What is a Christian? ~ Trust

Greetings Dear Reader,

From a cognitive perspective, I think that this is one of the things we get wrong.  Humans connect trust to emotion when it is really connected to knowledge and understanding.  It is the cognitive partner of faith.

People will violate our trust.  We either stop trusting or we continue in the knowledge that it will be violated again.   We get wounded when those we love violate our trust.  We put things at risk including our heart when we extend trust to others.  It is one of the areas where I take the most damage when it is violated.

If I hope to follow Christ and be seen as a Christ follower, I must put into place a way to weather the wounds of violated trust.   The problem comes when I put my trust in the wrong place.  When I am wounded by humans violating my trust I can only continue to do right if my trust is in Christ.  Jesus will not violate my trust.

Even when those I love the most violate all the things they say are true and trustworthy I must use my trust in Christ to keep from doing wrong.  I must use the knowledge that he has all things in his hands to continue to love those involved.  This is what a Christian is.  They continue to love and strive to do right even when maligned and belittled by others. 

If I do not trust Christ to have all things in his hands then I will not endure the damage done to me by others who violate my trust.  Trust in Christ, used as the solid ground on which to stand in love is the place to be.  It is the only place that works.  Sometimes it is lonely there. 

It is, however, the place where I can find the strength to keep following, refrain from anger, continue to love, and refuse to avenge.  Trust in Christ is a place to focus the mind so that the emotions can be managed.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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By Faith ~ Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

As I said earlier in the week, we all have faith in something.   The current climate in my life necessitates that i exercise faith actively in areas that are usually easy for me.  I do not like not knowing the answers.   I do not like being unable to give easy answers to others.

I have hope.  I am doing well.  I was able to spend some time this morning with a dear friend and reassure him that I am well.  I was privileged to renew my position that if my faith is not enough when I am in diversity then it is useless altogether.  This is truth Dear Reader.  If my faith only sustains me when things are good then it is not my faith that sustains me.

 Faith is the fuel for my journey.  Each day, each moment must be lived in faith.  If I do not live the high and the low in faith then I am not living by faith.  Circumstances and the fortunes of life are not what determine my life.  I cannot follow Christ and cling to a job, a human, or a thing and say that I follow in faith.

My kindness and generosity must not go away because I think I lack.   I must not be less loving and compassionate because I feel alone.  I cannot live by faith and count on things to sustain me.  

Once again thinking through faith reassures me that I must stand in Christ alone.  It is in him that I live and move and have my being.  It is in this that if find peace, hope, and sustenance.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

By Faith ~ Hands and Feet

Greetings Dear Reader,

Someone asked me this week what type of leader I think I would follow.  He listed several different aspects of leadership.  Right away the answer was clear. 

To lead others one must embody every aspect of leadership at some time and sometimes all of them at once.  The connection to faith is that I must assure that I lead others by my faith.  I must become the embodiment living by faith by putting hands and feet on the clear aspects of the Gospel.   Faith without works (living out the Gospel) is dead.

It is clear that love and care for others is what we do to show evidence of our faith.  It is clear that understanding who others are is a clear path to showing that love and care.  It is not my place to approve or disapprove of another’s life and choices.  That is a conversation that the Father reserves for his leadership.

It is vital that no matter what state another is in that I possess genuine love, compassion, and care for each individual.  It is vital that I show that love by meeting the needs of others without condition or expectation.  It is my responsibility to be the hands and feet of the Gospel in faith that the Father will work out the results. 

You see my obligation is to love and provide in faith as obedience to the Father.  It is not my job to make sure that this act results in something.  That is conditional care.  That is not the way it works.  If I obey in faith then I have done my job.  If I add expectations then once again I am adding baggage to the task.

I must also be wary that what I am told is acting in faith is not cruel, unkind, unloving, and lacking in compassion.  It is in following the great commands in faith that I can give substance to my faith.  It is being a man who trusts his leader in the moment.  I must remember that our leader, the one I follow, Jesus assured me that he would make all things right. 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

By Faith ~ Authorial Intent

Greetings Dear Reader,

As a writer I often face the          question of what I intend by what I write.  This is one of those areas where unthinking people foster ideas that serve individual purposes and not the greater good.  It is a basic foundation of communication that something means what the author intends it to mean.

