Decently And In Order | First Things First

Mankind can reach the distant most planets of this solar system; design, build, program, and use advanced computational devices which mimic human intelligence; plus, heal many and myriad maladies which were incurable only a century ago, yet he cannot control his own primal urges and master his members.

As he freely roams this earth and the surrounding celestial bodies, he is yet bound by sin.

Should we not put "first things first"?

What value exists in living the life of an "advanced" and "enlightened" person who is yet a spiritual "degenerate"? Such a life is the existence of a "whitewashed" sepulcher.

In many parts of this Earth, the works of the flesh are rampant. What are these? They are outlined in verse 19-21 below:

[Gal 5:16-26 KJV] 16 [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Notice verse 18 and 22 - 25 (KJV). It might seem like a mystery, if one can be led by the Holy Ghost  and not be under the Law when Christ spake what He did in Matthew 5:17-20 (KJV).

[Mat 5:17-20 NIV] 17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Did you notice what was stated in verse 22? If you are led by the Holy Ghost, your life will exude these characteristics...."against such there is no law. So, as a consequence, you will be a follower of the Law. The totality of the Law in the Old Testament, such as those given in the Book of Leviticus, is for the establishing the health and wealth of the community. This means the abolition of the behaviors described in verses 19-21 in Galatians 5 among its members. 

The sole purpose of the God-fearing believer is the establishment of His Kingdom on this Earth. As Christ stated.

[Mat 16:19 NIV] 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

[Mat 18:18 NIV] 18 "Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

And,

[Jhn 10:10 KJV] 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.

Our abundant life and healthy and wealthy communities start when we each gain control over our individual selves and our own behaviors, exuding temperance. As the song which many of us learnt in elementary school in the 1970s in the wake of the Vietnam War states, "Let peace begin on Earth and let it begin with me. With God as our Father, brothers all are we...."

If we obtain the highest knowledge in the sciences, understanding the very fabric of existence and how the segues of time might be traversed like the sand of the sea's shore yet struggle with taming our tongue, controlling our base nature, and displacing depravity from our community, what have we achieved? Nothing. A man who has not mastered himself has mastered naught in this life, although he might have acquired a treasure trove of accolades before passing away.

[1Jo 2:12-17 KJV] 12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. 13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 15 Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

When one is led by His Spirit and covered by His Blood, His Grace abounds in such a man's life.

The essential key in mastering one's self if first having the appropriate Master in sight. He is your life's goal.

[Mat 6:19-24 KJV] 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great [is] that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

What does your eye treasure? Luxury items? Cash reserves? Fame? Popularity? Notoriety? The attractive physical features of another? What does your eye follow? Does it seek His Word? Does it see His Handiwork in His Creation? Does it see His Influence in your life's situation? What do your eyes seek?

As a man, the author has often had a wandering eye in this life. It is a thorn in his flesh. A beautiful woman with an ample curvaceous figure, lovely eyes, and an inviting smile can hold his attention for hours. At times, he cannot get such temptations out of his thoughts. Yet, not a woman in this life, including his own mother, would consider enduring a crucifixion experience simply so she could spare him those consequences. Realizing such puts the jiggle in a woman's hips in perspective. And, it helps him refocus his sights and thoughts on the Lord. 

Where are your treasures? In the Worm's National Bank of Lost and Meager Intrest. In driving that new car. In wearing the most fashionable and impress clothing labels from the most expensive stores in your regional. We so love feeling above our brothers and lording our position over them. But, the Lord admonishes us about consider ourselves the greatest:

[Luk 22:24-26 KJV] 24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. 25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26 But ye [shall] not [be] so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

Is your treasure in the arms of your spouse?

It is true that:

[Gen 2:24 KJV] 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

[Pro 18:22 NIV] 22 He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.

Yet, Christ taught:

[Mat 10:34-39 NIV] 34 "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn " 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law-- 36 a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.' 37 "Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

And, as physical light floods a dark room and the cold currents of artic air billow through warmer jet streams arising from the tropics, the Spiritual Light which Christ brings will stimulate turbulence when it meets its opposite. So, as Godly Love dispels this world's hate, peace and discord will swell with turbulent eddies.   

And, a man's love for the Lord might bring bitter battles and debates between him and his spouse. Why? She might get tired of him spending so much time at the church serving the body of Christ, when she feels he should be doing certain tasks around the home. This mostly likely is the most common argument that Christian men have with their wives.

