• About
    • Welcome
    • Prayer Partners
    • Ministry Partners
    • Angel Partners
    • How to Promote
    • Crowdfunding
    • Statement of Faith
    • The Desert Warrior
    • The Temptations of the Cross (A Novel)
    • Jesus was an Alien (and Other Stories of Faith)
  • Desert Warrior
    • Tears of the Desert Warrior – The Absurdity of an Abnormal Existence
      • Prologue
      • Introduction
      • 1. The Secular Problem of Evil
      • 2. The Essence of Religion
      • 3. The Heart of the Human Experience
      • 4. The Moral Interpretation of Religion
      • 5. Finding Life in the Face of Death
      • 6. Reality, Language and Meaning
      • 7. The Myth of Human Morality
      • 8. The Dangers of the Divine Ethic
      • 9. The Religious Problem of Evil
      • Conclusion
    • Whispers of the Desert Warrior – Evidence of the God who is There
      • Prologue
      • Introduction
      • 1. The God Who is There
      • 2. The Breath of Life
      • 3. Pride and Prejudice
      • 4. The Divine Perspective
      • 5. Return to Babel
      • Conclusion
    • God of the Desert Warrior – Evil and the Goodness of God
      • Prologue
      • Introduction
    • The Desert Warrior – Finding Strength in Difficult Times
      • Series Introduction
      • Prologue
      • Introduction
    • The Way of a Desert Warrior – How the Desert can give you Courage
      • Prologue
      • Introduction
    • The Heart of a Desert Warrior – How Reality can set you Free
      • Prologue
      • Introduction
    • The Life of a Desert Warrior – How a Conversation can Change your Life
      • Prologue
      • Introduction
  • Family Secrets
    • Family Secrets – Chapter One
    • Family Secrets – Chapter Two
    • Family Secrets – Chapter Three
    • Family Secrets – Chapter Four
    • Family Secrets – Chapter Five
    • Family Secrets – Chapter Six
    • Family Secrets – Chapter Seven
    • Family Secrets – Chapter Eight
    • Family Secrets – Chapter Nine
    • Family Secrets – Chapter Ten
    • Family Secrets – Chapter Eleven
    • Family Secrets – Chapter Twelve
    • Family Secrets – Chapter Thirteen
    • Family Secrets – Chapter Fourteen
  • Jesus was an Alien
    • Preface
    • Created For His Pleasure
    • 1. Charles Benton. Neighbor.
    • 2. The Wedding
    • 3. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
    • 4. Truth in Flip Flops
    • 5. Jesus was an Alien
    • 6. Lucifer at the Cross
    • 7. The Way of the Desert Warrior
    • 8. The Anointing
    • 9. The Tower of Babel
    • 10. The Eight Year Old Evangelist
    • 11. Dr. House. Brilliant. Idiot.
    • 12. The Old Lady and the Giant
    • Return of the Prodigal
  • Seeking Jerusalem
    • Seeking Jerusalem – Days 1 to 10
      • Day 1 – The Plan
      • Day 2 – The Confession
      • Day 3 – The Rebuke
      • Day 4 – The Denial
      • Day 5 – The Judgment
      • Day 6 – The Power and The Glory
      • Day 7 – Holiness
      • Day 8 – The Cost (1)
      • Day 9 – The Cost (2)
      • Day 10 – Transfiguration
    • Seeking Jerusalem – Days 11 to 20
      • Day 11 – Desert Warriors
      • Day 12 – Revealing the Glory
      • Day 13 – Maturity
      • Day 14 – Spiritual Conversations
      • Day 15 – Hard Questions
      • Day 16 – The Weakness
      • Day 18 – Your Life Ministry
      • Day 19 – The Gift of Significance
      • Day 20 – Joshua
      • Day 17 – Spiritual Warfare
    • Seeking Jerusalem – Days 21 to 30
      • Day 21 – True Confessions
      • Day 22 – The Courage of Confession
      • Day 23 – Brokenness
      • Day 24 – The Culture of Grace
      • Day 25 – FaithWalk
      • Day 26 – Dr. House. Brilliant. Idiot.
      • Day 27 – Healing Power
      • Day 29 – Spiritual Unity
      • Day 28 – Spiritual Trust
      • Day 30 – The Anointing
    • Seeking Jerusalem – Days 31 to 40
      • Day 31 – The Sanctification Gap
      • Day 32 – The Sweet Spot
      • Day 33 – Hosea and Gomer
      • Day 34 – The Wedding
      • Day 35 – The Delivery
      • Day 36 – The Struggle
      • Day 37 – The Helper
      • Day 38 – The Secret
      • Day 39 – Messianic Prophesy
      • Day 40 – The Gathering Darkness
    • Seeking Jerusalem – Days 41 to 50
      • Day 41 – Dark Night of the Soul
      • Day 42 – The Divine Irony
      • Day 43 – Truth on Trial
      • Day 44 – The Descent into Hell
      • Day 45 – Death Comes in Darkness
      • Day 46 – The Divine Sting
      • Day 47 – Divine Visitation
      • Day 48 – The Kingdom Come
      • Day 49 – Transformation
      • Day 50 – The Road to Jerusalem
  • Temptations
    • Prologue
    • 1. Death of a Warrior
    • 2. The Old Man in the Temple
    • 3. Memories from the Past
    • 4. Battle Over Jerusalem
    • 5. Passover in the Holy City
    • 6. The Shedding of Blood
    • 7.Messianic Prophecy
    • 8. Ten Divine Words
    • 9. The Days of Artistry
    • 10. Breaking the Alliance
    • 11. The Covenant of Promise
    • 12. Birth Pangs
    • 13. Temptation in the Desert
    • 14. Prophet, Priest, and King
    • 15. Mobilizing the Forces
    • 16. The Gathering Darkness
    • 17. The Dark Night of the Soul
    • 18. The Divine Irony
    • 19. Truth on Trial
    • 20. The Descent into Hell
    • 21. Death Comes in Darkness
    • 22. The Divine Sting
    • 23. Divine Visitations
    • 24. Thy Kingdom Come
    • 25. Transformation
    • Epilogue
  • The Roman Road
    • Walking the Roman Road of Salvation – Days 1-10
      • Day 1 – All Roads Lead to Rome
      • Day 2 – “Let me Introduce myself….”
      • Day 3 – “….and my Ministry”
      • Day 4 – The Fight with Peter
      • Day 5 – Getting our Hearts in the Right Place
      • Day 6 – Getting our Heads on Straight
      • Day 7 – ……and the Demons tremble.
      • Day 8 – The Five Pillars of Evangelism
      • Day 9 – Truth in Flip Flops
      • Day 10 – A Conversation with Jesus
    • Walking the Roman Road of Salvation – Days 11-20
      • Day 11 – Jesus Was An Alien
      • Day 12 – Don’t Kill the Messenger
      • Day 13 – The Holy Hiatus
      • Day 14 – The Dilemma of Love
      • Day 15 – The Enigma of Evil
      • Day 16 – Dr. House. Brilliant. Idiot.
      • Day 17 – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
      • Day 18 – No Wonder God is Upset
      • Day 19 – Suppressing the Truth
      • Day 20 – A Law Unto Themselves
    • Walking the Roman Road of Salvation – Days 21-30
      • Day 21 – Intelligent Design for Stupid Fools
      • Day 22 – Evil is it’s Own Punishment
      • Day 23 – The Revelation of Wrath
      • Day 24 – But for the Grace of God
      • Day 25 – I’m A Good Guy
      • Day 26 – The Sin of Jonah
      • Day 27 – Reality is the Ultimate Judge
      • Day 28 – Obedience is the Ultimate Goal
      • Day 29 – The Heart is the Ultimate Standard
      • Day 30 – Blasphemer or True Heart
    • Walking the Roman Road of Salvation – Days 31-40
      • Day 31 – Sin Addiction
      • Day 32 – Friendship with God
      • Day 33 – Breaking the Alliance
      • Day 34 – Religious Virtues
      • Day 35 – Spiritual Warfare
      • Day 36 – The Path
      • Day 37 – The Holy Guarantee
      • Day 38 – Charlie Benton. Neighbor.
      • Day 39 – The Sacred Moment
      • Day 40 – The Nature of Our Struggle
    • Walking the Roman Road of Salvation – Days 41-50
      • Day 41 – The Quality of Our Struggle
      • Day 42 – Walking In The Spirit
      • Day 43 – More Than Conquerors
      • Day 44 – Living Sacrifices
      • Day 45 – Love Must Be Sincere
      • Day 46 – The Secret
      • Day 47 – Resurrection Maturity
      • Day 48 – Kingdom Evangelism
      • Day 49 – Seeking Jerusalem
      • Day 50 – Walking with Purpose

