$ + Power Wins!

This is the way the world has long done dirty, and on the most rare of occasions, perhaps some practical good.

Christ honoring? Not in any universe. So here it is:

Control outcomes by wielding money and political power (which are rather hand-in-hand) against your opponent/s for the “win”.

In banana republics or larger (say, Russia) you can also quickly understand oligarchs and often the military are part of der leader’s arsenal. Fire people who don’t kiss up to you and your position on any matter of interest.

But in general, use the stick far more than the carrot to bowl over enemies to you and your position. The hammer is loot, political cronies who know full well you can dump them or fully pardon them at your pleasure… so how do we even begin to refer to such conduct as “democratic”, “constitutional” or anything but a dictatorship propped up by… money, political clout (it’s your job on the line Congressional bubba. Tow the line “or else”) and do we actually believe such is a Christ-like model of how to treat people with whom we disagree?

In places where the military willingly do the bidding of such people in power we have quite the muck soup, hmmmm?

Just cut the deal with a hammer in hand and watch power triumph over love in the real world.

No. “Overcome evil with good.”

Threats, force via money, political power, firing and the demand for loyalty above honesty and a 360 rule of law are somehow good for society? Koolaide by the gallon, that.

Things to consider for the journey.

As always, thanks for stopping by, -Glenn

MAR., APRIL 2020 GK Appearances

And a note on upcoming GK Solo tour: England…

So the calendar is moving along. Today I’ll just give an overview of appearances, but as usual, I mostly publish details a month or two in advance re. bookings for myself solo, sometimes w. Wendi and sometimes GKB shows.

Note also, I won’t always list every jail or prison set as the truth is there are many -and you really don’t want to be there.

Making progress on the next record, slowly also on the book. More info. on these when available.

MARCH 2020
SUN 8th Great Lakes Naval Training Center, IL
SAT 14th private house show
FRI 20th Nitelight Arts Center Berwyn, IL w. Todd Anthony Joos and The Revelators
SAT 21st Josiah’s Place Beloit, WI w. Todd Anthony Joos and The Revelators
TUE 31st Joliet (IL) Treatment Center (prison) w. Todd Anthony Joos and The Revelators

APRIL 2020
SAT 4th Lincoln (IL) Correctional Center w. Todd Anthony Joos and The Revelators
TEN. Weekend of the 18th Detroit, MI area

A heads-up if you’re in the UK- I’ll be doing a *solo* blues/plus tour with stops in Northampton, Coventry and Stoke on FRI, SAT, SUN June 5, 6 and 7.

Pic by Tony Taylor, Ascendent Instruments, Potomac, IL (named this one “Midnight”) !

Again, I’ll post all details on all these shows soon.

As always, thanks for stopping by! -Glenn

Today's Thanks

-it’s personal-

“Thank You for a warm, quiet office, Linux Peppermint operating system. For a cough that at least isn’t non-stop. A good brunch w. my lovely wife and family. Laundry today though a day late. That I can see, hear, walk, am not in constant pain. For these record and book projects, websites and so very many kind friends. Thank You for grace with trolls and for the ability to not respond in kind. For spiritual gifts and fruit. For dear friends with accountability involved. Thank You for hot showers, the gift of sleep. Thank you for the gift of being awake. For the deliverance from paranoia, basic fear, the Spirit of power, love and self control. For dreams fulfilled beyond my imagination. For grace to flow, change, adapt, love regardless of agreement. Most of all for YOU Father, Son, Spirit! I have no doubt You are the source of all good and certainly all good in my life.”

To those listening in, as always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn

Emotional Intelligence?

Yep. One of the many stressors of relationships everywhere, be it marriage, family, neighborhood, workplace, church or rock band, sometimes our ability to navigate both others’ and our own emotions will make or break… well… anything and sometimes everything.

If you read or hear me over the years you’ll know it’s about as rare as “hen’s teeth” to cite business information/how-to stuff as though it were some sort of perfect overlay for a Christian’s approach to life, church or ministry. This is one extremely rare exception, and I’ll explain why in a bit though I think it’s fairly obvious re. the truths unfolded within the article.

