A CHRISTmas Song - a Kid - and the Holy Spirit

 

This is perhaps one of the most beautiful renderings of Silent Night [Mannheim Steamroller] I've ever heard.  The ending brought me to tears as a sixteen year old kid back in December of '84 when it was first being played on radio stations in Indy and still does today. 

I once did a floor devotion on this in college [2nd Lindy December 1987]. 

What starts out so simple in this piece reminds us of how the world started out so simply at Creation.  The LORD spoke and light and water and air and everything came into being - even us.

But the piece then builds into a much more complicated piece where many instruments are added in reminding us of our fall from Grace and how very difficult and chaotic life can become when we lose our focus - Jesus and His Cross. 

Then as the piece builds to a crescendo and all looks hopelessly lost in the cacophony of instruments and voices - a Mighty Wind rushes in representing the Holy Spirit Who fills us with hope and peace. 

And as the Holy Spirit whispers His message into our ears all of the instruments fade away and a simple toy piano plays alongside the harpsichord reminding us that the message is simple, childlike faith - Jesus Christ the Son of GOD has come into the world to live up to His glorious name - Jesus - GOD saves us. 

And as it winds down, the Wind of the Holy Spirit continues to blow reminding us of the promise Jesus made to send the Helper and that He will be with us to the end of the age. Peace is restored to our sin-filled lives - where we can once again 'Be still and know...'

Hard to believe a 19 kid from the southside of Indianapolis could come up with all of that - but then again - and as always - I had the Holy Spirit to guide me...

Merry CHRISTmas...

A Poem Inked Out of Heartbreak December 11, 2013

Heart(soul)sick –

 

Our hearts are such vulnerable parts of us…

No – not the muscle beating incessantly in our chests…

But the ‘heart of hearts’…

That emotional place in our being…

That place that brings the richest joys…

That place that brings the deepest agonies…

Maybe – this ‘heart’ is truly our soul…

Sin is what makes our soul so vulnerable…

My sin makes my soul sing…

My sin makes my soul weep…

Others’ sin makes my soul sing…

Others’ sin makes my soul weep…

I have placed a shroud on my soul…

By the things I have done…

By the things I have left undone…

You have placed a shroud on my soul…

By the things you have done…

By the things you have left undone…

The agony in my soul today brings much…

Tears…

Wailing…

Slobbering…

Headache...

Redness…

Abandonment…

Longing…

A hope to make all better…

A knowledge that this is impossible…

A Mirror rules the day…

A Reflection of the sin that rules the soul...

 A terror-filled moment…

A resigned sigh…

An understanding…

 

The soul is vulnerable…

It needs saving from itself…

It needs saving from others…

Ironmongery and tree…

These will supply the altar…

An Innocent will supply the sacrifice…

Life will seep around the iron…

Life will flow down the tree…

Flecks of iron…

Splinters of tree…

Droplets of Life…

A recipe for the heart(soul)sick…

Yes – the Mirror rules the day…

A Reflection restored…

A terror-filled moment vanished…

A sigh of relief…

A repaired understanding…

 

In this life the soul will always be vulnerable…

But this life is now no concern for the soul…

For it is the Life to come…

This makes the soul leap for joy…

For in the Life to come…

Tears – wiped away…

Agony – banished…

Abandonment – forgotten…

A soul forgiven…

A soul at peace...

CCM Group that Got It Right

 

Building 429

Where I Belong

 

Sometimes it feels like I'm watching from the outside
Sometimes it feels like I'm breathing but am I alive
I won't keep searching for answers that aren't here to find

All I know is I'm not home yet
This is not where I belong
Take this world and give me Jesus
This is not where I belong

So when the walls come falling down on me
And when I'm lost in the current of a raging sea
I have this blessed assurance holding me.

All I know is I'm not home yet
This is not where I belong
Take this world and give me Jesus
This is not where I belong

When the earth shakes I wanna be found in You
When the lights fade I wanna be found in You

All I know is I'm not home yet
This is not where I belong
Take this world and give me Jesus
This is not where I belong
[x2]

Where I belong, where I belong
Where I belong, where I belong

 

+ + +

 

For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

1 Corithians 2:2 ESV

 

But we preach Christ crucified

1 Corinthians 1:23

 

In my Father's house are many rooms.

John 14:2

 

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:6

 

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; w

hoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

John 6:35

 

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.

Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.

John 11:25-26

 

 “Behold, I am making all things new.” 

Revelation 21:5

 

And no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:4

 

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches.

I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.”

And let the one who hears say, “Come.”

And let the one who is thirsty come;

let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

Revelation 22:16-17

 

He who testifies to these things says,

“Surely I am coming soon.” Amen.

