Evil Transformed into Good

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We understand and recognize Jesus, as the Saviour of All Men and All of Creation, yet we still ponder the purpose of evil and suffering in the world. I certainly don't know, why the prescription of evil, but I do know evil and suffering will one day be recognized, as having been worked toward a perfectly constructed benevolent end. This morning I read this (below), as a morning meditation and I was thrilled. My hope is ever in the "Goodness of God" which is Christ. And Hallelujah, we know Christ is where and in Whom, all things are summed up and find their glorious end.

Christ’s Complete Victory

God is able to turn the wickedness of men into the greatest good … For, when wicked men crucified the Lord, little did they know “that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them” (II Corinthians 5:19). Little did they know, that this event in history – the crucifixion of Christ – would bring “to nought” all this world’s wisdom. Little did they know that God had a secret eternal purpose in Christ:

“Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (I Corinthians 2:8).

Study God’s Word, especially the Epistles of Paul, and discover that Christ is the great Victor over sin, death, the grave and hell. You will also be rejoicing in all that He accomplished on Calvary – “the salvation, which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory” (II Timothy 2:10), and His “more excellent sacrifice,” to which all the types and shadows pointed. ~ Russell S. Miller

NEAT LITTLE JOKE

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It was a busy day in heaven as folks waited in line at the pearly gates. Peter stood as gatekeeper checking each newcomer's name in the Lamb's Book of Life. But there was some confusion, as the numbers were not adding up. Heaven was a little overcrowded, and a bunch of folks were unaccounted for. So some of the angels were sent on a mission to investigate things. And it was not long before two of them returned, "We found the problem," they said. "Jesus is out back, lifting people up over the gate."
Shane Claiborne

That sounds like the Jesus I know, as He is the Saviour of the World!

NUGGETS OF PRECIOUS GOLD ..... "Fenelon"

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Of all the old mystic's writings that I have read, I found Fenelon's maxims, the clearest and most practical. Last night, I stumbled across a fellow by the name of Fred, who has made a friend of François Fénelon. Below Fred and Fenelon share some wonderful insights for our advancement in God. I have highlighted that which I thought exceptional. As a last note, if there be anything I would hope others to know, it would be, "seek the map maker instead of the map." So many fretting souls are about figuring out what's going to happen, when we can be satisfied to know "God is happening ...... and He is happening within our lives right now!"


FRED'S FRIEND FENELON
1. The Presence precedes the plan.
For years younger people have asked me how they could know God's plan for their life. While reading Fénelon and other saints, I find they are not concerned with that question. Their concern is not with the plan but with the Presence. When we have a guide, we don't need a map. Without the Presence we attempt work for God instead of letting God work through us. Fénelon said: Put aside your self-interest and simply let God's will unfold around you. Everything he does for you is for your good. Worship him without having to know and see everything. Continue doing the good things that you do since you feel that you should and you can do them so easily. Be careful that all your extra energy does not lead you into trouble and, above all, live in the present moment and God will give you all the grace you need. He continues, Live your daily life out in the presence of God. He will give you all that you need. God's glory and his purpose are the end of all things. You will find happiness and salvation there but not as an end in itself. It is all for God.

2. Self-love is subtle.
"You will be tempted to speak out in a humble tone of voice to tell others of your problems. Watch out for this. A humility that is still talkative does not run very deep. When you talk too much, your self-love relieves his sense of shame a little."

Fénelon goes on to say: "Self love is proud of its spiritual accomplishments. You must lose everything to find God for himself alone. You won't begin to let go of yourself until you have been thrown off a cliff. He takes away to give back in a better way." "Self-interest and pride cause you to reject the gifts of God, because they do not come in a way that suits your taste. He asks for nothing but death, and you desire nothing but life." "Selfishly loving yourself shunts your spirit. You put yourself in a straitjacket when you are enclosed in self. When you come out of that prison you experience how immense God is and how he set his children free. Be humble. Do not trust the old nature."