Yet, the answer is self-mastery by serving the True Master.

Beauty from Ashes | A Testimony

May El-Olam reign. He is, has always been, and will always be. Before a when or a where, He was there. His limitless borders stretch beyond the boundaries of this illusion of material transformations which we call "time". Before He said, "Let there be Light!" and spake forth the fundamental building blocks of this physical universe, the Love, Truth, Hope, and Joy that His Holy Ghost be, and the foundational spiritual principle of light dispelling darkness, He was. Throughout the existence of this universe with is constellations and galaxies, He is. After mankind's physical existence and the subatomic vibrations of all of the matter in the universe cease and this space dust simply fades away, He will eternally be. May His praises never cease echoing throughout the Heavens and on Earth. May the Creation always cry, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lamb!"

This author has much for which he can be quite thankful. He has been called a dreamer and nicknamed Joseph by some while a youth and young man. Yet, by his own admission, he simply has an audacity of faith. And, as outlined in Hebrews 11:1 (NIV), faith and hope are inextricably tied. An audacity of hope is the precursor for an audacity of faith.

And, this audacity prodded the author this afternoon while he surfed the world-wide web. 

It is said that "knowledge puffeth up and divideth" and quite often the author was told that "his intelligence" threatened "his health and well-being" when he was growing up. In fact, his own father told him this so often that he deemed it a compliment. So, when he heard it from strangers, some of which who seemed quite perturbed at some highly sensible statement that he made, he would say, with a pleasant smile, "Thank you! My father says that all the time!". This would invariably soften the situation and scowls would become chuckles. The author simply has a case of the "can't help its" as a friend of his who is a pastor says. 

Well, talking about one's intellectual feats only draws yawns and disdain from others who deem such the babblings of an grandiose ego-manic and jerk. If one is interested in winning friends and influencing others, he must speak about how great they are and not his own wonderful works, abilities, and accomplishments.

So, without giving a litany of accomplishments as an academician and visionary, it simply will be said that many of the grand feats in computing and one key accomplishment in automotive engineering were birthed through the life of this author. Although a single computer scientist does not exist who has won more that one Turing Award, the author is the source of more than one of these visions and modern computing marvels. Some of these were borne from his personal experiences and struggles while a freshman footballer (DE #73) at Vanderbilt and the consequences in his life that were an indirect result of the tragic death of Sonny Bishop (OT #73) in 1987. Yet. may the Lord get the glory for all the great blessings that have arisen. And, may he who has the blood of Mr. Bishop's death and the subsequent cover-up at VUMC on his hands never wash away that stain. May it be a burden in this existence and the after-life. Matthew 7:1-2 (KJV)

Yet, while surfing, this audacity of faith said contact one of the well-known, well-respected men who has been credited with the origination of one of these visions. And, although this computer scientist developed an idea which did not stem from him, audacity said ask him if he knows that a young man, who was driven on a football field in 1987 until he perished when his heart failed by a myopic strength and conditioning coach named Brad Bates, was the "unwilling" sacrifice that has brought forth wealth in computing for so many. And, audacity said ask him if he knew that a physician at VUMC provided an official medical diagnosis in his death which exonerated the coaching staff from any criminal or civil liabilities. And, audacity said tell him that this author underwent a similar conditioning regimen in the late summer of 1988 as a freshmen and spent time in VUMC as a result. And, it insisted that this author tell this award winning software engineer that the author has suffered for over three decades with a similar fraudulent medical diagnosis which has placed quite a burden upon his life and grossly limited his earning potential in his field, although he has post-baccalaureate degrees in computing and engineering. In fact, this medical "care" has precipitated three or four periods of homelessness.

What would you say if you were a moderately wealthy person, the typical American, and you received a note from the sweatshop worker who lived for decades in squalid conditions and made your favorite brand of 100-plus-dollar denims? Would you say, "Well, that is life."?

Much of the beauty in our lives come from the ashes that others are tasting, have tasted, and might taste until the moment that their eyes dim and a sheet of white opens up in their subconscious. At least, it is said that in this life, death and sleep might be sweet. Yet, ash is quite bitter.

