Monthly Archive for September, 2010

The Stumbling Blocks of Miracles

Published on September 30, 2010 in Daily Commentary. 0 Comments

The saying goes something like this, “There are two tragedies in life. The first is that you don’t get what you pray for and the second is that you do get what you pray for.”

The miracles of the Bible are one of the great “stumbling-blocks” to the acceptance of its truths, for two reasons. The first is that they were so great and the second is that we don’t see them today. So what’s up with that? What’s up with the John 14:12 statement, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father “, NIV.

Are those miracles gross exaggerations at best, or simply historical inaccuracies?

The word SIGN is often used for a miracle which attests to the truth of something said or promised. In John 16:20 we read, “And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.” So, it wasn’t Jesus, but many of his disciples. And we would today be what?

One of the growing problems in modern day scenarios are the charlatans who play the game and leave a bad taste in people mouths.

We need the combination of the WORD & LAW. We need the LAW (animus dei) which is male, heaven, and non-variable to be impacted by the WORD (animus mundi) which is female, earth, and variable. The WORD is that which comes from within where the rivers of living waters flow, and where the divine of each individual resides. Hearing and being the words takes a lot of practice, a lot o one on one communion time with the I AM; however, the results are more than worth it.

We call them MIRACLES!

John 14:12

Published on September 29, 2010 in Daily Commentary. 1 Comment

Taking Responsibility – Are We Serious? How many times have YOU quoted John 14:12 wherein Jesus says, ”Greater things will you do than I have”?

So what’s up with the lack of action? Pardon me if you’re one of those who see and does miracles; however, this is being written for those that aren’t where you are. Those who do not believe in miracles may not find this commentary useful, and neither would those who feel that the miracles reported, particularly in the Gospel of John, were not historical. But to the rest of you- read on!

It’s time we who call ourselves Christians, somewhat FOLLOWERS of Jesus who became the Christos, start truly FOLLOWING. This doesn’t sound too radical does it? Could YOU use a miracle? Do you have a family member or loved one who NEEDS a miracle? Surely you can see that we live in a world spinning out of control wherein MANY MIRACLES are needed.

So, where does one begin?

What if we start in the laboratory of our own life? Let’s put “miracle-making” near the top of our list of goals. And just to massage our self esteem, let’s begin with some small stuff and gradually work our way up the miracle ladder. So, what do you want to SEE in your life or another person’s life? I can’t tell you the steps (are there any?), but I can tell you that it seems logical that it all begins with a serious DESIRE on our part to quit talking about John 14:12 and start making it a prayer priority.

Yep, meditation and time spent with the “I AM”, and Consciousness that we all are, that IS God, is a logical if not spiritual place to begin. Are you game? Oh yes, and don’t think this is going to be easy nor quick; otherwise, we’d be seeing a lot of miracles already.

Principle Is Not Limited By Precedent

Published on September 28, 2010 in Daily Commentary. 0 Comments

We are NOT limited because of our PAST!

We most often do use the limitations of the past as an excuse for not performing in the NOW, or for reasons why we don’t see life changing for us in the future. So, here’s the question. Are you happy with your life or would you like to have a better life? Let’s define “better” in the broadest of terms, to include health, wealth, and wisdom.

Are you lacking courage (Joshua 1:6-7)?

If you’re looking for a MIRACLE it’s going to require some NEW thinking, a loss of SELF in many ways, and of course the implementation of a new spiritual LAW!As Thomas Troward wrote, “Every new creation (can you say miracle) necessarily carries it’s own law with it and by that law produces new conditions of it’s own.” A very basic and simplistic definition of a miracle would be “something NEW”.

A miracle must be seen, at least initially, as overcoming some law; however, we know that God does not violate his own laws. What happens is that we embrace a new law that alters the current law by the new set of conditions.

Once upon a time as COO of Re/Max of Texas, I of course got acquainted with large hot air balloons (their logo). Some of these balloons weigh hundreds of pounds- with their basket and misc. items. The balloon just sits there on the ground, unable to overcome gravity. However, when we install a new law (gaseous hot air into the balloon), guess what? Gravity is overcome and the balloon lifts off the ground defying gravity.

Do you want a miracle?

Then a new law must be implemented to create the new thing. If an entirely new thing (miracle) is created it must necessarily establish entirely new relations and so produce entirely new laws. As I said in my Sept. 24th podcast, maybe the law that you’re not implementing is the law of displacement, discovery, resonance, visualization, reduction, faith, or a host of others.

Bottom line is? If you’re looking for something NEW (miracle), then you have to get out of your current rut! How do you do that? Ah, some of the questions only you can answer. ?

What Is A Miracle?

Published on September 27, 2010 in Daily Commentary. 0 Comments

Any event that appears to be contrary to the laws of nature is regarded as an act of God, but is that the case- in reality?

