"The same judgment that is tied to our ultimate physical fate; we're going to die."
Where was I going with this? Oh. Yeah. Tying our judgment to our physical fate. The writer of Hebrews said, "And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him." Doesn't this sound as if he is making a comparison between the two, as if there is a similarity to point out?
(to be continued)
Posted by HarryTick at July 31, 2003 11:51 PM
Thursday, July 31, 2003
Sunday, July 27, 2003
A Shot in the Arm, Part 2
Isn't it interesting how things like vaccinations, rules, and laws spring from the fear of death and judgment? How different is the contrast between the fear of sin and death and the gospel message which says that in Him we have all died. I look and know that I am not physically dead at this moment, and yet here is a message that tells me that I am dead already. And even though there is still physical life here in my body, I know that it certainly won't last forever.
That would seem kind of pointless, trying to hold onto something that will ultimately be lost or even trying to preserve something which is already gone, wouldn't it?
(to be continued)
That would seem kind of pointless, trying to hold onto something that will ultimately be lost or even trying to preserve something which is already gone, wouldn't it?
(to be continued)
Thursday, July 24, 2003
A Shot in the Arm
Today I received multiple vaccinations in the ongoing preparation to be ever ready for deployment. It's really an interesting concept, the injection of something that is bad for you into your body in order to trick it to be able to fight off any number of diseases. The idea is that a little bit of death is okay so long as it helps you stave off the big "D" (death) by helping protect you from "sickness". Now, vaccinations may serve to preserve our life in a specific instance and for a short while, but they can't save us from the ultimate fate that this physical body holds for us.
Rules and Laws are a lot like vaccinations. Adherence to them may protect us from different consequences, they may trick us into the thought that we're preserving our righteousness, but they can't stem the tide of the oncoming judgment. The same judgment that is tied to our ultimate physical fate; we're going to die.
(to be continued)
Previous Comments:
Rules and Laws are a lot like vaccinations. Adherence to them may protect us from different consequences, they may trick us into the thought that we're preserving our righteousness, but they can't stem the tide of the oncoming judgment. The same judgment that is tied to our ultimate physical fate; we're going to die.
(to be continued)
Previous Comments:
HT ... hey, I really like what you're doing with this one! :)
Jim
Posted by: the Shovel at July 25, 2003 02:07 PM
You raise an
interesting point regarding the inevitability of physical death. I would call
attention to the deposit guaranteeing our eternal life: the resident Holy
Spirit. He is the earnest deposit of our everlasting life with God. Do not look
within to see Him, but to the cross of Christ - an empirical fact of history.
Trust in Christ and His promises to all who believe in Him.
Posted by:
Frank Marron at July 25, 2003 08:39 PM
Frank,
What is the
problem with the inevitability of physical death?
Posted by: HarryTick
at July 27, 2003 10:42 PM
Monday, July 21, 2003
Looking For Life In All the Wrong Places
Do you remember that country song from the early '80s, "Looking for Love In All the Wrong Places"? The singer laments that everywhere he looked expecting to find love, he never found it in the places he thought he would. When he did find it, it came from a source he never expected. We never really learn how he meets his love, but we do understand that he did find her.
For the last several weeks I've been looking for "signs of life" in all the wrong places, expecting to see evidence or run into evidence of the life of Christ, on the OUTSIDE. Not really the outside of myself, but looking for those external signs that other people believe the same things or understand things the same way. Welcome to "Walking in the Flesh 101". When I try to determine what someone is or believes by their external actions or professions, I am looking to judge them by the spirit of the flesh. You know the one that says that believing this is good and believing that is bad and behaving this way is good and behaving this way is bad.
Just today, I woke up (almost literally) to the fact that I've even been looking at all. I re-realize that the Life of Jesus Christ lives within me and that this is the only evidence of life that I really need to be concerned with. Looking at other people through the crucified and resurrected Life of Jesus, I find there is no need to judge what they do or believe because there is nothing that they could do to make themselves any more alive by these things. And the only way to detect life in someone else is to have the witness of the One within me testify to His presence within another. Not some arbitrary fleshly judgment based on agreement, but the confirmation that there really is only one Way into Life that cannot be enacted by the effort of human will, free or otherwise!
For the last several weeks I've been looking for "signs of life" in all the wrong places, expecting to see evidence or run into evidence of the life of Christ, on the OUTSIDE. Not really the outside of myself, but looking for those external signs that other people believe the same things or understand things the same way. Welcome to "Walking in the Flesh 101". When I try to determine what someone is or believes by their external actions or professions, I am looking to judge them by the spirit of the flesh. You know the one that says that believing this is good and believing that is bad and behaving this way is good and behaving this way is bad.
