Helmet and Boxers!

Many of us 'modern' believers are like a guy on a troy/spartacus(300)/gladiators battlefield running around in only boxers (or even joggers) and a helmet, hoping to survive and even conquer the opposition. It may seem so funny and foolish when you think of it this way...but that's very close (if not exactly) the picture you get when you carefully consider Eph. 6:10-19 again.

Your "helmet of SALVATION" is not sufficient to keep you STANDing. You need your Shield (of faith), Sword (the word), Breastplate (of righteousness),....and every bit of the WHOLE ARMOUR! And if you're not sure how the armour works, get some training (mentoring). Btw, on that battle ground, you need 'watchfulness' and 'prayer' too...it's there in the same passage of scripture.

So stop kidding yourself thinking it all ended after you heeded the 'salvation' call and you may now relax and form laxity. And stop sitting there feeling frustrated at how you always keep 'falling' and 'failing' even after being saved (one million times) before. You have been instructed on how to survive the battle ground while on God's side....and it's not by running around in only a helmet and boxers. lol!

The Real Deal

I've met a girl who taught me to be sure I'm genuinely interested in her welfare before I ask "how are you?" I have to mean my words and questions.

I also met one who has thought me to make sure I'm not spending time I should use for my undone schoolwork or other crucial duty to be with her (even on the phone or internet)

I've met one who has taught me to think properly...about every compliment I want to give her; my conviction of it and the necessity for it.

Another I met has shown me a girl can be comfortably expressive to (and about) a guy she is close to or likes while retaining her pride and remaining highly respectable

I've met one who has proven to me real beauty is godly. The most attractive thing in her is God

I also met this one... my mind has to be on a pure and godly frequency to entertain thoughts of her. The thoughts must be holy... that's the only frequency that works.

... these are some of the people I have found truly beautiful
Believe me when I say, I know true beauty and it isn't the looks!

Mr Fence-er!

Many times we seriously offend God by wanting to sit on the fence, stand on a middle ground, or assume neutrality and indifference over matters that God has an clear stand on. We brand it "wisdom," "diplomacy,"...and the likes. Thinking we are being smart, we become cowards and disgust God (like the lukewarm church in Rev 3:14-16).



There's no compromise! Fearing God goes with "shunning evil" (Job 1:1). Embracing light goes with out rightly rejecting darkness!...and even exposing it.

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather EXPOSE THEM. (Eph 5:11)

You are not merely called to do things that please God, you are to boldly condemn whatever doesn't. So don't stay there laughing at vulgar jokes or 'enjoying' filthy discussions or sinful scenarios while claiming "...but I didn't contribute".


You do not have to love God. But if you choose to then you must passionately hate what He hates too. Don't be deceived....there's no middle ground!

God Does Not Forget!

"Their sins and iniquities I will remember no more" (Heb 10,17). God does not forget – He chooses not to remember and never brings it up. -- Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke - Official (Facebook) Page

Bilateral Commitment

"Salvation is bilateral commitment." someone said.
Interesting way to put it and I agree

Beauty!

I have seen beauty!

And she beckons!

She calls to the deepest parts of me

And strikes a note surpassing the grasp of hasty emotions

Resounding on the paves of my mind

And quenching seeming doubts of her existence

With strides more confident than I could ever anticipate

Inspiring uncommon passions in me
I'm persuaded to worship her Creator

As she subliminally assures me every fleshy inclination will fail

I simply admire
With all self-restraint I can afford

Earnestly praying
She shall someday look my direction and smile.

Oh! I have seen beauty

And she has captivated me

ANTICLOCKWISE

My recent musings have tended much towards the famous cause and effect principle- that tells that every event is an effect of another and a cause of another. It still makes sense.

Today sure is an effect of yesterday and will be the cause of tomorrow (the future).  Undisputed!

But my mind wouldn’t accept that as the whole story. With respect to the relationship of past, present and future, I have a different opinion concerning the popular ‘cause and effect’ theory.

I believe it’s not simply true that the past causes/caused the present while the future will in the same way be an effect of the past and present. It’s not as simple as that.  Rather, it is an interaction between future and present.

My Point is; the future is also a cause of the present and past not simply an effect. Yes, THE PRESENT AND PAST ARE CAUSED BY THE FUTURE. THE PRESENT AND PAST CAN BE SEEN AS AN EFFECT OF THE FUTURE.

Ok, I shall now try to, in the following paragraphs, put what I’m trying to say in more practical, easy-to-relate-with, everyday-life terms. And in the process, you may realize how I came about this school of thought.

