Deeper Furrow

  Intrepid Luke 22:44 “ And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Agony: extreme physical or mental suffering. Matthew 26:39 “ And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. ”      Nowhere do I find Jesus’ frailty so pronounced as in the Garden of Gethsemane.   Yet under the thin skin of a man in need lie a rock of resolution.   Maybe a hardboiled egg would be an appropriate picture.   The shell so delicate yet the insides congealed to give form regardless.   You can strip off its entire outer covering, the egg remains.      That’s how it was with Jesus.   But to say He was intrepid would deny His outer being.   If we glossed over this one, we may miss the whole bit.   Yes, He was tempted in all ways and yet without sin.   So this instance was like the others.   D

  Downward Trend Genesis 28:12  “ And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. ” Hebrews 1:14  “ Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? ” Exodus 16:35  “ And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan. ” John 1:14  “ And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. ”      Help!   I need help.   Throw me the life preserver.   Hang on to the line.   The seas are rough and tumultuous in this time of trouble.   I grab the ring clawing my soddened frame just over the buoyant savior.   With both hands clenched, you retrieve my weighted mass over the waves.   Closer to the ship of deliverance, an

  The Big Disconnect Genesis 3:10  “ And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid , because I was naked; and I hid myself. ” Genesis 11:9  “ Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the  Lord  did there confound the language of all the earth : and from thence did the  Lord  scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. ” Genesis 10:25  “ And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided ; and his brother's name was Joktan. ”      Perhaps we do not fully understand the implications of Adam’s decision.   How he ushered in confusion and mischief, enough to beguile his post generational counterparts.   He donned the prisoner’s garments.   Orange became his familiar attire.   Wherever he went, creation saw him as he stuck out.      What was the Lord to do with breeding and multiplying vermin?   Violence now enveloped their hearts like a welcomed stranger.   In addition, contrary to commandment th

  The Indicative Persuasion      How many gods on the world’s playing field compel their worshippers to know them?   Furthermore, how many provide an in-depth manual aimed at that goal?   Finally, one that personally came to convince us of His character.   What gods have done that?      I am not an expert in the religions.   I understand “Allah” means “obey.”   Seems rather shallow.   Another religion is to do life over again till you get it right.   Like rewashing a towel in the machine.   Buddhism is becoming one with everything.   I can wait on that one.   My ignorance may shine through, but I wager I am not missing the mark when I call false religions impersonal.      Come over to my house and you will understand who I am.   Scanning the walls of my attire, you see what I exalt.   Pictures of my children cover parts of my living room and entryway.   Framed art shows my fondness for expression.   My wife’s hedgehog collection stands in view.   Our dining room combines function

  Now You See Me, Now You Don’t John 2:19  “ Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. ” Matthew 27:52  “ And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose , ” Acts 1:3  “ To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days , and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: ” Acts 1:9  “ And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight . ”      I don’t’ have a problem with this.   It is easy for me to believe that Jesus rose from the dead. I recently attended a funeral.   The loving one lay there in the casket as many passed by.   She was thoroughly dead, and I was thoroughly convinced she could climb out at the Lord’s command.   When He said in Romans to believe in my heart that He rose from the dead, it was a no brainer for me.      What would I do if my sis

  Integration and Disintegration Matthew 10:28  “ And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. ” Revelation 2:11  “ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death . ” Revelation 21:8  “ But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death . ”      I did not choose to be born here.   Upon conception, God integrated my body, soul, and spirit.   These three He bound together and created me.   Still, I had no choice.   From birth I have walked this earth held accountable for all my actions done in the flesh.   After death, I will be judged accordingly.   If I refuse to bow before the King, I will be cast into a lake of fire

  A Wondering About Hell      Is it such a sin to believe Jesus will meet every man, woman, and child offering them rest?   Either in this time or in the one to come after?    In other words, will Jesus come to us after we have passed from here giving us the chance to live with Him forever?      This idea flies in the face of “once dead always dead.”   You only go around once.   It is appointed for man once to die then the judgement.   Either get your business straight with God now or slam, the door is shut forever.   Forever is a long time.   And God is still just.       What of that little Hindu kid who grows up in ignorance worshipping a plethora of gods?   He has never seen a Bible or heard the gospel.   What of an ancient Babylonian warrior born in a time to sack Israel?   What does God do with all gentiles never given a chance to come to Him in salvation?   I think the answer lies here. Romans 1:20  “ For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clea

  Salvation’s Hoover Dam Hebrews 6:1 ” Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3  And this will we do, if God permit. ”      This verse may not totally apply, but the idea of maturity is there.      I have recently seen T.V. shows about the Hoover Dam.   It is a marvelous construction both in front and behind the dam.   Tall intake towers receive water from Lake Mead and funnel it to the turbines.   On the other side, the great arch braces the structure against its rock bases.   The sheer drop makes it most impressive.   Even the pride of America as the flag is draped over it.   Yet without water, it doesn’t produce hydroelectric power.      What if salvation were our own Hoover Dam?   With each memorized verse, we lay down the

  Moses’ Song Exodus 15:1 “ Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the  Lord , and spake, saying, I will sing unto the  Lord , for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. ”      They didn’t stop there.   The song goes on for another eighteen verses.   Whether Moses led six hundred thousand   people in unison is not the question.   Did Moses record the first blues tune?      Call and response.   African American slaves brought this type of music to America. The field worker would initiate the verse and others would echo.   Given this type of structure afforded improvising while the day toiled on.   Thus, music lifted the load.      When carried with instruments, call and response fell into the blues genre we know today.   Even Meriam picked up a timbrel and started dancing.   That would indicate a beat to Moses’ song.      Curiously enough, was Moses the grandfather of Hank Williams?   In telling a story with lyri

  Taking Him Up On His Offer Matthew 11:28  “ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ”      You know we are not talking about Heaven here.   The torture we feel is self-inflicted passed down from generation to generation.   Starting with Adam, is it the curse upon the earth?   We plant corn and up comes weeds.   Maybe that is what Jesus is talking about.   Rest, pure rest from our labors.   Easy cheesy, the life of bliss I’m ready for.   Jesus, You are really a good guy.       Or maybe He is talking about rest from our works which futilely make us righteous.   Like God, resting from His works.   In Hebrews He says He has a rest for His people.   Those reading the book should not fail to enter into it like their ancestors.   They should not harden their hearts as in the day of their rebellion.   In other words, when God says Jesus is Savior and King, believe Him.      Or maybe Jesus is talking about His mission.   His one glorious reason

  The Function Of The Local Church      Bible study, ugh!   Another Bible study.   Don’t we get sick of Bible studies?   How many times coach must we rehearse the plays in the locker room before we hit the field?   As if, has anyone invited the opposing team yet?   On and off.   On and off. We practice donning our jerseys.   Finally, we get exhausted then head to the showers.   Well, at least we get clean.      So is the function of the local church when it has no function.   F(x) in the mathematical world means you put ‘x’ into the equation and get a subsequent ‘y’ outcome.   But, you have to shove ‘x’ in for the statement to work.   Shoving takes effort.   Do the math.   Balance the equation.      The Lord commands us to do the math. With every church He gives a problem.   “Have I not placed you where ministry can abound?”   There is always need.   There is always work to be done.   Surely He says to disciple.   Getting one’s hands busy is a good way. Deuteronomy 6: 7  “ And