Just today, I woke up (almost literally) to the fact that I've even been looking at all. I re-realize that the Life of Jesus Christ lives within me and that this is the only evidence of life that I really need to be concerned with. Looking at other people through the crucified and resurrected Life of Jesus, I find there is no need to judge what they do or believe because there is nothing that they could do to make themselves any more alive by these things. And the only way to detect life in someone else is to have the witness of the One within me testify to His presence within another. Not some arbitrary fleshly judgment based on agreement, but the confirmation that there really is only one Way into Life that cannot be enacted by the effort of human will, free or otherwise!
Sunday, July 20, 2003
Drafting Jesus
I find it odd, the number of groups that attempt to draft Jesus to their own cause, to the exclusion of all others, in the attempt to validate their beliefs.
Previous Comments:
Previous Comments:
Hi Harry
I've linked here from your profile on the Ship of Fools.
Why do you think people try to claim Jesus to support them? And why does
it trouble you so?
Posted by: dls at July 23, 2003 08:22 AM
Hi,
dls.
I don't have a problem with people believing in Jesus. I have a
problem with people who claim that Jesus personally validates their code of
belief as THE system of belief in order to get into heaven. Until Jesus starts
doing commercial spots and magazine advertisements saying so, I don't think they
have a leg to stand on, no matter how much they justify their statements by
Scripture.
Posted by: HarryTick at July 23, 2003 09:48 AM
keep
this good work up.but dont concentrate too much on that and forget the weightier
matters.
God bless you. bye
Posted by: catangah at July 31, 2003
08:44 AM
Ummm, yeah, thanks.
Posted by: HarryTick at July 31,
2003 02:10 PM
Wednesday, July 16, 2003
Adding To or Taking Away, Part 2
I ran errands during lunch, today. I had to make some personal phone calls and needed to take my car to the Saturn dealership to get my wipers looked at. On the way back from my errands, I hadn’t had a chance for lunch so I stopped at Burger King for a Whopper Jr. That was all I wanted, a cheap lunch that wasn’t going to impact me terribly in the calorie department. When the lady came on the loudspeaker to ask me for my order, I asked for a Whopper Jr. She asked me if I wanted cheese on that and I told her, “No, thank you.” She told me my total, a $1.06, which sounded right and I drove around to the window.
At the window, I was told that my total was $3.37 and the girl was trying to hand me a drink. I said that I had only ordered a Whopper Jr. and that was all that I wanted. She seemed very put out as she went to go “waste” the drink and restock the fries. Then she told me that my total would be $1.22. I was thinking that it seemed odd but I began thinking that maybe I had mistaken the total at the loudspeaker, since they had obviously misunderstood me. So, I paid my money and she handed me the tiny bag with my sandwich in it.
As I drove away I was thinking about that total and then the thought hit me. They had screwed the whole transaction up so badly that I bet they charged me for cheese on the hamburger. I unwrapped the burger and, sure enough, there was a melted slice of cheese cleaving the bun and patty together. Sigh. It really is just so hard to get people to listen to what it is you are really saying, I thought as I bit into my burger.
At the window, I was told that my total was $3.37 and the girl was trying to hand me a drink. I said that I had only ordered a Whopper Jr. and that was all that I wanted. She seemed very put out as she went to go “waste” the drink and restock the fries. Then she told me that my total would be $1.22. I was thinking that it seemed odd but I began thinking that maybe I had mistaken the total at the loudspeaker, since they had obviously misunderstood me. So, I paid my money and she handed me the tiny bag with my sandwich in it.
As I drove away I was thinking about that total and then the thought hit me. They had screwed the whole transaction up so badly that I bet they charged me for cheese on the hamburger. I unwrapped the burger and, sure enough, there was a melted slice of cheese cleaving the bun and patty together. Sigh. It really is just so hard to get people to listen to what it is you are really saying, I thought as I bit into my burger.
Thank You.
I really appreciate all of you who have made the effort to decipher the gobbledy-gook that passes for my version of writing! A special thanks to all of you who take the time to comment, both here on the blog and “offline”, whether you agree with my thoughts or not. I know that this is really an editorial form of communication but the feedback helps to spur me on just by the fact that you all are checking it out.
(It also proves that advertising works!) hehehe
Seriously, thank you! I hope that you all keep on commenting and sharing.
(It also proves that advertising works!) hehehe
Seriously, thank you! I hope that you all keep on commenting and sharing.
Sunday, July 13, 2003
Adding To or Taking Away
Revelations ends with a dire warning:
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. – Rev 22:18-19, NIVI think we often add to or take away from the things people say and the questions that people ask. It’s kind of like that Intent to Misunderstand, it just works slightly different. We read into what someone says because we added some of what we think to what they were really saying. Or we take away those things we disagree with so that we can more easily formulate our answer or so we can continue to discuss without addressing things that are uncomfortable to us. Ever done this to someone? I have.
Thursday, July 10, 2003
24 Hours
I’m on duty again tonight. I was going to take a break, but after I went outside, just after 1am, I look over to the other parking lot where my car is only to see two military police vehicles parked behind it with their lights shining on it. I walk over to see what’s up and I get the whole flashlight-in-the-face, cautious-approach-with hands-on-pistols, ready-to-draw business.
“Can I help you?”
They want to know who I am, and if I have my ID card. I take it out and hand it to the nearest soldier. I did notice they got twitchy as I bent down to my bootleg pocket on my flight suit, so I moved r-e-a-l-l-y s-l-o-w. Once I got my identity establised (kinda, they call it in to be verified by their dispatch) they almost relax and want to know why I didn’t hear them knocking on doors and windows trying to get my attention. At the same time, I want to know why they didn’t see my very nicely, handwritten note taped to the main entrance to the hangar, explaining that if anybody desires entry they need to call one of two specific numbers in order to get a hold of me, since my office is on the second floor. I give them their explanation but get blank looks in answer to my questions (it’s okay, I post here on Xn. I’m used to it )
Anyways, it seems the problem is that a secure room used to store weapons systems for the aircraft was left “unsecured” since about closing time this afternoon. I check my watch, it’s about 1:10am and the thought runs through my head, ‘And you’re getting around to checking it now?’ Discretion being the better part of valor, because they have guns, I leave it unsaid and offer to take them into the building so they can see that I’m not lying and trying to steal any government equipment.
They’re nice kids. Just doing their job, even if they’re a little excitable. I open the other set of doors so that they can get back and forth to their squad cars easier, and so I can show them my note, right where I said it was with the information I said it had. Then I take the ring leader…err, I mean the shift supervisor into the hangar to show them the place where the evil, unsecured Arms Room is. As we walk back to wait for the real man of the hour, the Sergeant with the passkey to make the alarm annunciator shut up back at military police headquarters, the soldier I’m with mentions that they’re glad I walked out of the building, since they were just getting ready to send the K9 (dog) in.
I tell him how grateful I am, too. Especially since I hadn’t brought a spare uniform to change into after I’d have soiled the one I was wearing had that dog surprised me in my office. He thinks that was a funny thought, and I’m thinking that those military police are telepathic somehow because the other soldiers in the hallway were laughing about the same exact thing as we round the corner.
Finally, the Sergeant arrives and resets the alarm. I find out that I’m free to go. I get this impression that a couple of them want to say, “but we’re keeping an eye on you, Mister!” You know, big bad cop talk. But I’ve been a nice guy and I outrank them and even though they appreciate the break from the monotony of the night, this little adventure is more than their nerves can handle.
Yeah, mine too. Especially every time I think about that dog…
“Can I help you?”
They want to know who I am, and if I have my ID card. I take it out and hand it to the nearest soldier. I did notice they got twitchy as I bent down to my bootleg pocket on my flight suit, so I moved r-e-a-l-l-y s-l-o-w. Once I got my identity establised (kinda, they call it in to be verified by their dispatch) they almost relax and want to know why I didn’t hear them knocking on doors and windows trying to get my attention. At the same time, I want to know why they didn’t see my very nicely, handwritten note taped to the main entrance to the hangar, explaining that if anybody desires entry they need to call one of two specific numbers in order to get a hold of me, since my office is on the second floor. I give them their explanation but get blank looks in answer to my questions (it’s okay, I post here on Xn. I’m used to it )
Anyways, it seems the problem is that a secure room used to store weapons systems for the aircraft was left “unsecured” since about closing time this afternoon. I check my watch, it’s about 1:10am and the thought runs through my head, ‘And you’re getting around to checking it now?’ Discretion being the better part of valor, because they have guns, I leave it unsaid and offer to take them into the building so they can see that I’m not lying and trying to steal any government equipment.
They’re nice kids. Just doing their job, even if they’re a little excitable. I open the other set of doors so that they can get back and forth to their squad cars easier, and so I can show them my note, right where I said it was with the information I said it had. Then I take the ring leader…err, I mean the shift supervisor into the hangar to show them the place where the evil, unsecured Arms Room is. As we walk back to wait for the real man of the hour, the Sergeant with the passkey to make the alarm annunciator shut up back at military police headquarters, the soldier I’m with mentions that they’re glad I walked out of the building, since they were just getting ready to send the K9 (dog) in.
