Recently Terri and I went to the movies to see one of those 3D releases.  The technology is awesome!  At one point the words came on the screen that suggested putting on my 3D glasses for the show.  Being the type of person sometimes I can be; I thought I would wait and investigate what the view would be like without the special glasses?  I couldn’t help but notice the picture was distorted.  Everything about the picture was wrong; color, words, Images etc.  The moment I placed the glasses over my eyes everything took shape, the colors were corrected and the images begin to form in 3D.  Now the movie was being viewed the way it was meant to be.  The enjoyment of the movie increased immediately.   I set there in amazement wearing my funny looking specs enjoying the show.  I was so glad it was dark in there and that everyone else looked as silly as I did setting there with those 3D glasses on my face!

Later the Holy Spirit begins to speak into my spirit about another type of vision, spiritual vision.  I thought those 3D glasses that I had worn are like looking with the eyes of the Holy Spirit and seeing the vision God has for my life.  With the vision of the Spirit I would be able to see clearly God’s plan and purpose for my life.  My vision in the Spirit would become 3D.  Let me explain why 3D, “3” is the perfect number of God and the “D” is the Divine plan.   So the Spirit was asking me can you see clearly, without distortion the plan God has made for your life?  Is your vision corrected to a point to view the purpose God has determined for you?  In Jeremiah 29:11 God’s Word speaks; “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV) The Spirit began to ask, “Do you see these plans?  Is your spiritual vision clear enough to see God’s purpose for your life?”

Proverbs declares “Where there is no vision, the people perish….” You know we cannot see clearly what our God has planned for us or our purpose without vision, spiritual vision.  Each follower of Jesus has been given a special sight called the Holy Spirit to view our place in the Kingdom of God.  If we will put on our “3D” glasses then our spiritual vision will improve!  Life will be 20/20 not so distorted or convoluted! Our desire must be to improve our spiritual vision.  This can happen for us when; in the journey of faith each day we will open the Bible and read, each day we will offer up prayer, each day we will worship our God, when we connect ourselves to the community of faith and each day we will give of ourselves for others.  This will clear up our vision and we will enjoy our life with God as it was meant to be viewed in “3D” Divine vision!

Keep Looking Up!

1 Timothy 5:8 “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

This scripture and thoughts about it have been bouncing back and forth in my spirit for some time. It has a trumpet voice blowing across my mind, will and emotion.  The challenge of its words ring like a clarion call demanding an answer of obedience.  Reading this passage by the power of the Holy Spirit brings conviction for me to meet the needs of my loved ones! 

When we think of providing for our families we almost without much thought leap into action and immediately, say, “nobody will accuse me of not providing for my family!” But our energies seem to turn only to physical and financial security. There is nothing wrong with wanting to give our loved ones the best society has to offer, but to stop at just this need is so one dimensional. If we are and we are “body soul and spirit” then we must give attention to every detail and aspect of their life. If for example there is a physical threat against one of our family it is our duty and opportunity to protect them with whatever means at our disposal. If there is an illness of some sort; mental, emotional or physical then we are called upon to respond.  If there is some type of threat toward our financial stability then we must make every effort to work our way out of this problem.

Let me speak to the real need in homes and with our extended families.  When confronted with; poverty, hunger, homelessness, the needy, the neglected, the abused and the abandoned we somehow buy into this lie that if we throw money at these social problems then that is all that is required and needed, Wrong!  What about our home life! Wow, how we have been sold an idea that just does not work. The media, the education system, and the government have convinced us that If we will give our wives material possessions that is enough,  if they give the man his personal space and pleasures that is satisfactory,  if we will provide for the children the latest and greatest gadgets and every opportunity then they will be well rounded and successful. Wrong! If we will give up more tax monies the broken masses will instantly be fixed. Wrong!  If that is true then why are our homes, neighbors and our communities still broken with poverty, crime and corruption, while we are throwing another dollar at it?  Yet we still hear about and see evidence of broken homes, broken relationships, the hungry, helpless, and homeless?  I am convinced that our focus cannot be on just one area of life and neglect the spiritual poverty in so many of our homes. 

