Truth Remains

That you may know what is the height, the width and the depth of His love for you. ~Ephesians 3:18

It’s early Spring. I’m on a new road in Frisco, Texas–the very edge of mass development. A place with untouched fields, cows munching grass and hopping bunnies. It’s dusk here, 8pm. I’m on my way to meet a friend. Lately I’ve been asking God if He is pleased with me as I am, or if I need be something different. Does His love reach me here–outside of organized religion–or is my disillusionment a disgrace? God answered me that evening, without so much as steeple. He gave me a sermon in the sky.

It all started when I first got saved. My life was a wreck until God found me on that blessed day. He graciously picked me up, dusted me off and started the painstaking process of cleaning me up from the inside out–starting day one. Supernatural. Since Halloween night, 1995 (Halleluiah Night), I’ve never been the same. Initially I recall the good feelings of knowing I was free from the guilt of sin. My life had been so rough before that night. I’d gone through so much. Once I tasted the love of Jesus Christ, I knew I never wanted to go back. My goal was to get far away from where I came from–as far as possible.

Judgmental Christian

In my immature ignorance, I began the mental process of dividing myself from the rest of the world. I wanted to “come out from among them and be separate.” In order to clarify where I was and where I came from, I needed to do a major swing to the other side of the moral spectrum. I didn’t want to associate with anyone who didn’t follow the church to which I belonged. I took it a step further and decided that anyone who worshiped differently from the people at my church must be non-believers. It was a psychological “all-or-nothing” approach in which I crossed-off whole sections of society who believed in God, but didn’t show their love and devotion in the same manner as me. I was judgmental and hard on those who weren’t following God right. (Or so I thought)

Edit needed below

Rightwards the sky commands me. White puffy clouds weave through this sea of blue serenity beyond the clearing of a future housing development. I am struck by its beauty, and that would have been enough. But no.

I’m driving, so I look to the road ahead and there again, notice the beauty of the sky. But wait, the sky in front of me looks like a different day with purples and blues streaming like a masterpeice. My head bobs back to my right. Still the same sky there.

I jerk my head to the left, just to be sure I’m not hallucinating. And to my surprise, the sky to my left looks entirely different from the one in front of me, and the one to my right! The left sky is filled with muted reds, oranges, blues and yellows, absolutely breathtaking.

I rotate my head again to the skies all around me. It’s amazing. Each vantage point brings a sky so beautiful, at once calm, at once fiery, at once majestic, but all lovely. I begin to see the lesson in these different skies at dusk. It’s the sun.

I suspect that perhaps the sky behind me is the most beautiful of all, being so close to the sun, so I stretch my head round and see the setting sun in all its glory. The sky behind me is a deeper red with gorgous rays cast all about. Bold, colorful and awe inspiring, but no more so than the peaceful sky to my right, the motivating sky in front of me or the picturesque sky to my left. Then it hit me.

Each of the skies are lit by the sun, just like our lives are alight by the love of God. The love of God reaches all the earth, and we here on earth display His love in unique ways. We are not all the same, just as the sky at dusk portrays diverse frames.

There is no part of the sky that God loves any less. There is no part of the sky that we can say is less needed, or less beautiful. The setting sun is causing the sky to alight in an array of styles and colors everywhere I look in the sky, and now that I understand this, I am able to understand the differences in us all.

The limitations I’ve placed on God were my own.

April 13th, 2009 | Category: Prayers | Comments (1)

April 2nd, 2009 | Category: Worship | Leave a comment

Robert Frost (1874–1963). Mountain Interval. 1920.

1. The Road Not Taken

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth; 5

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same, 10

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back. 15

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. 20

March 31st, 2009 | Category: Prayers | Leave a comment

We each need a crew of “Supporters” for good times and bad. You need a small group of folks who will support you, no matter what. When you experience joys, your they are genuinely happy for you. When you make a mistake, they set-you-straight in gentleness. They are your counselors and confidants. You need people in your life who will allow you to figure out who we are, without trying to change you. They help you stay the course. Supporters are there for you when you need them.

