Posts Tagged ‘ Daniel Klem ’
For the Mothers out there:
I linked to this on facebook a couple of weeks ago, but it needs to be shared again.
Thanks, mom!
Thanks, Moms!
First of all, HAPPY MOTHERS’ DAY to all of you mothers out there! Do not forget to honor your mother(s) not only today but every day. Also do not forget to call your mother (or other mothers/mother-figures) today!
Have you heard that song by Bluetree (and now other artists) called “God of This City“?
I wrote a poem about five years ago that follows the same thought. We have been called to be a city on a hill, a light that shines for all to see.
Your City
We want to see a city set up;
A city established for Your Name.
Where is the place for Your Glory?
Where do we go to see Your Face?
You have called us to be Your light.
We are to be Your city on a hill.
With a singular vision through Your Grace
We become a people after Your Will.
When we are focused on Your Life
We are a light shining on Your Earth.
We can be Your Holy City of God
Shining throughout the universe.
Taken from deeper words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m klem, page 61.
For more than a week I have been sick with a cold. It is rather miserable, but if this is the biggest of my worries then life is pretty good.
Now for an intimate confession.
In this last week I also had to confess to my wife that in my tiredness and even exhaustion from work, ministry, and school, I have struggled with lust for the past few weeks. This is something that was “defeated” years ago, so you can imagine my surprise to finding it an issue. The thing that usually brought me back to my senses was the thought of my wife.
When I got sick enough to have to miss work last week, I had a lot of time to focus on prayer. One of my prayers was “Lord, there is so much going on in life. I do not need this temptation attacking me again. Take me back to that place of repentance, learning what it really means. Help me daily to defeat this lust.”
Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, I had trouble sleeping due to my congestion and headaches, but I had a lot of dreams. They were interesting and even silly, and I woke myself (and my wife) up because of acting out the end (running) and talking out loud.
Throughout, however, I kept hearing this one line, kind of like from the movie-voice-over guy:
“The one who bites your skin is dead.”
I did not know what it meant. It made absolutely no sense to me, whatsoever. Simultaneously, I was tired and disoriented from my head cold-induced dream-filled, sleep-deprived night.
It was not until Saturday night (after watching The Avengers!) that it finally occurred to me.
When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”[g]
“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”[h]The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:54-57
Firstly, God definitely heard my prayer. My lust has not been a problem since last week.
The initial thought is not a sin. Entertaining the thought and then acting on the thought is a sin. Yes, our thoughts can be a sin, but only when we dwell on them.
God has given me the way out promised, but He has also given me His strength and healing.
Secondly, I was reminded of this passage.
It is through Jesus Christ we have victory! Our Lord and God deserves all the praise.
Also, I have little problem with universalists, but this is one of their prized passages showing all people will enter paradise someday. However, this is written to believers. If I were to write a letter to my youth group saying “we all get to go on a retreat this summer because the fee has been paid,” everyone not in the youth group (children, adults, non-attendees/people from other churches) who read the letter and assumed they were going would be understandably laughed at (in love, of course) as misunderstanding the context. I firmly believe this to be the case.
(I do not “laugh at” universalists because I disagree with them. They are still brothers and sisters in Christ unless God says otherwise or their conduct proves otherwise. In fact, I understand where they are coming from, but I think they are missing the full context. I know there are times I do the same, so I have grace as I know our Lord does.)
However, this is not the point of today’s posting. This is:
We have freedom from sin through our Lord’s sacrifice, and He gives us the strength to endure temptation.
At the end of history we will be free from temptation, and our Lord can help us with temptation during this life. But we must also remember we will have temptation in this life. We were never promised freedom from temptation until Christ Jesus returns in glory.
I am evidence that we still fail. Peter and Paul admitted to failing. This is why we are told to take every thought captive. I failed for a time, but our God is full of grace and mercy.
Do you trust God to help you? Do you believe He has enough grace and forgiveness for you?
He does.
It may be hard to believe at times, but He helps our faith grow through practice and endurance.
Endure, brothers and sisters.
Interestingly enough, today’s post was prepared before I went on the Men’s Retreat and before I prepared this last week’s posting.
