For Freedom

It’s the 4th of July! Of course everyone’s mind is on freedom and liberty, and the gift of a freedom-loving form of government God gave us through our forefather’s wisdom, sacrifice, and passion. But the desire for freedom has much deeper and personal spiritual roots in us all than political. You might be surprised how often this need and quality of life is addressed in the Bible.

The phase, “For freedom you have been set free,” came to me early this morning as I began to listen and ponder in my meditation and quiet time.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1 NIV).

Judged Already

I just received a message from a good friend of mine, Dwayne Russell, in the river valley that was related to what I was reading, hearing, and thinking. He quoted John 3:17- 20, the verses after the most famous verse in the Bible, John 3:16, and then went on to his missive entitled, “Judged Already.”

“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved hrough Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed” (John 3:17-20 NASB1995 Emphasis Added).

“Judged already! The light has come but sadly we love darkness, because we can’t hide our stuff in the light. It is exposed. But when we see the light and embrace it, the exposure brings forgiveness, love, and strength we didn’t know we had, because it’s Him in us (Col 1:27).

Jesus will stand at the end of time and have the final say to those who love darkness. The light will win and one day there will be no more darkness except in hell itself.”

Walk In the Light and Live Free

Love light! Walk in light! Confess sin, and let the light shine upon it and in your hearts. Then it’s easier to repent and win over sin experiencing God’s forgiveness (washing) and power for living free—His Spirit! “…and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:32).

That’s a summary, the over-arching truth, and the key to freedom and joy for all who will call upon the Lord. That is also the substance and summary of our pastor’s message Sunday from Galatians five. Dr. Ben Wilson said the apostle Paul gave us in Galatians (Chapter 5) two distortions about freedom and a path forward.

The two distortions:
(1) Moralism or legalism leads to slavery (v1-12).
(2) License (everything that feels good, do it) leads to death (v13-20).
The path forward:
(3) Walk in the Spirit and fulfill the law of love (v 13-26).

Avoid “the trap of sin and shame” as Martin Luther called it in, The Freedom of the Christian and the Bondage of the World.

Ben entitled his sermon, “Fully Convinced! Following Christ with Conviction in a World of Confusion.” Before ending with two verses from Galatians 5, here are some of his salient quotes:

“We must understand our freedom in Christ, which is true freedom.”

“God’s law gives you an excellent picture of righteousness, but it can’t make you righteous.” “It can’t set you free from sin and shame.”

“There is a Latin phrase from the reformation that can be translated ‘not able, not to sin.’ License does not equal liberty. Do not use your liberty to cast off restraint.”

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25)

Rising Lion

Israel is at war with Iran. More specifically with the evil government of Iran, not it’s people — but with Ayatollah Khamenei, and his violent IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) bent on the destruction of Israel and being a regional military superpower with nuclear weapons while ruling the people of Iran with a dictatorial fist.

When Israeli intelligence detected that Khamenei’s regime had enought enriched uranium for about sixteen warheads and were weeks or months away from the enrichment necessary for weapons, they decided to act. There was a lot of chatter in the media that Israel might be making some unusual preparations to deal with this threat to their survival. But the Iranian regime replied with an old Arabic saying, “A barking dog does not bite.”

Israel launched a surprise attack the next day, June 12th, in the early morning hours, and experienced unusual, if not supernatural success in destroying Iran’s sophisticated air defense missles, radars, and weaponry allowing it to damage Iran’s nuclear weapons facilities, eliminate its top nuclear scientists, the IRGC’s top military leadership, and start the process of destroying the 1000s of ballistic missiles and their launchers with unrelenting success.

The sorely crippled IRGC continues to launch decreasing salvos of ballistic missiles at Israeli civilians and cities, not military targets, which has been met with Israeli retaliation and force after alerting Iranian civilians to flee Tehran and areas around the missiles.

It appears the US and some European countries will soon join the conflict to ensure the nuclear weapons program is safely dismantled and the evil regime responsible for so much bloodshed and destruction in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Gaza, and Israel is ousted and brought to justice. The world is a lot safer as a result of all this action, for which people who understand justice and the actions of the Almighty as outlined throughout the Bible should be thankful.

It’s clear from the Bible that God expects a task like this to be completed, once it’s started (e.g. 2 Kings 13:17-19, Deuteronomy 7:2, Psalm 118:7-14, 2 Kings 10:30, Psalm 119:152). And it’s clear from history half measures are doomed to failure.

