Psalms in the Night.......

With so many wonderful Biblical promises and powerful examples of God's interaction with mankind, see Psalms of Delight, Psalms in the Night are a way of exploring and sharing some of the thoughts, feelings and experiences God's people encounter while endeavoring to fully enjoy His presence, power and protection in greater ways for themselves, their families and others.

What’s Omnity Thinking? Summary

Few other than detractors dare verbalize the kind of questions that might be categorized as Divine criticism. It may well be that such thoughts, much less critiques, are indeed misplaced. This would explain why, with the exception of certain psalms, prophetic laments and complaints the Bible seems to forbid the topic. Yet given Omnity’s apparent silence and distance, who can deny that those taking issue with God represent the vast majority? Who better to cautiously explore the subject than those honest enough to admit the obvious and more subtle concerns from the very different vantage points of God and man?

Stacks Image 196
What’s Omnity Thinking? Psalm 25

O Alpha and Omega. Creator and Judge of all that has been, is and will be. For decades my heart’s been broken over the silence and distance between us. Why should there be such a great gulf? Why is it so challenging to work through what should be no brainer subjects like Your goodness and/or fairness? Why are humanity’s most powerful and brilliant, influential and famous writing God off in record numbers? When the answers to life’s ultimate questions seem out of reach, is there any point of poking around unpleasant realities, spiritual or otherwise? How is it that the Author of all truth millennia after Christ’s miraculous ministry and costly atonement remains as unsearchable as dark matter?

As for me, I can’t help seeking answers. Please accept my questioning as did Christ in an obscure Jesus movies, “Thomas, you doubt so much you must really want to be certain.”

My desire to fully understand and experience Your
glorious truth, goodness and beauty, is based on faith in Your gracious invitations:
  • “Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened. Or what man is there of you, if his son asks him for a loaf of bread, will hand him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will hand him a serpent? If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him!” Matthew 7:7-11 Amplified Bible
  • Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.” Hebrews 4:14-16 The Message
Almost sounds like it’s doubt, if not disobedience, not to press and even wrestle with You until our needs are met. All the more so with hell to loose and heaven to gain for over 7,000,000,000 souls!

I’m thankful Scripture assures You’re not willing that any should perish yet cognizant and concerned that immediately following Christ’s encouragement on prayer Jesus explained the road to eternal life was narrow and few find it. So pardon my importunity at this late hour, but I’m holding out hope for far more than the status quo of modern life and even modern Christianity. I’m envisioning the answer to Paul’s great prayer, that we might “know the love of Christ that exceeds knowledge” to the point to being “filled with all the fullness of God.”

In the pursuit of the temporal and
eternal joy and glory of seeking and serving You, I’m with Albert Einstien who noted “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”

But who’s up to such a task? Hardly skeptical agnostics, much less antagonistic atheists. Nor would it seem the world’s religious who can’t agree on
who You are, or scores of Christian sects each interpreting Scripture differently. Even among the rank and file of prophetic Christians, Omnity might have to look pretty hard to find those honest and equipped enough to fully appreciate who we are, and the mess we’re in, particularly in light of our approaching You in both time and eternity.

And just who are You we are inexorably approaching at the rate of one second per second? Within Christianity alone there are
hundreds of names. I AM… The Divine present tense participial. Lord God Almighty, God of Glory, Most High, Creator, Mighty One, Lord of Heaven and Earth. Lord of Angel Armies. Consuming Fire. Godhead. Father of Glory. Wonderful. Desire of Nations. Everlasting Father. King of Heaven. Redeemer. Counselor. Comforter. Holy One. Holy Spirit. Judge of all the Earth…

Even the highlights represent the most impressive short list ever compiled! Yet how words pale in comparison to the resplendent reality and transcendent
glory they so crudely express? How can “Consuming Fire” hold a candle to the Creator of 50 billion trillion stars most orbiting supermassive black holes averaging billions of years of age, degrees and solar masses? Equally understated, can “Redeemer” do justice to the unfathomable cost of Christ’s atonement, from incarnation and lowly birth to crucifixion and becoming sin that we might become the righteousness of God?

