Seek Ye First

     Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.       Mathew 6: 33

     I grew up in a time where exposure to the gospel was common place. Most kids were sent to Sunday school as there parents did before them and most often to the denominational linage of the same; in what I would view as an indoctrination to the accompanying doctrine. I'm not making any judgmental assessment here of differential belief systems. Parental authority therein is an inherent right and obligation never to be abridged and does not concern me here. What does concern me more and leads me in another direction of examination is more personal. "Seek ye first" is an admonition of the Lord. What I've been taught has to be reconciled, not only to scripture, but to a real relational reality with the Lord. The world is already full of parrots. Relationship demands more. Repetition doesn't equate to knowledge any more than water to oil. If you have accepted that God is real He will demand more than an acknowledgement. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" demands much more. My path changed more, the more I thought about this. It changed into a quest of sorts. The parental authority I started to seek changed to my Father in heaven. He challenged me and I challenged Him right back. This was sometimes bordering on the fringes of remedial recompense, but I found this to be the same as an earthly father building a strong resilience in his son. I dove right in to ecclesiastical study. All the while, submitting myself to correction. I wanted assurance from my Father that my life was in line with His Kingdom. In other words, that knowledge always requires action and a healthy fear of misrepresentation concerning His word and will. 

     Now, as concerning "and His righteousness" which conjoins with the preceding;"seek ye first the kingdom of God"; we have that which under girds the intent. The implication of need, is based on the understanding that God knows our needs, and these fall short of  import as to the value of the birthing of righteousness. Being "born again" has no meaning without the understanding or the seeking of "His righteousness." Sonship involves the transformation of our very self. Righteousness becomes more than an adornment and becomes a transition to a new being, a new life. 

     Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.

     This is more than just a plea, or confession, or a prayer. It's a lifelong quest, if you will, a transformation that is birthed and fueled by faith.

     Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 

     Onward christian soldier! Every day may be a battle or not; but one thing I've learned is there is no victory without the fight. The question that remains is "are you willing to fight? 

     My admonition; the same as Paul’s;“Seek Ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” Pass it on.

Flys and Mosquitoes

           Living in this world of wonder, and the pondering I sometimes engage in, can at times lead me in a reasonable quest for an examination of purpose. Its inclusion of struggle is easy enough to understand. Life without it would leave us bereft of beneficial growth, not to mention the purpose that leads to a conclusion. Courage has to be sustained by the obverse, which is cowardliness, love that conquers hate, ambition over lackadaisical reluctance, and on and on. That I can see purpose in Gods creation is self evident. It imposes itself on us regardless of where we reside physically, mentally, and spiritually. It's obviously God's playground that He gave us to reside in. That's partly why I'm such a proponent of freewill. Our purpose in life should be inclusive of a point of resolution. I can't see any plausible argument that can refute that. I only have this one resolution that I can't come to terms with...was it absolutely necessary for the inclusion of flies and mosquitoes? I don't even want to explore any rationale for any necessity or beneficence as would pertain to their existence. Life is full of challenges. I can understand the relevance behind choice and consequences and the growth aspect of it all in the perfection and molding of our being for for God's purpose. I just can't get a grip on why it was absolutely necessary for God's inclusion of flies and mosquitoes.                  

     Crickets get a pass in my studio just for their singing when I’m cutting a groove with my guitar. I believe that’s not only fair but somewhat prudent.

The Resplendent Marriage of Works and Faith

     Every Sunday, without fail, I hear Paul's admonition "For by grace ye are saved; and that not of yourselves: it is the free gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast." It should be self evident that the problem lies in the boasting and not in the works rendering Jesus call for laborers to be a contradiction. The pastor that offers up this biblical mandate is one of the hardest working people I've ever known. "For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath ordained that we should walk in them." The "free gift" Paul is eluding to is Christ's sacrificial work on the cross, through which we gain our redemption. When I hear people stop at the free gift, it makes me shudder. Our society is being immersed in an entitled mindset that creates an illusion that there should be a free paycheck for just existing. God opened the door; that's the free gift; and that at a horrific painful cost. Is there a cost for us, for discipleship? Maybe we should ask a Christian in a Muslim country or maybe take a deeper look at the cost for Christ's apostles. Jesus call was for laborers. When I think about the training and the hardship soldiers may encounter; it occurs to me that for the most part we resemble, at times, children armed with squirt guns. When or how do we grow? When do we take off our costumes and put our hands to the plow? Where does the freedom we have in Christ come to some semblance of endurance and the working out of our faith with fear and trembling.

     James 2:17,18 "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." 

     This verse paints a picture that should make one's self uneasy. That picture should conjure up a picture of a scissors with only one blade.  James continues with "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But will thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" I had to take note that the last verse was in the form of a question. I've asked myself that same question. Where or is there a limit to God's expectations? Where does obedience come into play? Be honest! In my mind, I immediately go to, "What could I ever give back to God that he hasn't already given me?"  Well, Jesus told his disciples to go into all the world and make disciples of all men. He's already given us the free gift of life and that of life more abundantly. What responsibility does He impart to us? That would be to do as He does. Easy to say, harder to follow through, and an impossibility without ..... "faith." Life can be easy to be hard; but that can only be true with choice. "Choose this day whom you will serve." I believe it is truly an illusion that faith comes without perseverance and hard work. It is united by a single vision, sealed by God's word and promise, that he's prepared a place for me. The place at God's table requires that the invitation must be accepted and, I believe, received by the resplendent marriage of works and faith.

Mathew 25:31-46 

     "When the son of man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep and goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.   Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was hungry and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: Naked and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying Lord, when saw we thee an hungry and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, verily I say unto you, Inasmuch, as thee have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger and ye took me not in: naked and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, Ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.