Try trying to ignore the idea of a future that lies ahead and probe the necessity, purpose and sense in almost everything you do or are presently involved in. For example, why are you in school or pursuing some form of education despite having a fairly exciting and freedom-flavoured youthful student life? Why do you bother being nice and sociable to the world around you when it’s actually not a hobby of yours (It’s more convenient otherwise)?

Look around you, check every single thing you do every day and try and detach it from the concept of a ‘future’ which is seemingly instinctively embedded into our consciousness.  Almost everything we do in the present or was done in the past would be senseless and pointless if they are (and actually can be) judged without reference to the future.You see, the past and present are influenced by the knowledge of the existence of a future and its nature. In that sense, it is arguable that we’re all victims of the future. Understandable!

But we could also become victims of the future when it is used against us by others.  When “the future“ becomes a weapon, and one we often can’t contend with when held by a skillful man. Held in the heart and never put down. It hurts…It kills...when people do stuff because of their idea and analysis of the probable outcome. The ‘what is the worst that could happen’ determines their ‘what can I get away with?’

It’s like solving an equation backwards. It’s like solving a problem from the solution. First flipping to the end of a novel and reading the rest of it with knowledge of the eventual end. It’s like a clock ticking backwards...ANTICLOCKWISE!

NB:
This is one of my very old write-ups (written about a year and half ago). Just saw it and thought I post it instead of infinitely waiting for when I'll feel like polishing and editing it to my satisfaction. So there it is..raw as then thought!

The Anology

Mark recently got admission to study overseas. Mark wasn’t too sure what the new experience would be like but he knew he had to go so chose to be optimistic. He unpacked and he hoped for the best. But its been two weeks since he arrived the country and university and is still yet to get into full swing with his classes and studies. He is both six hours away and ahead from home with respect to his new location on grid. Jetlag is something that must be overcome for him to adjust, but that’s only a small fraction of the cause of his late nights and absenteeism for almost all morning classes.

He was happy for the privilege to escape the extremely poor educational system in his country which most of his home friends would have to scale through. He was Christian and being the very jovial and outgoing guy he’d been since high school, he had a lot of pals back there which he couldn’t afford to lose touch with so soon. Keeping touch, however, wasn’t a big problem ‘cos he was a Facebook and twitter ‘lover’.

One day, while having his TAWG (devotion) after waking up as late as usual, he crossed a familiar scripture. This time, it got him thinking more than ever before.  “if anyone be in Christ he is a new creature. The old has gone, the new has come (1Thes 5:17).” He had, a few minutes ago, read something related that “…our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might no longer be slaves to sin. (Rom 6:6)”. And not far from that, he saw also “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. “ He put down his bible for a while and thought. Is this for real? He had questions. He had questions if what he read was meant to be true.

So why do we still like doing stuff we are not meant to? Why does sin still appeal to our senses? Why do so many people I know who have come to or are “in” Christ still struggle so much not to sin? Why don’t the, alcoholics, sex addicts and club-lovers I know who are supposedly now ‘born again’ still find it hard to quit? He wondered. He needed answers, for himself too, he had his own struggles too.

“Set free”?  What exactly does that mean? Why do we atimes not really feel “free,” different, “new,” and separate? What does it really mean? What is wrong? He needed answers. There must be answers. “Lord, I need to understand,” he said softly, with his head bowed.

The answers didn’t come when and how he would have expected it but it came.

Another week passed. Not long, he had his first class test. He failed.

He was very discouraged but summoned some courage to stay up as usual and say hi to his friends before he slept. That night, after spending some time with his pals online, he remembered he had a pastor in his list of friends whom he could ask the questions he had about that passage he had earlier read so he went on to say “Hi” to the his pastor friend. However, before he could ask his question, the pastor asked him how he was doing with his academics. His reply was “not so good”. When asked why, he explained what his experience to the pastor.

Mark had attempted to attend a number of morning lectures but didn’t go through the entire hour with his eyes open for most of them. He could hardly understand the accent of his classmates who were mostly locals but it wouldn’t have mattered much to him if he could at least understand his lecturers. Mark knew how to work alone; he was a very good student back at home. He was studying on his own in his room – at least he didn’t misunderstand the accent of his text books and lecture notes because they had none. He wanted to make good grades but even the academic system was different. He found the students antisocial and the lecturers boring. That was also how he described his new environment to his numerous friends over the internet.