This is one of the ways that we do what I was pondering yesterday.  We put too much baggage into what Jesus told us by ignoring the intent of the authors of the Gospels.  An example would be the way we ignore the intent that redemption is through faith alone.

The Father never intended for us to earn his favor.  The system of sacrifices in the Old Testament could never redeem us.  The intent was for them to serve as a place holder until Christ completed the work of redemption for us. 

It is not faith plus anything you can think of to add.  It is faith alone.  It is faith that is required.  The intent is that faith start our small and grow.  It is not to be made complex.  It is not intended to be hard. 

I must not defy the intent of the author of my faith.  I must not add anything to faith as a requirement for my reclamation.  I must live out my faith so that others can see it.  I must evidence the intent of the author in all that I do.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

By Faith ~ Baggage

Greetings Dear Reader,

One of the things that we do as Christ followers is add baggage to faith.  We insist that there need to be things we do to prove we have faith.  I need to be clear that faith is evidenced by what we do.  It is also necessary for us to do things that show we have faith.

This does not mean that we do what others say we “have” to do to prove to them we have faith.  We do not need to subscribe to what a denomination or church says we must be to prove our faith.  Jesus requires that we love and act in loving ways.

We are required to be holy, righteous, and set apart for God.  That does not mean that I get to deiced how that is lived out for you.  It means that I am responsible to live it out for the sake of showing the Father that I love him.  Obedience is evidence of love. 

What I must not do is add baggage to faith.  I must not tell others they must do this or that.  I must constantly direct them to do what is loving and kind.  I must echo specific things that Jesus tells us not to do but I must do so without judgement or condemnation. 

I must have faith that the Father will make all things right.  I must have faith that the Son will draw ALL people to him as he promised.  I must not add any baggage to faith even for the purpose of helping others follow.  The purpose of redemption is freedom.  The way of redemption is faith.  I must follow in faith.  I must not carry anything that is not connected to this.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

By Faith ~ One Requirement

Greetings Dear Reader,

I visited a different church than my church yesterday.  I was on a mission of mercy and was invited to stay for the service.  I chose to do so. 

What was pleasant was to be reminded of what it takes follow Christ.  In simple uncomplicated terms I was reminded of the part that faith plays in redemption. It is is the lead. 

Redemption is not something we earn.  It is a gift.  We acquire it through faith.  It through the Father’s grace we are rescued and redeemed by faith.  It is belief.  It is not an act of obedience or keeping a list of rules.  It is not following a ritual or making a promise.  It is not by anything we undertake.

How then are we assured that we have faith?   We continue in it.  We use it to follow.  The good we do is not to merit the approval of the Father.  It is to be an example to others of that approval.  It is to obey his desire to love; to love him and all humans.

There are things that tempt us to think we have earned the Father’s favor.  This is a lie.  He may approve or disapprove of our actions but we are always loved and accepted.  We are always his. 

Faith alone is the path to following.  Faith alone will guide me.  Faith alone will sustain me.  Faith is what puts me in the relationship.  It is required, singular, and sufficient.  You do what you believe. The rest is just talk. 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

By Faith ~ Creation and Evolution

Greetings Dear Reader,

Before I dive into this I want to be clear.  I believe in intelligent design.  I also assert that this can live in harmony with honesty concerning science.  My intent is not to give an apology for that here.  It is, rather, to put my thought in perspective to the relationship between faith and the argument about creation and other origins theories.

Those of us who follow Christ need to understand what we believe and why.  We need to realize that we cannot prove intelligent design.  We must be content with the fact that it is logical.  We must be a peace with the idea that we have to have faith in what we believe.

What we must not do is create false “evidence” for what we believe.  What me must never do is argue and hate in the name of those beliefs.  We must listen to honest science and find the common ground.  We must realize that if our beliefs require falsehoods to stand then they are not worth believing.  If we have to be unkind to assert them then we have the wrong perspective.