“The era of procrastination, of half-measures, of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays is coming to its close. In its place we are entering a period of consequences.” Winston Churchill

“You have removed all the wicked of the earth like dross; therefore I love Your testimonies” (Psalm 119:119).

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It’s estimated that there are one million Christians in Iran, in mostly underground churches. And a great many Iranians despise the Ayatollahs and long for freedom. Pray for their safety and for mercy, as this necessary war to rid the earth of this cancer continues to its completion. Pray for that completion as you pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and mercy for inocents in both countries, and those who love peace.

Military analysts would likely conclude the war is over after the lightning strike nutralized their air defenses, commanders at the hightest levels, crippled their nucular facilities, and eliminated their top scientists. Israel’s IDF has been freely attacking the remaining, sizable arsenal of missiles and launchers ever since. But how this war ends is important. It would be best if the citizens of Iran take their country back. They know who the real agents for burtality, boodshed, and violence are, and can see them removed and brought to justice. More than likely there will be US and European boots on the ground at some point to help them make sure the cancer is removed, and to oversee the dismantling of the nuclear threat.

In my books Puzzling 2020, and God Stays Near, I have chapters about warfare, spiritual warfare, and Israel throughout history and in our day. The short chapters are succinct and worthy of your reading and mediation written after the October 7th, 2023 attack on Israel from Gaza.

In God Stays Near, Chapter 10 is entitled “Prepare for War.” Chaper 11 is entitled, “Israel–A Time for War.” Following are some Scripture references and quotes from those chapters:

“A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace” (Ecclesiastes 3:8).

“As barbaric and evil as the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by its Palestinian neighbors in Gaza was, the anti-Semitism that has come to light around the world since then is even more troubling. People are marching, rioting, burning flags around the world, and threatening violence against Jewish people who probably have never met a Jewish person. How do you explain that? Outside of dark, evil spirits?

“Jesus said, “You shall know them [people] by their fruit,” by what they do, not what they say. Consider what both sides in the conflict have said and done throughout history, especially since 1948. Then, draw your conclusions.

“In the meantime, you can dwell on the Bible-stated truth that God hates violence and loves Israel. You will always do well to love what God loves and hate what God hates. ‘And God loves Israel, declaring, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness’” (Jeremiah 31:3). “The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion” (Psalms 11:5).

“Those who do not love what God loves and hate what God hates, and passionately support violence and hate Israel are shaking their angry fists at God. This never ends well for them, their political organization, or those who support them.

“This is how to make sense of it, even with the smoke and media haze — misguided secular-humanist deception. Harvard? CNN? BBC? Beware of deception! Be aware of these verses: “They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie” (2 Thessalonians 2:10b-11).

“Fear God and keep His commandments. Or if that seems too draconian for you, “Love What God loves, and hate what God hates,” you’ll be fine and fare well.

“Shalom and Godspeed on your journey to truth — also righteousness, peace, and joy. ‘For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).

“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” Indeed, that’s what Israel is in the process of doing right now. They are freeing Israel from a people who love violence, oppress their own, practice lawlessness and injustice, hate Israel their neighbors, and fire rockets and missiles at them incessantly. You reap what you sow. There is One who sees to it.

“May our gracious Creator and King exercise justice and judgment mixed with mercy. It’s His to do. And He is the only One who can.

“To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”
(Revelation 5:13)

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“The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor,
The utterance of the man whose eyes are opened,
The utterance of him who hears the words of God,
Who sees the vision of the Almighty,
Who falls down, with eyes wide open” (Numbers 24:3-4).

“God brings him [Israel] out of Egypt,
He is for him like the horns of the wild ox.
He will devour the nations who are his adversaries,
And will crush their bones in pieces,
And shatter them with his arrows.
He couches, he lies down as a lion,
And as a lion, who dares rouse him?
Blessed is everyone who blesses you,
And cursed is everyone who curses you.” (Numbers 24:8-9)

Brandishing Books

This blog is directed to authors and writers, while others may find it interesting.

I started writing a few years ago because I felt like I had a message burning within me to share with friends, family, the church, and the world at large. Since putting my faith in Jesus at an early age, I found that following Him is the path that brings me much truth, light, wisdom, and joy. I tell how I came to faith in my latest book, God Stays Near, Faith and Flight. Following Jesus, as outlined in the Bible, and with the ever-present help of His Holy Spirit has led me into many joyful and wonderful friendships and relationships during the journey. I believe that relationship may be the purpose of it all, along with knowing God and knowing Truth (Phil 3:10, John 8:31-32). To know our Creator Father, and to be known by Him, as we journey with others on our way to eternity with Him is exhilarating and satisfying (Eph 3).

My writing journey started with a book about David, king of Israel, about 1000 BC, and what he teaches us about God and about friendship. This turned into four books describing that path and experiences along the way. I continued to write because I felt the Holy Spirit’s leading to do so, found it inwardly fulfilling, and because the path I saw so clearly seemed to be obscured and hidden in our day by deception and dark spiritual forces needing to be combated.

“The pen is mightier than the sword.” (Edward Bulwer Lytton)

This expression voices the belief that the written word is more powerful and effective than violence in bringing about social, moral, political, and spiritual change. I want to be a warrior for truth and light—for the help and protection of family and friends in the kingdom of Heaven which seeks these values for all people. That’s why I write.

My journey seems humorous to me. I started out knowing so little about writing and being an author. I still feel like that. But I’ve learned a few things along the way that I can share with those of you writing or who aspire to do so for your own reasons.

Helping Hands

In an earlier blog I told you about booknook.biz, the people who helped me a great deal in bringing my last three books to fruition. They mainly serve in formatting and giving advice to get your book published and available on line and in book stores.

Recently I told these trusted folks that I was thinking of promoting my books some, and that I have received several unsolicited phone calls monthly for the last ten years trying to convince me to use the caller’s services to do so. The owner replied, “Let me know if you’re going to do that and I’ll connect you with someone I trust who really knows the business.”

Introducing “launchmybook.com” “BRINGING YOUR BOOK TO THE WORLD” “Book Publishing and Promotion For Established and First-Time Authors.” They have plenty of free courses and resources, and also publishing services for a fee, backed with a good track record and methods of doing business. Give them a look and see what you think, then compare their services to others you might find on the web or via recommendations. I found Joel’s discussion on “Traditional Publishing, Hybrid Publishing, or Self Publishing — What’s Right for You?” to be the best I’ve encountered and the most enlightening.

Since I have a good relationship with BookNook.biz, and they helped me with all my books except for A Friend of the King, which was a hybrid book using West Bow Press, I only used LaunchMyBook’s marketing services.

After sharing my intentions with Joel, the president, in a scheduled phone call, he suggested a program they do with Amazon involving a four-day give away of the eBook version of my newest book. They make sure we are marketing to the right category of readers, buy lists of readers in those categories from data companies, do a large email blast, see that the book has exposure to specific bloggers, and then track the results for those four days and in the weeks afterward.

They aspire to achieve 1000 downloads, and perhaps an Amazon best seller rating in one or more of the categories. The idea is that this creates a web buzz and exposure for the book, Amazon book reviews, and readers who will sample the books, tell others, and all this resulting in wider distribution and more sales. This model is known to work best if an author has three or more books.

The book achieved 2700 downloads over seven countries. And it achieved #1best seller rank in three categories: Biographies of Religious Leaders, Spiritual Growth, and Adventurers & Explorers Biographies. So the campaign exceeded the metrics and goals we had for it. The real test of course will be the number of books sold and delivered into the hands and hearts of readers. I was more than pleased with the whole process, even though it still seems a bit nebulous.

It was by faith and following a spiritual leading that I began writing. It’s been that way through all four books. So it seems natural that is continuing with some marketing to make the books more widely known. I hope this description of the process and the introduction to these helpful companies is beneficial to you.

Please write a review of God Came Near, Faith and Flight, after you’ve read a portion. Pray with me that the books find their way to all whose faith would benefit from reading them. 

Here’s how to review the book, although a young woman in our community group did it in 30 seconds standing in our living room:):) It’s easy and doesn’t take long!

(1) Go to Amazon.com
(2) Type Dwayne Bell (or B. Dwayne Bell) in the search window
(3) Click on the book (God Stays Near)
(4) Click on reviews (the number to the right of the star ratings)
(5) Click on “Write a customer review”
(6) Give it a star rating
(7) Write a couple sentences about the book, an insight, or its impact on you

Thank you very much! Shalom in Christ Jesus the Lord.

Generosity

Our community group, consisting mainly of young people (20-30 something), is studying and discussing the classic spiritual disciplines or habits of faith in Christ as laid out by author and pastor John Mark Comer in his latest book, Practicing the Way. This week we looked at “Generosity.”

Among other things “Generosity” is said to comprise two sides of the same coin — “Giving,” and living a simple lifestyle (also called “Simplicity”). I’m beginning to see “Generosity” as an invitation to step further into God’s presence and better know His person. He is a giving God, beyond our comprehension and understanding. He’s magnanmous and as gracious to the poor as to the rich. Compared to Him, we’re all very poor, and it’s behoves us to realize it and act accordingly in His sight and walk in that light.

Concern For The Poor

In the very oldest book of our Bible, Job, we see that the ancients knew concern for the poor was a virtue and lack of concern for the poor invites God’s displeasure and discipline. The theme is continued throughout the Law of Moses, the Old Testament and into the New Testament in the teachings and examples of Jesus, His Disciples, and the Apostles. This is motivation enough: (1) To give to the poor pleases the Lord and is obedience to Him and His commands. (2) To give to the poor is to identify with the poor and acknowledge we are all poor before God. (3) To give to the poor is to experience a similar joy that God feels when He helps those in need and shows them grace so they feel His love and care.

But giving to the poor and practicing generosity in all realms of our lives as a way to know God better and experience Him more fully hasn’t been on my radar. It appeals to me as maybe the highest reason to practice generosity and simplicity. It’s a new mountain to climb and vista possibility in my spiritual journey that is exciting, new, and invigorating.

Take the Plunge — Or Baby Steps

Harvest Community Church, our community of faith, has some members who have begun a website to support some poor children in Uganda, Africa, in a church and school setting we know because we’ve been there twice and are going again this summer. It’s a bit like the Compassion International model of child sponsorship, but we know these kids and the adults that love and serve them personally. The pastor’s wife, Judith, mother of four, was a Project-Compassion child herself growing up in the slums of Kampala. Now she administers this program in their school with beautiful results we have seen and experienced.

I encourage you to pray about it, and consider helping one of these little ones to a better life, and perhaps to be a spiritual leader in their community and nation. That would be generous, pleasing to the Lord, and it might open your eyes spiritually to things you’ve been missing. His joy as you journey and lay up treasure in heaven!

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Photos from HCC in Uganda

Webpage to make donations

The Generosity Practice Session 04: Be Generous to the Poor John Mark Comer

“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will repay him for his deed.” (Proverbs 19:17)

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35)

“Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.” (Luke 12:33)

Free eBook This Week!

For those of you who read books on iPads or Kindles or other eBook platforms, you can get my latest book, God Stays Near, Faith and Flight, for FREE April 16 through April 20 by clicking here!

All my books are about devotion to Christ and inspiration and motivation for living out that faith, even though they all have a slightly different bent and emphasis.

“A Friend of the King“ is about David’s faith in God and what he teaches us about God and friendship — primary motivations for followers of Christ.
“God Came Near” is a real-life story about God’s activity in our family’s life, beginning with the supernatural healing of our daughter.
“Puzzling 2020“ is a 70-chapter worldview devotional for Christians or thinkers about how a Judeo-Christian or Biblical worldview makes sense of the pandemic and living in our day.
“God Stays Near” is a sequel to God Came Near, about how God has been as near and faithful in our 60-70s as in our 20-30s, with adventure flying stories, and insights about the traditional spiritual disciplines of our ancient-future faith.

Thanks for giving God Stays Near a look, and please give it a rating with a 2-3-sentence comment, along with a prayer that it travels to those who might benefit. Please share this blog or the link to the book as widely as you can. Thank you!

Shalom, and blessings as you journey!

Dwayne

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” Jesus (Matthew 24:35)

Good Friday Reflection (from an earlier post)

Ask!

Does asking God for things boldly in prayer equal faith? Apparently God thinks so, or you can make a case for that from Jesus’ words in Luke 18.

“And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). Then in the same context we read, “…when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8 ESV).

Pray! Ask! Boldly! Ask with enthusiasm and determination and tenacity! Of God, no less! “And…Don’t loose heart!”

