Forged By Faith

1 Peter 4:4 NIV Fools Such is what we are to those who think this life is meant for and thus to be forever measured by such things as fun and fame. And that’s because this world just doesn’t understand such differences of direction as this we’re walking inside what is an intention to find something more than just mere pleasure or public acceptance. All because a few of us seem to wonder as to whether that’s really all there is to live for, to give our time to seeking for, to allow our hearts, minds, souls, lives to lean toward. And that wonder comes only at the worry of those who are elsewise certain that there is nothing greater in life than the flesh being pleased. And so as soon as they see any who are starting to veer away from the vanity and insanity that all of life down here is so clearly becoming, they’ll at first up the ante so to speak. They’ll start trying to make their way of life look even better, more enjoyable, more rewarding in what is an attempt to both lure us back in...

Jude 18 NIV Those found within as still mixed with those still lost without will come about to realize the reality of this rebellion as it’s one only overcome within a scant few who do not do as the rest seem intent to. For that is the promise as given us in His perfect way with words warning that within this world we would have trouble and that when it came we might remain assured of our faith in that it’s this world that He came and overcame. And that is a kindness, a compassion, a kind of continuing mercy that finds new ways within these darkened days to scream inside this silence a reminder of that most blessed hope found and felt in that promise that He’d left to lead that way, to be the Way toward that better place He’d made for us, made us for as well long before we made our way into the world and allowed this world into us. And that is the now perfect perplexity of this promise proven within such an encroaching vicinity that the venom and vitriol of those many still lost withou...

Mark 4:41 NIV Even the wind and waves obey, and yet humanity still seemingly believes that they can get away with rejecting Him. You've gotta love our spunk! Or sass? Is it Boldness? Nincompoopness? For several days now we've been discussing several different reasons as to why we humans instinctively doubt in the truth of the Gospel. From fearing the pain it will cause through damaging our pride to realizing that we in turn owe Christ radically altered lives should we humbly accept our dire need of the gift of His undeserved salvation, there are plenty of reasons that we have contemplated. But another big one hit me last night as I started through Mark: We fear His power. We fear anything that we don't understand. We fear the kind of authority that is completely outside of our control. We fear anything that we can't confine, contain, command. And when we look at our Savior, we see a great many things that we cannot compete with, and therefore largely cannot comprehend. ...

Malachi 3:14 NIV Yesterday we discussed how the path our society is on has been diverging away from God since the dawn of man, and how that sad truth will unfortunately carry onward into the foreseeable future as much of humanity still holds tight to this blatant disregard for any and all things righteous, holy, and upstanding. Long ago we took a bite of an apple that opened our eyes to the knowledge of good and evil, and being the overly foolish people that we are, we chose the path of evil because it seemed far more enjoyable. You see, our decision to refuse God and ignore His commands and avoid His calling to turn and repent forms the foundation of every single problem that we've faced, are facing, and will face going forward. Sin isn't just a word we Christians throw around to come across as being holier than thou and therefore standing in righteous judgement of those around us. Don't get me wrong, some do use it that way, but not true faithful followers of Christ. For ...