Maybe it's the isolation, maybe it's the separation from the world that has allowed me to see what I believe more clearly now than I have ever seen before. The world is going through something not seen before in the history of mankind. Perspective is extremely important as we all can see with our own eyes what has been unfolding in front of us all for these past few years. This is only a relatively short period of history in relation the the vast archive of humanity's walk upon this earth.
Perspective teaches us that in order to understand and then be able to react, we must have a firm grasp on what is truth reality and what is learned conjecture.
So what am I talking about?
I will state the obvious; since the dawn of recorded mankind, man has always been seeking the truth surrounding our very existence. I believe that deep inside the heart of every man and woman is a yearning to understand why we are here, where we came from and what we are supposed to do while we live. History of humanity has to be regarded as the plumb line that has shown we are searching for Truth. But, there are some interesting facts about this recorded history that should raise the eyebrows of everyone who seeks the Truth.
Millennia gone past has revealed several facts; in particular, one tiny nation among all those of the world has continued to survive against other nations who have tried many times to destroy her and capture her lands. Some have managed to conquer her lands and people, but always a remnant of the people survive and return to their homeland to re-build. Her enemies destroyed or extinct in many cases.
Israel has recorded history dating back over 4000 years ago, almost the longest recorded history of all nations who have ever lived. Only a few others show records a few scant years older.
This is a factual truth. I want to combine some other details that science has dug up that has produced only more speculation.
Language: Science has deciphered ancient languages to show that all language has developed from a parent root language, not more than 4 to 5 thousand years ago. Before that, science is only speculating. What is interesting and cannot be explained is that several of these base languages are complete with extensive structure, both verbal, and written. Immediately prior to any record of written languages we have only a collective of drawings, pictographs and stone carvings. Even the dating of these examples is speculative simply because methods for dating seem to indicate they all began at nearly the same time in history, within a few hundred years of each other. So science does what seems to be logical in trying to establish that these many different languages seem to be based in a root language. They named this hypothetical language Proto-Indo-European. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proto-Indo-Europeans. Without any evidence, written, or in stone, or otherwise, science has firmly stated that language evolved from this one mother language. It is interesting that this hypothesis exists because science also looked at archaeological evidence of the migration patterns of ancient peoples. Evidence suggests that all migration began in ancient Asia, near Turkey or Iran and spread out from there, around 5,000 to 6,000 years ago. Over the years, dialects in language changed and evolved into different speech, new words, resulting in new languages. Science feels this is the best hypothesis for all language as to how all of these languages came about about at the same time in history; all roughly about the same time. Tied together with migration, languages have evolved as the peoples have moved away from each other, but, all stemming back from only one parent language.
Nice theory...here's another one.
The Bible records the people began to build a tower to honor themselves and be able to reach the heavens so they could also be "like God". At this time, all the people spoke the same language, and had spread out across the lands after the Great Flood; all these descendants of Noah and his sons. God came down and confounded the speech of the people so they could not understand each other. The building of the tower to Heaven ceased and the people dispersed, unable to communicate with each other. The place was called Babel after that. Genesis 11:9.
It is interesting to see that scientific evidence fits hand in glove what the Bible states in recorded history. We have no evidence of a first language anywhere, but science believes all languages are rooted in this one first language. Exactly what the Bible states.
Is it merely a coincidence that the scientific hypothesis for the proof of the beginnings of Language for all of humanity point to one language for all peoples, and is not older than 6,000 years ago?
Science has only recently put together these conclusions when the Bible recorded them almost 4,000 years ago. Yet these same scientists are still resisting the obvious proof staring them in the face.
Now, here's where I am going with all of this up to this point: If we are a species who has evolved from our ancestral ape grandparents and through the course of time, (a short time I might add) How did all of humanity end up in a tiny area of the middle east where the first languages have been discovered? Why has archaeology not discovered any civilization on this great planet older than 6,000 to 7,000 years old? How is it that we have this great explosion of the development of civilization and along with it, language, culture, arts, science...all of which indicate great intelligence far exceeding any other species. What is glaringly obvious to me is this, all of these characteristics of human existence, and development all commenced in recorded history at the same time. This development of humanity occurred within a very short window compared to the alleged curve humanity followed as we evolved from pre-historic man. How is this possible?
While language, culture, science or civilization are not the only definitive proofs for our belief in a creator, our existence as a species does not fit with the model of evolution as science would have us believe. Language and these other characteristics have not evolved in the way evolution has suggested they should have. In fact, the evidence indicates that all civilization suddenly appeared, in a very short period of time, very complex in context, not that long ago and beginning in one specific location on earth. Exactly where the Bible says it started.
While evidence exists for civilizations that are older than recorded language it is interesting to note that all these ancient civilizations are now extinct. Seemingly having died out at the same time around 6,000 to 7,000 years ago. I wonder what could have caused that global catastrophe? We'll save this for another time!
Do not be fooled by conjecture of those who would have you believe that you evolved out of pond sludge over millennia. The evidence is there for those who seek.
Be blessed.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Unspeakable Joy
Well that's long enough...I can finally breath again.
Almost a year ago was my last blog, the hiatus endured as a result of a change in direction I felt was coming on through my writing. At first the blogs appeared to develop well as my thoughts and adventures here in the D.R. came out on the screen. Then I began to notice a shift in what I was writing, some of the thoughts appeared almost accusatory, often critical about how people lived, or for that matter, didn't live.
God told me to stop writing.
At first I couldn't put a finger on what was wrong; maybe complacency was settling in, maybe I was losing interest in writing, maybe it was a mid-life crisis. After all, I had not had one yet!
Today God told me what it was.
I had lost the Joy of the Lord.
Such a little thing when you think about it, but then again, such a great big thing as well.
I tried hard to think how this could have happened, I mean, I know I love God! I know why I am here! I know who Jesus is to me! I believe!
So what happened?
I happened.
Let me explain, I know we are not supposed to go back to the ways of our past, but I honestly must admit that part of the old me never died when I accepted Jesus. I just assumed that the parts I wanted to die had died...they did not. I cannot pinpoint exactly what began to turn my head back into the world, and I never did slide all the way back in, but I did notice a frustration edging forward in each day that I seemed not to grasp. The tendency for me to "handle" a situation comes from years of being a manager; I know how to solve problems fast. That's the definition of manager.
Trouble is, as a missionary, this is not my job now. I am not a manager, I am a disciple of Jesus.
But when things are not going the way you think they should be going sometimes our first instinct is not to go to the Lord; I found that I was dealing with problems very much the way I did when I was still running a company back in Canada, and here in the D.R., that method can make you very tired, very quickly. Now fatigued and frustrated, and still not going to the Lord to seek His face, I woke up one morning and felt I had not slept at all. I felt no joy and no desire to face another answer-less day; looking in the mirror, I almost did not recognize the man standing there. I cried out to God inside my head simply because I was not alone in the room. Silence laughed back at me from behind the mirror.
I felt His presence after I left the room, the daylight was just breaking and I stopped to look into the bush which surrounds our yard. Dew clung to the leaves of every tree and bush I could see, a thin mist moved through the low brush pushed by a slight breeze in the growing light.
A smile broke onto my face as I breathed in the freshness of the morning, and His presence enveloped my as I stood there on the terrace. Waves of songs rushed through my brain mixed with sounds of wind, warmth and a rising sensation overtook my body. Unspeakable Joy rising up within and I knew within that I was not alone: He was here, ever-present, inside and all around. Wrapping me up in His embrace with invisible arms that lifted me right out of my former state. The worship continued in my head and I broke out into audible song, the words spilling easily off my tongue.
"Greater is the one who lives in me, greater is the love of Jesus, greater than my sin, greater than the grave, above all other thrones, above all other names, Greater! You are Greater!" kudos to Cris Tomlin for these words and song.
I searched myself to understand why God was interested in me; after-all, I am just a man out of many in this great big world, no-one especially exceptional; good at a few things, not so good at others. Not a lot different than any other man. The overwhelming answer kept coming back to me; "because I love you!"
I tried to deny it, "Lord, who am I that you would love me?"
"You are that which I made, I formed you in your mother's womb and gave you life."
"Your life did not come from any other source, you were not an accident, and you did not cause your life to be on your own."
I knew this to be true. I could not have possibly given myself life, the complexity of life itself is no simple thing requiring massive amounts of information to be created, complied and then ordered into a human. Clearly not an accident.
No, I knew that something gave me life. Do I simply conclude that it must be God because there is no other available explanation yet? Not a simple conclusion, the obvious conclusion.
This is to be a daily truth for the rest of my life.
I must seek Him, I must know Him, He gave me life, and I thank Him for that.
Why He chose me is a question I will continue to seek an answer for; how could I possible look for my own truths when I know that I am nothing apart from Him.
I want, no I desire this Unspeakable Joy every day; this is the rule of my days...rest in His peace, worship in His Joy, seek to know Him.
Fruit of the Spirit, Gal 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
These fruits are the evidence of an individual who has taken on Christ, because Jesus is all these things. These are the outward activities and appearances of the individual that at times of course can be imitated, but never maintained for any length of time unless that individual has surely taken on Christ. For when the trials of life come on and the pressure is turned up, then these fruits will still show through, the individual will be able to overcome, to endure, to run the race. But if the trials come and the Christian is only "putting on a show", then the real fruit of the flesh will come forth. Whatever is truly residing in our hearts will be manifest in the moment especially when the pressure is on. If this occurs in your life, then you must question if you have really given your life to Jesus, or are you just playing at being saved?
Joy, as fruit, simply overstates the inward nature of God, which is manifest in us. As we take on Christ more and more each day, His Joy overflows into us, bathing our souls with unspeakable happiness. This is not a surreal thing, it is not something of our imagination although we sometimes think we could possible imagine such a feeling. It is certainly more than a feeling, in fact, this Joy is somewhat of an enigma; simply stated, if you have never had the Joy of the Lord, you cannot possibly fathom what it is you are missing.
When the Joy of the Lord comes upon you, you will know it as surely as something unique, entirely. You will know exactly what is to be loved unconditionally by the Father, that He chose to dwell inside you and manifest His will for His creation through you. You will know that is this Joy that encompasses your heart that brings you to the point of compassion that breaks your heart because it breaks the Heart of God. This Joy will be so close to your emotion as a human that when it envelopes you, you cannot control the tears when His compassion is revealed through the plight of His children.
The fruit of Joy is combined and available for us with the other manifest fruit of the Spirit and gives unmistakable proof of a Christ filled individual. As you walk with God, each day growing closer and closer to Him, He will reveal His plan for you in His Kingdom, and your life with Him.
Be blessed
Almost a year ago was my last blog, the hiatus endured as a result of a change in direction I felt was coming on through my writing. At first the blogs appeared to develop well as my thoughts and adventures here in the D.R. came out on the screen. Then I began to notice a shift in what I was writing, some of the thoughts appeared almost accusatory, often critical about how people lived, or for that matter, didn't live.
God told me to stop writing.
At first I couldn't put a finger on what was wrong; maybe complacency was settling in, maybe I was losing interest in writing, maybe it was a mid-life crisis. After all, I had not had one yet!
Today God told me what it was.
I had lost the Joy of the Lord.
Such a little thing when you think about it, but then again, such a great big thing as well.
I tried hard to think how this could have happened, I mean, I know I love God! I know why I am here! I know who Jesus is to me! I believe!
So what happened?
I happened.
Let me explain, I know we are not supposed to go back to the ways of our past, but I honestly must admit that part of the old me never died when I accepted Jesus. I just assumed that the parts I wanted to die had died...they did not. I cannot pinpoint exactly what began to turn my head back into the world, and I never did slide all the way back in, but I did notice a frustration edging forward in each day that I seemed not to grasp. The tendency for me to "handle" a situation comes from years of being a manager; I know how to solve problems fast. That's the definition of manager.
Trouble is, as a missionary, this is not my job now. I am not a manager, I am a disciple of Jesus.