I do not to reconcile that my faith teaches me creation and there also seems to be an older world that one would think.  What I must do is avoid the arrogant failure of thinking I understand everything. 

Recall that this examination of faith sprang from my study of the letter to the Hebrews.

It begins by asserting the Jesus created all things.  No matter how far back one must go or how that process unfolded I have faith that this is the truth.  Perhaps if I honestly hear all thoughts on the matter I will find a path to the truth. 

What I must not do is forget that I am commanded to live by faith.  I must protect honesty and integrity in my thinking.  Perhaps others will see reason in the logic of intelligent design.  Even if none of this occurs then I will have done what I am required to do: live by faith.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

By Faith ~ Yes You Do

Greetings Dear Reader,

You have faith.  I am not accusing my atheist friends of believing in God.  That would be improper.  What I am saying is that you have faith in something. 

We try to eliminate our need for faith by saying that we can prove that there is or is not a God.  I believe my faith is reasonable but it would be arrogant to say that I can prove the existence of God.  The tentpole reasoning for me is that if we are not designed by someone then there is a mathematical problem.

In order for the universe to be a great cosmic accident then there must be an infinite stream of regressive probability.  There had to be millions of instances of just the right combinations of materials and events stretching back through billions of years so that we accidentally arrive at sapience and sentience.  I find this illogical.

It also begs the question of where did the first materials come from. What caused them to exist.  Nothing comes from nothing.  It takes faith to say that energy or matter just always was.  It takes faith to believe in this infinite regression.  I am not mocking anyone.

I am saying that no matter what you believe it takes faith.  You reach the point where you have no answers.  I must be honest but so must those who disagree with me.  I must admit that I reach the point where my belief is based on a leap of faith.  It is also true that the leap must be based on calculation and reasoning. 

My faith is based on the reason, logic, and substance.  I must not forget that faith is still necessary.  I must not forget that the fact is that God requires faith.  I must remember that even those who witnessed the supernatural doubted Jesus.  Faith is necessary.  We just choose the object of our faith. 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

By Faith ~ Walking, Driving, Flying

Greetings Dear Reader,

When I lived on the southern edge of the Misty Mountains there were often mornings where the fog was so heavy one could hardly see the road.  The journey from the road near my home to the highway could take three times as long as when the sun ruled the day.

Those drives were both beautiful and dreadful.  I did not have to make them often but when the fog forced me to slow down it was a lovely thing.  I like fog.  I find it beautiful and enchanting.  It also can hinder so much.

The choice in fog is to stop or keep going.  The choice is to walk by faith.  I have to keep moving.  I have to continue the journey.  No matter the speed or conditions I must walk, drive, or fly by faith. 

I cannot claim to live a life of faith and not use it when I cannot see what is next.  I cannot walk by faith only when the sun is bright and the path clear.  Faith or sight are the choice.  I am commanded to live by faith for now.  That is all there is.  Without it I cannot please the Father.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

By Faith ~ Show it to Me

Greetings Dear Reader,

Take a moment to take out your faith and look at it.  You say that you cannot.  I agree.  Faith is not tangible.   It is the thing that is evidenced by our actions.  It is the fuel that powers them. 

What is faith then?  It is the foundation of the things for which I hope.  It is how I prove my confidence in the things I have not witnessed.  This is not just in relationship to Christ.  It is in all things in which we invest ourselves.  It is why our faithfulness to our word is so vital.

The proof of what we believe in all things is reflected in how we act.  My faith cannot be taken out and shown to you.  I can evidence it through what I do and how I live.  If I do not show you love Dear Reader, then how can I tell you Christ loves you?  How can I claim to have faith in that love?  This does not mean that I must put myself in harm’s way or endure toxic treatment.  It does mean that I walk the tightrope between safety and failure to love very carefully.