Why should we pray like this? He tells us to do so, and invites us to do so! It pleases Him and has purpose!

In this famous, unusual parable Jesus ties this kind of prayer to our faith — the kind of faith He hopes to find when He returns. No pride or entitlement, but humbly, boldly, honestly, continually praying for what’s on your heart. Will the Son of Man find faith like that when He looks at you?

Ask!!

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“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles” (Psalm 34:17).

“I cry out to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me” (Psalm 57:2).

“In my distress I called upon the Lord;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears” (Psalm 18:6).

“This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles” (Psalm 34:6).

“The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
and his ears toward their cry” (Psalm 34:15).

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble;
I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me” (Psalm 50:15).

“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26).

“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission” (Hebrews 5:7).

“Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father’” (Glatians 4:6).

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you” (Romans 16:20).

New Book – God Stays Near

Here in the mid south we are in a deep freeze that’s a bit unusual for us with 4-8 inches of snow blanketing the area and temperatures near 0º F or -18º C! It’s a great day to stay by the fire and read.

I’m announcing the arrival of my new book, God Stays Near – Faith and Flight, which became available as a paperback from Amazon February 17th. A hard cover and eBook version will follow shortly. The short blurb on the book’s cover reads:

“A former American Airlines captain and USAF fighter pilot tells stories about faith and flight during the retirement chapter of living and how God has stayed near for joy, protection, and adventure. Included are stories of flying to Alaska, Idaho, Honduras, and picking up a new airplane from the factory in the Pacific NW with a friend—all flying adventures he never saw coming when retiring professionally. Intermixed are stories of current and past faith adventures that continue to shape flight through life as God stays near. Woven in the mix is advice to peers and the next generation on how to experience God and enjoy life to the full until the end via the spiritual disciplines—the habits and rhythms of the ancient-future faith in Jesus Christ. You will enjoy these stories of faith and flight and be inspired to adventure in your realm.”

The book is very real and personal too, as it may be my last, except possibly photo books, for meditation and devotion. I tell about an airplane crash I had in January two years ago, about some of my most personal spiritual experiences, and God’s faithfulness and leading through these chapters of life — staying near.

The cover is from a painting by a treasured friend Ralph Irwin (1936-2019), an artist who did the art work on my first book, A Friend of the King, and was by my side on many kingdom missions in our communitty of faith in Fort Smith, Arkansas, as well as in Belize. I had a strong spiritual impression to use this artwork even before I knew which direction the book would take. The book is largely about “soul care” or practicing the ancient spiritual disciplines or habits and rhythms that serve to keep our souls healthy, vibrant, and knowing God better each day and year of our sojourn. There are spirits involved, angels light and dark, from a different realm, but active in our realm and interacting with us, many times without our notice, especially if we neglect these practices and fail to maintain spiritual sensitivity.

I think when you read the book, you’ll get it as you go. We’re all on a journey, to enjoy and live the gift of life and choice that is magnanimously given by our Father in heaven. We travel, as the title to Ralph’s painting suggests, “From Portal to Portal.” There are spirits involved. It’s best to understand how they operate, especially those who are enemies, and stay connected to the Father of Lights.

Here’s a quote from the book: “As an international airline pilot, I had the opportunity to spend many days in Paris, London, and Madrid. I would frequent the Louvre, the National Gallery, and the Prado art museums. The number of paintings of angels and demons in conflict from the early Middle Ages to the Enlightenment in these world-famous art repositories is staggering. I used to think, ‘Wow, these people were superstitious!’ But now I think they were more in touch with reality and the spiritual realm than modern humans.”

That’s a tiny, but important aspect of the book. I hope you’ll give it a look and profit from it spiritually for the rest of your soul and the rest of your days. Reading is a spiritual discipline, as is solitude, slience, meditation, and taking time alone to think and hear from God. So stay warm, cozy up somewhere with a blanket or cup of coffee, and read a good book. Godspeed on your journey.

Click here to order

Joyful Epiphany 2025

Yesterday was Epiphany, but it’s never too late for an epiphany while you have breath–the gift of life and your spirit from our Creator God.

I like history so I spent some time this morning researching “Why January 6th?” What the western chruch celebrates on January 6th each year is the wise men from the East who were the first Gentiles to have an epiphany, realization, revelation that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, the Annointed One–the King of the Jews, and the Lord of Heaven and Earth (Matthew 2:1-12).

