Conspicuous Christianity & Capricious Covens

What do you do? is a common question asked, when first we meet someone. Would it raise your eyebrows, and tense your shoulders to hear, I am a witch, in response to this inquiry?

Here is a bit of backstory for this piece of writing.

I love the game Survivor. I am well aware that the show is a reality television series, and at the same time, there are some facial expressions that speak volumes, that cannot be scripted or frankenbitten (frankenbites are video clips strategically placed to emotionally manipulate a viewing audience to form an opinion, about the people in the clips, turning players into villains, victims, rescuers, innocent bystanders, or socially inept ignoramus', that cannot read the room, or the jungle, as the case may be. I realize Survivor is subject to manipulation by the producers that are inclined to sell stories, and push ideologies, and, I always enjoy seeing how selected for the show cast of characters, navigate the rough and tumble environment they endure, as strangers sharing intimate spaces. All this to say, I am not a fool regarding the tricks of the television trade. 

Now, after that commercial break, we return to our story theme. A cast member on Survivor Australia, Brains vs Brawn 2025, Laura Darras, identified herself as a witch, when sharing what it is she does. During the course of the show, we hear Laura making statements regarding her manipulative tactics to get what she wants, using people to have her own way. Laura formed a coven with four other females at the start of the show, and Survivor producers do their damnedest best, to play eerie music, and insert dark magic imagery, to heighten the ominous and potentially frightened feelings, for the viewing audience. Laura is blatant and unashamedly committed to the power she perceives she is garnering for herself, by being a witch, and unfortunately, the little women in her so called coven, easily, and quite happily, follow suit. I have never in all my years of watching Survivor, been as startled by such obvious iniquity. Laura is mild in comparison to some of the other devious and dreadful players in Survivor Australia. I highly recommend watching the show, so that you can catch a glimpse at how far some members of humanity have travelled, from godliness. It is shockingly sad to hear certain players repeatedly use Jesus' name as a curse word, while acting in a witchy fashion, with cameras capturing their capricious backstabbing behaviours: they reveal their inner workings, and it truly is, a terrifying prospect to see their spirits darkened so. The coven, breaks covenant with one another, and that is a lesson for us as participants in this one life we live, which is this: the wicked are not loyal to each other, because they are selfish, and in their world, they devour to live, and live to devour, even if it means sacrificing one of their own. 

Dear reader, there are many in our midst that purposely live to satisfy their own urges, scratch their own itch, feed and fuel their own starving for attention, power, and position, desires. These lost ones, know not the living God; they know only what it is like, to never have or grab enough. They are vapid and empty, devoid of significance, for as long as they try to make it in life, on their own power, or by holding hands and linking to themselves, those of a similar bent or ilk. How, pray tell, can they trust other self-serving and self-absorbed manipulators, liars, thieves, cheats, and backstabbers? It is a ludicrous concept, to place trust in professing deceivers that purposefully trick others to grab a prize for themselves. 

You may at this point be wondering why I entitled this piece of writing, Conspicuous Christianity. I ask you now: Is it glaringly obvious to everyone that knows you, that you belong to Christ; that you live and breathe and have your being, firmly planted in Jesus as your foundation? Are you, a conspicuous Christian? Do you profess your faith, first and foremost, when you meet someone, or many someones, for the very first time? When asked what you do, would it be odd to hear yourself say, I worship the living God? Laura in her witchy ways, is declaring that she worships demon gods, when she calls herself a witch: are you ready, willing, and able, to state without hesitation, I glorify God with my life and adore Jesus Christ as my Redeemer from my sinful-self? 

Laura on Survivor is a victim of a society that hates God as Almighty. Laura and the silly little girls toying with the charms and practices of the Devil, form capricious covens on shifting sands, and they need prayer, and to be pulled as brands from the flames of hells fire. I have wept over what I have seen, because I know and have witnessed, what can happen when the door is cracked open for Satan, and when he is invited in for a few smoke and mirrors parlour games that seem harmless, but truly, are a treacherous walk on the wild and dark side. 