Do we not have a chance at eternal life, despite life's accidental sins, because of Christ's Crucifixion and His bitter drink of vinegar mixed with gall. Diligently searching Old and New Testament scriptures will show that He did not perish, traverse the underworld of death, and resurrect Himself simply so we might sin willfully and recklessly. Matthew 5:17-20 (NIV), Christ's words during His Great Sermon on the Mount state so. He greatly valued obedience and the Old Testament Law. And, He followed it and encouraged others that they also do so in a "just manner". So, mercy is part of the cornerstone of Christ's teachings. But, ignoring and accepting the works of the flesh as "simply life" or "the way things are" He would abhor. Remember when He drove the merchants from the House of the Lord with a scourge and overthrew the tables of merchandise. Matthew 21:12 (NIV) The Lord can "wreck shop like no other" when necessary. Do not go off the deep end with this message of "meek and mild". He is, despite His Omnipotent Strength, but you cannot bully and run roughshod over El-Elon or His servants. He can bind the very spiritual wickedness which wreaks havoc in one's life with a single thought. He is out Liberator and Law-Giver. The Gracious Boundaries of His Law brings Liberty. His Power for Liberating the bound sinner is why believers pray, although we do not unanimously agree on scriptural interpretation. So, what will you bring against His Fist and His Wrath when His Thoughts our more powerful than man's most potent weapons? His Strength is Awesome and Terrifying. He can overturn mountain ranges and place continents on the bottom of the ocean's floor in the mere blink of His Eye. He is El-Ro'i.

It was the "fleshly" nature of man:

[1Jo 2:16 KJV] 16 For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

and the hard heart of coaches who were only interested in furthering their careers that took Mr. Bishop's life and caused the turbulence in mine. It was VUMC physicians who were only interested in protecting a hospital's reputation and limiting its financial liability in return for professional considerations, who gave these actions legal credence in the sight of the average American's credulity. 

So, be thankful for your blessings and His Mercies which are new each day. The author is quite thankful for his. He could have been simply another "long-forgotten" fatality on the Vanderbilt Commodore's practice field in the late-1980s, a worn-out stepping stone in the careers of a college coaching staff who led the SEC's doormat of a football team. The author has seen many of his visions grow and flourish in the wake of those years. And, he drives one, a used Prius V Two. This is although he was homeless in sixty below wind chills during January 2018. And, these dreams all have been freely shared. Primarily so, men might remember first the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost. Second so, those who die needlessly each day, especially at an early age, remain near our hearts. And, finally so, we all might eventually accept that those we hold as infallible, beneficent. altruistic gods who we idolize and rarely question, medical professionals, are seen for what they truly are, other humans. (Ezekiel 34) Who are just as flawed as the rest of us, including the most despicable, sniveling, shiftless, and slovenly creep that one might imagine.

And that "bitterness" that we must taste in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. May the Lord bring the Earth Beauty from the Ashes of Our Lives.

Good Day's Work

[Col 3:22-25 KJV] 22 Servants, obey in all things [your] masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23 And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

While languishing spiritually during the author's early twenties, he was asked if he could help a former high-school classmate's family make a temporary move, His father was a real estate investor, who was building his wife her dream home. He was actually in the process of developing a gated neighbor, at the time. This dream house would sit within those boundaries. However, until that house was built, they would be residing in temporary lodging.

So, the author spent his day moving boxes and making trips between their beautiful old home which was in a part of town called Country Club near the local university and their new quarters. Which were much more modest but only transitional.

At the end of the day, they offered him pay. His response simply was, "Thanks for an honest day's work!" But, they insisted on paying him one hundred and fifty dollars for his time. The author knew the weakness which he was struggling with at time. He had picked up some bad habits being part of the culture of sports and athletics, in particularly, football. And, he knew that that money likely would soon be wasted on pornographic material or young women at one of the area's strip clubs and beer. So, something told him that he simply should not take it. But, being polite, he did. And, his premonition about the foolishness that would arise in his life that evening was not mistaken.

Lesson: Earning money is not always the greatest benefit of work. A good day's work is often all a man needs for recovery. It is therapeutic.

Knowing some of the personal philosophies and staunch conservatism of his classmate's parent, the author eventually wrote an apology letter and returned the one hundred and fifty dollars. He explained why he did not want the money in the first place, how he was afraid that he would waste it, how he eventually did, and what he really needed was just a "good days work".

This resulted in his classmate's father mentoring him and teaching him some aspects of commercial real estate investment. While his classmate's mother tried getting him a great paying position working in business intelligence at a local company. They valued and appreciated his transparency.