Forged By Faith

Psalm 26:4-5 NIV Hidebound Perhaps it’s something that simply comes about with age. Maybe it’s an outlook that we stumble upon in what’s become a world which jades. It could be a mere reactionary reaction unto the fractures and factions which all but daily spring up all around us. Whatever the case may be the fact seems to remain that I have found myself suddenly quite content as to the joy I feel in my living a life that is being lived in what is likely quite easily perceived as a remarkably narrow-minded perspective that’s growing only in its apparent unwillingness to move or be moved. Simply because I think that’s kind of the point. You see, this world has managed to convince us to live as these all but rudderless ships that exist to simply blow about and fall apart in their endless searching for the treasure of worldly pleasure and social adoration. We’ve all become vastly infatuated with this boundless ability to seek the applause and approval of our many communities via such medi...

Psalm 101:3 NIV To be a prude It’s by no means something that our culture delights for anyone to do. Rather it seems something of a term used most often in mockery, a statement made with the express intent of belittling someone as a result of their opting to find offense within something that the general public finds to be mostly enjoyable or at the very least so common that none should be so taken aback for having heard or happened to look at. Indeed, to be a prude is something that most folks find rude as it stands in opposition to something they may well happen to be fans of themselves. In fact, within just a quick search for the sure definition of the word what you’ll find is a list of synonymous words and phrases that mean something close enough to achieve largely the same message. And these synonyms include such words and phrases as unthinking, non-thinking, narrow-minded, closed-minded, prim, prissy, petty, small-minded, insular, and perhaps my personal favorite, hidebound. I li...

Micah 3:4 NIV Hidden Because such are not we then as of now has He decided that still will He be. And indeed, it’s no wonder as to why He has so determined to hide. In fact, for now it might be for our benefit. And that’s because His choosing to hide his face from us has given us a little more time to reach for a mirror by which to find what we’ve become and see in said reflection our infection and determine for ourselves then to no longer hide from the truth that says we’ve not only nothing to lose, but that because we’ve already lost all we once had. All because we became a people so willing to imagine that we’re hiding. We’re not. And, well, upon this day that seems to be the scariest story of them all. For despite all the tales to be told on this day of all hallows, the true horror is the tale which follows what are a dead people living in between two ghosts, living so wickedly that neither wants anything much to do with them as they’ve lived in such sin that they’ve not really any...

Judges 10:13-14 NIV But when And no, as we discussed yesterday, such is not a question but in fact now a promise as was at first given us as it was given them who had then the opportunity to turn and repent via the manner prescribed which involved them going out to those insisting they die. And yes, that remains in every way the horrific request as it comes not as an idea in which He’s tried to suggest that such might happen to be one of many options that can work, all of which can save you and me. No, rather this is a guarantee that both trouble is coming and the only way to survive it is to at first admit we’ve ourselves lived to invite it. Then to welcome it to the tune of whatever turmoil or tragedy such degeneracy may demand. I’ve been reading through Jeremiah for days now, those many chapters leading up to the world’s favorite 29:11. Indeed, not there yet on this run through, but what I have come to is this conclusion in which, as we’ve discussed in the past, context matters more...

Jeremiah 11:12 NIV Not if No, for truth is that we’re no longer deserving of such a potential for our collectively avoiding what we’ve all but collectively demanded He disprove in what are ways of being evidenced that can literally only be proven via either the happening of nothing or rather a complete and utter destruction. And indeed, it’s a very strange thing, this world in which still we walk asking God still to talk and tell them all they want to hear as is to be heard by ears unwilling to listen. Not unable, no, though there are some who do have such literal disabilities. Just unwilling. Which is to be proven someday itself quite disabling, but not in terms such as hearing or seeing as in the sights and sounds of both a world falling down and a Word crying out to come and find refuge from the rage of this place. No, what will rather be proven is an eternal inability to escape the coming calamity. For there is said to be only a great weeping and gnashing of teeth upon that day in ...