Category: personal comments

Chosen People of Faith

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Shepherd of Hermes, (catacombs c. 160)

The Shepherd of Hermas, written c.125 AD, repeatedly declares that the Church has always existed, since the beginning of creation. The Old Testament believers are joined by those in the New Testament Christians in one single community of faith. Paul asserts that this faith unites us with each other; that we all have a common calling. (Hebrews 11.)

It seems you share a familiar bond, perhaps closer than you think, with Abraham, Noah or Isaiah. All of the OT saints are welded to us as we walk out our faith in Jesus. Personally I find that comforting.

God has always had a people who have been “chosen.” As a broken believer I will take all the godly encouragement I can. We are pulled in so many different directions; it’s hard sometimes to cope. Knowing I walk in an “unbroken line” of the faithful gives me “vim and vigor.”

I can now more deeply relate to guys like Joseph, who faithfully followed God from slave-to-prince. Or the three Hebrew children who walked around in the fiery furnace. By faith we possess the same hope as they did, we have the same God and Father. I believe it wouldn’t be off-base to call them family.

The nuances become clearer as we reflect on our mental illnesses. Noah built an ark. I’m constructing a sane mind. He went through the jeering abuse from his neighbors. I have to decide to get out of bed. All must be done through faith. Faith in God unites us. Faith is that which gives us “a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7.) Faith in God connects me with Noah.

“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. 2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.”

Hebrews 11:1-2, NLT

Hebrews 11 connects our faith with theirs. It even hints that our own faith enhances their own.

“All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. 40 For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.”

Hebrews 11:39-40

I didn’t mean to dump a load of “dry theology” on you. But I suspect that there could be healing for us if we venture to take it up. Good theology can be like good hygiene, if you don’t have it you will notice. (So will your friends.) I have come to see that the things we believe, affect us in significant and profound ways.

Your 21st century struggle of faith is as significant as David’s own battle with Goliath. It’s something to consider anyway. Read Hebrews 11.

“Faith makes all things possible… love makes all things easy.” 

D.L. Moody

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Psych Humor

I got very depressed so I called and got through to a call center in Pakistan.  When I told them I was suicidal they got all excited and wanted to know if I could drive a truck.

A transcript of the new answering service recently installed at the Mental Health Helpline:

 “Hello and welcome to the mental health helpline…

  • If you are Obsessive compulsive, press 1, repeatedly…
  • If you are Co-dependent, please ask someone to press 2 for you…
  • If you have Multiple Personalities, press 3, 4, 5 & 6…
  • If you are Paranoid, we know who you are and want what you want. Stay on the line so we can  trace your call…
  • If you are Delusional, press 7, and your call will be transferred to the Mother Ship…
  • If you are Schizophrenic, listen carefully and a small voice will tell you which number to press…
  • If you are Manic-depressive, it doesn’t matter which number you press…no-one will answer…
  • If you are Dyslexic, press 96969696969696…
  •  If you have a Nervous Disorder, please fidget with the hash key until a representative comes on the line…
  • If you have Amnesia, press 8 and state your name, address, phone number, date of birth, social security number and your mother’s and grandmother’s maiden names…
  • If you have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, slowly and carefully press 000…
  • If you have Bipolar Disorder, please leave a message after the beep. Or before the beep. Or After the beep. Please wait for the beep…
  • If you have Short-Term Memory Loss, please try your call again later…

 I know this is an old one.  But it is a classic!

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“Let’s Trade Your Salvation” by Isaac Air Freight

Episode: “Let’s Trade Your Salvation”

Isaac Air Freight was a Christian comedy team first formed in 1976. It originally consisted of three people, Dave Toole, Dan Rupple, and Larry Watt. Watt left after the release of their first album. He was replaced by Mitch Teemley, who largely did serious or “good guy” parts, for the second and third albums. (Watt and Teemley did not contribute to the writing. After leaving Isaac Air Freight, Teemley formed the team Mitch & Allen for which he wrote as well as acted.)

Rupple and Toole released five more Isaac Air Freight albums. The last of these, Over Our Heads (1987), featured contributions from members of Christian rock band Daniel Amos.

Comedy is not our usual fare here on BB, and maybe that should change.  IAF brought a slightly more sophistication to the Church theater or skit scene.  They inspired a lot of believers to work in the creative arts.  In some sense I suppose you could describe them as a Christian version of Monty Python, but that isn’t a real good analogy either.

Here at BB we have the Contemporary Christian Music Index.  It is a link that opens up early Christian music of the 70s-80s.  You’ll find this index (which is constantly growing,  https://brokenbelievers.com/?s=CCM

 

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Total War & Total Power

 

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Humans have weapons that will level entire cities, destroying everything almost instantly. The first bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 completely obliterating five square miles and killing 140,000+ people. This bomb completely altered the way nations go to war. We now understand “total war.” This power is man’s, but an ultimate power is God’s.

 “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes.”

Romans 1:16

There is a potency about God, he is supremely able to govern the universe. He sustains the farthest galaxy. His miraculous deeds rule the affairs of men. His gospel saves the worst from their sins. It is indeed his power that can transform you, and he doesn’t get discouraged and give up on us. He will never get discouraged by me.

“God at work” and we should recognize that. God’s “gospel-power” is in the broken believer, transforming us into new men and women. His power is infinite and total in the wayward hearts of men.  He loves us and is for us.

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

1 John 4:4

Remenergizer-bunnyember the “Energizer Bunny?” When he was loaded with a certain battery he would last and last. That little guy could go– he beat his drums to show us his prowess. The believer who is filled with the Spirit has a “battery” in him that allows him:

  • to live in power,
  • to live in love,
  • peace,
  • kindness,
  • purity (self-control),
  • and much more than this (Gal. 5:22-23).

We have inside our spirits something far more than a mere battery. Not only the “fruits of the Spirit” but the “gifts of the Spirit” as well. These are more than mere trifles; these are mighty things of God. We should be eager to meet the needs of those who surround us daily.

All of this must be set in God’s love in order to operate. An atomic bomb is launched only with a secret code; I believe love is that code for the believer. All must proceed from that, and that alone. Love is the launch key.

God has recruited us, and is training us. Can we imagine anything greater than this? In spite of our weaknesses, nay, because of them, the Lord’s power is seen clearest and best. We who are the weakest become the strongest. (1 Cor. 1:27, 2 Cor. 12:9-10.)

“Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. 25 All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.”

Jude 24, 25

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