I wrote this poem the same day I received my work evaluation at Sign*A*Rama. This was also a month before I lost that job, and I still think God played a role in my losing that job. (I also take responsibility for my own faults) This is a poem about living for God and not this world.
ultimate evaluation
at work we get evaluations
usually to recap how we’re doing
sometimes we get promotions
sometimes we go packing
the evaluation we need to work for
won’t be seen until we’re fired from life
this evaluation comes from the Lord
will we spend eternity in darkness or light
as we work towards this holy end
we need to ensure we are good with God
when we reach this ultimate evaluation
have we been living for the Blood
Taken from deeper words for God from a simple man of Godby daniel m klem, page 57.
First of all, a reminder to head on over to Proverbial Thought. Amazing commentary on Proverbs that blows my mind every day is sure to be a blessing to you. Read Pastor Baker’s words for today, and make sure to catch mine tomorrow. Again, every contributor is amazing (apparently even this simple man), but only because of the Amazing One who dwells within us!
A week ago last weekend I joined many men from my church and many other churches at a Men’s Retreat. Out of 27 churches, less than a handful were not affiliated with any Baptist denomination.
I tell you that simply for this reason:
Some of the young men from our little church (including myself) decided to go play a game of cards and talk with each other. As we sat down, I jokingly said, “Guys, we can’t play cards! We are in a Baptist camp surrounded by Baptists!”
Now, keep in mind that we were not gambling. We were just playing a card game and talking, often needing to remind each other to actually play the game!
About an hour later, a man we dubbed “Squirrel-Hat Guy” because of a squirrel tail hanging from the back of his hat came up to our table. He asked “Are you all from the same church?”
“Yes.”
“What church are you from?”
“FHL – Faith, Hope, Love Community.”
“That explains a lot.”
And he walked away. (He did the exact same thing to another table of young men several feet away.)
We were kind of stunned.
A couple guys asked “Were we just judged?” There was some joking about asking him about his hat or asking what church he came with and then saying “That explains a lot.”
I later thought about more …
But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
“Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!
Matthew 18:6-7
Had I not warned them, albeit through a joke, that we might stir up trouble? Had we not willingly continued on a path knowing it might lead to others stumbling?
Who was more guilty here?
Granted, Squirrel-Hat Guy could have handled the situation better.
Granted, we could have played our games somewhere less likely to attract so much attention.
However, both parties (all three parties) involved could have controlled themselves better. Though we had the freedom to play a card game, we could have heeded my joking warning and done something different:
Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. . . . So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
1 Corinthians 8:9, 11
And we could have done a better job of following the verse that says “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:22, KJV)
Further, he may not have been judging us for playing cards. He could have just thought we were playing the wrong kind of card game or were playing it like a bunch of n00bs!
In any event, while both parties are guilty of something, we definitely take the larger portion, for we set up the circumstance and then even continued to judge the perceived judger.
Now ask yourself:
How might I be causing others to sin/stumble?
How am I judging others, whether accurately or unfairly?
How do I lift up others?
How do I share God’s love and grace?
We are called to not judge, but to love unconditionally. I obviously still fail, but it just helps prove to you that I am a fellow human!
May we learn to rely on our risen Lord to make us ever more like Him, that we might love and give grace without making judgments. May we just love as He loves.
Today’s poem, I think, is fitting for the month of Easter/Resurrection Sunday. Perhaps it would have worked better on the actual day, but a) I am doing my best to post poems from the book in order (though not all of the poems will be posted) and b) the Resurrection is celebrated every Sunday! So there!
Prodigal
All of creation at our disposal
Through our actions, deserve Your refusal
Thousands of years in disobedience
Living in sin, refusing repentance
With all of Your judges, leaders, and prophets
All of mankind never really getting it
Then You made a way to get into heaven
All that we need in being forgiven
Born again by faith in the Messiah
And a Spirit to lead and guide us
Through a death we are redeemed
Through new life we join Your team
The crucifixion showed us Your love
The resurrection invites us to live for above
With a new hope and covenant
We are shown a future of grace abundant
Take our lives and bring us home
Help us build up Your earthly Kingdom
Taken from deeper words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m klem, page 54.
Last week I offered some commentary on some of the turmoil caused over the Trayvon Martin shooting. The truth is that, while a lot of what I said was looking at Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, it was about so much more. Honestly, those two demonstrate symptoms of underlying currents of various other problems in this nation.
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Romans 1:28-32
This is a story about our world, our nation … me.
I readily admit that, even though I may be quite amazing, I am really messed up without Christ.
I first believed in Jesus Christ as Lord in 2000. I had a lot of ups and downs in my walk with Christ. In 2003, I met a young woman. Our relationship also had a lot of ups and downs. I let her get between me and God. I let me get between me and God.
