Fornication & Soul Ties

Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? Know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit (1 Corinthians 6:15-17)

Consider with me this concept: Two bodies, after intimately connecting, impacts their souls. When two become one, there is a physical body fluid exchange, and more significantly, there is something that happens to each of their beings. Let us call it an infection, shall we? when the two have shared themselves, without the benefit of being called husband and wife; they have infected one another with the uncleanness of harlotry via fornication. 

When I first heard the idea of soul ties needing to be cut or broken, I was uncertain what the person was referring to. I learned, that people have a hard time disengaging emotionally, psychologically, and clearly, spiritually, when they have had intercourse with someone that is not their spouse, thus the terminology soul tie, emerged. There is something dirty that clings to the person in the aftermath of intercourse outside of marriage, and in secular speak, the soul tie bonding of two that were never meant to be one, can cause an internal struggle for an individual, that is left with a feeling of still being connected. The infection, if we follow it to an outcome, can fester, perhaps eventually healing over, while leaving scar tissue on the heart, in the mind, and on the soul, that periodically throbs and aches, as a reminder of the unfortunate event. One of the two may have thought there would be more, perhaps a relationship, perhaps a permanent commitment, perhaps marriage and family life... 

So far we are tracking a secular understanding of what can feel like a permanent bond that must be cut or broken, between two people that have fornicated. To save you from scrolling, I have pasted below the paragraph that started our time together, Paul's admonishment to the fornicating Christians in Corinth: 

Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? Know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall  be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit

With this scripture in mind, I was stunned, and did a whole lot of closing one eye while I read cringing, when I absorbed the magnitude of this sin. Read below Matthew Henry's Commentary on the apostle Paul's sharp edged rebuke regarding fornication:

Nothing can stand in greater opposition to the honourable relations and alliances of a Christian man than this sin. He is joined to the Lord in union with Christ, and made partaker by faith of his Spirit. One spirit lives and breathes and moves in the head and members. Christ and his faithful disciples are one. 

Now shall one in so close a union with Christ as to be one spirit with him yet be so united to a harlot as to become one flesh with her? Were not this a vile attempt to make a union between Christ and harlots? And can a greater indignity be offered to him or ourselves? 

Dear reader, the very act of fornication has a lasting effect on the spirit, within each party engaging in the activity. Since Christians are one in the spirit with the Lord, fornication violates Christ, as though he too, is fornicating. The adulterous nature of this riddled with wickedness behaviour, deeply offends the Spirit of the Lord, since Christians belong, mind, body, and spirit, to him: we were bought and paid for with his sacrificial blood, shed for our sins on the cross.

We are one in the spirit, we are one in the Lord. This means that each and every Christian has the Holy Spirit within, and we must not violate our bodies, since the soul belongs to God: it is impossible to separate the two, when we are alive and walking the earth. What we do with and to our bodies, impacts every other part of us, including the essence of who we are. 

Soul ties are the lasting and residual side effects, of sins committed; that lingering feeling, is a form of suffering loss, for having shared far too much, with someone that should never have been know so well, and so intimately. 

NOTE: I dare to refer to fornication in terms of whoredom and harlotry for all that indulge their fleshly desires via intercourse with someone that is not their spouse, because it is a selling of self, a denigrating and forsaking, of each person's worth. God values his creatures greatly, and set in motion a plan, in the beginning: one man, one woman, becoming one in all ways, calling them husband and wife. Less than this for each man, and each woman, is a violation of natural order, and disobedience to God's commands. 

Christian, you betray the Lord when you fornicate, and as the apostle Paul states and I echo, God forbid. 

Were not this a vile attempt to make a union between Christ and harlots?

Flee from temptation and this sin in particular. 

No One Can See Us

Now. We goes in now. We have the all clear. No one can see us. This one first. We goes into this one first. 

Open the doors and look for her favourite things, the things she loves to wear, the things she likes the most. There they are, take them. She is stupid and will not notice right away, if at all. When she notices she will be stunned. Be prepared, she may say something, she may question us. She knows it's us, she does. She has accused us before, and we knows what to do if she dares to test us. Why would I? I don't know what you are talking about. I can't remember. Why would I do such a thing? Confuse her, that will shut her up. We raise our voices to terrify her if she insists. 

We have lots of time. Go to the drawers. What are these things in here? Tiny scrolls. What do they say? Why is the writing minuscule, infinitesimal? No matter, we empty the drawer, all of it. We leave it empty. Empty. Imagine her surprise when her little notes and tiny keepsakes are gone! She will know it is us! She will know we touch and take whenever we pleases. Nothing is hers, nothing. 

Now straighten the covers on her bed. Pretty pretty bedcover - we have such good taste, don't we? Everything is neat now. We takes what we tooks, and dispose. No one will know it was us, except she will know. She will know. We have time still, they won't be back for hours and hours. We goes to this next one.

What is this? Why does she have this? When did she get this? How did she get it? I wants it, I do. I will take it and tell her I likes it and it fits me. She won't want to disappoint. I can see her face already. Shocked, she will be shocked! O yes, this will stun her into silence. How could she deny me? I do so much for her. All she has is mine. I touch, I take. Mine. I likes it, I takes it. 

Pretty pretty. This matches the other. we takes it too, and wear it. Her face! It is laughable to see her face! Why does she act this way? She knows I can do what I want, when I want, and she can do no thing to stop me. When will she learn? Stupid stupid girl without a brain. I am her brain, when will she learn?

This one isn't as easy. I must do all I can to break her. She cannot get away from us, we will tell her she is stupid in so many ways, she will begin to question everything and come back to us for reassurance. Then we will give her what we thinks she needs to hear, or what she needs to fix her mistakes - she comes back, she must, we are her everything. She is nothing without us. She is like me, she is one of ours. We will make her just like me. 

