Life #10 - A Song of Freedom

Paddling on dangerous waters, Makapu`u 2011

Perhaps, when Marcus Garvey gave his speech, he may not have realized how closely and wonderfully united a life of Redemption was to the next step, a life of Freedom.

If we are indeed prisoners of our unruly minds’ constructions, then mental health professionals will counsel us to stop construction every time. But, just like running on a treadmill, even that gets exhausting, doesn’t it? 

The alternative is to transform ourselves by “renewing” our “mind” (Romans 12:2). In this verse, “mind” is intellect. To “renew” is to renovate, remodel, repair, restore, mend, and fix up.

Through redemptive mental actions based on love, we begin to make renovations toward how we think and feel about ourselves and others. Forgiveness is a good place to start—and remain—because we all make mistakes! Added to that we re-train the intellect to consciously reflect upon “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Phillippians 4:8 NIV).

Gradually, our mind will form new perceptions and understandings about ourselves and others. Our intellect re-sets to a new standard of feeling, judging, and determining. Now, we think and feel as Jesus did because we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).

We are transformed people with renovated intellects. At last, our emancipated minds are free to love, to hope, to have faith. Free to embrace life (John 11:26 NIV). We are a Song of Freedom!

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; Greek definition from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible: mind - #3563; renew – 341; renewing - #342 This blog addresses Life #4 – To Live is Christ, items 3 and 4; source on Garvey from Wikipedia; excerpts from our book to be released next year.

Life #9 - Life is a Redemption Song

Makapu`u Trail to Lighthouse, 2011

In October 1937, Marcus Garvey gave a speech that urged his listeners to emancipate themselves from “mental slavery” and to “free our minds”. He stressed that “none but ourselves” could do it. Later, Bob Marley included Garvey’s phrases into his popular “Redemption Song”.

Our minds create our reality based on the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Yes, that’s the tree we’re not supposed to eat of, but still do, eh? Like Garvey said, we are slaves to our minds. All of our interactions with others are based upon what we let our minds construct using lower-grade timber from that tree!

Do our minds fabricate lies about ourselves and others? Do our mental-emotions cause us to “hate” the very people whose blood we share? Do we let our minds perseverate on how others have offended us or caused us pain? Are our minds persuaded we must punish “them” by withholding our love? Have our minds concluded that we are justified in not forgiving anybody?

These are the very reasons why Jesus commanded us to love, agapaō from our mind (Matthew 5: 43, 44). It isn’t for “their” sake that we love. It isn’t for “their” sake that we forgive. It’s for ours! If we don’t diffuse the mind through love and forgiveness, then we remain prisoners for the rest of our mental lives.

Until we emancipate ourselves from the dungeons of our mind, life for us can never rise higher than a Redemption Song.

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; Greek definition from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible: love - #25; Source on Garvey and Marley from Wikipedia; Excerpts from our book to be released next year.

Life #8 – To Live is to “Put on Jesus”



Rocks at Makapu`u, 2011

Christians struggle to understand some of the words Jesus spoke—and for good reason: “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63 NIV). Until his hearers were “born again” or “born from above”, they would not be able to grasp spiritual concepts (John 3:3-12).

Let’s proceed on the premise that all of us have been so birthed.

To “put on" or "clothe" ourselves with Jesus requires work; otherwise, our faith is dead (James 2:17). To “clothe" ourselves with Jesus is simple: “make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (Romans 13:14). We “put on Jesus” to address our present state of corruption—the result of our animal appetites—which are carnal. So clearly our goal is opposite: to become spiritual, pnĕumatikŏs, non-carnal Christians. Vine’s Expository Dictionary states that those “who walk to please God are spiritual” (Galatians 6:1; 2 Corinthians 3:1).

Realistically? We know that “many” of our readers will not want to stop gratifying the lusts of their flesh. Jesus knew it too, which is why he said only “few” would obtain life. But we have this hope that the “few”—against the backdrop of the “many” generations that have preceded us—will come from this generation that will do it!

Jesus is building a spiritual house—living stones that never die (1 Peter 2:5). Are we even part of his rock pile?

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; Greek definitions from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible and Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (1981); excerpts from our book to be released next year.

Life #7 – Two Ways to be Alive and Remain for the Rapture

Koko Head, Oahu 2011

To be alive and remain for the rapture, “life and immortality” must be ours today (2 Timothy 1:10). Otherwise, we become part of the resurrection group (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17). In that case, let’s get acquainted with life and immortality.

• “Life” is zōē (dzo-ay’). Among various explanations, Vine’s Concordance states that zōē is life as God has it, which he gave to the Son to have in himself, and through faith in Jesus we partake of, even as Jesus maintains zōē-life for us. Zōē is associated with holiness and righteousness.

