EXPERIENCES: Dis(O)bedience

It Takes A Miracle
A Blessing God
To Nullify A Curse!
It Took Jesus Christ
On The Cross
Dying
The Curse Upon Man Spoken
In Eden's Garden
To Reverse!

Bless God!

It Takes Presumption
On The Part Of Man
To Accuse God
Saying:

That Curse Was Causeless!

When
In All Actuality
None In The Garden
Could Be Considered
Faultless!

The Prohibition Was Clear:

Do Not Eat That Fruit!

Obviously ...

You Can't Eat
Unless You Bite!
You Can't Bite
Unless You Pick!
You Can't Pick
Unless You Reach!
AND
You Can't Reach For The Fruit
Until
You Are At
Or In
The Tree!
AND
You Can't Get To The Fruit Tree
Unless
You Walk
AND
You Won't Walk To The Fruit Tree
Unless Your Thoughts Say:

I Feel For Fruit

Today

This Hour

This Very Moment!

AND

I DON'T CARE

If That Fruit Is Sour

Or Will Edge My Teeth

AND

Tie Up My Tongue

Stain My Hands

AND

My Face

AND

On My Clothing Leave A Trace

AND

In My Mouth Leaves A Scent

AND

In My Belly Leaves A Bitter Burn

AND

At My Sit-Down

Causes Me To Squirm

AND

In The Wash

Waste's Mighty Stench!

In My Mind
- Upon Replay -
Urge Does Recoil
AND
Remonstration 
Strenuously Says:

Disobedience

Does Not Pay

For Willfulness

Knows Not The Story Whole

AND

Selfishness Knows Only

Self's Current Goal!

Why So Bold?!

If Selfish Self
Had Hindsight's Foresight
AND
If Taste Had Waste's Pipeline
AND
Satisfaction Wore Sorrow-For-Sin's Nightgown
Obedience Would Not Wear Presumption's Shoes
Nor Greed's Glasses
Nor Borrow Today's Trouble
To Get Outcome's Tomorrow-Lashes
AND
Painful Gashes!

If You Count The Steps
To Sin
Malice 
Is Here Involved!
Wickedness Is Walking Wild
AND
Wily Satan Does Rejoice!

Be Wise Like That Serpent!
Be Harmless As The Holy Spirit's Dove!
Accept The Lord's Prohibitions
For
He Made You With Love!

Let No:

"Hath God Said ...?"

End With:

"Thou Shalt Not Surely...!"

For
In The End Of Your Big Doings
God's Surely
Will
Of A Surety
Be Done Securely!

There Is No Curse Causeless
AND
There Is No Excuse
For A Man To Be Lawless
For
Holy God's Law
Is 
Eternally Flawless!

Obedience Only Requires A "Yes!"
BUT
Disobedience 
Always Requires 
Much Thoughtful Machination To Process
For
Escape
AND
An Excuse
Become Necessary
AND
Unsurprisingly Start
With The Same "E" 
As The Evil
Which Makes You Vile
To The Lord God Almighty!
Check It Out And You Will See!

Disobedience Leads To Bad Experience
AND
Bad Experience Is A Pay-In Program
Which
- Well Used -
Turns Good-Life Into Refuse
Which Refuse
Into Outer Darkness Goes
Where Crying 
AND
Gnashing Of Teeth
Are Evinced From Those
In Humiliation's Death Throes!

In Christ
There Is No 
"Yes!" And "No!"
In Christ There Only
 "Yes!" And "Go!"
For
Christ IS Neither Fickle
Fadish
Nor A Fiend
BUT
Is The God Of Salvation
Who Desires 
All To Be Clean!

Do Right!
Live Right!
Walk With Him Who Is Sight
AND
Escape Damnation's Long Throng
Who Will Have
A Permanent Night
AND
No Lullabye For A Soothing Song!

