PERSONAL!

The news has been non-stop in regard to TSA rules and regulations. People have been complaining that this inspection is too personal or too invasive. They was even a report of a guy who wet himself during this process. Honestly, who is this comfortable with a complete stranger in the manner of the photo above?

To make this scene more uncomfortable, you are being set aside for security reasons.

In truth, I am not sure how I would respond to this sort of security but the outcry is clear. Too personal! It is distressing.

People need comfort. The comfort can come in the form of law or in another person. Comfort is necessary due to the stress of being personally offended even afflicted.

Paul in his second letter to the church of Corinth in chapter 7 expresses this comfort.

I am acting with great
boldness toward you;
I have great pride in you;
I am filled with comfort.
In all our
affliction, I am overflowing
with joy.
- 2 Corinthians 7:4

Overflowing with joy. When our bubbles are burst or when our personal comfort zone is infringed upon, do we respond with joy?

Paul continues to speak of the comfort that was brought to him.

He says God is the one who comforts and provided the comfort of sending Titus. Titus came with a message of longing and mourning. Essentially, the church is bearing the weight of the ministry and would love to see him again. Paul rejoices because of them and their repentance, not his affliction. Even in his affliction, he is other focused.

He speaks of godly grief and defines it.

9As it is, I rejoice,
not because you were grieved,
but because you were grieved into repenting.
For you felt a godly grief,
so that you suffered
no loss through us.
10For godly grief produces
a repentance that leads to
salvation without regret,
whereas worldly grief produces death.
2 Corinthians 7:9,10

Paul says godly grief produces a repentance (a change) that leads to salvation without regret. The word in the ESV is regret. The root word is ametameletos. It means not repentant of, unregretted. It is only used twice in the New Testament. In this passage and in Romans 11:29. This verse could be rendered. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation affording supreme joy.

Joy. Joy even amongst sorrow.

EARNED!

This past weekend TNT was showing Saving Private Ryan and The Patriot. I call those justice movies. Movies like Braveheart and Gladiator would be included as well. I have seen the movie Saving Private Ryan several times but I never grasped the final battle until now.

Throughout the movie Tom Hanks plays the captain and in the middle of the movie is rationalizing death and life of his fellow men. This is the night they were explaining the mission. A profound statement was said that the man is the mission. Captain went on to say that he better cure cancer and do something great. He said that because essentially he is risking his life for the life of another man. That was the mission.

The image above is the final scene where Captain Miller and Private James Francis Ryan meet on the battle field. Captain Miller's last words, "earn it."

For Christ also suffered once for sins,
the righteous for the unrighteous,
that he might bring us to God,
being put to death in the flesh
but made alive in the spirit,
1 Peter 3:18

He also came to call sinners to repent. To turn from a life that will bring separation from God. To turn to Him "...the Way, the Truth, the Life."

For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only Son,
that whoever believes in him should not
perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world
to condemn the world, but in order
that the world might be saved through him.
John 3:16,17

We have a Samaritan woman who comes to draw water in the middle of the day. Jesus ask her to give him a drink. She is confused because his a Jew and she is not. Beyond the confusion, He tells her about her past and that a time is coming when worship will not be geographical. A time when worshipers will worship "...in spirit and in truth."

The woman leaves and tell the town to come see Jesus. The town's people response to the woman.
They said to the woman, "It is no longer
because of what you said that we believe,
for we have heard for ourselves,
and we know that this is indeed
the Savior of the world."
John 4:42

Again in John 12.

If anyone hears my words and does not keep them,
I do not judge him;
for I did not come to judge the world
but to save the world.
John 12:47

We are enemies of God because of sin. Sin separates us from God because God is holy.

He is the propitiation
for our sins, and not for
ours only
but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 2:2

I love the word propitiation. It is not a theological term that only theologians should know. It means the wrath of God the we are suppose to receive because we have sinned against a Holy God is put upon Jesus.