One of the mistakes I made along the way has been choosing the wrong people to confide in, rely on and trust, especially during times of distress. When you are sad, down and feeling worthless, nothing is worse than turning to the wrong person for help. It’s important that you weigh carefully who you will depend on for advice and counsel. People who make poor Supporters exhibit the following types of characteristics:

• Inconsistency: An inconsistent person can never support you in the way that you need because he or she lacks integrity to follow through with everyday life.
• Irresponsibility: An irresponsible person will never offer you the bracing you need when the storms of life come beating at your door. Find Supporters who who take care of themselves and keeps their word.
• Dishonesty: A dishonest person cannot be trusted, and will obviously not make the team. You want to find a person who will be honest with you, and not be afraid to share the truth.
• Jealous: Not everyone in the world is out for your good. There are some people that may be envious of you for whatever reason. Don’t turn to a jealous person in your time of need. A person with jealous spirit cannot provide you with non-biased advice and their counsel may actually do you harm.
• Discouraging: One of the most important characteristics of a good Supporter is to be Encouraging, afterall, that’s what you need the most. You want to make sure your Supporter has a positive attitude about life; your Supporter MUST believe in you and your dreams.
• Gossiper: It’s important that your Supporter be loving toward others, and not prone to vial gossip. You know if someone is gossiping to you, it won’t be long before they’re gossiping about you. Steer clear of those prone to gossip and slander of others, even under the guise of “prayer.”
• Selfish: A selfish person is a terrible confidant, because he or she will never listen to you. Selfish people are only concerned about what they receive and not interested in helping others along the way. Steer clear of selfish and self-centered people when building your Supporting Team.
• Negative: Negative people cannot encourage you the way you need to be encouraged. If you go to them with a problem, they may tell you the worst case scenerio, and not look at the situation objectively. Find positive, optimistic people on which you can rely.
• Flakey: Flakey people make it a habit to say they’re going to do something, but not following through. These are people that tell you they’re coming to your house on Saturday, but then call Saturday morning and say they’ve changed their mind. If someone displays flakey behavior, don’t trust their counsel for the issues of your life.
• Disrespectful: Some people will be disrespectful to others. If someone treats others badly, certainly steer clear of that person for future advice. It won’t be long until that person does the same thing to you. Don’t confide in people that don’t respect you either–treat them as acquaintances only. Find someone who respects you and regards you as a valuable human being.
• Unhealthy: People who are emotionally unhealthy do things that don’t seem quite right. Perhaps they say things that are not in line with their actions, they are addicts, or they treat others badly. If a person is unhealthy, do not seek advice from that person–or you will be hurt. Unhealthy people hurt others because they themselves are hurting. It’s healthy to remove yourself from unhealthy people and relationships when you’re seeking love and support.
• Preoccupied: People who are preoccupied are not present with you, and you can feel it. Perhaps they are too busy, or too interested in their own lives–whatever the reason, a pre-occupied person will not take the time to really hear from you, listen to you and ultimately care about you. Keep preoccupied people at arms length, especially when you’re seeking love and support.
• Needy: There are people in the world who are needy, and you should do what you can to Support them, but not look to the needy person as your confidant and Supporter. A needy person is someone with a plethra of unmet needs that have yet to be dealt with internally. A needy person is not whole. You can’t expect someone who is not complete to have anything extra to give to you for support.
• Self-Seeking: Some people may seem to like you, but really have an agenda. When someone has an Agenda, he or she is seeking to be around you to fulfill some other purpose that’s not for your good. Maybe you are well connected, maybe they have a crush on your brother, no matter what–do not rely on people who have an agenda and are not out for your good. They will use you like toilet paper–FLUSH.
• Fake: Fake friends are deceiving. There may be people in your life who act like friends, look like friends, walk like friends and talk like friends, but in reality are NOT YOUR FRIENDS. A true friend will prove themself over time. Be careful in believing that someone is a friend, and worthy of your trust before time has elapsed. A friend shows his or her reliability and trustworthiness in time.