     I don't believe I'm mistaken in the belief that faith alone, devoid of work, is an illusion fostering serious concerns not only about salvation, but a gross misunderstanding of the righteousness and holiness of my Lord and Savior. We need a realistic understanding that faith and works are inseparable, as are forgiveness and repentance. We desire mercy, but that also is wedded to truth. That's why we fall on our knees; that's why we have to pick up our cross daily. That's why Jesus picked up his cross; to do what we couldn't. I'll never be perfect, but thank God I'm redeemable by the washing of His blood. 

One last question; and one that we should all contemplate: What has been sacrificial in my life? If I'm always employing a two step dance routine to avoid need, physical or spiritual, "I'm not dancing with the right partner." Jesus loves "them" this I know for the Bible tells me so. The path may well be narrower than we understand. The scripture above is one of the scariest, "for me", in the bible.

I need to find something to do! My faith needs something to marry!

Attributive Conscience

     Disputatious mindset may be a better title for this dissertation. It can't be just me and my dismaying observation of redundant and spiraling degradation of character, amidst a devolving ideological foundation of rational principles that disturbs me mainly during the onset of political election cycles. As much as the observation of lacking foresight, rationality and integrity, it is the absence of any reasonable insight or credible debate beyond repetitive programmed response. As reprehensible as AI is to me as a substitute for real educational instruction, what I have observed thru modern media almost makes it a viable alternative. How did we regress to a point so lacking in critical analysis as to be controlled by contrived mantras manufactured by morally bankrupt constituents. How did faceless facts from faceless origin, digressing into mimicry responses, gain credibility just from the sheer volume and repetition, grab hold of the nearly whole of a peoples repertoire?  

     I have my own bias or slant; or if you like "opinions. The problem that I've experienced is foundational and is disturbing to my own rationalizing. AI is only what it is fed, just as you and I. I am obliged to fueling my own resolve. My understanding must be guided by my own resolution of say; "revisionist history" as are the programmers of AI. I may resolve this by sourcing origin content to decipher original intent. My obligation to myself and God is a morally guided commitment and has to be answerable as such. History, broken down honestly from written source material in reality are just minute snippets of time to be related to and assimilated with other sourced recordings. This has to be embedded thru a morally anchored lens. Agenda and purpose must be censored and or set aside. I regulate this to what has to be enjoined to conscience. Being right for the sake of any other means would be disingenuous and contrived. A little depth, for sake of argument or rebuttal, will always be resolute in its intent and effective to its end; not to mention obedient and receptive to correction. 

Mathew 24:45-46 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he comes shall find so doing.

     Remember, those seeking office are obliged to servitude not just to the whims of some but to the judicious servitude of their constituents and the constitution of this, their country.

Postscript: If anyone is wondering where my political allegiance lies; I'm independent, non-partisan, and pretty much like George Washington was.  He lamented the possibility of party affiliation because it created factions that serve only themselves. He was the glue that kept conversation and debate alive and vibrant. The idea of party factions he believed would be the ultimate undoing and destruction of our country. Public awareness of the real concerns and issues is reduced to accusation and retribution resulting in being the real embarrassment of our constitutional republic. Voting records are readily available and could easily replace the political postcards filling up your mailboxes and replacing the Pee Wee Herman "I'm rubber and you're glue, what you say bounces of me and sticks to you" monologue. We should be better than this. I've said it before and it bears repeating; the sound of one hand clapping is no sound at all. It does serve one purpose; exposition. Ignorance and incivility are still the canvas we are using to paint our future and to perpetuate our fate and to secure our demise.

Me First? .......?

      My wife bought me Foxes Book of Martyrs. I haven't read this for many years. Mans cruelty to man never ceases to amaze me. What astonishes me the most, besides mans astonishing cruelty to his fellow man, is the base realization of the reasoning behind it. Belief defining and defying and then reviling another belief berthing retribution by means of exterminating competing ideology. As primitive a form of exclusionary and cowardly means of controlling societal conformity, it's usage comes close to being universal even in the most politesse of societies. Ten reigns of terror executed on Christians in the most obscene and horrific demonstration of methods for the preservation of exclusionary conformity to another's realm of totalitarian inclusion. 

     Universalism is one of those words that carry frightening allusions of control to me personally. Another, that carries almost the same aversion to me is reforming. Both contain a versioning alignment of thought that to me will predesignate the same destination of control. Getting past the ten reigns of persecution we end up with one controlling Christian ideology that uses the same horrific tactics of control that the pagan systems employed. They refer to this part of history the "Dark Ages."  Controlling the dialogue seems to be in vogue wherever we land in historical examination. Yet, truth has to reside in and of its self. We may try to control it and define it; modify it to our preference and codify it to advance a defining conditioning goal of our own or submit to it and let it lay us bare. Judgement comes first to the house of God of which we are. Who wants to be first in line? Time won't even be a consideration, only eternity will prevail. I'm starting to sound like a Baptist now. Still, we will all meet the Truth. I'm going to be transparent before it whether I like it or not; but I'm not writing about that now, because now is all we ever have in time. The strangest part of all this is that I can't wait to be there, at His feet, waiting for the cleansing of my soul; not reformation, not universalism, just myself with the Truth, the Word, and the Life.

1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgement 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? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

A question to be asked.

Assumptive Consumption

     Sometimes I awaken with a thought that leads me on a sort of rabbit trail chase with hopes of catching some sort of resolution. Idolitive creedal worship bordering on the fringes of fanatical reasoning for the sake of exclusion of reasonable inclusion seems to be more of a marketing ploy that employs somewhat intimidating tactical methodology while betraying objective reasoning. Pick and choose this day whom you will serve. A person or group will often  radicalize to employ a means of marginalizing competing ideology; many times to the point of dying for. I can find myself definitively saying there are beliefs worth dying for, but with the obvious implication that this implies the obverse. I've seen that this will steer many people to simply employ an "I'm not religious stance", all the while betraying their position with religious zeal. This also manifests itself in politics now as to be the norm and not the exception. This raises all sorts of questions apart from how we arrived to this debacle. While all don't always search for a peaceful reconciliation; we all should long for it; but how can we achieve it? When do we pick up the sword and when do we lay it down? Is there ever a point when being right can be blinding reason all along, or to be right for corrective rationale, or just right for elevating an ingratiating ego? When does motive dominate or interfere with objective rationale? Can being right for a wrong reason still be justifiable? 