Touch touch, turn, throw away, excuse, deny, dodge, pretend, act, fawn, fake, artifice. We are clever, we are cunning, we are. They can't stop us. Fools, all of them. Don't they know I am in charge? Do they not see that me is more than them? There is time, I will go into the other rooms now. They will all know that it is all mine. There is no theirs - fools they are and fools they will remain. I will make sure they do not communicate with one another, by telling them what they have said about each other. Doubt is the best weapon of all, and they are idiots and do not know our devices. 

Fools. 

Dear Christian, it behooves us to understand the nature of sin, and to comprehend too, that dark forces communicate and collude, with humans that indulge their own carnal nature. It is a desperate mistake to believe that we can get away with sin, and stay in relationship with other humans. Trust is built on truth - truth is an essential element in healthy relating. 

The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. Sin committed deliberately and not repented of, shuts a person out of the kingdom of heaven. 

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

Here is a quote from Matthew Henry regarding the above:

Those who knew any thing of religion must know that heaven could never be intended for these. The scum of the earth are no ways fit to fill the heavenly mansions. Those who do the devil's work can never receive God's wages, at least no other than death, the just wages of sin, Rom. 6:23. An excerpt from Acts to Revelation, Volume 6, page 430. 

I mix my thoughts, generated from reading Matthew Henry's commentary, with his:

We cannot live in sin and die in Christ. 

We cannot say we love the Lord and do the works of the devil.

We cannot hope to sow in the flesh and yet reap everlasting life.

To crucify the flesh is to die to carnal lusts, to kill everything in ourselves that is not of God. We deceive ourselves when we think God will indulge our sin and let us get away with it, because we have some redeeming traits. It doesn't matter, dear reader, if you are kind periodically to the person you have cheated on, stolen from, lied to, abandoned. It makes no difference if you say you are sorry and then do as you have done before, pretending you are innocent when all evidence points directly to you as unquestionably guilty. 

I heard once, Don't ruin a perfectly good apology with an excuse. We, dear one, cannot excuse our wicked vile ways, before a righteous and just God, wouldn't you agree? What explanation or excuse is passable before the Ruler of the universe? Just as a naughty child must be corrected early when he begins to tell lies, we must be correctable, when we learn, that we affront Holy God, with our sins. 

Self-deception, is no excuse for lying... let that thought bounce back and forth like a steel pinball, in your head. God does not excuse sin, he forgives repentant sinners, through Christ the Redeemer. 

Love Principles

Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law (Romans 13:7-10)

Brilliant, this passage in scripture is blindingly brilliant. Consider with me the alpha and omega and the omega alpha of the above quotation from Romans. As we work our way through each sentence, whether from the first to the last, or in reverse from bottom to top, there is a dramatic erecting of a stunning structure built upon the principles of love. Love is the law, dear reader, can you see this too? Our mandate as humans, as friends, as relatives and neighbours, co-workers, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles and even strangers, is to love. We fulfill God's law when we love. If we take the quotation in the negative, we see a series of Thou shalt nots, but the Thou shalt nots serve as guidelines on How to's, How to love your neighbour, as yourself.

Thou shalt render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom. In other words, pay those you owe, whether it be the tax man, a friend, a relative, a neighbour, a creditor. 

Have you experienced the injury of not being remunerated for your work? Does someone owe you money, that you will never see in your hand, or in your bank account? How is that for you? Does it cause you some irritation and angst? Now think with me, about what you owe: Thou shalt render dues, tribute, custom. Is there someone you owe? Do right by them, and pay your dues; paying what we owe is a love principle; and our responsibility as future citizens of heaven. 

Thou shalt render fear and honour to whom fear and honour are due: Obey the law of the land, and fear those that can judge and punish wrong doers. God has placed humans in positions of authority to maintain order, this includes work superiors and parents. The fear referred to must be reverential, respectful, and obediential. 

What is your work and home life like? Is there order or chaos? Do underlings undermine the authority of their superiors? Do children obey parents? Are work and home environments sanctuaries, or places that you would prefer to avoid if possible? Something is amiss when a person does not want to go to work, or return home when their workday is done. NOTE: I do understand that many in authority misuse their positions of power. It behooves us to do our best to stay within the confines of our own positions, even as inferiors, while we trust in God as Judge and Sovereign over all. This is the point, dear reader, we are to behave in such a way as to honour the Righteous Judge. The people given positions of power must answer to him; we all, must answer to him. The love principle of honouring those that are in positions of authority, must be in place, as a sign of reverence, respect, and obedience to God Almighty.

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Thou shalt not commit adultery, kill, steal, bear false witness, covet.

Love is faithful and loyal. Love nurtures. Love touches only what belongs, to love. Love is honest, and love, admires without wanting to take away from another. 

Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Dear reader, Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 

Do you see the stunning beauty in this gradual progression? All that we must do, and all that we are instructed to not do, when obeyed, render us loving, and dare I say, Christ like. There is no room for ill will for our neighbour, when we live God's love principals. Fulfilling the law of God, becomes us, when we commit to his commandments. 

I leave you now with this breathtaking truth:

God's law is Love... because, dear one,  

God is love 

White Lie - Almost Always Imperceptible

So teeny tiny as to almost be invisible. 

This is how sin starts in the mind, as a teeny tiny speck, as a passing thought that melts snowflake like, instantly dissolving upon contact with the tongue. The mind searches and asks, What was that thought again? Where did it go? O yes, there it is, that idea I had. 

