Entertaining Angels – Control

Greetings Dear Reader,

We think we control our destiny.  We control our choices.  That in part leads to the unfolding of our destiny.  It is not, however, the focal point.  We focus on our rights, what we are owed, and what we want the world to look like. 

I have spent too much of my life trying to shape the world to be as I wished it.  When I stopped doing that living became much more enjoyable.  Beyond that I have realized how little I can control.   God has made is clear that everything is under his control.  It has become cliché to say it but he does have a plan.

As discussed over the last couple of days I am a single piece of the multidimensional chess game.  We all are.  The problem is that we all think we are the king or queen.  The billions of pieces are moved in harmony in a grand design.  The only purpose that we have been given for that design is to bring us back to good.

We think we are there but we are so far from it.  There are so many things that distort our view.  So many things we assume that we just do not know.   All the universe moves back toward what its Creator wishes it to become in his design.  This view is no longer popular but I still believe it. 

It may sound paranoid but others watch to see what I do with what I am given.  God already has the countermoves chosen to respond to my moves.  He wants me to choose good but has chosen moves to bring me to good no matter what I choose.  He promises to provide all we need to do what is right.

I must do what is right no matter how much it costs.  I must not try to control anything but my responses to the world.  Even the control of those must be given over to what God has asked of me.  I must predetermine that my responses are going to be loving and kind.  Sometimes this is so very difficult.  Then again if I obey all will unfold as it should because even though I am a valued part of the dance, it is not about me.

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.”

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What are We Made For - Freedom

Greetings Dear Reader,

We want freedom in so many ways.  We do so much to get the freedom we want.  It seems to me that so much of that is futile, selfish, or wrong.  We are meant to be free but we seek it in the wrong way. 

No matter what we believe we are not free from God.  Not believing in something does not make it non-existent or ineffectual.  God is sovereign and in that sovereignty he gives us choice.  We are free to choose him or not but not free from the consequences of our choices.   

We must not sin to feel free.  It only puts us in deeper forms of bondage.  It only makes our debt to God deeper.  One cannot fail to love others and be free.  One cannot fail to love God and be free.  These are the rails on which we must run.

Yes there are rails.  We are not a roaming animal.  We are more like a train.  We can go many places but must stay on the tracks.  Freedom is found in obedience.  I must not put people in bondage to dead orthodoxy or false following.  I must also assure I do not follow anything that hinders my freedom to follow Christ. 

Anything that limits me from following Christ with all my thoughts, feelings, and actions is bondage.  Freedom is found in faith and following.  We are designed to be free.

If You Want to get Free – Waterdeep

In the gas station bathroom by the condom machine

I heard the word of the Lord

He said "Take off your shoes, this is holy ground too

You know I came for the sick and the bored."

Beneath the selling of beers

And the welling up of tears

Out beyond the beam of the remote control

There's a whispering voice

That the humble ear ears

that says "I am still waiting for you to ask just to be made whole."

And the bush it was burning on the mountain top

And though the leaves never blackened, the fire didn't stop

That's the way that it works in this old life of sin

You gotta let the fire burn you just to get clean within

I am so often deterred from my actual intent

by distractions in a cellophane wrap

And the cruel voice that taunts me when I open them up

to find just one more box full of crap

It's where you're mocked while you abstain

and then cursed when you give in

It's all a game that's impossible to beat

But there's a peaceful refrain God'll sing in your brain

when you put the nails to your hands and your feet

And the smell of our sacrifices

still fills up my head

There's just a few left at the altar, Lord

all the rest of them fled

And we've cried and we've tried

We've sweat and we've bled

But we don't just need atonement

We need to be raised from the dead

When they took down the cross from that dark hillside

The blood on their hands was the blood from his side

That's the way that it works, That's the way it must be.

You gotta let His blood stain you of you want to get free

If you want to get free

Don't you want to get free?

I think you want to be free.

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 ͡°)

To Be or Not to Be – First Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

All around me New Year’s resolutions are dying.  My Daughter has asked me several times about mine and this served as evidence that she has not been reading my blog.  I heard four different individuals yesterday say something to the effect of “there goes that resolution.”

I think that instead of resolving to change something I benefit from identifying what I am supposed to be as a Christ follower and being that in the moment.  As I begin the journey through this New Year I want to examine things that I am supposed to be and assess how I can be a better version of those things.

From the outset I proceed from the assumption that I can be better at all the things that are good and right.  Proceeding from there allows me to start this portion of the journey honestly.  It helps me identify the areas of my life that need to be honed, pruned, or strengthened.

Even though I love my church I don’t need another sermon or song to tell me what I am supposed to be as a Christ follower.  Those things give me ideas for application and improvement.  So as I ponder what I am “to be or not to be” I focus on the “to be.”  My Grandfather would always say that if I spent my time focusing on the things I am supposed to do I would not have time to do the things I should not. 

Walk with me as I ponder "taH pagh taHbe'!" ("To be or not to be!").  After all if I am to live a life that follows Christ I must live moments that do so.

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 ͡°)