SALVATION: MORE THAN WE BARGINED FOR?

"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved" (John 3:17).

We might think of salvation more in terms of climate control and safety; after all Heaven is going to be a much more pleasant place to spend eternity than hell. From a Biblical perspective, salvation refers to bringing wholness to the ENTIRE lives of those who believe. It is through faith that we have a relationship with God; we can't have one without it. It is in this faith relationship that we allow God to make us whole. Sometimes it isn't pleasant, but God is aiming for more than eternal safety; He is aiming for eternal wholeness as He changes us little by little, "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" (II Cor. 3:18).

We are saved. We are being saved. We shall be saved.

Grace&Peace;
Tom

RIDING REALITY 5

"...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Philippeans 2:12b-13).

Riding Reality requires all of one's ability and skill. Ability is a gift. Some are physically gifted with beauty and athleticism. Some are gifted with brain-power, articism or emotional toughness. Whatever one's natural gift, God expects one to sharpen them with education, discipline and self discipline of training. It is in this way that skill is developed. If one is not will to work at learning, accepting discipline and be willing to discipline herself, there is little hope that one will accept the ride on Reality, adopting unrealistic behaviors will mark the course of their lives.

As a boy, I had been around horses for years, developing some skill, feeding, grooming, training and ridding. That is why I had some confidence that my ride Reality had a chance of success.

The last thing that I want to emphasize is that a successful ride on Reality requires that one put their hand in the glove of Faith. I didn't use a glove; that wasn't smart. It took a couple of weeks for that hand to heal--the power generated by Reality was so great.

Faith absorbs much of the power of Reality. God works with us, and in us, as we trust Him for the outcome. What a blessing it is to know that God is forging something meaningful out of our lives when we trust Him. He uses our skills and abilities to bless those around us and help those who follow to ride Reality too. It is faith that turns the ride of Reality into an adventure to be enjoyed rather than an ordeal to be endured. Reality, what a ride!!

Grace&Peace,
Tom

RIDING REALITY 4

No one ever really controls "Reality," though some seem to have a greater degree of control than others. It is this lack of control that creates the stress that bucks us off and puts us down. How do we get a measure of control?

Yesterday the people of the United States voted, exercising their God-given right. This is a means of gaining some control. How we voted is a message to God about the kind of control we want. Themorningafter, it appears that we voted for less personal control--not more. It is reassuring that God is in control and that the time-line for history is on schedule, "From one ancestor, He made all nations to inhabit the whole earth and the allotted times of their existance and the boundaries of the places where they would live" (Acts 17:26).

At the outset, I said that one thing needed to ride "Reality" was to pray hard! Books have been written about prayer; many of them filled with cliches, half-truths and easy answers. I realize that there are times when prayer seems like nothing more than talking to your self--that they go no higher than the ceiling. If you have ever felt that way you are in good company. Abraham, Job, David and Jesus had unanswered prayers. Tell God how you are feeling and what you are thinking from your heart. It is this kind of honest, intimate sharing that enables fellowship with the One who is in control.

Grace&Peace;
Tom

RIDING REALITY 3

"Reality" is good, but it is also difficult. It is not easy to live the life that we have been given. Faced with the task of riding "Reality," we all, at some time or another, choose behaviors that are unrealistic, to avoid the ride. Many of those behaviors are easy to see: We lie because the truth can be unpleasant; We cheat and steal because work is hard; We have affairs because really intimate relationships require risk, self-sacrifice and positive communication for a life-time.

Some of the behavior we use to avoid the "ride" are not as easy to spot: depressing, back-aching, addicting or stomach aching. While the illnesses are real, they become real as a means of a person subconsciously, creatively, trying to meet their needs by avoiding "Reality." It is a dysfunctional means, because the avoidance of "Reality" is not possible.

Grace&Peace;
Tom

RIDING REALITY 2

I apologize for taking so long to write a sequal to "Riding Reality." What does riding a bronco called "Reality" have to do with life?

I have often told my kids, grand kids and other kids that I work with, "Life is good and it is gonna get gooder." That is not an original statement with me; it is the product of some motivational speaker whose name I have long forgotten. Nevertheless, life is good, it is a gift and it gives us great oportunities to become ourselves and express ourselves and to leave our mark on this world. That is good. The gift of life allows us to enjoy the graces that are gifted to us each day, and that is good. Because of our faith in God who is gracious and good, we have a reasonable hope that life will get gooder and gooder! Our faith does not deny Reality, however, but it is a realistic means of coping with it.

The Reality is that we live in a fallen world, "In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return" (Genesis 3:19). There are weeds, rot, sickness, pain, atrophy, death, etc.. The reality is that these are an inescapable part of life. Faced with the difficulties of riding Reality, many adopt behaviors that are unrealistic. I'll write about those tomorrow.

Grace&Peace;
Tom