Beyond the Stars   

 Part 3 

Will, covenant, ratification   

   God's law, written on tablets of stone, is good. But it's demands result in our condemnation. We cannot obey sufficiently to please him. 

   When we first believe in Christ's atoning death (his ratification of the new covenant), we receive the Holy Spirit. He writes God's law of love on the tablet of our heart (2 Corinthians 4). Only then, we have spiritual power to begin conforming to God's will, starting with love of God and "neighbors."

  

   This is freedom - from condemnation and slavery to the power of sin. It's not liberty to do whatever we choose and rationalize it away.

   We don't sit in the back row and rest. We welcome the Spirit's presence and direction, assisted mainly by the Scriptures. God expects us to overcome our nature and the world's ways; in fact he demands it, as we see in the Revelation. 

   God has an out-of-this-world resurrection for us, in his Son's likeness. His will is that we begin that transformation - growing from birth like any baby - a new creation of character and moral state. We will fully realize our maturity only when we see him. 

   No Spirit, no transformation. With Spirit...

   The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God's children ... heirs ... co-heirs with Christ, if we share in his suffering in order that we also share in his glory (Romans chapter 8). 

   Suffering? This not trouble-free Utopia. Satan deceives. The Spirit helps us in our weakness ... intercedes for us ... for the saints in accordance with God's will (verse 26). 

   In the New Testament, a saint is one who receives the Son on his terms, remains faithful, trusts and obeys. 

   Revelation 21:7 - He who overcomes will inherit all this and I will be his God and he will be my son. Rev. 3:21 - Jesus told John in his vision, To him who overcomes I will give the right to sit with me on my throne...  

   Can you believe it? 

The above is taken from the Bible; this is not the blogger's interpretation.

  Tomorrow: Get ready to cheer ... and mount up!   

     Beyond the Stars     

 Part 2  

Slavery and inheritance

   We all were born slaves. Wow. Paul explains to the Galatians in chapter 4:1-7, ...as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave... So also when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. 

Father-Son relationship 

   But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son born of a woman, born under (Mosaic) law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights as sons. < Born again! > Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out Abba - Father. So you are no longer a slave, but a son ... and ... God has made you also an heir. 

   The Father and Son - God explains vertical relationship. Males were primary in the old culture. But awesome accounts of women who excelled appear in Hebrew texts as well. The Son died for daughters also.

   Abba is the Aramaic word for father. Jesus spoke Aramaic and used Abba when referring to his Father above. The word suggests warmth, deep emotion, depth of intimacy and confidence. People without loving, teaching, dependable fathers may find this relationship hard to grasp.

Spirit and life

   In Romans chapter 8:12-17, Paul writes, Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation - but it is not to the sinful nature ... For ... you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.

  

   Loving sons don't want to disappoint their fathers.

 Tomorrow: A will, and ratification 

   Beyond the Stars   

Part 1 of 5  

 To fellow Christians. Other friends as well.

   We heard a man say he didn't want to go to heaven. He said it would bore him to sit around the throne worshiping God forever and ever. 

   Or, maybe you're like me, at some time or other, hoping to make it into heaven, content to sit in the back row. 

   Is there a back row in heaven? Is it boring up there?

   To follow along, note the following:

*  In God, there is the Father, the Son and the Spirit, all three equally God. 

*  God, who is love, planned his story before he created the universe.

*  Among symbolism he uses to teach us about himself -- the father-son relationship, adoption, inheritance, wills, covenants, ratification, slavery, freedom, life and death. 

   Let's begin with adoption. In the apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians, chapter 1:4-5, For he (the Father) chose us in him (the Son) before the creation of the world, to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ. 

   An orphan who has been adopted might appreciate this best of all. Paul didn't believe we are holy and blameless, but that the ransom paid by the blood of the Son - who came to earth in our image to offer eternal life in his image - gives the Father just cause to view us as righteous. Pretty cool. 

 Tomorrow: Slavery, inheritance, the Spirit

Where Are We Going?     

   Following up on yesterday's blog, "How We Got Here," and our recent series on Russia's Bolshevik years, we wonder, where is America going? 

   We certainly are blessed to live under our system. Still, with imperfect voters and imperfect leaders, are we always a credit to our fine Constitution? 

   The Lenin story, coupled with this year's obsession on Russian collusion, begs for a blog. Therefore...

   With Lenin's goal of communizing the world, Russians began messing in other nation's affairs. This led to communist revolutions or takeovers in many places. 

   The demise of the Soviet Union in 1991 didn't curb Russia's taste for mischief, especially with today's ability to intrude while sitting at a desk. Well, why does any sane American outside the State Dept. do political business with those folks? Oh, right ... Americans up to mischief. 

   We're told Lenin saw the world as allies and enemies. Saul Alinsky had a similar outlook, as did (does?) Donald Trump. 

   We're told Lenin's crowd compromised with no one. Our Democrats especially are known for speaking with one voice...to what end?

   We're told the Bolsheviks operated by stealth, lies, coercion, subterfuge and violence. Those words are not unique to any one country. In 2016, Russia wasn't for Trump or Clinton. They sowed confusion and stoked our political discord. They keep Russian people from thinking there is a political system worth another 1917 uprising. 