Good Friend & Supporter Qualities

• Keeps his or her word.
• Listens to what you have to say.
• Takes time for you to share.
• Respects your opinion and decisions.
• Respects you as a person.
• Values your presence.
• Offers feedback, and is responsive to you.
• Is consistently there for you to offer support.
• Spends quality time with you
• Prefers you to himself or herself in action.
• Builds you up with encouragement.
• Helps you come to your own conclusions.
• Is generous with his or her resources, doesn’t hoard knowledge, etc…
• Prays for you and points you in the right direction.
• Seems “present” during conversations
• Follows-through with word.
• Is happy when you’re happy.
• Cares when you are hurting.
• Offers to help you whenever you really need it.
• Takes up for you if other people attack you.
• Keeps his or her promises.
• Tries to understand you.
• Waits for you if you’re running behind.
• Sticks with you, even if it’s more comfortable to leave you in a bind.
• Is serious about your friendship.

Your Supporters must be strong people, healthy people, reliable and consistent. They are genuinely concerned for your well-being and communicate with you in an honest and sincere way. It’s not always who you would think. Some of the best Supporters are parents, but many times our parents are the worst people to turn to, depending upon their emotional health and internal strength. Your Support System may consist of a pastor, a teacher, a friend, a neighbor, a counselor, a relative–the options are endless. The important thing is to seek out those who care about you and rally them to help you in your life. Go to them for moral support when you’re making major decisions, or feeling down. Share your life with them.

March 29th, 2009 | Category: Prayers | Leave a comment

March 26th, 2009 | Category: Personal | Comments (3)

As far as suffering, many times suffering brings about the greatest kind of growth, and the greatest kind of dependence. Our own pain draws us closer to God. In our weakness He is made strong. In fact, I wrote a very short devotional on this topic and it is really one of the best I’ve done. Please take a moment to read it. It Ain’t Easy.

March 23rd, 2009 | Tags: Suffering | Category: Apologetics | Leave a comment

(c) 2009 JL Ryan - All Rights Reserved

The problem with the atheist is seeking God through the mind, not the heart. Like going to the desert to find the ocean, the skeptic seeks to disprove God through human intelligence. God can’t be found in our minds. Such an approach is illogical as it goes against His very nature. Our Creator is Spirit and our Creator is Love. Spirit and Love are of the heart; and require Faith. The atheist–satisfied only with mental proof–is sure to find reasonable doubt. Of course, he’s heading in the wrong direction! Doubt is opposite of Faith. Without Faith, you will never see God.

Duet. 32:20
And He said: ‘I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end will be, For they are a perverse generation, Children in whom is no faith.

March 23rd, 2009 | Tags: atheism, atheist | Category: Apologetics | Leave a comment

Being good and praying all the time is much more satisfying than living a life of willful sin. We were born to be connected to the transcendent Father. Being out-of-touch with Him is pure misery. That’s the irony. The very thing you think will destroy you becomes the very thing that allows you to see–and to live–for the very first time.

“I came that you may have life, and that more abundantly.” (Jesus)

“Whoever seeks to find his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake shall find it.” (Jesus)

You don’t realize what peace is.
You don’t realize what love is.
You don’t realize what beauty is.
You don’t realize what life is.
You don’t realize what fulfillment is
You don’t realize what joy is.
You don’t realize what righteousness is.
You don’t realize what worship is.
You don’t realize what family is.

Until you receive Jesus into your heart.

It offers a whole new dimension to life. By His spirit, you come to know what living is all about. You can’t help but fall on your knees to humbly bow down to the superior intelligence that is your creator.

Jesus is life.

I feel sorry for people who cannot see and do not understand it. When you receive the gift of salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, your life is never the same. Old things pass away, and behold, He makes all things new.

The songs that brings you joy is nothing compared to the songs of the Lord.
The money that brings you joy is nothing compared to the richness of God.
The thing that brings you joy is nothing compared with the things God has for you.

