Deeper Furrow

  Our Surrogate 2 Corinthians 5:21  “ For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. ” James 1:15  “ Then when lust hath conceived , it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. ”      A sick picture, but this is what God gives.   Jesus was impregnated with our sin during His time on the cross.   What He endured in His time of hanging, we will never know for He shields our understanding from this.   But we have this allusion.      Did Jesus become sin?   Oh yes.   Holiness wrapped itself in our smothering shawl.   Light eclipsed and the sun hid behind the clouds in shame.   All of creation repulsed Him as He became undignified.   Everything was made through Him and for Him, yet in the end we vomited His presence from us.   Abandoned by God and expulsed by man, He found no place.   A...

  Eddy Currents Matthew 25:40  “ And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. ”      We have the pleasure of living by the Missouri River.   Winding its way by Sioux City, it graces us on the western edge.   Spawning a diversity of life, it encourages activities such as Rivercade and a marina.   Soccer fields, restaurants, and industry line its banks.   Overhead bridges span her width connecting a once formidable barrier to travel.   With a bed cut low, the river follows its course and usually does not complain.   Jetties launch out into the current to save the banks from erosion.   A curious wake turns as the water is peeled off their tips.   The main current, stripped of its momentum, cycles back on itself depositing silt and held sediment.      “Wait a minute.”   Th...

What To Do With A Blessing      Cars are an investment.  They require initial purchase, maintenance, and yearly monies to support insurance plus registration.  We use them till the wheels fall off if not traded in for the newest model.  Sometimes we see a carcass in the driveway waiting for a new home.  Extended beyond our fiscal limits, their existence makes no more sense.  A quick solution would be to call the salvage wrecker and receive a menial dollar amount.      But wait, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.  What we perceive as a headache can bless another if we wait on God’s solution.  Not just a hand-me-down, the worth of the gift is commensurate to the need.  Networking opens our eyes and ears to those lacking.  Church is an excellent place to get our attention off ourselves and into the affairs of others.       Pride takes no place when want is overcome wit...

What Is Faith?      “Fifteen serving ten!”  We are good at playing this game.  All eyes follow the ball as the teams volley.  Then hands slip letting it fall to the ground.  At this error, the opposing side scores a point, and the serve is set again.  Yet, Romans 12:15 “ Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. ”       Competition regarding faith is a no, no.  If we desire our brother or sister to forfeit their “holier than thou” status by falling, our hearts devise a wicked thing.      But what is faith?  Precursor to its activation, belief must have its understanding.  The relationship between the two is likened to an automobile’s braking system.  When purchasing a new car from the lot, we assume the engineers have fully equipped the car.  Hence, brake pedal to lines then pads are believed to be installed.  We accept this as true....

  The Greatest Gift Ever Given Leviticus 3: 5  “ And Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is upon the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the  Lord . 6  And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto the  Lord  be of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish. ”      It is better to give than receive.   God knows that. He wrote it.   Quite often what you get back is greater than what is initially given.   Surely a blessing we receive from Him who sees all things done in secret.   But what if the giving were done openly, with great announcements?   Would that invalidate the reward?   Not in this case.      Christmas is a time of mutual giving when we tangibly show others how special they are to us.   Not a bad holiday.   Sometimes the proof has got to be in the pudd...

  I Will Stand In His Presence Daniel 3:12  “ There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. ” Acts 2:14  “ But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice , and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: ”        What are we to do with ourselves when we know God is with us?   When other music plays and they expect conformity as in Daniel, do we bow?   When the Spirit prompts us, do we stand in unison declaring our God is great?      Our posture before God reveals our spiritual attitude.   Pitch, roll, and yaw describes an aircraft’s position in a column of air.   Likewise, Moses landed prostrate on the ground begging...

  What He Doesn’t Want Mark 7: 1 – 23 Mark 7:14  “ And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand : ”      When the Commander says, “Come near, bend an ear, and comprehend,” we are compelled to pause, quiet our thoughts, and open our minds to divine reasoning.      Why does He get heavy here?   With the backdrop of hypocrisy revealing what holiness wasn’t, Jesus’ heart went full force into words of the revolution He signed on to instigate.   What was killing Man?   The enemy He saw clearly and sought to eradicate its shadowy presence from every person born.      For instance, i t is natural for us to murder.   It is our inborn bent.   If God is love, then Man is hate.   What does it take to change this?   God knows our hearts harbor pillaging pirates.   How could a new benevolent fleet enter our shores? ...