Like the singular snowflake, the teeny tiny lie is white, and harmless, and negligible. Hurting no one, White Lie instructs and informs: I am beneficial, helpful, and useful too! You will see that when the opportunity arises, I will do my utmost to secure the outcomes you desire. Tell me your plan, and I will begin formulating mine, to match yours perfectly. Don't worry now, I, White Lie, am almost always imperceptible. When you suspect someone is not believing me, I will step in and accuse them of imagining things, being in error, or being extraordinarily rude for suggesting I have done them a wrong turn. If I must, I will then turn the tables and shout, How dare you question my integrity! This will have them wondering if perhaps they are mistaken; they will second guess and check and recheck and feel insecure, questioning their abilities to assess and observe and be accurate. Again I tell you, do not worry, I will take care of them, to be sure. Trust me, White Lie: I can be counted on in the most tedious and tenuous situations and circumstances and eventually, you will not even have to think before speaking! 

Shaking hands with White Lie in agreement, Sinner embraces Dishonesty, and before Sinner knows it, lying becomes their way of life, their choice in communication, and the way they work over and around, each and every person they have a relationship with. White Lie turns into Black Burglar, cloaked in darkness, Black Burglar steals as a petty thief, perpetually looking for new ways to thrill itself by violating trust, vulnerability, and what ought to be considered as the sacred safety of another's soul. Lies disrupt, demolish, and destroy the exposed, and Lies do not give a damn how the violated cry over the injustices they suffer, but rather, Lies enjoy the titillating excitement of inflicting pain, while blaming the confused injured. 

White lies are lies, and those that espouse to believing that they are harmless, belie their own deluded self-indulgences. If someone tells you, White lies are okay, then dear reader, you have a liar standing or sitting in front of you, and my questions are: 

What constitutes a white lie?

Who determines what a white lie is? 

Where is the line of demarcation drawn?

Dear one, can the professing liar be trusted to determine what lies are acceptably white to be deemed, harmless? Think with me and answer this question:

Can a liar be trusted? 

Jesus never lied. 

Jesus never ever lied. 

I so much want to end this piece of writing with these two sentences, Jesus never lied, Jesus never ever lied; and so I will, with a glorious addition:  

Truth can be a Way of life, and the Way, to life eternal. 

Uncorrectable vs Incorruptible

He that has a low opinion of his own knowledge and powers will submit to better instruction, such a person may be informed and improved by revelation: but the proud man, conceited of his own wisdom and understanding, will undertake to correct even divine wisdom itself, and prefer his own shallow reasonings to the infallible revelations of truth and wisdom. Note, we must abase ourselves before God if we would be either truly wise or good: For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God (1 Corinthians 3:19). The wisdom which worldly men esteem (policy, philosophy, oratory) is foolishness with God, Matthew Henry, Acts to Revelation, Volume 6, page 420. 

I grin as I type, considering how downright ridiculous we must look to God, when we think we are pulling a fast one, being deviously mischievous, and believing in our own sneaky abilities to outwit, outplay, and outlast God - I borrow a phrase from the popular reality show series, Survivor.  

I recall a persistent cough that nagged me for weeks on end. The coughing was a sort of hacking, and when this kind of bug comes to visit, the host family wonders, how long will these critters stick around? How can I get rid of this pestilence and be free once more, to breathe in, without feeling like coughing out, with every exhale? One good violent cough, or was it a sneeze? sent me into a spasm of pain: the mere act of breathing in and out, caused sharp stabbing pain in my ribcage, and in desperation, I contacted my chiropractor, and was able to have the out of place rib, put back where it belongs. I tell you this story to point out, that you and I can feel on top of the world, crazy like a fox smart, proud of our accomplishments and ready to take on the world, and then... space and time invaders infiltrate the compound of our being, wreaking havoc, and having us reeling in shock and surprise: how can this be? How is it that everything was running smoothly, inhale, and I was on track, exhale, and now, I am out of breath, and it hurts to even think about in through the nostrils and out through the mouth?

Go with me now, to the global guys and gals that believe, they actually truly believe, that they can outwit, outplay, and outlast God! Silly little munchkins, playing at being big boss boyz and big bossa girlz, fools they are, of the first degree. 

1. Policy - those politicians are always coming up with some scheme to defraud the public they are commanded by God to serve. 

2. Philosophy - how does it sound to you to have one world religion pushed down your throat, so that humanity is homogenized into an ugly mix of believing everything and anything, accepting all possibilities as viable, and denying that there is only One God the Father, One God the Son, and One God the Holy Ghost (Three in One, as spoken of and expounded in The Bible). Spiritually speaking, the universe doesn't give a damn whether or not a person's vision board or wish list is fulfilled via visualization, or naming and claiming what they want, because the universe was created to glorify God, not satisfy carnal demands - the universe answers to God, not to you and me! 

3. Oratory - now dear reader, isn't it the fast talking loud large bass mouths that have so many words, I mean endless sentences that run on and on ad infinitum, that never seem to run short of something, many things, to say, about this and then that and then the other and you know, Isn't it great or terrible, blah blah blah. Are you annoyed yet, with my run on sentence? Did you wonder when it would end and did you consider ditching the reading of this blog out of irritation? If you were annoyed, and wondered when it would end, and considered ditching the reading out of irritation, then PRAISE THE LORD, you are a healthy human being intolerant of nonsense! Now imagine what God sees and hears, all the live long day! 

In the paragraph that started our time together, two types of people are described:

1. A person that has a low opinion of their knowledge and powers, that willingly submits to another that can instruct them; such a person can be informed and improved, by revelation 

GOD - is infallible, and his revelations are pure in truth and wisdom

2. A person that is proud and puffed up with conceit based on his own wisdom and understanding, and dares to undertake the correcting of divine wisdom, preferring his or her own shallow reasonings

There are people, and perhaps you are one of them, that attempt to negate what The Bible indicates, are rules to live by, otherwise known as commandments, as in, God commands us to live according to his will and way, and when we don't we disobey, his orders. Have you ever thought about God as Commander in Chief, Ruler of the Universe, The Almighty that rules and reigns from the heavens that sees and knows all? 