Desert Warrior Ministries

~ A Burden of Glory

Desert Warrior Ministries

Tag Archives: christianity

Is love enough?

07 Thursday Nov 2013

Posted by Bert Amsing in Reflections

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

apologetics, christianity, church, Evangelism, hatred, Love, religion, terrorism

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” Lao Tzu
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*****
  • You and NF like this.
  • Bert Amsing I like this saying…very true….the problem is that most love, most of the time is not deep enough or strong enough or doesn’t last long enough….only the love of God can give us the strength to love always, to love anyway and to love our enemies…..only the love of God can overcome all circumstances, even sickness and death….the joy (and love) of God is my strength…..just saying. The Desert Warrior
    31 minutes ago · Like
  • TJ Sorry I disagree. I have seen the deepest and most compassionate love come from people of all and different faiths and people of no faith whatsoever. I have seen the most vile, evil cruelty and hate come from deeply reliigious people Christian, Hindu, Muslim, etc. Decency and compassion requires ethics and morals NOT religion. If it is done in the name of religion good for that person, but it is not a requirement.
    28 minutes ago · Edited · Like
  • Bert Amsing Interesting thought Tammy….however…..I never mentioned religion…..I was talking about God…not people….your point proves my point…..people (by themselves) are often vile, evil and cruel as you say…..some people (religious or not) are full  of love…..good point….what makes the difference? Why are some people full of love and others full of hate…regardless of religion….is it simply a decision? You know better than that…..your original quote says it all….when we are loved, we are able to love…..the human condition is screwed up because there isnt enough love, for long enough, to everyone (regardless of whether they hate you or not…which is usually the definition for being an enemy)…..it’s called Attachment Theory and basically it says that if you did not receive love, it is difficult to express love…..true….but where does decision come in…..do you, Tammy, love the religious vile, evil, cruel haters out there? Is your love strong enough, deep enough to overcome the hate, the cruelty of the world? That is the question of the ages….all philosophers from all religions will tell you that love is the answer….but that isn/t the question….obviously, love is the answer….the question is why is our love (even the love of the good guys who received love as children) why is our love not deep enough or strong enough to give us the courage to love the haters, the vile, the cruel even while they continue to be hateful, vile and cruel….the Bible says that God loved us even while we were still his enemies….he loved the prostitutes, the sinners, the tax collectors, the outcast, the sick…..his only requirement was humility….the recognition of our need for his love….when we recognize our desperate need for God…
    17 minutes ago · Like
  • Bert Amsing s love, we will be on the road to healing…..The Desert Warrior….www.desertwarrior.net
    16 minutes ago · Like
  • TJ God is not needed. If a person feels a need for a God then all the power to them. To insist that a God is needed is naive and abusive. You have a right to believe as you wish. You do not have any right to force your beliefs on anyone else.  Religion/God is like a penis. You can be proud of it, but if you start waving it up in my face we are going to have a problem.
    13 minutes ago · Like
  • Bert Amsing Wow, that is agressive….someone must have really hurt you….I am sorry…..I am neither naive nor abusive and I am not forcing my beliefs on anyone…just sharing some thoughts on facebook….but, to be truthful, I am not feeling that deep, strong love that you say you have for those who disagree with you….and I don-t blame you…..not easy to love those you disagree with….which is why there are fights, terrorism, hate, spite, vile, cruel people in the world…they don’t think that they are cruel….they simply disagree with your way of looking at the world and often feel threatened….so they lash out at you because of a lack of commitment to the way of love….are you doing the same to me? Sorry to be so blunt….but you are proving the point….if you don’t want God/s help to love others or you have decided only to love those that agree with you or that you happen to like….then, certainly, your love is good enough for your purposes in your little world, but in the real world it needs a tougher, stronger source….love must become a virtue before it can become a solution….as a virtue it must be for everyone, always….who is up to that task on their own….once again, my apologies….I did not mean to offend. The Desert Warrior.
    7 minutes ago · Like
  • TJ Yeah, that is a very typical response from someone that likes to shove their religion at people who are in no way interested. Sort of like the JWs and Mormons that go knocking on the doors of strangers trying to get their God points to get into heaven. I do not believe in religion, or as you say God, because it is not necessary, not logical, and completely made up. You are totally free to believe as you wish and keep it to yourself and on your page. What you are doing is spamming.