He probes even deeper: So to strip self-love of its mask is the most humiliating punishment that can be inflicted. You see that you are no longer as wise, patient, polite, self-possessed, and courageous in sacrificing yourself for others as you had imagined. You are no longer fed by the belief that you need nothing. . . . You no longer think that your greatness and generosity deserve a better name than self-love. However, you are further tormented because you also weep and rage that you have cried at all. What your old nature fears the most is necessary for its destruction.

3. Suffering is useful.
Fénelon speaks of suffering as God's exercise program, his gymnasium: Suffering is necessary for all of us. You will be purified by dying to see your own desires and will. Let yourself die. You have excellent opportunities for this to happen. Don't waste them. . . . God never makes you suffer unnecessarily. He intends for your suffering to heal and purify you. The hand of God hurts you as little as it can. The yoke that God gives is easy to bear if you accept it without struggling to escape.

4. One test of relation with God is peace.
Fénelon recommended Guyon: "Encourage peace, become deaf to your overactive imagination. Your spinning imagination will harm your health and make your spiritual life very dry. You worry yourself sick for no good reason. Inner peace and the sweet presence of God are chased away by restlessness."

Or, consider, "Peace and comfort are to be found only in simple obedience. Remain at peace, for peace is what God wants for you no matter what is happening. There is in fact a peace of conscience which sinners should enjoy as they are repenting. Suffering should be peaceful and tempered with God's comfort."

And regarding the future: "Live in peace without worrying about the future. Unnecessary worrying and imagining the worst possible scenario will strangle your faith."

He warned "there never is peace in resisting God . . . . Allow yourself to be humble. If you are silent and peaceful when humiliating things happen to you, you will grow in grace." And "The point of trusting God is not to do great things that you can feel good about, but to trust God from a place of deep weakness. Here's a way to know if you are actually trusting God with something. You will not think about the matter any longer nor will you feel a lack of peace."

5. Silence brings blessings.
Fénelon: "Try to practice silence as much as general courtesy permits. Silence encourages God's presence, prevents harsh words, and causes you to be less likely to say something you will regret. Silence also helps you put space between you and the world. Out of the silence that you cultivate you will get strength to meet your needs."

6. Growth and change are the work of the cross.
Fénelon has helped me to think of the work of the cross--redemption--as the constant tension of growth and change as the old nature gives way to the new. It is a process that starts with the new birth and ends at the close of our earthly journey, by which time we are hopefully more mature in the likeness of Christ.

Fénelon said to Mme. Guyon, "Bear your cross. Do you know what this means? Learn to see yourself as you are and accept your weakness until it pleases God to heal you. If you die a little every day of your life, you won't have too much to worry about on your final day."

Then with assurance he says, "You and I are nothing without the cross. I agonize and cry when the cross is working within me, but when it is over I look back in admiration for what God has accomplished. Of course I am then ashamed I bore it so poorly."

7. The focused life is the simple life.
"Our hidden agendas can poison the simplicity of a situation. The desire to do a work for God is simple enough, but I greatly complicate it when I add the hidden agenda of wanting to be recognized and appreciated while doing it."

8. Give grace to yourself and others.
I can almost hear Fénelon say, "Lighten up." He wrote: "Do not be surprised to find yourself overly sensitive, impatient, proud, and self-willed. Realize that this is your natural disposition. Bear with yourself, but do not flatter yourself into thinking you are better than you are but wait on God's timing to transform it. Stop at once when your activities become too hurried."

Madame Guyon, a rich and beautiful widow and close friend of Fénelon, woke many souls to share her love for God. For this she was vilified, harassed, imprisoned, and her writings condemned. Fénelon stood by her at great personal cost.

For a brief biography of FENELON

I WAS A BLASPHEMER

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I was a blasphemer when I attended the organized hellfire churches. I worshiped a weak false god, that was afar from the sovereign God, that purposes and plans everything in love. God touched me and opened my heart to His real love. I then began to see the apostate church was not only wrong about hell, but wrong about everything else. Yes, the prideful whorish church counterfeits everything and stands herself at odds with the true bride of Christ. God help the poor souls bound by such falsity while working like the devil to escape a fictitious hell. Help them Jesus, to see that you leave the ninety nine to gather in your arms the very last one. Open their hearts to know, none will be lost, for you are the saviour of all your creation.