Satan Is The Liar
So
Let Him Not Your Commonsense Squeeze
For His Only Gift To You
Is To Ensure That You End Up With
Punishingly Devilish Fleas!

But ...

Know This!
If You
- Having Made The Mistake -
Don't Harden Your Heart
BUT
Cast Your Self
On God's Mercy
AND
Doing Same
Without Fear
Confessing
Repenting
AND
Crying Out 
Because Of Your Shame
AND
Pleading With The Father
For Restoration
In Jesus Christ's Holy Name
He Will
Of A Surety
Bring You Into 
The Rest Home Again!

Don't Be As Some!
Cain
AND
Esau 
Are Of Note Two
Who
Would Not Be Humbled
AND
Were Reprobates
Through And Through!

One Cried 
That His Punishment Was Too Great!
AND
One Cried 
Because By His Own Actions
His Blessing Was Too Small!
BUT
Neither Repented Of Their Behavior
AND
God's Condemnation
Of Both Of Them
Severely
Did Fall!

Contrast Those Two
With
Adam AND King David
AND
Soberly
Also Think Of King Saul!

Adam AND King David
Knew Bitter Repentance
AND
In The Lord's Strength
Went On To Teach The Truth To All!
But ...
Saul ... Unrepentant In Sin
Grieved
The Holy Spirit Of Peace
Away
AND
In Agony Of Spirit
Trusted A Condemned Necromancer
To Get Guidance From The Dead
On How The Living Should Be Led!

The Dead Dead
- By Satan -
Answered
The Living-Walking-Dead
For Saul Was An Empty Man
Condemned
By The Holy God
For Playing Footsie
With The Fraud!

Long Story Short Short ...

Don't Let A Little Covetousness
Turn You Into A Man
Conscienceless
For God
Will Not Hold You 
Guiltless
AND
Your Too-Late Tears
Will Be To You
Profitless!

Think Before You Reach!

With Jesus As Your Leader

Doing The Right Thing

Is Not Hard!

LIFE SWAPS: The Discomfort Of The Truth!

Reggie,
How Do You Counteract
The Comfort Of A Lie?

With The Discomfort Of The Truth!

I Like That!
It Sounds So Simple!

Wait Up!
There's More!
I Can Feel A Speech
Breaking Out Of The Door!

(Distinct Throat Clearing Follows)

And Then Sallies Forth ...

Plant The Truth
In The Disrupted Soil Of The Mind
AND
One Cannot Unhear The Truth Spoken 
By Him Who Is Divine!

Man May Reside In Denial
BUT
He's Just A Visitor There!
Reality Is His Homeland
AND
God's Truth Is Present There!

The Comfort Of A Lie
Causes
Calluses In The Mind
While Putting Brambles In Your Britches
AND
Jello
Where Your Spine Should Reside
AND
Under Your Behind!

The Result
Is A Bloody Mess
Tortured
Tempted
Benighted In Mind
Wrestling
With Its Own Shadow
Afraid
Unwilling To Approach The One
Who Alone Can 
To The Hurting
Tortured Soul
Be Lovingly Kind!

Truth
Is Not Like Dirt Which
If It Falls On One
Will Kill!
Truth Falls
Upon A Hearing Ear
Giving The Callused Mind
An Unexpected Unknown 
Known Thrill!

Truth
Is In Our Inward Parts
Put There By Him Who Made Us
So That
We Are Without Excuse
AND
This Is Why
Hearing The Truth Makes Men Mighty Mad
Since
The Revealed Truth
Ensures
That They (We) Can Never Say:

I Did Not Know That

Wrong-Doing Is Bad!

No Matter 
Their Lying 
Coughed-Up Excuse!

He Who Gave Us His Truth
IS
Himself 
Truth True
AND
He Is Able To Forgive Our Sin
By Brooking No Compromise
Of The Truth
Given To Me
AND
To You!

Truth Needs No Polish!
Truth Has No Color!
AND
Truth Has No Truck With Spin!
Truth Is The Truth! - Handle It!
Dump The Boss Liar Satan
AND
Go To Jesus Christ
For
Your Always Available Win!

