Lord Have Mercy

 

Lord, Have Mercy

Tried to go to bed, slept some, but got up because a thought insisted on being expressed. So, here I am at the computer to write it down. Must be important to rouse me from rest. The idea is this:

When we ask for mercy, we are asking for something that exists in many dimensions. I sometimes will list petitions in prayer, and as I do, I will repeat the phrase “Lord, have mercy” in reference to the previously mentioned request, not in order to be heard because of multiplied repetitions, but rather because when we bring our requests before God, the Holy Creator of the Universe, it seems proper to do so in a respectful manner. To acknowledge Him as Lord in submission seems a good way to go.

Further, scripture states that God’s mercies endure forever. That means they extend out into the past, before we even begin to pray, they exist in the present even as we pray, and God’s mercy reaches out into the future without our even being aware, before we begin to pray. God’s mercies are like an onion, with layers and layers of depth to them that are beyond our ken, or understanding.

We ask for mercy in order to save or help us or others from life’s difficulties. When a loved one is in the hospital. When we want to grow closer to God. When we are concerned about war, or terror. Innocents in trouble for one reason or another. We cry from our hearts, Lord, have mercy.

And so, there is something we need to understand when we pray. Because God loves us, because His mercies endure forever, because they exist before during and after the time that we pray… we need to have an attitude of thankfulness throughout our prayer and afterwards. One that permeates the soul and spreads from therein outwards. And the beauty of it is, this also is a gift from God, for only God can change the hearts of men. To be in an attitude of thankfulness for all He has done for us, for He has done great things. Whenever He answers prayer, that reminds us of His eternal mercy, doesn’t it?

Therefore I pray, Lord, have mercy, on all those who will read these words. Have mercy on all those who will never read these words, but need Your mercy anyway. On all those I have known, in Second Life, in church, relatives, at work; friends, colleagues, students and especially custodians. Bless them. Be with them. Lord, have mercy, and thank You for the mercy You have shown, especially that which is answered through prayer. For saving us when there was nowhere left to turn.

Thank You, Lord. Let that peal ring from my soul for eternity. Thank You, thank You, thank You. For Your son, Jesus. From the depths of our spirits into eternity, in thanks for the one who both made us and bought us. Amen.

 That's How We Snip the Day Away

 

During devotions this morning, we had an interesting discussion. The topic was Five Reasons Death is Gain from the daily devotion of John Piper. One of the points was that “We will experience a deep at-homeness,” citing 2 Corinthians 5:8. “Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

Considering this, I drew a comparison with the Wizard of Oz. In Kansas, things seemed a little bleak, with plain black and white film and farm chores. However, the overall theme of the story was “there’s no place like home.” I feel that to be important. There truly is no place like home. Our home in heaven, where we shall sin no more, nor be affected by our failures any longer. I long for that.

In my comparison, I stated that the world can be compared to Oz. Filled with bright colors and astounding, amazing things. Talking lions, scarecrows and tin men! Munchkins! A land filled with creatures and events which are distracting in the extreme. It is so easy to get carried away with activities in our lives. I considered that to be similar to where we are now. Life is surrounded by... illusions... flashing lights... misdirections... profound feints and slight of hand, it seems. Luxury, pleasure, lies and plastic all call out to us. All lies. All leading up the broad way, the easy path, the road of perdition. We are surrounded by electronic media, talking heads, celebrity causes de jure, sports idols and politicians who speak as though the tiniest deviation from their perspective is the greatest sin. We cruise through life in our carriages of metal and glass, comforted by air conditioners, heated seats, our favorite music and cruise control.

Dave, a friend of mine, said that even Dorothy was misdirected in her adventure, getting sent to obtain the Wicked Witch of the West's broomstick, when she had the power to go home all along. And then, the "wonderful" Wizard of Oz was merely sending them all off on a wild goose chase to get killed. That is one messed up deal. 

A good friend, Zenia, saw things differently, which I thought was valuable. Like the verse in which we now see things through a glass darkly, but then face to face, she compared the black and white world to where we are now, but heaven like a place where we shall see color for the first time. Where ideas beyond our ken become reality. I can see that comparison as well, and it is a good one.

Regardless, we should invest our time and our concern in spiritual things; in understanding and knowing Christ. His perfect and complete work on our behalf, at great cost, on the cross, in purchasing our salvation. All we have to do is believe. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

I’ll post the link to the study in the comments. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHsSssWOiWs

 

A History Lesson

 

A History Lesson

I just happened upon an AMAZING example of teaching. It brings to mind the famous (or infamous) Universe 25 experiment. Now, to begin, I despise the word fascist. The practice of using the word flippantly as a derogatory tag has my utter contempt. It insults the memory of Jewish people and others who lost loved ones in the war. It ignores the very important lessons of history. This story involves an insightful history teacher, Mr. Ron Jones. It was 1970, and students were concerned about the Vietnam War. While teaching a lesson about World War II, a student asked how a nation’s entire population could follow the horrid Nazi regime and plunge the entire world into war. Thus, Mr. Jones started a 5-day experiment.

Over the next few days in class, he implemented a few rules. Any student wishing to speak had to stand and address Mr. Jones with no more than three words. Further, the class had to come up with their own self-styled salute, which wound up being a “C” with the right hand lifted vertically. They had to come up with a new name for the movement they had started, which wound up being “The Third Wave.” Mr. Jones began implementing slogans, such as Strength Through Discipline, and Strength Through Community, and so on. They came up with special posters that symbolized their group.

Eventually, Mr. Jones also appointed special teacher helpers in class, who would report to him students who were not totally on board with his new rules. They had special identification cards. No one knew who these students were, but in fact, many of them had been recruited to this role. Students who were identified as “not with the program” were subject to a class vote of guilty or not guilty. Those who were found guilty were sent to the library during class time and refused the opportunity to participate. Nearly all students that were accused were found guilty by their peers.

Students were chastised for not finding more violations, and the smallest discrepancy soon began to be reported to Mr. Jones. Mr. Jones lied to the students and told them their grade would be based on following his growing list of rules, or, alternatively, by leading a successful coup. Student “observers” with special cards soon became student “guards.” Mr. Jones further lied and told his students that the Third Wave was spreading in schools across the country, to form a new national party that would dismantle the system and replace it with their own.

On the fifth day of his experiment, Mr. Jones called an assembly in the school gymnasium with the followers who had remained loyal. There, he told them the truth, that there was no national movement, that his new rules were all a ruse, and that he had done these things to answer the question, “How can an entire nation follow a bad cause?”

Certainly, a comparison could be made between turning in students who did not go along with the new system with “cancelling” and “doxing” people online, the risk of which is negligible. The new “rules.” The new “righteousness.” The new attempt at calling all ideology which does not agree completely in lockstep with its adherents is wrong. The labeling of certain ideas and groups as “hate,” which denies other viewpoints altogether is wrong.

I believe the issue is, at its roots, spiritually discerned. Other comparisons could be made. I’ll leave that for the reader to consider.

Video link attached to the comments.

G.Houtchens

Armchair Coach

Amateur historian