Come, Lord Jesus!

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

Revelation 22:20-21

PART 2 FAC

PART 2



Remember the questions from part 1 and their answers? A quick reminder...


“Who governs the church?”

“Is there a board of elders and if so how do they function?”

“Do you believe the Bible to be the Holy Inerrant Word of God?”

“How many do you have in attendance at worship?”

“Did you or the Senior “pastor” attend Seminary?”

“Do you belong to a larger church body?”

“Does that body have a leader?”

“How does that leader work with FAC?”

Simple yet direct questions that any pastor should be able to answer quickly and with out feeling backed into a corner – questions any "pastor should expect and that should be on the tip of any seeker's tongue worth his salt – especially that tongue just tasted Chinese!

Yet, brother Josh seemed quite anxious at the questions raised and seemed to become just a tad defensive. Answers to the questions above and in order…

“Pastor Ball.”

“Yes, there is a board of trustees that see to the church.”

“Yes, we do believe the Bible to be Holy and without error.”

“We have about 300 members in this church and 300 on a Sunday and about 120 on a Wednesday night.”

“No. We each attended IU. He worked under his father and I worked under him. I did take a class through a seminary in West Virginia. I’ve preached in all of the States and 20 countries.”

“Yes, we do.”

“Yes, it does – Bishop Robert Martin.”

“He can say to us that we should do something and then we will pray about it and Pastor Ball will make a decision.”

+++ (Oops! That's Trinitarian - sorry)

And now here in part 2 you will see the orthodox translation of these answers as viewed through TRUTH...

"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!" (Yes - this blog is currently sponsered by 'The Great and Powerful Oz' coming to a theater near you)


"The board of trustees basically makes sure that the toilets flush when flushed.  However, they drop the Ball when they don't make sure all of the shit that is spewed on Sundays and Wednesdays goes down the drain."


"That is to say when the Holy Bible doesn't go against our own personal beliefs - and by personal beliefs we mean what ever pastor Ball says.  It never says the word 'Trinity' in the Bible you know!"


"When we say 300 members we are counting numbers of fingers in attendance or 30.  Hey that's not nice to just give us that one finger - we need to count them all!


"If you mean by "attend seminary" that pastor Ball and I studied Exegesis - Isogogics - Typology - Homoletics - Systematics - Apologetics - Christology - Sotariology - Greek - Hebrew - etc.  then no.  But if you meant that I let brother Ball turn me into a mini-me full of false teachings with no clear confession other than brother Ball's way or the highway then - YES!"


"Yes - some long bunch of letters and numbers and some jibberish that sounds like tongues with a .org on the end." Didn't even offer us a crayon from the Children's Chancel Drama area of the building!


"Bishop - sounds fancy doesn't it? Tends to give us a little more legitamacy among the mainline churches don't you think? But make no mistake about it - the only leader is Brother Ball."


"Truthfully?  That bird doesn't fly.  That national level thing is more of an ostritch - very flightless and buries its head in the sand when we don't listen - and we don't listen.  That is with the exception of brother Ball - he's alot like that ol' E.F. Hutton guy."


Well thank you brother Josh for clearing up some of those answers for us.  Should there be a PART 3?  You the reader will have to make...


"Pssst.  Hey ATF guy? One more translation for you FAC does not stand for Faith Apostolic Church.  Truly it stands for Forever Apostate Cult."

 

 

The Blind Leading the Blindaaa

 

 

PART 1

 

I met “pastor” Josh today of the Faith Apostolic Church on the northside of Carmel, Indiana and found out something I wish I had known eleven years ago – I needn’t have gone to the seminary - more on that in a minute.

 

Brother Josh – the associate “pastor” – was a very kind, yet nervous young man.  He showed my friend Marcus and me around the “church,” which consisted of two medium sized designated worship areas – one for the children and one for the adults.  Apparently the children worshiped the eight pound six ounce baby Jesus that Ricky Bobby did in Talladega Nights, while the adults entertained a different Jesus altogether.

 

The diminutive Brother Josh nervously showed us around and led us directly to the worship center – I truly believed that young brother thought we were going to peal away parts of our sweatshirts to reveal the bright yellow letters ATF and therefore, was dancing and looking for a way out all at the same time.

 

However, we were kind and cordial – I think it was our size that frightened him.  Or was it our simple yet direct questions…

 

“Who governs the church?”

“Is there a board of elders and if so how do they function?”

“Do you believe the Bible to be the Holy Inerrant Word of God?”

“How many do you have in attendance at worship?”

“Did you or the Senior “pastor” attend Seminary?”

“Do you belong to a larger church body?”

“Does that body have a leader?”

“How does that leader work with FAC?”