If witches can self-declare openly and publicly, and live their lives spell bound by the father of lies, does it not behoove each Christian to boldly profess Christ and to live biblically, according to God's Word, will, and way?

We belong to whom we obey, dear one. We are what we think and do - what comes from the mouth, starts in the thoughts firstly, drops down into the bowels, goes back up and fills the heart, and eventually ushers forth in our words. Holy thoughts lead to holy deeds, and conversely, wicked thoughts activate a person to perform wicked deeds. 

I am fascinated to witness the breaking down of the capricious coven while I watch Survivor. I think of troubled and oblivious characters that perform for cameras and call themselves world leaders, and I see them falling apart at the seams before mocking crowds, because they go too far, say too much, and ultimately, make utter fools of themselves in their arrogance. They haven't a clue that their days are numbered, and they are being voted off the island, and will be exiled from humanity, soon enough. 

All the world is not a stage, dear one. The world is God's creation, and we are here to glorify him as our Master, our Maker, our Lord of lords. King of kings. 

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (Romans 6:16). 

To whom do you, belong? And is it obvious, or do we have to play a guessing game when we meet you?

Are you a conspicuous Christian dear reader, and if not, perhaps you can challenge yourself with the question, Why not?

Yield

You must yield the right of way when someone has a green light, and you get the red which indicates, you must stop, and wait. You must yield the right of way, when a bus driver signals they want into the lane you are travelling, and when lights flash, and a STOP sign extends out from below the drivers window, letting you know children are leaving the bus to cross the street. Yielding the right of way makes sense, if life is to be preserved, if common decency is valued as a human trait to be admired and adhered to: yielding gives others a right of passage, and when someone takes the liberty of stealing a turn, everyone around them, potentially, suffers loss. 

Does God have the right of way in your life, dear reader? Do you accept his signals of stop, wait, proceed with caution, look before you leap, heed warnings and heed too, the discernment that instructs next steps? Alternatively, do you rush ahead without considering outcomes, impact, perhaps even devastation for yourself and others, because you just can't wait, or more accurately, you refuse to wait, believing that later, is too late for you? 

Yielding to others is a curtesy extended, and when others yield to us, we receive the gift of kind consideration. Yielding is a vulnerable experience; it may feel like risk taking without the promise of reciprocal rewards. Letting someone into a stream of traffic feels good, but letting in five people in a row is problematic, for everyone behind us. Yield must not be misunderstood: we yield the right of way whenever and wherever we can, without violating everyone's, including our, rights. 

I dance around a truth as I type. I have known some truly lovely people that I wish I could actually love. They have great traits and can be adorable, and yet, they appear to be incapable of the vulnerability required to truly be intimate in relationship. For closeness to happen, each individual must be willing to listen, to actually hear, and attempt to truly understand, others, and to share their own thoughts, fears, worries, hopes, dreams, heartaches, and happiness. The give and take of relating can be soulfully edifying, and freeing too; but the unyielding refuse to give of themselves this way, and this resistance, invariably, acts as repellant to the people that would love, to love them. 

God loves. It astounds me how much he loves and how he loves. To not yield to his way is a hazard to health and home. If anything makes us vulnerable to danger and demonic encroachment, it is resisting God's will, and his loving ways. Demonic encroachment, dear reader, happens when we take the liberty of green lighting our own desires, no matter how dark and dreadful, without regard for the will and wishes, and well-being, of others. Demons encroach and next, they enter in, when we yield to wicked ways, neglecting and rejecting, God's commands. 

And this is his greatest command to all people: 

Matthew 22:37-39

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all they soul, and with all thy mind. 

This is the first and great commandment. 

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 

Feel and think with me, how outstandingly marvellous it would be, if we lived the first and great commandment, followed closely by the second? God commands us to love, and yet being loving, does not feel like taking an order! What a dynamic wonder this is to contemplate, loving God, ourselves, and others, without hesitation, or fear of loss. 

