A big thank you to all who have come along side me by following, commenting on, and sharing my blog. An extra thank you for those of you who have helped me write my blog and encouraged me in my writing, especially the great men (and a young woman!) at Proverbial Thought!
To see how it all started, you can go here, and for Proverbial Thought here and here (the second link being my first posting).
Praise God for my being so consistent, the relationships formed and strengthened, and for all that has come that glorifies His Name through this blog!
Yesterday was my little brother’s 28th birthday. I still think of him as a junior higher, perhaps 13 or 14 years old. That is now half his age! I can barely believe it!
This past Thursday, January 9, was my 14th Re-birthday. It was 14 years ago I first knelt down and declared I believed Jesus is my Savior and the Son of God. I was only a couple years older than how I still view my brother when that happened.
This all got me to thinking about something.
Some friends and I had a conversation about conversations a while back. It was all about the exclamation “Really?!”
The full context of this conversation was focused around what one of us had heard about friendly conversation and this one word. Asking this word after a friend or loved one makes a statement is the same as casting doubt on the validity of the statement.
It is one thing if the conversation goes like this:
“I just won a million dollars!”
“Wow! Really?!”
Winning a million dollars is not a typical occurrence in daily life. Shock and amazement with a little bit of doubt makes sense.
But when the conversation is more like this:
“I lost my phone today.”
“Really?”
In this context, it can said as any of the following:
Anger: “How could you do that again?”
Sarcasm: “This is such a surprise coming from you!”
Astonishment: “This just happened?”
And many others.
The underlying theme is that saying “Really?!” denotes disbelief or mistrust, or at worst it denotes aggression or animosity. And to be fair, most of us use the term in such a way as to say “Tell me more!”
In Jesus’ Name. Really?!
You are probably thinking about how often you say “Really?!” to people, and, if you are like we were, you are attempting to justify your use of the term and explain that you usually mean “Tell me more!”
Let me then ask you this, Christian believer: How do you live your life?
Do go around claiming your connection to your church and as a good Christian, yet those outside the Church look at your example of love and light and think “Is this person really ‘blameless and innocent, [a child] of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16, ESV)
Put another way, do they look at your life and say “Really?! That’s a Christ follower?” And they want to stay away from God because of your example?
Or do you go around sharing the good news of Christ as you live out His commands of love and sacrifice? Do those outside the Church look at your example of love and light and think, “Really?! This kind of thing is true? Tell me more!”
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test.
2 Corinthians 13:5-6, ESV
I would rather not start this year on a sour note, but this is a message that needs to be shared. It is based on several passages in the Bible, most importantly Hosea and Revelation 2:1-7.
unfaithful Bride
the Bride has proven unfaithful
She has turned to other lovers
but Her Bridegroom calls out
even now He still loves Her
repent of Your waywardness
turn back to the Lord O Church
You have forgotten Your first Love
turned away from the One Who gives You worth
O glorious Church who is His Bride
turn back to Jesus our Love
give up false teachings and lies
and return to our wonderful God
no longer be the unfaithful Bride
but give Yourself over to Him
His love does purify us wholly
and cleans off our adulterous sins
Seek wisdom and get a taste through the words shared at Proverbial Thought!
For the past week and a half I have been talking about why I do not like New Year’s Resolutions.
Here are some reasons why:
1. Resolutions are more like wishes personal wishes for the future. If you really want to stick to your desired goal, it is better to write out specifically what you ultimately want to achieve, sub-goals for marking progress and getting encouragement to continue, and have a support team.
2. We tend to approach resolutions more as guidelines for looking responsible than actually being responsible with our lives.
3. “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)
Why is number three Proverbs 16:3?
Because, along with my first two reasons, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9) We are always trying to do things we think are best for us, but we do not always seek God’s will for our decisions. Perhaps we fail at so many resolutions because we were trying to do something that either God has not ordained or in a way He has not ordained.
[“ordained” simply means sanctioned, permitted, or established]
Therefore, whether the resolution is to lose weight, change diet, quit smoking/drinking/some addiction, or anything of importance, it is best to seek God first. In fact, one of my favorite passages to quote about just about anything will help with this, as well:
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33
And I couple it with this:
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17
Whatever plans you have for this year, remember to always put Christ first. Seek out the will of the Father, act on His will, and always give thanks no matter the circumstances or results!
HAPPY NEW YEAR, AND MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY!
As I have discussed, I am not big on making New Year’s resolutions. I much prefer setting goals and meeting them.
That being said, here is today’s poem, inspired by this passage:
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
Luke 9:51, ESV
New Resolution
a new year has come around once again
and i see where i have fallen short
people are setting new resolutions
that last two weeks or one or two more
these resolutions do not make much sense
if they can barely get past the start
as Jesus resolutely turned His face
toward Jerusalem where He would die
i resolutely declare every day
i shall turn my face to His sacrifice
because Jesus resolved to take my place
giving my life to Him is worth the price
A friendly reminder to finish the year right with some wisdom as found at Proverbial Thought!
To close out this incredibly full year, I will keep it short and sweet and remember some things that happened in my life this year.
