Aromatic Christians

Almost every week I charge my congregation to be “Aromatic Christians” in the week ahead. Meaning their lives should give evidence of their faith. If you have to tell someone you are a Christian, you probably should keep your mouth shut.
  The label Christian was first used by people of other faiths, who saw the actions of the people and said, “There go the followers (disciples) of Christ.”  This is the basic definition of Christian.
Theologically a Christian, by our definition, is one who has received the Spirit of God and all the authority that entails.
  In this small detail lies the basic problem between most religions (in all religions the believer is touched by the divine spirit). Give authority to some people and they grow; give it to others and they swell. Being a part of creation is an awesome position. It means you represent a force that causes life! It causes things to exist! When you walk in the woods you are walking with your family, for we are related to everything that exist. You are a "little one" of God. The God and power who causes life. You represent the creator of all life!
  This reminds us that all who come as representatives of their Creator God, should be given respect. Do we respect all those things of God? The environment? Society? Other people? Our faith? Perhaps  if we remember that we also are a representative of the creator it might change your approach to others.
  We are each a representative - we only represent God. If we work for a company and they send us to visit a customer we cannot represent something to the customer the company will not do. Ambassadors understand that very well. Another English word for ambassador is apostle. They were/are representatives of Jesus. Jesus was/is a representative of God. We need only to project what/who we represent - the God of life and love.
  There is no room or tolerance for those who come in the name of God and represent death and hate; condemnation and rejection; and self centeredness.  By represent, I mean how we influence others by our words, actions and attitudes. No one can influence others to live on a higher level than that on which they live themselves. Just one act of ours may turn the tide of another person's life.
  When God says to a person, “Well done thou faithful servant,” it signifies that God feels that person represented God well. They gave of the aroma of love, grace, and acceptance; not hate, condemnation, and rejection. They were Christ like.

Down with Religion! Up with God!

I once promised to address the question, “Why is wanting to be God-like, a sin?”
Where can we find the first concept of sin? In three great religions it is found in primordial (No eye witnesses!) history, as related in the first eleven chapters of Genesis.
  The matter of sin is defined in a spiritual realm. Sin is concerned with the spiritual relationship that started with “So God created humanity (atham) in God’s own image, in the image of God they (atham) were created; male (ish) and female (isha) God created them.” Two equal parts to make the whole of humanity.
  Sin takes form where we read, “you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” God’s knowledge is the focus of spiritual activity. It is why we are called seekers. We spend our lives seeking basic truths of life. From the start God tweaked our curiosity about the ultimate truth, which can give us knowledge of good and evil.  
What happens when we seek this knowledge?    
God said, they are now like one of us, knowing good and evil. They cannot take  from the tree of life and eat and live forever. Are we not now taught that our purpose in life is to be like God and to live forever? Then why was it wrong in the beginning?
  Maybe there is a different perspective. If we are not to be like God, maybe we need to be in a right relationship with God. If so, then we seek not to have God’s light, but to be in God’s light. A humble reversal to being righteous in one’s self.
  Adam and Eve were in a right relationship with God and at peace. Then they sought to be like God. Perhaps the spiritual lesson of the Garden is our need for one’s humility of intellect. We are not God and never will be like God! Knowledge for true condemnation and judgement is in the hands of God and God alone. We are to strive to walk with God and be in a right relationship.
  Cain is our first lesson of why our relationship with God is important. The great sin of Cain? He was not in favor with God. Why? Who knows? Theories abound. Whatever theory, it ultimately ends up that sin is a major force in the world. Humans with no relationship with God are out of favor with God.
   In Noah, primordial history refines the lesson of sin, in the eyes of God. Noah was blameless among the people and walked with God. Our  reputation among people is different than our walk with God. Both are vital! But, Noah was spared because of his relationship with God, not what other people thought of him.
  God blessed Noah and family, but their souls would have to account for the life of their fellow beings. Sin relates to our relationship with others as well as with God.
  Noah was drunk (while in a right relationship with God) and laid uncovered. Ham saw his dad naked and told his brothers outside. They took a coat on their shoulders and walked in backwards to cover him. Their faces were turned, as to not see the father naked. When Noah discovered what Ham had done, he cursed Ham! What did Ham do wrong? Perhaps he saw a problem and did nothing about it? Is his sin passing the buck? He failed to act on the needs of another.
   Finally ancient history ends up at the Tower of Babel. Noah’s decedents spread over the earth and  the world had one language. People begin to build a tower to heaven to make a name for themselves and not be scattered over the earth.
  God saw the tower they were building and said, “If as one people speaking the same language they’ve begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.”
  Primordial ends with this emphatic statement, that God did not intend the people to be like God!  I thought God wanted the world to be in one accord.
  And we are! Various cultures around the world were all created by God. Each is critical to the whole. This truth is a reason for honoring all the children of God, whether they are Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Islamic, Buddha, etc.. God makes it clear in these first chapters, that the only thing important is a person’s walk with God. Any other focus is sin. Such as, a focus on self righteousness or being God-like. That is sin and out of harmony with God.
  The ancient lesson is God created humanity to walk with God and be in a right relationship with God. God considers that anyone, who attempts to know everything God knows and attempts to do all things like God, is not walking with God, but trying to be God. It humbles our intellect!

