Posts Tagged ‘ Daniel Klem ’

Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 12/02/2012

Sometimes theology is more than attempting to describe attributes of God and the Christian life. In fact, all of the time it is important to praise God for who He is and what He has done.

The poem for today is just that, a celebration of what He has made. As some friends and I were watching a sunset from the side of a mountain over a beautiful glade in the northern part of Arizona, I said, “I wish I had a camera to catch this beauty.” My friend exclaimed quietly, “You do! Mister poet, use your words!” So I did:

Sunset Point

Purple mountain majesty does not begin explain
the sunlight pouring over mountains and shining through the rain.
The darkness of the east encroaching on the horizon,
with impossible rainbows reminding of promises of God.
The mountainsides glistening in the refreshing drizzle,
and the setting sunlight refracting through each sprinkle.
The sun glowing red as it sinks lower in the sky;
The blues, reds, and purples of clouds reflecting the shine.
With the edge of the clouds nearing the far off peaks,
and rain leaking from them making it hard to speak.
The curl towards the sunset seems as an eyelid closing
and the sun going down beneath make it look as if God were dozing;
closing His eyes at the end of another beautiful day,
revealing His majesty in the blues, oranges, reds, and grays.
The hills beneath the sky rolling under the searing light
with the gently falling rain creating the most amazing sight.
The greens and browns temporarily alit with rainbows
make the scene shine all the more wonderful.
Towering mountains and cumulonimbus
overwhelming all of the senses;
the smell of the rain, the sounds of the wind in the trees,
the feel and sight of creation moving mightily.
Catching a sunset over the prominent mountains
and seeing God in the masterpiece of His Creation,
moving the hardest heart to stop and ponder
the beauty of this amazing natural wonder.
No human paintbrush could ever invent
the colorful palate of this environment.
No human mind would ever conceive
the rays sifting through rain and trees,
changing the landscape each passing moment
into a more breathtaking wonderment.
God barely trying in His fanciful play,
moving light through the falling spray
makes a more picturesque scene
than any man could ever hope to dream.
His creation proving to be far superior
to anything man has tried to manufacture.
The jutting peaks poking into floating clouds
with rain and sunlight falling mingled down,
and trees and grass and sand down below
expertly catching every delicate blow.
As the sun finally disappears behind the hills,
like seeing the dust fly up from God’s doorsill,
is the last drops of rain skipping off the light beams,
and the clouds and earth coming together to meet.
As the darkness overtakes the sky and terrain,
and the clouds block out the sun’s final rays,
the rain begins to slow and then diminish
and the day come to an end in a glorious finish.

Taken from deeper words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m  klem, pages 210-220.

Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 11/25/2012

Here is another reminder to get your daily dose of wisdom from Proverbial Thought. Seriously, sign up to receive updates if you have not already!

Speaking of being thankful, this poem fits in … probably not the way most people immediately assume, if ever.

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:19-20

The poem is also based on this other passage from Paul:

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:8-10

“I am finding that I am thankful
for my faults.”

filled with faults

every person is filled with faults
i used to complain about them
why would God make us suffer
because of faults we have
i am finding that more and more
i am thankful for my faults
they remind me to be humble
to see that i need Him and others
they teach me to overcome
with Christ fighting for me
there is nothing that can defeat me
i understand it all now that
it is okay to be filled with faults
they are actually gifts from God

Taken from deeper words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m  klem, page 209.

Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 11/18/2012

Head on over to Proverbial Thought for your daily dose of wisdom!

It might be hard to guess (*sarcasm*), but the poem today was written during a period in my life when I was coming back to God and is based on the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

It is amazing to think that God not only waits on us to come to Him, but He runs after us to hold us in His arms.

embraced me

i ran away
was stolen from You
by my choices
by my life
by the one who could
me

yet

       as i ran back to You
You ran up to me
You sought me the whole time
not waiting for me
to come back
and when we met
Your eyes filled with Love
Your voice filled with gratitude
that i came home
but most importantly
You embraced me
took me as i was
Your arms were filled
with me

You never want to let me go

Taken from deeper words of God from a simple man of God by daniel m  klem, page 202.

Reblog: The Church of No People – I Don’t Have a Relationship, I Have Rules

Matt Appling is at it again over at his blog The Church of No People. I spent the better part of a year living by the rule “I don’t have a religion, I have a relationship!” To see roughly (probably even exactly) where I stand today, you can read my post from last year here, or head on over to Matt’s site and read his words:

I Don’t Have a Relationship, I Have Rules

Christians like to say that we have “relationship.”relationship

Not rules.

Not religion.