Before there was even a creation, the Lamb was slain. Before there was a sin problem it was solved. THINK ABOUT IT FRIEND!


That we should think that hell

is not also full

of love and mingled with compassion

would be an insult to our God.

By saying He will deliver us

to suffering without purpose, we

most surely sin. We blaspheme also if we say

that He will act with spite or with a vengeful purpose,

as if He had a need to avenge Himself.




The poem is based on the writings of Isaac of Nineveh

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CROWN OF THORNS

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Crown of Thorns

They pressed upon His holy brow
A wicked crown of thorns
That brow knew only innocence
From the day that He was born

He grew up as a tender shoot
A pure and gentle Lamb
And He walked among the sons of men
Salvation in His hands

He healed the sick, He raised the dead
He preached good news to the poor
A kingdom of love and righteousness
Now who could ask for more

But they pressed upon that gentle brow
A wicked crown of thorns
And nailed Him to a cross of wood
Who never did them harm

He called them brothers, called them friends
And even as He died
He prayed , "Father forgive them, they don't know what they do".
While Mary knelt and cried.

But the story does not end there, my friend
For He rose up from the grave
And His arms are opened wide , my friend
Every living soul to save.

Oh Love of God so sure and true
Oh river deep and wide
A fountain opened up for all
On the day that Jesus died

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THE PASTOR'S WIFE GETS TOSSED

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I had a yard sale this last weekend. I only had to drive one person off the property and it was a local pastor's wife. I believe there is no greater foulness in this world, than that which these hellfire pastor's practice. And because they are one flesh, the spouses of these Nicolatan* preachers, carry about a heart full of putrid pride gained by their hubby's elevated position. Oh, how these ministers ride hard the backs of their congregants while preaching their horrid punitive system of theology, where Father God is made to be a tyrant and a terrorist. Their message, in the simplest terms is, "God loves you and if you don't love Him back, he will torture and torment you for ever and ever. Now get to work and give me your money that we might show Him how much you love Him."

Yes, this self righteous woman, with her emblazoned Jackson Hole Bible College jacket, had to go, but not before I asked her a couple questions. I asked her if she believed in a hell, where there was never ending torment, to which she answered in the affirmative. Next, I pointed to the ski mountain that lays at the end of the block and I queried, "and that mountain is only six thousand years old, right?" She replied "yes" again and began a diatribe on the faulty carbon dating system. You see this woman's husband is well known not only for his belief in eternal hell but also his promotion of the ridiculous "new earth" doctrine.

After my questions, it was then I dressed her down with the statement, "because of these crazed beliefs you hold, Christendom is scoffed at by the world." I then suggested, she find a new husband that made an honest living instead of riding and living off the backs of God's children. The last I saw of this self righteous and proud lady, she was exiting the yard, while yelling over the heads of a throng of shoppers, whom carried a deaf ear to the things of God. The poor souls that came to the yard sale care nothing of Christ. This was given evidence by every one of the Spanish and English Bibles, Concordances and Christian books marked "FREE", that remained on the tables at the close of the sale. God help these poor struggling souls and I know He will. I believe Christ is about to take His bride back from these abusive pastors. And while He reclaims the church, He will also turn the world over, proclaiming all creation is His and He loves every ounce of it! I thrill to think of it!

Jack


*Note: “Nicolaitan” means “Victorious over the people; a follower of Nicolaus, a heretic”. It comes from the familiar word “nike”, which is popular in our day. The meaning can be better seen in the phrase: “to conquer the laity” (from “nikos - to conquer”; and “laos” - where our word “laity” comes from).
Rev 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

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NUTSO !

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nutso = crazy, nuts, weird, insane, nutty, nutsy, wild, annoying.

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enough said

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