In this is love, not that we have
loved God but that he loved us
and sent his Son to be the
propitiation for our sins....And we have seen and testify that
the Father has sent his Son
to be the Savior of the world.
1 John 4:10,14

When Captain Miller said "earn it," to Private James Francis Ryan he remembered that until the day he died. The next scene in the movie shows him and his family. He was uneasy in bringing his wife, children and grand-children. A now older James Ryan cries to his wife and asked her if he was a good man. He wanted to earn it.

Jesus's last words.

I thirst.
John 19:28

It is finished.
John 19:30

THREE DOCTORS!

His name is Carlos (not real name). He received his doctorate of medical practice over in Cuba. He is very articulate. He finished the top of his class. He has a sub-specialty as well. This same man is working as certified nursing assistant (CNA) in the United States.

Is there a digression of profession?

Fundamentally no, no one is over-qualified to work. He understands that he needs to feed his family when they came to Florida. His understanding brought about a great deal of humility. It is hard to realize the complexity of that decision without further knowledge of the closed door.

I bring up Carlos because I confess I was rude and uncaring. I was playing "gatekeeper". Also, I asked him who sent him and when did our ADON call. He answered both questions wrong, which I proceeded to tell him of that fact. For some even with the wrong information I still made the walk-in arrangement. After the meeting, I received his resume and saw all of the above listed facts. I can only think of humility and/or humiliation.

And being found
in human form, he humbled himself
by
becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:8

I understand Carlos is not Jesus. It takes humility in form to go from a physician to nurse aide.

His name is Paul. He received his M.D. in South India. He is a missionary, specifically medical missions. He explained to me all the missionary journeys he has been on and how to evangelize to Hindus. He explained the differences between north and south Indian food. He even showed me how to start a church overseas. In the way he explained it, it take years of serving the community before you build a building. Serve the community until they ask why.

9 Therefore God has highly
exalted him and bestowed
on him the name
that is above every
name, 10 so that at
the name of Jesus
every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:9-11

Therefore, Jesus in his obedience was exalted. Exalted above every name. He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Jesus echoes this in John 17.

1 When Jesus had spoken
these words, he lifted
up his eyes to
heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come;
glorify your Son that
the Son may glorify you,
2 since you have given
him authority over all flesh,
to give eternal life
to all whom
you have given him.
3 And this is eternal life,
that they know you
the only true God,
and Jesus Christ whom you
have sent. 4 I glorified you on
earth, having accomplished the work
that you gave me to do.
5 And now, Father, glorify me
in your own presence
with the glory that I had
with you before the world existed.
John 17:1-5

Paul continues his admonition to the church of Philippi after talking about Jesus in his humility was given full authority. He speaks to the church in regard to their obedience. In the open statement to the beloved he speaks to their integrity of heart then to their integrity of behavior in the world.

12 Therefore, my beloved,
as you have always obeyed,
so now, not only as in my presence
but much more in my absence,
work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling,
13 for it is God
who works in you,
both to will and to work
for his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without
grumbling or questioning, 15 that you
may be blameless and innocent,
children of God without blemish
in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation,
among whom you shine as lights
in the world,
16 holding fast to the word of life,
so that in the day of Christ
I may be proud that
I did not run in vain or
labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be
poured out as a drink offering
upon the sacrificial offering of your faith,
I am glad and rejoice with you all.
18 Likewise you also should be
glad and rejoice with me.
Philippians 2:12-18

Dr. Babu Paul was helpful in having me see that we are to be lights in the world. There are times when may want to complain like an Israelite but remember you want to do all things for the glory of God. You want to help the sick. You want to help the poor. You want to, not have to.

Luke as Colossians 4:14 says, "Luke the beloved physician..." wrote by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit Luke and the book of Acts. We have an observation by the physician in Luke 5.

27 After this he went out
and saw a tax collector named
Levi, sitting at the tax booth.
And he said to him, "Follow me."
28 And leaving everything,
he rose and followed him.