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/7-reasons-why-emotional-intelligence-is-one-of-the-fastest-growing-job-skills?utm_source=pocket-newtab

In Bible plain-speak, the fruit which the Holy Spirit grows in the life of a follower of Jesus is, should be, can be, will be if we’ll cooperate with Him and seek Him in such, things like self-control, patience, kindness and gentleness. Sounds like what we might need to engage regularly with anyone doesn’t it? How much more are these attitudes/attributes/virtues of God Himself essentials in living, working alongside “difficult” people? And in humility, sometimes -we- are difficult people folks, humility and integrity calls us to admit that also.

Being the extrovert I am, listening is an on-going work of art I’m engaged in. The article’s accent on listening is core- and I would say one of the most amazing gifts God gives us. Consider His un-changing effort and lovingkindness via His listening to us, 24 x 7 x 365?!

In many Christian circles these days there is regular teaching on “spiritual listening”. I concur and have personally benefitted from various input as well as exercises in actually listening at a deeper level than I had in years past. Practice!

Love, peace, patience, kindness, (see Galatians chapter 5 for the full list) are all needed in solid relationships and flourishing engagement whether in family, work, socially or mission. To simply defend yourself by blowing all this off as mere emotionalism or pandering to folk’s feelings may well mean your feelings about it are ruling you. Hmmm? Ouch?

Perhaps worth considering along the path.

As always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn

 

A Fresh List For My Heart

“5 …applying all diligence, in your FAITH supply MORAL EXCELLENCE, and in your moral excellence, KNOWLEDGE, 6 and in your knowledge, SELF-CONTROL, and in your self-control, PERSEVERANCE, and in your perseverance, GODLINESS, 7 and in your godliness, BROTHERLY KINDNESS, and in your brotherly kindness, LOVE. 8 for if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” [2 Peter 1.5-8]

Solid counsel from Peter, an apostle who had learned a few things (!) in his life in the literal presence of Jesus. Consider him after his blunders in those days and much later during Jesus’ clear call -and calling him out- on the beach after Jesus had been raised from the dead.

More lessons still considering his later blunders re. Paul’s rebuke pertaining to Jewish-Gentile believer’s issues.

Finally consider what tradition tells us was Peter’s own martyrdom due to his deep love for Jesus and the people of God.

The wise apostle accents these eight essential areas which a true disciple of Jesus must cultivate continually throughout one’s life in order to be truly fruitful regarding a “TRUE [my emphasis] knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

FAITH

MORAL EXCELLENCE

KNOWLEDGE

SELF-CONTROL

PERSEVERANCE

GODLINESS

BROTHERLY KINDNESS

LOVE

Note the English “effort” or “diligence” shows up here and elsewhere in the wider text.

The Greek re. that term means: “speed, haste, diligence, earnestness, enthusiasm”

So are we really going for it, getting after these virtues in our daily walk with God?

Are these eight what I, you, your closest friends, our heroes, people we respect most are making effort to grow in?

God help me and us!

As always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn

A Tragedy Regarding The Holy Spirit

Mystery, in fact mysteries exist aplenty for those who claim to follow Jesus. But in my time serious Bible knowledge of God the Holy Spirit may be more lacking than even the subject of angels which one rarely hears mentioned among Christ followers.

It is tragic that due to lack of concern, time given to study, faith in so many (at times good and beneficial) things including various teachings via books, podcasts, blogs and seminars all “float our boat” and bring excitement when rank ignorance of the Holy Spirit is so typical among us.

Frankly, mean, controlling, self-proclaimed “kings”, “queens” and political, positioning, gains-minded professing Christians who “claim” to hear from Him are in my view, largely suspect for part of why ignorance, distrust and even fear of being around the subject exists. What we (rightly or wrongly) consider “just WEIRD” if not false doctrine keeps us often in a rather dull mindset- as in, He does “automatic” stuff, or at least sits far in the background of our conscious concern for life, spiritual growth, even ministry. Just Who gives spiritual gifts to serve? Who produces the character of Jesus in us? Perhaps we’re so intelligent we have no real need of Him?

“Enlightened and educated” people are not only needed, they are at times certainly as ignorant and un-lightened (yes, I left the “e” off on purpose) about Who He IS and what He DOES and seeks to DO in and through the Christian individually and churches/CHURCH corporately that it’s truly a tragic shame.

Right at the opening I confess to be pentecostal or you might say charismatic in my personal theology, doctrine and worship- but what I’m going to say here is not about such an “experience” nor series of them. This post is not about specific gifts nor even fruit of the Spirit but more nuts-and-bolts, issues that many seem to forget, pass over or glibly accept like “Sure, His Spirit works in us and unseen [and as I mentioned a moment ago] near-automatically does His work in us, full stop, thanks, see ya.” Not so fast.

When is the last time you heard a message on Acts 5.32? In fact add verse 33 and then let’s talk.

Acts 5.32 “And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
33 But when they heard this, they were cut to the quick and intended to kill them.

The power of the Apostles’ witness of the risen Jesus absolutely hinged on the Holy Spirit working through them with boldness and passion knowing full well it may cost them their very lives -and it did for many martyrs of the Church through the ages.

“Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom” indeed, but there is also persecution, rejection and chaos. People get flat-out angry when prophets speak in His power. He’s the Spirit of Truth according to Jesus! I am getting ahead of myself here, please read on.

“WHO OBEY HIM.” Sounds like legalism, like salvation by our “good works”? Not even close. The vast majority of Bible scholars and preachers agree we cannot BE Christ followers, receive saving faith, daily grace to believe and live out a genuine walk with God, with our Lord Jesus except BY the Holy Spirit. That much is rather clear. And yet…

A blog post about the Trinity (Triune God) cannot possibly cover either Father, Son or Spirit with any sufficiency, but here, in extreme brief fashion I accent at least some Bible (and related church) truths as to how absolutely ESSENTIAL the Holy Spirit is -as well as is our cooperation with Him.

Many of you may know I’m an ordained pastor in The Ev. Covenant Church. We have a list of Affirmations. In particular you might benefit from reading through the full version of one of those, “A Conscious Dependence on the Holy Spirit” -a free pdf download that includes it is here: https://covchurch.org/who-we-are/beliefs/affirmations/

Paul states “16. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness 17. so that the man or woman of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” -2 Timothy chapter 3

Without directly quoting large bits of John’s Gospel, chapters 14, 15, 16, nor Apostle Paul’s Galatians 5, 1 Corinthians 12, 13, 14, Romans 12 neither Luke’s writings from the Book of Acts (all, but especially chapters 2, 4, 5) and other texts in both Testaments, consider the following.

According to John (chapter 14) Jesus teaches:

The Holy Spirit will advocate for us

The world cannot receive Him

We will know Him, He will be in us

We need the Spirit in order to obey God’s commands

We need the Spirit to guide us into all truth that is truly true

He will remind us what Jesus taught, commanded

(chapter 15):

He will testify about Jesus (to and via God’s people, see Acts 2, etc.)

(chapter 16):

Jesus refers to Him as He and Him, a Person, not mere theory, force or concept

Jesus sent Him

He will convict (Greek = to confute, admonish:—convict, convince, tell a fault, rebuke, reprove) the world about true sin, righteous, judgment

Here I must quote more fully, then will finish with two more statements from Paul.

John chap. 16 “13. However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14. He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you. 15. Everything that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will take from what is Mine and disclose it to you.” -Jesus

Paul writes- “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4.30 -“Grieve” Greek = to distress; reflexively or passively, to be sad:—cause grief, grieve, be in heaviness, (be) sorrow(-ful), be (make) sorry

“Do not quench the Spirit” 1 Thessalonians 5.19 –“Quench” Greek = to extinguish (literally or figuratively):—go out, quench

God moved and moves FIRST, always! We respond to Him in faith, hope, love and obedience or we do not. He IS “Authority” in all things, but He clearly has given us the ability to disregard, deny, grieve and quench our relationship to Him, the reception of His calling/s, gifts and even fruit of the Spirit (the very nature, character of God) to be grown in our life.

THAT dear ones, is a tragedy we can only prevent by loving surrender in seeking, interacting and following Jesus Christ by the power and with the help of “The Helper”- the Spirit of our heavenly Father.

God is sovereign, the church is not. But how deeply tragic if we will not in love and relationship to Him, obey Him.

We need sound doctrine, teaching, information, wisdom on Who He is and what He does, often via us. We also need relationship which is something other than mere information. It is a tragedy when we have one without the other. It is worse if the practical fact is we have neither.

You who profess to follow Jesus, I encourage you to thoroughly, carefully meditate on the many passages of Scripture that speak about the Person and work of the Holy Spirit. The gifts He gives for service and the fruit He produces in us -the character traits of our Father and our Lord Jesus are in great demand as there is deep need for all both within and beyond the churches. The world may not know it, but that’s another tragedy the love and power of the Holy Spirit can fix.

As always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn

It Was Simpler Then…

Thinking about the cold and light snowcover in our garden as I walked it this a.m.. Thinking about deep injustices and as a white male how much easier “the old days” were, like before I reached about 9 years of living.

Before that I didn’t realize how poor we were, how distant my parents had become from one another, how fractured my family was becoming nor how illness, tension and suffering separates families -and people from people, sometimes even life-long friends.

At that stage my parents divorced, I began studying Civil War and other war histories throughout the world. My own search for meaning and reason stirred. My closest friends were messed up big-time but I didn’t recognize that then.

Eventually I realized I was at least as flawed and a walking train wreck as many of them were. Shocking but a good shock because it brought me “to the end of myself”. Jesus talked about a guy who got there a different way, but in principle I was no different.

As I aged and began to cast off destructive self-medications I also learned that facing and overcoming them with positive therapies (relationship to the risen Christ, prayer, daily study of The Bible, regular accountability including confession of my sins and other concerns) brought needed changes, healing and grace inside me. Allelulia!

I also gained great benefit through things like music-making, basic do-it-yourself guitar and other building projects, time in the woods and in nature generally. Slowly -and I mean slllloooowwwwllllly- the nature of service toward others when it -did not- “suit” me was clearly part of my calling. I’m still working on that last one, but a wonderful, godly mature wife, kids, grandkids and large live-in church will either bring one good growth or a hardness and withdrawal that chokes off one’s own sense of what serving love is, as well as how needed it is in and outside of fractured churches.

Now to be clear, as you’ll see from this bit of prose that came to me during my snowy garden walk this a.m., there is both gain and loss in all relationships including those of family, friends, even re. interactions with strangers.

To put heart and convictions into action costs and there are areas in which you can’t avoid it. I do my best in terms of personal responsibility, but there it is, it’s not only on me. “Love has it’s expense” happens to be a phrase in a lyric I wrote some time ago.

To take a stand in most anything will draw some people and alienate others. Jesus said His own life and teachings did so and He said this clearly enough on several occasions -even to the point of family and friend divides.

Things like ignorance, separation from people, a chosen “me first and always” focus is in my view, a waste of one’s life, time and gifts. Self defense and protection so extreme we refuse to consider the other person’s perspective is in my view, often merely a dodge from Jesus’s calling to love your neighbor as yourself -even though you may vehemently disagree with them.

I write all this to give background for the following. If it sounds like I’m depressed or dismayed today or for that matter, generally, I honestly am not. Counting the cost is a matter of reality, fact, not fiction.

As always, thanks for stopping by! -Glenn

IT WAS SIMPLER THEN -glenn kaiser

It was simpler then – the wood and weather
The joys of peace – in quiet acre
Before I noticed – my neighbor’s pain
The deep injustice – and my own stain

It was simpler then – family forever
Friends at play – fun our tether
When my perspective – was grounding truth
Before the histories – leveled all I knew

Oh the greening – and lifting fog
Oh the speck – indeed my log
Then the calling – with it, friends falling
I was simpler then – now to love, Amen.