While “rules” or “religion” have connotations of stuffy, outdated, legalistic, overbearing control, relationship seems to open and inviting, doesn’t it? While the former might carry the image of an angry nun with a ruler, ready to rap your knuckles, the latter looks like Jesus holding his arms out for a big bear hug.

If there’s one phrase modern Christianity has embraced, it’s that one.  We have moved past religion, and now we have relationship.

And I wonder how much damage that phrase has caused to the relationship we have with God.

Continue reading over at Matt’s Church of No People …

Remembrance of Veterans

This past weekend saw celebrations in many nations for those who have served in the military. Whether it is called Veterans’ Day, Armistice Day, or Remembrance Day, this is a time to recall those heroes who have served, fought, and even died in the service of country and/or freedom.

This is good. We should remember those who have gone before and fought for freedom.

But, dear Christian, there are more who are at least as deserving if not more deserving of remembrance.

Hebrews 11 reminds us of some heroes:

  • Abel
  • Enoch
  • Noah
  • Abraham
  • Isaac
  • Jacob
  • Joseph
  • Moses
  • Gideon
  • Barak
  • Samson
  • Jephthah
  • David
  • Samuel
  • the Prophets

These were people who stood firm for God and laid the framework for the coming Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth.

Yet, there are more!

The New Testament has a list of heroes:

  • John, the Baptizer
  • Simon Peter
  • Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother
  • James, son of Zebedee
  • John, James’ brother
  • Philip
  • Bartholomew
  • Thomas
  • Matthew
  • James
  • Thaddeus
  • Simon the zealot
  • Matthias
  • Mary
  • Paul
  • Stephen
  • Barnabas
  • Mark
  • Luke
  • Philip
  • Procorus
  • Nicanor
  • Timon
  • Parmenas
  • Nicolas
  • Lydia
  • Priscilla
  • Aquilas
  • Phoebe
  • And many, many more!

Notice there are even women listed! If we dug through the Old Testament we would find more women, such as Ruth, Esther, and Deborah, to name but a few.

We need to also remember history since the end of the First Century, those who have carried the Church forward:

  • Augustine
  • Eusebius
  • Tertullian
  • Jerome
  • Origen
  • Pelagius
  • Francis of Assisi
  • Martin Luther
  • John Calvin
  • Loyola
  • Joan of Arc
  • John Wesley
  • C.S. Lewis
  • Martin Luther King, Jr.
  • Mother Teresa
Just to name a very few.
We need to remember these names and so many others for the work they have done to push the Gospel further into the world, deeper into our hearts, and on into the future until the return of our Lord.
Church history is important. We need to know about the ancient past, the past 2000 years, and recent leaders. We need to know why so many things are important.
Too much of recent Church history was resolved in the first few hundred years of Church history, but we have turned our backs on these giants of the faith.
Many recent Church problems have arisen largely due to an ignorance of what has come before.
Some of the time our ignorance of what has been discussed leads to problems.
Some of the time our ignorance of what has been done and why leads to problems.
Most of the time our ignorance of each other leads to problems.
Every time our ignorance of God leads to problems.
We get so focused on our differences that we lose focus of what has come before and who God is.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
Hebrews 12:1-8

Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 11/11/2012

Forgiveness is a sticky issue. For many on this particular day, Veterans Day (US), it can be hard. Asking someone to forgive those who have sent loved ones into harms way or those who raised/created a weapon that killed a loved one is hard.

We also seem to find it hard to forgive those who have lied to us, stolen from us, cut us off in traffic, or take too long at the grocery check out.

As is often said in Proverbs, it is all because of pride. (Speaking of which, do not forget about Proverbial Thought!)

seeking forgiveness

i sought forgiveness from You
now i must humble myself more
and seek forgiveness from others
then as i seek more forgiveness
i must also turn and forgive
as i learn how to forgive
it is because of forgiveness
the forgiveness of the others
and becoming more humble
as i seek forgiveness from You

thank You

my Lord

Taken from deeper words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m  klem, page 195.

Reblog: Christian, Is Your HOPE in Political CHANGE?

I think Jason hit the nail on the head with this one. I know I for one have been frustrated with many brothers and sisters in Christ, so it helps knowing I am not alone!

Perhaps you feel the same. Perhaps you will feel convicted by this. In any event, this is a word of wisdom through Jason.

Christian, Is Your HOPE In Political CHANGE?

Last night I thought Twitter and Facebook were going to literally explode. I watched the election results like many Americans.  Personally, I voted differently than the results played out last night.  I was disappointed.