Can God break natural laws and if so, just how capricious can such acts go? The Bible says that God is not a respecter of persons (Romans 2:11), so doesn’t that say that he treats everyone the same? Doesn’t the Bible also say (Matt. 5:45) that it rains on everyone regardless of their moral standing? If two people are driving in a car and one is killed and the other one isn’t, does that say that God had grace on one and not the other?

Sometimes we get downright silly, if not highly illogical about certain events: mainly due to our theological indoctrinations.

There are a lot of amazing events in life, but they aren’t miracles! And, we marvel at many engineering accomplishments and constructions, but those aren’t miracles either. So what is a miracle? Miracles cover a range of intensities. If someone desperately needs a parking space and one shows up, some would call that a miracle- though minor to say the least.

If someone needs $500 to make a car payment and there’s not enough money in the bank account to make it; however, an unexpected refund of $500 shows us, that’s called a miracle. And then we get to the really BIG stuff that most of us think of when we talk about miracles.

>A person declared clinically dead coming back to life.
>A person with a terminal brain tumor discovering it no longer exists
>A destructive lifestyle being transformed into goodness overnight- no reason.

How much was divine intervention by a God someone out there in space? How many came about as a result of “proper prayers-intercession” by others? How many came about as a result of the individual hearing “from within” as to HOW to pray or what LAW to engage that is greater or more effective without altering existing laws?

Aha! Now, we’re talking turkey, now we’re making sense, now we’re on to something that is Kingdom! Get in your spiritual closet and get to work my friend!

Jesus : Exception or Example?

Published on September 26, 2010 in Sermon Podcasts. 2 Comments

If Jesus came down from heaven as the second person of the trinity, and therefore was God, how can we begin to think, as John says in (14:12), “that greater things we’ll do than even God did”? But, if Jesus was the EXAMPLE, let’s get it on!

Jesus : Exception or Example? [ 43:09 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (89)

Law Of Displacement

Published on September 26, 2010 in Daily Commentary. 1 Comment

The expression is, “When something isn’t working, keeping trying.”

How about another expression, if you discover habit A isn’t working try habit B. Or, if C isn’t getting you where you want to go, try D. What I’ve discovered in the realm of the Kingdom of God is that there are many laws and God does NOT break any of those laws. Jesus even affirmed that, “he didn’t come to abolish the LAW, but to fulfill the law”. I would suggest that he fulfilled the law by embracing and practicing a HIGHER LAW.

II Kings 6:6 were told that a block of wood floats but a block of steel doesn’t! Duh!

But, we also know that the same piece of steel more flatly spread out and designed so as to displace an area of water whose volume is less than the volume-area displaced will allow that reworked steel design (can you saw aircraft carrier?) to float. In the same manner, we may not be seeing MIRACLES in our life because we’re trying to work with a LAW that doesn’t work- in our particular case.

Say what?

There’s a spiritual law that sinners face death, but there’s a higher law of unconditional love that creates a miracle of allowing us to live. There’s a law of transgression which says JUSTICE must be done, but there’s a higher law called MERCY that triumphs over justice. Do you see it? If you’re not SEEING the things in your life that you feel are from God, maybe you need to revisit your habits, your beliefs, and more importantly the LAW(s) that you’re operating under.

God CANNOT ALTER his laws. God is not a respecter of persons, but he is a respecter of his LAWS. So, which LAW(s) do you need to engage to bring about that MIRACLE that you’re looking for, or do you not believe in miracles anymore?

Watch Tense & Person?

Published on September 25, 2010 in Daily Commentary. 0 Comments

What in the world is that suppossed to mean?

Let’s start with the easy part- the person. Who wrote the Gospel of John? There are lots of answers; however, it gets a bit confusing when one reads the last two verses of the last chapter (which once upon a time was not a chapter) of the Gospel. The NIV reads as follows-

24This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
25Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

What’s up with this WE in verse 24and then this I in verse 25? Jumping from 3rd person to 1st person sure doesn’t help us figure out who the writer is; however, that’s small stuff compared to the TENSE writings. Let’s take Mark 11:24 as an example.

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours”.

Do you see it?

Present tense (when you pray), believe you have RECEIVED it (past tense), and it WILL be yours (future tense). Thus we must enter into the realm of Eccl. 3:15 wherein we read, “That which hath been is now; and that which is to be, hath already been.” And you thought ZEN wasa mind-bender? Try and see this without your “monkey-mind” going ballistic.

And you thought the Bible was SIMPLE?

The Two Pillars

Published on September 24, 2010 in Daily Commentary. 0 Comments

Tonight I am going to try and resurrect the belief and reality in MIRACLES! The podcast is usually available sometime Sunday: message title is, “Jesus : Exception or Example”?