True Citizen Soldiers defend individual freedom

In the midst of the sad affairs in amongst the extremist around the world who are killing innocent woman and children in the name of religion the first week in June is very significant for me. It is "military week" and a time to remember significant events. Events that have shaped our national image as we know it today.
  June 1,1813 - Captain James Lawrence on the U.S.S. Chesapeake lay dying and uttered, "Don't give up the ship!" Our reputation of being a stubborn fighting machine is well earned. Our Armed Forces have brought many arrogant tyrant’s glorious armies and navies to their knees in humbling defeat. Raw as we may seem, the American fighting men and women can be counted on to "hang in there" till the job is done.
  June 3, 1916 National Defense Act created the civilian-officer concept (Reserve Officer Training Corp). The military academies at West Point and Annapolis had produced the bulk of the officers. Although the idea was met with some misgivings and ridicule, it has been valuable in building the world’s best citizen soldier fighting machine. Today the Reserves are a sizable part of our military.
  June 5, 1947, Secretary of State George Catlett Marshal, a professional officer, who gave up his uniform to serve in the cabinet, gave new meaning to citizen soldier. His "Marshall Plan" exhibited the gentle side of the relentless dogface citizen soldier. That day at Harvard he said, "Our policy is not directed against country or doctrine but against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos." Our European Recovery Plan at the close of WW II healed wounds and rebuilt hopes in half the world. We were being good neighbors and our soldiers were battling this mess with the same fighting spirit they had shown during combat. "We stand firm and  we care" might be a motto for our citizen soldiers.
  June 6, 1944, known as D-Day confirmed the stubborn courage and determination of the Captain Lawrence's through out the history of this nation. An effective utilization  of civilian soldiers is important to conserving a true spirit of freedom. The international  blend of Allied Forces expressed our place in the world's neighborhood.
  June 6, 1962, Denny Reimer begins his march that eventually led him to the top position in our unique fighting force.  Along with him were his classmates who are just a few examples of the important concept of soldiers who will fight for the rights of individuals..
  June 7, 2013 celebrates what all this week is about. It is Freedom of the Press Day. Freedom of the press goes hand in hand with free speech. Free speech is what the citizen soldiers fight to defend and bring to others in other lands. Yes a nice touch to end my "military week."

Words can hurt or cure

  Words are written symbols of human understanding. Words can hurt and words can heal! They have divided the world in some of the smallest and unique ways. These divisions have sometimes been destructive in catastrophic proportions.  The great wars of this world were all began over differing views of what particular words meant. At the same time peace was achieved through other words.
  Our Creator knows the importance of words. If humans all spoke the same language with the same meanings nothing will be impossible for them to do.
  Funny isn't it that the Creator does not want us to all speak the same language. At least that was the message of stories like the Tower of Babel. What would happen if we could return to a day when we all spoke the same language?
  First it would reduce the number of divisions in society. We would all have the same concept or belief in Our Common Creator. Hmmm? I wonder, of the present words and symbols which  might be the correct or closes one? Would it be a super human being: Thor? Zeus? Buddha? Confucius? Jesus? Etc. Would it be nature itself? Trees and birds? Breath of Life? Great Spirit? Holy Spirit? Etc.? Would it be the essence of what is good in life? Goodness? Peace? Ying and Yang? Love? Etc.?
  If it comes to a vote, I want to nominate my word Yah to be the accepted and common understanding among all the peoples. Yah cannot be comprehend in worldly terms. Instead it can only describe the personality of Yah as developed from the collected facts since the beginning of time by millions and millions of people.
  While my Yah is the sum total of the opinion of all beings, my Yah still is a distinct essence with known personalities. Yah caused this creation in order to develop we human beings. Humans that when they leave this world will be with Yah beyond our space and time.
   Yah knows it is extremely difficult for humans to really understand Yah’s true essence and the purpose of human life. Therefore Yah communicated these expectations was through specific human being through out the course of human history. This humans all were understood to have fully human and fully divine characteristics. Something common with all persons, who believe in my Yah.  
  All of the followers of Yah are fully human and fully divine. We are members of the kingdom beyond space and time. How we live out our lives will develop our role in that kingdom, where Yah is fully understood. For us this is the only true focus for human beings - to prepare for Yah’s eternal kingdom.
  Yes if the world all had my word and symbol for our Creator we would put Our Creator first in all things and love others as we love ourselves. We would avoid being people who elevate and worship rules and laws. We would avoid condemnation of any human being and demonstrate love, joy and peace in our lives so that others we be drawn to Yah, so they might find Our Creator. Our  actions would speak our faith.
  Yes it would be nice if we all spoke the same language and understood Our Creator in the same way. Oh well, some day we will see all of the Creator’s kingdom and speak the same language. Until then could we learn to translate a little better?

