on August 3, 2010 by Martin Van Horn in Bible Meditations, Comments (0)

Spirit, not Syrup

Our God is a Personality.

The God of the Bible, Jehovah, Yahweh, Adonai, has personality, likes and dislikes, plans and power, feelings and serenity. He sings (Zeph 3:17), He laughs (Ps 2:4), He likes surprises (Matt 24:36), He gets mad (Deut 6:15), and so on.

What kind of face do you imagine when you think of God? The stern-eyed, rock-jawed Pantokrator, Almighty Jesus Christ, Judge of the living and the dead on the mosaic walls of ancient Ravenna, Italy, scared people into the arms of Mother Mary, the woman who could wheedle her son to fulfill her requests. Is your image of God stern? angry? soft? smiling? vacant?

Ravenna mosaic Christ Pantokrator

Many people in the world are in search of a god who makes them feel good.

Some religions offer bliss, Nirvana, love as undifferentiated happiness, like syrup. I once wandered the magnificent spaces of the Baha’i Temple in Illinois, reading the hundreds of quotations on the walls. Amazingly they all said positive things about god and mankind, love and understanding, toleration and peace. I found only one statement in the whole white and light gray or blue decor that even intimated evil exists and creates a problem to be condemned. Other mystics today carry on the traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism, talking only of peace and love, as though our minds and bodies only need to be relieved of a few cramps and misconceptions so we can flow with the spirit of the Universe.

The Holy Spirit is not syrup love.

The Holy Spirit of God is a person, not a uniform syrup. He wrestles (Gen 6:3, 32:28), He grieves (Eph 4:30), He burns (Acts 2:3-4), He administers (I. Cor 12:11), He rejoices (Luke 10:21). The Holy Spirit of God gives us personality: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control (Gal 5:22-23). He gives us power and love (II. Tim 1:7).

Even Heaven is not syrupy. Christ Jesus Pantokrator, the King of kings and Lord of lords, will wipe away all tears from our eyes (Rev 21:4), will proclaim our royal identity as children of God (Matt 10:32), will lead the saints into battle (Jude 1:14-15), will rule the world with us (Rev 20:6). He has plans for us that have been delayed by the sin of Adam and Eve and each one of us. Christ Jesus will not rule alone. He will rule with us, His saints and brothers and sisters, on a renewed planet in a renewed Universe.

Choose the true and living God as your trust and love. You will become a personality too, and an attractive, enduring one at that!

Learn Air Guitar, it's a good start

Vision of My War

on July 20, 2010 by Martin Van Horn in Guest Contributions, Comments (0)

Men of Vision Dave has shared some dreams from his journal. This one was especially instructive about our individual and collective spiritual conflict. Christ Jesus is the victor and He […]

Read more...

A Mother’s Greatness

on July 18, 2010 by Martin Van Horn in Guest Contributions, Insight, Comments (0)

A Moment Together This thrilling vision of the spiritual power of mothers came through a homeschoolers’ email network. Sharon’s and my spirits rose up in joy as we read […]

Read more...

Trust and Obey: Now go for it!

on May 15, 2010 by Martin Van Horn in Uncategorized, Comments (0)

How does Heavenly Father feel about His Son? First I want to address our emotions before I talk about any intellectual information. How does the Heavenly Father feel about His […]

Read more...

Healing Parable: “Ratatouille” movie

on April 17, 2010 by Martin Van Horn in Bible Meditations, Insight, Comments (0)

Remy, the gourmet chef rat in the movie “Ratatouille,” gives us a delightful parable of healing the human soul from dividedness.

Read more...

Men and the Beat of Their Drums

on April 13, 2010 by Martin Van Horn in Christian Activities, Comments (0)

Turkish armies steamrolled eastern Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries, led by large troops beating drums and trumpeting loudly their foregone victory. African drums call up the gods (demons) of their tribes, whipping celebrants into religious, sexual ecstasy. Western Christianity has shied away from the power of drumming, until now. (Some churches still debate the acceptability of guitars in worship! Once we let in the guitars, can drums be far behind?)

Read more...

WOW, God’s search engine

on April 12, 2010 by Martin Van Horn in Bible Meditations, Insight, Uncategorized, Comments (0)

I am overwhelmed at God’s attention to detail. Putting Jewish symbolism for the Hebrew alphabet together with revelation of how the Son of God became a man to bear sin, take the nails and crush the head of the Serpent, what do we have? The heavenly Father prepared the way for His Son and Jesus could explain how “Moses and all the prophets spoke of Him.” Let us worship Him. Let us trust Him in our details.

Read more...

Me, Going Forward

on April 11, 2010 by Martin Van Horn in Uncategorized, Comments (0)

We can always change for the better Someone once said, “It is the glory of human beings that they can change; it is the glory of God that He never […]

Read more...

Praying is like writing a Letter to God

on April 5, 2010 by Webmaster in Uncategorized, Comments (0)

On April 9th, the movie Letters to God premieres in 800 theaters across America. Letters to God is the true story about 8 year-old Tyler, who wrote letters addressed to […]

Read more...

And in the Darkness Bind Us

on by Martin Van Horn in Uncategorized, Comments (0)

“Three cans of beer used to be fun; now 12 cans and where’s the fun? I loved having a girlfriend, but now I can’t remember the last girl’s name. If it weren’t for pain, I wouldn’t feel alive any more.”

Why do we hear so much about young people committing suicide? Why are so many addicted, not just to chemicals but also to sex and excitement and danger?

Read more...