Doing Simple and Childlike

"Who gets the highest rank in God's Kingdom? For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the Kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's Kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me."  Matthew 11:1b-5 (Msg)

Do you do simple as bad as me? I have a PhD in complicating life-not a good degree or pedigree. FYI: PhD stands for-'piled higher and deeper'. My friend Brother Mickey says, "if you're going to be dumb, you better be tough." Complicating is 'dumb'--simple is 'smart'. Maybe it's all about developing Papa's sense of humor.

Hmm, let’s see; SIMPLE, ELEMENTAL, CHILDLIKE...allow me to give a sophisticated and educated commentary. NOT!!!! It is just too cool that Jesus does this to me every day-even if I'm not paying attention. He calls the child within me, places me in the middle of His heart room and 'splains stuff'. Then, if He happens to get my attention further-he jumps on me and starts tickling me in that special spot that only he knows about. You have one too-a special spot.

"No; wait Jesus, stop it! I was trying to say something really spiritual and you keep interrupting me." Does that sound like how you do simple, elemental and childlike with Jesus? Oh; by the way, I got a special peek at the Kingdom when I let Him tickle me. 'Nuff' said; let Jesus nurture you with simple today. "Jesus; I said stop it!" Ron Ross

Captivated by a New Affection

Is the Love of Jesus Christ captivating your heart today? Is he your heart's single affection?

Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847), made one of the boldest and most powerful declarations in the history of Christianity in his sermon entitled "The Expulsive Power of a New Affection." He said, "the only way to dispossess the heart of an old affection is by the expulsive power of a new one." Make Jesus your new affection every day! Ron Ross

The Main Event

"It cost God plenty to get you and me out of that dead-end, empty-headed life we grew up in."

^3-6 How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.

^7-10 Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.
^11-12 It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
^13-14 It’s in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what’s coming, a reminder that we’ll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.(Ephesians 1:3-14, Msg) We are not an after- thought or plan 'B'.  I can't give you a better word picture of the efficacy of Calvary’s Cross than Max Lucado.

"History has only one Main Event, Man-kinds time line is dotted with important moments...The first spark from the first flint, the rolling of the first wheel, the treating of the first wound, who dares minimize these events? But, who dares compare them with THE CROSS? History has only ONE MAIN EVENT.

Scripture has only ONE MAIN EVENT. Others matter, but only one is essential. The story of Jericho might stir you, but falling walls can't redeem you. Moses will give you direction for the wilderness, but, no solution for your sin-David's defeat of Goliath might reduce your timidity, but only THE CROSS prepares you for eternity! Scripture has only ONE MAIN EVENT.

Even in the life of Jesus, there is only ONE MAIN EVENT! For if there is no CROSS OF CHRIST-then there is no truth to Christ. And when it comes to your life, the same is true, to remove THE CROSS, is to remove the hinge pin from the door of Hope-the door of your Hope! If there is no CROSS, then there is no sacrifice for sin. And if there is no sacrifice for sin, how will you face a sinless God? Will you cleanse yourself from your own sin?

If there is no CROSS OF CHRIST, then there is no resurrection, and if there is no resurrection how will you live again? Will you push back your own grave? Forgiveness of sin, deliverance from death-these are the claims of the CROSS. Let there be no mistake-the CROSS is not an event in history...It is THE EVENT OF HISTORY!"

THE CROSS makes the journey possible, hopeful, purposeful, powerful and doable...Ron Ross

Curse the Two Headed Dragon

Many believe that our greatest enemies are outside forces like rampant violence and abject poverty. They are enemies, but not nearly the foes and curses that superficiality and distraction are. Why? Because they are the two-headed dragon of spiritual inner impotence. Stifled inner growth is the greatest curse we face-because it causes our connection to Jesus to be weakened or broken. He remains the answer to every foe mankind faces! Ron Ross

Secured for Eternity

When it’s all said and done? When the end is upon us? When the summation of all things is consummated? What will remain? What will withstand the whirling dervishes of insane world views? World views that leave anti-Christ perspective in their wake; which are fueled by abusive false religions, out of control geo-political systems and ravenous bureaucracies?  What will endure the scrutiny of God’s judgment? What is secured for eternity! What is laid up in heaven?

It certainly will not be our possessions or illusions of strength and will-power! And it certainly will not be our bad choices, mistakes, flesh, ethnicity, sexual preference, education, willful disobedience, ideology, world view, missing the mark, not measuring up to our or someone else’s  bar of performance, religious ‘good’ works, failures, or our so-called issues! All of these are under the blood of Jesus and thrown into the ‘sea of forgetfulness” for those who believe the Grace Message of Jesus.

