Posts Tagged ‘ Daniel Klem ’

Weekend Words and Sunday Stanzas – 07/03/2011

In honor of tomorrow, I say …

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!

This is generally a time of pride of country and national heritage. I am not going to argue either way if this pride is good or bad … at least not today.

Today I only offer a poem based on Galatians 6:14 (and other passages, too!) which explains where our pride should lie as believers in Jesus Christ.

pride
daniel m  klem

the pride i feel is for my God
He sent His Son to die on a cross
Christ Jesus came and saved my soul
so that i know it is not lost
from now on  i will not be ashamed
to tell the world about the day
that Jesus died upon a wood cross
just so that your and my souls are saved
i will repeat what i have said
to make sure you heard me say
God sent His one and only Son
so that He could keep us all safe

Taken from simple words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m  klem, page  48.

2011
07/03
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Holidays
Independence Day
Jesus
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Do you know where there are any personages of historical significance around here?

Earlier I talked about Bill and Ted demonstrating the most excellent story ever told, and really how we just need to always be ready to explain our faith to anyone we can.

If God can use this guy ...

Today is a short but sweet message.

Bill and Ted were two young men who lacked many intellectual capabilities, yet they changed their world (and ultimately the galaxy) into a peaceful and prosperous one.

You may already know where I am going with this …

If two know-nothings can change their world with a tiny bit of help from God, how much more do you think you can do? Believers in Jesus Christ are given His power through the Holy Spirit. You can deny He still works in us today. You can even deny that miracles still happen. I love to break it to you, but the Holy Spirit does indeed still work and perform miracles through His people.

Do not think for a moment that you are not good enough to ever do anything. With the power of the Holy Spirit working through you, you can make drastic changes to your own little part of the world and maybe even the rest of the world!

Remember that Billy Graham was a boy who heard a message in a tent and went on to become the most famous evangelist in the world. Bill Gates is a college dropout who is now one of the richest people in the world. Barack Obama is the son of a Kenyan foreign student and a middle-class woman, yet today he is the leader of the free-world.

Do not think you are any less. Jesus did say “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31, NIV … and I suggest reading the entire chapter).

You can do anything through the power of Christ. You were meant to do great things, even if it is “merely” being somebody’s friend.

2011
07/02
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Bill & Ted
Discipline
Election
Fear
Holy Spirit
Lifestyle
Servanthood
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The Gospel According to Bill & Ted

In 1989 and 1991 some movies were introduced to the masses: Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey.

If you have not seen either of these totally excellent movies, you should. Why?

Bill & Ted tell the Gospel

For starters, look at their two famous quotes:

  • “Be excellent to each other.”
  • “Party on, dudes!”

You may be asking “What do those have to do with the gospel?”

“Be excellent to each other” is clearly a rewording of “Love your neighbor as yourself;” and “Party on, dudes,” is clearly a call to live a righteous life, and I will argue for “Love the Lord your God with [everything you are]” as being included in living a righteous life, dude.

As far as the story of Jesus Christ …

Here is how Bill and Ted tell the story of our Lord

First, they enter time … travel.

Second, they interact with humanity in amazing ways and teach many people truths about life.

Later, they are killed and go to Hell (a “non-non-non-non-NON-Heinous!” place … which, really is wrong unless you add one more “non” in there).

After defeating Death (at board games!) they ascend to Heaven.

They have a helper (Station!) who equips them to fight evil, whom is beaten.

Through their “ministry” (rocking out!) they change the world which eventually becomes a utopian place of peace and prosperity.

In case you missed why this is relevant …

God entered time as Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus performed many miracles and performed many amazing things, and He taught people truths about Life.

He was later crucified by the very people who should have worshiped Him (those people are really all people, but specifically the Jews in this instance) and many believe (though, in fairness, not all do) that He then descended into Hell.

Three days later, Jesus overcame death and the grave once and for all proving He is God and justifying all who believe in Him in faith.

