From time to time.. ok daily.. I find it important to declare the truth of what I believe beyond any circumstance in my busy busy mind that may be troubling me. Of course that is doubly true in 2020. What I believe should not be reduced to a cute Christian cliche.. but instead it IS a rock steady truth that goes beyond the high or low found in any day. What I believe should not be reduced to a rote list of dos and don'ts. What I believe is in a personal relationship with the creator of this world.. The rest of .. What I believe is trivial pursuit in comparison. So today I am re-sharing (complete with of course cartoons) the song ‘The Creed’ written by Rich Mullins and later performed by Third Day into a cartoon vehicle for the Gospel message. Here we go… THIS IS WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE TRUE.. THE CREED.. I believe in God the Father, Almighty Maker of Heaven and Maker of Earth, And in Jesus Christ His only begotten son our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary. Suffered under Pontius Pilate where he was crucified dead and buried. Chorus: And I believe what I believe in is what makes me what I am. And I did not make it, no it is making me It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man. 2nd Verse: I believe that He who suffered was crucified, buried and dead. He descended into Hell and on the third day He rose again. He ascended into Heaven where He sits at God's mighty right hand. I believe that He's returning to judge the quick and the dead of the sons of men. Chorus: And I believe what I believe in is what makes me what I am. And I did not make it, no it is making me It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man. I believe it, I believe it. I believe it. I believe it, I believe it. I believe it. 3rd Verse: I believe in God the Father, Almighty Maker of Heaven and Maker of Earth And in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son our Lord. I believe in the Holy Spirit, one Holy Church The communion of saints, the forgiveness of sin I believe in the resurrection I believe in a life that never ends. There you have it. We all have to believe something, and this is what I believe. It is a powerful song based on the powerful TRUTH of the Apostle’s Creed, based on the very truth of the Gospel message. Of course cartooning the Creed (should be recognized as the CREEDtoon) may make some of you cringe.. but hey.. that’s what I do. May God bless each of you in great ways today with a faith and a creed stating your devotion to the ONE true God. .. accept no substitute! Jeff Cliff notes on Cliffs - Umm, don't jump off .. cliffs? Psalms 118:13, the Psalmist writes.. I was right on the cliff-edge, ready to fall, when God grabbed and held me. Luke 4:29 we read of the unruly mob wanting to kill Jesus by throwing him off a cliff. Dangerous Roads are.. umm dangerous too! Matthew 7:13 shares.. Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. So far, you are thinking.. Thank you Captain Obvious. OK so far we have.. 1. dangerous roads.. 2. a steep cliffs.. 3. a sea far below our cliff crashing into the rocky coastline .. sounds like the infamous LEMMING 'pilgrimage'. Being a literal lemming is nothing to brag about. They are part of the rodent family and their claim to fame (or infamy) is for their suicidal cliff diving method of population control. A figurative Lemming implies you follow the crowd, a bit oblivious to consequences. To be a lemming on face value is the easy way. Just fit in with everyone else.. and don't make waves.. until you ironically fall to the crashing waves below. Note.. we all have a little lemming in us. In our Lemming society it is easy to follow the crowd. From fashion, fads, political views, sports teams, peer pressure are all factors as we get in line for our cliff run. Even in the church where we are called to be different.. we don't want to be TOO different. Romans 12:1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. In other words.. Quit acting like a cliff diving lemmings. Too often 'Christians' apologize, go silent, or become embarrassed rather than stand up for Jesus. We fit too nicely in this crass society, waste money like our neighbors, keep up with the Jones's as much as humanly possible leaving little time or money to honestly love God or care for others. AND when we see other lemmings on an eternity path other than Heaven.. we may not join them, but we certainly do not stop them as they head towards the cliff. AND.. wham bam next thing we realize we too are on that path to a secular society cliff riddled with lemming droppings. God is not anywhere near where these lemmings are, and how did we end up so far down the path and close to the cliff's edge? I do pray for something more. I pray to be on the path that leads to Heaven.. I pray the attractions and distractions of this world do NOT drag us along to where we never intended. I pray we remember we are here to honor God with our lives. We are here to please God,, not man. May God bless and lead each of you today. Be still and listen for his leading, read his Word, seek his will and obey God only.
Jeff (just say NO to Lemmings) Larson Deep thought of the Day.. If it looks like a lemming, runs like a lemming, and smells like a lemming.. it's probably a .. LEMMING. final note: With regards to this year 2020.. most of us will agree this year should take a flying leap off a cliff! Don't think it works that way, but I can still wish. |
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11/24/2020
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