    4 minutes ago · Like
  • Bert Amsing I don’t agree…but accept my apologies if I have offended you…..I don’t need God points just like I don’t need wife points….she loves me….he loves me….and it does give me strength and courage to love others. Thanks for listening…..Bert
    about a minute ago · Like
    • CK Bert I’m glad you apologised-thank you. Saying that someone who is simply asserting that love doesn’t need a deity, relic, talisman, superficiality to exist doesn’t mean that she’s been hurt by someone, she’s not broken, or any less of a human than you or I. Disagreeing with you shouldn’t make you feel less loved (this by the way is passive aggressive behaviour that you are demonstrating). It doesn’t make Tammy deficient in any way or a victim to have her own beliefs and be solid in them – yes she’s direct and bold and it’s refreshing.Athiesm is taking over, the nonsense that exisits in the world today with religions, this GOD that everyone speaks of, has given people justification to judge, commit war, assert control and power over innocent people and it simply is not being tolerated anymore. Religion and god is a fairy tale, a book that men have carved out to help people ‘do the right thing’. I hope it helps most who are followers rather than allow them to judge as I most commonly see. Science is the way forward and love will exist in relationships if you can find it in your heart not to judge.
      4 hours ago · Edited · Like · 1
    • CG Sharing this
      3 hours ago · Like
    • Bert Amsing hello Carmen, welcome to the discussion….let me also apologize to you if you thought that I was saying in any way that tammy was broken….or less of a wonderful person for her beliefs….but, let’s be honest here….it wasn’t her beliefs that I was referring to….but rather the aggressive nature of her comments….normally people don’t show such strong emotion about a topic without having an emotional history behind it….in addition, my apology is directed to the emotional situation not the intellectual one….your comments seem to be less emotional and you, apparently, agree with her intellectual position….good for you…..but I disagree….intellectually…..I hope that is alright…..athiesm is not taking over….in fact, it is back on its heals and having a hard time recovering from the onslaught of overwhelming evidence that evolutionary theory is just that….a theory…and that the Big Bang theory strongly suggests an intelligent, purposeful design of the universe….many atheists in the past 30 years have either become Christians or agnostics….check out my blogs at www.desertwarrior.net for more information. Sorry, but your position is about a generation too late….I like your last statement…science is the way forward….true for things like poverty, health care and the like…but for some strange reason….human nature seems to stay the same…greater technology seems to bring greater evil….love is always a choice but few people seem to take the road less traveled and love not just their neighbor but also their enemies….that’s the truth…..not a judgement…..everybody knows it….love is the answer but somehow we humans dont have enough of it to go around….or do you really think we do….not that we COULD but that we DO….not POTENTIAL…..ACTUAL LOVE….for those who hate your guts….what is your solution to that problem?…..would love to know. The Desert Warrior
      40 minutes ago · Like
    • TJ Bert, just because I do not ‘defer’ to you with you being a man and all does not make me aggressive. There is no need for me to be passive or passive aggressive. What you are experiencing is assertiveness.
      31 minutes ago · Like
    • Bert Amsing Why do you bring up the man/woman thing? Frankly, I am confused…..why is this not simply a disagreement of beliefs about the existence of God and his role in inspiring humans to greater efforts at love? You make it about a lot of other things…..I appreciate your position that it is assertiveness and not aggressive….I don’t agree but that is all right…..no problem…..thank you for a wonderful discussion. I truly hope that you experience the deep strong love that will give you the courage to give that same love to others, whether they deserve it or not, whether they love you back or not…at the end of the day….real love in the real world is what matters….if you think we can do it on our own, please be the first to demonstrate that truth in your own life….deeply love your enemies….and you will inspire me and others to do the same…..thank you for your committment to the greatest power on earth….the power of love as a virtue, for everyone, at all times, no matter who they are or whether they even deserve it….who of us, do? The Desert Warrior www.desertwarrior.net
      • CG OMG Bert! >bites tongue<
        51 minutes ago · Like
      • TJ Bert, why does our intellectual discussion have you constantly pushing your blog? Do I need to explain to you what spamming is?