God created joy. He knows how to give it authentically–not the way the world does.
All the world can offer is counterfeit joy, counterfeit peace, counterfeit worship.

There is only one truth. One absolute truth. His name is Jesus Christ, Lord of All.

Selah!

March 18th, 2009 | Tags: Salvation | Category: Christian Living, Salvation | Comments (1)

We interpret truth through our own experience rather than dictate experience by truth. (John Bevere)

What is truth?

The origin of the word “truth” is “faith.”

Definition of Truth from Dictionary.com

1. true or actual state of the matter.

2. conformity with fact or reality.

3. a verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like: mathematical truths.

4. the state or character of being true.

5. actuality or actual existence.

6. an obvious or accepted fact; truism; platitude.

7. honesty; integrity; truthfulness.

8. (often initial capital letter) ideal or fundamental reality apart from and transcending perceived experience: the basic truths of life.

9. agreement with a standad or original.

Wikipedia | Truth Theory
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth

Truth Theories

Correspondence Theory
Something is true when it conforms to reality. Socrates, Plato, Aristotle. Correspondence theory practically operates on the assumption that truth is a matter of accurately copying what was much later called “Objective reality” and then representing it in thoughts, words and other symbols.

Coherence Theory
Truth is whatever fits within entire system.

Constructivist theory
Holds that truth is constructed by social processes, is historically and culturally specific, and that it is in part shaped through the power struggles within a community.

Consensus Theory
Holds that truth is whatever is agreed upon, or in some versions, might come to be agreed upon, by some specified group.

Philosophers

 Nietzsche

Friedrich Nietzsche believed the search for truth or ‘the will to truth’ was a consequence of the will to power of philosophers. He thought that truth should be used as long as it promoted life and the will to power, and he thought untruth was better than truth if it had this life enhancement as a consequence. As he wrote in Beyond Good and Evil, “The falseness of a judgment is to us not necessarily an objection to a judgment… The question is to what extent it is life-advancing, life-preserving, species-preserving, perhaps even species-breeding…” (aphorism 4). He proposed the will to power as a truth only because according to him it was the most life affirming and sincere perspective one could have.

Robert Wicks discusses Nietzsche’s basic view of truth as follows:

Some scholars regard Nietzsche’s 1873 unpublished essay, “On Truth and Lies in a Nonmoral Sense” (”Über Wahrheit und Lüge im außermoralischen Sinn”) as a keystone in his thought. In this essay, Nietzsche rejects the idea of universal constants, and claims that what we call “truth” is only “a mobile army of metaphors, metonyms, and anthropomorphisms.” His view at this time is that arbitrariness completely prevails within human experience: concepts originate via the very artistic transference of nerve stimuli into images; “truth” is nothing more than the invention of fixed conventions for merely practical purposes, especially those of repose, security and consistence.

the dichotomy between ‘absolute = perfect’ and ‘relative = imperfect’ has been superseded in all fields of scientific thought, where “it is generally recognized that there is no absolute truth but nevertheless that there are objectively valid laws and principles”.

(JLRyan says)  Tell me, how can a system that uses FACTS and LOGIC to refute the ABSOLUTE TRUTH OF the Bible, also say that there is no such thing as one truth? The very foundation of argument for the atheist fails because it relies upon that which they are denying!

Christian Truth

http://www.absolute–truth.com/

Absolute Truth - Inflexible Reality
“Absolute truth” is defined as inflexible reality: fixed, invariable, unalterable facts. For example, it is a fixed, invariable, unalterable fact that there are absolutely no square circles and there are absolutely no round squares.

Absolute Truth vs. Relativism
While absolute truth is a logical necessity, there are some religious orientations (atheistic humanists, for example) who argue against the existence of absolute truth. Humanism’s exclusion of God necessitates moral relativism. Humanist John Dewey (1859-1952), co-author and signer of the Humanist Manifesto 1 (1933), declared, “There is no God and there is no soul. Hence, there are no needs for the props of traditional religion. With dogma and creed excluded, then immutable truth is also dead and buried. There is no room for fixed, natural law or moral absolutes.” Humanists believe one should do, as one feels is right.