29 And Levi made him a great feast
in his house, and there was a
large company of tax collectors
and others reclining at table with them.
30 And the Pharisees and their scribes
grumbled at his disciples,
saying, "Why do you eat and drink
with tax collectors and sinners?"
31 And Jesus answered them, "Those who are
well have no need of a physician,
but those who are sick.
32 I have not come
to call the righteous
but sinners to repentance."
Luke 5:27-32

Don't play gatekeeper for the True Physician.

Send the sick and faint of heart to the True Physician.

Don't let the religious company distract you from the Beauty of Jesus Christ.

ANTICIPATION!

It was great. I found out that Jason Upton was coming to Fort Lauderdale. I have been listening to his music exclusive for 9 months straight. I bought my tickets online in June and was anticipating the tickets would be sold out.

The concert was held at the church called, "Church of the Healing Rain." The church is fairly small looking on the outside and looking from the perspective of going to a church that has over twenty thousand people. The people were friendly but that is not why I went there. I was ready. I purchased my ticket in advance. Finally, the time came as I walk into the sanctuary that Jason Upton walk out on the stage toward his Korg piano. There were a total of 4 on the stage. A drummer, electric guitarist, bass and Jason Upton on the keyboard.

I couldn't help it. I couldn't help but to cry through the first song. I was trying to understand such great emotion that came over me. Was it the anticipation has finally settled? Was it that my favorite song was played first? Or was it the feeling of expectancy in the room that brought me to tears?

"Jesus wept."
John 11:35

Jesus is expressing a feeling. Not only did Jesus weep, but he was hungry and thirsty and tired. Yes, Jesus is the one mediator between God and man. Jesus.

"When Mary came to
the place where Jesus
was and saw Him,
she dropped down at His feet,
saying to Him, Lord,
if You had been here,
my brother would not have died."
- John 11:32

Martha in verse 21 said the very same thing. Martha heard directly from Jesus that he is the Resurrection and the Life. That your brother will rise and not when you anticipate. Martha is the one that tells Mary the Teacher is close and is asking for you. Mary proceeds "...if you had been here, my brother would not have died." It is important to get into the scriptures and feel how Mary and Martha are feeling. It is a sober setting. Sober due to death of a brother. Sober due to expectations of Jesus not being there. Just a thought, there is probably disbelief that he actually died considering the nature of the relationship with Jesus.

"Jesus wept."
John 11:35

Then.

"The Jews said,
See how [tenderly] He loved him!
But some of them
said, Could not He Who
opened a blind man's eyes
have prevented this man from dying?"
John 11:36,37 AMP

I was always told that Jesus wept because of the unbelief of the people present. The Scriptures need to take complete and utter precedence over what scholars, theologians or anyone thinks. In verse 37, we have a peculiar question.

Could not He Who opened a blind man's eyes have prevented this man from dying?
In KJV, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man would not have died?

When some of them said, could not this man, the greek word is houtos. Literally, meaning this. Houtos is used in both instances of this verse. Meaning some of them, are questioning Jesus's authority to heal the blind man. Furthermore, if Jesus really did open the blind man's eyes then Lazarus would not have died. How audacious? If I understand that question correctly, some of the Jews are question Jesus Christ, their coming Messiah, who is right in front of them and yet did not believe.

The occurrence of the man who was born blind is in John 9. The Jews did not see again what was right in front of them. I have always pondered their unbelief. Did they anticipate a different coming?

Jesus wept.

I wept because people in the room at the Jason Upton concert anticipated not a man playing guitar but another opportunity to worship God, this time in song and dance.


Believe God to do great things because He is God, not houtos.

TEMPLATE!

The image above is a piece of a whole template. The template I had ready access to is now in full display at cccfau.org. I find this template compelling due to the simplicity of color and of design. The attraction is the piece displayed above. I love that image. Slightly cloudy, emphasis on slight, and white light beaming through. In all of creation, I look for the evidences of grace. I seek out those things that bring glory to God or speak of His nature.