        50 minutes ago · Like · 1
      • Bert Amsing Yes, please do……you posted on my facebook…..
        4 minutes ago · Like
      • TJ No, I posted on MY Facebook and it showed up in your feed.
        3 minutes ago · Like
      • Bert Amsing Exactly…it showed up in MY feed…..that means that I am not spamming….just having a discussion….if you don’t agree…then don’t share it…..no problem…..
        about a minute ago · Like
      • Bert Amsing Why don’t we just leave it at that…..thank you for a lively discussion…..
        about a minute ago · Like
      • TJ Sounds good to me. Have a good evening.
        a few seconds ago · Like
      • Bert Amsing You bet…you too….
        a few seconds ago · Like
      *****
      Here are a few things that I would have liked to say…..
      First of all, if someone posts something on my facebook, I assume that they are interested in a conversation.  I certainly don’t mean to offend…..
      Secondly, last time I checked, Lao Tzu is not a Christian and yet he is the one we are discussing…..interesting.  I truly like his reflection on love….the two key words are “strength” and “courage”.  Love can give you strength because it meets your needs, it gives you security which frees you up from worrying or even thinking about yourself and your needs and allows you to love…..but love can still be risky….that’s why I like the second part as well….that love can give you courage…..the motivation to risk in the face of fear….nicely put….I think we all know that his comment is true…and many of us have experienced in some degree that kind of love from our family, friends and lover.  My point was not that we don’t experience that love or that we are not capable of that love to some degree….my point is that we don’t love ENOUGH….enough to love our enemies….enough to love when we are not loved in return…..yes, it takes courage…..but the truth is that neither, I, nor anyone else, loves ENOUGH, neither deeply nor strongly nor long enough….
      Third, maybe….just maybe….God isn’t really happy with religious people who are cruel and vile and hurtful either……maybe God is as angry and upset and sick to his stomach with our lack of love for one another.  I think that he has a special place in store for those who, on top of it, try to hide in his church, under his protection, while continuing to practice their evil….that kind of arrogance is sickening.  I agree.  Not that those people can’t be saved from themselves and the consequences of their evil….they can….if their arrogance becomes shame and humility and if that shame is nailed to the cross of Christ and transformed into love for God and others…..or do you know of another way to find the courage to forgive someone for being a pedofile or abusing your children or stealing your life’s savings……that kind of love isn’t possible without forgiveness and forgiveness isn’t possible for the evils of this world unless it has a strong foundation in justice as well as love…..throughout the history of the world, the cross has been the only force strong enough to act as the foundation for forgiveness…and therefore, love….
      Fourth,  maybe….just maybe….if God is real…if He is there…if He is listening (or rather reading) this conversation….then maybe He considers it also arrogant for us to think that we have enough love to deal with the problems of this world without His help…..if we do, then why don’t we….our arrogance condemns us….
      And finally, a thought on the whole human condition as we live out our lives in the presence of the God who is there….
      “There is no greater embarassment in heaven or on earth
      than the arrogance of those who ought to be ashamed of themselves.
      Sadly, that applies to all of us.”   The Desert Warrior
      We like to think that we can handle things without God, that we can love enough without God, that we can be good enough without God……if so, then why is this world and our individual lives so full of hatred, cruelty and pettiness (not to talk about the real, daily terrorism that we inflict on each other).  I have never found a single philosopher, thinker or religious leader that can explain how to get humans to love each other rather than hate each other.  That’s the truth.  The virtue of love is a rare bird….
      Of course, if God doesn’t exist….no problem….don’t worry about it….the little bits of love that we do manage to generate for our families, friends and loved ones…..is the best we have….in the face of the great evils that plague this world…..poverty, discrimination, religious bigots, pedofiles, crime, abuse, and the like…..frankly, that depresses me beyond words…..I no longer believe in the fantasy of my own goodness or the power of my own love to solve my own problems much less anyone else’s….
      Is my love enough?  No.  Only the love of God can save me and change me….
      “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son..”  John 3:16
      That’s still the good news as far as I am concerned…..
      The Desert Warrior
      Copyright © 2013 by vanKregten Publishers.  All rights reserved.
      http://www.desertwarrior.net    info@desertwarrior.net