     We've all heard the transparency word thrown around a lot lately. The thought of it landing at our front door, so to speak, is somewhat frightening and rarely a consideration for strategic gain. The thought that we're already transparent before God is considerably more concerning or it should be. A fig leaf has already been proven a poor cover. My desire is to be right. One of the major roadblocks is assumption where it doesn't belong. A conclusion derived and conceived, aided by an assumption, may make for a tantalizing consumption, but can deliver undesired side effects to a persons ethical constitution. If there's a hill to die on, and many have already died on, don't make it on an assumption. I can't just assume I'm alright, when I know I'm not. I need the substitutionary atonement that Jesus provides, so I want to be right. That's my desire, but more importantly, I want to be right with God. That's the hill I'll die on. 

     I'm assuming you've been consuming an assumptive remedial tactical revolutionary conceptualizing epiphany now from my morning ramp. Time for a nap.

A Country Dance

Achieving this their end, 

They create a cause, 

Berthing thoughtless thoughts

They arm their aim

Mindless vessels to create, 

A voice, a role, clueless debate

Rebuttal defined, awaits it's prey, 

Roaring chorus secured in the fray

A rage to ensure, a position, a stance 

A tuneless tune to which they may dance

Bend-less roads that seek to ease

Or circular travails that feeds disease

Blinding, blindness never sought

An inviting host so easily got

And this we say to our dismay 

I thought, I think, We found our way

  

 

 

 

Conjunctive Unity

     It's not uncommon for someone, nowadays, to ask if you are a believer. I don't have a problem with that at all. It does seem to to be somewhat cryptic even though there's nothing necessarily misleading about the query. It is somewhat amusing in that there's an almost never ending list of things a person might believe. I'm obviously a Christian but for me that's more than a belief or even a creed. There are times when reading the Bible that you see a repetition of words that are linked together such as mercy and truth. The implication would seem to be that one is conjoined to the other. Mindless mercy could easily go astray bereft of benefit without an acknowledgment of corrective or behavioral truth; just as truth without ministering mercy would be obstructive to life altering renewal. As far as belief takes us, I can't but wonder if our belief, on its own, is enough to substantiate a cohesive ground, sufficient enough to stand on. Will the faith to fuel my belief be enough to sustain it. After-all, believe systems reside in our creeds, our politics, denominational alliance, and several different religions, all at odds with each other. Yet, they all claim authoritative supremacy. The only constant in each consistency lies entirely in the claim. 

     Where does the authority reside? This isn't just a modern day enigma. We have historical insight all the way back to Adam and the commonality of differential precedents take root from the beginning. God was right there. Christians will say; you need Jesus. If that's  true, I still have some reservations. Just as mercy and truth, belief and faith, are bound together through mutual necessity, I believe the same has to be true of a defensible bedrock for Christianity. Jesus when He teaches us to pray begins with; "Our Father who art in heaven". Jesus prays to his Father in Gethsemane; Jesus makes intersession on our behalf, of our prayers, which are, in turn, prompted by the work of the Holy Spirit's presence in our lives after our surrender to God. Sometimes my thinking leads me through strange avenues of quandary. I'm not a theologian. I do endorse C.S. Lewis' analogy of another disputation concerning faith and works. Trying to discern which is of greater importance is like deciding which blade of a scissors is most important. For me, there has to be a conjunctive unity between aspects of Christian truth that can survive a severance of functional reality, whether it's belief and faith, mercy and truth, faith and works, or most importantly the trinitarian person  hood of the one true God that makes a cord of three as one. 

Conjunctive: Closely united; serving to unite.                                    Unity: The state of being one; oneness

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. James 2:18

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels: and the he shall shall reward every man according to his works.  Mathew 16:27

And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which sees the Son, and believes on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:40

Verily, verily, I say unto you,The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do: for what soever things he does, these also does the son likewise. John 5:19

 After this manner pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Mathew 6:9

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. Mathew 10:33

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bound them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart. Proverbs 3:3

All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. Psalm 25:10

 

Judicious Judgement

      We've all heard it.  [ Mathew 7:1]"Judge not, that ye be not judged."Still, it always seems to be that, there is a bit of judging hanging on to the shirt-tails of that statement that targets the import of what your intent may have been. Every believer, non-believer, cat or  dog in  your little world is well adept with its inception. Jesus used it and so it has to be. This will be a challenging quandary to explore; exacting ideologue of an obviously judicial statement about judgement without being judgmental. How does one facilitate the retrieval of an acceptable facet while still arriving shy of the facetious. Contextual scrutiny has to be the avenue to be explored. 

     Consider starting at Matthew chapter 5 and ending at chapter 8.  Although this has nothing even close to our original dilemma, one may want to examine the style of teaching used for centuries. I'm not attempting to rabbit trail but to establish foundational footings. When reading the exhortations of Jesus you'll be subject to a whole litany of sayings, jumping from one subject to another. This is almost like reading Solomon's proverbs, or Confucius sayings; wisdom literature amassed in nonstop progression. Matthew, being a tax collector at one time, would have be the perfect vessel for transcribing these sayings we read being adept at a form of shorthand common to that vocation; not to mention the only gospel for several years after the crucifixion of Jesus. Understanding that we have some responsibility in the separation of themes might lead one to be logically responsible to the inclusion of verses tied to the aforementioned verse. Whatever empathizes conditional understanding can't be selectively ignored or side-stepped to ingratiate your defensive posturing. "Judge not", for me, immediately raises questions. I thought we were supposed to be wise as serpents. [Mathew 10:16] How do we go through life or even a single day without making judgments? I know He's referencing people, and you can't go out the door in the morning without encountering them. As a father and husband I have to be in the judicial role as a part of my parental role. Still,there has to be a line somewhere that can't be crossed. My best guess is that there is point of crossing over into God's role where I don't belong. We've all crossed that line at some point. What's beyond our understanding, which is limited as to most of our encounters, God only knows. We're clueless of what circumstances made people what they appear. Yes, appearances are deceiving. Being judicious in our judgments should always tempered by grace. People may be raising their own eyebrows while making there own assessments while scrutinizing some questionable straits of your own. Once again, God only knows. Consequential assessment sometimes may be a sad adornment you will have to wear if you transcend into or on to God's turf.