He finished explaining-cum-complaining and there was a brief pause, the pastor didn’t respond for a while. So he went on “I have a question.” But before he could ask, the pastor replied “I think I have an answer.” He was sure the pastor did not know what he was about to ask but he waited; the chat pane was indicating that the person on the other end was still typing. “You have to concentrate, Mark” the pastor typed. “I just calculated the time difference. It must be 2:30 am over there. Right?” Mark replied and the pastor continued.“You see, you are now in a different environment. You much realize that. I see you online pretty often around this time and I guess it’s because of your friends here. I’m always online at this time too ‘cos that’s when I’m on my desk and I like to be available for anyone who has issues to talk to me about or needs to contact me. But I’m not you. You’re not us, Mark.”  Mark took a deep breath and continued listening. “You’re in a new world there but you have to play your part too.”

Before the end of the conversation, Mark indeed had got a stir to step up on his efforts to blend into the 'new world.' But he got more than that. He felt he had also got the answer to the question he actually wanted to ask.

That was it! And he now better understood those scriptures too!

NB:

This is one of my very old write-ups (written about a year and half ago). Just saw it and thought I post it instead of infinitely waiting for when I'll feel like polishing and editing it to my satisfaction. So there it is..raw as then thought!

Is That It?

Is that it?

Is that the love?

‘Chemistry’ of mounting emotions on a down curve?

Is that the love?

Words too good; too true

Kisses too sweet,

Touching

too soothing; surface seeking

Body pleasing, always needing

More, more, deeper, better

Never ceasing

To be unsatisfied is the satisfaction

Is it?

Is that it?

But he truly loves me and she, she truly wants me

There, up, down somewhere, always around.

I mean, It was meant to be,

I feel

Something, that thing

I feel different, special,

Care, something down here

I feel we are meant for each other, you know

“Meant to be together”

For real

I , I feel…

Bound?

Nothing really?

Is that the love?

On the bed, ok maybe not

On the couch,

Out on the beach

Holding hands walking the street

The movies,  cuddling

The woods, the field

The company, the gifts

The airtime evaporating;

Terminal to terminal.

The perfection

That has never promised to stay

The ‘is’ longing to become ‘was’

Is that it?

Is that the love?

You, give your passion and being ?

Is that what you trade His temple for?

Is that what you give in return for a life ended with thorns, excruciating pain and nails on the cross

The love shown to us

Is that the reason why your heart can’t fully be His?

Is that why he cries for you and keeps reaching for your heart?

Is that why you keep holding back?

Is that fair?

Isn’t that what the wise Teacher-king called meaningless?

“I denied my self nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure…and everything was meaningless, a chasing of the wind; nothing was gained under the sun”

Is that it?

Is that the love?

You give your passion and being ?

Is that what you trade My temple for?

Is that what you give in return for a life ended with thorns, excruciating pain and nails on the cross

Is that the reason why your heart can’t fully be Mine?

Is that why I cry for you and keep reaching for your heart

Is that why you keep holding back?

I love you and gave my life

To save you, to show you

I still love you, more love than you can ever give or find

“Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us”

So my heart aches for what you have now called love.

But I shall be here waiting.

I shall keep knocking.

Waiting,

For you to step out

Into my arms, fully

With your whole heart.

Why would you want to hurt me one more time?

Why won’t you just let go now, and come?

Just come!

That is it!

NB:

This is one of my very old write-ups (written about a year and half ago). Just saw it and thought I post it instead of infinitely waiting for when I'll feel like polishing and editing it to my satisfaction. So there it is..raw as then though!

Tomorrow

Tomorrow, the sun will rise in the west and set in the east

The seas will become dry as land and deserts will hold water of oceans

Tomorrow, ice will be red-hot like coal and fire cool as snow

The rich shall beg and the poor will give 'em bread

Tomorrow and Today shall share only little likeness.

And yes, I believe and really don't care whether or not you do.

For tomorrow,

The lips of wise men shall utter folly

And wisdom shall dwell with those we called fools

Wonder not, my dear.

Wonder not!

Let tomorrow come.

Let God be true and all men liers.

Let kings bow and mightly men surrender.

Let them worship that thought they were lords.

And let them hide in shame that were clad in confidence

Let the young wonder while the old marvel

For the day will come

And the learned will learn again

It will surely come and then the unlearned will know

That as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than ours

So, fear not, My Soul!

Let tomorrow come [if He wills]

Let God be true and all men be liers!