Spiritual Ponderings

Light tubes. That's what God is looking for, people who are willing to become light tubes. A light tube has no means of generating light of itself. However, unlike a normal pipe or other less useful channel or conduit in relation to light, a light tube is specially designed to convey light through some obstruction that normally blocks light from entering a dark place, usually a roof. A good light tube consists of an inlet, normally a transparent cover on a roof allowing light to enter the tube, an outlet on the bottom side consisting of another cover, often a diffuser that softens and spreads out the light, and in between a highly reflective tube that has a surface that absorbs almost no light at all. Its surface is like a mirror and bounces the light around in the tube that allows an intensity to be passed through it that rivals a bright, powered source of light yet requires no power to operate it. The only thing a light tube needs is access to the light from outside. Our world...

Why are we told that Jesus is the only way to God? In what sense is He the only way? It is usually assumed that this means that if one does not have enough factual knowledge about who Jesus is, does not say the right prayer or believe certain things about Jesus and what He taught, that they will be excluded from heaven. There are many versions of this teaching but generally all of them involve some level of bigotry and condemnation. But what is the real truth about this concept? I am starting to see something about this that makes more sense in the context of what God has been revealing about Himself and the truth about the relationship between the Father and the Son. The confusing and fearful pictures of God that inevitably infect teachings about this must be laid aside. They may more or less accurately reflect a very limited legal model that is sometimes employed in Scripture, but the legal model alone is woefully insufficient to explain and empower the truth as it is in Jesus. We ...

I have increasingly come under the feeling that I am not fully converted yet. While I was thinking about this early this morning I was impressed with the thought that I cannot remember any instance in the Bible where someone was pressured to be converted, at least not by Jesus. He talked about it and described what it looks like, but I do not recall Him ever urging anyone to be converted. This actually brings some peace for me, for I think Satan has been exploiting my awareness of this issue to discourage me recently. He has been taunting me and trying to convince me to worry about this, insinuating that God is going to remain aloof or distant from me until I am fully converted. Yet I have been reminded that Peter was told by Jesus just before Calvary that he was not yet converted, yet Peter was one of the closest companions of Jesus who had been entrusted with all sorts of privileges and responsibilities and supernatural gifts previous to this time. He, like all the other disciples, ...

It just occurred to me what might be going on. I find myself unusually resentful when certain people dominate conversations wanting to keep attention on themselves. They go on and on telling their own stories, presenting their own ideas and steering the conversation back to themselves no matter what subject is being discussed. Whenever someone else begins to share a story or idea they seem to listen long enough to regroup only to continue their own thoughts and agenda. Although few others get any chance to participate in the conversation and be really heard, these people don't seem to notice how disproportionate their dominance of the conversation has become. What bothers me beyond the annoyance of observing this mindset, is my own puzzlement as to why I feel so intensely triggered myself. Am I jealous because I cannot dominate the conversation? Possibly, at least sometimes. Are there other factors completely out of sight in my heart that are creating this tension? Very possibly. ...

I had a very short but intense dream this morning. But it had a direct message that I am still pondering. Someone had done something to make me angry at them, but immediately I sensed that I was supposed to vent my anger and blame on God rather than the other person. When I questioned the validity of this arrangement I heard a voice say, “Get over it. Deal with it. Go ahead and take it out on Jesus. If you doubt that you should do it this way then you are in reality doubting that Jesus died for that person. By His death He took responsibility for their faults. Therefore it is He that is ready to take the heat for their mistakes, for He died to take that for them.” This idea of directing blame and anger toward Jesus came up a number of months ago and I have had discussions with a few friends about it. It sounds strange, bizarre, almost like blasphemy in a way. But on the other hand it seems to resonate solidly with what I am starting to see as the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Maybe I...

I have an earnest question and I am not looking for an argument for an answer. I sincerely want to know the mind of God about this. What constitutes the Word of God? I know that we refer to the Bible as the Word of God and I am not in dispute about that. I am not trying to slip in some other writings and give them equal footing with the Scriptures as some may try to do. My question is along a different venue. Let me explain a little more. I recently listened to a series of sermons concerning the armor of God as described in Ephesians six. I am aware that there is tremendous power and protection and safety in the Word of God which is an important part of this armor. But admittedly there are many different versions and languages, different expressions of the Scriptures with many variations even though most of them generally convey the intent of the original writings. And even what constitutes original writings is under heated dispute on the part of many who are given over to a conten...

God's appointments and grants in our behalf are without limit. The throne of grace itself is occupied by One who permits us to call Him Father. . . . He has placed at His altar an Advocate clothed in our nature . As our Intercessor , Christ's office work is to introduce us to God as His sons and daughters . He intercedes in behalf of those who receive Him . With His own blood He has paid their ransom. By virtue of His merits He gives them power to become members of the royal family , children of the heavenly King. And the Father demonstrates His infinite love for Christ by receiving and welcoming Christ's friends as His friends . He is satisfied with the atonement made. He is glorified by the incarnation, the life, death, and mediation of His son. In Christ's name our petitions ascend to the Father. He intercedes in our behalf, and the Father lays open all the treasures of His grace for our appropriation, for us to enjoy and impart to others. . . . Christ is the con...