All in stark contrast to this fifty something
thinking feeling sinful reed to whom a little water added or withheld can mean life or death. Alive today 'as a mist, here in the morning and burnt off by mid morning.' One of billions of soulish spirits in bloody meatcycles on skeletal sticks, often with a shocking lack of concern over the demands of our Maker to be fully obedient, productive and thankful. And this, even though for the most part mankind is born between urine and feces and for all our pomp will die as dogs.

So to recoup, You’re the Great I AM and I am nothing…great.

And Yet… Here we are. Fearfully and wonderfully made on a fearful and wonderful planet in Your fearful and wonderful creation living fearful and wonderful lives while facing either a fearful or wonderful eternity.

And there You are, reigning from the
heaven of heavens as we’re besieged on a fallen planet. Omnity: self existent, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent and immutable. Humanity: mortals with a couple pounds of brain matter, autonomically alive, balanced on toes of flesh, here today and gone (only You know where) tomorrow. All together it’s nothing short of “inconceivable.” Such stark and ominous contrasts. Such fantastic and glorious opportunities.

And Yet… There’s a glitch. We’re not alone. We’ve a common Enemy. The “god of this world” and “prince and power of the air.” The original sinner, turned tempter, deceiver and accuser. For is it not written that he formally known as Lucifer or in Hebrew הילל בן־שׁחר Helel Ben-Shachar, who stands accusing and condemning us, first tempted and deceived us after having led a myriad of angels astray? Holy and glorious angels from Heaven above? To which end I would ask what chance do we have dear God to stand against so great an Adversary, his army and demonic resistance? Comparatively ancient beyond measure. Intelligent beyond comprehension. First among the archangels. Mighty in splendor. The pinnacle of Your creation eons before the singularity creating our universe 14 billion years ago:
  • “You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and exquisite in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God. Your clothing was adorned with every precious stone-red carnelian, pale-green peridot, white moonstone, blue-green beryl, onyx, green jasper, blue lapis lazuli, turquoise, and emerald—all beautifully crafted for you and set in the finest gold. They were given to you on the day you were created. I ordained and anointed you as the mighty angelic guardian. You had access to the holy mountain of God and walked among the stones of fire. “You were blameless in all you did from the day you were created until the day evil was found in you.” Ezekiel 28:12-15
Mankind is defenseless against such a being, much less his fallen angels and demonic hoard. In response the “Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.” Yeshua Hamashia, Jesus the Christ. Son of God. Son of Man. The Angel of the Lord. Ancient of Days. King of Kings. Lord of Lords. The Everlasting Father. Prince of Peace. Fullness of the Godhead bodily. The Bread of Heaven. Water of Life. The slain Lamb. Conquering Lion of Judah. Alpha and Omega. The Way, Truth and Life. The Resurrection. Keeper of the keys of Hell and Death. He who has the seven Spirits of God. The Faithful and True Witness. Heaven’s Counselor and Mankind’s Advocate...

In response to Heavens historic angelic rebellion overrunning onto and reshaping our own, You not only provided the costly atonement of Your Son but the promise of Your Spirit. Establishing Your Church on Pentecost, the miraculous fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit overflowed, inspiring such radical discipleship that in the course of time Christianity covered the globe with the Bible becoming the best seller of all time!

And Yet… We’re decimated. Sadly, as the Wedding of Canna which occasioned Christ’s debut miracle, modern Christianity seems to have all but run out of wine with few the wiser. A situation so dire that I’m forced to repeatedly ask “Lord, don’t you care we are perishing?”

After thirty years and seventy thousand hours of strategically
seeking and serving You I fear 21st Century Christianity is at an impasse. After over a thousand corporate albeit scarcely attended prayer meetings and many times as many private sessions, I fear our many doubtful habits, not to mention serious sins such as abortion have left us powerless and nearly prayerless.