Weekly Update No. 6 (Crowdfunding Campaign)

19 Monday Nov 2012

Posted by Bert Amsing in Adventure of Grace, Short Stories

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

christianity, spirituality, temptations

Lucifer at the Cross

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

These two stories come from the novel The Temptations of the Cross.  Admittedly, they are short and to the point but the idea was to give people a taste of what they could find in the book.

Lucifer at the Cross is a short snapshot of the moment when Lucifer realizes that all is not what it seems and that there is something more going on than meets the eye.  Of course, all of the build up to that point in the book is essential for really “feeling” that moment even though we know the story well.  Essentially, I wrote the story of Jesus from the point of view of the angels (and demons) in order to interpret the story from the point of view of the two temptations of the cross.  The temptation of Jesus to avoid the cross and the temptation of Satan to use the cross as his instrument of revenge.  It all culminates at this point when the divine sting is fulfilled and Lucifer is destroyed.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a snapshot of heaven at the time of the fall of mankind.  This is after the temptation of Gabriel by Lucifer and after the temptation and fall of mankind.  Now Gabriel (and the other angels) have some questions for God about what to do next.  In this section, a general concept of evil and how God will ultimately use evil´s own nature to defeat itself (poetic justice) is given.  Also, there is a picture of God dancing and working out the details of the Story of Redemption in the sands of time.  This is a combination of the main character of Fiddler on the Roof together with the passage in the OT that tells us that God dances over us in joy.

Hopefully these two quick pictures of the spiritual dimension of the History of Redemption will motivate many of you to check out my novel The Temptations of the Cross.  Enjoy.

The Desert Warrior

An Adventure of Grace – Our Crowdfunding Journey by Bert A. Amsing
Copyright © 2012 by vanKregten Publishers.  All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net        info@desertwarrior.net

The Miracle Journey

12 Monday Nov 2012

Posted by Bert Amsing in Conversations with an Elder, Reflections, Short Stories

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

arrogance, christianity, grace, Humility, Love, religion, shame, spirituality

There are three things too wonderful for me,

Four that I do not understand.

A child made in the image of it´s Father,

A cross in a garbage dump outside the Holy City,

A journey from arrogance to shame

and the grace that transforms it into love.

*****

The Desert Warrior

Reflections by Bert A. Amsing
Copyright © 2012 by vanKregten Publishers.  All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net       info@desertwarrior.net

A Genealogy of Grace

11 Sunday Nov 2012

Posted by Bert Amsing in Conversations with an Elder, Reflections, Short Stories

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

A geneaology of grace, Argentina, christianity, missionary, redeemer, religion

Steve Green is a talented musician and a Godly man who was a missionary son in Argentina where he grew up.  I wanted to share a little bit of his testimony with you.  He resented being a missionary kid and wanted to get back to the States as quickly as possible.  In his own words….

“I wanted to bury some things, run from some things, forget some things but I´ve discovered in the years that have followed that God is the author of all of our story.  It doesn´t mean that He is making us do things that are wrong choices along the way but He is present in all of our story.  He is writing a genealogy of grace, bringing us to a place where we have to have a redeemer to rescue us.  And through all the ups and downs and twists of life, He is doing something way beyond what we normally can see that will someday be for His glory and our good. So what I resented so much early on, I now treasure.  Those are the things that brought me to Jesus and continue to bring me to Jesus….”

Now, of course, he has a worldwide music and worship ministry and has sung and given testimony to the grace of God in his life in every Spanish speaking country in the world.  PTL.

The Desert Warrior

Quoted from Giving Thanks, A Homecoming Video by Bill and Gloria Gaither.  Copyright © 2010 Spring House Productions, Inc.™    All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net      info@desertwarrior.net

The Leadership Question

10 Saturday Nov 2012

Posted by Bert Amsing in Conversations with an Elder, Reflections, Short Stories

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

christianity, church discipline, leadership, maturity in Christ, religion, spiritual warfare, spirituality

Beyond the general maturity in Christ expected from all leaders, a few more questions might reveal the beliefs and values they hold on to when the going gets rough.  Many other questions could be added, but these get to the essence of whether or not this potential leader is ready for spiritual warfare and has some idea of what the strategic and tactical plan of God is in the context of the church.

1.  Is it possible for a leader of the church, one who truly loves God and has good intentions, to make fundamental and dangerous mistakes in morality, life and spiritual management of the church and be blind to it?      yes/no

2.  Which things are essential for every Christian (and even more so for a leader) to protect them from the ignorance, blindness and willfulness of the flesh?

  • the conviction and ministry of the Holy Spirit within,
  • the knowledge and ongoing application of the Word of God,
  • the fellowship (and accountability) of a group of mature and wise believers,
  • all of the above.