I tell him how grateful I am, too. Especially since I hadn’t brought a spare uniform to change into after I’d have soiled the one I was wearing had that dog surprised me in my office. He thinks that was a funny thought, and I’m thinking that those military police are telepathic somehow because the other soldiers in the hallway were laughing about the same exact thing as we round the corner.
Finally, the Sergeant arrives and resets the alarm. I find out that I’m free to go. I get this impression that a couple of them want to say, “but we’re keeping an eye on you, Mister!” You know, big bad cop talk. But I’ve been a nice guy and I outrank them and even though they appreciate the break from the monotony of the night, this little adventure is more than their nerves can handle.
Yeah, mine too. Especially every time I think about that dog…
Tuesday, July 8, 2003
Dogma
Dogma can take on many forms in religious life. One of the most consistent and popular forms is that the belief becomes its own truth simply by believing it. Regardless of facts or testimony to the contrary, a religious dogmatist will tout the party line until their dying day.
No Longer a Christian
I’ve contemplated how to write this one out. It will be tough for many to stomach just the concept alone that a believer in Jesus Christ could just swear off Christianity. It will be even more surprising to some that I would be the person to go there. So, I’m going to describe my most concise depiction of Christian beliefs as near as I can gather.
Here’s how Christianity works:
1. If you don’t believe the right things (i.e. how I believe the bible/Jesus/God says you must believe), then you are either broken, sick, wrong, immature, deceived or on your way to hell.
2. You remain those things unless you come to believe what I believe, in which case you are instantly fixed, healed, right, “grown up”, had the truth revealed to you, and/or saved from hell.
I have no problem giving this up. I have no problem giving up the idea that the whole rest of the world has a problem because they don’t hold to my specific beliefs. If there is a God (and I do believe there is) I don’t think he would do something to rescue us from ourselves only to have us use it against one another. No, giving up those things that make me think I’m better than other people can’t make me better, but it sure makes me feel a lot better about all the rest of the people in the world. If there is a problem with people in the world, it is a problem we all have and none of us can claim exemption from it by believing certain things and doing certain things. The only one who can exempt us from the problems we have is God.
Here’s how Christianity works:
1. If you don’t believe the right things (i.e. how I believe the bible/Jesus/God says you must believe), then you are either broken, sick, wrong, immature, deceived or on your way to hell.
2. You remain those things unless you come to believe what I believe, in which case you are instantly fixed, healed, right, “grown up”, had the truth revealed to you, and/or saved from hell.
I have no problem giving this up. I have no problem giving up the idea that the whole rest of the world has a problem because they don’t hold to my specific beliefs. If there is a God (and I do believe there is) I don’t think he would do something to rescue us from ourselves only to have us use it against one another. No, giving up those things that make me think I’m better than other people can’t make me better, but it sure makes me feel a lot better about all the rest of the people in the world. If there is a problem with people in the world, it is a problem we all have and none of us can claim exemption from it by believing certain things and doing certain things. The only one who can exempt us from the problems we have is God.
Pissing People Off
I guess it is all your point of view as to what is allowable when you piss people off. If you agree with someone, then it is usually okay if you allow them to mistreat people, especially if you think the point they are trying to make is worthwhile. It’s another thing entirely when the person is someone who declares themselves as not part of your group.
Friday, July 4, 2003
Presuming to Speak For God
I’ve seen lots of people do this. I’ve even done it myself; presume to have the wisdom of God revealed to me. And like millions of other people I have claimed to be moved by God to “share” these things with other people. I have also claimed that I conducted myself in love simply because I shared. It’s a load of crap!!!
I’m not saying that it isn’t possible for God to reveal things to us for sharing and edifying, it’s just that when we get a “Word”, we usually have someone specific in mind. Isn’t it just the slightest bit possible that our own opinion has inflicted itself upon us, portraying itself as a word from God directed to another? Paul talks about gifts being used to edify and lift up the BODY, not a single MEMBER. This seems especially odd, that we claim to be the messenger, because each individual has the SAME access to God to receive their own messages.
So, if somebody doesn’t ask you for your opinion, it would probably be better to keep your opinion to yourself.
I’m not saying that it isn’t possible for God to reveal things to us for sharing and edifying, it’s just that when we get a “Word”, we usually have someone specific in mind. Isn’t it just the slightest bit possible that our own opinion has inflicted itself upon us, portraying itself as a word from God directed to another? Paul talks about gifts being used to edify and lift up the BODY, not a single MEMBER. This seems especially odd, that we claim to be the messenger, because each individual has the SAME access to God to receive their own messages.