 

 

Simple yet direct questions that any pastor should be able to answer quickly and with out feeling backed into a corner – questions any "pastor should expect and that should be on the tip of any seeker's tongue worth his salt – especially that tongue just tasted Chinese!

 

Yet, brother Josh seemed quite anxious at the questions raised and seemed to become just a tad defensive.  Answers to the questions above and in order…

 

“Pastor Ball.”

“Yes, there is a board of trustees that see to the church.”

“Yes, we do believe the Bible to be Holy and without error.”

“We have about 300 members in this church and 300 on a Sunday and about 120 on a Wednesday night.”

“No.  We each attended IU. He worked under his father and I worked under him.  I did take a class through a seminary in West Virginia.  I’ve preached in all of the States and 20 countries.”

“Yes, we do.”

“Yes, it does – Bishop Robert Martin.”

“He can say to us that we should do something and then we will pray about it and Pastor Ball will make a decision.”
 

 

 

So we begin the conversation and end the conversation with Pastor Ball – who really is running things at FAC.  Pastor Ball is the end-all-to-be-all of this “church.”  But let’s not be hasty – let’s take a look at what Brother Ball teaches from his acrylic podium and we will do just that in PART Twoaaa.

 

And about the seminary thing – I could have saved myself tens of thousands of dollars and a lot of time and effort had I just found a preacher to listen to and then have him pronounce me licensed and ordained!!!  Holy crap!!! Where’s the Tylenol!!!



A Confession (9) The Love of Self - an Ancient Tale

It has come to my attention through diligent - and at times - not so diligent soul-searching and self-reflection that I am not that far removed from Eden.


No, I do not mean that I live in close proximity to paradise - at least not in the way you just thought. No, I am not speaking of fruitful trees of orange and lemon and cherry and peach (no apples please!). Nor am I speaking of animals grazing - even the meat eaters - lion and lamb lying down together. No, these aren't what I write of tonight. These are perfect, wholesome, unblemished and as the Holy Spirit would inspire Moses to write, "good" things about The Garden. These were pre-chapter chapter three characteristics - and they couldn't be further from that which I speak.


No, I speak of that dirty and filthy chapter three. It is here, smack dab in the middle of chapter three where I find myself. Right here with Adam and Eve. Here is where I stand. Right here with sin and death and the Devil crouching at my feet waiting to spring the trap. That fallen angel ready with his trap of deceit and lies that will surely latch itself to my soul just as a steel trap springs on a bear's paw catching it and not letting go.


Here I stand. I - along with my first parents - look longingly at the forbidden fruit knowing in my heart it is off limits and yet here I stand.  The fruit - it is so tantalizingly close and looks like no other fruit in Eden.  I must have it! 


Here is where I stand in the midst of selfishness and self-centeredness.  It's so close - it must be mine!  I cannot live without it!  I don't care what He said!  What does He know about this anyway?  He sits up there in His lofty Heaven and dares to tell me what it is like down here?  Besides did He really say, "no?" 


Yes, this is the Eden I speak of tonight.  And it is here - when looking back over the past two years - that I find myself, again and again.  I gave into temptation.  I gave into selfish thoughts.  I gave in to fleshly thoughts.  I put myself here - here where I stand.  Not some devil - but me! 


Father forgive me!  Son forgive me!  Holy Spirit forgive me!  I have sinned against you oh Holy Trinity!  I have placed myself before all!  Before You Godhead!  Before my family!  Before my vocation!  Before my Call!  I beg of you LORD to take this sin and shame and guilt from me!  I cry out with the Psalmist to create in me a clean heart and right spirit!  Pull me close Father!  Restore to me the JOY of Thy Salvation which is alone in Christ Jesus!


You promised LORD to save my first parents back in The Garden - and in doing so promised me, Raymond Allen Smith, a place in Your eternal Kingdom.  Right there in that dirty old chapter three You were making all things new!  You were at work restoring Your children unto their Heavenly Father!  Right there in the midst of damnation was salvation!  Right there where the Law was laying us low - the Gospel was raising us up!  And for me that means reconciliation!  It means restoration!  It means reclamation!  It means for me - Heaven Itself!  Praise You oh Holy Trinity - Father, Son + and Holy Spirit that I have been redeemed and walk in newness of Life!  Come LORD Jesus - come quickly!

A Confession (8)

October…for me brings to mind many things. It seems that the sun hits a reminiscent angel in the sky that rushes to mind memories of autumns past. The leaves of crimson and maize and burnt orange splash across the landscape as God paints with divine flair and beauty.

October has a smell that immediately brings to mind damp leaves and burning logs in open fires.