Where this passage takes me is the spiritual poverty and neglect that prevails in our homes. This type of poverty is having catastrophic effect on all the avenues of our lives; home life, families, communities, churches, education, government, even our nation and our world. We are neglecting to provide for our loved ones spiritual values and principles that carry over into our understandings; of rights and wrongs, good and evil, morality and immorality, what is truth and what is lies, fairness and abuse, liberty and bondage.

What can I do? I am glad you ask!   It has a simple answer with profound results!  We must have a personal relationship with God through Jesus as Savior and Lord. We must dedicate our relationships; husband, wives, children to the ways of God.  We must read study and apply the principles given in the Word of God. We must: love the unloving, forgive the unforgiving, reach those who no one desires to reach, influence the unbelieving and live and practice our faith daily! Will this make a difference? Well, God promises it will; throughout His Word and His involvement in History and our future! Why not try it His way?  We have tried it our way and it seems to not be working!

I think the reason this Word from God deals with me is because its truths demand a personal response, application and activity. Yes Lord Jesus I will strive to provide for all their needs this is my prayer, Amen!

Where did we lose the understanding of the difference between uniformity and unity?   This article is written with a desire to point to a few steps that caused us to become confused about uniformity and its difference from unity.  My ambition is not to give hard line definitions on each word but to explain the activity of each in our lives.   How that the two are not in any shape or fashion connect to one another.

The confusion starts in the indoctrination of the media and a political climate to suppress individuality.  Then there is our own inclination to be fair minded and correct in our thinking which threatens us; “you better not be different.”  Somehow, we bought into the lie that says;  because I am different than you;  then that makes you less or more than me socially, morally, ethnically and intellectually.

Uniformity is a great gloss over of individuality that robs each of us of who we are and where we came from!  Uniformity chips way at individual thoughts and ideas.  Disguised and wrapped in the promotion of the welfare of all it erodes freedom of choice and debate.  To disagree and even to oppose a different view point will cause you to be described as a begot.  If you dare to be different then watch out, you are labeled a social terrorist, and a homophobe of some sort!

Unity in my opinion has a very straight forward and simplistic reality.  Unity brings one or more people into agreement for a single outcome.  Unity has for its purpose only one purpose.  It is singleness of mind by a group to accomplish ONE result!  Unity has no fear of individuality and will allow each of us to seek out the one purpose in our own way without criticism or judgment.   As for each one of us no matter who we are or where we came from, my life blood and your life blood has equal value, this is the one equalizer!

If our great nation is to achieve its one purpose and we are to live in unity as “one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all”  then we need to seek out, refresh our memories, and live up to why we exist as a nation, as a people of different ethnic, national origin and religious backgrounds.

In the arena of faith as a people of unity in this nation we must have religious freedom.  We cannot be placed in the blender of opinion and mixed together and come out with some weaken view of Jesus, the Cross and the ONE purpose of God.  We must be in unity of our faith, oneness of mind and spirit and focused on the one plan God has for all.  Uniformity will never allow us to express our differences or allow us to disagree but will demand we all look alike, mirror the same thoughts and reach the same conclusions.

 Herein is the warning!   We are being played by groups who have a hidden agenda, to steal from us the power of individuality and freedom to make choices.  Taking from us debate and disagreement;  all the while speaking of greater good and the welfare of all but demanding uniformity.  Real value, real liberty, real purpose can be discovered in unity because when we are ONE then we act in agreement as we are taught by the Son of God to never do harm to our neighbor, to seek the good for others and to fulfill the one purpose our God has for each of us!

Keep Looking Up
Garry

 His beginning started with an introduction to a new world, new light, new smells, new sounds, new voices, new surroundings and a new awareness about life. To be there at this new beginning  makes you aware of all the possibilities that awaits Jayden. The adventures of each new day and the drama of each new event that will unfold.  His life is before him and he is ready to embark on his next new beginning!

 My closing thought about new beginnings  stirs in my spirit about another type of new beginning. This is when one of us are “born again.”  You know the day you accepted God’s plan for your new beginning in eternal life, by making  Jesus your personal Savior and Lord.  Since that day we too have been pioneering new territory in the Kingdom of God.  Experiencing new understandings about life and our future. I trust you too are leaving a a spiritual imprint of  love, forgiveness and peace?

Welcome to my new beginning, my grandson’s new beginning and I hope this is your new beginning in Jesus!

Keep looking UP!

Garry