Forty days later He ascended into Heaven, and ten days after that sent a Helper (Holy Spirit!) to equip the saints (all who believe in Christ).

Through the ministry of His people the Church He has changed the world, and He will one Glorious Day return to change this world into His Paradise!

I may be a little crazy, but you have to see the connection!

My real point today is that we must always be ready to share the gospel using whatever means we have available. The Apostle Paul did it. I just shared an example.

Now that I have had some fun, what are your favorite stories that remind you of the Gospel?

2011
06/27
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CATEGORY
Apologetics
Bill & Ted
Gospel
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Weekend Words and Sunday Stanzas – 06/26/2011

It has been rather hot out here in Arizona this week. That is rather fitting considering the topic of this blog! Therefore, in honor of these, I present a rather tongue-in-cheek plea to follow Christ. God bless!

hot
daniel m  klem

you might want to
call Jesus Lord
and think about
all of His Word
because if not
you will not see
Heaven prepared
for you and me
you will go to
the place real bad
the real hot place
satan calls his pad

Taken from simple words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m  klem, page 118.

2011
06/26
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Death
Poetry
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Man Caused Global Warming

What if this man is right?

I do not really mean one hundred percent right (and do you find it the least bit ironic I am using the word “right” with someone on the political left? I kind of did!), but what if his basic premise – the Earth is warming and humanity is largely responsible – is correct?

Two things spurred this question: 1) David Jeremiah‘s daily broadcasted sermons have been covering Matthew 24-25 and talking about the End Times, and 2) Mark over at 3-Fold-Cord asked if Billy Joel was right.

So, think about it: for those of us who hold to the teaching that Adam and Eve’s sin is what brought about pain, chaos, and death, this would make sense. Read Revelation 8:7:

The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

Revelation is all about God’s wrath for our sin. Therefore we can say we caused Global Warming … or Climate Change or whatever it is being called today. The Bible tells us things will get quite warm here.

I kept today’s post short and sweet. What do you think? Are we truly responsible for our planet warming? Does this mean there is literally nothing we can do to change the course?

2011
06/21
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End Times
Global Warming
Prayer
Prophecy
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Man-led End Times

Is God giving us more control of our destiny?

The movie The Adjustment Bureau taps into a Secular Theology understanding of eschatology. The basic premise is that God has been controlling history all along, but eventually we will get to a point where we are able to stand on our own and make our own informed decisions. Essentially, God works Himself out of His job.

First of all, that does not really jibe biblically.

Some may disagree that it speaks to the End Times before Christ returns, but many agree that Matthew 24 speaks about that time in which our Lord says,

“If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.” (Matthew 24:22, NIV)

There are several passages that speak to the end like this.

My question today is this:

What if God is indeed slowly stepping back?

Could He indeed be giving humanity more control of their destiny?

Now, before you jump straight into declaring me a heretic or blasphemer, consider some points of interest.

God is not giving up control, He is merely allowing us to make more of our own decisions in how history unfolds.

God is not making the bad things we do to ourselves and our planet happen, rather He does not intervene as much as He may have in the past. In The Adjustment Bureau, one of the “angels” says the last time “The Boss” allowed humanity to control their destiny was in 1914, and we nearly annihilated ourselves with World War I. He sent His people back in to help us. Instead of saying “World War I was God giving us more control and we failed,” perhaps there is truth that He did give us more control over events. He did step in to keep us from annihilating ourselves.

However, God intervenes to make sure we do not annihilate ourselves before all of His plans have been fulfilled. He allows us to have some control so that we gradually prove His truth that we cannot function (properly) without Him. He allows us control, in other words, to speed along His return. The more control we have, the worse things get over all. After things get so bad that mankind’s “every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time” He will step in finally. Christ will return to set up His Kingdom once and for all. (We can debate whether or not there is a literal millennium later)

What do you think? Is God allowing us more freedom in our choices to usher in the End? Am I being heretical? Or does this idea help explain why it seems things are truly getting worse in our world in spite of all our advances in technology, medicine, and knowledge?