So, if somebody doesn’t ask you for your opinion, it would probably be better to keep your opinion to yourself.
Thursday, July 3, 2003
Happy 4th of July
I have duty tomorrow. I’ll spend 24 hours representing my commander, occupying his place at the headquarters while he enjoys some time off, away from the rigors of command. Some people would call it a “perk” but I think he’s probably pretty grateful for the time off. I don’t have to do it all the time, but for tomorrow my name came up. We all take turns (Officers and senior NCOs) so nobody has to have a really sucky life, it was just my turn in the queue that fell on July 4th.
Have fun, enjoy the picnics and enjoy the fireworks. I’m hoping that my commander will enjoy his, too!
Have fun, enjoy the picnics and enjoy the fireworks. I’m hoping that my commander will enjoy his, too!
Wednesday, July 2, 2003
Intent to Misunderstand
We ALL have opinions. I’m sure you’ve heard the “old” adage, “Opinions are like assholes; everybody has one and they all stink!” Yep, we sure do…have opinions that is. What’s more is that we really get attached to them and we think that everyone should share ours. At the very least we think that everyone has the right and deserves the opportunity to hear ours. But we don’t necessarily believe that everyone else should get equal time. So, at some point in time of listening to someone else’s opinion we commit the crime of Listening with Intent to Misunderstand. We will find some point in their discussion that we can object to, whether that point we object to really exists or not, and begin to inject our own opinion as the only viable option for them to continue to exist as a “rational” human being.
Crimes of Listening with Intent to Misunderstand are on the rise. Coming soon to a discussion near you.
Crimes of Listening with Intent to Misunderstand are on the rise. Coming soon to a discussion near you.
Tuesday, July 1, 2003
Where Is Heaven?
The other night, my daughter was reading to my sons before bedtime. My wife went up to tuck the boys into bed afterwards. She came down and told me that my oldest son had asked her some peculiar questions. She said that he had asked where heaven was and said that he wanted to go there. She said that he seemed really upset.
So, up the stairs I went for damage control. I found out from my son that his questions had come from a page that my daughter had read to them out of a little children’s bible. I had him show me which page and it was an innocent re-telling of when Jesus stopped the disciples from keeping the children away from Him. Evidently, my daughter injected something in there that disturbed my son.
I told my boy that Jesus wants us all to be with Him. He asked me, “Where is heaven?” and I said, “It is being with Jesus!” I then told him how Jesus promised to be in our hearts because He loves us and that He would never leave us. Wouldn’t you know it, that boy’s fears of not making it to heaven just seemed to disappear and he got this really relieved smile on his face as he reached to hug me goodnight, and then he snuggled into his blanket and went to sleep.
So, up the stairs I went for damage control. I found out from my son that his questions had come from a page that my daughter had read to them out of a little children’s bible. I had him show me which page and it was an innocent re-telling of when Jesus stopped the disciples from keeping the children away from Him. Evidently, my daughter injected something in there that disturbed my son.
I told my boy that Jesus wants us all to be with Him. He asked me, “Where is heaven?” and I said, “It is being with Jesus!” I then told him how Jesus promised to be in our hearts because He loves us and that He would never leave us. Wouldn’t you know it, that boy’s fears of not making it to heaven just seemed to disappear and he got this really relieved smile on his face as he reached to hug me goodnight, and then he snuggled into his blanket and went to sleep.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,” – John 11:25, NASB
The Absurdity of the Obvious
I was looking to participate in a conversation with some friends and my initial comment was ignored. So, I began commenting on my own remark but I was still ignored. Finally, I began to have a conversation with myself. And that is when I got looked at like I was the one with the problem. If I hadn’t been the one to point out the obvious by my absurd behavior, it seems that they would have never seen what was going on. Sometimes, it seems that unless we take things to the extreme of absurdity, some people will remain oblivious to that which might appear obvious to others.
Satire and sarcasm are like that. They distort the absurdity of things that should be obvious but that we’ve missed. People will often label satire and sarcasm as derogatory, and I’m sure that is often true, but what other recourse are people left with to gain the attention of those who refuse to pay attention? I don’t know. All I know is that elevating what is obvious to you into what is absurd to others, sure draws attention to you in relatively short order.
Satire and sarcasm are like that. They distort the absurdity of things that should be obvious but that we’ve missed. People will often label satire and sarcasm as derogatory, and I’m sure that is often true, but what other recourse are people left with to gain the attention of those who refuse to pay attention? I don’t know. All I know is that elevating what is obvious to you into what is absurd to others, sure draws attention to you in relatively short order.
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