3.  Do you believe that there is a spiritual battle going on for the hearts and minds of every believer (including your own) and for the church as a whole with a particular focus on the leadership?     yes/no

4.  Do you believe that a leader of the church, including the Pastor, has the right and responsibility on their own to prohibit the use of a believer´s gifts in ministry within the church based on a general lack of maturity in the believer as judged by that same leader?      yes/no

5.  Do you believe that a leader of the church, including the Pastor, has the right and responsibility on their own to prohibit the presence of a believer (or non-believer) in the church for any reason or any sin whatsoever (other than temporarily because of an immediate physical threat of danger to themselves or others)?    yes/no

6.  When do you think it is appropriate to spiritually and publicly confront a leader, if ever?  How should a leader act when he is confronted in that way?  When is a rebuke spiritual and when is it an expression of the flesh?  Is our reaction to sin and flesh in others as deadly as the sin itself that we are offended by?

7.  What (and who) are you willing to fight for?  You can either have the status quo or the abundant life, but you can´t have both (until you arrive in Heaven).  What do you believe is the bottom line for the church?  When will you stand up and be counted, at least in an ultimate, defensive manner (since a proactive approach is what is really needed)?

Finally, is the job of the leaders to defend the church or to defend the gospel?  And no, those are not the same thing.  They are supposed to be, but they´re not.  Sadly.  If we defend the gospel, we defend the church.  If we defend the church, (most often from unsavory characters such as prophets or the least, the last, the lost and the losers) we may, in fact, be hindering the gospel.

Send me a comment with the answers you would give.  Privacy assured unless permission is given.  Pray.  Think.  Share.

The Desert Warrior

Reflections by Bert A. Amsing
Copyright © 2012 by vanKregten Publishers. All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net     info@desertwarrior.net

Arrogance

05 Monday Nov 2012

Posted by Bert Amsing in Conversations with an Elder, Reflections, Short Stories

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Tags

arrogance, christianity, Humility, religion, shame, spirituality

There is no greater embarrassment

in heaven or on earth

than the arrogance of those

who ought to be ashamed of themselves.

Sadly, this applies to all of us.

*****

The Desert Warrior

Reflections by Bert A. Amsing
Copyright © 2012 by vanKregten Publishers.  All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net      info@desertwarrior.net

Weekly Update No. 2 (Crowdfunding Campaign)

23 Tuesday Oct 2012

Posted by Bert Amsing in Adventure of Grace, Short Stories

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Tags

christianity, Evangelism, purgatory, religion, spirituality

Charles Benton.  Neighbor.

I remember when the inspiration for this short story came to me.  Like usual, I was talking to Vero about something that Paul said in the book of Romans.  He said that he was willing to go to hell for the sake of the Jews.  Of course, God would never ask him to do that since Jesus already did it and he is the only stumbling block that will be allowed.  Still, Paul says in another place, we participate in the sufferings of Christ, even if it has no redemptive value for mankind.  So why suffer?  In what ways do we suffer with Christ?  He suffered the sins of mankind, became weak in order to give us strength.  He was willing to suffer pain, mockery, and death for the sake of saving us.  Am I willing to do the same?

That´s when I started thinking about a purgatory type experience in which you would have an opportunity to talk with Jesus about your neighbor with your neighbor present.  From there…..

The interesting thing about this story is that, at the time, I didn´t really have any neighbors like that.  But I did soon after.  We moved into a duplex near the Christian school a few months later and the neighbor there was rude, obnoxios, invasive and difficult.  He thought that he had rights to enter our house and make decisions regarding how we took care of the outside of the building because he was the original builder.  Apparently, he had drafted up a special agreement when he sold the place to the current owner.  We were the renters.  She was a shy, timid sort, scared of everything and quite intimidated by him.  But she had some backbone and took him to court and won.  But that didn´t change the fact that he made life hell for us.  His wife and two girls would have made great friends for my wife and two girls but there was no way.  He was an ex-policeman, used to power and absolutely convinced that he was right about everything.  There was a yelling match, cutting flowers that weren´t his, swearing and overall bad blood.

Obviously, the Lord convicted me to treat him as I would treat Charles Benton in my story…..but after the vision.  I need to be willing to suffer his difficult nature in order to be a witness to him.  In the flesh, there was no way.  I needed to pray.  I needed the divine help of Almighty God.

I wish that I could say that there was some sort of breakthrough, that he became a Christian or that, at least, we became friends.  No way.  Not even close.  Not in this story or, at least, not yet.  That´s not the point, anyway.  We don´t do these things because of the guarantee of results but rather because God asks us to do it.  It pleases Him.  It´s a question of obedience.

