God's Love is Targeted

July 25, 2009

Psalms 103: 11
For so high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. (NASB)

The grand message of this verse is not a measureless description of God’s love. The Psalmist declares that the love of the Lord of Israel is targeted. The great loyal love of the Father targets not Hebrew genetic purity but those Hebrew's who “fear Him”. In other translations, “fear” means to revere, worship, or in modern lingo to respect. It is the awareness that the physical world is incomplete and pointless, as Solomon confessed,"all is vanity".

In our three dimensional space time world, all measurements are but relative. There are no “pat” answers to any question, there will always be exceptions or explanations and the resulting confusion. Any potentially complete understanding of manhood must include “faithing” into the boundless heavens. To be fully human, we must have a healthy respect for the God of the fourth dimension.

In Scripture, God has revealed His ever widening targeting plan for touching humanity. Abram was the first target who was called to follow, to set a different rational of life. He was called to explore the fourth dimension, ignoring the prescribed path expected of him. Instigated by the mercy, pleasure and targeting plan of God, Abram and all succeeding generations have been progressively targeted and given the choice to respond with the yes of faith.

The sons of Israel and Christianity have preached this reality but devised coping mechanisms to avoid giving “due respect”. Instead, we find it easier to give respect to the God’s of this dimension. They include the God’s of survival,legalism,wealth, relationships, money and success. Reigning high on the list is the God of the institutional church, the God’s of Dogma and the worship of the Holy Scriptures as God. Our comfort zone is to hide in these distracting bushes as depicted in the beginning parables.

Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) critiqued the professional state church of his day for such nonsense. Called of God to write instead of preach, he trumpeted the necessity of a personal individual choice for the God who targets us. His teachings were shelved and lost to the church world into the twentieth century. Once exposed over the succeeding years, modern revivalism may have overreacted, taking the needed voices of individualism to a scattered dysfunctional state. A spiritually superior individualistic attitude infected the community of believers. Naturally, the condemnation of the individual masses of unbelievers followed.

Kierkegaard was right on. He refused to be “that spiritual pattern” worthy of emulation by the sea of humanity. An attempt was made to present himself as a party animal or the man about town. His writings were anonymous, rejecting any possibility of praise or negativity. Also rejected were the pattern status of the ministry and marriage. Appearances are deceiving. He believed that he was specifically targeted by the love of God to give clarity to divine targeting. Jesus so ministered in disguise.

As a church, are we projecting condemnation or the God who has each of us in the crosshairs of His Love? Are we communicating the inexpressible and unreplaceable blessing of faith in response to God‘s targeting? What of the billions of our fellow humans who have known death and the vicissitudes of life without an awareness of the Love of God? Is damnation their fate?

Some would stupidly attribute the supposed wrath of God to these questions. If so, we really don’t believe the popular and right theology, God hates the sin and loves the sinner. Thank the Lord for His targeting Love. To all those who have not yet experienced the targeting, there will come a day in some dimension for all to choose aright. In the meantime you are in the destiny of a God of Love.

G.Goslaw
Victorville, Ca.

God's Love is Alien

July 19, 2009

Psalms 103 : 10
He has not dealt with us according to our sins;
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

The world of cinema has had a long fascination with extraterrestrial movies. They maximize the assumption that we are not alone amongst the galaxies. At some points in time we are being visited and each confrontation is stranger than the last. There is an even stranger confrontation in scripture, man’s experience with the alien love of God.

Webster’s New World Dictionary has a three fold definition of alien. An alien is one belonging to another country or people. It can also mean strange or not natural. Finally, to be an alien is to be opposed or to contradict accepted status or practice. All of these definitions are applicable to the alien love of God. This love is nonexistent within the community of man.

What radical qualities make this love somehow beyond duplication by we mortals? There appears to be three extraterrestrial love characters in this verse. The first is the source of this love,the “He”. Human kind has doggedly refused to value the bigness of God. In our narcissism we have historically insisted on an anthropomorphized version. This has left the believer correctly open to criticism by the skeptic. The Christian God with human character is not God but most akin to the deities of all other totem pole religions.

The wholly other Deity is not so portrayed in Scripture. “He” is so holy, so out of this world, that to look upon Him would mean death. Even the greatest hero of the Old Testament, Moses, was not so blessed to look into His face. Yet this Deity proved to be powerful beyond all human understanding in this world. In the New Testament God was in Christ, a fully human visible reflection of this world yet specifically gifted of the alien Love of God.