After 12 years of on-again-off-again work, I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Christian Leadership from Grand Canyon University. My journey started after high school, naturally, when I attended a semester at Olivet Nazarene University. A year after that I took some classes at Heartland Community College, took a year off before taking some more, and then taking another year off before getting a few more classes in. After getting married in 2009, I was accepted that fall to GCU’s online program doing one class at a time with only 3-4 weeks off from class each year!
The day after I finished my final class, my wife and I found out we were getting our house! It took five months to get through the financial process and two months of restoration before we could move in this past September.
We moved in one month into my first semester in graduate school, working on my Masters of Divinity in Biblical Communication. Graduate school is not easy! But I got through the first semester, and Caitlin took a class with me!
In January I was ordained.
In May I officiated my first wedding … for my sister-in-law!
I went to San Diego for the first time (with our youth group).
I signed with a talent agency for acting and modeling (weird, I know).
This was a crazy year.
However, God has taken the opportunity to work in my life through all of this.
He has taught me a deeper patience with people.
He has taught me the importance of Sabbath rest.
He has taught me the importance of gratefulness: to Him and to others, especially others.
He reminded me of the importance of trusting His sufficiency as we paid rent and mortgage for four months, two of which without income!
He reminded me of His grace as He imparted more grace through me.
He filled my wife and me with more peace, patience, and hope than we could understand during a crazy year of change!
Tonight as we host a New Year’s Eve get together in our new house, God will get that special place of honor in all of our interactions.
If you want a resolution for the new year, try this one: to walk closer with Christ each day.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness …” (Matthew 6:33)
For this next year,
The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.
It is Christmas Eve! Tomorrow we celebrate God stepping into the time to redeem His Creation. There is no better explanation of that act than today’s song.
It is at least 300 years old and may be older than that. I have not been able to find verifiable information, but I have heard that it was written by a priest who was concerned with how much of the gospel message the average person actually knew. Therefore, he put the lyrics to a tune that could be heard in many pubs.
God rest you merry, gentlemen.
Let nothing you dismay.
Remember, Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
In Bethlehem, in Israel,
This blessed Babe was born
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessed morn
The which His Mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn
O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
From God our Heavenly Father
A blessed Angel came;
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by Name.
O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
“Fear not then,” said the Angel,
“Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Savior
Of a pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan’s power and might.”
O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind:
And went to Bethlehem straightway
The Son of God to find.
O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
And when they came to Bethlehem
Where our dear Savior lay,
They found Him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His Mother Mary kneeling down,
Unto the Lord did pray.
O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
Why I like this carol …
My first liking is that it tells the birth story of Jesus. It reminds us of the hope we have in His life and death, that He came “to save us all from Satan’s power when we had gone astray.”
My second liking comes from the title, which really means “God keep/make you joyful/content/hopeful/happy, people of God”. That is some paraphrasing on my part, but it is based on literal meanings of the words “rest” and “merry”.
This song is a reminder that God did not wait for us to achieve the impossible or seek Him out. He came to us, He redeemed us with His own life and blood, and He will return to redeem all of Creation. We should be joyful and hopeful knowing that our Lord wins and has won. He came and will come again!
Merry Christmas – Almost literally, “Joy comes from Christ’s suffering.”
Remember that is what “Merry Christmas” means, for the Christ-Mass, is the remembrance that Jesus Christ was born that He may die to bring us second birth … and He will come again!
Worship God through wisdom, some of which can be found at Proverbial Thought!
Seeing as this week we celebrate Christmas, let us do what the Magi did. Christmas is a time to remember the coming of Christ, the first time when He came to die and the second time when He returns to make all things new.
That deserves our awe, admiration, and worship.
i only want to worship You
i only want to worship You
You are the only One worthy
i cannot help but worship
for Your matchless love compels me
i will worship You every moment
through my actions and speech
i will worship You alone
until Your glory is all i see
i will worship the One True God
for You are all i need
i only want to worship You
for all of eternity
We continue looking at some of my favorite Christmas Carols and why.
I have taken us through several songs and poems which have touched my life in some way, but honestly it is most Christmas carols and many Christmas songs that impact my life by simply being about Christmas and, specifically, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
That is why there is the ever-slightest shift this week.
The carol this week did not have a dramatic impact on my life, but it certainly begins to explain some of what I feel and believe.
O Come All Ye Faithful
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
O Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing all that hear in heaven God’s holy word.
Give to our Father glory in the Highest;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
All Hail! Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
O Jesus! for evermore be Thy name adored.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
Why I Like This Carol …
… is that it is a call to celebration and worship.
There is something inherently joyous and celebratory about it, many times because the music is very upbeat and celebratory. Regardless of the music, those words just draw all focus to Jesus. They are a call to sing and celebrate the Savior of the world. They are a call to worship the Lord of all.
Join with me in celebrating and worshiping our God who saves us!
Do we truly love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths? Maybe I can help with the mind part, at least! This is Daniel M. Klem, apparent poet, reluctant yet passionate Disciple (Peter?), and foolish man attempting to understand theology!
a simple man of God 