A Half Truth Is A Black Lie
Covered In White Paint!
                A Technical Truth Is An Economical Lie!
                              An Alternative Truth Is A Lie With A Law Degree
                              Changeable As The Wind
                              Free-Wheeling As The Fly!
AND
                                          A Spun Truth Is An Unraveling Lie!

When A Liar
Tells A Lie 
Not To Hear The Truth
You Know That That Lie-Teller 
Is A True-True Liar
AND
His Squeeze-Him-Tight Pants
Will Surely 
Catch On Fire!

Lesson Taught?!

Lesson Learned!

Let's All Make The Change

AND

Save Ourselves Some Pain!

Let's All Ditch The Lie

AND

Do The Death-To-Life Exchange!

Sin May Be In ... But Not For A Regenerated Christian Heart!

WHAT Are You Rambling On About Now?!

Just Listen! Just Listen!

There Is Union In Communion!
There Is In Christian Christ!
There Is Aim In Claim
Law In Flaw And Claw
Ice In Vice And Spice
Might In Almighty
Rust In Trust
Lose In Close
AND
In Flight
There Is Light!

AND ...

What, Pray Tell
Is YOUR Point?!

Work With Me
AND
All
Will Be REVEALED!!

Believer-In-Christ
Is A Christian
Who
Having Had Flaws
Found Himself
Subject To The Law!

He Had Lived A Life Of Spice
Attended By Very Much Vice
AND
Vainly Thought
That He Could Put His Soul On Ice
BUT
One Day
Seeing AND Recognizing
The True Light
He Knew In His Heart
That From Sin
He Had To Take Flight!
Unexpectedly 
For Him
Sin Was No Longer The "In!" Thing!

With His Aim Now Being Heaven
Believer-In-Christ Laid Claim 
To The Proffered Promise
AND
With Nothing To Lose
AND
Everything Blessed To Gain
He Drew To Jesus Real Close
For Help
To Remove From His Back
Old Satan's Claw
AND
Praise Be
He Now Has
Full Communion With The Lord!

Believer-In-Christ
Is Trusting 
In The Might 
AND
The Power Of 
The Eternal God 
Holy Almighty
To Get Rid Of Sin's Besmirching Rust
AND
He Is Looking Toward The Great Day
When Heart Communion 
Becomes Physical Union
AND
He Will Be More Than Just
A Dying Child Of The Dust!
Regeneration Has Become To Him 
A Blessed AND Beautiful Thing!

Tada!
Did I Make My Point Or What?!

Yes, You Did!
It's Corny As All Get-Up
And Yet ... "Tis True!

It Is, Isn't It?!
In That View
Now That You Know Truth
Go
In Grace
To Love 
AND
Serve The Lord!

You're Nuttier Than A Fruit Cake
And Fruitier Than A Nut Cake
But ... I Like You!
Bye!

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: FAITH - Opinion OR Transaction?!

I Have Faith In The Lord Jesus Christ!

What "Faith!?!"
Faith Is Just An Opinion!

Not So My Friend!
My Faith Is No Opinion!
My Faith IS A Transaction!
Between Jesus And Me!
We Have A Covenant!
A Quid Pro Quo, If You Will!

He Says He Can
AND
I Believe That He Will
AND
In The Day
Of The Glorious Consummation
All My Eternity
Will Be
With Glorious Blessings
Filled!

In The Now
If I Request By Prayer
A Blessing
Which I Do Not Immediately Receive
Or
The Answer Is A Plain No
I Do End Up Crying
Hot Tears On My Shirt Sleeve!

I Accept That My Father Knows Best
AND
I Continue Walking
Trusting
Believing
That Jesus Is The Only Way
AND
I Hold On
In His Blessed Faith
On The Holy Word
AND
In Child-like Faith
I Keep Petitioning
AND
Praying
To Know And Do His Will!