Secondly, this alien God does not deal “with us according to our sins”. Every society on this planet structures relationships in a historical context. We relate to one another by what our history says. Our history is a large part of every resume or job application. The past is the best predictor of ones future potential. A society brings labels to bear upon the lower rungs of the group and finally the group accepts it‘s place.

The alien love of God has no application forms, a resume is not required. In fact the first target is always the lower rungs of every society. Words like always and every should probably never be used. In this case they seem to be justified. A favored New Testament application is the parable of the wedding banquet. The priority guests are issued an invitation but they are all about the bustle of life and have no time or inclination to party. The host, God, issued another invitation as related in Matthew 22: 10. “And those slaves went out into the streets, and gathered together all they found, both evil and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests.”

Thirdly, the alien love of God does not reward or punish us “according to our sinless success”(Goslaw translation). The avoidance of this truth is the great sin of the church. Inherent within this sin is a lie. For one to commit to following the King, surely a “needed reward” must follow. The predominate theme of the Gospel has become reward not sacrifice. Give to this or that ministry and you shall reap the reward of healing, money, success, spiritual status or an eternal destiny. Fundamental to this damnable lie is church leadership. They are either spreading the lie or are so spiritually disfunctional that they have not the courage to confront the abuse.

This is a critique of our failure to understanding the alien love of God. Today’s sour expression of His love has been interrupted positively on occasion but there are few of late. The tragedy is that this sin is occurring when the hearts of humanity are crying out for the authentic gospel. Church,who do we represent?

G.Goslaw
Victorville, Ca

God's Love is a Choice

July 18, 2009

Psalms 103:9

He will not always strive with us;

Nor will He keep his anger forever.

We make an understanding of the divine so complicated. At first inspection, this verse would appear to be a threat to humanity. Get your years together or else! While there is some truth to this understanding, the intent of this verse and the all scripture is to issue an invitation to the reader make a choice.

Only the disjointed would envision a God who dictates goodness and allows only the possibility of obedience. The God of Scripture gives we humans the necessity of choice. The gift of freedom means that we are encouraged to chose the Love of God. Conversely, freedom allows us to choose the self centered path. Love is not love if both possibilities are not a part of the plan.

Will our lives be God centered or self centered? The beginning parables tell of the garden of Eden and the tree of choice. From the beginning, we humans have chosen amiss, we have chosen our own way. This predisposition is in our blood. Salvation should be understood as a second chance choice to explore the God centered life.

This choice controls our future but our days remain exposed to the negatives of life. They include hard ground, intense labor, thorns amongst the edible fields, sweat to till the earth until death, meaningless death. (Gen. 3: 17-19) Without distorting scripture, one could also add disease, war, excess in all descriptions, injustice among man, hatred, greed, famine,prejudice, etc.

These life negatives or failures can become a blessing as they set the stage for God centered choices. These choices are extremely difficult, they will be continually tested. The Psalmist speaks to this struggle as God’s “striving”. This is a positive word not one of condemnation. The choice for God’s Love, however, is not for the faint of heart.

The context of this verse is a terminal context. There will come a day when God becomes weary of our rejection of the divine choice. Some expect the cataclysmic termination of human kind. Some would disagree. God has not wearied of our failures in the last four thousand years so that any attempt to downgrade His patience is absurd. That being said, the scripture says in this verse the day will come.

One preferred understanding would be that “that day” will come because He will no longer need to prod human kind to make the God centered choice. Four thousand years later this scenario is still so implausible yet positively exciting. There may come a time, on this side of death or beyond, when all men shall choose aright. In that Day, there will be no need for an angry disappointed God.

The question believer’s must ask is, will the next choice be God centered? The batting average of even the best of us is somewhere around baseball’s 300 mark. To those of us whose average is much lower, we can assume that another opportunity to choose aright is immanent. To those of us who have no need for God’s striving, may He have mercy on our souls.

G.Goslaw

Victorville, CA.

God's Love is a Sure Thing

July 14, 2009

Psalms 103 : 8

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,

Slow to anger and abounding in loving kindness.