Man alive, this is so outstanding, that it is crazy making to think people will not yield to this command. Knowing God and his will is an empowering experience, a heart softening experience, a soul soaring experience. It is easy to yield to God, when he is known as Abba Father, merciful and gracious, forever willing to forgive when we repent. When we don't get how good we have it, and then finally come to realize how generous he has been, it is heart rending to acknowledge what ingrates we have been!

I do not want to be an ingrate, dear reader. I do not want to be a little schmuck that does not yield to God Almighty, as though he does not have the right of way in my life. 

What about you? 

What is happening in your head and in your heart?

Are you ready to yield to the One that has your best interests in mind?

Are you ready, to give your all, to the One that gave you, everything? 

Are you, ready, to yield to the King of kings, and Lord of lords, the Alpha, Omega, beginning and end? 

Are you ready to love, like God loves you?

Prayer Plant

Psalm 148

Praise ye the LORD, Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights. Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass. Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: Fire and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word: mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people unto him, Praise ye the LORD. 

I was with one of my best friends. We went to a happy place, filled with gorgeous growing things. A sign drew my attention, Praying Plant. I asked a staff member nearby, Which one is the praying plant? She told me all the plants under Praying Plant, were praying plants, but I did not know what this meant. Another staff member was asked to clarify, and to share what she knows, which helped peak my curiosity, but it was the YouTube videos I watched this morning, that satisfied my interest in learning more; seeing these plants in action, had me weeping in appreciation for what comes naturally to living things, which is to saying, all of God's creatures, all of his creations, are meant to worship and praise him. 

Time lapse videos show the opening and closing of leaves for praying plants, as though they are putting their hands together at night in prayer mode, and opening them up in worship when the sun is shining. Do you, dear reader, pray when you go to sleep, and in the morning, open your arms wide to receive the days light, glorifying the LORD, in praise? 

Praying before sleep is an act of grate-fullness for the day spent, and a trust fall too - you are irresistibly falling asleep, and trusting that the LORD will keep you during the night. When the suns rays beam in to open your eyes, it is God's way of letting you know that this is the day the LORD hath made, and if your first thoughts go to him and all he has done for you, then perhaps you are like a delightful prayer plant, fawning over him, displaying your hope, and faith, in the One that made you. 

Psalm 148 brings tears to my eyes. All of creation worships the LORD God Almighty. Man, in his willful ignorance, chooses not to worship his creator. I read recently, that God's people are called Wisdom's Children. It is wise to honour God will every fibre of our being; it is gratitude and appreciation for his mercy and grace, that has us praying and praising, all day, just like the praying plants. 

A skeptic might mock my analogies regarding the actions of praying plants. I don't mind if they do. Skeptics are subject to the laws of nature, just like you and I are, just like all of creation is, and it matters not, what objections they speak: they are governed by the very same hand that placed planets and water in the heavens, furries in the forests, and people to populate the earth. 

You and I, did none of these things, and yet, we benefit from all of these things without effort. 

How marvellous.

Praise ye the LORD.

Doug The Thug

It was my first shift in the dingy and decrepit building that temporarily housed young law breakers. These boys were labelled offenders, and rightly so, since they took liberties that deeply wounded others, while slashing and cutting their own souls - they offended much and often. 

NO SMOKING was a rule to be broken, and my first day on the job promised to be one I would remember for a very long time. It has been thirty-six years, and I still recall Doug, a long haired violent break and enter kind of guy, sitting in his self-satisfied sixteen year old body, confidently conniving and believing, that he could get away with smoking out in the open, in the lounge, without repercussions. I didn't see the cigarette, but where there is smoke, there is fire. 

I was in the glass encased office, and when I glanced in the direction of the teenagers sitting on the couch, there I saw a thin swirling upward string of white smoke. I did not know the boys and had yet to learn their names, but I quickly learned who this particular boy was: I took my job and the rules seriously, and told my shift partner what I saw. My partner was an honest kind of guy, and reminded me of Garfield the cartoon cat. He took rule breaking seriously too, while at the same time, he managed to move slowly, and with a measured pace, when action was required. He knew already, what I had yet to learn, which is this: sometimes it is best to assess, before jumping in and, sometimes it is best, to not chomp on the first chunk of bait cast within biting reach. 

Doug was a savvy and experienced, expert instigator. At a very young age, Doug had managed to figure out how to agitate others, have them lose their cool, and somehow turn the tables, so that they would look like the crazy overreacting one. Dear reader, do you know anyone, have you interacted with someone, that pulls these tricks on you? In common verbiage, this is now labelled gaslighting; this type of trickster is a dangerous sort of malefactor, that gets their kicks and thrills from trying to convince others, that they are wrong, and must second guess what they have seen and heard. Evidence, to the deceiver, does not mean a thing, when an accusing finger points in their direction. The liar is convinced they can mentally manipulate observers, to the point of making them feel unbalanced, and perhaps, a little, or a lot, unhinged too.  

Doug the thug, when I accused him of smoking, said, No I wasn't. I have to laugh now at the memory. I had absolutely no reason to accuse him of smoking, except for the fact that I saw smoke spiralling just above his head. In front of his open-custody house mates, he was all in for making a fool of me. There wasn't a cigarette in sight, and it was his word against my observations, and everyone in the room sat quietly to witness the outcome... To this day, I know I was right about seeing that smoke, but dear reader, I tell you, that this fella could bold face lie without batting an eye, and I did indeed, second guess whether or not I actually saw what I know I saw. 

My point, or the moral of the story, is this: We, you and I, can be deceived, in this trickster gone mad society we live in. We can second guess and start to lose confidence in what we know is true and right, moral and righteous. We can become subject to the conniving of malefactors, and of a sudden, find ourselves shocked at what they have taken the liberty to steal or destroy, that once was ours to savour and enjoy. 

Fast forward in time a little to another one of my shifts working with young offenders. Doug the thug had a cohort. During quiet hour, I went upstairs to do a head count, and to ensure the residents were in their own rooms. That is when I saw one of our tiniest offenders, stumbling out of the bathroom. He was wet and trembling, and I brought him down to the office to ask him what had happened. I learned that day, what deep six means: Doug the thug and his friend Dean the dreadful, had held this kids head down in a toilet until he sputtered and almost drown. The cruelty of this violation stands in stark contrast to how comfortably Doug & Dean were found, as they slept in their individual rooms, as though they hadn't done a thing wrong. 

There are people in this world that are capable of culpable dastardly deeds, and they do not hesitate to lie, to assault, to insult, to steal, to kill. Do you believe this to be true, dear reader? Do you know a person that is cold-blooded and without conscience, willing and able to violate humanity?

I saw Doug many years after the time I spent working in custody. I was putting money in a meter, and he recognized me. His movements were spasmodic, and he was filthy from living in the streets. I was meeting a new friend for lunch and invited him to join us. Doug accepted, and then spent an inordinate amount of time in the restaurant washroom, trying to clean himself up. He eventually joined us at the table, smelling pleasant after the application of cologne. My gracious lunch companion did not turn up her nose at Doug, but people all around us, could not take their eyes off of this man that did not belong. Doug's body had been ravaged from years of smoking, drinking, and doing drugs, but his mind was still sharp.

We can go one way or another in this one life we live. Doug bore the weight of his lies and sins like an ugly filthy overcoat. The evidence of dirty living coated him in a guilty stench that no cologne could cover up. He carried his worldly possessions with him, and once we parted ways, he returned to the grime of street living, and I returned to my car, contemplating what would become of him. 

Custody is for criminals. While the boys were doing their time, I felt like I was doing time too. My shifts were long and I used to count down how many hours were left before I could leave. I stopped wearing a watch a couple of years into the job, because I did not want to continue to wish the time away. Imagine, wishing for an eternity, that the clock would finally wind down, and you would be released from the torment, of being forever incarcerated in hell. 

Jesus came to set the captives free, promising paradise to those that behold his glory and call him their God, their Saviour, their King and kinsman Redeemer. The price we pay for his company, is to sin no more, to give up lying and cheating and stealing and manipulating... to give up our lives of crime in favour of honouring the One that made us to glorify his name. I think this price, this entrance fee cost, is very low, don't you, dear reader? His grace gives us the strength to obey his will when we are tempted to sin, and this, is what the prideful, never comprehend, nor do they learn this lesson, because what they want is more appealing to them, then what God wants for them. 

