Opening message

Welcome weary traveler.  Pull up a stool, have some mead, and tell me about your wayfaring.  Yes, this world is a weary land and it's a dry, thirsty ground in these times.  There is a famine of the word of God in the land and those who lead Christ's own people don't often see it.  We so often settle for making mud-cakes in the corner instead of a holiday in the sea of knowing Jesus Christ and his amazing grace, love, and mercy.  We are far too easily satisfied. (C.S. Lewis).  How long are we going to settle?  How long am I going to settle? 

The reason I'm starting this blog is to express my own thoughts concerning issues in the church and the world.  Also, I'd like to talk with some like minded people and receive feedback about my own comments.  Lastly, I'd like a forum to post some of my poetry, which I enjoy writing; although I don't  claim to be very skilled or able with it.
 
One thing I see as an area of opportunity for us as Jesus-people is the general neglect of the person and work of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus said that when he left he would send the comforter and that we wouldn't be orphans (John 14), yet we've so often managed through life without getting to know this comforter very much.  If we began to know him more, we'd see what we've been missing: a wondrous divine friend who always has our best interest in mind, who always wants us to know the magnificent love of Jesus and the Father, and one who is a perfect leader in this life.  To discover this, is to have a renewed sense of the Christian life and our calling.

Well, if you're like me, right now you're thinking, "How does that work?  How do I get to know the Holy Spirit?"  Well it's a mystery and there really is no formula to control the Spirit.  Sorry guys, there is no remote control for him.  In fact he wants to be a remote control for your life.  You can't manipulate God.

I think Jesus would say to start by studying the Holy Spirit in scripture.  John 8:31 "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Get to know his personality and know that he loves you just as much as God the Father and God the Son.  Realize that he has an agenda for your sanctification that might not be the same as yours (more on this some other time).  Also, find some books on the Holy Spirit's person and work.  A good one is Martin Lloyd-Jones's book, Great Doctrines of the Bible.  There is a wonderful section on the Holy Spirit towards the end of this book.  Also, the book Keep in Step with the Spirit by J.I. Packer is a good one.  Another one I'm reading now is The Voice of Jesus by Gordon Smith, and so far it is excellent.

Holy Spirit will always point us back to Jesus.  He loves Jesus infinitely more than we can imagine.  John 15:  "But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me." John 16: When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.  He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.  All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you."

He also always leads us in humility.  James 4:3 Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?  Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.  Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"?  But he gives more grace.  Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."


One final comment.  Often we talk about being gospel-centered in the reformed wing of  the church.  My question to all my reformed brothers is how can we be gospel-centered without  the Spirit of the living God keeping us that way?  We don't want to lean on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).

Grace and peace to anyone who reads this.  Feedback, questions, or correction is welcome.

Poem

How can a man be free

From constraints that bind him down?

How can a free man live

When all things in the world can bind?

Lord I want to fly away

And be with you

And know your will and beautiful truth

So speak O Lord for your servant listens

Let it be my soul that hearkens to you

Like a mockingbird and I will speak

My ego dying as you increase

And as I feast on your grace

I shall know what goodness means to taste

So do with me as you will

Slay me and let me praise you

And let me be like forged steal in faith

And a heart that pumps sweet love by grace