     For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 

      "For with what judgement ye judge". Not that's a fearful consideration. One would hope that bias, prejudice, and motive might not have played a part in a reciprocal judgement. Thought provocation may be a revelation of intent. I'm not saying judgement isn't a necessity of living. Just going through an ordinary day always involves judicial thinking on our part. The collusion of bias and assumption presupposes our decisions, impairing any chance of non-prejudicial judgement leading ones action into expository episodes of revelatory delusion. Foot extraction from mouth could easily be avoidable with judicious thinking before hand on our part. Jesus just wants to save us from the same retribution that we have just invoked on others. And with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Silence is golden .... or not? I would invoke a bit of grace before speculation reveals on my part, the revelating and owning of my own ignorance. We know not what we do? That, I'm guessing, is just a bunch of bull. Being vindictive shouldn't be a conditioned response. 

     And why beholdest thou the mote the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but consider not the beam that is in thine own eye? 

      There's a question that we often sidestep while others are oftentimes musing about. If there's a blindside to our thinking; why not think about consideration on our part to affected parties. Clothing ourselves with judgmental malfeasance is never an attractive apparel and is hard to forget. Opinion belongs to opinionated people that, more often than not, need to seek a better opinion. I apologize for that, I've got this mote in my eye keeping me up at night. I have to leave you with this.

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all theses things will be added unto you." Mathew 6:33 

"Judge not, that ye be not judged." But, be judicious in your own walk and let the real Judge do His work. Be a vessel He can use for others.

He Wept

           One of my favorite apologists is Oswald Chambers. I've read all that I've found of his discourses. During his ministry he was supported by a number of different denominations. That fact alone has always intrigued me because his allegiance was never aligned, first of all, to anyone but God on which his devotion was centered, so I was intrigued by an excerpt from a letter of his to Biddy, his soon to be wife and partner in his ministry. 

      "The great hunger more than ever for Him and His work. O how few love and how feeble is my most passionate love. I scarcely know anyone who is consumed for Him. It is all for creeds and phrases and belief, but for Him how few! To know Him ----- that is it. How I fear and hate the pattern and print of the age." This was written in 1908. I regrettably believe he would be even more dismayed today.

     "And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.  Acts 11:26"

     After attending many many churches, I regrettably would have to say, the focus is mainly centered on creed. The word denomination is nowhere to be found in the Bible. The word that is used and more appropriate is sect, as in the sect of the sadducees, or pharisees, or nazarenes. Sect would be a much more appropriate word for what we call denominations, biblically speaking, delineating a difference of belief. Yet, we all take the name of Christ, which causes me to question how well do I really know Him or better yet, what is it that I propagate? In the past I mainly presented myself as a fundamentalist, focusing on the basic tenants of the faith that should have unified the church. I don't see this happening. We're dug in, and entrenched in an identification quandary that sets us apart and that I believe leaves us dispiriting, and defeating, waddling in our creedal gymnastics, and I wonder if Jesus weeps for us. He wept for Lazarus. He held the power over life and death and yet He still wept. Death, I believe, is repugnant in and of it's self to our Creator simply because He's the author of life.  For us, choice will have left us behind while judgement awaits. The chance to embrace and touch the hand of creation grieves for the loss of relationship and Jesus weeps.

      What makes us cling knowingly more to creed than to Jesus? When we set ourselves apart, does Jesus weep? Can we disagree without being disagreeable. From my earliest days in Sunday school I always new that He was real and what He said, if I applied it, really worked. I'm as bad as anyone at times in clinging to creed, but belief in creeds doesn't get me into heaven, Jesus does. There's only one Judge, and one way; belief, and knowing where salvation comes from. It's faith in Jesus that moves mountains, not opinion. I want to weep the same as Jesus does; not because He doesn't empower us, but because people are dying in sin every day and we're more worried about them getting indoctrinated to a creed than in them finding a loving God who weeps over us. Time slips away and leaves us not with the purpose of loving fulfillment, but only the companionship of regret and loss.

 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavering to keep the spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.     Ephesians 3:2-6

Relationally Disingenerous - 1 John 4:19

     I'll start with a disclaimer. I use the King James Version, "Textus Receptus" simply because it has the overwhelming volume of ancient documentation. Of course, this post is primarily about one verse that has been altered by what I would deem a misrepresentation for the sake of a more feel good effect. We must be open to the fact that to get a copyright you must have a ten percent alteration from the original and that the Bible is the most widely printed book in the world, not to mention the best seller. Hence one of the reasons behind the massive amount of versions with the accompanying assurance of retail success. I have to note here that even with the King James word for word translation, you still have an abundance of added words, identifiable by their italics, to attain their copyright. Money always seems to facilitate a basis for the ever, all encompassing, motive to enlighten and prosper for the seemingly never ending need of supplicating our appetite for revelation. 