There are people in our midst that refuse to be corrected, and what they seem to want most, is to corrupt those that are steadfast in their faithfulness to God, that want to honour and obey him. The devil rebelled, and in his hatred and vainglory, took with him willing participants in disobedience against their mutual Creator. Ever since their anarchy, they have acted as antichrists, encouraging the similar minded in thought, in spirit, and in deed, to join them in their debacle. If fallen angels hate God, knowing him as Supreme in all his ways, is it at all surprising, that self-deluded and self-obsessed humans, fall into the category of depraved, deranged, and debauched, too? It isn't really a stretch, or a long distance walk, away from God, and toward self-absorption, for those that think themselves too smart to be told what to do, by anyone, including the God that made them. 

God sees the wise of the world as foolish; do you? Do you hear some people talk as though they are authorities on many a subject, and do you suspect, they are like bike tires, pumped with too much hot air and ready to pop, once they apply the pressure of their excessive ego laden weight? Some people, dear reader, are uncorrectable while some people, are incorruptible - which category, pray tell, do you fall, or stand under?

Job 28:12-28

But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living. The depth saith, it is not in me: and the sea saith, it is not with me. It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighted for the price thereof. It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies. The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.

Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding? Seeing it is hid from the eyes of the living, and kept close from the fowls of the air. Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears. God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof. For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven; to make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure. When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning and thunder: then did he see it, and declare  it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out. 

And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD; that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. 

Many a person can trick themselves into believing that they are in charge of their own destiny... but ya know, they may just cough or sneeze violently once, dislocating a rib from a cage of ribs, and discover, that all the breaths they took before that, were so easy, so natural, that they never considered how good they had it, until they no longer have it, so to speak. Inhale through that nose riding on the front of your face, and out through the mouth that speaks praises to God, or curses his name, dear reader... 

... Who, pray tell, made magnificent, fully functioning, you?

Out of the Same Mouth

What ushers from your mouth? Can it be, that from the very same tongue and lips, blessings can alternate with curses: blessings flowing sweetly to envelop another's soul, while curses rush in a flood, meant to drown the one damned?

My Irish twin (my younger sister and I were born the same year, in case you are wondering what an Irish twin is) used to fight a lot, and sometimes it even got physical. As I recall, she stabbed me with a fork several times, and at least once with a pencil. There was hair pulling and scratching, and I recall an incident, when she ripped the chain off my neck, and punched me hard in the stomach... sure, I was sitting on her at the time, holding her arms to the floor and laughing, but really, such violence! She was a hell cat, and what a surprise it was, to be breathless from that fist to the gut - how did she wiggle free from my hold? Note to self: laughter weakens grip during serious situations.  

Fast forward to our late fifties, and my Irish twin and I are truly very much twin like. We think similarly, share the same sentiments on many a subject, disagree without duking it out, and say the same things at the same time, with great frequency - we even do this via text messaging, plus, we look alike. We no longer argue, and physical fighting stopped in childhood; but we both have sharp tongues, that could cut an opponent to ribbons, if used as a weapon. 

Many years ago, during a visit (my sister lives in another city), my Irish twin and I somehow got into an argument. I haven't a clue what we were fighting about, but during the course of this dispute, she was ready to pack her things and cut the weekend time with family short. O, ya, we had short tempers too, an inherited trait from impatient parents. She was in the guest room gathering her things for departure, and the door was closed, with me on the other side. Suddenly I was hit with deep regret and remorse. and the question came to me: How can I say I love my sister, and speak to her as though I hate her, with the same mouth? 

Have you ever been in the same sort of situation? Think with me: Is this "inherited"/learned behaviour? Kind one minute, cruel the next, depending on what you have heard, how offended you are, and how much you want to retaliate? Does love appear and disappear, when you perceive a slight? When irked, how do you respond?

The Bible advises that we must not repay evil with evil, and yet, you and I may have learned this kind of interacting from parents that did not take the time to self-assess and then, self-regulate. It takes concerted effort over a span of time to course correct, and to learn new ways of interacting with others, even when the heat gets turned up. Relationship can only last and flourish with two willing parties: problems must not be glazed over in an attempt to rush to a temporary state of peace - this is a bandaid approach to what may be, a gapping wound needing antiseptic and sutures. 

Let us return to me, on the other side of a closed door, with my sister packing up to leave. I knock, and plead, Please don't go. She opens, and I tell her I am shocked that I could speak love, and hate, from the same mouth, and that I would never do this with her again. I tell her I am so sorry. Then she slams the door and hits me right in the face... kidding! 

She stayed, dear reader, and today we have a bond that is greater than the blood we share in common. I consider her one of my best friends, the kind of friend I call with good, and bad news, knowing that she will celebrate, laugh, and cry with me, depending on the circumstances. She is the kind of person whose opinion I respect, and appreciate. We aren't hell cats anymore, we are more like love doves. 

Now, let us turn our attention to you, dear reader. 

You may have had marvellous parents that modelled outstanding communication skills, but I doubt it! I do not blame my parents or yours for what may be lacking in their relating abilities - each generation comes with their own brand of challenges, and your parents and mine, are no different. You, on the other hand, you, are reading an article about what comes from your mouth and how it may have impacted your relationships. Believe me when I tell you, that I have cringed many a time in recalling my own words: man alive, wouldn't it be lovely to take some of them back?