2011
06/14
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End Times
Free-will
Prophecy
Rapture
Sovereignty
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Weekend Words and Sunday Stanzas – 06/12/2011

Tomorrow is my second wedding anniversary. This is good. In honor of this, here is a poem I wrote about my wife over ten years ago while in high school. It is perfectly biographic of our relationship, yet we met on October 31, 2007 – six and a half years after its writing.

my other

daniel m  klem

my other has great eyes
and has a great smile
my other is beautiful
and we talk for a while
i love that certain scent
and that look that i get
but we have kept God first
ever since we first met
this is what God wants
so we will give Him this
and when we are together
we are where God is

Taken from simple words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m  klem, page 124.

I love you, Caitlin.
Thank you, Lord.
To both of you, from the bottom of my heart and with all my soul.

2011
06/12
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Love
Marriage
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The Great Banquet

I cannot let go of this rapture thing quite yet.

Yep, my wedding reception!

What about the Great Banquet?

Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

“But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

“Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

“Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

“The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’

“‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”

Luke 14:12-24, NIV

Is the Church doing its job? Are Christians  acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God as He requires? Are we clothing the naked, giving shelter the homeless, or visiting the infirm or imprisoned as we ought?

It seems the world is doing more of this than most Christians. In fact, I know and know of more people outside of churches who act justly, love mercy, cloth the naked, give shelter, visit, heal, encourage, and support others. Problem? Definitely. It looks like our world is doing a better job at being salt and light than those who have been called to be the salt and the light.

So what do you think? If the rapture were to occur tonight, would we be surprised to see a third of the world gone and almost all of the Christians still here? Should we be surprised? Am I being too heretical? Or are you as convicted as I after reading this?

Seriously. Check yourself. I am.

2011
06/08
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Discipline
Gospel
Grace
Love
Parable
Rapture
Relationship
Servanthood
The Great Banquet
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Weekend Words and Sunday Stanzas – 06/05/2011

How about a short and simple word today, perhaps an encouragement or just a short break from the worries of life:

cheshire cat

God is a Cheshire cat

this is known because

you may not see Him

but everywhere He has been

you see a big smile

Taken from simple words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m  klem, page 25.

2011
06/05
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Weekend Words and Sunday Stanzas – 05/29/2011

I am in the Grand Canyon today! Therefore the second poem should be okay, says I. This first poem is “in honor” of those who give false prophecies (I am done picking on them for a while after this, I swear!):

translation
daniel m  klem

i am an oracle of the Lord
 i am a liar

the Lord says to do this
i do not mean this

He also says to do that
all of this is a bunch of lies

the Lord God sent me a vision
this was my dream last night

nothing will ever harm you
you will suffer

if you listen to my prophecies
if you do not listen to the Lord

therefore  do as i say
stop listening to me

and God will bless you
or God will not bless you

because i am an oracle of the Lord
because i am the biggest liar you will ever meet

Taken from simple words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m  klem, page 90.

And I know we are not on bikes this weekend, but I wrote this on a bicycle outing in which we did about 35 miles in a few hours before having food. It was so tough (poor, little me) …

perseverance
daniel m  klem

my friend and i
biking the trail
my legs weaker
wanting to bail
i want to ask
if we can break
all i want is
to stop and take
a breath of cool
refreshing air
who needs the wind
blowing my hair
but then I think
of what Jesus did
when He crossed
and took my sin
so  i will not quit
but keep going
as Jesus did so
we could keep growing
that we would love
God in Heaven
and join Him in
the greatest Haven
so i will pedal
throughout the day
because the Son
has shown the way

Taken from simple words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m  klem, pages 46-47.

2011
05/29
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Discipline
False prophets
Poetry
Prophecy
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