About Me

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I am a born-again Christian, who is Reformed, but also charismatic, spiritually speaking. (I do not speak in tongues, but I believe glossalalia is a bona fide gift not given to all, and not as great as prophecy, for example.) I have several years of college education but only completed a two-year degree. I was raised Lutheran and confirmed, but I didn't "find Christ" until I was in the Army and responded to a Billy Graham crusade in 1973. I was mentored or discipled by the Navigators in the army and upon discharge joined several evangelical, Bible-teaching churches. I was baptized as an infant, but believe in believer baptism, of which I was a partaker after my conversion experience. I believe in the "5 Onlys" of the reformation: sola fide (faith alone); sola Scriptura (Scripture alone); soli Christo (Christ alone), sola gratia (grace alone), and soli Deo gloria (to God alone be the glory). I affirm TULIP as defended in the Reformation.. I affirm most of The Westminster Confession of Faith, especially pertaining to Providence.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Pardon My French!


Nota bene: "out of the abundance the heart, the mouth speaks" according to our Lord. You can't be too safe or conservative and it is best to err on the side of decency than take chances.

I know that we can let our guard down and get carried away amongst friends, but we should strive to maintain dignity and poise as it behooves us. When someone addresses me abusively I feel they don't respect me or are treating me like they don't think I have feelings. When we are intimate we are to be sensitive also and know our boundaries respecting others.

Is there a time and place for vulgar lingo? I, personally, evade dubious expressions and words to be on the safe side, because I believe in maintaining dignity, respect, and testimony. Our manner of speech should be beyond reproach and blame if we desire to be an elder or a deacon. There is such an animal as appropriateness and just between guys on a fishing trip, for example, the language might become less restrained and more informal. But we never stoop to the level of the lowest common denominator if we are in bad company. I still take umbrage at certain four-letter words even though I've been in the military and don't expect to hear this from Christians, even though I have heard it from the horse's mouth. Are we trying for shock value sometimes or to make a point? Is it an aberration or customary usage?

Our verbiage should be clean and uncorrupted, but that is open to interpretation and other factors. Sometimes it just doesn't become one to stoop to such a level when he should know better, and better is expected of him or her. Certain words should be a no-no and clearly verboten, so to speak; I will not delineate which ones. Our tongue gives our mind away and is a telltale sign of what we are thinking. Indiscriminate usage is out of line and also the free and easy overuse of expletives to drive home a point. Educated people should have refined language; it is expected of them.

There are four verses to consider: Eph. 4:29; Col. 4:6; and Psa. 19:14. The latter says: "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, Oh LORD." What exactly is corrupt communication is open to debate and one must judge for himself? Note well that our liberty is curtailed and limited by our brother's conscience--we can't be reckless or careless by any means. If ever I use a word to make a point I make it clear that I do not approve of its usage and be apologetic; however, there are words that are a no-no at any time, under any circumstance if one claims to be a follower of Christ.   Soli Deo Gloria!

Under The Auspices Of God


You may feel that I was just lucky or that Providence was in my favor, but I don't attribute my sense of being lead by God as fortuitous or just good fortune--God was with me to teach me a lesson or two. One day I got sick and tired of my room in disarray and felt compelled to make my bed, carry out the trash, dust and vacuum to make it livable--I didn't think at the time that it was necessarily being led by the Spirit, but it was: "As many as are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."

It just so happened that that afternoon I was visited by a survey team and I was sure glad I didn't have to be embarrassed--in fact, I was a little proud. Now we have never had a surprise inspection before, but that day we did have one and I gave God the glory that He had "saved" me and kept me out of trouble: "He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." I have a testimony to guard and God does too!

It was important for me to see God at work on my behalf and I do not take it for granted that He is obliged to always rescue me (I could have gotten in deep trouble--most of the guys only clean their rooms for inspection and I was getting lax myself). I am now all the more conscientious to keep things as tidy as possible and not to procrastinate and to continue trusting in God who I can call upon in the day of trouble and He will deliver me (Ps. 55:22).

There is a balance between responsibility and faith and not "testing" God--in a certain vein this was my wake-up call, and I passed the test. Indeed, it was not auspicious, (some like the term fortuitous) but providential, as God led me in cooperation.   Soli Deo Gloria!