The Least of These ~ Socialism that Works

Greetings Dear Reader,

In the second book written by Luke, Acts, he explains that the early church held all things in common and that everyone was given freely whatever was needed.  When social welfare is based on the belief that God owns everything and that he will supply all that we need, it can work.  I have yet to see that enacted by anyone who claims to be a socialist in our society. 

The problem with modern day socialism is not the idea of social welfare.  It is trying to enforce it out of obligation or law instead of love motivating it that works.  I am not here, however, to rant against secular socialism.  I want to focus on the idea of being socially aware of the needs of others.

If I am going to really consider the needs of the poor then I must limit what I own.  It is not wrong to have things that I like.  It is not that the Father does not want me to have good things.  In fact, it is just the opposite.  He wants to give us what our heart desires.  He provided for this in the Law, mentions it in the proverbs, and promises in the epistles.

It is in seeking him first that it is conditional.  We are to pursue Christ and consider all “things” lost for the sake of doing that.  When I share freely and liberally with those who have need then the Father is free to give us what we desire that falls in line with following his Son. 

If we truly desire to follow Christ then we need to realize that all of mankind is our responsibility.   The church should be known for its generosity and provision for those in need.  Instead we build gold domes and crystal palaces.  If we hope to transform the world we need to get past the ideas of greed and possession.  We need to embrace the idea that if anyone is hungry we will sacrifice what is needed to feed them, even our enemies. 

What is the impact if we depend on the Father for all that we need and desire and consider all things available to those who need?  If we give to those in need no matter their station and status we lose nothing.  It is in this giving that we find freedom from things and the power of mobility to follow Christ.

I must approach the season of giving with the heart of one who only has Christ as a possession.  “With Jesus our only possession then giving becomes our delight.”  In a world that has lost respect for the church and sees it as callus and greedy, perhaps a dose of social welfare is exactly what is needed.  I know that I need to have that approach with everyone.  Perhaps we can talk together as we journey Dear Reader and discuss how we will lighten our burden by sharing with the poor. 

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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Negating Needs ~ Possessions

Greetings Dear Reader,

I had not intended to address possessions as I have previously done that at length.  As I work through my heart and mind relative to needs, however, something odd occurred.  I was suddenly enveloped in the desire to be rid of almost everything. 

It descended on me in an almost suffocating manner.  I felt suddenly walled in by all the things that I have that I do not need.  If this is imposing itself on me after I have already purged so much then I think I must go further.  I think that if I am feeling this at the same time I am redefining what I need versus what I want then I must consider another wave of reduction. 

I know that I have more than I need.  I have been purging books all summer which is difficult for me.  I think that I must turn my attention so some other things as well.  My possessions feel more like an anchor than anything else today.  Some things are necessary to my work and craft. 

As for the rest, my attachments are memorial, sentimental, or small obsessions.  I like to collect things.   I have sold off my most valuable collections over the last year to supplement my lack of income. I will address the small collections in the coming week.  I think then I will start at one end of my abode and progressively removed everything that I have not used recently.  It will be taxing but it may also be freeing. 

The Things We Leave Behind – Michael Card

There sits Simon, so foolishly wise

Proudly he's tending his nets

Then Jesus calls and the boats drift away

And all that he owns he forgets

But more than the nets, he abandoned that day

He found that his pride was soon drifting away

And it's hard to imagine the freedom we find

From the things we leave behind

Matthew was mindful of taking the tax

And pressing the people to pay

Hearing the call, he responded in faith

And followed the light and the way

And leaving the people so puzzled he found

The greed in his heart was no longer around and

And it's hard to imagine the freedom we find

From the things we leave behind

Every heart needs to be set free

From possessions that hold it so tight

'Cause freedom's not found in the things that we own

It's the power to do what is right

With Jesus, our only possession

And giving becomes our delight

And we can't imagine the freedom we find

From the things we leave behind

We show a love for the world in our lives

By worshiping goods we possess

Jesus has laid all our treasures aside

And love God above all the rest

'Cause when we say no, to the things of the world

We open our hearts to the love of the Lord and

It's hard to imagine the freedom we find

From the things we leave behind

And when we say no, to the things of the world

We open our hearts to the love of the Lord and

It's hard to imagine the freedom we find

From the things we leave behind

Oh, and it's hard to imagine the freedom we find

From the things we leave behind

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 ͡°)

Contacts for Aramis Thorn:

This BLOG:  http://aramisthorn.blogspot.com/ 

Facebook      Google +   

Twitter            Medium    

Kids BLOG

Novels on Amazon             

Bookings at aramisthorn@aramisthorn.com

To Be or Not to Be – Generous

Greetings Dear Reader,

How does one know if one is generous?  I think that there are very few of us who want to be seen as selfish.  What is generosity in the eyes of others?  The truth is that I have no idea. 

I want to be generous.  I also don’t want anyone to take my Chocolate Orange®  (If you have not had a Terry’s Chocolate Orange and you love chocolate you must seek them out and share my addiction.  Please do not touch mine.). I am willing to share what I have but not my personal laptop that I use for all of my external and leisure computing.  Jesus told me that if someone asks me for something I should give it to them.  He also said that if someone asks for my cloak to give them my coat as well.

My Grandfather would call that easy preaching and hard living.  To be generous sounds simple enough until you get into the nuts and bolts of it.  I know that I have more than I need and am willing to share what I have.  I pull back almost instinctively when you get to close to some things.  For those who do not realize it that “instinct” is my fallen, selfish, self-serving nature. 

No matter how hard I fight it my nature is to be selfish and greedy.  I want all of the “things”, whatever those things are and I do not wish to share.  I want to possess and control.  To be generous is a daily battle with these proclivities. 

I am required to be generous.  God is required to provide for my needs (not my wants but my needs).  I need to have faith that there is nothing I possess that God cannot better.  I need to also remember that anything I possess is on loan from God and I do not really own it.  I am a caretaker not an owner.

In order to be generous I need to also have my focus on the needs of others not my own.  I need to focus on what would be meeting the needs of others.  It all comes from the perspective of being willing to be good to others above my own wants.  It is that difficult and that simple all at once.  If it were easy we would not have to “take up a cross” to follow.

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 ͡°)

Closing the Year – Pigs Gone to Clover

Greetings Dear Reader,

As the year turns toward its last week my thoughts always turn toward the way in which we mark that passage.  I mentioned the phrase “pigs gone to clover” earlier in the month.  It denotes a level of satisfaction.  It is a level of satisfaction I rarely hear expressed in our culture.

Yesterday the media was filled with ads and stories telling us to be dissatisfied with what we received for Christmas.  Phrases like “get what you really wanted” offend me.  I am so very satisfied with the gifts I received.  Those who gave them showed that they know me and love me.  Even my Grandson, Orion showed he knows people in the gifts he chose for them.

Are there things I wish to have?  Yes there are.  Are any of them worth failing to pause for a bit to be truly grateful for what I have been given?  No they are not.  People took time and spend money to choose gifts for me.  That alone should satisfy me.  I value the time with my family more than things.  I value giving joy to them more than getting things for myself.  I value the privilege of meeting their needs and some of their wants.

I feel satisfied by showing them love and generosity.  I find joy in sharing my home and food with them and their guests.  The true satisfaction for me is in the lives of others.  That is what keeps Christmas in my heart the entire year.

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 ͡°)