     "We love him, because he first loved us." Noticeably missing from many of the newer versions is the word "him" following "We love." I've always understood that love has to have an object, whether its being a cat, dog, movie, car, or a never ending host of things in which we place our affections on. Stopping at "We love" leaves it hanging, opening many doors for interpretation. Removing the object "him"as they have done opens the door to a lot of speculation and if we do that; why not remove the object of love from the following verse; which would be God, not to mention the object following, "for his hate", which also needs an object. "If a man says I love God, and hateth  his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen. I can understand the thinking behind those that chose to remove the "him" and or "God" from the verse. If you read the verse from 1st John with the objects removed, including the ones that follow hate, it still makes sense as an extension in our behavior to our fellow man; but John was specifically speaking here about our ability to love God and the reciprocal benefits that come from loving him. Let's take it another step and place a different object in place of "him." "We love chocolate cake because he first loved chocolate." We could then sing a rousing chorus of the Beatles' "All we need is love, everybody, all we need is love, love, love is all you need." I'm getting somewhat ridiculous here, but someone opened the door and I had to step in. Our ability to love or show love is from God who created us with the capacity for choice or a will of our own in which we can choose where our affections lie. After all, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your  Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" There goes Jesus connecting our acts to His Father in heaven. My question is why then do some feel the need for the disconnect. My first thought comes from mans incessant attempts of independence from God; although I don't think that is what is going on here. It stems from a desire to focus on love. This isn't a bad thing in and of itself. It's the deviation of the intention of the verse which focuses on our  ability to love God. It's relationally disingenuous to twist scripture on our part to ingratiate our selfish nature by the omission and intent on the part of the author. In my condition I really need to be able to rest in God's scripture and the ability to rightly apply it to my life. God, help guide me with my own intentions that I might align them with your intentions.

"And when you have attained this knowledge, with what joy do you think you will be filled? Or, how will you love Him who has first loved you?  And if you love Him, you will be an imitator of his kindness. And do not wonder that a man may become an imitator of God."   Mathetes - "The blessings that will flow from faith."

"But as regards His love and kindness to men, and because he can do all things, He grants to those who love Him the privilege of seeing Him. He says that it is love which makes man perfect, and that he who loves God is perfect in this world and in the world to come. We shall never cease to love God, but the more we behold Him, the more we shall love Him."   Iranaeus - Against the Heresies 

      The early church fathers didn't seem to have a problem making the connection between God's love for us to facilitating an avenue to our loving him. Of course, they weren't worried about re-packaging a product to entice readers to a more progressive and competitive version. How many ways are there to saying the same thing over and over again without damage to intent. Things that are different are not the same. I thank God every day for being the rock upon which we stand; the same today and tomorrow and for eternity. Prudence demands a certain amount of diligence to the honor and integrity of the authors intent. If we profess that scripture is God's word, we must tread lightly to ensure that it stays that way, and leave it without twisting it to our own personal affinities.The danger is real and running amuck leaving us with a pick and choose rationale. If your intent is to have a best seller; stick to writing fictional novels and leave Gods word as he chose to write it.

Implications

     Talking about doctrinal differences can be akin to entering an arena of gladiatorial engagement and it's imperative to be well armed. Adherents to a particular doctrine are easily offended when you wont pay homage or rather bow down to pet their sacred cow. I'm at odds with more than one of these cows, though at the present with reformed theology. Just the title causes me questions. Doesn't reformed insinuate changed or altered as inferred by the title. The question that follows is altered from what. If it's in response to Catholicism, or any of the other Gnostic apparitions there is a need and or call for examination of origins. I think going back at least to the first and second century writings of the church fathers is required. In the case of Calvinism we must do the same.  Calvin resurrected the teaching of the Valentinian gnostic idea that some people are destined for hell and others to heaven as individuals rather than groups. Attached to this teaching of Valentinus is the teaching that the predestined for salvation don't need to practice good works. I understand that the Bible teaches salvation comes thru faith; but I have to acknowledge what Jesus said, in Mathew 25, to those who didn't do the works of believers. "Then shall he answer them saying, verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go  away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." I'm bringing this up just to show the way people can throw out a verse to under-gird their position. Paul may say, and rightfully so, that faith leads to salvation. Jesus can also say I don't know you, because it came to naught. A good Calvinist will point to a scripture like Ephesians 2:8-9. "For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." I would then be compelled to quote 2 Peter3:9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise; but is longsuffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." The Calvinist would argue that we had no choice and a universalist would respond we'll all be saved in time. This brings me back to a time in my childhood when it was popular to respond when we did something naughty; "the devil made me do it." At my most immature period of life I knew this to be utter nonsense. To attribute that same thinking to God would be the same. Free will is the most self evident realization I've encountered in life.To imply otherwise is nonsensical. What we're really good at is moving the chess pieces around on the board to entrap an opponent hoping for a victory; a dance of side-stepping consequential abdications.  I choose to think that we are better than that.

     I do have an understanding of creation. Time, space, and matter had to come into existence at the same time. This too is self-evident. God is outside of time so that everything is "now" to Him; beginning and end. This also means He has all the time in existence to be with you. We're the ones stuck in time and every day we awake with choice. It follows us everywhere we go and God wants not so much  to be a part of our life but for us to join in His. He sees the redeemed and those not redeemed. He works in peoples' lives with us and hopefully through us. This may give you an uneasy feeling knowing that you have a place in the harvest by your vested purpose in propagating the gospel and it's only because we have free will that we can join Him and be His children. God made the choice to create. That is not only who and what He is, but why He can be Love. Love has to have an objective and so do we. Our choice is simply with or without. The thought of being absolved of guilt because we throw up our hands thinking God has already picked some souls for hell is repugnant to the deepest part of my soul. If that is true, life has no purpose for me!

     Jesus always had a crowd about Him. Some curious, some astonished, others detractors, and some followers. Me, I have always wanted to be the the one to reach through the crowd and touch the hem of His garment, to be healed, and to be chosen, because I chose to believe, to be known by God because I chose to follow His commands. God is a covenant person, which demands a response [obligation] and a part in "His" purpose .

A disclosure: When researching, pay close attention to the "whens." For an example, Augustine was a Manichean eight years before becoming a christian. Mani among other things was a dualist and taught that man does not have free will among several other erroneous doctrines. What I'm saying is we all have previous influences that we have to shed along the way. There may still be some lights that need to be turned off and others to be turned on. Discern the times and note the changes before elevating any man's teachings above Jesus.  