As You warned, it appears that after granting us
answers to the prayers off all past generations, not only are our blessings being cursed but by You! Having repeatedly warned us beginning with Isaiah and continued by Jesus and Paul:
  • And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed.” Isaiah 6:9-10 NKJV
  • “Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands? He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” Mark 7:5-7 NKJV
  • “So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, saying, ‘Go to this people and say: “Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.”’ “Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.” Acts 28:25-28 NKJV
If and when Churchianity notices such passages the vast majority assume Paul’s version lets the Gentile world off the hook. After all, didn’t we “hear it!” Of course that was two millennia ago. Compared to today, much less tomorrow, temptation and deception, entitlement and sin were in their infancy. In fact, Me-ism and immorality are entrenched it would seem the “times of the Gentiles” is waining, if not already passed.

And Yet… Whosoever will may come. Throughout human history Your Spirit’s strived with men. Even within the ranks of Your own people the theme is as tragic as it is repeated through Old and New Testaments:
  • Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal…” Genesis 6:3 NIV
  • He said, “Son of man, I’m sending you to the family of Israel, a rebellious nation if there ever was one. They and their ancestors have fomented rebellion right up to the present. They’re a hard case, these people to whom I’m sending you—hardened in their sin. Tell them, ‘This is the Message of God, the Master.’ They are a defiant bunch. Whether or not they listen, at least they’ll know that a prophet’s been here. But don’t be afraid of them, son of man, and don’t be afraid of anything they say. Don’t be afraid when living among them is like stepping on thorns or finding scorpions in your bed. Don’t be afraid of their mean words or their hard looks. They’re a bunch of rebels. Your job is to speak to them. Whether they listen is not your concern. They’re hardened rebels.” Jeremiah 2:3-7 The Message
  • “For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.  Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” 1 Corinthians 10:1-12 NIV
  • So watch your step, friends. Make sure there’s no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as it’s still God’s Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn’t slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we’re in this with Christ for the long haul. These words keep ringing in our ears: Today, please listen; don’t turn a deaf ear as in the bitter uprising.” Hebrews 3:12-14 The Message
  • Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:32-35 NIV
  • Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’” Luke 13:22-27
  • Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” Revelation 22:14-17
And Yet…It’s too hard. Such passages combined with the Rich Man and Lazarus and the Rich Young Ruler, the Ten Virgins and Jesus judging His church are fearful indeed to the dwindling minority of believers willing to admit all that Scripture says we must really to do be saved. And You’ve really thrown down the gauntlet when it comes to radical discipleship, which may be the only kind you accept. As Søren Kierkegaard noted:
  • “The matter is quite simple. The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand, we are obliged to act accordingly. Take any words in the New Testament and forget everything except pledging yourself to act accordingly. My God, you will say, if I do that my whole life will be ruined. How would I ever get on in the world? Herein lies the real place of Christian scholarship. Christian scholarship is the Church’s prodigious invention to defend itself against the Bible, to ensure that we can continue to be good Christians without the Bible coming too close. Oh, priceless scholarship, what would we do without you? Dreadful it is to fall into the hands of the living God. Yes it is even dreadful to be alone with the New Testament.”
Of course from eternity’s point of view costly grace not only all makes perfect sense but is a great deal! As Creator and Sustainer, Omnity can insist on and enforce any commands You choose. What You chose was the costliest atonement possible of Christ to demonstrate the simultaneous demand and offer of ALL. God’s for ours! Eternal glory for a few years of service. And who do You demand we serve? Each other. First. You link the Bible’s more than 1,000 promises to 6,000 mitigating commands and conditions. Next, You condense these into the two great commands. Amazingly, Omnity so identifies with the needy, the second great commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” is the very deffiniton of living faith. Wonderfully, the first and greatest commandment to love God completely can only be fulfilled by how we treat each other. Furthermore, when the two are separated it's loving our neighbor that's emphasized:
  • “Don’t run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along. The law code—don’t sleep with another person’s spouse, don’t take someone’s life, don’t take what isn’t yours, don’t always be wanting what you don’t have, and any other “don’t” you can think of—finally adds up to this: Love other people as well as you do yourself. You can’t go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love.” Romans 13:8-10 The Message
Sounds great on paper but life’s messy. Surrounded on all sides by the sin above, about and within we’re pretty much sitting ducks. Each and every one of us wrestling with tens of thoughts a day. Multiply that by 7,000,000,000 and “Huston we have a problem.”



















Screen Shot 2015-01-21 at 9.52.23 AM