The image above is a piece of a whole template. There are times when we see the surface of an image but miss the texture. The characteristic appearance of the surface are Campus Crusade for Christ At Florida Atlantic University. Campus Crusade for Christ at FAU is a piece of a whole university.

The beauty of a piece or being apart of a whole template is that you have access to the whole. As a disciple of Christ and fellow member of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12), we have full access because of Jesus Christ. Jesus is our whole template. His birth, sinless life, humble death, glorious return on the third day and ascension to the right hand of the Father.

14For he himself is our peace,
who has made the two one
and has destroyed the barrier,
the dividing wall of hostility,
15by abolishing in his flesh
the law with its commandments and regulations.
His purpose was to create
in himself one new man
out of the two,
thus making peace,
16and in this one body
to reconcile both
of them
to God through the cross,
by which he put to death their hostility.
17He came and preached peace
to you who were far away
and peace to those
who were near. 18For through him
we both have access to the
Father by one Spirit.
Ephesians 2:14-18

One of my favorite New Testament books to read again and again is the book of Ephesians. Chapter 2 is probably my favorite chapter in that book. Paul continues in the first three chapters reminding them of the mystery of the gospel which is revealed in chapter 3. But in chapter 2, he reminds them of their position. That they were dead as dead dead.

"4But because of his great love for us,
God,
who is rich in mercy,"
Ephesians 2:4

Then continues an exposition on God is the one who raised Christ, God is the one who gives the gift of faith; and God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus which God again did in advance. Verse eleven has a "therefore" taking into consideration the previous context and bringing it together with division that current Jews and Gentiles have. Now Jesus's blood is what brings us near. Which leads to our passage, Christ brought us together. Christ reconciled a relationship that can only be repaired with perfection.

The beauty of template is that a foundation is already laid.

19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens,
but fellow citizens with God's people
and members of God's household,
20built on the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself
as the chief cornerstone.
21In him the whole building is
joined together and rises to
become a holy temple in the Lord.
22And in him you too are
being built together to
become a dwelling in which God
lives by his Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19-22

Let us remember, that the gospel of Jesus Christ is beautiful. It is where we receive joy and joy only comes from the Lord. Praise God for laying the foundation. Praise God for knowing ALL the details.

UNKNOWN

In the past week, I have been doing research on a health complications my dad is having at the moment. One thing that still remains from my research is that because the cause is unknown so also is the prevention unknown.

Even though there is active research, there are still no known causes. I have been reading through Ephesians and Colossians. In Ephesians 6 starting at verse 19 through 24.

19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
21Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.
23Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
Ephesians 6:19-24

Paul is writing to the church in Ephesus. In the last chapter, he talks about obedience then the full armor of God. That is where we start.

Paul says whenever he opens his mouth he wants to boldly make known the mystery of the gospel. In Ephesians 3, Paul expounds upon the mystery in verse 6.

6This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

For this gospel, the gospel that breaks that dividing wall of hostility, the gospel that has a chief cornerstone, the gospel that has Gentiles as heirs together with Israel and the gospel for which Paul is willing to die for not on the testimony of others but himself.

To be known by Christ.

14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Because the cause is known, so also is the prevention.

This photo is called old and new. This photo reminds me of Paul's second letter to the church of Corinth.

Therefore if anyone
is in Christ,
he is a new creature;
the old things
passed away;
behold,
new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Paul is encouraging the church by literally saying as a matter of fact that the old has passed away factually (parerchomai) and now is new or recently made or fresh or recent or unused or unworn.

Now all these
things are from God,
who reconciled us
to Himself through Christ
and gave us the
ministry of reconciliation,
2 Corinthians 5:18

It is all about Christ and that he gave us the ministry or service opportunity of exchange. Ministry is service. It is one who executes the commands of others. That is the ministry Christ gave us. Other centered focus on bringing people to Jesus.

namely,
that God was
in Christ reconciling
the world to Himself,
not counting their trespasses
against them, and He has committed
to us the word of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:19