Doctrinal Effect Affecting

     "For every man that is true to the call of God, there are many who are true to the call of a creed or doctrinal evangelism. There are voices that are not true to the character of Jesus Christ; the inspiration of these voices is not to glorify Jesus, but to glorify something which He does. Give time to heed the call of God. The voice of God never contradicts the character of God." Oswald Chambers

     The trend since the reformation has been, in all of the the churches I've attended, to align yourself with what I'll call, "Ecclesiastical Identity."  When looking at the varying denominations, it bears a similar resemblance to the new gender identifications. As a christian we believe, and rightly so, that there are just two genders. We also believe in one God and one Gospel. I would honestly have to say the ecclesiastical identities appear to have the same conflicting appearance as our gender confused friends. I'm not in any way diminishing the importance of doctrine. I became obsessed with biblical knowledge at the beginning of my walk with the Lord. I later expanded my study to the early church to see how they understood the gospel as it was passed on to them by the apostles and their understudies. The first thing I encountered was the branching out of Gnostic heresies that grew on the outskirts of first generation Christian doctrine. Irenaecus, Clement, Tertullian, and Hipolytus all wrote on the heresies prevalent from the time of John. I became fascinated with how many of these permeate the doctrines of the modern church. We are not as far removed from these as we would like to believe. Truly there is nothing new under the sun.

     It was time to examine not only the various doctrines of the church today, but the searching out of my own belief. This brought me to see the truths, and the responses of Jesus in a new way. Contextual scrutiny is many times diminished due to our doctrinal alignment. We see what we want to see when freedom comes by seeing where Jesus leads. Hold on to this thought while we look at Mathew 19:16-22.  

16."And behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing must I do, that I may have eternal life?" 17. And he said unto him, Why callest me good? there is none good but one, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18. He sayeth unto him,Which? Jesus said, thou shall do no murder, thou shall not commit adultery, Thou shall not steal, Thou shall not bear false witness, 19.Honour thy father and mother: and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 20. The young man saith unto him, All these things I have kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21. Jesus said unto him, Go sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shall have treasure in heaven: and come follow me. 22. But when the young man heard that saying he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 

     I can't begin to tell you how many times pastors and people have put that poor fellow in hell. We're making a judgement after a short glimpse of time in this man's life. Imagine doing the same after Peters denial if that was the end of all we were told of him in scripture. This young mans doctrine was intact with God's commandments and he was faithful in his obedience to them, and yet he asks; What lack I yet. How many of us can make the same claim? Still, here is where we may begin to indulge ourselves in speculation and I must confess I've indulged myself, but it still remains speculation. Jesus states after this that "if thou wilt do that, thou will enter into life."Then in verse eighteen Jesus lists additional commandments in which the man responds he has kept these "from my youth up" and then asks "what then do I lack?" How many of us have a resume like that? What then do we lack? We know from the multitude of reminders that we're saved by grace and not by works, but evidently they, the works implying obedience, play an important role in our life. And yet, Jesus states that there is still something else; "If thou will be perfect". 

     I believe that is a question he asks everyone, at some point in their life, at critical junctures in their life. We all have to let something fall to the wayside that has a hold on our life. That's not much of a revelation in and of its self. It's the "and follow me" that we struggle not to choke on. We should have learned from Job that our doctrine may be trampled into dust, and our expectations turn into a ruinous mirage of confusions, but belief in the goodness of God is still and always is a reality despite our circumstances. Job's friends adhered with a vengeance to their doctrine and like many of us today, used it to denigrate and slander their brother.

     "We see what we want to see, when freedom comes where Jesus is leading." I love doctrine, and it has been a life reassuring source of direction and peace in my life. I've been subjected to many corrections of my doctrinal beliefs as I've followed the Lord and will always have a concern for correct evaluations of the word. God forbid I never stray from the call of Jesus to "Come and follow me." Maybe we will see that young man in heaven. Our assumptions may end up being somewhat embarrassing and we'll be enthralled at his story of redemption. 

     Go to a church with eyes wide open. There's a lot of heresy out there to be aware of; but more importantly, despite the disagreements in some doctrinal beliefs; look for the people that heard the Lord's declaration to follow Him. Hard days ahead are a reality. Doctrinal expectations may crumble to the ground when we come to realize true redemption comes from faith in Jesus and doctrine was just a sign on the road to redemption. My confession is belief in a sovereign God; Father,Son and Holy Spirit. My ecclesiastical identity is "Christian." 

Love Interest

     Books on love seem to dominate the writers market which is most likely the least debatable point about this topic. It has to be close to the most marketable topic out there. It's also, I would presume, one of the most easily misunderstood. Surely, we are so often told to be patient because God has that special person just waiting for you to discover ..... at the right time and at the right place? Is it reduced to just chance, again the right place at the right time? I'm not a gambler per se, but factoring in the odds based on coincidence, one might just as well scan the clouds for a suitable lightning bolt to split a tree in two.This could lead one to think of God as a magician waiting to pull our perfect mate out of His magical hat securing for us this promised hope of happiness; and surely, love and happiness, at the very least are holding hands to the extent that having one presupposes the other. Still, one would have to concede that happiness in this world is elusive at best leaving me with something I would consider of more value. If you're attached to anyone relationally, and most importantly to our Father, you will have to come face to face with the reality of blessed assurance. Hope envisions this reality and while we can't fully have this realization this side of heaven; God still fills our needs at any given moment as he purposes and sees fit. God doesn't do anything except the things that can align us with His purpose. Good, bad, indifferent, or inconceivable through our eyes, we should submit, contemplate, and examine His word and not just the ingratiating sections, but the somewhat repugnant parts that war against our judgement. You may come to discover, as the song goes, we were looking for love in all the wrong places. 

