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2020 05 18 11 02 16

Ya' Gotta Have Heart

                            I Think I'm Tired of Being Famous

I think I'm tired of being an Internet celeb. Sometimes it just feels good to get your thoughts down. Since Monday I have felt like this rebellious soul seeking out ways to break out. So, I haven't been online streaming "Thru the Week" as usual. Instead I have been doing alot of reading, meditating, thinking, and praying about what it is that God is doing in this world. I am mostly concerned with how to get in front of things so I can be of value to my community. So far I have done pretty good at treading water learning how to enter into the 21st Century technologically. But it is taking all my efforts and I'm not sure I have all that much brain capacity to lend. However, I am grateful to my Brothers and Sisters who are being diligent in reaching out and keeping connected.

I see an almost Utopian social upgrade possible through this crisis. Many in our society who have gone unappreciated and somewhat voiceless are now being acknowledged for their strength and courage...Healthcare Workers are a good example. We readily adorn doctors with accolades, but what about the nurses? They attend a great deal of schooling also and work their fannies off. Or, what about the CNA. I have yet to see a commercial on TV that shows the workers who keep the floors clean and clear out the bloody...infected...yucky medical waste from an ER triage. Even so, I'm really happy to see all of our Healthcare Professionals being recognized. I hope that recognition goes across the board and doesn't fade when the emergency does.

This really speaks to something more systemic you know? The presuppositions we have concerning hierarchical social structures creates opportunities for the neglect of the "transparent". What is a transparent? Well I am using the word to describe someone who is so far in the background society hardly ,or prefers not to knows they are there. And, if they are seen they can be dismissed with a heavy sigh, or "Oh yeah that's tragic", or "Man, that's not right!"...you know like black joggers. There is another form of "transparent" that is finally emerging. These have the attention of everyone and unfortunately cannot be dismissed by anyone. My dad has this saying "hoof and mouth disease"; which is to say a person who says or does something so dumb there is no amount of fake news that can suppress the fallout...you know like the death of thousands that will just go away.

You are probably asking what, if anything, does this have to do with anything utopic? Well...it's like this: we can learn from this or we can suffer the consequences. We can recognize the corrosiveness of being a society that lives with "transparents" or be a society that "lives transparently". By "living transparently" I mean being honest about our society: its strengths, its downfalls, yet is actively doing something to strengthen it's moral and ethical social being. The consequences can be drawn from this syllogism: a common cut can heal or become infected. That infection can either be cured or can fester into something more sever. The severity of that infection can cost you a limb or your life. Wouldn't it be better to take care of it rather than watch it become it's worse logical outcome. It's a simple syllogism think about it.

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What I do Know

I was just talking to my 20 year old daughter about "God and Evil". Now I'm not going to jump into some long diatribe about this subject. Mostly, because I really have limited understanding about it all. All I'm really sure of is I know the guy who has the answers and it's not me. Here's what I do believe:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Joh_3:16

The Bible stands unequaled in all Literature. Yes, there are many volumes of sacred writings held in high esteem by many peoples; works of history, poetry, philosophy, spirituality, humanity, philanthropy and mystery.

They each have their place, and have undoubtedly contributed in some way or another to either the maintenance, or advancement of their respective cultures. But, still, none of them equal the Bible in its depth of inspiration, or its sweep of influence.

We readily recognize numerous references from Scripture that fill our daily lives with spiritual trivia. That lump in people’s throat is their Adam’s apple. A person enduring extreme adversity has the patience of Job. Someone who’s been around forever is as old as Methuselah.

The dove and the olive branch remain the global symbol of peace; the serpent, an image of evil. Jezebel is to this day the quintessential stereotype of a controlling woman, and Judas is the all-time bad guy.

We speak of walking on water to suggest the impossibility of some task, and soaring with wings as eagles to suggest attaining some great and noble goal. These are but a few of the many famous expressions that come from the Bible.