Absolute Truth - A Logical Necessity
You can’t logically argue against the existence of absolute truth. To argue against something is to establish that a truth exists. You cannot argue against absolute truth unless an absolute truth is the basis of your argument. Consider a few of the classic arguments and declarations made by those who seek to argue against the existence of absolute truth…

“There are no absolutes.” First of all, the relativist is declaring there are absolutely no absolutes. That is an absolute statement. The statement is logically contradictory. If the statement is true, there is, in fact, an absolute - there are absolutely no absolutes.

“Truth is relative.” Again, this is an absolute statement implying truth is absolutely relative. Besides positing an absolute, suppose the statement was true and “truth is relative.” Everything including that statement would be relative. If a statement is relative, it is not always true. If “truth is relative” is not always true, sometimes truth is not relative. This means there are absolutes, which means the above statement is false. When you follow the logic, relativist arguments will always contradict themselves.

“Who knows what the truth is, right?” In the same sentence the speaker declares that no one knows what the truth is, then he turns around and asks those who are listening to affirm the truth of his statement.

“No one knows what the truth is.” The speaker obviously believes his statement is true.

There are philosophers who actually spend countless hours toiling over thick volumes written on the “meaninglessness” of everything. We can assume they think the text is meaningful! Then there are those philosophy teachers who teach their students, “No one’s opinion is superior to anyone else’s. There is no hierarchy of truth or values. Anyone’s viewpoint is just as valid as anyone else’s viewpoint. We all have our own truth.” Then they turn around and grade the papers!

Absolute Truth - Morality
Morality is a facet of absolute truth. Thus, relativists often declare, “It’s wrong for you to impose your morals on me.” By declaring something is wrong, the relativist is contradicting himself by imposing his morals upon you.

You might hear, “There is no right, there is no wrong!” You must ask, is that statement right or wrong?

If you catch a relativist in the act of doing something they know is absolutely wrong, and you try to point it out to them, they may respond in anger, “Truth is relative! There’s no right and there’s no wrong! We should be able to do whatever we want!” If that is a true statement and there is no right and there is no wrong, and everyone should be able to do whatever they want, then why have they become angry? What basis do they have for their anger? You can’t be appalled by an injustice, or anything else for that matter, unless an absolute has somehow been violated.

Relativists often argue, “Everybody can believe whatever they want!” It makes us wonder, why are they arguing? We find it amusing that relativists are the ones who want to argue about relativism.

If you attempt to tell a relativist the difference between right and wrong, you will no doubt hear, “None of that is true! We make our own reality!” If that’s true, and we all create our own reality, then our statement of moral accountability is merely a figment of the relativist’s imagination. If a relativist has a problem with a statement of absolute morality, the relativist should take the issue up with himself.

Absolute Truth - The Conclusion
We all know there is absolute truth. It seems the more we argue against it, the more we prove its existence. Reality is absolute whether you feel like being cogent or not. Philosophically, relativism is contradictory. Practically, relativism is anarchy. The world is filled with absolute truth.

A relativist maintains that everyone should be able to believe and do whatever he wants. Of course, this view is emotionally satisfying, until that person comes home to find his house has been robbed, or someone seeks to hurt him, or someone cuts in front of him in line. No relativist will come home to find his house robbed and say, “Oh, how wonderful that the burglar was able to fulfill his view of reality by robbing my house. Who am I to impose my view of right and wrong on this wonderful burglar?” Quite the contrary, the relativist will feel violated just like anyone else. And then, of course, it’s OK for him to be a relativist, as long as the “system” acts in an absolutist way by protecting his “unalienable rights.”

March 17th, 2009 | Tags: absolute truth, Truth | Category: Theology, Word Studies | Leave a comment