I get some of the meanest looks when I tell people that they should WORSHIP Jesus. I mean come on, is there any more clear of an instruction about that than the 1st and 2nd Commandments? Or, maybe we could even take the words of Jesus (assuming of course that he did in fact SAY what’s credited to him) wherein he made it clear that we weren’t to elevate him even into the arena of being GOOD (only the Father is good).

Jesus came to proclaim the KINGDOM and his main instruction, seen everywhere and often, was FOLLOW ME!

But, I digress.

In the Old Covenant we find in I Kings 7:21 and II Chronicles 3:17 that there were TWO PILLARS standing as an entrance to the TEMPLE. How does this Old Testament, physical, and shadow translate into the New Covenant with spiritual meaning? The two pillars (Boaz and Jakin) are symbolic of the WORD and the LAW! And of course as I Cor. 3 and 6 tell us, WEARE that TEMPLE!

Jesus is the WORD, we are the WORD, God spoke the WORD (us an everything) and the principles-laws of nature went into effect.

Jesus didn’t come to abolish the law, but to fulfill the law. It is our word, our spoken word, through substitutionary laws that allows us to see MIRACLES in our lives. You probably need to listen to the podcast as this commentary is only a SEED. If you want it to grow you need to water it. But, let me end by saying that when we mix the variable word with the invariable law, stuff happens!

And as I see things in the world out there, we desperately need a LOT of STUFF (good of course) to happen. :-)

What’s The Point?

Published on September 23, 2010 in Daily Commentary. 1 Comment

Albert Einstein was more than just one exceptional scientist, he was quite a spiritualist as well, as he wrote, “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” I would add that this is especially true when it comes to RELIGION!

Can you say Crusades and Inquisitions?  :-(

I love to converse with non religious people and those who have not really read the Bible. In the last few months it has been a breath of fresh air talking with an individual that never owned a Bible until recently.  Instead of having to battle through lame dogma and disillusioned doctrinal BS (belief systems) this individual is OPEN and eager to learn.

Most importantly, this individual is learning by the Spirit.

Most are unaware that the Gospels were written to be read aloud and that’s why Matthew if first in chronological order of the Gospels. It READ more fluently, it was addressed primarily to the Jews, and like poetry, it FLOWED beautifully. Did I mention that it was schematically developed like the Torah as well?

Much of the Bible is POETRY!

Poetry is imagination, metaphor, allegory, and hyper emotionalism, among other things. One must read poetry as poetry, read narrative as narrative, history as history, and spiritual dialogue as spirit. When one reads the Bible as it was written there’s far more life than trying to read it LITERALLY!

Yes, there are parts of the Bible that are literal but don’t try and paint with one broad brush.

When the Johannine community broke from Jerusalem (Gospel of John) they believed and claimed to have received their beliefs directly from the Spirit. Charles Freeman writes, “In John’s Gospel, Jesus told his disciples that when the Spirit comes he will lead you in all truth (John 16:13). So, it would be within the tradition of the community to expect direct revelations of the TRUTH through the Spirit. However, the writer of 1st John clearly believes that the revelations received by the secessionists are not God! He argues instead for beliefs rooted in traditional authority, the teachings held from ‘the beginning’ (1st John 1:1).”

Isn’t that the way it is!

Do as I SAY and not as I DO!

What’s the point anyway?  :-)

Me Orthodox – You Heretic!

Published on September 22, 2010 in Daily Commentary. 1 Comment

In the beginning God, Spirit, Consciousness!

In the beginning all was ONE and all was GOOD! And then, Eve had to go out a get a taste of the world (who knows what the fruit was she ate) which has ever since been wrapped in DUALITY. This is GOOD and that is BAD. They are OUT, and we are IN. You are going to HELL and we are going to HEAVEN! And the crazy thing is that we make those value judgments based on what is ORTHODOX and what’s HERETICAL.

A look back at history presents to us an interesting picture.

As Charles Freeman so rightly states, “There was no clear distinction between orthodoxy and heresy in the early church. Originally the Greek word HEIRISIS simply meant CHOICE, usually of a philosophical school that a student chose to follow. The process by which the word was transformed by Christians into its latter meaning of ‘wrong choice’ is hard to follow because of precise definitions of what heresy involved.”

Let’s face it, so much talk of orthodoxy today is PRIDE and EGO!

My denomination knows how to baptize people and you don’t. We know how to do communion and you don’t. We know how to perform the communion ritual and you don’t. We know how many sacraments there are, but you don’t. Oh so many doctrinal and divisional beliefs. How much longer will the Christian church continue to shoot itself in the foot over such BS (belief systems also)?

When will we SEE that the message that Jesus Christ brought was about the KINGDOM!

For decades, more than a century there was no such thing as a CHURCH! It was the many and varied communities of people who loved each other and served their community. May we lay down all of those things that PUFF us up and bring others down, and may we be at PEACE with all. Yes, and that includes our ENEMIES.

Figuring that behavior out is far more critical than trying to determine who is a heretic and who is not!