too much. Humanity as a whole seems to prefer running and hiding from anything painful or distasteful to them by running after the impossible dreams dangled in front of our faces by media/advertising, etc. I believe that accounts for a large portion of the 'need' for psychiatrists/psychologists/life coaches, etc., and for medication for a host of psychological issues that never used to even exist but now have labels. I digress. I'll save that for another post.

I think that these digital memes will be the base for a poster size mixed media collage for my wall.

I hope that you find this art thought provoking and worthy as a conversation starter. Thoughtful and kindly written constructive criticism or differing opinions are always welcome in the comments below. Until next time....