I Know
Who It Is
That I Believe In!
I Believe
In The Promises Of God!
I Trust
In The Word Of My Creator
Savior
AND
Redeemer
AND
I Will Not Permit
The Lack Of Receipt
Of
Mere Corporeal Things
Make Me A Card-Carrying Member
Of
The Team Unbelieving!

I Love The Lord
AND
I Have Faith In The Lord
AND
Because Of My Love
For My Lord
My Faith Goes Out To Work!

You Don't Say!

I Do Say!
You Should Give It A Try!
Ask The Lord!
You Can Reason With Him!
He Listens
AND
He Truly Cares
AND
To Your Honest Query
You Can Be Sure
That He Will Answer
For He Really Does Listen 
To Our Every Earnest Prayer!

By The Way ...

Whatever You Do
Don't Go To God
Doubting
That He Is
Or
That He Can!
In Such A Circumstance
He Will Not Have Anything For You!

Remember ...

He That Comes To God
Must Believe That
He IS
AKA
That He IS Real
AND
A Rewarder Of Those
Who Diligently
Seek Him!

Faith Is Not A Joke
A Yoke
Or
A Toke!
Faith Is A Fair Transaction
Requiring
Of All Parties
Equal
AND
Agreed Upon
Suitably Weighted
Achievable Actions
Within Each Party's Power!

God Infinitely Blesses Me!
AND
I
Being Human
Finitely
Honor Worship
Obey And Praise Him!
God Made The Offer
AND
I Accepted
By Faith
The Conditions
AND
We Now Have 
A Life Unto Life
Binding Relationship!

Thanks For Enlightening Me!
I Really Thought That Faith Was An Abstraction
That Really Did Not Matter!
Now I Know The Truth!

You're Welcome!
When You Know The Truth
Then You Are Free!

Faith Is Real

And

Real Faith Really Matters!

Where Does Your Faith Point?

HAPPY SABBATH + WELCOME: Signs

Walking Along The Road One Day
The Traveller Saw A Sign
AND
Could Not Look Away!

The Sign Said:

Welcome To ... DAMNATION

Where There Is

No Life!

AND ...

Right Next To It
Another Sign Said:

Welcome To ... LIFE

Where There Is

No Damnation

Nor Strife!

How Strange ...?!

Not At All!

Oh! Hello!
I Did Not See You There!
What Do You Mean?!
Please Explain
For I Don't Understand
How A Sign
Written By SOMEbody
Can Say: "Welcome!"
To A Place That Has No Life?!

What Is Damnation?!
Is It A Real Name
Or A Special Description?

Ahh, We Are Getting Somewhere!

Damnation Is A Real Name
Describing
An Especially Benighted Place
Where Those Who Have Lived Their Lives
In A Revealed Blighted Manner
Shall Enter
At The Appointed Hour
- Never Before -
For No One Can Go In To Explore
AND
Then Exit
Back To Living-Life Shores!

This Damnation
Is 
The Eternally-Separated-From-God Station!
All Who Enter Here Will Be Consumed
- They'll Be No More -
As If They've Never Existed!
End Of Story!
The Holy God Says So!

So ...

Where Are The Warning Signs?
Where Are The Watchmen?
Who Is Trumpeting The Sound
- The Right Sound -
Of The Stay Away Call?
Who Is Issuing A Stern Warning?
Who, In The Name Of Jesus?
Who?!

I Will Answer Your Question
With A Question Of My Own:

Do You Have A King James Bible
The Preserved Word Of God?
Do You Read It Daily?
Are You Heeding The Gospel Call?
Jesus Said His Father Sent Him!
Jesus Said He Is Sending You!
Are You Delivering The Message
OR
Are You Waiting For Someone
To Do What The Master
Has Equipped You To Do?

These Welcome Signs
Are Side By Side
Together
For One Reason
For
No One
Can Enter Either Side
Except
Upon Acceptance Of An Invitation!
It Is A Decision!

