Thursday, September 27, 2007

Long Distance Relationships...

I have come to despise long distance relationships. I myself once had a long distance relationship with my girlfriend at the time. I shall say first, difficulty does not bear the meaning of the term. Frustration seeps in and corrupts each other’s thoughts. Then if that didn’t seem like enough, after time you begin to feel separated emotionally. Without the physical presence of the other intimacy and love become stress instead of virtues. Temptation draws each other away to other enticing prospects; it just seems easier to give in and abandon then to continuously work out the Love. Our long distance relationship did not end well for us, and even though we seek reconciliation with one another, after a long separation the bond that once shared love will doubtfully be remade.

I envy the biblical writers and witnesses who could enjoy Christ’s teachings and live where he lived and walked where he walked. God’s manifestation in Christ seems that if I could only live when Jesus did I may share a closer bond with God for this reason, I can see the works of God manifested in a mere man and bask in his glory. Unfortunately, I may never have that honor and am forced to have a relationship that seems so distant. I can never place my hands on his robe or have him wipe the tears from my eyes. I can never see the passion that exploded from his words, which shook the foundations of fisherman.

The Gospel of John 1 reads;
In the beginning was the word, the word was with God and the word was God. He was with God in the beginning… the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and only, who came from the father full of grace and truth.

The word became flesh and dwelled with men. Those beautiful words of poetry barely justify the meaning and act they represent. God came to us and lived where we live so that we may live with him for eternity. If only I lived then and witness the life and light that was the word. Now he returned to his home in heaven and I endure a relationship that spans dimensions. Such an idea seems ludicrous. Because he lived so long ago sometimes it seems he never came at all and I find myself praying to a being that I forget experienced what I experience. Every temptation and every suffering I go through Jesus endured and suffered through as well. I want to reach out and clasp his cloak and weep at his feet but how impossible it seems to practice a relationship with someone I have never met. This frustrates me especially while I suffer.

I loathe long distance relationships yet despite my frustrations and doubt I continue to work out this relationship and continue to strive for a connection that endures the sufferings of life. It seems so similar to a long distance relationship but where my ex and I failed God succeeded. The relationship rests on my shoulders, I pray for strength to endure this lifetime of separation and live by hope to one day dwell with the word who is God.

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Right and Wrong, Truth and Lie. (more on the law)

I want to talk about the simple nature of Right and wrong or good and evil. This understanding creates the foundation of Christian beliefs. Do you comprehend that because good exists so does the option of evil? Yet evil cannot result unless someone establishes goodness. God accomplished this; every act of God results with righteousness. The two do not disagree, and cannot secede. Romans read, “Because law brings wrath. Where there is no law there is no transgression” (Rom 4:15) If simple goodness didn’t exist then how could evil exist? We never could have rebelled to begin with if absolute goodness never dichotomized wrong from itself. Without good or right then how would a person identify an act as wrong or evil? Whenever any person deems a behavior wrong or bad this only happens because they base that judgment off of what they know as righteous. How do they know the righteous ways? I turn again to Romans.
In Romans 1:19 “since what may be known about God is plain to them because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
“Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the [Mosaic] Law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending” (Romans 2:14,15)
God shines through creation so that man can always have a link to righteousness for determining truth. Truth is not up for interpretation. Only one truth exists. To say otherwise means to undermine the very definition of the word. If everyone claims their own truth then it no longer becomes truth but relative ideas, and hopes of a unified law are lost. What possible Law shall dictate the natures of a life and bondage freedom of expression and choice? Love. Love written at the beginning of time by a being so unimaginable and perfect. This terrible dictation called God or worse Religion does not bring iron bondage but a freedom that liberates life for anyone who truly embraces his majesty. No dictation at all but a relationship. Those who ignore it follow in the footsteps of generations before just as Romans 1 states, “they gave the truth up for a lie.” Whether a person believes in God or not begins frivolous next to fact that the Law and its writer exist. He believes and hopes for everyone because of Love. Because of Adam and Eve, we know good as well as evil. This truth does not harm nor limit. This Law does not cause hate nor segregate. Instead when understood seperates evil from good and in the anguish of a fallen people shines love and direction to everyone willing to desire THE TRUTH.