Internet Missionary

Awakened to a Lively Hope: The clouds this morning parted like a curtain as the sun neared breaching the horizon; it was cosmic, almost miraculous, almost too perfect, and left in the sky after were joyous downy wisps. “ Be prepared to give a reason for your hope, but do so with gentleness and respect.” “… He removed the scales from [Saul’s] eyes...” Indeed, if we believe in more, then there is something more to be serviced than a fixed object of belief, and it is reflected, filtered into our words, that there is something set and real in the universe, and all is not a dream-- However, in the flesh form, is not truly--communion with God--a walk into a fog of sublimination empowered by faith, trust and love? The end of harvest, in many quarters, with fields turning empty, and many farms turning-in, anticipating the winter season:  Historically, there are harvest festivals, in celebration, along with each having its own traditions, such as bonfires and things. ...

 "Thou hast delivered my from the strivings of the people; and thou has made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me..... the strangers shall fade away, and be fearful from their hiding places.   The Lord lives, and blessed be my cornerstone; and the salvation of God will be exalted.    It is the working of God that delivers me, and frustrates my enemies ." It is not by my machinations that you succeed, because I'm quite imperfect, but instead by your own relationship with God you will find the way and stay true. ...the gate is straight, and the way is narrow--but the light is always on, and the words of the Lord will point you in the right direction. "His grace extends so far that even when we turn away from Him, Christ waits patiently and lovingly for us to turn back to him.   Thank you, God, that Your grace has set me free and given me new hope for tomorrow." I am an imperfect person:  safely and without fear o...

"we have been awakened to a lively hope" A dose of the pursuit of perfection in the good book:                          "...that which you see to, see to well...."                                                 if you hope, "be prepared to give a reason for your hope..."  We are after all, not just the "salesmen of the Gospel", but also clients of the Lord, and thus, we have our own relationship with God to maintain. Paul explains that our own lack of effort on the backend, in establishing and being able to argue for our faith, is a way of embarrassing the Gospel. If we get out there and get flustered or stammer, or even in frustration lash out in anger, we have embarrassed the Gospel for our own selfish reasons. As they say, "we have been awakened to a lively hope", and with "gentleness and r...

According as God hath chosen us in him.... we should be holy and without blame before Him, in love.... -Ephesians 1:4 Paul is making the case for righteousness in personal conduct, being "without blame"--that this is a way of honoring God everyday. Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. -1 Corinthians 6:13 We see the sentiment extended to diet, or at diet as a metaphor, and sexual abstinence, ascetism or complete self-denial, as a neat way of avoiding any potential blameful situation.  Of course, the easiest manner of never being in a sexually impure or compromising situation is to entirely avoid fornication of any sort. We see the concept of "lifestyle Christians" mentioned around, used as a condemnation of people who see the faith as a routine or program instead of faith, awe and love.  I've seen various sorts, on my own, and even fr...

"...that ye may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding...." In the "elegant" King James Version: Colossians 1:3-8 is a whopping 128 word single sentence that expresses love and wishes for the Colossian believers.  Colossians 1:9-17 is also a single sentence at an even more impressive 194 words!   Therein, Paul expresses his hopes for the Colossian believers and in so many words expresses the need for the Gospel, how to become saved, and the fruits of belief, and does both pretty much TWICE in two long statements, "pillar to post", respectively, 128 and 194 words. "We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; ...