We cannot take them back once they are out, which brings us to this soul searching question: What is in your heart? If hate comes from your mouth, chances are good that hate is in your heart and pumping through your veins. You may speak words of love, and again, this means there is some love in that heart of yours, but dear reader, which one rules and reigns over your tongue? 

James 3:5-12

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindeleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 

Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be. 

Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. 

The Word of God is my conscience director, and I pray it becomes yours too, if it isn't already. I don't fight like I used to, even though the urge to do so rises up in me periodically. I don't want to say or do things I will regret and cannot retrieve: I want, to be holy as God is holy, and thanks be to him, he is long-suffering and merciful, and gives us strength, when we are tempted to act like the devil. 

Miracles are Unnatural

What is common seems miraculous, for example, the existence of a newly born baby. When we gaze adoringly at tiny fingers that grasp our own, or cuddle a cooing and stretching, previously furled babe, it is almost beyond comprehension, to have them in our presence. How in the world, did this tiny wonder form without human aid, and then fast-forward, land in a parent's lap? 

I recall my eyesight being blurry, following extended staring and crying sessions: I couldn't peel my eyes off of my babe in arms, my sweet gift from God, and tears of gratitude flowed frequently. How in the world? The answer to this question, is God, in the world, in the making, in the creating, and crafting, and providing, that is how. 

People call babies miracles, and yet, a google search has informed me that 360 000-370 000 are born daily, all over the world. The fact that neither you, nor I, can make a baby, does give the impression that they are indeed, miraculous! Stay with me now: How is it that you were at one time, DNA (a self-replicating material that is present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information), an egg and a sperm ... an egg, dear reader, and a sperm ... you were formed from these two substances but in each of these items there is so much more! You were replicated based on your mother and your father's encoded egg and sperm combo. Yes of course this is obvious to you, you know how the "science" works, but can you make this stuff up and have it happen? Can you replicate? 

It is the vulgar reckoning of man, the vanity of the conceited, that has them believing they can do as God has done. Monkeys copy, and man is like a monkey (we are not primates, we are human beings created in the image of God), when he finds ways to mimic what has been masterfully created by the hand of God. Using materials made by omniscient God, does not a mini-god make: in other words, while it is ingenious to figure out how the body works and what it takes to physically actuate a baby, and the conditions required for the human to go from egg and sperm to squirming adorableness in a parents arms, does not make a person a replicator; it is DNA that has within, the mystery of life. 

Can you figure out the mystery of life, dear one? Can you?

Now, consider with me, dreaded death. While new life is awe inspiring, death is dreary and drastically depleting of all energy and life force. Death is the enemy of life, and it is in our DNA, dear one: we are destined to die. This brings me to my topic for writing.

Miracles are unnatural. Resurrection is unnatural. We are born, then we die, and there is no return policy in place. Once you and I become the dearly, or hated, departed, we simply disappear. Have you seen a dead body recently? or witnessed someone take their last breaths? I have. When the breathing stops, the stillness is so strange - no movement, no animation, absolutely no resemblance to the person that used to be. Then there is the almost immediate coldness and what is called mottling - a heart that no longer pumps, cannot distribute blood, and the skin beings to blotch. It is horrifying to witness and repulsive to stay with the dead. They become a thing, substance without essence, and this is abhorrent to the living; and because this is true, dear reader, it explains why so many are terrified of death, and the dying too - most humans would prefer to pretend death doesn't exist, and they attempt to avoid this inevitable plague, that eventually captures and corrupts all. 

Jesus resurrected from the dead. Jesus gave up his spirit on the cross. Unlike you and me, he decided the why, the when, the where, and the how, of his life and death. You did not choose your date of birth or the family you were born into: they did not choose you either; it wasn't random like a roulette wheel spin, it was predestined, and you had no say. Resurrection, is miraculous! After three days in a tomb, the Man/God Jesus emerged, alive. By the power of God, life was restored, and prophecy was fulfilled. There isn't a human in the history of humans, that can make the claim that they were dead three days and then, reappeared for forty days to hundreds of humans, family and friends, that knew them before they dropped into the grave. 

Jesus came to let us know that there is a God, he is triune, he is all powerful, and he is the Master of life, and death. He gives and he takes away, and all in his perfect timing. When we are alive, we are to be thankful, and when we are dying, we must realize we are dependent on his grace. Jesus is the Author of life, and death did not hold him captive. 

You and I will die, and our spirits will continue on. The pagans of this world utilize the pretence of boasting, that they can exist forever in their "consciousness", but this is foolishness compared to the infinite wisdom of God. They swap out consciousness for spirit or soul; they hold tightly to their own aging and soon to be decrepit bodies, rather than embracing the giver of life. They are the walking dead, denying deity, and God has given them over to their vain imaginings. 

Let us draw near to closing this topic with some clarifying statements. You are currently alive: this I know because you are reading these words. You will die, just like the people that came before you have done. You will not be able to bring yourself back because you never had the power of life in the first place: it was never up to you to create yourself. If this seems too simplistic and obvious, then I am glad that we are on the same page. If you actually believe you are the master of your own destiny, that somehow technology or medical interventions (is the medical system really helpful, or hurtful, dear one?) will save you and preserve you, then you are delusional. Stop by a cemetery and walk amongst the graves and ask the dead, who cannot encourage, instruct, explain, describe, or speak at all, What can you tell me about the afterlife?  

Jesus is wisdom incarnate. He alone lives to forecast and inform us, and the Word of God is the fulfilling of all prophecy. Our hope is never misplaced when it settles solidly on faith in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. There is a Way to live forever in peace and joy, One Way, and it is through Christ the King, that died on a cross for your sins and mine, and after three days, resurrected as the conqueror of death. 