  What Is Joy? John 14:27  “ Peace I leave with you , my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth , give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. ” Acts 16:25  “ And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God : and the prisoners heard them .” Mark 6:51a “And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: ”      Living in the Midwest, I have witnessed many summer storms.   The advancing cold front appears on the darkened horizon.   The wind shifts direction from a friendly warm breeze to a foretelling chill.   As the sun races away and hides, ominous clouds billow in agony telling the churning atmosphere beneath them.   Great prophets marching with arms locked announce reality.   Dropping precipitation in successive waves, the full brunt is felt under the storm’s hand.   There is no escape as either direction is enveloped with a whipping lashing tear. ...

  Two Divine Commands Philippians 2:14  “ Do all things  without  [ d ] complaining and  disputing, ”      What?!   Is the Bible written only for those who bow the knee to Jesus?   And how will God judge the earth?   Surely books of works will be opened before Him.   Men will be rendered accordingly.   But what of this perfect law penned down?   It goes without saying. James 3:1” My brethren,  let not many of you become teachers,  knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment . ”       God holds all accountable.   The ignorant, the student, and the teacher.   He will evaluate individuals’ lives as they stand up to His righteousness.   Yes, those reborn will He judge with His Son in mind.   Sterling silver not tarnished but nonetheless will be inspected by the Father.   Our works He will try with fire.   Whatever left will be ready for gl...

  Thank God I Do I don't know who I'd be if I didn't know You I'd probably fall off the edge I don't know where I'd go if You ever let go So keep me held in Your hands - Lauren Daigle      Feeling particularly thin and small one morning, my hands went up in the air as this song played on my laptop.   It’s a scary, sobering song.   What if?   The gravity of the question causes a pondering without.   Like being trapped in a well without a bottom treading water.   If my security was not in God, where would I be?      Thank God!   This is an interjection I save for particular events since the world has perverted it along with our Savior’s name.   Still, it seems fitting when placed rightly.   Hallelujah! is another careful one.   Praise the Lord! suits me well and is applicable in most cases.      Ms. Daigle uses the definitive and crosses the line.   But the serio...

  Come And Go James 2: 15  “ If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16  And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled ; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. ”      “Do you mind if I pray for your car?” But no miracle, not on the intersection of South Lakeport and Morningside Avenue tonight.   Her car was dead and continued in obstinance parked by the pump.   “Well, gotta go.”   He had given it his shot and headed back to the van.   A sinking feeling then reminded him that the hands of God oftentimes get dirty.   At the cashier, one pair of Kum and Go cables he purchased at cost.   Positioning his van closer, power jumped and cranked the sedan’s engine to life.   “Can I give you a hug?”   The older woman pulled the pastor near with an ...

  Why We Don’t      “Santa Claus, Santa Claus is coming to town…”   We all know the jingle and how it describes his duties and abilities.   Very nearing God-status in seeing us while we are sleeping and knowing our moral nature, the jolly man Santa Claus is a eurythmic offering of a tantalizing season bent on fulfilling materialistic wants of children in suspense.      This syrupy gloss blurs little one’s eyes with the lighting of the tree, making cookies, and further traditions that set off this time as special.   At the nucleus lies the getting of gifts and exploring the stockings hung in care.   What kid does not like the idea of new toys, ripping the wrapping in a flurry of excitement in one intense moment?   Birthday on steroids?   Christmas present morning is like a cocaine rush for little tykes.   Dopamine falls from its stored state and pleasure rushes to their extremities as lightning.   So...

  Eating With Unwashed Hands Mark 7      Jesus and crew got in hot water again with the Pharisees and Jewish onlookers.   Eating with whores and sluts, tax collectors and thieves, unclean and deserving of dissing, I assume this was the backdrop again to the Master’s gathering.   “Why do your disciples eat without washing their hands first?”   Jesus unloads on them as He blows holes in their hull sending them back to port with a smoking stern exposing their naked reasoning.      Don’t mess with Jesus.   The Wolverine will turn on you and rip your insolent disposition down as your sails are shredded.   The Pharisees saw His fangs and drew back.      Barring Jesus’ strict reprimand, what was the crux of His argument with them?   It certainly was not about cleanliness next to Godliness.   No, He took aim at something that still plagues the Church today.   All protectors of the fa...

  The Road Less Travelled Matthew 16: 24  “ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. ” Matthew 7: 13  “ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way , which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. ”      My grandpa’s farm by the James River in South Dakota was unique.   Nestled in the foothills of pastureland, its length spanned area sufficient for outlying buildings. A garage, machine shed, summer kitchen, hog shed, chicken coop, and finally a barn.   The immediate run, parallel to the rearward gravel road, was the inner path leading directly from the house to the cattle ...