It was interesting research leading me to chruch councils in the first millennium, the differences between solar and lunar calendars the ancients contrived to track our days on the planet, and more. It’s interesting but still a mystery to me, and perhaps it’s meant to stay that way. The fact that it happened, was recorded in the Bible, and has been celebrated for two millennia is significant and fun to ponder.

I do think the mystery of the December 25th date we celebrate Christmas may have been solved by a lawyer with presently available astronomy software, and I gave you a link to that information in my last blog. It doesn’t take away any of the mystery, but only adds to the awesomeness of our Creator, Redeemer God—His power and His plan.

So I finished my history research amazed at the infautation of God’s family with knowing Him, and all the bread crumbs, along with the interaction with His Holy Spirit, that blows among us like the wind in our quest to know God, ourselves, and our destiney. I watched the three YouTube videos below in the order I share them as I worshiped the Holy One.

Listen, quietly, in stillness, and see if you have an epiphany.

Godspeed and Bon voyage in your journey to know God, yourself, and your destiney better in 2025.

Megan Woods – The Truth (Official Lyric Video)

Casting Crowns – Praise You In This Storm (Live from YouTube Space New York)

My Deliverer – Rich Mullins

“for He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you,
And on the day of salvation I helped you.”
Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”—”

(2 Corinthians 6:2)

Why Christmas? Why Hanukkah?

““Or let him rely on My protection,
Let him make peace with Me,
Let him make peace with Me.’
In the days to come Jacob will take root,
Israel will blossom and sprout,
And they will fill the whole world with fruit.”(Isaiah 27:5-6 NASB).

Israel ישראל 2024

My friend Dwayne Russell sent me this Scripture today along with these comments: “Israel has filled the whole world with its fruit! We have been touched by this one nation more than any other. Our laws were taken from the law given to Moses! God gave the Jews the scriptures even the majority of the New Testament. In a sense we are Jews by faith in the promise given to Abraham! I believe the millennium will be God fulfilling His Promises to the Jewish nation! So we need to make sure we are staying the right side of Israel.”

I didn’t intend to start this blog with Israel, but I also included two chapters about Israel in my latest book, God Stays Near, which should be available in January or February 2025, saying: “It seems I can’t write or understand history without referencing Israel, because of the central place she plays in God’s plan for the planet and our day-to-day lives.”

You can start with Adam, or start over with Noah, when looking at God’s plan. Or start with Job, the oldest book in the Bible, written between the times of Noah and Abraham to see what the ancients knew and thought about God. But starting with Abraham about 2000 BC, the path recorded in Biblical and secular history, gets more clear. We can trace God’s steps on our planet throught the steps of one small ancient nation one-fifth the size of Arkansas and still at the center of world history, appearing in our headlines every day.

The Jews were bearing God’s image to the most ancient and powerful cilivizations like Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. It appears to have been God’s plan to use Greece to give the world a common language and then Rome, with it’s worldwide lines of communication, to prepare for the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God to make His appearance and bear God’s image further into world history and the hearts of men and women by His most Holy Spirit, to both Jews and Gentiles — those who could see Him and choose to believe. It’s a wonderous story beginning in Israel, Jerusalem, and Bethlehem, as foretold by the Hebrew prophets, extending to the whole world as described in the Acts of the Apostles, and the history of civiliztion.

Why Christmas?

So why Christmas? Why Jesus Christ? Why Yeshua the Messiah or ישוע המשיח? The word messiah literally translates to “anointed one” or “chosen to rule.” Yeshua in English is Joshua and translates to “Yahweh saves.” You can meditate on that if you wish.

The arts and sciences point to His beautiful story in the stars, the Scriptures, and the records of mankind and civilizations. It’s all there for men and women who will hear and believe. One of the most beautiful tellings of the story I have enjoyed for the last few years is “The Star of Bethlehem” by Rick Larson. It’s available on DVD here, or by streaming within another movie “God of Heaven and Earth.” This telling involves astronomy, science, history, with beautiful art and music, as a lawyer puzzles out clues from Matthew (2:1-12) about the Magi. Who were they? Why did they come? How did they know when to come?