But when things are not going the way you think they should be going sometimes our first instinct is not to go to the Lord; I found that I was dealing with problems very much the way I did when I was still running a company back in Canada, and here in the D.R., that method can make you very tired, very quickly. Now fatigued and frustrated, and still not going to the Lord to seek His face, I woke up one morning and felt I had not slept at all. I felt no joy and no desire to face another answer-less day; looking in the mirror, I almost did not recognize the man standing there. I cried out to God inside my head simply because I was not alone in the room. Silence laughed back at me from behind the mirror.
I felt His presence after I left the room, the daylight was just breaking and I stopped to look into the bush which surrounds our yard. Dew clung to the leaves of every tree and bush I could see, a thin mist moved through the low brush pushed by a slight breeze in the growing light.
A smile broke onto my face as I breathed in the freshness of the morning, and His presence enveloped my as I stood there on the terrace. Waves of songs rushed through my brain mixed with sounds of wind, warmth and a rising sensation overtook my body. Unspeakable Joy rising up within and I knew within that I was not alone: He was here, ever-present, inside and all around. Wrapping me up in His embrace with invisible arms that lifted me right out of my former state. The worship continued in my head and I broke out into audible song, the words spilling easily off my tongue.
"Greater is the one who lives in me, greater is the love of Jesus, greater than my sin, greater than the grave, above all other thrones, above all other names, Greater! You are Greater!" kudos to Cris Tomlin for these words and song.
I searched myself to understand why God was interested in me; after-all, I am just a man out of many in this great big world, no-one especially exceptional; good at a few things, not so good at others. Not a lot different than any other man. The overwhelming answer kept coming back to me; "because I love you!"
I tried to deny it, "Lord, who am I that you would love me?"
"You are that which I made, I formed you in your mother's womb and gave you life."
"Your life did not come from any other source, you were not an accident, and you did not cause your life to be on your own."
I knew this to be true. I could not have possibly given myself life, the complexity of life itself is no simple thing requiring massive amounts of information to be created, complied and then ordered into a human. Clearly not an accident.
No, I knew that something gave me life. Do I simply conclude that it must be God because there is no other available explanation yet? Not a simple conclusion, the obvious conclusion.
This is to be a daily truth for the rest of my life.
I must seek Him, I must know Him, He gave me life, and I thank Him for that.
Why He chose me is a question I will continue to seek an answer for; how could I possible look for my own truths when I know that I am nothing apart from Him.
I want, no I desire this Unspeakable Joy every day; this is the rule of my days...rest in His peace, worship in His Joy, seek to know Him.
Fruit of the Spirit, Gal 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
These fruits are the evidence of an individual who has taken on Christ, because Jesus is all these things. These are the outward activities and appearances of the individual that at times of course can be imitated, but never maintained for any length of time unless that individual has surely taken on Christ. For when the trials of life come on and the pressure is turned up, then these fruits will still show through, the individual will be able to overcome, to endure, to run the race. But if the trials come and the Christian is only "putting on a show", then the real fruit of the flesh will come forth. Whatever is truly residing in our hearts will be manifest in the moment especially when the pressure is on. If this occurs in your life, then you must question if you have really given your life to Jesus, or are you just playing at being saved?
Joy, as fruit, simply overstates the inward nature of God, which is manifest in us. As we take on Christ more and more each day, His Joy overflows into us, bathing our souls with unspeakable happiness. This is not a surreal thing, it is not something of our imagination although we sometimes think we could possible imagine such a feeling. It is certainly more than a feeling, in fact, this Joy is somewhat of an enigma; simply stated, if you have never had the Joy of the Lord, you cannot possibly fathom what it is you are missing.
When the Joy of the Lord comes upon you, you will know it as surely as something unique, entirely. You will know exactly what is to be loved unconditionally by the Father, that He chose to dwell inside you and manifest His will for His creation through you. You will know that is this Joy that encompasses your heart that brings you to the point of compassion that breaks your heart because it breaks the Heart of God. This Joy will be so close to your emotion as a human that when it envelopes you, you cannot control the tears when His compassion is revealed through the plight of His children.
The fruit of Joy is combined and available for us with the other manifest fruit of the Spirit and gives unmistakable proof of a Christ filled individual. As you walk with God, each day growing closer and closer to Him, He will reveal His plan for you in His Kingdom, and your life with Him.
Be blessed
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