Are you like Doug the thug, or Dean the dreadful? Do you believe you have the right and that you are entitled, to take what is not yours, to physically assault someone that cannot defend themselves; to lie for the cheap and nasty thrill of making a fool of someone that you want to humiliate, and emotionally cripple? I sure hope this does not describe you, dear reader. I will ask you one more question before we go our separate ways for the day:

Does your pride prevent you from being a decent sort of human, to other human beings?

Doug and Dean were terrible people when I knew them, both of them very vain and concerned about their appearance, but not one bit interested in how hideous they were on the inside. These fellas got taken to closed custody the day they did what they did to the scrawny littlest guy in their midst. Open custody is like kindergarten but closed custody is an entirely different animal, as you can well imagine. If you haven't toured a jail, then you may want to, out of curiosity, visit one so that you can see how the other half lives. 

Rewards and punishments are real and attached as consequences for the laws we heed and alternatively, the laws we break: the Judge made the laws, and the Judge rules and reigns over all of humanity, and righteously so. 

Ecclesiastes 12:14

For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Hebrews 10:30

For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 

Chaos Magick

Reel them in, chew them up, and spit them out.

Satan worshippers salivate at the thought of sipping and savouring Christian blood. Generally speaking the majority of Christians, in their naiveté and merciful sweetness, haven't a clue about the dark-side, and the cruel capabilities of the wicked one, that demands in domineering fashion, that his devilish adherents, perform certain rituals. 

Donald Trump is an old man, and he is I am confident, a technological imbecile. Sure, he can send texts, answer calls, and tweet, tweet, and over-tweet where X marks the spot, but he is incapable of mocking up images of himself as saviour in cartoon relief fashion. His arrogance is undeniable, but he isn't the man when it comes to marketing himself as comparable to Jesus as healer and redeemer of a nation, other people are commissioned and on the team, to do this for him. DJT is the man with the mouth that will say anything, say everything, say one thing this morning and something contradictory in the evening. This is how he plays the game of bait, switch, trade up, trade down, dance with your partner and swing them all around. In a short sentence, this type of behaviour is called chaos magick - you go on now and watch some YouTube videos on this topic, and educate yourself if you think I am making things up, and have lost my noodle. 

I heard that Alex Jones said something like, I miss the old Trump; I found this to be a quirky comment. Trump is the same fella he has always been, and I ask you, dear reader, are you the same guy or gal you have always been? If someone were to describe you, what traits would they attribute to you? Are you honest, generous, kind, hardworking, diligent, trustworthy, thoughtful, faithful, loyal? How would you describe Trump, without really knowing him, but based strictly on what you have observed: is he your type of guy? If you had the chance to meet anyone living or dead, would he be on your top three list of people to meet? 

I have a standard that I live by as a Bible reading and believing in Christ as Saviour faithful follower. I do not like nonsense, or having anyone in my life that creates chaos, or that brings with them the promise of confusion. I like to believe people when they speak and give them the benefit of the doubt, that they prefer to speak and live truth, until of course, I find out from experiencing them in relationship, that they are anything but honest and ultimately, anything but godly in their words and deeds. People that lie and do so with ease, minus the hint of shame, are scary kind of people. Trump is one of many scary people and I am not sure what his current pay off is for all his weird antics, but there must be something in it for him, for making himself look like a White House court jester. 

It is fascinating that Biden lost his mind and the presiding president is being accused of the very same loss of brain power. I don't think that is entirely what is happening: I do believe there are demons that have taken up residence in the souls of both of these maniacs that live in mansions: imagine For Sale signs out front on the White House lawn, with Lucifer paying thousands upon thousands of pennies for presidential performances. Christ paid the ultimate price in blood for the salvation of souls, but these men, and all the keepers and handlers of darkness, will get their ROI ultimately, and in the mean time, they will degenerate and degrade themselves, to the point of insanity as their destructive demise. 