There is one text of Scripture, however, that towers above and beyond all others. It is without question the single, most known Bible verse in the entire world. And the expression it produces is always one of awe.

It is known by the youngest of children who are first learning to read, and it is pondered by the oldest of the aged who stand on the threshold of eternity.

Of course, I’m referring to Joh_3:16 — “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

It is that singular sentence that stands uniquely alone – needing no commentary, and soliciting only reverence.

Ryle

There is one or two things that can be attached to this, however. No matter how intense the disconnect or desperate the world presents itself the Love of God is transcendent. It overcomes any amount of evil...past, present, or future. Should you say you have no faith in this?! All you need is to ask "God show me the way!"

This for anyone who might be interested. I am teaching two classes: Cults, on Wednesdays @ 7 pm; which is ending next week with Christianity being the final episode.

And, Touring the Gospels, Thursdays @ 7 pm; which is a practical guide for integrating the Gospels into a unified picture of Jesus.

These are ZOOM meetings and will require an invitation. So, if you want to join us please send your email via messenger or pastort.fbcplano@gmail.com. Hope to see you there

Our Mission

fbc-planoil.com

I'm sure it is no secret that things are very sketchy these days and that many of you are going through serious changes in your lives.  Changes to what we have always understood to be personal freedoms.  Changes to social conditions.  Changes in those things we used to think we could depend on as stable.  You know the old death and taxes thing...but now that seems to have developed nuanced meanings.  Now each of us is faced with decisions that seem to have no upside...Do we continue in lockdown or do we grit our teeth and break the lockdown to try to salvage what is left of our "normal" lives and rebuild.  What do you think?

Carriers of the Keys

“And I will give unto you the keys of the Kingdom…” (Mat_16:19).

This is perhaps one of the more noted sayings of Jesus, and the very idea that we can actually open and close heaven’s doors fills our imaginations with both wonder and inquiry. What does He mean by this? Some would argue that since Jesus was speaking specifically to Peter, these words make him the first of many successive Popes who hold an authority to which no other human may lay claim. Not so. For the same words were spoken to all the disciples on other occasions. Jesus is saying that His followers, those who are a part of the Community of the Called Out, have been given the ability to grant access into the kingdom — as well as close access to those who will not enter. Furthermore, it is not Heaven’s doors we are opening and closing. Rather, this is about helping others access the very real and royal presence of the Lord and His work here on the earth. This is a right now activity, not something in the sweet by and by. Did it ever occur to you that you can actually be the means whereby the Lord extends His love, light, and life to others? You can be the one that makes it possible for someone else to actually experience a real and lasting touch from Jesus; a touch that heals, that forgives, that cleanses, and that transforms. Christ can make Himself known through your hands, through your words, and through your deeds.

You are a carrier of the Keys that opens the Kingdom. And you have been authorized by the King to give away to others what your have freely received yourself. Ah, but there’s the rub. Have you indeed received it yourself? Has the touch of Jesus healed you, cleansed you, forgiven you, and transformed you? If so, then in the words of the Psalmist, “let the redeemed of the Lord say so!” (Psa_107:2). But If not, then what in the world is keeping you back? I open the door to you right now! Come on in and behold the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!

One final note. This is not a free-for-all, indiscriminate toss out of heaven’s treasures like candy thrown from floats in a passing parade. No, Jesus set clear perimeters in His commissioning us a carriers of the Keys. “What you open on earth must already be opened in heaven,” He said. In other words, we are to follow God’s lead — just as Jesus Himself did. “I only do those things I see My Father doing.” So, yes we have authority, symbolized by holding the Keys; but we also are charged with the responsibility to only do as the Lord directs. This means we must always be in relationship with Him, for that is the only way to handle each and every situation as Carriers of the Keys. So, what are you waiting for? There’s a whole lot of folks just waiting for you to pass their way.

James Ryle

Preach as You Go

Don't be Fooled, pt. 2

Don't Fool Yourself

The Kingdom Now

Road Maps: James 1:13-15

Road Maps: James 1:13-15