I will let you know how it goes, but the miracle is already happening.  God has me on the edge of faith, the very place where I need to pray and depend on his help and move forward in obedient faith.  That is the message of Charles Benton.  Neighbor.

The Desert Warrior

 

An Adventure of Grace – Our Crowdfunding Journey by Bert A. Amsing
Copyright © 2012 vanKregten Publishers.  All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net        info@desertwarrior.net

Better to have loved and lost…

20 Saturday Oct 2012

Posted by Bert Amsing in Reflections

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Tags

christianity, evil and suffering, glory, God, Love, religion, spirituality, superlapsarianism

It is better to have loved and lost then never to have loved at all.

God would agree.

Hence, the world, you and me.

Hence, continuing evil and rebellion without immediate judgment.

Hence, grace (undeserved favor).

Hence, the cross (God sized love).

Hence, glory revealed in us.

Hence, superlapsarianism and, even, an answer to evil and suffering.

(If that last one doesn´t throw you, it should…..lol…)

Our God is a romantic sort

but with the tough love of a parent

who understands reality,

human nature

and the power of confession, repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation

as rooted in the cross.

Love the Lord, your God,

with ALL your heart,

ALL your soul,

ALL your mind

and ALL your strength.

How could it be otherwise?

This, too, is the glory of God that He requires, and deserves, our ALL.

Thank God

Literally.

*****

The Desert Warrior

Reflections by Bert A. Amsing
Copyright © 2012 by vanKregten Publishers.  All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net          info@desertwarrior.net

Your Approach to Life

20 Saturday Oct 2012

Posted by Bert Amsing in Reflections

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

christianity, Deception, Life, religion, revelation

There are two approaches to life.

1.  Life is an enigma wrapped in a paradox.

2.  Life is a possibility wrapped in a deception.

Both views can´t be right.  One is based on revelation, the other on observation.  One leads to independence and the other leads to relationship.  One is rooted in pride and arrogance, the other is rooted in self-awareness and humility.  One leads to hell and the other leads to everlasting life.  What is your approach to life?

The Desert Warrior

Reflections by Bert A. Amsing
Copyright © 2012 by vanKregten Publishers.  All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net       info@desertwarrior.net

Launch Countdown – One

07 Sunday Oct 2012

Posted by Bert Amsing in Adventure of Grace, Short Stories

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Tags

christianity, crowdfunding, faith projects, faithlauncher, fervent prayer, religion, spirituality

Hello Everybody,

Only ONE day left to go.  We are so excited about our FaithLauncher.com Crowdfunding Campaign.  They have been helpful and generous with their advice and no matter what happens, we have been blessed to be part of this ministry.

YOU SHOULD USE FAITHLAUNCHER FOR YOUR PROJECTS…..

Seriously, you should check it out and use it for your faith projects as well.  It can be something as simple as raising money for a short term missions trip to raising money for a specific need such as medical treatment, a charity drive or sponsoring a missionary overseas.  Be creative.  Use your imagination.  FaithLauncher.com is for you!!!

I NEED YOUR HELP THIS WEEK….

The main thing that I need from my family and friends is to go to the campaign website at FaithLauncher.com sometime after 4pm on Monday, Oct. 8, 2012 and make a donation, write a comment or share a prayer on the website.

Your early support in the first week is vital to break the ice and start to create momentum.  

Your prayers during the entire campaign and beyond are our only source of power. God answers fervent prayer because our persistent, fervent prayer tells him that this is important to us and that we believe it is good and will honor Him and reveal the glory of His grace in our lives.  Read. Pray. Share.

The Desert Warrior

The Adventure of Grace – Our Crowdfunding Journey by Bert A. Amsing
Copyright © 2012 by vanKregten Publishers.  All rights reserved.
http://www.desertwarrior.net        info@desertwarrior.net

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The Desert Warrior

Artwork by Astray-Engel.

All rights reserved by Artist. Used with permission. Click artwork for details of the Creative Commons License.

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© 2012 vanKregten Publishers and Desert Warrior Ministries. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to vanKregten Publishers, Desert Warrior Ministries and/or Bert A. Amsing with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Specific reprint permission will be granted upon request via email for inclusion in digital and print media.

Scripture Copyright

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2012 by vanKregten Publishers. All rights reserved. Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

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