The rats are first off the ship when it begins taking on water. All the players turn on one another when it comes to saving their own skin: there is no honour, after all, amongst thieves and killers. Watch them now, as they try to distance themselves from each other, when one or the other is accused of heinous crimes. We have already seen this with Jeffrey Epstein, and we will see much more as time goes on. 

Chaos magick, dear reader, is real to those that practice this dark art. Look it up for yourself; educate yourself... don't count on other people to inform or instruct you, you are responsible for your own acquisition of knowledge. After your time on YouTube, perhaps spend more time in the Word of God, to clear all the cobwebs, and give you that sparkling clarity that only comes, during and after, time spent with Almighty God.

Two Friends : Fickle & Faithful

From the sidelines, Christians all around the world, cheer Jesus onto his throne. Jesus, we love you Jesus, they shout, while putting hands crisscross over hearts. The stands are filled with fans, and the chanting Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, has arms spontaneously rising in unison. Jesus is their favourite guy, and they tout him as welcome here, welcome into their lives, welcome to go with them whenever and wherever, they roam. 

In the midst of the multitude, a shadow is cast, darkening the sky, dimming the light, muting the mood. The hush is audible, and heart rates accelerate for each and every would-be follower. Whatever will he say next? What he says surprises, what he does titillates; what I feel is astounding, and I can't even imagine what will come next from this man. 

John 6:65-71

And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 

From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. 

Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

The crowd breaks up into twos and threes. Walking toward the exits, they mutter, criticize, and complain. A few of the small groups linger, not sure whether they want to stay, or go. Let's eavesdrop on a duo, two guys that call each other best friend: 

Fickle: Well that was disappointing, don't ya think? I mean, I only heard bits and pieces of what Jesus said, something about eating his flesh and drinking his blood, and about some reference to that mana bread stuff from the old book in the bible, when the Israelites got stuck in the dirt dry desert for like, four decades. And then he goes on about his daddy picking some people and not others? What the Sam hills? I liked this guy before, but now, I am thinking things aren't adding up. I wish he had just stuck to the magic miracle stuff, healing, fish feeding folk, wine watering partiers... those were the good old days! Only twelve guys in his crew, and one of them is a bad guy? What kind of odds are these? 

Faithful: I don't know... what he said sounded ominous to me, and wasn't it crazy how he was glowing? I could hardly keep my eyes open when I looked his way, in fact, everything was so bright and ahhh, ummm... blindingly brilliant!

Fickle: What are you talking about? It got so dark, like someone snuffed the sun or something. He kept talking and talking and it all sounded like gibberish and nonsense. I thought he was the guy, the one, but I can't stand what he was saying, it was so irritating. What are we still doing standing here? Wanna get a burger? 

Faithful: A burger? Really? I think I want to stick around, maybe go to Jesus and ask him some questions. 

Fickle: About what? Haven't you heard enough? You're my ride, let's go bud. 

Faithful: Here, take my keys, I am not ready to leave. I will Uber home. 

Fickle: What the hell is going on? Are you frickin' serious? That guy isn't worth your time. Listen, I'll buy dinner, you pick the place, you feel like Sushi? 

Sad realization hits Faithful like a gut punch. A sinking feeling sets in as Faithful looks into the eyes of his almost frantic best friend. Fickle is visibly agitated, and seemingly desperate to leave. It dawns on Faithful how very different, Fickle's experience had been, compared to his own, when hearing The King speak. Faithful felt calm and peaceful, and disconcerted at the same time, when he considered what was happening. 

The sound of laughter had Faithful turn his head to the right. A jovial group of ten were enjoying themselves, and he felt irresistibly drawn to them. The pull was so strong, he forgot all about Fickle, until Fickle growled the words, Faithful, are you coming with me, or not?

Faithful: Not, I am not coming with you. I am staying.