If this is foolishness to you, then I pray for the blinding veil to be removed from your eyes. If this doctrine is life affirming, then I pray you carry on Christian soldier; lift up your eyes to the heavens, and delight in knowing that one day, your Saviour will appear in the clouds, and all of creation will behold his glory. 

Revelation 1:5-8

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. 

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

NOTE: The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation on which the Christian faith is securely fastened. The signs and wonders Jesus performed were predicted and gave confidence to believers, that he was the promised Messiah. The resurrection was prophesied but man alive, can you imagine how the apostles and disciples, relatives and friends of Jesus felt, being able to see and touch him, eat and drink with him, after witnessing him crucified, and hanging dead on the cross? 

Miraculous is the only word to describe this wondrous work of God.

Government of God

Well of course most people hate God! Follow with me, the logic of the worldly, the global governors of this world. 

The take over the world megalomaniacs lie, cheat, steal, fornicate, froth at the mouth over food, drink, and beautiful bodies. Megalomaniacs want all the property they see to be mine, all mine, and they move border stones to thieve away what belongs to others, all others. Megalomaniacs are fuelled by their avarice and use violence to take what does not belong to them, but belongs to you, and me, and those that cannot defend themselves against monster strength greed, gluttony, and grotesque covetousness. The desire for power over all they see, is the sickness the megalomaniac enjoys suffering. 

The Government of God is lawful and fair. Imagine that: what is mine is mine and what is yours is yours. When I buy from you and you sell to me, there is an exchange that is satisfactory to both, having us walk away whole, and happy for the transaction. Imagine too, eyes that track and adore one mate, one partner, one spouse: eyes that light up at the sight of one true love. Imagine with me, a respect and appreciation for the property of others, where we touch with our eyes in admiration, and do not want to grab with our dirty demanding digits. How about truth telling with kindness, and the ultimate goal being edifying, and praising others, so that their hearts glow with affection as recipients of sweetness bestowed. 

The Government of God is lawful I say, and The Bible is ultra clear regarding his laws; when we transgress the codified laws, we criminalize ourselves. I will be direct: the breaking of law is chosen by those that disregard God, hate Jesus, and could care less, about consequences, because the ultimate goal for a criminal, is to grab all he can while he can, from whomever he can, without an ounce of remorse or regret. Does this describe you? Have you ever considered yourself to be a criminal?

• Do you lie?
• Do you steal?
• Do you look at your neighbours spouse with lust?
• Are you fornicating?
• Do you pay for what you have purchased?
• Do you imbibe to the point of intoxication?
• How about taking care of your children? Do you spend all you have leaving them zero for their inheritance?
• Are you raising your children in the admonishment of the Lord?
• What about your elderly parents? Are you a source of comfort and care for them?
• How do you contribute to society? 
• How are you helping those in need?

Eavesdrop now, on conversations had, with you as the topic. What do you hear? How are you spoken of by those that know you the best? Are you cringing at what is being said about you? 

Would you be known, as a man/woman of God, honouring him, obeying his laws, gratefully granting him governance in your life? Abiding: would you be described as abiding, in Christ as your King? Would others call you kind and thoughtful, merciful and gracious. Do you resemble Jesus?

Facebook informed me that when I use pictures of celebrities, I get more traction with my posts, meaning more people view what I have placed on social media. This made me grin, because I used a picture of Sylvester, a cartoon cat and apparently, this made me more popular as a poster! Today, I use a picture of Pinky & the Brain, to suggest, that the megalomaniacs are cartoon ridiculous and make fools of themselves in their attempts to take over the world, a world that does not belong to them, no matter how much lying, cheating, stealing, and murder they commit, to have it all. We are worm meat in the end, and each person will face their earthly, very humbling I would hope, demise, since our lives are held by the Governor of the universe. 

It really doesn't matter if you are a megalomaniac or a minor player that breaks the law of God. You are accountable, and counted as a criminal, each time you choose to go against the rules that are meant to protect each of us from each other! It is the Christ followers that can be trusted to live according to his principles, precepts, and example. Those that live and love Truth, are loath to go against God's government... and the rest, well, what can I say that you aren't already thinking at the end of this piece of writing? Need I fill in the blanks, or can you do this yourself?

Read The Bible if you fear you are a criminal in the eyes of God's government. Ask God to help you break your pattern of sin so that you can abide in him, and him in you. Repent, and see Christ on the cross, dying for your sins and paying the price for your wicked ways. Be new and sin no more: this is not only possible, it is promised, to those that ask God to be their strength when tempted. 

Think of The Bible as The Book that will be thrown at you on the day of judgment. You have access to The Book of life now, why not read it, and ask God to give you wisdom and understanding, and a desire, to have him govern your life? 

Revelation 20:12

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Liars

Liars, you can't trust 'em, and you can't change 'em

Liars are hard to like, and almost impossible to love

Liars break bonds of trust, and then lie about the breach

Liars are cowards, comparable to crawl on the belly snakes

Liars are selfish, manipulative, and users

Liars can't see past themselves, and don't believe in consequences

Liars entertain themselves at the expense of others, and then lie about it

Liars are empty headed, cold hearted, void of essence

Liars dim the light, and darken a room

Liars are despicable in countless, and countable ways

Liars like themselves, and what they like, excluding what others like

Liars feel entitled and take, or do, what they want, disregarding impact

Liars feign interest, ignorance, kindness, as a cover so they can lie undetected

Liars are subtle, obvious, oblivious, mischievous, self-approving, dismissive 

Liars think they are smarter and better than everyone else

Liars lie for sport, for fun, for financial gain, for support, for their own benefit

Liars are cowards and con-artists

Liars break rules and backs without a second thought

Liars hate, hold grudges, seek revenge, and execute their plans on the sly

Liars are black hearted and vapid

Liars.. who needs them, who wants them?

If, dear reader, I describe someone you know, perhaps you will do your very best to get away from this person as soon as you can. 

Do liars go to heaven? No, they don't. Liars don't go to heaven, unless of course, they repent, and lie/sin, no more, turning them into honest people. Let us face the facts together, shall we? Each of us have spoken selfishly, or perhaps manipulatively, for our own gain. There isn't a human that hasn't taken action that benefited them, and left the other person with less than what they deserved as their fair share. It is the conscience that cannot be lived with when we do wrongly, that helps us admit when we have lied, stolen, cheated, mistreated, manipulated. It is the spirit that shutters in regret, remorse, and shame, when we acknowledge that we have taken advantage of someone and harmed them via deception. 

Jesus is the Truth. Imagine, dear reader, a human being that cannot lie. Dare I say, this can be you, this is possible for me... that we have the capacity to be so honest, that we do not lie, or practice deception in any form or manner? 

God cannot lie, making him completely honourable and worthy of trust immeasurable. If you and I cannot stand the liars in our lives and want them out, how would Almighty God tolerate them in heaven for eternity? The thought is laughable and incongruous. 

Proverbs 12:22

Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

Abomination is defined as: a thing that causes disgust or loathing

Proverbs 10:9

He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

Pervert: distort or corrupt the original course or state of something, ie: He was charged with conspiring to pervert the course of justice. 

Dishonest people corrupt and pervert the course of justice, for their own gain. This is disgusting and loathsome to the LORD. 

Notice in Proverbs 10:9, he that pervertheth his ways shall be known. Liars don't think they will get caught in their deceptiveness. Chances are fair to good, that they have gotten away with thousands and thousands of lies without being held to account. What they don't realize, is that their reputation as a liar is confirmed, each time they twist truth; and whether or not they get called out, or to a court of law, people know them for who they are. They haven't gotten away with their lies, they have been tolerated, given grace, and been shown mercy, for a time. 

On a happy note, we can reflect on the second half of Proverbs 12:22, they that deal truly are his delight.

The LORD of glory detests lying lips and delights in truth tellers. 

God is not fooled or mocked by mischief makers that without a show of repentance, continue in their wicked ways. God wants none to be lost and gives each of us oodles of time to self-assess and course correct, calibrating to Christ! 

If you are a chronic liar, you can't hide from God, just so you know; and by the way, you are fooling fewer and fewer people by the day... 

What we say and do is witnessed by many, including the host of heaven. 

Links In The Chain

The heaviness keeps me in place. I can not lift, shift, pull, push, the weight. My standstill immobility is a state I struggle to comprehend. What is keeping me here, and how long will I be without freedom of movement?

Looking down, I see a sturdy steel link. Following with my eyes, I observe yet another, interlocking with the first; there are many links, forming a chain, each with their own shape, and differing weightiness; they disappear into the distance, untraceable with my limited vision. I try, one at a time, to lift my feet - it is impossible; the links, forming the chain, are invisibly attached to my ankle's, preventing movement. 

Taking a steadying breath, I decide to wait. In the waiting, I start to wondering. How the heck did this thing attach itself to me? When did this happen, and how is it, that I did not notice the weightiness, until a moment ago?

I soon learn, that each link in the cumbersome chain has an instruction for me, or a story to tell, and in my held prisoner captivity, I am meant to stand and listen. Closing my eyes, I place one hand over the other and fit them both, over my left collar bone. In silence, I anticipate and then I startle, at the sound of a voice, coming directly from a link in the chain. 

In a deeply resonant voice, Link One informs me, You are free to leave. 

What? Are you kidding me? I am free to leave? Do you see how you hold me here, captive, a prisoner, held in place, you and your heaviness friends preventing me from even lifting one foot? You must be kidding me? 

Link One continues: You heard me correctly. I tell you again, You are free to leave. 

In irritation, I want to berate Link One. I curl my lip in derision but I don't know how to address the link. Free to leave, free to leave: this echos in my mind, disturbing and disrupting my thoughts. I scratch my head and start to consider this concept of freedom and leaving combined. 

I hear a crackle, followed by a subtle shattering sound: this glass like fragmenting, has me tilting my head, trying to discern its whereabouts. Turning back to Link One, with a fresh desire to enable untethered movement, I ask, How am I free to leave? Placing my hands criss-cross over my throat, I await Link One's response. 

I am surprised to hear Link Two's answer to my question; its suggestively sweet voice draws my eyes to its considerable incommodiousness. How could something as weighty as Link Two, have such a lilting and encouraging voice? 

Take a step backward. Lift your left foot, and place it behind you, then your right foot. You need to retrace: there are many remembrances behind you, that you must not leave there. Go find them, and bring them here, Link Two orders. 

Dumbfounded, I feel my nose tingling with the start of tears. Go back, you say? Retrace and retrieve, you insist? Isn't the past the past? Am I to relive what was? How is this at all helpful? How will bringing my memories here, to now, give me freedom to leave? 

There it is again, the shattering sound, only this time, it is louder, and reverberates for countless minutes, filling the air with tremendous tumult. Alarmed, I unwittingly move backward and away from the noise, and find myself in a memory, frozen in time, touchable with my thoughts and tangible for brief moments only. Lost in what was that is no longer, I look up. A barely perceptible voice is whispering to me and it takes effort to turn my gaze toward the whisper. Try as I might, I cannot make out the words, understand their meaning, or comprehend the message. What, I ask, What is that you are saying? I can't hear you, please speak up.

What holds you in the past?

Pardon? Please speak louder. 

