Plans

I don’t know about you but I love planning. I may love it more than “getting there” actually.

Perhaps it’s my imaginative side but at least for me there is a pleasure in thinking, praying and planning to go here or there, do this or that to the extent the finished outcome can almost seem a let-down, a sort of landing that isn’t as exciting or stimulating as the imaginative projection in mind as I had dreamed it up.

As a songwriter and recording artist I also admit there is usually (not always!) a joy in hearing changes in the finished product I had not previously imagined in my mind. Also, tweaking the original ideas can be quite enjoyable yet I rarely end up with what I’d call an exact representation of my original concept -and I’ve gotten used to that as a norm in much of life! Some rarely do and that’s a tragedy. I’m convinced to at least some degree our clinging to our own plans can be as much a continual chaos and misery as they may well be a gift of grace. Why? Read on please.

To be sure- there is a sense of fulfillment from accomplishment and a real and true joy of success when I finish a project.

God’s Word speaks a lot about planning. “Take no thought for tomorrow” is dealing with fretting, worrying about future matters. Proverbs 16.9 is classic on planning: “The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps.”

And a very negative phrase appears about those who don’t involve the Lord in life decisions including their plans: Psalm 10.3 For the wicked boast of the desires of their heart, those greedy for gain curse and renounce the Lord. 4. In the pride of their countenance the wicked say, “God will not seek it out”; all their thoughts are, “There is no God.”

Proverbs 19.21 gets right at the issue- “The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.”

God’s sovereign will WILL be accomplished regardless, yet He has given humans incredible leeway to make choices, plans and to act them out on this earth whether in accord with His desires or not.

Lastly, one of my all-time faves which was one of the scriptures that brought me to really trust and follow Jesus: “11. For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. 12. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. 13. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart…” -From Jeremiah chapter 29 spoken to Israel but I am convinced a word for anyone who seeks and desires to please the Lord.

Now all this doesn’t tell us our way is best! In fact it’s often core to the worst that can happen to us and those we affect by our decisions and plans. Seeking God and willingly surrendering our plans to Him adding: “IF it’s Your will Lord!” is a solid, sane, wise approach to prayer. Further, some of the apparent calamities that come our way can seem anything but the will of God for us yet we do not know all He does and is doing to protect us. Sometimes He’s literally keeping us safe from ourselves and what He deems foolish, disastrous results of our own not-His-plan planning and actions.

Things to consider along the path?

As always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn

Rejoicing in WEAKNESS?!

A dear friend asked several friends about Paul’s statement. Below is my response. I thought perhaps someone needs to hear this. HA, sometimes that someone is -me- 🙂

As always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn

Paul’s conclusion regarding “thorn in the flesh” humility and experiencing the grace of God culminated in God NOT answering his prayers but here’s the rest of the story:

2 Corinthians 12.9 “but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.”

GK’s thoughts- In terms of Paul- rejoicing in my weakness… it (A) brings me closer to Him (prayer, presence, growth in faith not in myself but Father/Son/Spirit) which (B) teaches me more about my lack/slack (me not God… YOU God!! seeking Him in prayer, His Word on X, Y, Z and (C) consideration of my history with Him being faithful, milestones in my life -and that He doesn’t change though things might not go the way -I- wish in the matter) so (D) ultimately experiencing HIS sufficiency for/through/in me to either deliver me or carry me through “the valley of the shadow of death” or the little but annoying issues of this fallen world and thorny circumstances of Glenn’s life in it. “For when I am weak, then I am strong” re. the power of Christ in my life. Cuz baby I often run out of it if I think I’m my own power source…

How thick are we to think our sufficiency in in ourselves full stop? Nada. Never was, never will be.

-Glenn

The GOOD Stuff of Tribalism

I don’t use the term “tribe” or it’s variations to mean “caste” or “better than all others” nor “holier-than-thou”, so let’s first be clear on that!

As a brand-new follower of Jesus I was blessed- and I mean BLESSED with seeing the magnificent loving and the not mistake-free and sometimes narcissistic self-serving folks in a wide range of Christian groups/gatherings/churches/denominations. All had a sense of tribe, place, “I fit here” or were in process of looking for one they could be part of.

I say even the negatives blessed me because early-on I realized people were in process of needing change just as I did- which gave me hope. Further, those exhibiting a more Christ-centered life provided even more hope that I just might increasingly become like them in my own walk with the Lord. How to NOT do it proved as helpful as how TO do relationship with Him and others.