I dare not ask someone to believe if I am not willing to live my faith.  I dare not say that I have faith if I am not willing to put hands and feet on it.  When crisis is upon me if my faith does not work in that moment, then what good is it.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

By Faith ~ Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

Yesterday I had a long conversation with someone I love dearly.  This beautiful soul struggles with faith.  Faith comes easily for me.  When I see this struggle, it reminds me of how hard it was for me to come to faith.  I will ask the indulgence of those who do not share my faith.  I feel I need a little deeper dive into what it means to live by faith. 

There are areas where I need more faith.  Places in my heart and mind need to have faith first.  I get in the way.  I imagine or plan instead of listening and following.  For the last week I have done a deep dive into the New Testament letter to the Hebrews.  It is a clear defense of the need for faith.

I have friends who refuse to have faith.  Faith is what they oppose.  The problem is that we all have faith in something.  We all believe in our own certainties.  We have faith that there is no God or faith that there is.  We have faith that there is only the natural world or that the universe fell from the fingertips of a Creator. 

We are designed to live by faith.  I have chosen Christ as the object of my faith.  It is a reasonable choice.  It is a logical one.  It is also foolish and daring.   There is also the vital truth that faith in Christ requires that we live in the crux of a paradox.  That too, however, is an act of faith. 

An honest examination of the day shows that we exhibit faith often.  We often place it in things that we should not.  It is still faith.  Since I know I live by faith I want to assure that I put it in the proper place.  Walk with me if you can Dear Reader.  Faith is all I have and your company makes it richer. 

By Faith – Michael Card

By faith one was commended

For the sacrifice he made

Another out of holy fear

Built an ark the world to save

Another left his homeland

and as a stranger he'd reside

But none received the promise then

And so, in faith, they died.

Others conquered kingdoms

Quenched the fury of the flames

Some made strong in battle

Some were raised to life again

But many more were martyred

Midst the crowds loud clamoring

By faith they would not bow the knee

Nor kiss the emperor's ring

Faith understands and offers

It assures and calms our fears

It can shut the mouths of lions

And make sense of scars and tears

We persevere in hope

And with conscience clean and clear

We walk this fallen wilderness

With Salvation's Pioneer

Being sure of what we hope for

Seeing what is yet unseen

A universe from nothingness

New life where none had been

The known made from unknowable

And hope for the comfortless

Who hear and hold on firmly to

The faith that they possess

So fix your eyes upon the Champion

As you seek to run the race

Understanding that He cheers you on

As you long for His embrace

So hold on and do not grow weary

Of the faith that you profess

Remembering that you are ringed around

By this cloud of witnesses

  

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Four Words ~ Faith

Greetings Dear Reader,

The ultimate task of asking for the Father’s will to be done is to have faith.  Faith, belief, and trust are required in all our transactions with the Father.  He wants us to have the faith that small children have in their Fathers.

It is in this faith that we find our way.  The just live by faith.  Without faith it is impossible to please the Father.  We are redeemed by grace through faith.  If we just focused on the ways in which the Word tells us to have faith we could muster an excellent understating of why wanting the Father’s will to be done is logical and wise.

It is in belief that we have the courage to want his will over the things that seem wise or obvious to us.  When we believe we do.  My Grandfather always said, “You do what you believe.  Everything else is just religious talk.”  If I am not kind to others then I dare not speak of the kindness of Christ.  If I am not willing to love others then I must not tell them that God loves them.  The fact is that I must do what I believe of my belief is dead and not focused on the living God.

It is in trusting him that we find the freedom to forgive and love others without reservation.  It is in trust that we can say that we wish the Father’s will to be done here as it is above.  I must desire for the two worlds, ours and the Father’s kingdom to come to be one.  I must long for this.  It is easy because I do.  I want this so much.

I become weary of the struggle with sin.  I see the unkindness in the world and it hurts me.  I see my own failures and long to be free of the things that drive me to fail.  I want every thought to be loving and kind.  I want to never be selfish or self-serving. 

I have faith that the Father wants this.  I believe that he is working to get things back to good.  I trust that his will will be done.  Without this I have no hope.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)