I was also disheartened.  I wasn’t disheartened by Barack Obama winning (I voted for Romney).  I wasn’t disheartened by the legalization of marijuana in Washington and Colorado (I think this is a big mistake for those states).  I wasn’t disheartened that Maine and Maryland voted to approve gay marriage (Although, I was deeply grieved that traditional marriage was dealt such a big blow).

Can I tell you why I was disheartened?  Believers in Jesus were despairing.

Continue reading here.

Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 11/04/2012

Two things:

a) Are you in a place where you need to set your clocks back an hour? Today is that day, my friends!
2) Do not forget to find some wisdom over at Proverbial Thought!

There is a constant struggle we endure, or at least that we should endure. A problem with many in the Church today is that they either never inspect their lives or do not go deep enough.

Where is your heart?

Are you more concerned with what the world thinks, or are you more concerned with what God thinks?

is my heart right

I cry out,

“Lord!”

“Lord!”

But is my heart right?

Am I going to be with You,

Or are You going to say

“I never knew you!”

O, my Lord,

Redeem my spirit from the pit.

Redeem my spirit from myself!

Teach my heart to seek You.

Teach my soul to yearn for You.

Lord,

Do not let me walk that broad path,

Thinking I am on the narrow path,

Just because I am calling You Lord.

Do not forget me.

Keep me from following my self.

Help me to always listen.

Thank You for Your Love.

Taken from deeper words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m  klem, page 186.

Reblog: Give Us A King … er, President – Church of No People

I read this from Matt Appling’s blog, The Church of No People.

It was so good I had to send it along. Head on over to read the rest!

 

Give Us a King…er, President

November 2, 2012

 

Just one more weekend to go…white-house-south-2007-dj

…Many of us have rested many hopes on the shoulders of one man or the other.

We assure ourselves that if only the right man is elected, then our troubles will be erased:

We will have more money.

We will enjoy more opportunities.

We will be safer and more secure.

We will be happier.

Catch the rest at The Church of No People …

Back from the Dead: Back from the Dead – A Repost

As I said last week, I am taking a break from the blog to recuperate from much school, work (at a school!), and ministry. Here is a reminder that there is great wisdom to be found at Proverbial Thought. The post for today comes from November 1, 2011. It seemed a good idea for the holidays celebrated this week!

Back from the Dead

Today is All Saints Day, Day of the Dead or Dia de los Muertos, All Hallows, or Hallowmas. No matter what it is called, today is a day that celebrates those who have come before and moved on to the next life. No matter the history of today and Halloween (All Hallows Eve, the day before All Hallows/Hallowmas … think what Christmas Eve is to Christmas), there is a rich history all over the world of honoring or venerating the dead.

I will not get into whether or not it is okay or even good to do such things or celebrate holidays here. That is for later.

I want to discuss death.

The picture I have above is from the website zombiejesus.com, and it is definitely satirical but not theologically sound. They quote two verses from the Bible:

1) He came back from the dead Acts 2:24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him

2) He encourages zombie like behavior John 6:53 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have  no life in you”

As someone said elsewhere, “While precocious PKs (Pastor’s Kids) may try to pull off the Zombie Jesus costume, passionately asserting that Jesus did rise from the dead, a quick-witted parent will counter that He did NOT, however, rise from the UNdead.” The point: A zombie is the walking dead; Jesus defeated death. Zombies are in a state of perpetual death, never satisfied and never resting; Jesus was freed “from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him” and satisfies all our needs and gives us rest.

I have to point out that it should be “zombie-like,” with a hyphen. Other than nitpicking grammar, zombies do not drink blood. That is vampires. Therefore, they would have to include that Jesus is a Vampire. However, they are both undead creatures.

Ooh! There is a good point. These things are still creatures – CREATED THINGS! Jesus is not created, He is “begotten” or comes directly from God and IS GOD!

Moving on, I actually agree with this point for the humor-value (after fixing the small grammar issue), especially seeing as this very point is what kept many from becoming Christians in the first few centuries of the Church’s temporal existence. Though it is misguided, since we eat bread as Christ’s body and drink wine/juice/water as Christ’s blood.

Jesus is not a Zombie.

You might still here me (if you know me personally) occasionally refer to Christian Zombies, but it is slightly different (but only slightly).

Also, do not worship the dead or pray to them in the sense that you expect them to actually help you. They might hear you ask them to speak to God on your behalf, but if they do hear prayers (pray essentially means “ask”) I must confess to not thinking it matters much (sorry Catholic friends and family, but I have a point). We have a mediator: Jesus Christ. As I said above, He is God and is our connection to God through the Holy Spirit.