Some of us grew up on the MacDonald’s hamburger. A double quarter pounder with cheese will be the same in every MacDonald’s fast food restaurant. In verse eight David testifies that when life’s focus is turned to the Lord, what will be found is a compassionate God. The Message Bible translates this verse, “God is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he’s rich in love”. A more expansive translation, the Living Bible is even more transparent. “He is merciful and tender toward those who don’t deserve it; he is slow to get angry and full of kindness and love.”

Where else in the human experience can this definition of love be found? The best case scenario is the “perfect human relationship” that can potentially dissolve any minute. However, there is security for life in the love of God. Regardless of our life circumstances, regardless of our station in life, we will find the acceptance our personhood requires. He is the God of "sheer mercy" for those us who don't deserve it. At the risk of being classified a cynic about human relations, the best lover’s are our pets.

Let’s exclude cats from the discussion but man’s best friend can love his master similar to that of the Lord. There are no up front qualifications that warrant a dogs love. The master only needs to just shows up with food and water. As time goes by the dog will love even when neglected or mistreated. Loyalty is the common character of the dog world. So it is in the Lord’s world for He is “abounding in loving kindness”. The Hebrew word “chesed”, translated loving kindness in this verse, similarly describes this loyal love that will not discard Israel to the garbage heap. Through the repetitive failures of His people Israel, the Lord overlooks His disappointment at their unrighteousness and returns again and again to loving kindness. Go figure!

The focus of this loyal love in Old Testament times was upon Israel. The ground of this love was the will and character of the Lord who chose to begin a friendship with Abram, expecting a return on this investment. Abram’s return was limited, as has the return on investment of each of us since that time. Consequences occur naturally from our moral failures. Yet the Lord always responds with “chesed”. The Lord invested upwards of four thousand years of human history to teach us about this love and we reduce it to mere sloppy sentiment.

In the fullness of time, the lord sent to earth the best expression of His loving kindness in the person of Jesus. All mankind is now the chosen target of the loyal love of the Lord. Jesus passed out forgiveness like popcorn to all who asked and some who did not as He issued a universal invitation to the Kingdom of God. The only folks who angered Him were those merchandizing the love of God, the Pharisees and religious leaders of the Temple. This occurrence in the ministry of Jesus is an example of the Lord’s slow anger. It is grace for the guilty and anger for the self-righteous.

The Christian revivalist movement of the last two hundred years has increasingly marketed and misapplied the anger of God. Extreme accountability is made normative for the sinner but the religious leaders sell healing towels. This does not square with the scriptures. The proponents of revivalism point to a pivotal passage in the gifting of the Ten Commandments to Moses. The first time down the mountain he finds the riotous worship of Israel at the feet of a golden calf made with human hands.

Deeply grieved, Moses appoints his brother and his religious friends to slaughter three thousand of the family. Yet, Moses brother Aaron was leading the idolatry. Moses quotes the Lord, the God of Israel as commanding the violence. Check it out, Exodus 32:27, “Thus says the Lord”!

Was the killing really of God or of men’s anger citing a supposedly righteous excuse? We have all been there on occassion. Any answer must square with all or most of scripture. Be careful, one day we shall all be judged according to our use of scripture.

G.Goslaw

Victorville,CA.

Man Up America Part IV

Letter to the Editor

Daily Press

Victorville, Ca.

February 13, 2009

# 13

Bold seems to be the “ in ” word in these desperate times. However, the definitions vary. Could we put our feet into the shoes of “ Honest Abe ”? This little person accepted and anguished over the suffering of his fellow countrymen, yet believing that it was necessary. His time of suffering was ordered to establish a long term good for the people, all the people including future generations. The wisdom of “ Honest Abe ” has proved prophetic. Are we really being bold? Man - Up America!

# 14

“ La Revolution!” The hens are setting up America for anarchy, can the anger of the little people, our impotence in America politics, be directed in any other direction? Without responsible political leadership, revolution is the well deserved consequence. History is repeating itself, the cry is against taxation without representation, what will be the new Boston Tea Party? Man - Up America!

#15

February 12, 2009

Birthday of President Abraham Lincoln

Dire circumstances, what a moment to revere our most respected president who inherited such a situation. President Lincoln chose to act on behalf of the nation he loved and refused to allows it to dissolve under his watch. Let us look upon our own current troubles as an even greater opportunity. May our resolve and loyalty to the entire national interest be even stronger and reflect upon us in like manner. Let us reject our own henish tendencies. Man - Up - America!