True Terrorist vs True Soldiers

True Terrorist vs True Soldiers
   Someone long time ago said, “A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.” Yes I know it is Proverbs 14:16.
   It is beyond my comprehension how any group of people (nation, race, religion, or whatever) can say they are the only chosen people of God and that they can condemn or harm mentally and physically anyone who doesn’t agree with them.
   In my youth we use to say to people like that, “Who died and made you God?” What right did they have to be judge and jury over events or circumstances?  Especially if they chose to do harm to the persons or groups they deemed had did wrong according to them. “Who died and made them God?”
   Today we are calling them terrorist.  They are not terrorists. They are hotheaded aand reckless cowardly acting bullies. They hide behind covered faces, black masks, white hoods, and a hundred of other different cowardly traits.
   Oh, but Dennis you don’t understand, they are soldiers in a great cause. Baloney! I was a soldier for 31 years and soldiers like wise men do not hide behind masks, hoods and anything else. They stand tall waving their flag and fight their enemy face to face.
  It is time we change our headlines around the world. Their aren’t any such thing as terrorists. There are hotheaded reckless cowards bullying people bringing terror to innocent women and children around the world.
  It is time for every religion to condemn these cowards wether they are wearing ski masks, white hoods, or any other facade to hide behind. True soldiers battle the enemy with honor. These women and baby killers have zero, zilch, no honor.
  It is time we put an end to this form of bullying before they lead us to a war we may never recover from on this beautiful blue planet.

The Devil Made Me Do It

  Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Open up the jails! I have just seen the ultimate solution to tort reform and crowded jails.
  The other day the newspaper reported that a man killed eighteen people, yes eighteen. The man's defense was that he was a crack head, abused by his mother and raped by a social worker when he was a young boy. It wasn't his fault after all. The dealer, his mother and the social worker actually pulled the trigger.
  Like a flash of light, it came to me that we all can claim our problems are the result of the actions of people, who came before us. Following this logic to its ultimate conclusion, we discover we can all blame Adam and Eve for our problems. Cain killed Able because of his upbringing. So bulletin!: we no longer need jails, courts, judges, and lawyers. The common and unbeatable defense is now: Adam and Eve made us do it!
  Of course Adam and Eve's only defense was "the devil made me do it." Somebody made me do it? A six foot burly drunk exclaims, "my wife makes me drink". Now she is five foot two, it takes real mental power to visualize her holding him down on the floor. And it takes even more to see her pouring the drink down his throat as he desperately attempts to struggle free.
  The same struggle surfaces while reflecting back on my youth. Three boys went into a small local store, owned by a little old  and kind lady. Two decided to steal a bottle of Nehi grape soda. The third chose to sneak back and pay her the ten cents. All three lived on the same street and came from similar families. Today we know, by popular demand and acceptance, that the two who snatched the sodas did so because of something negative in their background or families. What on earth caused the third boy to do a good act? Today we aren't sure.
  Sixty some years ago, the little boy who paid the dime did so because he felt sorry for the little old lady. She worked so hard and was kind to all of them many times. From the time he first left the store his conscience wouldn't leave him alone. The other two seem to have no conscience. They got what they wanted and to heck with the old lady. They even made fun of the third boy for going back. In fact they resented him. They were concerned only for themselves, he was concerned for others.
  Who made them that way? The two who stole the Nehi came from families with a father and mother, brothers and sisters, with their own homes and no real trauma in life. The third boy couldn't remember his real father, lived in basement home and was raped by a neighbor at age six. According to what is in the news these days this story is all wrong. This boy made a moral decision and took responsibility in the middle of an immoral setting, where the majority were acting irresponsibly.
  Today he could have gone back and brutally attacked, raped and killed the old lady, before turning on his friends in rage and killing them under stress. A good lawyer and a sympathetic jury would easily see that his father, who abandoned him and his sister, the neighbor who traumatized him and the modest living quarters were more than enough to justify his actions. In fact they probably would award him millions from Nehi Beverages for making sodas that would entice young boys to steal.
  God holds each person responsible for there own actions. The devil cannot make anyone do anything. The only power anyone has over another is the power to influence. History is littered with persons, who have given up their lives rather than act irresponsible or immoral. Successful societies hold people responsible for their own actions.
  Physical and mental cowards shy away from accepting responsibility for their actions. They also allow and encourage others to make immoral and irresponsible decisions. "Real Men and Women" use their past only for understanding themselves and certain influences in their lives. However, "Real Men and Women" then hold themselves accountable to make moral and responsible decisions. They do not tolerate any less from others.
  Aren't you tired of this endless rhetoric that is nothing more than one big excuse for irresponsible behavior? I am! It is my cause to stand up against things irresponsible. I don't want to be buddies with my children, I want to be their father. I don't want to be well liked, I want to be respected for my principles. I am going to say, no to the man who hits a woman; to a child being disrespectful toward an adult; to thief the first time he steals; to a teenager crowding in line at the movies; to the church gossip killing the reputations of others; to sin; and to anyone tolerating immoral and irresponsible behavior.
  Many of you know the basic problem. In my Uncle Tom's words, some chose to do good and some chose to do bad. My grandmother would say some want to go to heaven others to hell. I say their are self centered people, who don't give a damn about anyone or anything, and there are God centered people, who care enough about others enough to act responsibly and morally. Let us call it what it is - Evil (period). And let's start when they are little boys.