Invitation Is Appropriate Here
For
No One Enters By Accident!
Entrance Is A Deliberate Act
- By Conscious Self -
Of Choosing
A Congregation Station!
These Are Final Stops!
Again ... It IS A Decision!

Your King James Bible
- Unabridged -
Not One Of Those New Bibles
Re-Edited Or Paraphrased
For Authentic Living Convenience
Gives The Holy God's Living Word
On Salvation aka Life
On Damnation aka Hell
So That
None May Mistake The Way
Saying
They Did Not Know
The Right Living Way!

Thanks!
Bye!
Gotta Run!
I've Got A Story To Tell To The Nations!

As The Traveller Turned 
And Walked Away
The Watcher
Heard Him Plainly Say:

Lord, Help Me To Live Right

For I Accept Your Life Invitation

And

Help Me To Tell The Truth

To The World

And To My Brother ...!

My Soul's Desire

I Am Striving

To Receive The Commendation

From

The Saints' Commander In Chief!

AND

I Desire

With My Whole Heart

To Meet The One Who Died

So That My Soul

Could Have Eternal Peace And Relief!

I Think Often

About The Lord Christ

AND

Today

My Thoughts Took To Walking A Different Way

AND

I Wondered ...

What Is There In Mankind

That Made The Godhead Decide

Before Man Even Had A Mind

That Jesus Christ Would Die

In Their Stead

AND

Before They Had Even Sinned

To Return Them

To The Bosom Of The Divine King?!

This Is Lofty Thinking

 Outside Of My Realm

Outside Of My Pay Grade

Outside Of My Operating Brief

Outside Of My Understanding

But

Totally Inside Of Jesus' Faith

Of Which

In This Hour

I Have A Measured Piece!

The Answer Is God's To Give In His Time

AND

 If ... He So Chooses!

I Am Made

In God's Likeness

In God's Image

AND

Within Me

Is God's Breath Of Life

AND

If That Does Not

Make Me Special

Then

I Don't Understand Anything

About Christ's Devoted-To-Me Dying Love!

I Say My Prayers!

God Hears Them!

I Tell Of Worries And Woes!

I Tell Of Fears

Frets

AND

Family

AND

I Even Complain Of

Un-opening

Non-Locking Doors!

I Tell Of My Hope For Salvation!

I Give Utterance To Pleasures Of Delight

That Are Wrought

At The Hand Of My Master

AND

Given To Me

Before

For It

I Had Even Given A Faint Thought Sunlight!

I Love The God-Man Jesus!

I Believe

That Christ The Lord

Is My Shepherd Divine!

AND

Through The Struggle

I Am Striving To Walk In His Way!

AND

I Humbly Recognize

That Mere Man Am I

AND

Plead

For Godly Illumination

To Shine In

From

My Dim Clouded Eyes!

I Cannot Wake Myself

Come The Morning!

I Can't Shield Myself

From Things That Terrorize The Night!

I Can't Get Victory Over Sin

WITHOUT

King Jesus

AND

I Can't Utter A Single Earnest Faithful Prayer

WITHOUT

The Holy Spirit Leading The Way To The Light!

I Know

AND

I Accept That

There Is Nothing That I Can Do

That I Can Do Without My Lord

Save

Refuse Sure Salvation

To Run Wild

With The Wily Wicked Fraud

AND

I Am Grateful To God

That Full Disclosure Is Mine

AND

No One Can Make The Decision For Me

To Worship The Great God

AND

To Do It Gladly

Answering The Sounding Salvation Call!

I Desire To See

The Lover Of My Soul

In All His Majesty

AND

As My King

AND

To Worship Before Him

AND

Handle Him

AND

To Have That Face-To-Face

Personal Interview With Him!

That ... Is My Soul's Goal!

What Is YOUR Soul's Desire?

What Is Your Soul's Goal?