Enraged, Fickle's fist shakes close to Faithfuls face. Car keys protrude from between fingers, and with fire in his eyes, Fickle snarls, Here are your damn keys, and hurls them at Faithfuls feet. Faithful looks in the direction of his shoes: some of the keys imbedded themselves in the turf, point down, with the violence of Fickle's throw. Faithful next, looks up, only to find that Fickle is quickly making his way across the field. 

There again, is the laughter, and Faithful can't help but look in the direction of the group of ten. There in their midst, stands Jesus, smiling at each one encircling him. Faithful again looks in the direction of the exit Fickle was travelling toward, and he sees his best friend turn back briefly, seemingly waiting for Faithful to follow. For a frozen in time moment, Faithful measures and calculates, the distance and the time it would take to get to Fickle. Faithful concludes quickly: Too much distance, too much time, too much ground to cover, and not enough strength to face the energy requirements. Resolved, Faithful full=body, turns toward Jesus and sees more then ten there, more then twenty, more then fifty... more and more people are joining Jesus, and in the distance, at the exits, throngs are shoving and angrily pushing, to get out as fast as possible. 

Training his eyes on Jesus, Faithful grins. With confident strides and a surge of sustaining energy, Faithful makes his way toward the jovial group, gathered and glowing in the presence of The King. With every step, Faithful knows where he is going, what he is doing, who he is going to, and who he is going with. 

Faithful takes his place in and amongst the contented. Jesus' voice resonates richly as he speaks in the midst of those gathered all around him, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. Jesus looks from one person to the next, and when his eyes meet Faithfuls, their gazes interlock, for what seemed to Faithful, an eternity. Faithful begins to weep, barely comprehending what is happening, his soul soaring heavenward and weightless...

                                                               ==============

Faithful exchanges numbers with some of his new friends. They agree to meet again soon. Faithful makes his way toward the parking lot, and when he arrives, he sees a piece of paper, folded and trapped on his windshield, pinned there by one of the wipers. Faithful opens the folded paper, and instantly recognizes Fickle's meticulous handwriting. 

Fickle: Listen buddy, I don't want this Jesus thing to get between us, okay? I'm going to be at Chuck's, having a beer at the bar. My offer for dinner still stands, meet me here when you are done over there?!

Faithful refolds the note in half, considering Fickle's message. Closing his eyes, Faithful suffers sorrow as loss washes over his soul. Fickle feels so far off, so lost in the landscape, so unreachable now. Chuck's for a burger and beer? Faithful unlocks and enters his car, contemplating what was, what is, and what shall be. 

Something shifted, much had changed. Faithful feels immobilized, and remains in place until he feels the chill of the outside sneaking its way into his vehicle and wrapping its coldness around his body. With a shiver, Faithful starts his car and cranks on the heat but still, cannot put himself into drive mode. 

How Lord, how do I let go? How do I leave him behind and follow you? Can't he come too? Won't you call him by name Lord? Please, please call him too. 

Searching for and finding a tissue, Faithful wipes at his eyes and blows his nose. He wants nothing more than his best friend, to know and love Jesus like he does, but he feels at a loss of what to say to convince and cajole Fickle into believing. Faithful searches his memory, trying to think of some persuasive arguments he had heard over the years that helped him make sense of all the good stuff of Biblical Jesus. What was it that Jesus said, when he spoke to the crowd today? With sudden recall, Faithful feels a chill, despite the warmth in the now fully heated car - Jesus' words come flowing forward in a rush, and Truth simplifies the issue Faithful is facing: 

And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

Jesus' words humble Faithful and he begins sobbing. He knows without a shadow of a doubt that he was given to Jesus by the Father, Jesus' own Father! In earnest, Faithful prays, Lord God, you saved me from myself, and I ask you do the same for my best friend Fickle. Please help me let go of the idea that I can save him or change him, or convince him... he is not mine, he is yours.

These thoughts had Faithful feeling a sense of freedom and relief, knowing that God loves Fickle far more than he ever has or will. Something had indeed shifting, much had certainly changed, and only time would tell what would happen in friendship, between Fickle & Faithful. Recalling his favourite Bible verse, Faithful put his car into drive, and spoke this mystery: 

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). 