   Bolsheviks craftily told the people what they wanted to hear, and our politicians practice that art very well.

   Common threads - 1917 and 2017 - so where do we go from here?

       Jimmy

 Tomorrow: No back row in heaven 

   

How We Got Here       

   Unrest simmered on two fronts.

   Thomas More (see Sunday's blog) was distressed by Europe's long history of egotistic kings. In 1516, he published Utopia, a novel based on an "ideal" political system governed by reason. 

   His fictional island was ruled by pagans. He used the word "communists." 

   More's novel (we haven't read it) dealt with state controlled education, a multi-religion society, divorce, euthanasia and women's rights. (500 years ago!)

   His bio lists him as a humanist. It would be several years before King Henry VIII "discovered" More and brought him into his inner circle.   

The other front
   A year after Utopia, Martin Luther in Germany argued against what he saw as unbiblical conduct and doctrine at high levels in the church. Luther's thesis was sent to the Pope. We don't know how he reacted, but turmoil eventually led to a religious war - the universal church vs. the protesters. 

   Meanwhile, King Henry VIII asserted himself into church politics, and continued his monarchical rule over England's people. In all, he had six wives, two of whom he divorced and two were beheaded. One of his daughters we know as Queen (Bloody) Mary. 
  
In the 1700's  
   Educated people in the American colonies were taking notes. Revolution was necessary, but eventually they developed - not utopia - but historic reformation of government. 

   We have freedom of speech, religion, assembly and the press. We have justice, balance of powers, general welfare, and the right to speedy trial by peers without cruel and unusual punishment. We have the right to petition government for redress of grievances, and to be secure in our homes without unlawful searches.

   We don't practice all this perfectly, for sure, but let's remember the alternatives, and be thankful.

      Jimmy

From Fame to Martyrdom to Saint    

   Thomas More was an author, educator, lawyer, judge and adviser to King Henry VIII. A Christian, he was born in 1478, before the Reformation. 

   Search Henry VIII for more details about a king who considered himself above both church and state...and woe to the person who displeased him.  

   More's first no-no was advising the king that he could not divorce his first wife, who bore no sons. Henry ultimately had had six wives, two of them divorced and two beheaded. 

   More resigned from the House of Commons in 1532, apparently in protest of Henry's attempt to become head of the Church of England. In 1534 he refused to swear to Henry's Act of Succession and Oath of Supremacy. Off to the Tower of London he went. 

Which brings us to today's message. 

More wrote to his daughter, explaining why he was willing to be executed. 

He looked at his earthly duties through the lens of eternal consequence. 

"I die the king's good servant, but God first." 

As for his disloyal friends, he told her, 

"Bear no malice or evil will to any man living. For either the man is good 

or wicked. If he is good and I hate him, then I am wicked. 

If he is wicked, either he will amend and die good and go to God, 

or live and die wickedly and go to the devil.

"Why should I hate one for this while he shall hereafter love me forevermore, and with whom I shall in time be coupled in eternal friendship?

"If he will continue to be wicked and be damned ... then 

I may well think myself a cruel wretch if I would not now 

rather pity his pain than malign his person?"

    From Bella's Gift        

   More was beheaded in 1534 and canonized in 1935. 

             Tomorrow: More about More, and the U.S. Constitution

Upon Further Review      

   Here we go, another exciting Saturday of Big-Time college football. What you need to know.

   This is a day of rest for No. 1 Alabama and their coach, Mike Saban, who is also No. 1 in rankings by salary, by the nose of a football over $11 million. Including post-season games, his team will play 14 times this year, paying him $785,000 per game.

   We know. He works hard all year. But he is hired for wins. Root for Alabama on Nov. 18 when they play the Mercer Bears. That's not fake news. 

   By comparison, Alabama's governor earns $119,000. 

   No. 2 in salary is Dabo Sweeney, $8.5 million. This is a $607,000 payday for the Clemson coach (assuming 14 games). 

   Millionaires Urban Meyer and James Franklin square off today in a pretty big game, but they're not as interesting as a couple Southern tycoons with unhappy stockholders. Florida and Florida State shockingly are in danger of not qualifying for bowl games. 

   Frustrated Jimbo Fisher challenged a fan to repeat something to his face. Injury-plagued FSU lost again last night. 

   Jim McElwain's Florida Gators lost while wearing faux gator-skin jerseys, and with nine players suspended for credit card, felony fraud. He groused about death threats to players, families and coaches. This week he offered no details to administrators, only saying there were "one or two"...somethings. 

   Be glad, coach, you're not at football-powerhouse Citadel. A few years ago, students beat up the field-goal kicker after he let them down. 

   Not to be left out, Washington State millionaire coach Mike Leach hired a private investigator to help him collect another $2.5 million he says his former employer, Texas Tech, owes him from the 2009 season. 2009! 

   So remarkable is coach Gary Anderson, who waived off $12 million Oregon State owed him in a buyout.

   Enjoy the games. 

       Jimmy