Upside Down World

Should we be worried and fearful about what we hear on the news? Is our culture going amok?What can we do about it? Will your worrying change even one thing?

I am amazed at how fickle and gullible people are concerning things that scripture declares as being blatantly wrong. Our parents and grandparents would be in total shock if they were all alive and saw and heard the nonsense that is being said and acted out in our country, under the protection of the law. None of this is a surprise to Almighty God. Scripture does speak of a time when good will be called evil and evil will be called good. It seems this may be that time.
I have heard that people who are against abortion, for marriage between a man and and a woman, and go to church, are actually considered dangerous. Welcome to Upside down World.

Well, we need to be dangerous in one respect only and that is in the great love and compassion we have for others. Nothing can resist the pure love of God that casts out fear, the love only He can give us to share with others. We do need to recognize it is futile to expect folks who do not hold to our same beliefs to act, think, and speak as we do. Instead of condemning them, we must pray for them, live uprightly before them, and faithfully show them Jesus in our relationships.

We need the LORD and His Word to keep us on the right course. Right now, living in this country is like being in an airplane that has lost it's bearings and is flying upside down in a cloud bank. We just have to pray for God's help and mercy on our country and upon all those we hold dear. Doma

A Traveler's Lament

This poem came out of an experience of mine. I and a plane filled with passengers were told the captain who would pilot our aircraft was late. We were in a small plane on the baking tarmac at the Phoenix airport. Sky Harbor is what the facility is called. The only thing to remotely suggest a harbor was the waves of heat rising around us. As we sat there perspiring, I wrote this short traveler's lament.

The captain is late,
Well, isn't that great!
He's holding us up,
I guess that's our fate.
It's past time to go.
I'm certain he'll show,
But as we wait, the time goes slow.

How very annoying.
It's getting quite old,
As we roast on the tarmac,
Our lives on hold.

Here he comes with a MacDonald's sack.
We can see he's eating a big Mac,
We all want to just give him a whack.
He's all relaxed, but we're about to crack.

We talk of getting even, of paying him back.
We'll sing 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall,
Followed by verses of Kumbaya,
All the way to Omaha.
That will serve him right for making us wait,
Just maybe then he'll learn not to be late!
Doma

Noah and Adam

"Noah's Lament"
Noah, was racking his brain,
For he had never seen rain.
But God said, "Make a boat,
Make it strong, make it float"

So slowly the floating zoo took shape,
With two of everything - zebra to ape.
Then the lightning it flashed,
And the rains quickly splashed.

By the way, did God say
Where you park an ark? D.B.

"Caught"
Adam, when God came to call
Was hiding, he knew he had sinned.
He was all leafed and vined,
But he couldn't find
A pocket to hide the apple core in. D.B.

We Were There

How fickle the crowd
Who only yesterday
Praised Him loudly
With words of honor,
Highest praise.
Today they crucify,
A bloody cross they raise.

Did I say "they"?
But I was there,
And so were you.
Only yesterday I praised,
Swore to obey,
And not turn back.
Today, I betrayed Him,
My palm branch lies crumpled,
In the trash. Doma

Go With The Victor

Easter is the whole point of Jesus' life on earth. He conquered sin and death when He took our punishment on the cross, died a cruel death and then was buried in a tomb. By rising again, He is the clear eternal Victor. I don't know about you, but I am going to trust and follow the ultimate winner - Jesus Christ the Risen Lord!
Happy Easter, from Doma

Religion versus Relationship

One of the most misunderstood terms, in my opinion, is the word Christian. Many people say they are Christian, yet their actions and beliefs are all different. Possibly the only point of agreement is their belief in Christ and who He is, although there is disagreement about Jesus' identity even among those who claim to be Christians.

Why do you suppose there are so many opinions about Jesus Christ and what it means to be a Christian? Probably because we depend on our ideas and not on the scripture. So we have as many ideas as there are people, each having varied experiences and each under the influence of some religious teaching. If religion is seen as humans' efforts to reach God, by doing various activities or works to please Him and get His attention, then, yes, there are a variety of religions and explanations of what Christianity is. So what is it really?

Suppose we could agree on one idea of who Jesus Christ is and what it means to "be a Christian". I want to suggest that Christianity should be a statement of relationship, not a religious term, but a covenant relationship with Christ. You see, Christ made a great exchange, a covenant with us that made such a relationship possible. He exchanged His robe of righteousness, left His heavenly domain and all that was His for our humanity and all it entails. He offered us His own life for ours. And, His offer still stands.

Why would God allow His Son to do such a thing and how do I know this happened? The scriptures tell us. Jesus came to make the way to His Father possible through His sacrifice on the cross. He was not murdered, as some say, rather He gave up His life. If you are curious at all about this exchange and the relationship Jesus wants to have with you, quit listening to other peoples' version of who Jesus is and read it for yourself in the Bible. You will need to put on "spiritual glasses" to understand these things. To get a clear view of this truth, pray that God's Holy Spirit will show you what you long to understand. Your very longing is a precious gift and a sign of an honest seeker. So come, meet Christ, the way the Father has made to heaven. Right now is a great time to do that. Doma

The Great Exchange

Jonathan, son of King Saul, heir apparent to the throne of Israel. David, a shepherd, the youngest son of Jesse. God bound them together at the heart with a deep loving friendship. They were moved to make a covenant between themselves by exchanging robes, belts, armor and weapons. All that represented the one was given to the other. They identified fully with each other, committed to be one in heart, defending, protecting even to the point of being willing to give their lives for each other.



Jesus, Son of the Living God. Mankind, sinful, weak and needing deliverance. God the Father gave His promise to "Save with an outstretched arm" those with whom He made a covenant. Jesus exchanged His divinity for our humanity, putting on the robe of flesh, leaving His heavenly kingdom behind to become like us, identifying fully with us. In exchange, we receive His salvation and the robe of righteousness. Christ identified fully to the point of giving His life for us.

Have you made the Great Exchange with Christ Jesus? Your old life for the new life of eternal hope and peace He offers. Today is a good day to do that. Doma