     My wife and I were statistically bankrupt at the beginning of our relationship. That translates to a hopelessness in the eyes of everyone with the exception of God. At that point in my life I knew that the understanding of relationship was on a path I had never traversed before, and like a good Father,  He laid out the plan for relationship through His Son Jesus. Jesus was the epitome, or rather the picture perfect truth of relationship. Yes, the bible lays out the attributes of a woman that showcases the ideals a man should seek out in this amazingly complex and perplexingly body of of emotion. Be mindful of this. This is essential to the mystery of oneness and the hope of it's acquisition and the desire to at last becoming complete. 

     There was this one attribute that sealed or rather confirmed my decision to pursue this hope of completion.  She had thrown herself completely into the hands of a loving God with a willingness to lay  bare a broken soul of hopelessness before the author of hope. She had still the broken little girl of her childhood alive in the depths of her soul, and she came to know the only Father she would ever need. The awareness of a broken world is never so tragically revealed as through the life and eyes of a battered child. I could never fix this. God is the only author of real life and redemption. This is why I could and did pursue this amazing embodiment of strength, love and resolve, made possible only through the relationship of a Father with His child, to soulfully pursue this quest of a faithfully true union of souls. And the two became one. You'll never comprehend it if you can't see truth of God's being thru the Word that reveals His plan for us. For too long, as the song goes once again, I was looking for love in all the wrong places, but now the shackles and blinders have fallen to the ground. I see. It's an amazing place to be. 

     Now, oftentimes I find myself laying in bed just staring at the silhouette of this woman and see the wounded child inside and I embrace them both and just hold them in my arms, because that's what my Father does. I can love her because my Father loves her. I have landed at the feet of compassion beside my Father. I can understand loss at this point in my life more than at any other time. To feel another's loss is to feel what God feels. The truth that we have to embrace that comes from the Father, and this is a truth once realized through a relationship with the everlasting, love is sustained by commitment, courage, patience, endurance and total reliance on our Father in heaven. This is where I am and desire to reside. The coolest part of all of this is that because we have chosen this path and we truly are one; she's right here beside me.

     When we got married my wife described herself as a train wreck waiting to happen. I'm so indebted to a God that knows how to lay the track that  rises to the occasion, safe and securing, and leading to the only destination of life fulfilling hope. The first consideration in finding the love you desire is finding the Author of that desire. The second is like unto the first; seek the lady that shares that same path. You may not find that you were made for each other; rather that you are making yourselves for each other. Life is a journey made to be taken together. Hardship, trials and even loss are found on the way. Make it a threesome, a cord not easily broken. Discover the gems that could have gone unnoticed along the way and find the love you  always knew was real.    

      When we suffer loss in this world; and we will, I always keep this adage in my heart; we lose to gain. God is the God of restitution. When they say God is love, understand that He is the source of this eternal love. He is also in the business of restoration. 

      *Lost love is still love

            Alive in hope secure

                   Waiting for the rebirth

                           That the heart may adorn

                                   Not lost in distant sorrow

                                                But alive on distant shore

*This is a line from the movie, "Five People You Meet In Heaven," that inspired me to write the poem at the end of this article.

Judicious Attribution

     I just finished reading a book entitled "Lincoln and the Irish" The Untold Story of How The Irish Helped Abraham Lincoln Save The Union. The political navigation and the gravity of foresight needed to achieve a desired end to an insidious game of rivaling ideologies to control the destiny of our country, had my mind delving into the depths of cynicism and to the heights of anticipative hope. I must confess that my primary focus has always been on slavery as it brought the nation to it's point of dissolution. There is no dispute in my mind as to that; but I had an insufficient knowledge of the prejudicial aspects that lay outside of the slavery debacle.

     I knew of, but not of the Know-Nothings. They were a group of  nativist Americans, anti Catholic and therefore anti Irish. Because of the potato famine, immigration of the Irish to America seeking refuge and opportunity, not to mention the freedom that came with it was huge. The Know Nothings originally aligned more closely to the Whigs and then the new Republican party. They were the terrorist faction committing many atrocities. The plausibility of there thinking was skewed to say the least; anti-slavery and yet maniacally prejudiced against the Irish. The roots of this are more easily understood if we go back to the Catholic response to the reformation in Europe. The multi-faceted aspects of Europe involvement, self absorbed players, including generals, politicians, people groups, and the toll of devastating losses, along with the courting of the Irish  whom he couldn't win the war without, left me enthralled with Lincolns' judicious use of opportunity. 

     England and France were favoring the South, not because of slavery, but for the severing and stripping the country of its power. The idea of saving the union was never front and center for me. My vision was narrowed because of my focus on slavery and I started wondering how this posture kept me from seeing the other implications and consequences. I would have fought for the freedom of the slaves regardless, but I desire perspective in it's entirety. 

     This lead me in my thinking to that of judicious attribution. There has to be a time for judicious constraint, a compelling to act. Inaction, at times, will be the loss of opportunity never to be regained. This naturally implies a time for judicious restraint, a regrettable action that can't be taken back. Damage ill-retrievable, a life altering event, negating second chances is a possibility worth thinking about. The necessity of using the Irish also opened the door to judicious abuse. Alleged abuse of the Irish troops as fodder for assaults by their placement in the front lines was a prevalent concern for Lincoln. The Irish resolve in these circumstances proved them to be a fearless force to be reckoned with on both sides. It also lead me to an introspection of my own responses to conflict. Certainly, an acknowledgement to differing assessments of opinion must be judiciously discerned. Once again, considerations considered not, can lead ones response to a debilitating and embarrassing consequence leading to a stumbling block towards resolution. At the vary least, a thorough evaluation of response is prudent. 

     Sometimes though, the fight has to be fought; but judicious resolve must at times be tempered by judicious restraint balanced by judicious attribution, for the road back to unity may be a long one and the cost irretrievable.

                               I finally put the poem to music. 