Bread is Life in many ways

  A man dying in the vast hot dry desert suddenly found a bottle in the sand. It was empty. He rubbed it against his chest. As he did a vapor cloud and a huge genie pop out of the bottle and said, “For three wishes, I am yours to command.”
  Realizing there were only three he thought carefully and said, “My first wish is to have the greatest riches of every kind in the world - food, drink, women, power.”
  “It is done,” said the genie, and with a snap of fingers the man was transported to a magnificent mansion, clothed in rich raiment, surrounded by adoring beauties who served his every need.    “What is your second wish?” asked the genie.
  “To be once more in the prime of life.” Once again the genie snapped his fingers and the man became a magnificent specimen of a man surround by power and beauty.
  “What do you want for your last wish?” asked the genie again.
  The man knew this would be his last so he thought carefully and finally declared, “I have everything I have always wanted but since I have one last wish, there is something I have always wanted - make me a perfect malted milk shake.” And in a snap of his fingers there was the mansion, the women, the money and on the couch in the middle of everything where the young man had been sitting was the world's most perfect malted milk shake.
The moral?
What you eat is always food for thought. How much you eat is food for strength.
  “Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are.” - Savarin in The Physiology of Taste 1825

   During World War II a group of Jewish orphans at a convent could not go to sleep at night. It puzzled the sisters until one realized they were frightened of what each tomorrow would bring. That night each child was given a slice of bread to take to bed. The children all slept through the night. They knew they would have bread in the morning and would not be hungry the next day.
  “All forms of government fall when it comes up to the question to bread - bread for the family, something to eat. Bread to a man with a hungry family comes first - before his union, before his citizenship, before his church affiliation. Bread!” - John L. Lewis
  Bread is central to the Biblical message. In the wilderness they received a bread from heaven - manna. Bread was un-leaven to remind them that they had to leave Egypt in a hurry. Some bread was round, some in loaves and some in heart shape. It was essential to everyday life as well as the farmers and soldiers in the field. It was a gift for strangers. It was used as the spoon, when eating.
  Bread is the focus of many today. We work to make more bread. We break bread together. Bread is and always has been central to life on this planet. The essentials for life are water and bread and clothing and a house to cover one's nakedness, but we cannot live by physical bread alone!
 The Christ declares that he is the bread of life. Do you want a slice or a loaf? Do you want only enough to get you through the night? A slice!
  So many times we take part in Communion and only want a slice. We leave church a malted milk shake. A little peace, some assurance about heaven and a possibility that maybe God loves me.    Today as always The Christ offers each of us the whole loaf. Peace of mind, assurance of an eternal life beyond the grave and knowledge that God loves me - total acceptance by God just as I am today.
   So slice Or loaf? i.e. “do you want the whole thing?” Jesus [his principles or example] is not something you make a sandwich out of in life. We don't take our world and wrap it with a Jesus roll. We make Jesus [his principles and examples] our life support to live in this world. He is our bread and the world is his butter.
  Perspective: Jesus is the bread of life, but God is the giver of life. The next time you take communion please remember we partake of Jesus the bread and worship God the baker.
 Through the bread we learn about the baker. In the bread we find the ingredients of the meaning of life used in the recipe of the Creator.
 A slice allows you to learn about Jesus. The whole loaf gives us knowledge of God. Don't settle for less. Make all your wishes count. Yet the question remains, Slice or Loaf? Part of God or all of God. Live a little of a Godly life or jump in fully feet first that is the question!
  The Bread of Life, Christ Jesus, was prepared by God to be a banquet not a snack tray. It is above all affiliations. It brings peace at night. It sustains and strengthens your every effort. Are you getting enough bread today?