GREENE STREET LETTERS: Signs or Sounds?

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Signs or Sounds?

I have watched with fascination and awe at the events of the past week in our country and around the world.
I would be hard pressed to ignore the fact that life as we know it is changing even as I write this. But I do so not in fear but in the blessed hope and faith that God in heaven is in control and is working his plan.

In Luke 21:25 we read:
And there will be strange events in the skies---signs in the sun, moon and stars. And down here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring of the seas and strange tides.

The Luke passage says that nations (or peoples) will be in turmoil. Have you read the papers or watched Television? Every nation is struggling with the economic instability. Hanging onto a lifestyle in spite of the consequences of bad choices and even ungodly choices. There is turmoil because our best efforts have failed. We are like the sailors in the story of Jonah. Even after they were told by Jonah of what to do in order to secure their safety, scripture says, "they rowed even harder." We are trying to save oursleves by looking to our own ability. It isn't going to happen.

Luke writes that the nations (peoples) will be perplexed by the roaring of the seas. That means there will be confusion because of so many voices crying out with so many opinions. We are a nation of people who views their personal opinion as being without fault. If you don't believe me then you haven't listened to talk radio. Not only that, but we have lost the ability to be civil to one another. Just disagree with someones opinion and see what names they slam you with. There is no respect for authority at any level in this country. We truly have cast off restraint and the idea of being governed has caused us to run wild.

Luke also writes that we will be perplexed by "Strange Tides."
Tides are influenced by the heavens (the moon).
There will be a greater influence by the prince of the power of the air as he seeks to enslave more and more people. Just as people are carried away by the tides of the ocean, people will be carried away by the tides of demonic influence.

Now is the time to seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Lift your eyes and see that you Salvation draws near.

Maranatha Lord Jesus!
mb

1 comment:

Bobby said...: Good word!; October 13, 2008 at 9:32 AM

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Looking At The World Through Cracked Lens

As ol' Paul wrote in his Corinthian letters.."We see in part and we know in part." Now what piece of this bit of wisdom do we not get? I wish to not run around acting and trying to be some sort of Biblical G00-Ru (I meant to spell it wrong). Or a sage of sages.

I simply want to be able to communicate some of what God has given to me. Why? Do I think what I get is better than what you may have received from Him? Nope. But I do think encouragement comes when we share our daily story of struggle and victory in an effort to encourage each other.

Thanks for letting me share.

Time to soldier on..

mbb

Our Statement of Faith

We believe that God is the eternal king. He is an infinite, unchangeable Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, goodness, justice, power and love. From all eternity He exists as the One Living and True God in three persons of one substance, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit equal in power and glory. we believe that God created mankind in His image, male and female, for relationship with Himself and to govern the earth. Under the temptation of Satan, our original parents fell from grace, bringing sin, sickness and God's judgment of death to the earth. Through the fall, Satan and his demonic hosts gained access to God's good creation. Creation now experiences the consequences and effects of Adam's original sin. Human beings are born into sin, subject to God's judgment of death and captive to Satan's kingdom of darkness. We believe that Jesus, God's Son, was sent to this world, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, Mary, fully God and fully man in one person. He is humanity as God intended us to be. Jesus was anointed as God's Messiah and empowered by the Holy Spirit, ushering in God's kingdom reign on earth, overpowering the reign of Satan by resisting temptation, preaching the good news of salvation, healing the sick, casting out demons and raising the dead. Jesus' atoning death on the cross took God's judgment for sin which we deserved as law-breakers. Jesus' resurrection and ascent back to heaven opened the door for those who received salvation to begin a relationship with God.

Little Nets Into Deep Waters

Fishing nets were designed for one purpose only. To catch fish. Nets are no good if they stay on the boat. Nets serve no purpose if they are never used. I think maybe God sees us this way. We are all created for a purpose (by the way, the creator gets to define what our purpose is). Any other use besides the one we were created for does us no good. But when the creator places His hands upon us, casting us out into those scary, dark places with deep waters, it is then we can see the reality of our purpose. He knew there would be a catch waiting for us. I think I will be the net God has called me to be.

The Twelve Steps

As a community of people in recovery, we affirm that our higher power is Jesus Christ. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. Just as God told the children of Israel He was going to give them a promised land, He has revealed to us that He desires to give us a "Promised Life." When Israel got to the promised land, God instructed them to go and in a possess it, fight for it and claim it. In recovery, the 12 Steps are the directions given to us on how to fight, possess and claim this promised life.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Signs or Sounds?

1 comment:

THE REALITY OF THE NAME OF GOD