After it’s telling, one feels like worshiping! This is a season for worship and retelling the most wondrous story ever told engulfing God and mankind in a sweep of creation and history. Oddly, Christmas and Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, both occur this year on December 25th. The Jewish Jesus celebrated this “Feast of Dedication” as it is also called (John 10:22-23) in Jerusalem.

Why Christmas? Hebrews 2:14-15 tells us succinctly what the whole of Scripture tells us in many stories and an easily solved puzzle. The Jewish prophets said Yeshua would come like He did, telling us many facts about His birth and death. The Disciples and Apostles, mostly Jewish, would explain to the world what had happened, was happening, and some future events to come. And they would explain and demonstrate the indwelling power and presence of the Holy Spirit being poured out into their lives and realms from on high. We have the incarnation so we could have the cruxification — our Father, Creator God, making a way to draw us back to Himself and dwell with us now and for eternity as Emmanuel.

I pray all of us enjoy the light of His revelation and dedicate ourselves to His person and purposes during this magical, mystical season we call Christmas or “Mass of Christ” since before 1050 AD, and celebrated on December 25 as early as 200 AD. Gloria in ecelsis Deo to the timeless One, who sent His only Son.

The most famous Jewish king, save One, who ruled, wrote, and prophesied around 1000 BC said this about God: “You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your right hand upholds me; and Your gentleness [humility, meekness, condescension] makes me great” (Psalm18:35). Walking around our lake this frozen morning, I had the Christmas thought, “What I treasure most about the Lord is His mercy and His majesty — what undoes me is His mercy.” Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and may the shalom [peace] and joy of Christmastime be poured out in our hearts. Noel. ✨

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“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, roo little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity” (Micah 5:2).

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17).

“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them…For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,” (Isaiah 9:2,6.7).

“Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth’ ” (Isaiah 49:6).

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14).

The Star of Bethlehem website

“Why Christmas?” by John Piper

The Christ Child meets Chris Tomlin’s Noel ft. Lauren Daigle

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Barlow Girl

One King Point of Grace

Go see “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” in theaters now

Advent 2024 Begins Today

Advent is a season observed in most Christian denominations as a time of waiting and preparation for both the celebration of Jesus’s birth at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, often referred to as Advent Sunday. (Wikipedia)

I pray this December is a time of waiting, preparation, and celebration of Jesus’ coming for you and your household. Today my read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year portions were from the books of Job and Revelation. That’s the oldest book in the Bible, and the last book in the Bible. It seemed fitting for pondering the advent of Jesus Christ.

From the Book of Job:

“Would He contend with me by the greatness of His power?
No, surely He would pay attention to me.”

“But He knows the way I take;
When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”

“But He is unique and who can turn Him?
And what His soul desires, that He does.” (Job 23:6,10,13)

From the Book of Revelation:

“And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood….” (Apocalypse 1:5)

You might wonder why one might think Revelation is a good read for Advent. The first four words of the book in Greek are: “The revelation of Jesus Christ.” This could be taken as revelation from Jesus Christ or revelation about Jesus Christ. Both are true and appropriate, and that is the unified theme of the book. So what better way to celebrate and think about Advent than reading the Apocalypse or Revelation–even with its swirling timeline and mystical accounts of events in eternity past, present, and future. It celebrates the firstborn of the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth–Jesus Christ, our Lord.

In a parallel universe, or the same one, I sit by the fire watching my wife of forty-nine years putting the ornamants on our tree. They are almsot entirely crosses and crowns, with a simple golden crown adorning the top of the tree–a beautiful decision she made several years ago. At the same time, I am reading, His Cross and Ours by H.D. McCarty. He’s one of my main spiritual mentors, and the book just came out. He finished it at ninety-one years of age, this spring. I highly recommend it if you know H.D. or not–most of NWA does, as his mentoring fingerprints are on many in Arkansas and around the world.

Buy it for yourself or someone you love for Christmas! Here are some of H.D.’s remarks from the preface:

“I have no fear, only a relaxed urgency to fully please our dear Savior while I can!” “My hope is that my story in this book–the culmination of a long life of public ministry, personal struggle, theological reflection, and increased “yieldedness” to our Lord Jesus–may inspire, instruct, and guide you on your own journey of cross discipleship. Joyfully stay in the battle, my brothers and sisters in Christ.” — H. D. McCarty

Christmas Peace to you and yours, Dwayne.

“We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders” (Psalm 78:4 NLT).