# 16

February 13, 2009

Mr. President, who are you? Obviously, you are a gifted politician who has all the appropriate rhetoric and sympathy for our situation. Yet, your legislative style and priorities say it isn’t so! Are you just another Chicago style political hack? Our prayer is that you are a player for the people! Mr. President are you a man or a boy ( hen )? Man - Up - America!

# 17

February 22, 2009

It’s Christmas in Washington, the gathering around the Christmas tree is joyous. All the family of hens take their turn at the Christmas tree. Any cost in the name of Christmas is accepted as necessary for our well being and pain free lifestyles. The hens rule. The credit cards are filled up to overflowing. Responsibility is denied. Again, we have sold the long term good of our country for the sake of a short term fix. Where will the excess lead? Man - Up - America!

# 18

February 23, 2009

Just a note to test my faulty memory, wasn’t it only a few months ago that the Clinton henhouse was campaigning in Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania, feeling the peoples pain from extreme job loss? This ploy almost worked. Now, the Secretary of States’ first overseas trip is to you know where, China. The purpose is to prostrate herself and our country before a communist dictatorship, to prostitute each one of us in order to reassure our John that all is well. Is there no American self respect among us? There is self respect China. This is the true cost of the stimulus and bailout boondoggles. Man - Up - America!

# 19

February 26, 2009

Twenty years from today, how will these times be described? If your writing a book Mr. Historian, what would be the title of said edition? At some personal risk of sounding negative, let’s give them a jump start. The proposed title would rightly identify our time of :

“ Bloated Budgets and Bailout Boondoggles ”. Man - Up America!

G. Goslaw

Victorville, Ca.

Poor Baby

July 13, 2009

Have you ever sensed that the known world was crushing your personal space? So it seems to be with Lisa Bradley, a Marin County Kindergarten teacher. She was quoted in the Daily Press this morning, July 13, 2009. The article is about our politicians latest attempt at constructing a budget that is revenue neutral.

Ms. Bradley’s comments expose a sense of educational entitlement that parallels that of the social welfare system. To her, educational concerns and their funding are somehow special and not to be subject to the axe. The supposed mission to teach the children of California and Mexico is so righteous that dollars are of no concern.

The taxpayers of California have said no to this mindset. Sacramento is finally awaking to the fact that our educational system must share the pain of these times. Raising taxes is self destructive to California. Any educator whose mental process won’t accept this reality should take a life long sabbatical.

She pleads ignorant of the causes of our state’s economic crisis, “ I don’t know how this happened”. Burying her head in the sand like an ostrich, will not make the math go away. California may be the eighth biggest economy in the world but like any household budget, when expenses exceed income there is a crisis.

This could be a lesson worthy of her kindergarteners, although the lesson plan will have to be written by one of her instructional assistants. Then again, she could get back to teaching. Poor Baby.

G.Goslaw

Victorville, CA.

Man Up America Part III

February 2, 2009

#10
So where in the chicken yard is that man or woman? You know, the Super person possessing all the character of leadership required, the intellect, communication skills and determination to work aggressively on behalf of all classes of people for the greater good.. Most importantly, he or she will risk the furor of all those hens by disrespecting their constant pecking to enhance their own self interest. Ignoring his or her own self interest will require the most resolve. You know, the Super person is a good American, a patriot! As we hold our current political leadership to this ideal, let us all attempt to reflect this goodness in our own sphere of influence. Man - Up - America!

February 5, 2009

#11
Labels are spin intended to manipulate the trusting American. Globalization proponents are a case in point. Their method is to label anyone who questions the wisdom of free trade, a protectionist. That word sounds so ugly and undesirable, the truth is that every nation in the world has some form of protectionist policies. The only exception is this country, we give our trading partners everything and every nation wants a piece of our middle class prosperity. Man -Up- America!

#12
Free trade freedom has devastating consequences upon the middle class while enriching the invested class. Jobs disappear and our politicians take more orders from the globalist lobby. As the tax base schrinks, attempts are made to scare us with labels, give us only lip service at election time, raise taxes, and the trade imbalance continues. Why can’t we discuss trade? You got it, greed! Man-Up-America!

G.Goslaw
Victorville, CA.