Upward Thought

I own the copyright of all the materials I produce, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Increasingly, people are sharing these materials in ways I have not authorized without asking me. Please do: I give all people everywhere unrestricted permission to: - Share links to the audio and video resources I have posted in the past on this blog and YouTube and the books I sell for print cost on Amazon. You have the right to share PDFs and audio files, but do not repost them publicly, and I would prefer you sharing the link to where I have posted them rather than the content itself, so they know where to find more. - Share brief quotes from anything I've written, so long as they cite the quote. Providing links back to the original postings is helpful. Please do not: I do not give anyone permission to: - Mirror (repost) the audio, video, or PDF resources I have created. - Make new audio recordings of any of the text I have published. - Publish any transcriptions of any of the videos I post...

A while back I posted a series of videos on the topic of overcoming temptation. You can watch the playlist here . A kind soul decided to transcribe the videos, which I am posting below in case anyone would rather read than watch. I won't be taking the time to proofread or format the content, so it's offered as-is. The videos are meant to be stream of conscience, and I have to reserve my time for book writing. Enjoy! On a related note, here is a playlist about repentance. --- Part 1 Once I was praying and it was a normal day and God surprised me. When I pray, I expect to be heard and that's not because of who I am, but it's because I know something about who God is; it's only because of that. Still, I get surprised when sometimes I ask questions and I think he's going to take a long time to answer them or in the past I've asked for things I think are huge and I expect it's going to take time for him to work that request, not because of limitations in Him,...

My neighbor passed away recently. I did not know him as well as I wish I did, but I knew him as well as I had the opportunity to. He was always extremely kind to me. I will always treasure the memory of the many times he selflessly gave his time and resources to help us when he saw we needed it--and the fact that he was always looking to see if we needed it. He was an excellent story teller, and my kids and I were working on convincing him to let us record him telling his life stories, knowing the day would come when we would not be able to hear them again. After he died, I went to visit his wife and offer whatever insignificant comfort I could in the moment. I also needed to pay my respects and try to explain how I wouldn't be attending his funeral. My wife represented us there, and from her descriptions, I might have had a fine time of it. But I'd rather be safe than sorry, unless I have some reason to diverge from my custom. One of the many things I don't like about fune...

Before criticizing people who claim to be in the service of God, it is a good idea to screen your actions against the example of those who condemned Jesus. Step 1: Express the situation in the form of a generalized principle. Step 2: Search the life of Jesus to see whether the application of that principle would cause you to reject Jesus. If so, repent. As an example, here is one criticism people have levied against me from time to time. Here is one case (yes, this is an actual quote from an actual email sent to me from a person I have never met): "I also find it comical you 'work tirelessly' to write and write and write and blog and blog and blog and blog - attempting to convince others to seek the Lord face to face yet, that which you teach others to do - you can not do yourself. I know from good authority that your wife and children have yet to receive the Lord face to face." Sidestepping the fact that this person neither their "good authority" has any id...

I posted this on 2/28/2016: I have heard many repeat this phrase from scripture: And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: (Joel 2:28) But this event has not yet arrived. How can you tell? The phrase begins with "it shall come to pass afterward." After what? Joel 1 and the part of Joel 2 that occurs before this describes a foreign invasion. Not just any foreign invasion, either. Here are some segments. Starting in Joel 1:4:  4 That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.  5 Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.  6 For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, w...

I posted this on 10/21/2014. The words are what I was told, and the images are the closest thing I could find to what I was shown: The lion languishes in pain, Prostrated in exhaustion. A shadow of his former glory, Shrunken, emaciated and forlorn. His moanings for help, Fall to the ground unanswered. His allies are likewise impotent.

Can you say that you live without sin? If not, watching this video may well be the most important twenty minutes of your life.

This post will be woefully inadequate compared to the importance of the topic it entails and the significance it holds for your eternal wellbeing. I have often tried to describe to you where we are and where we are going. Relevant to this post, I have used imagery such as: A flood that comes with ebbing and flowing waves, sometimes noticeable and sometimes subtle, but with ever-increasing base depth of water. This flood requires you to find higher and higher ground to stay above it. A fire that will burn hotter and hotter over time, with some spots hotter than others, requiring you to find greater and greater protection from the fire in order to avoid being consumed.  Etc. Today I am warning you about a pattern and specific fulfillment of it that is harming you and will harm you more as time goes on, as long as you fail to see it and respond as God intends, to the purposes for which is he has allowed you to be subjected to it. As a whole, those who profess belief in God only actual...