At our best…“We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. 10 But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled. 11 When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good. 12 We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! 13 But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.” (1 Cor. 13: 9-13, Msg) That kind of love is, "...where grace intersects reality – where needs are met – where our stories converge." Ann Voskamp Preceding that God-type of love is the functioning of “faith” and “hope”. A faith that opens the door to the potential of a life lived in the hope of God’s love! A love that always ultimately trumps out of control sharp tongues, cultural mores, love languages, religious or political polarization, inevitable differences, real wounds, pain filled memories, repeated relational failures-you name it! His love wins hands down!   FAITH: 1. strong or unshakeable belief in something, esp. without proof or evidence 2. a specific system of religious beliefs: the Jewish faith 3. Christianity  trust in God and in his actions and promises 4. a conviction of the truth of certain doctrines of religion, esp. when this is not based on reason 5. complete confidence or trust in a person 6. any set of firmly held principles or beliefs 7. allegiance or loyalty, as to a person or cause; esp. in the phrases keep faith, break faith 8. bad faith insincerity or dishonesty 9. good faith honesty or sincerity, as of intention in business; esp. in the phrase in good faith Hope: 1. ( sometimes plural ) a feeling of desire for something and confidence in the possibility of its fulfillment: his hope for peace was justified ; their hopes were dashed 2. a reasonable ground for this feeling: there is still hope 3. a person or thing that gives cause for hope, ‘the Gospel of Jesus’ 4. a thing, situation, or event that is desired: my unswerving hope in God’s Kingdom Rule 5. not a hope, hopes dashed or deferred-put off, some hope used ironically to express little confidence that expectations will be fulfilled Love: 1.  to have a great attachment to and affection for the objects of your love 2.  to have passionate desire, longing, and feelings for the unique and powerful love of God experienced and shared 3. to like or desire (to do something) very much 4. to make love 5. to be in love Only these three will remain! Place your complete trust in the Gospel of Jesus’ Grace Message! Anchor your unswerving hope in the promises of the Word of God, and Jesus! And always practice the Royal Law of Love! Which is, “That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence - and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself?" (Luke 10:27, Msg Faithing, Hoping and Loving God, Ron Ross

The Great Adventure

Are you up for an adventure? Funny thing, the older I get in Christ, the more I seem to be excited for new adventure. At least the spirit is willing, even if my body is in complete protest.. My lifelong friend and mission partner (or is it partner in crime?) Jerry Cadenhead includes the following on the bottom of all his e-mails..."Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." Helen Keller

"This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike 'What's next, Papa?" Romans 8:15, The Message.

In order to continue joining Papa on His adventure; timidity and or passivity has to be done away with! This resurrection life is the adventure. Each day presents new challenges and opportunities. Every moment with Him is pregnant with exciting adventure!

"It stands to reason, doesn't it, that if the alive and present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he'll do the same thing in you that He did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself?" Romans 8:11, The Message.

The adventure always has new frontiers to conquer and settle. Most of these have to do with Papa "bringing you alive to Himself." For me; at least in recent months, self love and forgiveness have been the frontiers to conquer and settle. Can you fathom how monumental it is "for Him to do the same thing in you that He did in Jesus"? The adventure is a secure place-so be nurtured by the adventure! In the grip of Papa’s adventurous grace! Ron Ross

Boundless Love

An indecisive faith and a wavering hope immobilize us on our journey to fullness of life and our daily walk in the Spirit of Jesus. If we could only believe Jesus was/is telling the truth then this world in which we live would be an exciting place! It’s a place of romance and adventure, a place of promise and a place of possibilities, a place of confidence and joyous expectation!

But more than that, our world is a place of love. A place where we can live and love intentionally! The Gospel of Jesus opens up the endless possibilities of love. There must be love and we must run the risk of being loved. The life Jesus lived before us always brings us to the place of God’s unending love. Jesus didn’t say maybe God is love ----or that it would be nice if God were love. Jesus said: God is love---period. But there is more to the message of Jesus. He insisted that His Father is crazy with love, that God is a kooky God who can scarcely bear to be without us. He crowns us with kindness and compassion.”

1. Lord, I want to sing, I want to dance, I want to celebrate! I want to send up a sky full of red balloons. Scatter the roads with smiling daisies: Crash the cymbals, Beat the drums, Jungle tambourines, Clang the bells, I want to shake the trees and splash the fountains, kiss the roses, Bug the world Lord! Your love is like new wine. I feel drunk with it! (Psalm 103)

Psalm 103 is a wonderful prayer; leading us to a faith-filled experience of the Father’s loving-kindness.’ Gentle waves of peace wash over us. The words “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; comes into focus here like no other place? He pardons all of our iniquities, He heals all our ills. He redeems our lives from destruction! He crowns all of us with kindness and compassion” causing a deep sense of gratitude for the many times He has rescued us.

Later the words “Not according to our sins does He deal with us, nor does He requires of us according to our crimes.” He puts us in touch with His presence and we begin to Praise Him for His greatness and goodness, His unbearable forgiveness, His boundless patience, and His tender love, put us in touch with His presence.

• “For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is His Kindness toward those who fear Him…As a Father has compassion on His children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear (respect) Him.” Lord it’s almost too good to be true. But you are the truth and you said it, so I know it is real.
• Today I asked you to speak to my heart, a word I could hear and understand. And you said, very clearly, “I want you to be with me where I am.” Lord, even the people who love me most need a vacation from me now and then. But you don’t want one! You want me with you where you are forever. “Love without any agenda…takes tender care of one another with fondness and affection; esteem one another’s unique value.” (Romans 12: 9 and 10) “We are the product of God’s love…wear love like a uniform; this is what completes the picture of our oneness.”
• I think that the scriptures are explicit as to our mutual journey into the depths of Father’s love. And the Cross forever displays the enormity of God’s great love. “In Christ, God opened, forevermore a new and exciting way for us to encounter him without hesitation or restrictions…Love kindles faith and faith opens the horizon to explore love’s mystery.” (Hebrews)
• Not only is God’s love real, it is the crowning truth of our search for purpose! To be loved and to learn how to love back may be the biggest and best challenge of our union with Jesus! Overwhelmed by Papa's Love! Ron Ross