There is a sound to the month, the sound of crunching leaves underneath our feet and the piles jumped into by young children again and again.

This king of months brings to mind trips to Adrian’s apple orchard and the smell of apples and cider. The taste of the first Jonathans of the year, with their red-green sheen and their hard-apple crunch. The tartness is exquisite.

There is a crispness to the air, a quality found only in October. Not too hot and not too cold, but just right. The wind blows and touches the leaves making the yard sound like the sound of rushing water.

Sweatshirts and jeans are the dress of the day and all of it just makes you want to get out, get out and see and smell and listen and taste and touch, filling the five senses with exhilaration like no other time of year. It is almost sensory overload!

At the end of the month, Knock-Knock-Night, All Hallows Eve! A slight breeze rustles the leaves of Maple and Oak and Beech. The sun has settled in for a long night’s sleep and the moon dances in and out of the clouds. Pumpkins everywhere are carved to perfection, their smiling faces flicker in shadow and light. Kids run from house to house asking for tricks or treats hoping for the later, but having fun with the former. Witches and clowns, goblins and ghouls fill the night. As sweets are passed from hand to jack-o-lantern and sack and pillow case.

All of this is October, a month that is spectacular to say the least.

The Friar

A Confession (7)

Robert Jordan was an author of fantasy fiction, and an author I mentioned in the earlier Tolkien confession. I first discovered Mr. Jordan's books when I was perusing the shelves of my local bookstore in early 1990. I was in the middle of a new generation of Ohmsfords, having just finished Brooks’ latest offering, when I saw high upon the top shelf, where was kept the over sized tombs, a blue covered book with people on horseback and in the background a large full moon. I pulled the book down and inspected the cover noting the lined, hard face of one rider, and the soft curves of another. I was instantly enchanted. I peeked inside to see, for me, the prerequisite map filled with new places to explore and lands to behold, kingdoms to adventure in and royalty to which knee would be bent. I bought this new book, yes, judging it by its cover!

I took my new purchase home, and to be honest with you, it went right on to the shelf where it stayed for a few months. It was the spring of 1990, I had just turned twenty-two years old in January, I had been married a total of seven months, my wife and I were expecting a baby in two months, and I was still trying to finish my undergrad degree. I was a busy young man. Then one day I found myself not traipsing through Middle Earth, and no longer among the Ohmsfords, but wanting high adventure. So I picked up my Robert Jordan purchase off of the shelf, and almost immediately I was spellbound by Mr. Jordan’s writing. The description of the landscape was awe inspiring and the build up of characters made each one seem a friend or foe as the case may be. I was turning page after glorious page finally finding someone who approached the greatness of the master, Tolkien himself.

The book ended much to my dismay, and it certainly left me salivating for more. I was not disappointed long, for another book came out. Then another and another. And so on it went year after year topping the NY Times best selling list each time. Book eleven was published and released in 2005, with the promise of one final, sweeping, epic book to be released some time in the future.

By this time (2007) I had gone from being a newlywed, expectant father of twenty-two, to being a husband of eighteen years, a father of a two (17 and 15) and I was now thirty-nine and no longer a student but the holder of a Masters’ degree and the pastor of a Lutheran Church in west-central Minnesota. I had just returned from a pastors’ conference in northern Minnesota and was catching up on my emails when I ran across the subject heading from my best friend Eric. It read, “Oh no!” I quickly opened it up to see what unfortunate news I was going to find. Eric had read in the paper that Robert Jordan had died and he wanted to know if I was aware of this.

I was stunned, but had expected this news might come. Mr. Jordan had said on his blog some months or even years ago that he had been diagnosed with a rare disease called amyloidosis. He assured his readers he was going to overcome this rare and life threatening disease and for some time “fought the good fight.” However, in the end the disease had its way with him. He died on September 16 and is survived by a wife and a son and millions of fans.

I will never forget the way in which Mr. Jordan’s writing touched my life and the lives of so many others. It gave me another place to go and wander in the fields and among the trees of yet another land that was only in the mind of the writer and his readers. It was a great journey.

I once had the opportunity and the pleasure of meeting Mr. Jordan and let me say it was a wonderful experience. He made me feel welcome and comfortable, putting me at ease as I met one of my heroes. He was amiable and genuine, exactly the way I pictured him. He had a hearty laugh and loved to spin the webs of his tales like a spider working on the intricacy of its home. Another great journey.

Mr. Jordan spoke of his wife Harriet carrying on his writing and finishing the tale that his readers longed to hear. I am happy of this, but it will not be the same as if Jordan had done it himself. Mr. Jordan was a Christian and as I am too, I hope to hear the end of the tale in person some day.

Rest in the Creator’s embrace my friend.

The Friar