I became worse than I was before I first believed.
I made a lot of bad choices during this time: in my relationships, at work, with church.
I became a gossip.
I would share stories with more or less actual relation to reality than the true events.
I would cheat and steal.
I even considered cheating on that young woman on a few occasions.
I even considered suicide once.
I became cool, but people began liking me less. I became the life of the party, but I began caring less about people. I was a great listener, but I gave myself over to all sorts of the things listed in the passage above. I actually led people away from God and celebrated very sinful things.
I was just like most of our world.
Look around. Are Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton the problem with our nation?
They get attention, because we willingly give it to them. We listen to people who cause more division than peace, because (though we may not always admit it) we enjoy the division.
It makes for great stories. We get to feel involved. We get to know the dirt on others. We get to share our opinions.
We like to entertain ourselves. We like to feel important. We like to have power. We like people paying attention to us.
Al and Jesse are not the problem. The problem is that the Church has not done what it should.
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:1-5
We are all called to seek and save the lost (see Matthew 28:18-20) and lift each other up in the Lord.
The problem is not Al and Jesse. It is not people killing each other. It is not people saying and doing horrible things to each other (or not doing good things, even).
The problem is I want to be the one in charge. We each want to be God. We each want to run the Church.
How about we let God do that?
I worked at a Sign*A*Rama when my brother turned 21. This is important, because one of my co-workers was the brother of the marketing director at the local arena where our local hockey team played. My brother enjoys a good game of hockey, and my co-worker’s sister was able to work out a deal for me to get four tickets to a game. This game had a concert afterward by American English, a Beatles tribute band. As a fan of The Beatles, I made sure I went to the game with him. It was a blast, and I wrote this poem after hearing the classic Hey, Jude. It is the first of two poems based on the book of Jude. Go read the one chapter book, right now.
Hey, Jude
Hey, Jude.
I know of people around me.
They lift themselves by flattering.
They are godless and petty.
I confess I, too, can be this way.
I have tried to get better, see.
Hey, Jude.
Pray for me that I can change.
Pray I love those that are the same.
Ask the Sovereign to call our names.
We need help to lift Him, not us.
We need help for our tongues to tame.
Hey, Jude.
Thank you for reminding us.
God has used you to speak truth.
He will remind of godlessness
That has blocked our faith,
But we can renew the trust.
Hey, Jude.
The next time we speak together
It can be a blessing for both.
We’ll discuss the salvation we share.
We’ll share in our brotherhood.
We and Christ will be there.
Thanks, Jude.
Taken fromdeeper words for God from a simple man of Godby daniel m klem, page 52.
This last week a friend of mine blogged about some of the silliness surrounding the Trayvon Martin killing, and I re-blogged it over here. Today, I look into it further.
An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends; he defies all sound judgment.
A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.
Proverbs 18:1-2
I often wonder if men such as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton knew they would become such media lightning rods when they began public speaking. I like giving the benefit of the doubt that they truly began as individuals seeking equality and peace.
However, it would appear that, as it is said, “power corrupts.”
These are men who seem to enjoy the spotlight more than true justice to the point that they say some truly foolish things.
These are men who seem to enjoy saying what they think both before and after they understand what may be happening.
What is worse is that they are ordained ministers. They are ones who are to fight for peace and equality, yet we get statements that sound more like race-bating than many of the situations of which they speak.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?
James 3:13-4:1
Men such as these are not following God. They delight in themselves and this world.
Pray you will not follow this path. Pray for the wisdom of God, that He will direct your heart. (And here is a reminder to go read Proverbial Thought and what the amazing contributors have to say. I am still amazed I am allowed to write with these amazing people!)
Pray for these men, as well, that they will truly seek God and become men of peace.
Back in 2007 I spent a lot of time in Pentecostal circles. This poem came out of my experiences. While I have some theological issues (and sometimes moral issues) with some parts of the Charismatic realm of Christendom, I cherish the lessons I learned and the renewed love for Christ I gained during this time. Therefore, I definitely still agree with this poem!
Raise my face
We raise our hands as we sing
We lift our voices up as praise
As I lift up my voice for you
Not my hands are raised, but my face
I raise my face to see Your glory
I want to feel Your love rain down
I raise my face to feel Your grace
I want to be washed by the Son
I raise my head instead of my hands
I want to go in head first to You
I raise my face to You because
I want to submerge in Your Truth
Taken from deeper words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m klem, page 51.
a simple man of God 