Traveling Towards Home

While I do not want to give the idea that we are 'throwing out' the checklist, actually It never was there. It is a misconception of what God demands of us. Yes, call it 'demand', or 'require' but the choice of what to do for our salvation is not up to us. He never asked our opinion, or what made us 'happy' or 'comfortable' as some of the words I hear thrown about. He is the great Creator. He made us. He *knows* us inside out. He knows the very thought and intents of our hearts (please read Hebrews 4:11-13 in context of course.) Who better to set the standard? Yes, it guides us. The struggle is not really in understanding this, so much as letting go of preconceived ideas that are 'extra-Biblical'. True understanding comes from God alone, and that through our study of His word, the only source of truth. In the beginning of Hebrews, the writer, inspired by God, tells us that at one time, He spoke to the fathers through the proph...

Several years back, I noticed on the Plaza in Kansas City a Thomas Kinkade gallery. I was excited to think that one day I might walk into that gallery and view an authentic work by this artist. Imagine my disappointment to find there were only digital reproductions. The curator assured me I would not be able to tell the difference. They started with good canvases and paints and were able to duplicate the very brush-strokes of the artist in such a way that these imitations looked exactly like the original art work. In the Christian's walk, our life must so duplicate the Master's that it is an exact replica of His original work. Just as in the world of art, we must start with quality materials, so every brush stroke must look like His. This is done by complete obedience to His will and commands. We must not think we will even be close to the original by putting in our own ideas in the same way that if the workers who reproduce Kinkade's work were to inject their own a...