• Next, “immortality”. Hmm. The Greek definition does not support this translation and neither does Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Instead, the word is aphtharsia (af-thar-see’-ah)—which means “incorruption”.

Clearly, we are addressing zōē-life and aphtharsia-incorruption.

Roman Catholics early grasp the concept of incorruption because of the canonization of their saints. One in particular, St. Bernadette Soubirous, though dead for over a hundred years, is said to have an aphthartŏs body—free from corruption. We can infer from the Soubirous example that even though her body is said to retain aphtharsia-incorruption, the zōē-life—which could have kept her alive—had left.

We’ll need both life and incorruption to be alive and remain for the rapture. Only Jesus accomplished both (2 Timothy 1:9, 10). And before we excuse ourselves because we believe we can’t be like Jesus, fortunately, scripture exhorts us to “put on” the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14).

Do we know how to do that?

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; Greek definitions from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible and Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (1981); Wikipedia – Bernadette Soubirous. 

Life #6 – Why Should We Choose His Promise of Life?

Morning Glory 2011

Christians today believe in the popular rapture teaching, “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up…to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Ironically, our dust-kicking jubilation has blinded us from seeing its narrow but bold assertion—that in order to participate in the rapture, we must be “alive and remain”!

Many of us can count the number of Christian friends and family who believed in the rapture but are now waiting for their resurrection. Obviously, something has been overlooked in the rapture-teaching. If that’s true, then our rapture-conditioned mindset must be open to correction and instruction. Yet we all know how difficult it is to change fixed mindsets, don’t we! Even Jesus had a hard time convincing the leaders of his day to change theirs, especially when he claimed, “…if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death” (John 8:51-59).

When rapture occurs is not a mystery. The Scripture clearly states rapture happens after the resurrection of those who are in Christ. So, when we see our Christian ancestors, grandparents, parents, children, cousins, uncles, friends, etc. begin to resurrect from their graves—or other places of rest—that’s when we know our rapture is imminent! First the dead in Christ will rise; then the rapture of those who “are alive and remain” (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).

To be “alive and remain” for the rapture is do-able by those who have entered into Jesus’ promise to “live and never die”; otherwise, it’s the resurrection.

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; excerpts from our book to be released next year.

Life #5 – Two Life Promises (2 of 2)

Makapu'u 2011

When Jesus claimed to be the resurrection and the life, he gave Christians two life promises. The First is intended for Christians who die (John 11:25 NIV), while the Second is intended for Christians who live:

“…and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:26 NIV)

Do Christians believe? We have three ways to answer the Lord:

1) May it be to me as you have said (Luke 1:38 NIV); or,

2) I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief (Mark 9:24 NIV); or,

3) —laugh!—because undisputed facts wipe out little faith (Genesis 17:17; 18:12).

We have been born again of incorruptible seed; that seed must grow into the full-stature Christ (1 Peter 1:23; Ephesians 4:13, 15). Why full stature? The full-stature Son is alive and he said, “Because I live, you will live also” (John 14:19). Anything less than full-stature and we die.

Unconvinced? The Son gives life and is the image of the invisible God—the very life and image which we originally lost to sin (Colossians 1:15; Genesis 1:27; 2:24). To recover our loss, God planned for us to be conformed to the image of his Son (Romans 8:29, 30). Even the Holy Spirit is tasked with changing us into the Lord’s image (2 Corinthians 3:18). That image—spirit, soul, and body—is alive today!

The full-stature church is supposed to be “alive and remain until the coming of the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:15). If not us, then who?

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; excerpts from our book to be released next year. 

Life #5 - Two Life Promises (1 of 2)

Ko`olau 2011

Jesus declared himself to be the resurrection and the life (John 11:25 NIV). Based upon that declaration, he gave two life promises:

The First is for Christians who die: “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;” (John 11:25 NIV).

When Jesus died, he “gave up the ghost”, ĕkpnĕō (ek-pneh’-o), breathed out his spirit (Mark 15:37 KJV; Matthew 27:50). Afterward, his spirit proclaimed victory to other spirits (1 Peter 3:19). Even the dead had the good news announced to them “that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit” (1 Peter 4:6). On the third day his body resurrected.

Our departed loved ones also ĕkpnĕō, breathed out their spirits. And, like Jesus, their spirits live on even after their bodies die. Our own experiences validate this truth. Haven’t we at one time or other felt the spirits of our loved ones close by, with us, or surrounding us? Jesus said God is the God of the living not of the dead (Luke 20:38). Their spirits live because the Spirit is life (John 6:63).

Especially encouraging is that the spirits of our loved ones know to whom they belong—and so they return to a generous God who gave them the first breath of life (Ecclesiastes 12:7; Genesis 2:7).

Their spirits live because Jesus kept his promise—he is their Life! And at the last day, when their bodies rise again, he will also be their Resurrection.

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; Greek definitions from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible and Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words.