With hope in his heart, Faithful begins fervent prayer for the salvation of his friend, and he resolves never to stop, until the day God takes him home, to his heavenly abode.

Lopped Off Ear

I invite you to come with me, dear reader, into the garden of Gethsemane.

Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall parish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? (Matthew 26:48-54).

And one of those who stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest and cut off his ear (Mark 14:47). 

And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him (Luke 22:47-51).

Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Then Jesus said unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him (John 18: 10-12).

We now leave the garden of Gethsemane, and follow Jesus to the house  of Caiaphas, the high priest: 

One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsmen whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? (John 18:26).

Dear reader, I have a smirky attitude right now, about an ear lopped off, and healed immediately by the hand of Jesus, after the severing. Listen with me to how ridiculous it is to hear this story repeated, and consider, that all the eye witnesses to the event, didn't think it wild, wonderful, miraculous, and Godly, to know that in Peter's haste to violence, Christ healed in an instant. 

I laugh a little each time I think about Peter being accused of being with Jesus in the garden as a follower, and him denying it, despite being seen with him for a full three and a half years of the Lord's ministry. And what of the servant of the high priest, having his ear chopped off, and then having the same ear, restored lickety-split, with the touch of Jesus? he must have marvelled for his entire life, don't you think? The Bible doesn't tell us what became of Malchus after this dramatic scene in the garden, but if I were that guy, my weakened knees would have had me falling at the feet of Jesus! And the relative of Malchus, that in the gospel of John is reported to have questioned Peter about him having been in the garden with Jesus, didn't he have a jaw dropping experience, knowing his kinsmen had been assaulted and restored, in the self-same moment?

Gee whiz people, if miracles were performed by Jesus in front of multitudes, and they carried on with their regular business as though there was nothing to see, nothing to hear, nothing to take note of that is fascinating and interesting and heavenly in nature, then what chance do regular old boring folk have, of getting to heaven, through Christ the King? Killing was the plan, and no matter what God incarnate did, the murderers had their marching, arresting, and slaying orders. And the witnesses, for shame! Nothing could change their minds about who Jesus really was... blind, deaf, dumb, retrograde in their thinking and being, these people are a joke in the annals of history, for being foolish enough to accuse the God of glory as though he were a common criminal, and for daring to demand his life publicly. 

Man alive, denying Jesus as God is a happy pass time for the multitudes still. They haven't a clue that his is the kingdom, and that he is the Lord of glory. I cannot read scripture and remain unmoved. I know that Jesus has healed my wounded heart, and many a body part too for that matter! Dear reader, I do not write to you about dulled and dumbed down senses, we are considering together, souls that are so darkened and dusty with coal soot like sin, that they refuse to see past themselves. 

Picture yourself as an eye witness to what is described in the four gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. An ear was lopped off for goodness sakes, and Jesus made the man well with his touch, in front of multitudes. I love this account so much, I had to highlight it for me, and for you, today. There is rich material to discuss in the scripture quoted above, but I leave you to deeply contemplate the scene painted for us by disciples, that had their own unique perspectives, and yet, shared the same reportable, congruent and cogently interwoven experiences, of events in the life of Jesus. We get a full picture with each man, sharing what he saw and heard, when in the presence of God Almighty, manifest in the Man/God, Jesus, the Christ. 

Do you, believe in miracles? Miracles are occurrences that behave contrary to nature: would it be a miracle for Jesus to break your stony heart, for what breaks his? Jesus could have smote the multitude of unbelievers with the batting of one eye. Jesus could have requested his own angel armies to cut off ears, gouge out eyes, lop off limbs, and drop his enemies before they saw the flash of swords, but he came to fulfill prophecy as the Saviour, he didn't come to kill and destroy, he came to save... 

Satan roams, killing and destroying, and he uses the willing that hate Jesus, to do his bidding. He wants you and I dead: do you believe this to be true? See now, with me, once again, the multitudes coming against Jesus, wanting to eliminate him, despite the miracles and wonders he performed.

Are you, one of the multitude?