     A good friend of mine asked me recently what the last two lines in the chorus meant; "I'm lost in losing all that's here, to finding what I once held dear." It's more than poetic licence. It's just life. Everyone suffers loss at times and sometimes we have to lose to gain.  How people handle loss will at times open their eyes to new or past reflections lost through the business of life. Many times loss brings an unexpected strength of character. We view life more often in a more precious sense. Life reveals time as a gift from our Creator and hopefully we grow. The real value of relationship emerges from the darkest hours forcing us to grow up and re-evaluate the possibilities that lay before us. 

"I know from just the asking, that ere I go astray

My harm would do me better, and better I might be

 If somehow I could chasten, this voice inside of me

And walk this path beside Thee

Forever faithful, Forever clean"

God doesn't leave us where we are. Walk this path in the hope of what we could be. Life is a gift with and for a purpose.

Truth and Mercy

 

One Last Tear

 I was writing lyrics for a new song but it turned out better as a poem ....... I think.

One Last Tear Gordon Bieber 2-2-2023

I’m fighting back that one last tear

I’m face to face with one more fear

I’m lost in losing all that’s here

To finding what I once held dear

I’m looking for my rainbow

Some how to bring me hope

I’m hoping that my looking

Will free me from this doubt

An end to end my crying

A path to lead me out

A will to keep on trying

A strength to bring about

Oh that God would hear me

Remove me from this course

That I might still be faithful

And freed from this remorse

So I could freely follow

A truer path to seek

Where hardship may not follow

A haven more discreet

I know from just the asking

That err I go astray

My harm would do me better

And better might I be

If somehow I could chasten

This voice inside of me

To walk this path beside Thee

Forever faithful, forever clean

All react

The Audacity and Adequacy of Hope

     Hope, as a word, can be intriguing in many ways, especially as to the applied objective. A person may place their hope in a lottery ticket. Chances are slim that their dreams of being financially secure will materialize using this method, but the opportunities abound with the seemingly endless supply of tickets. Hope becomes diminished simply because of the objective it is therein placed. The number of things we place our hope in are as varied as well as the chances of realized expectations. Serious considerations, should abound. One might hope to retire at a certain age, but just as easily could be squashed by circumstances he or she can't control. Still, we all have a tendency to cling to hope of one kind or another. 

     To hope or to succumb to hopelessness seems to be a relevant issue  in life and it's causing me to rethink where my hope may be misplaced. After all, at this point in life, things considered not, seem to be slipping off the back burner. Life, has not dismayed me, but there are things that need to be finalized. As I'm saying this, I find myself hoping. Hope seems to envelop just about every corner of my life, and that has led me to doing this biblical study of hope. As I was doing this I found out that "hope" is the helmet of salvation.

But let us, who are of the day, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ                       1st Thessalonians 5:8-9

     The truth revealed here is that hope becomes the realization that the import of where hope is placed "rules the day." The next question that arises is how do we get to that realization.

"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  Romans 10:10

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? Romans 10:14

     This question Paul poses is often overlooked. What we always hear is, "Call on the Lord and you will be saved." The sequence overlooked is; belief, which leads to faith, which leads to confession, which leads to repentance, which culminates in the Hope we cling to. This may sound like I'm placing my hope in hope. I'm not! My hope is in the person of Jesus the Christ and the work of the cross. Oh, how audacious that sounds. So, what's the point in all this hoping and where does it lead. If it's not to righteousness; you're probably satisfied with saying your sinners prayer and getting baptized.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

And every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.                   1 John 3:2-3

     We don't think to much about purity these days. If this hope doesn't lead in this direction, you're probably satisfied with saying your sinners prayer and getting baptized.

That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.     Titus 3:7

     Being justified by His grace pretty much slams the door on any work that we could have done to obtain salvation; and after we see the impossibility of doing this on our own, this hope remains steadfast and faith in Jesus becomes the rock on which we stand.

Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.    Psalm 119:116

     Hope, at some point, should impact on where our consideration and direction joins with belief and the resulting faith it imparts. My hope comes from God. What more do we need if we truly believe God to be faithful?

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given us.      Romans 5:1-5

     The adequacy of our hope is not impugned by the simplicity in which we receive it from our Lord. Hope becomes the burning catalyst of our faith given by the very word of God. We, on our part have to be faithful. Creeds and works won't save you. Job taught us that. Trust in the living Word that imparts the faith we have unto hope.

And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.       Hebrews 6: 11-12

For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope; by which we draw nigh unto God.   Hebrews 7:19

And now abideth faith, hope, charity,these three; but the greatest of these is charity.       1st Corinthians 13:13

For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. Galatians: 5:5

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope.          Romans 8:24

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ, our hope;     1st Timothy 1:1

But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house we are, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. Hebrews 3:6

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in mind by wicked works, yet now he hath reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye have heard, which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; where of I Paul am made a minister;    Colossians 1:23

Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.          1st Peter:1-23

     I recommend re-reading the above scriptures in context with those preceding and following for a firmer grasp of this hope God has, through grace, so graciously gifted us with. Audacity and adequacy are strange bedfellows; but never donned better in the searching out of God's precious gift of hope, through Christ, a living risen Saviour and redeemer. The man that places his hope of riches by the purchasing of a lottery ticket does indeed understand the nature of hope. Still, if he were to win, he's destined to lose without the hope vested in the Lord. I do know many who would be willing to give it a try even though it's nature is fleeting. Money promises a security that is rarely realized and leaves ones life riddled with unforeseen pitfalls and still; I'm guessing many would love to see this for themselves forgetting that what has real value is unseen. Life, for me, has left me wanting for treasures not found in things but relationship. Good friends and family,  a best friend [my wife], and my bestest friend, [Father Son and Holy Spirit] fill my life with true joy and real hope for a real life in eternity. I truly hope, your hope, finds itself basking in truth and life.  

     Forget the lottery tickets and direct your hope in the direction that leads to a life affirming relationship with the one that conquered death and the hapless hopes of this world.