The Symbol of Freedom

There is a marvelous freedom we have as a Christian, and the symbol for that freedom is the Cross.

Many people, including some of the smartest to ever live, have failed to see this freedom. And those that will not look, seem to say the same thing over and over again, and the symbol for their philosophy is a circle. This circle has no way out, they are stuck. One of the wisest men of the bible, Solomon, in the book of Ecclesiastes illustrates this circular philosophy when he said, “there is nothing new under the sun, everything is vanity of vanities.” From within this circle there is no way for this truth of freedom to get in or get out.

I heard someone say, “things are no longer black and white, but have become gray. We no longer live in a world where there is just one right answer, but many right answers”. Our search for truth and freedom, when searched from within ourselves or from the wisdom of men, seems to always lead to a relevant truth, or this circular motion of no absolutes. Everything becomes gray and blurred.

This colorless life, this life that is gray and blurred, looks like this: We get up, we go to work, we go home, we eat, we go to bed, and then we do the same thing the next day, then the next, and so on, with no hope or meaning. We go from one activity to the next looking for and end to this drudgery, only to find we need another activity, and then another. This kind of life is like a treadmill that sucks the very life out of us. It’s easy for anyone, including the Christian, to find themselves on this treadmill.

I know, I’ve found myself on this treadmill many times. What’s the answer? I have to refocus, I have to renew my mind, I have to look at the Cross again a little closer, then a little closer. I find no end of what can be discovered there!

The cross is not a gray circular motion, it’s not a treadmill. At the heart of the cross we find a freedom not found anywhere else. This freedom is moving forward, upward and outward with no ends. A freedom of imagination and creativity, a freedom of discovery, a freedom of a continuous change in who we are and who we are becoming. A continuous discovery of truth, an absolute truth, that is not grayed or blurred. The truth always becomes clearer as we read and reread God’s word, and as the Holy Spirit brings color back into our life.

The way of the cross is not a dead end of repetitious actions, but it opens up into a wonderland of possibilities. Our life becomes a journey, a great adventure! The God of the universe is taking us somewhere, He has a plan! And His plan will go on forever. In Galatians 5:1, Paul said, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free”. Christ broke this circle, this circle of dead ends, by being broken for us on the Cross.

The truth of this freedom can only be found in Christ. Look again with me and see…..

Hank, the back pain is better today, thanks for praying brother! God bless..

Grace by any other name

Treatise on Grace by Jonathan Edwards (excerpt)

'Tis common for us to speak of various graces of the Spirit of God as though they were so many different principles of holiness, and to call them by distinct names as such, —repentance, humility, resignation, thankfulness, etc. But we err if we imagine that these in their first source and root in the heart are properly distinct principles. They all come from the same fountain, and are, indeed, the various exertions and conditions of the same thing, only different denominations according to the various occasions, objects, and manners, attendants and circumstances of its exercise. There is some one holy principle in the heart that is the essence and sum of all grace, the root and source of all holy acts of every kind, and the fountain of every good stream, into which all Christian virtues may ultimately be resolved, and in which all duty and [all] holiness is fulfilled.

Grace this weekend was the fact that God saw fit to let my father in law have a small stroke. One that he is going to be fine from, happened why he was at home. Best time of day and with all of us nearby to assist. Have been thinking about how much he means to our family and the impact he has had on me and our children. We are all better for knowing him. I am thankful that he knows Jesus and that he loves Him.

So how is that looking for you as a man? How are you impacting those around you? Can they say that being around you has made them a better person? Do you have any relationships that go deep and not just surface relationships?

I have been praying for different brothers I know without jobs, in a life change and Gary put it real well this past week. (He co-blogs on here with me) He has been suffering from back pain and he said that it is awful hard to focus off of self when you are in pain. So true.

Think about God. Think about your situation, Talk to Him about it. Give the pain to Him, You only have one shot at this fallen world. You and I need to run the race well as Paul encouraged us too. I look at those Christians in the New Testament and even during the tough economic times we go thru now, it is nothing compared to them.

May we enjoy this time, push thru to the next side and take many with us!

The picture above is our new mascot @ Oakwood Christian Academy. He made his debut at the first home game two weeks ago. GO EAGLES! It is good to see the twins enjoying friends and athletics. Fletcher starts keeping the scoreboard this week and Sarah Beth was a whiz working the concession stand last week with her mom. Being six she can almost make you buy anything!

Me? I was just glad to be able to get away from work and make the games. Two this week.

Happy Labor Day ! May God Bless you and encourage you today to get into His Word, see how much He has loved you and I and what we can do while here to make a difference!

Selah.