Upward Thought

Beware of paragraphs masquerading as words. Often, a word is so heavily programmed with subliminal meaning that its use conforms the hearer (and even more so, the speaker) to ideas that, if expressed plainly, they might strongly protest. One such word is "pride." Do not be so naive as to be manipulated by those so carelessly slinging around a word whose subliminal programming carries so heavy consequences. Any idea so radical suggested by any religious institution would rightly be scrutinized by its outcomes. Please tell me when we'll get a month of recognition for a religious idea whose practitioners: -Are more than double as likely to kill themselves. -For the most part, take one or more mind-altering drug to be able to cope with normal life. -Mutilate the genitals of children. -Prescribe life-altering drugs whose affects endure long after a potential decision to stop taking them. -Are so imbibed with denial of objective reality that it severely decreases their ability

Some months ago, I finished a book on God's justice. I haven't published that book yet. I have to first publish on the broader topic of God's character, that book is taking a very long time to complete, and I am busier than I've ever been. I'm regularly pinged on ideas that I could blog about, and most of them I offload into books or notes for later, keeping my time focused so as to maximize the benefit of my communication rather than minimize time to publication. Among the many thoughts that I could blog on came the following tidbit, closely related to much more that I've written in the aforementioned unpublished book. This one has spilled over the dam. Consider the following: There is a divinely-appointed price for everything. This is what defines "merit." For which of all things, people, and situations that you value have you paid the divinely-appointed price? In other words, if some great switch were flipped, and everything was suddenly reconciled

Whenever truth is revealed, it comes with consequences. In my last book "Repentance," I made a case for why it is so important to follow the dictates of your conscience in all things. The benefit of this revelation is that everyone, everywhere now possesses the strongest argument ever given for what repentance is, why it is so essential, and how anyone, anywhere can immediately hear the voice of God and begin progressing to more frequent and more substantive communication from him. The end times pattern is that truth will be revealed in ever-increasing clarity and quantity, creating a wedge that gives every individual the choice to become more righteous or more wicked. In this case, the separation is between those who will follow the dictates of their conscience at all cost, and those who will not.  Now that the way to live according to conscience has been revealed, several consequences must come with it. First, the world is accountable for not doing so. Second, the adversary

If Roe v. Wade is reversed, the legality of abortion would be returned to the states. This would shift accountability from the entire United States--which contains at least some somewhat righteous people--to  a subset of individual states. These states, due to their ideological opposition to God's law, human conscience, and common sense, harbor far fewer people of even some degree of righteousness.  As a reminder, where you live matters. I recall some years ago, after speaking with a business associate in a certain far-left city, and being impressed that he had enough sense that prescribed outcomes on his city ought to be delayed, I prayed to God to intercede for that city. The Lord reviewed with me every obvious sign of iniquity there, and every glaringly wrong ideology there, and asked me what more could be done for such a place. I had no counterargument, notwithstanding my previous opinion of my associate. Disciples of Christ do not operate out of fear. You should not decide whe

Our societal memory suggests that the safest path is to follow the crowd. In the past, you could do well by doing what everyone around you did. In fact, you could argue that a stable society required it. Can you enumerate cases where following the crowd today would result in severe negative consequences? There are many! Our societal memory suggests that the safest path is to follow the "experts." In the past, you could do well in life relying on the “experts.” In fact, you could argue that a stable society required it. Can you enumerate cases where following the "experts" today would result in severe negative consequences? There are many! What is going on? God has been abundantly gracious in tolerating all kinds of nonsense. For various reasons, the time for tolerance has come to an end.  Part of the great and marvelous work he is undertaking in bringing this creation to a close is to allow the consequences of human choice to flow. For a long time, he has held them

(Originally published 8/15/21) As humans, we have a strong tendency to project the present to the future. We also have a strong tendency to rewrite history in our minds to project the present back to the past.  Each tendency harms us in different ways. The tendency to project the present into the future entices us to avoid doing what we would do if the future were presently upon us.  The tendency to project the present into the past blinds our eyes to signs that were given that predicted the future. A model that correctly predicts the future, especially on the things that seem most unlikely, is more likely to be correct for as-yet future events.  Because all things operate on laws of cause and effect, future predictions based on a model of cause and effect that prove to be correct suggest a model of cause and effect that accords with reality--with truth, with things as they really are.  Most Christians today believe that God has no need of miracles, that he has done his work, and so on

Some--if not all--churches preach a supremacy of the family unit. For some reason, they teach that one's spiritual relationship with God is a function of one's relationship with family members. The scriptures teach quite the opposite. One's standing with God is a function of what degree of heed and diligence one exercises in seeking and living his light. While that light can and does come through family members, it almost never comes from parents to offspring, it is almost never shared between spouses, and it is almost never received by parents or siblings from children. Familial relations start with a tremendous advantage. Unfortunately, the challenge of overcoming the tendency to ignore bold signs of greater light often proves too much. Jesus said: "And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household." (Matthew 10:36) He also said: "The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter