I get more than my fair share of e-mails. Whether it's readers of this web log, or readers of our website, many different people, with many different needs contact me on a daily basis. For the past few months I have been noticing a trend, that of parents asking for prayer for their children. I even had a friend call me and ask if I thought it wise for him to send a seed offering to a televangelist, writing his wayward son's name on the check, because the man had promised the child would come to God if this was done. Some parents, driven by love, go to extremes in the hopes of seeing their children saved, but very few are willing to let God do what He must in order for this to come to pass. In a roundabout way this present post, and the next couple posts will deal with the issues of parental love, destiny, God's intervention, and the means God will often use to open the eyes of those He desires to reach.
For many, time would pass at a crawl in the vast Mesopotamian fields, the repetition of tending to sheep growing painfully monotonous. For a young man in love however, even seven years would seem like but a few days. The visions of what would be, the dreams of their wedding day and the life he would have with his beloved kept Jacob in good spirits. Every day that passed, each time the sun scorched his back, each night he huddled in the cold meant he was one day closer to being with his one true love. They had met by a well, and it was love at first sight.
Jacob loved Rachel, of this there was no doubt, for few men in existence today would labor seven years as a sheepherder simply to have a woman’s hand in marriage. Love like everything else in this modern age has become an instant experience, and if it doesn’t happen within the first few minutes, if instant gratification is not promised and delivered one grows weary, and goes about searching for a new love, another love. If one is not willing to sacrifice, it is not true love, but merely an illusion.
Even having had seven years to prepare, to think about his wedding day, to plan it down to the last finite detail, when the day finally arrived it caught Jacob unprepared. To Jacob’s surprise Laban his soon to be father in law seemed in the best of moods having invited all the men of the place and making a feast, sparing no expense in the process. The finest foods were prepared, and in the shadow of tents adorned with expensive rugs, following the traditions of old, there was music and celebration. The wine flowed liberally, the best Laban could find from the merchants in Damascus, all served in new clay vessels. No expense was spared.
Jacob continued to be amazed, even awestruck by the attention he was receiving from Laban, overwhelmed by his charity, being offered the choicest morsels of lamb, and encouraged to empty his wine jug, only to be refilled again. No matter how much Jacob drank, the wine never seemed to run out, so much so that by sundown as he made his way to the marriage tent, he realized he was unsure of his footing. Ever so careful, Jacob made it to the tent and now waited for his bride to be brought in, as was the tradition of the time.
With the complicity of the moon, which hid itself behind a cloud, and an obedient servant who had been instructed before hand by Laban to somehow douse the only lamp in the tent, Jacob’s bride was successfully substituted. Only in the morning, when it was too late, does Jacob realize that the woman brought to his tent had not been his beloved Rachel, but Leah her older sister.
Even though some things may have seemed strange to him the previous night, Jacob could never have imagined his father in law’s cunning plot. Jacob lacked the lucidity and discernment to see the situation for what it was just as seven years prior, Isaac lacked the vision and lucidity of spirit to detect the substitution of his firstborn son, as he came to receive his blessing. As so often happens, Isaac’s deceiver, became Laban’s deceived.
One act of deception sets off a chain reaction of lies and deceit in this family, which perpetuates itself along many generations. It becomes a legacy of sorts. First, Jacob catches Esau between a rock and a hard place, and takes away his birthright; then Rebecca puts together a plan by which Esau would be robbed of the blessing that was rightly his; Laban deceives Jacob; the sons of Jacob plot against Joseph and lie to their father; Rachel steals her father’s idols; the sons of Jacob lay a trap for the citizens of Shechem that leads to their demise, and so on.
A fraud planned in the heart of man, then perpetrated by his hands, is like a long-range boomerang that never misses its target. The one who throws it, the one who perpetuates it, will inevitably be struck down by it. Even if they would intuitively know that the reckoning for their deeds is coming, they could not avoid it, for they do not know the time, place and circumstance in which their just reward will be visited upon them.
Seven more years went by wherein Jacob labored, for in his heart he still loved Rachel. Seven more years of subservience, and obedience, under the man who had deceived him, but at long last, he has what his heart so longed for, he is wed, and Rachel becomes his wife. Even so, God establishes an odd balance in this family of three, for the wife Jacob loves is barren and could bear him no children, and the one he merely tolerates bears him sons. For years and years, Jacob and Rachel live the frustration of not having children, in a culture that looks down upon, and even despises women who are unfruitful and can bear no offspring.
As Jacob begins to grow old, in the twilight of his life, God shows favor toward Rachel, and is merciful with her, granting her the desire of her heart, a son. Encouraged by this, late as her child rearing was, she names her firstborn son Joseph; a name that personifies her prayer for God to grant her yet another son.
Jacob feels young again. With Joseph’s arrival, it seems as though he has been rejuvenated. He is happier now, in his twilight years than he was in his youth. So great is his joy, that he lavishes his son with not only all of his attention, but everything else his heart could desire. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Joseph is now the favored son. If there had been any doubt, it was dispelled in totality upon the day Jacob presented his son Joseph with a tunic made of many colors. It was an extravagant gift for the son of a shepherd, but Joseph wore it proudly. Just as he has favored one wife above another, now it seemed Jacob favored one son above all others.
What was once a mild irritation soon becomes a seething hatred for their younger brother. It only made matters worse that his brothers could not speak peaceably with Joseph, and as of late he had started having dreams which he shared with the family.
Let us however not judge old Jacob too harshly for the favor that he has shown toward Joseph, for in hindsight it would seem it is only a foreshadowing of the favor God would soon show this young man, adding to his handsome features, and the charm of a pleasing personality, a prophetic gift. By the same token, the Bible bears out that a father’s favor is not at all a sure investment for his son’s future, unable to protect or shelter him from the unforeseen hardships of life, and that God has His own plan, a plan of which Jacob is blissfully unaware.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Catching Up
Time doesn't just fly, a new word needs to be invented as to how quickly time evaporates. Between writing, doing radio shows, guest hosting for other radio hosts, and having dinner with my wife once in awhile, its a wonder I still have time to sleep.
I have been working on a three part post that isn't quite ready yet, but will upload it as soon as the rough edges are hewn and it becomes on the screen as I envisioned it in my mind.
I just wanted to throw up a short post saying that I have not forgotten about Homeward Bound, but am actively working toward incorporating it in my daily routine.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Jeanie for the quilt. Thank you. The miniature one is lovely, my wife put it on the coffee table.
As some of you so aptly put it in previous responses, now, back to work.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
I have been working on a three part post that isn't quite ready yet, but will upload it as soon as the rough edges are hewn and it becomes on the screen as I envisioned it in my mind.
I just wanted to throw up a short post saying that I have not forgotten about Homeward Bound, but am actively working toward incorporating it in my daily routine.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Jeanie for the quilt. Thank you. The miniature one is lovely, my wife put it on the coffee table.
As some of you so aptly put it in previous responses, now, back to work.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Blood Bought
He had known betrayal before, upon Lucifer’s attempted overthrow. He had known disappointment before, upon Adam’s disobedience in the garden. He had known anger before, as the world and everything on it was submerged in the waters of the flood. He had even known joy and pride as He beheld the faithfulness of Job. This however was an entirely new feeling. God felt pain. His heart broke as He watched in silence. He witnessed His only begotten Son carry the cross up to Golgotha, saw as nails pierced flesh, but finally He could no longer stand the agony. God hid His face.
There was no other way, and God knew it. Not all the blood of all the rams and oxen in the world could accomplish what the blood of His Son would, redemption and pardon for mankind. If there was another way, another option, it would have been pursued no matter the cost, for the pain God felt was very real, as was the anguish and agony of His beloved Son.
As time marches on man seems to grow ever more forgetful of what this season is all about. It’s not about bunnies, nor is it about colored eggs, it is about the blood that was shed for our transgressions, and the sacrifice that was made, the life that was given, that we might have life.
We have the unique tendency to argue over the mundane, and gloss over the profound, quibbling over which day Christ really rose on, what sort of thorns were placed upon His head, or whether it was a cross, or just one long piece of wood He hung upon for our sins.
I don’t care whether He rose on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, what is paramount is that He rose. He is risen, and now stands at the right hand of the Father. The price was paid in full! His blood bought me, and cleansed me, sanctified me and granted me entrance into the kingdom of God.
Never forget dear friend that you were bought with a price. It was no mere treasury of gold or silver that redeemed your soul from the darkness; it was the blood of the Son of God. By His stripes we are healed, by His shed blood we are redeemed. May we approach this knowledge with the solemnity, humility, gratitude and thankfulness it rightly deserves, and never take for granted that Christ suffered and died upon a cross, that God ached and hid his face, and that never in the history of mankind will there ever be a more perfect embodiment of love that what took place on Golgotha two millennia ago.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
There was no other way, and God knew it. Not all the blood of all the rams and oxen in the world could accomplish what the blood of His Son would, redemption and pardon for mankind. If there was another way, another option, it would have been pursued no matter the cost, for the pain God felt was very real, as was the anguish and agony of His beloved Son.
As time marches on man seems to grow ever more forgetful of what this season is all about. It’s not about bunnies, nor is it about colored eggs, it is about the blood that was shed for our transgressions, and the sacrifice that was made, the life that was given, that we might have life.
We have the unique tendency to argue over the mundane, and gloss over the profound, quibbling over which day Christ really rose on, what sort of thorns were placed upon His head, or whether it was a cross, or just one long piece of wood He hung upon for our sins.
I don’t care whether He rose on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, what is paramount is that He rose. He is risen, and now stands at the right hand of the Father. The price was paid in full! His blood bought me, and cleansed me, sanctified me and granted me entrance into the kingdom of God.
Never forget dear friend that you were bought with a price. It was no mere treasury of gold or silver that redeemed your soul from the darkness; it was the blood of the Son of God. By His stripes we are healed, by His shed blood we are redeemed. May we approach this knowledge with the solemnity, humility, gratitude and thankfulness it rightly deserves, and never take for granted that Christ suffered and died upon a cross, that God ached and hid his face, and that never in the history of mankind will there ever be a more perfect embodiment of love that what took place on Golgotha two millennia ago.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Variations On a Theme
To me the work of the Holy Spirit, and the person of the Holy Spirit is like a symphony, that can be sung in a different key, but in essence is the same masterpiece. Throughout history men have written concerning the Holy Spirit, the power of the Holy Spirit, and above all else the necessity of the Holy Spirit in the life of the individual believer.
I often think that whatever project I am working on tends to bleed into the posts for this blog, and since I have been writing a study on the work of the Holy Spirit for the better part of a month, and nowhere near done, it was only a matter of time that a posting concerning this topic made its way onto Homeward Bound.
Even so, the fact that I have been working on this study takes nothing away from the importance of the subject matter, and as I was going through some of my notes on the topic, I found something Spurgeon wrote long ago. I felt it was worthwhile reading, and I have decided to post it today. It is just another variation of the theme, the great symphony played in a different key, just as soothing, comforting, majestic and divine as the original.
In the end, having read most of what has been written concerning the work of the Holy Spirit going back centuries, the necessity of this precious gift stands out in every writing. Today men look for new gimmicks and new ways of getting people to come to the house of God, from offering gift certificates, to raffling cars, to putting on magic shows, when all the while the thing that would not only draw people to God's house, but keep them there, growing and maturing spiritually is dismissed as antiquated and irrelevant.
I pray the following is a blessing and a challenge.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Spurgeon, “Make this Valley Full of Ditches”
"We must have the Holy Spirit's power and presence, otherwise our religion will become a mockery before God, and a misery to ourselves. We must have the aid of the Holy Spirit, for ours is not a mechanical religion. It is Spiritual, and must be sustained by spiritual means. So dependent is the Christian church upon the Holy Spirit, that there never was an acceptable sigh heaved by a penitent apart from him; never did holy song mount to heaven except he gave it wings; never was there true prayer or faithful ministry except through the power and might of the Holy Spirit.
Sinners are never saved apart from the Spirit of God!
No moral persuasion, no force of example, no power of logic, no might of rhetoric, can ever change the heart. The living Spirit alone can put life into dead souls! And after those souls are quickened, we are still as dependent as ever upon the Spirit of God.
To educate a soul for heaven is as much a divine task, as to emancipate a soul from sin. To comfort a downcast brother, to strengthen his weak hands and confirm his feeble knees, to brighten the eyes of his hope and to give him nerve to hold the shield of his faith- all these are the work of the Spirit of the living God.
O Christian, with all the power you have received,you have not strength enough to live for another second, except as the Spirit of God quicken you. All your past experience, all that you have learned and acquired, must go for nothing, except, daily and perpetually, moment by moment, the Spirit of God shall dwell in you, and work in you mightily, to keep you still a pilgrim to the gate of heaven. Thus, each individual is dependent, and the whole church is dependent on the influence of the Spirit.
Without the Spirit of God, we are like a ship stranded on the beach when the tide has receded- there is no moving her until the flood shall once again lift her from the sands. Until the Spirit of God shall thaw the chilly coldness of our natural estate, and bid the life-floods of our heart flow forth, there we must be- cold, cheerless, lifeless, and powerless. The Christian, like the mariner, depends upon the breath of heaven, or his ship is without motion. There is no truth that needs to be insisted upon more thoroughly than this, "Without me, you can do nothing." Until we are utterly empty of self, we are not ready to be filled by God. Until we are conscious of our own weakness, we are not fit platforms for the display of divine omnipotence. Until the arm of flesh is paralyzed, and death is written upon the whole natural man, we are not ready to be endowed with divine life and energy."
I often think that whatever project I am working on tends to bleed into the posts for this blog, and since I have been writing a study on the work of the Holy Spirit for the better part of a month, and nowhere near done, it was only a matter of time that a posting concerning this topic made its way onto Homeward Bound.
Even so, the fact that I have been working on this study takes nothing away from the importance of the subject matter, and as I was going through some of my notes on the topic, I found something Spurgeon wrote long ago. I felt it was worthwhile reading, and I have decided to post it today. It is just another variation of the theme, the great symphony played in a different key, just as soothing, comforting, majestic and divine as the original.
In the end, having read most of what has been written concerning the work of the Holy Spirit going back centuries, the necessity of this precious gift stands out in every writing. Today men look for new gimmicks and new ways of getting people to come to the house of God, from offering gift certificates, to raffling cars, to putting on magic shows, when all the while the thing that would not only draw people to God's house, but keep them there, growing and maturing spiritually is dismissed as antiquated and irrelevant.
I pray the following is a blessing and a challenge.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Spurgeon, “Make this Valley Full of Ditches”
"We must have the Holy Spirit's power and presence, otherwise our religion will become a mockery before God, and a misery to ourselves. We must have the aid of the Holy Spirit, for ours is not a mechanical religion. It is Spiritual, and must be sustained by spiritual means. So dependent is the Christian church upon the Holy Spirit, that there never was an acceptable sigh heaved by a penitent apart from him; never did holy song mount to heaven except he gave it wings; never was there true prayer or faithful ministry except through the power and might of the Holy Spirit.
Sinners are never saved apart from the Spirit of God!
No moral persuasion, no force of example, no power of logic, no might of rhetoric, can ever change the heart. The living Spirit alone can put life into dead souls! And after those souls are quickened, we are still as dependent as ever upon the Spirit of God.
To educate a soul for heaven is as much a divine task, as to emancipate a soul from sin. To comfort a downcast brother, to strengthen his weak hands and confirm his feeble knees, to brighten the eyes of his hope and to give him nerve to hold the shield of his faith- all these are the work of the Spirit of the living God.
O Christian, with all the power you have received,you have not strength enough to live for another second, except as the Spirit of God quicken you. All your past experience, all that you have learned and acquired, must go for nothing, except, daily and perpetually, moment by moment, the Spirit of God shall dwell in you, and work in you mightily, to keep you still a pilgrim to the gate of heaven. Thus, each individual is dependent, and the whole church is dependent on the influence of the Spirit.
Without the Spirit of God, we are like a ship stranded on the beach when the tide has receded- there is no moving her until the flood shall once again lift her from the sands. Until the Spirit of God shall thaw the chilly coldness of our natural estate, and bid the life-floods of our heart flow forth, there we must be- cold, cheerless, lifeless, and powerless. The Christian, like the mariner, depends upon the breath of heaven, or his ship is without motion. There is no truth that needs to be insisted upon more thoroughly than this, "Without me, you can do nothing." Until we are utterly empty of self, we are not ready to be filled by God. Until we are conscious of our own weakness, we are not fit platforms for the display of divine omnipotence. Until the arm of flesh is paralyzed, and death is written upon the whole natural man, we are not ready to be endowed with divine life and energy."
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Orphans By Choice
Before I share what God has put on my heart for today, I wanted to take a few seconds and say thank you for all your encouraging words, prayers, and well wishes on my getting older. Thank you.
John 14:16-18, “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”
John 14:26-27, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
History is repeating itself. As Christ wept over Jerusalem some two thousand years ago, and only a handful understood the true depth of His anguish, He weeps again, and once more those with understanding are few in number. A great majority has been swept up, or more aptly swept away into the land of half truth and outright deception, ever obedient, lemming like in their devotion to those who mercilessly shear them time and again, all the while unaware that they are orphans by choice. The vultures on the other hand, circle the dying hopes of the masses, ever ready to offer easy solutions for life’s most difficult of problems, all of which entail some sort of token, sacrificial giving, or vow of faith.
Through the constant barrage of doublespeak, scripture twisting, and inaccurate personal interpretation of the sovereign Word of God, we are living in a generation that has voluntarily chosen orphan hood, denying the promise and the One who made said promise, by both their action and inaction.
I realize full well that this is a sensitive subject, and denominational lines have been drawn, barriers erected, and borders defended due to this topic, but in the end the Word must have the final say in all matters of faith, otherwise we are as blind men leading the blind into the dark abyss of opinion rather than the solid foundation of truth.
As His time on earth was drawing to a finish, Christ gathered His disciples together, and endeavored to encourage them, bolster their hopes and strengthen their faith, knowing that His imminent departure would be a difficult transition for them. As He spoke to His followers, Christ made them a solemn promise, a promise that was extended to all who would endeavor to pick up their crosses, and follow in His footsteps. He promised that we would not be left at the mercy of the world, that we would not be defenseless against the enemy, that we would not be orphans, but that He would pray the Father to give us another Helper, one that would abide with us forever.
Although they had felt His presence, although Christ’s disciples knew this Spirit of truth for it dwelt with them, soon it would dwell in them, be in them. They would no longer experience the Holy Spirit from time to time, sporadically, but would have it in them perpetually, having access to all the gifts that it entailed.
It is tragic that the Helper who is reserved exclusively for the children of God, the person of the Holy Spirit, has become such a divisive topic among those who claim to be His. Rather than pursue this precious gift, we have done everything humanly possible to justify our unwillingness to submit and surrender to the will of God, that we might receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, that we might be true sons and daughters of God, and not orphans.
The hearts of men are troubled, and fear is spreading like a cancer. Uncertainty concerning tomorrow is now the issue of the day, and while the children of God should be the ones rising above the mire of fear, we are as embroiled in it as the rest of the world. These are the days in which the difference between the orphans in God’s house, and those who are truly His, is becoming more pronounced and evident. It is in this hour that the true children of God, are reminded of Christ’s words, and know that there is safety in the Father’s embrace, that He is our shelter in the midst of the storm. It is in this hour that our trust in God will be evidenced by the peace that overflows in our hearts, and by the comfort we find in Him.
It is not lack of love, or offered opportunity on God’s part that has produced so many spiritual orphans in this generation; it is this generation’s absolute rejection of truth, peace, and the Holy Spirit. They have chosen to be orphans because the Father’s rules, and His standards seemed too stifling, too limiting, too legalistic, too old fashioned, not taking into account that their willful departure from the Father’s home left them out in the cold, homeless, at the mercy of the elements, dependent on the kindness of strangers.
A bitter cup indeed to realize that strangers these days aren’t too kind, and the liberties of the flesh we so yearned for get very old, very quickly. We have squandered that which is precious, embraced that which is profane, and the consequences of our choices are only now beginning to come to light.
If today you are a true son or daughter of the heavenly Father, though the world mocks you, the progressive majority despises you, and even those you would call brothers and sisters reject you, rejoice and again I say rejoice, for your redemption is near.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
John 14:16-18, “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”
John 14:26-27, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
History is repeating itself. As Christ wept over Jerusalem some two thousand years ago, and only a handful understood the true depth of His anguish, He weeps again, and once more those with understanding are few in number. A great majority has been swept up, or more aptly swept away into the land of half truth and outright deception, ever obedient, lemming like in their devotion to those who mercilessly shear them time and again, all the while unaware that they are orphans by choice. The vultures on the other hand, circle the dying hopes of the masses, ever ready to offer easy solutions for life’s most difficult of problems, all of which entail some sort of token, sacrificial giving, or vow of faith.
Through the constant barrage of doublespeak, scripture twisting, and inaccurate personal interpretation of the sovereign Word of God, we are living in a generation that has voluntarily chosen orphan hood, denying the promise and the One who made said promise, by both their action and inaction.
I realize full well that this is a sensitive subject, and denominational lines have been drawn, barriers erected, and borders defended due to this topic, but in the end the Word must have the final say in all matters of faith, otherwise we are as blind men leading the blind into the dark abyss of opinion rather than the solid foundation of truth.
As His time on earth was drawing to a finish, Christ gathered His disciples together, and endeavored to encourage them, bolster their hopes and strengthen their faith, knowing that His imminent departure would be a difficult transition for them. As He spoke to His followers, Christ made them a solemn promise, a promise that was extended to all who would endeavor to pick up their crosses, and follow in His footsteps. He promised that we would not be left at the mercy of the world, that we would not be defenseless against the enemy, that we would not be orphans, but that He would pray the Father to give us another Helper, one that would abide with us forever.
Although they had felt His presence, although Christ’s disciples knew this Spirit of truth for it dwelt with them, soon it would dwell in them, be in them. They would no longer experience the Holy Spirit from time to time, sporadically, but would have it in them perpetually, having access to all the gifts that it entailed.
It is tragic that the Helper who is reserved exclusively for the children of God, the person of the Holy Spirit, has become such a divisive topic among those who claim to be His. Rather than pursue this precious gift, we have done everything humanly possible to justify our unwillingness to submit and surrender to the will of God, that we might receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, that we might be true sons and daughters of God, and not orphans.
The hearts of men are troubled, and fear is spreading like a cancer. Uncertainty concerning tomorrow is now the issue of the day, and while the children of God should be the ones rising above the mire of fear, we are as embroiled in it as the rest of the world. These are the days in which the difference between the orphans in God’s house, and those who are truly His, is becoming more pronounced and evident. It is in this hour that the true children of God, are reminded of Christ’s words, and know that there is safety in the Father’s embrace, that He is our shelter in the midst of the storm. It is in this hour that our trust in God will be evidenced by the peace that overflows in our hearts, and by the comfort we find in Him.
It is not lack of love, or offered opportunity on God’s part that has produced so many spiritual orphans in this generation; it is this generation’s absolute rejection of truth, peace, and the Holy Spirit. They have chosen to be orphans because the Father’s rules, and His standards seemed too stifling, too limiting, too legalistic, too old fashioned, not taking into account that their willful departure from the Father’s home left them out in the cold, homeless, at the mercy of the elements, dependent on the kindness of strangers.
A bitter cup indeed to realize that strangers these days aren’t too kind, and the liberties of the flesh we so yearned for get very old, very quickly. We have squandered that which is precious, embraced that which is profane, and the consequences of our choices are only now beginning to come to light.
If today you are a true son or daughter of the heavenly Father, though the world mocks you, the progressive majority despises you, and even those you would call brothers and sisters reject you, rejoice and again I say rejoice, for your redemption is near.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Older
Yesterday I turned 33. I used to think that was old, I really did. Now it doesn't seem so old anymore. I was away for a few days, hence the reason for no posts, my wife took me to Chicago for my birthday, and we walked around mostly looking at the architecture. Somewhere on State Street, there is an old building that by all evidence seems to have been a home, which has been gutted and turned into a department store. For some reason seeing that old homestead turned into just another place for people to spend money they don't have on things they don't need made me sad inside, and it got me thinking.
Too many today have a singular desire to build a kingdom here on earth. They toil and labor in the hopes that they will leave a mark on history, that they will be remembered from generation to generation, not realizing that sooner or later, all flesh is forgotten, swept under the maelstrom that is time. There is no permanence here on earth, and with each passing year, with every creaking of the knees, with every white hair that appears on my head, my own mortality and temporal nature is brought more sharply into focus. I know, I should be happier, I should be posting something witty and upbeat, but it's the kind of mood I'm in and I've always tried to be as honest as possible in my postings.
It's human nature I guess to analyze one's life with each passing year, and I've come to the conclusion that I'm getting tired. Since God called me into ministry I have strived to fight the good fight, to preach the truth, to urge people to repentance, to warn of what is not merely coming in some far off future, but what is by all evidence already here, ready to tear asunder the fragile illusion we have meticulously fashioned for ourselves that all is well, and I find myself wondering more often than not if it has made any sort of impact, if in fact I have not been what amounts to yelling in the face of a hurricane all these years.
The truth, is that with all the sacrifice and all the labor, it seems the church has distanced itself from truth even more in these last days, it has chosen to reject the cross with ever greater frequency and audacity, and those who still go against the grain, those who speak contradictory to the great majority are belittled, rejected, and verbally stoned from all sides. Did I expect any different? No. It's just that the reality of it all is getting to me. I am human after all.
Pray for me. It's easy to adopt the mindset of Jonah and find a shady spot where we can pop some popcorn and watch what has been foretold unfold, but love for the lost compels us to press on, one more day, to preach one more sermon, to write one more article, hoping this will be the one that will pierce their hearts.
No, God did not promise it would be easy, just that it would be worth it. Thank you for being patient with me, thank you for your prayers, and as I've stated on a previous occasion, you can think the worst of me, but believe the best of Christ.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Too many today have a singular desire to build a kingdom here on earth. They toil and labor in the hopes that they will leave a mark on history, that they will be remembered from generation to generation, not realizing that sooner or later, all flesh is forgotten, swept under the maelstrom that is time. There is no permanence here on earth, and with each passing year, with every creaking of the knees, with every white hair that appears on my head, my own mortality and temporal nature is brought more sharply into focus. I know, I should be happier, I should be posting something witty and upbeat, but it's the kind of mood I'm in and I've always tried to be as honest as possible in my postings.
It's human nature I guess to analyze one's life with each passing year, and I've come to the conclusion that I'm getting tired. Since God called me into ministry I have strived to fight the good fight, to preach the truth, to urge people to repentance, to warn of what is not merely coming in some far off future, but what is by all evidence already here, ready to tear asunder the fragile illusion we have meticulously fashioned for ourselves that all is well, and I find myself wondering more often than not if it has made any sort of impact, if in fact I have not been what amounts to yelling in the face of a hurricane all these years.
The truth, is that with all the sacrifice and all the labor, it seems the church has distanced itself from truth even more in these last days, it has chosen to reject the cross with ever greater frequency and audacity, and those who still go against the grain, those who speak contradictory to the great majority are belittled, rejected, and verbally stoned from all sides. Did I expect any different? No. It's just that the reality of it all is getting to me. I am human after all.
Pray for me. It's easy to adopt the mindset of Jonah and find a shady spot where we can pop some popcorn and watch what has been foretold unfold, but love for the lost compels us to press on, one more day, to preach one more sermon, to write one more article, hoping this will be the one that will pierce their hearts.
No, God did not promise it would be easy, just that it would be worth it. Thank you for being patient with me, thank you for your prayers, and as I've stated on a previous occasion, you can think the worst of me, but believe the best of Christ.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
A Different Gospel
Galatians 1:6-7, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.”
Two thousand years ago, the forefathers of the faith were faced with much the same problems as the current generation of Christian warriors is. Since the advent of Christ, the enemy set his sights on those who would follow Him, those who would surrender their hearts to the grace that is in Jesus, and has fought tirelessly to throw up roadblocks, and cause the innocent to stray.
The enemy’s greatest success has not been in physical intimidation, persecution or torture, for history bears witness to the fact that every time dark days arose, every time persecution was at its height, so was the faith and the steadfastness of the elect. Persecution strengthens the faith, it compels the followers of Christ, to trust in Him wholly, and thereby see supernatural provision, and protection. Though persecution might not be beneficial to the flesh, it is good for the spiritual man.
The enemy has tried a myriad of methods to cause the children of God to stumble, and he has found none more successful than the perversion of the gospel of Christ. It is because this method is so successful that it has been around for so long. Throughout time it has been known by different names, this different gospel, but all for the same inevitable result, that of separating us from the grace of Jesus.
Today, this different gospel is most widely known by its appropriately given nickname, the good time gospel. The difference between the good time gospel, and the gospel of Christ, is that the good time gospel can only be applied in the individual life, during good times. When all is well, when life is prosperous, when blessings are abundant, it is easy to talk the heart into believing, that such times will last forever, that there are no storm clouds on the horizon, that perhaps the talking heads on television got it right after all, and the road to heaven is paved with rose petals and ATMs.
The trouble with the good time gospel, is that when times begin to change, when prosperity is not so abundant, when the world doesn’t seem as rosy, it begins to lose its relevance, and rather than give hope, rather than provide a solid foundation, it abandons those who so heartily followed it, leaving them empty, hollow, and with the same look of wild desperation in their eyes as the rest of the world.
The key difference between the true gospel of Christ, and the good time gospel, is that the gospel of Christ sustains you, keeps you, strengthens you, comforts you, and encourages you not only during the sunny days, but also during the stormy ones. The gospel of Christ sustains the faithful soul through the darkest of trials, through those long nights when all that is left is our faith in He who is able, and our trust that He will make a way when there seems to be no way in sight.
Throughout my life I have had the honor of knowing men who were able to weather the storms of this life, trials and tribulations beyond what some can imagine, because they were grounded and rooted in the Word, because the gospel of Christ was alive for them, and in them. I have known men who spent years in prisons, being tortured and beaten, degraded and reviled, suffering at the hands of cruel and unfeeling souls, only to come out stronger in their faith, and more committed to the cause of Christ. The good time gospel could not have kept them, it could not have sustained them through such barbarous seasons, but the gospel of Christ was more than able to do just that.
The gospel of Christ remains the same today. It is still able to keep us, no matter what our circumstances, no matter the trials and the hardships that may come upon us. Although it might be easier to give in, to go with the flow, to embrace this different gospel, when the darkness descends, and the hearts of men are weighed, when the material things of this world are turned to ash, and the hopes we placed in them become as dust in the wind, we will realize, belatedly so, that the easier path isn’t always the right one, and the consequences of turning away from the gospel of Christ are heavy and eternal.
Pleading ignorance will not suffice, since we have been warned, ever so lovingly in God’s holy Word. Though generations come and go, the enemy’s tricks and deceptions remain surprisingly consistent, for it seems he realized long ago, that if something isn’t broke, it doesn’t need fixing. There will always be gullible souls that will gravitate toward a different gospel, there will always be those who rather than giving God their all, attempt to find a means by which they can give God their least, but in the end only the gospel of Chris can give us consistent sustainability, wherein we remain steadfast and rooted in good times as well as in the face of adversity.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Two thousand years ago, the forefathers of the faith were faced with much the same problems as the current generation of Christian warriors is. Since the advent of Christ, the enemy set his sights on those who would follow Him, those who would surrender their hearts to the grace that is in Jesus, and has fought tirelessly to throw up roadblocks, and cause the innocent to stray.
The enemy’s greatest success has not been in physical intimidation, persecution or torture, for history bears witness to the fact that every time dark days arose, every time persecution was at its height, so was the faith and the steadfastness of the elect. Persecution strengthens the faith, it compels the followers of Christ, to trust in Him wholly, and thereby see supernatural provision, and protection. Though persecution might not be beneficial to the flesh, it is good for the spiritual man.
The enemy has tried a myriad of methods to cause the children of God to stumble, and he has found none more successful than the perversion of the gospel of Christ. It is because this method is so successful that it has been around for so long. Throughout time it has been known by different names, this different gospel, but all for the same inevitable result, that of separating us from the grace of Jesus.
Today, this different gospel is most widely known by its appropriately given nickname, the good time gospel. The difference between the good time gospel, and the gospel of Christ, is that the good time gospel can only be applied in the individual life, during good times. When all is well, when life is prosperous, when blessings are abundant, it is easy to talk the heart into believing, that such times will last forever, that there are no storm clouds on the horizon, that perhaps the talking heads on television got it right after all, and the road to heaven is paved with rose petals and ATMs.
The trouble with the good time gospel, is that when times begin to change, when prosperity is not so abundant, when the world doesn’t seem as rosy, it begins to lose its relevance, and rather than give hope, rather than provide a solid foundation, it abandons those who so heartily followed it, leaving them empty, hollow, and with the same look of wild desperation in their eyes as the rest of the world.
The key difference between the true gospel of Christ, and the good time gospel, is that the gospel of Christ sustains you, keeps you, strengthens you, comforts you, and encourages you not only during the sunny days, but also during the stormy ones. The gospel of Christ sustains the faithful soul through the darkest of trials, through those long nights when all that is left is our faith in He who is able, and our trust that He will make a way when there seems to be no way in sight.
Throughout my life I have had the honor of knowing men who were able to weather the storms of this life, trials and tribulations beyond what some can imagine, because they were grounded and rooted in the Word, because the gospel of Christ was alive for them, and in them. I have known men who spent years in prisons, being tortured and beaten, degraded and reviled, suffering at the hands of cruel and unfeeling souls, only to come out stronger in their faith, and more committed to the cause of Christ. The good time gospel could not have kept them, it could not have sustained them through such barbarous seasons, but the gospel of Christ was more than able to do just that.
The gospel of Christ remains the same today. It is still able to keep us, no matter what our circumstances, no matter the trials and the hardships that may come upon us. Although it might be easier to give in, to go with the flow, to embrace this different gospel, when the darkness descends, and the hearts of men are weighed, when the material things of this world are turned to ash, and the hopes we placed in them become as dust in the wind, we will realize, belatedly so, that the easier path isn’t always the right one, and the consequences of turning away from the gospel of Christ are heavy and eternal.
Pleading ignorance will not suffice, since we have been warned, ever so lovingly in God’s holy Word. Though generations come and go, the enemy’s tricks and deceptions remain surprisingly consistent, for it seems he realized long ago, that if something isn’t broke, it doesn’t need fixing. There will always be gullible souls that will gravitate toward a different gospel, there will always be those who rather than giving God their all, attempt to find a means by which they can give God their least, but in the end only the gospel of Chris can give us consistent sustainability, wherein we remain steadfast and rooted in good times as well as in the face of adversity.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Convalescing
It seemed like everything was getting back on track, I had started posting again regularly, then one day I was out to lunch with my brother Daniel, and as I bit into a tortilla chip, I saw stars. No, the salsa wasn't so good it hurt, something was really hurting, and it had nothing to do with the salsa.
My eyes were tearing up, and after taking a few swigs of water to clean out my mouth, my brother who is a dental student took a peek, wrinkled his nose and said, 'yep your pulp is exposed, it's your wisdom tooth.'
To be honest, I had no idea what a pulp was, but apparently it's the inside of your tooth, where all the nerve endings make their home, and they don't like to see the light of day. If you've never had a wisdom tooth extracted, the idea of the kind of pain one is in might be lost on you. Needless to say, for the past few days I have been walking around my apartment, face swollen, moaning and spitting up what my brother calls bloody secretions. I know too much information. It's getting better though, the swelling has gone down some, and soon we'll be back in the swing of things barring some unforeseen and quite painful circumstance.
Just a thought, something as small as a tooth can make you ache all over. It might be a stretch trying to make this a spiritual matter, but there is no such thing as a small sin. Even the smallest sin disrupts the natural state of the spiritual being.
Sorry for not posting, couldn't put a thought together if my life depended on it.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
My eyes were tearing up, and after taking a few swigs of water to clean out my mouth, my brother who is a dental student took a peek, wrinkled his nose and said, 'yep your pulp is exposed, it's your wisdom tooth.'
To be honest, I had no idea what a pulp was, but apparently it's the inside of your tooth, where all the nerve endings make their home, and they don't like to see the light of day. If you've never had a wisdom tooth extracted, the idea of the kind of pain one is in might be lost on you. Needless to say, for the past few days I have been walking around my apartment, face swollen, moaning and spitting up what my brother calls bloody secretions. I know too much information. It's getting better though, the swelling has gone down some, and soon we'll be back in the swing of things barring some unforeseen and quite painful circumstance.
Just a thought, something as small as a tooth can make you ache all over. It might be a stretch trying to make this a spiritual matter, but there is no such thing as a small sin. Even the smallest sin disrupts the natural state of the spiritual being.
Sorry for not posting, couldn't put a thought together if my life depended on it.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Preparations
Whatever future plans one might have, there needs to be a certain level of advance preparation. If I am planning a trip somewhere, I need to purchase my plane ticket, pack a bag, make sure someone picks up my mail, long before the day of my departure is at hand.
When a couple decides to get married, long before the much anticipated day the bride goes out and finds the perfect dress, stresses about the floral arrangements and the dinner menu, the groom rents a tuxedo and polishes his shoes, all so that when the day finally arrives, there is nothing left to do but get through it.
A wise man learns to prepare for everything, and thus is not caught unaware no matter what the circumstances. I believe wholeheartedly that this is the season of preparation for true believers, for the children of God who are living in anticipation of fulfillment. No, I am not referring to the anticipation of fulfillment of prophecy, which can be debatable depending on which words one chooses to believe, but to the fulfillment of God's word which is, as we've stated before not up for debate. It may seem to some that I am over emphasising the point to death, that I am, as the vernacular of the day so aptly puts it beating a dead horse, but it is the topic upon which God has had me focusing for the past few months, and no matter how I try to get past it, no matter how I try to go onto something more exciting or less controversial, He will not allow it.
I have been rebuked by some of the brethren for not supporting the idea of physical preparation in regards to the times that will soon be upon us, but too few have had the patience to hear my reasoning on the subject. Yes, we are to make preparation, but by far the priority of our preparations should center on the spiritual aspect of our lives rather than the physical. The Bible does encourage us to prepare, but nowhere does it say to build bomb shelters, or store food, but rather it tells us to put on the armor, to learn the weapons of our warfare, to be built up in prayer and fasting that we might stand.
Ephesians 6:10-13, "Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and have done all to stand."
This is the indisputable message of God to all who would hear it today. It is not to move to a far off land, it is not to hoard or store, it is to prepare ourselves spiritually for what is about to descent. The message of the hour for God's remnant is to make sure that their retain the whole armor of God, from truth, to righteousness, to the preparation of the gospel of peace, to faith, salvation and the word of God. All these parts make the whole, all are equally important, and all are necessary to our ability to overcome the darkness, and to stand in the evil day.
We cannot have the breastplate, without the sword or the helmet, or the helmet without having our waist girded, and our feet shod. All work in concert, to make up the true warrior of Christ, one who is not only willing to stand, but able to stand, who has done all in preparation for the battle that is to come.
We must be complete Christians, in complete armor, whole and unwavering in the face of the evil day that is upon us. That the evil days are approaching is no longer a debatable issue, for all one must do is turn on the morning news, or surf a few news sights to see where the world is headed. I speak not of a singular nation, but of a global crisis that will test the faith, endurance, and resilience of every man.
These are the days in which few will stand, and many will fall, wherein one will know in whom they have placed their trust and in whom they have relied.
We prepare not that we may boast of our foresight, we put on the armor not so others might see we are warriors, but simply that we might stand, and having done all to stand.
When all the messages of ease and comfort, of opulence and excess will be proven an illusion by the reality that will set in there will be chaos within what we now know as the church. Uncertain, unprepared, defenseless, many will run to and fro looking for truth, looking for an anchor in the storm, and it will be in these days that some will be called upon to point the way to the Bible, to the cross, to Christ. With wisdom as our guide, may we prepare now for the soon coming days, may our foundation be firmly planted upon the rock that is Christ and His word, that in our obedience and humility we might have peace, and the comfort of knowing that we are safe from harm in His eternal embrace.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
When a couple decides to get married, long before the much anticipated day the bride goes out and finds the perfect dress, stresses about the floral arrangements and the dinner menu, the groom rents a tuxedo and polishes his shoes, all so that when the day finally arrives, there is nothing left to do but get through it.
A wise man learns to prepare for everything, and thus is not caught unaware no matter what the circumstances. I believe wholeheartedly that this is the season of preparation for true believers, for the children of God who are living in anticipation of fulfillment. No, I am not referring to the anticipation of fulfillment of prophecy, which can be debatable depending on which words one chooses to believe, but to the fulfillment of God's word which is, as we've stated before not up for debate. It may seem to some that I am over emphasising the point to death, that I am, as the vernacular of the day so aptly puts it beating a dead horse, but it is the topic upon which God has had me focusing for the past few months, and no matter how I try to get past it, no matter how I try to go onto something more exciting or less controversial, He will not allow it.
I have been rebuked by some of the brethren for not supporting the idea of physical preparation in regards to the times that will soon be upon us, but too few have had the patience to hear my reasoning on the subject. Yes, we are to make preparation, but by far the priority of our preparations should center on the spiritual aspect of our lives rather than the physical. The Bible does encourage us to prepare, but nowhere does it say to build bomb shelters, or store food, but rather it tells us to put on the armor, to learn the weapons of our warfare, to be built up in prayer and fasting that we might stand.
Ephesians 6:10-13, "Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and have done all to stand."
This is the indisputable message of God to all who would hear it today. It is not to move to a far off land, it is not to hoard or store, it is to prepare ourselves spiritually for what is about to descent. The message of the hour for God's remnant is to make sure that their retain the whole armor of God, from truth, to righteousness, to the preparation of the gospel of peace, to faith, salvation and the word of God. All these parts make the whole, all are equally important, and all are necessary to our ability to overcome the darkness, and to stand in the evil day.
We cannot have the breastplate, without the sword or the helmet, or the helmet without having our waist girded, and our feet shod. All work in concert, to make up the true warrior of Christ, one who is not only willing to stand, but able to stand, who has done all in preparation for the battle that is to come.
We must be complete Christians, in complete armor, whole and unwavering in the face of the evil day that is upon us. That the evil days are approaching is no longer a debatable issue, for all one must do is turn on the morning news, or surf a few news sights to see where the world is headed. I speak not of a singular nation, but of a global crisis that will test the faith, endurance, and resilience of every man.
These are the days in which few will stand, and many will fall, wherein one will know in whom they have placed their trust and in whom they have relied.
We prepare not that we may boast of our foresight, we put on the armor not so others might see we are warriors, but simply that we might stand, and having done all to stand.
When all the messages of ease and comfort, of opulence and excess will be proven an illusion by the reality that will set in there will be chaos within what we now know as the church. Uncertain, unprepared, defenseless, many will run to and fro looking for truth, looking for an anchor in the storm, and it will be in these days that some will be called upon to point the way to the Bible, to the cross, to Christ. With wisdom as our guide, may we prepare now for the soon coming days, may our foundation be firmly planted upon the rock that is Christ and His word, that in our obedience and humility we might have peace, and the comfort of knowing that we are safe from harm in His eternal embrace.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