Early-on I found the scripture “God gives the desolate a home to live in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a parched land.” which in the King James version reads “God sets the solitary in families (etc.)” and verses like that one. The Lord had truly led me to a group of Jesus hippies who were not only a match culturally but intentional about seeking God in daily prayer, confession of sin, Bible study, sharing the Good News in the streets and on campuses, and in practical works of service.

With God’s help and power I had cleaned my house of drug and alcohol addictions, etc., had laid my music aside to grow spiritually and get even more clean after several out-of-control years of doing whatever I felt like doing which nearly killed me and others who shared in the addictions in those days. It was clear my self-destruction was a reality and Alleluia! Jesus was changing me and that!!

Living in full-time intentional Christ-focused community positively changed my life and has continued to do so over 50 years later. With all my and our mistakes, sins, lack and slack I learned there were people I could risk trusting, sharing my dreams, temptations and concerns with. I found some activists who demonstrated more than skating along in a motive of self-self and more self, but truly practicing serving others in their walk with the risen Jesus Christ.

It takes no rocket scientist to know over time who is and is not committed to a band. They show up, practice, also practice individually and when gathered work together on the song/s, put in the time and effort and with enough shared cultural similarities, perhaps actually become friends. There can be an experience of something much deeper than thin social hanging out or merely “doing the show”.

The world has always been loaded with multiple and widely varied tribes. This is nothing new.

In the end, the most important tribe in my life is eternal and eternally HIS. His tribe includes a WIDE range of tribes. Please see Book of Revelation 5.9 and 14.6 on the reality of this.

You may differ and that’s certainly your option. I’m deeply grateful for the grace of knowing and walking with Jesus and those who are serious about the same. I’m also likewise thankful there are those who do not entirely agree with me whom I can love, offer kindness and grace and hopefully walk alongside of. I am convinced God does this daily with all of us.

As always, thanks for stopping by! -Glenn

P. I. T. S.

I’m going to suggest “life in the pits” isn’t God’s plan for anybody. So here’s an acronym for ya…

Been going over, meditating on the whole armor of God point by point which Paul brings to the Ephesian church in Eph. chapter 6. I decided post a little here on “praying in the Spirit” which is part of a Christ-followers defense against the devil and demonic forces. I would also suggest it’s helpful re. our own deficient attitudes and at times mindset towards those we disagree with, find distasteful by our personal judgment.

Oh, I’m not at all saying those we dislike are correct in all their thoughts and actions -but integrity and humility tells us neither are we!

What is “praying in the Spirit” if not praying in decided agreement with Him? Again I remind my readers Jesus calls Him “the Counsellor, Helper, Spirit of Truth” and “the Holy Spirit”. The Spirit of God who breathed the scriptures also works in and through us as we apply His Word in our thoughts, speech and actions.

To be clear- I mean He works and moves in our thoughts, speech and actions A. towards God, B. towards others and C. towards ourselves.

Let us yet admit how we think is not always in sync with Him (note the rhyme scheme, ha!).

Prayer is about hearing His voice, thinking His thoughts, pondering His Words and in/by His love and grace applying them in our relationships.

Note, prayING… it’s an on-going “pray without ceasing”, a continuing conversation of listening and talking to the Lord each day of a believer’s life on earth -and continues forever before the throne of God once we’re literally with Him and all the saints adoring Him.

Often Paul’s words to the Galatians has come to mind, and not only the fruit of the Spirit and what I’d call the rotten fruit of the flesh/old nature and immaturity discussed in chapter 5 but also and in particular verse 26:

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.” Some translations render “guided” as “keep in step with” or “walk with” or “walk in” the Spirit. The practical reality is praying in the Spirit is essential for this.

My fellow pentecostals and charismatics will add that in part this must mean praying in tongues and I won’t disagree with that, yet what I’m writing here is so foundational and overlooked some perhaps think if that spiritual gift is exercised they’re all set. I disagree with such reasoning.

Again in the Book of Jude, part of verse 20 exhorts: “pray in the Holy Spirit…”

There are other options mentioned in God’s Word such as grieving Him, quenching Him or just plain ignoring Him. Those we do to our own deficit, even at times harm and peril.

Things to consider along the path of maturing in our walk with Father, Son, Spirit!

As always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn

Pacifiers

In U.K. terms they’re often called “dummies”, those being the things placed in a baby’s mouth to suck on giving them a sense of calm, help them stop crying, settle down -when what they really want and sometimes truly need is milk or other elements of actual attention.