What holds you captive?

I still cannot hear you, or maybe I am misunderstanding? Please repeat.

Look at what hurts. Notice how you feel. What pulls you back in time and then, holds you in place?

Link Three is speaking, and I have had to strain to hear. I do not want to hear what Link Three is saying, nor do I have the desire to do as I am instructed, and yet, I have moved backward, and it is a relief to be able to move at all. Smashing, I hear a smashing sound, and it is so close, I am afraid to be impaled by the glassy shards. I notice a sharp object flying fast in my direction, and I dodge the weapon thrown by an unseen hand. I see that my feet have moved in unison, and I am now standing to the right of where I first stood immobilized. 

Astounding. This is astounding. I can lift my feet, I can move, in fact, I am going to run! I tell myself this, but as soon as the words are out, and I try to raise my left to leave, I feel the ground beneath me, holding me fast. I am stuck, both feet glued to the ground, and it strikes me, that as much as I want to get out of this holding place, I am not done with the chain links, because they still cling and keep me captive. 

Eyes closed, I throw my head back in consternation. What now? Progress is so elusive. Will I ever be free, and what about those shards of glass coming my way, wanting to kill me? Am I fast enough to dodge them all? In my ruminating, I neglect to notice how thin and fragile the links attached to Links One, Two, and Three, have become; if they were people, they would positively be considered skeletal and anemic! 

In a weak and accusatory voice, I hear Link Four telling me, You can't walk, let alone run. You will stay where you are. 

I am immediately suspicious of Link Four. Link Four is not nice, is not helpful, and certainly does not make me feel as though it is on my side. Link Four, is rude, and I decide to shout at Link Four, You don't know me!

The bust into tiny pieces explosion is deafening, and I cover my ears in an attempt to protect my hearing. I duck low to the ground, crouching, to keep from being smattered with sharp bits of steel and glass. This was a close call, so close in fact, that at my feet lay remnants of what looks like a former link... in a chain?

I slowly unfurl and return to standing. It is quiet, and I do not want to disturb the peace. Looking down, I see Links One, Two, and Three. They lay silently gleaming, still attached, but not to me. I bend down and pick them up, their lightness feeling pleasant in the palms of my hands, then I remember. I peel my eyes away from the fit in my hands chain links, and look toward where the rest of the chain lay. Grinning, I realize, I am truly free to leave, to go where I please, untethered, unhindered, not a captive, but a conqueror, set free. 

Those heavy links are gone, smashed to smithereens, and their cumbersomeness is no longer my heaviness. 

You too, are free to leave, dear one. You are more than a conqueror in Christ, the One that sets captives free. This world is cumbersome and chain link heavy, but the freedom that awaits you, will have you walking, then running, unhindered, right into the arms of the One that made you. 

Now, hear the words of the Lord, Jesus Christ

Luke 4:18-20

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

Answer the Whisper

What is the whisper you have been ignoring? This question came at me like a cloaked in silence stealth ninja; I felt the silky subtlety in the word whisper.

• What kind of question is this?
• How much time must I invest to search my soul on this one?

I immediately dropped the inquiry as a too much to manage in that moment hot potato. When I snuck back to the question, I had some questions of my own. The suggestion that I had indeed, been ignoring a whisper, had me wondering: 

• What I am not doing. that I ought to be doing? next, I asked myself: 
• Why are you evading and avoiding answering the whisper?  

Of course, this type of question is meant to stir up some soul searching trouble, with the hope that the one that actually answers the question, hears their calling, and heeds it too.  

• What is a whisper you have been ignoring, dear reader?
• Are you trying to squirm and run from the small and still voice that aims to inform and instruct you? 
• Have you heard the whisper, and ignored it repeatedly? 

When did you first hear the whisper, and tell it, Not now; Go away, or; Never, I will never listen to you? and yet, like a persistent child, or adamant adult, you could hear it, soto voce, the pay attention to me whisper, insisting you turn your eyes and attune your ears and senses, to what it has to say. 

The whisper I have been ignoring has been acknowledged, and I continue to explore what it means to live according to what I have been called to do. In the past, I resisted the devotion of my calling, but there is always a hefty price to pay when we do not listen to God, and what he asks of us. My calling, is to serve the remnant, to write for and to the remnant; to speak life and God's love as a Christian communication and relationship coach, to the remnant. I am a Christian, edifying Christians, and glory be to God, it is freeing to hear and heed that whisper, the very one that has become a strong and powerful voice. I want to abide and feel I must abide. These are my instructions:  

Be my ambassador for the remnant. 

2 Corinthians 5:17-19

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Matthew Henry wrote this: 

Faith is the soul's confidence in Christ, and dependence on him. 

These wise words speak to my favourite of all favourites in scripture: 

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

We cannot touch, taste, sniff, a whisper: it is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen, and yet, once we listen to and in turn, respond to the whisper, it actualizes, and gives us the confidence to live our calling. 

Now the God of hope, fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost (Romans 15:13).

Hope is a gift from God. Joy and peace are blessings bestowed on believers in Christ as Lord and Master of our souls. The Holy Ghost's power fills us with hope, and this is astounding to contemplate. Just like the whisper, we can ignore these life altering mercies from the Almighty, but by doing so, we forfeit all the good God wants us to experience while we walk the earth.  

• What, dear one, is the whisper you are ignoring? 
• What will it take for you to hear, and heed?
• What are you missing out on, by avoiding and evading your calling?
• What price do you pay, for your disobedience, for your denying deity, and his right to your life as servant of the living God?

Soul stirring questions are meant to have you consider what your purpose is, and what you are called to do. I hope you take the time today to hear, and then plan how, to heed the whisper. 

Your future freedom depends upon it.