Recently, a recovery devo I read daily finished off with:

“Am I putting aside my pacifiers? Am I following Christ? God grant that I may earnestly follow Christ. Following Christ isn’t painless, nor is it ever futile.” -Paul F. Keller, “God Grant”.

As always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn

War and Peace

It seems to me there are times we need to reflect on how like hell war is and how peace instead reflects heaven.

Oh I’m well aware of both Testaments of the Bible speaking of making war and wars to come near the end of the world – but what about the inner war in so many leading to violence, things like torture, rape, homicide and a bitterness that drives unstable people to make war? What about the financial gain related to war-making vs. peace-making that many choose? How many widows and orphans have become such due to war?

James speaks of “wars and fightings” that come from within us.

Revelation tells us the Prince of Peace will come on a white horse with the armies of heaven indeed, but to fight, judge, vanquish the devil, demons and those who fought against God therefore fighting against themselves in fighting against the love, truth, the One Lord Who alone is worthy to be followed and in love and respect, followed.

Being at peace with God, within one’s own mind and heart, with others -including those who oppose us- is a massive blessing and of course -costs.

I’ve long been convinced that quite often if not most of the time it’s due to the “war within” that many make literal war and produce human, environmental and other carnage on earth.

No peace without the Prince of Peace.

“Blessed are the peace-makers for they shall be called the children of God” is what Jesus preached.

Oh there is much, much more, and indeed His mention of a sword is directly related to division between His followers and those who do not follow Him within families. And yet and still-

Paul in his Romans letter (note “Greek” means gentile):

Romans 2.4 Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 For he will repay according to each one’s deeds: 7 to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 while for those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be anguish and distress for everyone who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.

Peace and love are not only an attitude but a walk, lived-out callings in the lives of all Christ-followers.

Paul further (Ephesians 6.15) calls the very Gospel (Good News) “the Gospel of peace.” It is indeed that!

Dig deeper? https://biblescan.com/searchnt.php?q=peace

Peace comes from relationship with Jesus and in/by Him learning to love, forgive and walk with those who have little or no peace within themselves. God is the only Source of eternal peace.

As always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn

The Work of Reflecting (actually, solidly Re-directing!)

Believe me when I say I’ve thought for most of my life about what sort of “witness” or “testimony” or example of a Christ-follower I have been and am. It comes with the territory and calling of evangelist.

I have on -many- occasions royally blown it, been a very negative reflection of Jesus, that’s just the truth and I have often, fairly regularly repented including to people and not just God- about my own rubbish in lousy communication on my part. It comes with the territory.

For those who care about Jesus and His calling and indeed, even if you do not have the biblical gift of evangelist which plenty do not, what do we do with the following?

Matthew 9.37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38. “Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”
(context vs. 35-38)

Luke 10.2 And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
(context: vs. 1-20)

I have often shared the Good News of Jesus in a bad way. Then again, I’ve also by God’s grace done it right and I’m talking about sharing His love and truth with people regularly considered “not worth it”, “dregs”, “the least of these” and “undesirables” in society.

When God calls fear has to be set aside. The visible “results” are often not seen but I’ve been so encouraged by so many I HAVE been blessed to see through the years! I pray, try to truly listen to the Spirit as well as the person/s in the convo and build bridges rather than walls.

I don’t expect everyone/anyone to “fall down” and ask “what must I do to be saved?!”.

Further, let’s not pretend Christian history, most -any- church or form of church or un-church gathering of believers has zero “checkered past”… and often “present” which are part of the topic when seeking to bear witness to the reality, truth, love and compassion of God for sinners… because we all share elements of such a past and often, present if nothing else. Imago dei -and- sin nature is part of each human being on earth.

The something else is of course THE Someone Else, and so I pray as Jesus told them to. It’s work and a lie to call it all automatic for a lover and follower of His to enter into HIS harvest for the sake of HIS kingdom and in any way helping folks with the deepest needs they carry.

Regardless of your thoughts on genuine evangelism, does it not seem a wide portion of professing Christians have forgotten to pray and act on Jesus’ words? One side-door some take is (classic on this and a great many other things Jesus said though surely at times true) “Well, I don’t have that gift and calling… and He said this to His disciples at that time and place, not to me or us here and now.”

Quoting Bob Dylan- “There must be some kinda way outta here, said the joker to the thief.”

Go deeper? Have a thorough look here: https://biblehub.com/greek/2040.htm

As always, thanks for stopping by! -Glenn

SHE Teaches

Yep. She truly does and in fact men including the dude writing this could truly grow a LOT more re. what she both says and does…

If you wish to go elsewhere later you might check out “the Psalm 112 man” but for right now I want to accent one verse from Proverbs 31 that righteously rocks about an incredible profile, a godly amazing woman, wife, mother, household manager, businessperson and more. This verse often runs in my mind because the Holy Spirit clearly knows I need the regular reminder. Here it is in a couple English versions- Proverbs 31.26:

“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” -NRSV

“She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction].” -AMP

Frankly, I don’t know a man or boy who does not need to ponder and apply this. Surely women and girls do also, but…

A key anchoring term truly deep and powerful, comes from the Hebrew which romanized is often written “chesed” or “hesed” commonly translated into English as “kindness”. The law of kindness is a law we ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL need.

Here is a great article that offers the the depth and width of the term: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesed

A rabbinical quote in the above article tells us “The world rests upon three things: Torah, service to God, and bestowing kindness.”

Another rabbi’s quote in there states “The Torah begins with chesed and ends with chesed.”

Indeed. God help us -and you surely so often do through women, Thank You!

As always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn

Two GK Shows Coming Up :)

Two GK Solo Blues gigs coming up in August and September.

As always, thanks for stopping by! -Glenn

GOODFIELD, IL (Peoria area)
Timberline Campground Chapel
Concert SAT. AUG. 27 @ 6pm
Also bringing music and message for Sun. service SUN. AUG. 28 @ 10am
1467 Timberline Road, Goodfield, IL 61742
309-965-2224

Pickerington, OH (Columbus area)
-With Lightshine Theatre band opening!-
FRI. SEPT. 9 @ 7pm
Life City Church
6389 Blacklick-Eastern Rd NW, Pickerington, OH 43147
General admission tickets are $20 and available at the door
or reserve your tickets by texting 614-519-1638 and pick them up
at will call. Sponsored by Final Flight Radio.

Evangelistic Knots, Wisdom

Some folks are convinced that if God wants others to know and follow Jesus He’ll take care of it and there is zero responsibility to verbally share the Good News with anyone. Plenty of Jesus’ words as well as other writers in both Testaments refute that.

Some are convinced if they do NOT verbally share the Gospel nearly everyone they meet who does not follow Jesus is going to hell specifically because of their irresponsible choice to be silent. Plenty of scripture and church history says otherwise.

I think regardless of a strong belief in predestination OR free will/choice in the matter, both views are far too absolute and extreme.

Whether or not you care, please know I write this as an evangelist and pastor who in grace has been living out these callings and gifts for most of my lifetime.

I have not only been silent when I should have spoken but at times actually rude and obnoxious when I should have laid back and even simply prayed for the Lord to deal directly with someone or that He would use someone other than myself coupled with His orchestrating events in their life for the person to hear and respond to HIM and His voice.

Now whether individuals have “ears to hear” (to quote Jesus) is not on me or any of us.

“Making the sale” isn’t on us. Hitting the gas hard isn’t an always thing nor is cementing ourselves in “park” and never moving. We need wisdom from the Spirit in each encounter! Yes it’s messy, no, nobody always gets it right.

As Ezekiel chapters 3 and 33 clearly state, we have personal responsibility indeed. At the same time, each individual has for themselves and their own life personal responsibility and each will stand before God to give account for themselves according to scripture.

What to do with all this?

There is a time to speak and time to refrain from speaking. There really is a time to be very direct but in humility, love and kindness not like a bulldozer in top gear. Some wise pundit once said he doubted anyone was ever “argued into the kingdom”!

Being attentive to the Holy Spirit, seeking God’s mind, view, voice in our hearts/heads in a situation is not always simple or easy nor do we always get it correctly either way!

Humility, being loving, kind, gracious and in the practical a servant who may not see the results we wish to see is something maturing followers of Jesus need to reckon with.

When evangelists and evangelism is in our core more a matter of –us– winning than the Spirit Himself winning someone who is lost, then I’d say this Proverb is something to consider:

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And one who is wise gains souls” (Pro. 11.30 -NAS)

There is in the Hebrew a sense that a righteous life lived before others is directly connected to persuading others to believe. Other scripture speaks to this also. One thing is clear, wisdom is certainly needed!

Further in? Here: https://biblehub.com/interlinear/proverbs/11-30.htm

As always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn