Monthly Archives: March 2017

Fragile Earth 2017-16

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                                          Fragile Earth   2017-16

We, or some of us, take the planet we call Earth for granted at times. It has been around for such a long time we believe it will stay the same forever.  Or we hope.

We expect the Earth to continue to act like it does, going around the Sun, revolving each 24 hour day, having seasons occur like they do, etc.

IF we continue to pollute like we do overall, IF we stay the course on using up Earth’s resources that could be changed, IF we treat the Earth like an untapped vessel of goodness and wealth, we will find out eventually that we made a mistake.

Another thing, we live on a moving vessel that travels, again, around the Sun. That travel makes our seasons, makes our days and nights be a reality.

I ask, do YOU think this is a quirk of nature, that just happens or is there another reason we exist as occupants of a moving entity? I read a book, “More Than a Carpenter” by Sean McDowell that was telling his life story and trying to convey the fact that there was a man named Jesus, who was the Son of God and also a God that exists. I suggest anyone that has doubts, read this book.

In it, the scientific question comes up about various things that are doubted by many, namely Atheists. I will not spoil the results of his answers for you; again read the book.

One thing or question asked about our domicile name Earth, is thus. IF gravity were to deviate in a very small way, Earth would not be habitable. It had to be fine-tuned to one part in 1040, and that amounts to 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. The most economical and reliable explanation for WHY the universe is so precisely fined-tuned is because a Creator—- GOD—- made it that way.

There are other questions like this, but read the book and be enlightened. I dare you!!! Well, not really, but it was an interesting read and was inspiring to me. We would not exist if many things were to happen; both natural and manmade.

Our existence, again, is fragile, both individually and worldwide in scope. Climate change, per the scientists is a real concern, a real problem for us inhabitants.  Saying it is not so, we can do, but we also will suffer the consequences if we are not correct.

Den Betts

Prayng and Meditating 2017-15

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Praying and Meditating   2017-15

A prayer is not really a meditative action, but would guess it could be related.

I meditate, which is when I contemplate or reflect on something, where I focus my thoughts or ponder about something. I, at times, come up with a plan or create a project to do in the future based on my meditative experience. I do not have a purpose in my thinking, but sometimes do have an innovative idea that I can react too or put into reality. 

I can combine the meditative time with prayers though and that is based on the contemplation that happened during this time. This is a quiet time for me—thinking to myself what is going through the convolutes of my brain.  Sort of neat….

Some could say that the meditation could have a spiritual practice to it that gives me purpose in life based on a religious thought or so. Perhaps!  The Buddhist meditation tradition does have some of that, but I don’t look at this as an ongoing way of understanding at the time.

Prayer is different.  This is a relationship with my God. It is not my silent thinking, but my vocal or outgoing way of talking with a Deity. Could a prayer be a devotional contemplation? I would think so, because of the two methods interacting at the same time. If I am meditating or reflecting about a religious thought and it goes over the fence and I am now discussing this with God, I have joined the two practices, in the same time frame.

Much has been published about how to meditate and how to pray.  It is, to me, easy to combine the two at the same time and do both.  To void the mind of extraneous thoughts while meditating and then trying to pray, can be an effort so it has a fine line on the doing of both at the same time.

So, I think they are related as I said, but still separate in their own way. If anyone does either that is great, for I get satisfaction when I meditate and extreme satisfaction when I pray so the best of two worlds is something to strive for in life.

Peace be with you,

Den Betts

Christ Search 2017-13

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                                                                        Christ Search 2017-13

 

There are many ways to find Jesus Christ, or getting close to Jesus in life.  It is a trip or an experience of a lifetime. It is an ongoing journey that does not stop, although it probably does have a beginning, but not an end.

It could be like an adventure of life that we set out on, where we do not know the outcome, or the destination, but hope for the best.  A walk in the woods, a tour of a multi-room house, a visit to a strange city, or numerous other examples of something unknown at the time.

Where are we in our adventure of life with Jesus?   Well, it can take many twists and turns, many rooms to explore and stones to touch and find out where we are in our quest to finding Jesus Christ. Some, if not all of us, are on different paths in our quest. This is normal!

The old saying, take two steps forward and sometimes one step behind comes to mind. I don’t think anyone gets to a point where we go towards a goal and stay there, because there is usually another challenge to overcome or a setback that occurs.

Let me say this about our journey, which I acknowledge that I have a source for my thoughts. I believe we are at various stages for finding Jesus. 

Some, do not believe or are unaware that Jesus was real and a factor in our lives. I will say those that have this unfortunate place in life have not yet experienced an awakening and can look forward to the first door to pass through in this journey.  I will call this as being Unaware of Jesus. They will be surprised on what they can look forward to when they do become aware.

The second group would be after awareness occurs, comes the Exploring Christ segment of life.  This is where they DO have a basic belief of Jesus Christ, but are unsure of Christ and His role He has in their lives. I can remember being a member of this group and it was a rudimentary and uncomplicated life that I led at the time.  There was NO challenge in life regarding Jesus, for me at the time, but I did exist with a somewhat belief that there was a Son of God, just had no definite ideas about it at the time.

I finally had a beginning of an understanding that I was Growing in Christ and that involved a larger feeling of belief that the guy Jesus was something to consider in my life. I had the beginnings of a personal relationship with Jesus and a commitment to trust Him as a Savior and an inkling of learning what it means to be in somewhat of a relationship with Him.  I started to be aware of my everyday actions and what it meant to me and those around me. I realized that when I sinned, there was a God and His son that knew what I did at the time. I also started to understand what the love of God meant and that Jesus Christ died for my sins.

I want to believe that many people are at this junction in life and again, this is normal.

Then life evolved to where I became Close to Christ. Wow!!  This is where I started to depend on Christ daily in my life and to see Him as the one that is assists me in everyday experiences.  I began to turn to Him for guidance for issues that I was facing, asking Him for help, letting Him know my concerns, my fears, my joys, my daily thoughts of who I was and why I exist. This was in a quiet way, private to myself.

Guess what!  This is where I started to realize that my two steps forward in life, sometimes has a step backward in life.  I do NOT stay in the same room of life all the time.  There is always a door going somewhere, and at times, the door leads to a place I do NOT want to be in.  That is the way it is, and I have begun to live with this, as a life experience, that needs to be lived. (make sense?).

Several years ago, I had an experience that I call “The Happening”. This is where I met Jesus Christ, heard the Holy Spirit and saw the Glory of God.  I have written and told some about this and will not dwell on it now.  But, it did change me.  The neat thing is, we can ALL have an experience like what I had then; really!!!!!!

I, in my lifetime, went from being what I was called “a heathen” to a believer of God and Jesus Christ. Ok, that happened to me, so be it.  But, we can all have a telling experience with finding Jesus, and mine occurred to me and I own it. Let me continue.

The last room, or turn in life, or whatever it can be called, is where I became Christ Centered. To be honest, I feel that I go through this door and become this way at times, but am not sure I stay there very long, I am sorry to say. BUT, I feel that this has happened to me and that is good.  Here, I identify that my relationship with Jesus Christ is the MOST important relationship I have in my life. I want to fully surrender myself to Jesus and His agenda by subordinating everything to His will and desires.  It WOULD be great if I lived my life there always, but that is not the case, unfortunately.

OH, one more thing!!!  I believe that each move forward to become Christ Centered has a cost!! Crap, you say?  Well, nothing was promised to be easy and perhaps we just don’t want to pay the price of growing closer to Christ or even centered with Him. Maybe the commitment is too much, the extra effort, or any more involvement is not what we want to do. That may be the case, but if you do, I would like to hear from you and give you my advice on how to accomplish your goal . Perhaps we want to just stay in the same plateau where we are with Him and not reach outward. Guess what, He still loves you regardless! He will always love you, regardless. That is the nature of God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

OK, so I have told you where I feel my journey of life, finding Jesus Christ, has been.  Do NOT compare your life with mine. We are ALL on our individual trip of life. Some include Jesus and some do not. Some are so-so with having Jesus Christ in their lives and that is up to them. I only really care of how MY life is like with Him and hope your life also does include Jesus as part of your life in some way. Where you are in which room or turn, is up to you and my prayers are with you.., regardless.

May the peace of our Lord, Jesus Christ be with you,

Den Betts   —   bettsden@gmail.com

Mystical Jesus and Followers 2017-12

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                                               Mystical Followers 2017-12               

Was Jesus a mystic!!     He, as the son of God, who prayed to Him; asked Him questions, listened and got answers.

What is a mystic? A person who seeks by contemplation and self-surrender to obtain unity with or absorption into the Deity or the absolute, or who believes in the spiritual apprehension of truths that are beyond the intellect.

Jesus in his three years as described in the Gospels, was a teacher. What He learned as a child, a teenager and young man in His travels, He taught to those He knew and loved; His disciples.

He taught them to pray, to talk and how to listen to God, and after He died and was resurrected, He came back to instruct them to continue.

The disciples learned from Jesus and they listened to what He had to say. The letters to the churches, the instructions, all show that that the Apostles became mystics also. In their travels their teachings to those they spread the word of the Lord, furthered the belief in this man Jesus, beyond imagination. 

I can ask the question, but I feel I KNOW the answer – YES He was a mystic for he had experiences with God and more than anything, he KNEW of His being.

   Den Betts

To Hear 2017-11

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After many continuous moments of praying to God, this poem came up as to my actual hearing from God, and I realize that speaking to God is different than hearing Him. Some could say that in hearing this happens in many ways and I will admit that as fact. I fully believe that we can hear from God, but it takes some perseverance to a degree with continual praying and acceptance of wanting to hear perhaps. And, even then, He could be answering, but we fail to listen, ignore, or disregard Him in the process.

 

To Hear  2017-11

I could hear the sound of someone speaking,

From where, I was not sure.

It came from around, above, and beside me,

And I realized, also within me.

I struggled to understand the words

But could not claim I knew.

 

The whispers resonated over and over,

Trying to get to me, to let me know,

Slow, slow down I thought, let them be,

Allow the expressions to climb to the surface,

To reach the internal brain, or so I prayed.

The manifestation of being had begun,

As I sat and contemplated MY very being.

 

I, WE, take life so for granted, as we live,

Love, like and exist.

We talk at times, but do not listen for

An answer; just a one-way conversation.

Taking time, with effort, we can hear,

And in the hearing, we will know.

The Lord God of the Universe, is and always

Will be, alive, active, aware, and present

Within us, around us, always!!!!!!!

 

Den Betts

The Message  2017-10

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            It is far to easy for  people to push religion onto others. Many do and the message is lost to those that can or need the inspiration that the Gospel can give.  Some look at others and do judge and feel they MUST proclaim something to those people, whereas giving information like the Gospels and the story of Jesus is much better done in a loving and caring manner.   

 

                                                            The Message  2017-10

What is objectionable, is not the sharing of the Gospel, but instead the mode or spirit in which it is shared. Do NOT condemn the sinner or judge the unbeliever- Jesus did not do that.

Proclaim the message in a loving manner, to people who need both kindness and truth. It is the goodness of God that leads people to repentance, and it is the truth that sets them free.        

Den Betts

Self 2017-09

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                                                                                Self  2017-09

To experience a life of living for Christ, involves letting go of being self-centering and our own self-will. Pray to be forgiven for being centered on our own spectacles of life, with our made up calamities. This is NOT easy to do for many today, as life gets in the way, at times. It is easy to criticize, but much harder to accept. BUT, if we can accept, we are closer to understanding our Self. With the then understanding, we can reach out and beyond where we are when we started our journey of awareness.  The Self is not going anywhere and we CAN change to become one with God, the living Christ that is with us always………………

Den Betts    

2010 “The Happening” Revisited 2017-08

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 2010 “The Happening” Revisited    2017-08

 

7 Years ago on March 3, 2010— The day I was touched by Jesus Christ, found/saw the Glory of the Father and eventually heard the Holy Spirit.  This was the third week of Lent that year.

Someone I know said I was transformed then and became a child of God and disciple of Jesus Christ. Wow, what a moment and what a time period then and even now. The facts of “The Happening” are described in blog # 2015-69 and are in the archives of March of 2015 at my blog site, TheBettsDen.com

Before this date, I was a so- so Christian, going through the motions of being a believer of God and of Jesus Christ.  I was a drifter type religious person, not really committed or even believing wholeheartedly in a Divine being or a man-God who died so that I may have a chance of eternal life.

As I was in sort of a spiritual darkness previously, and as I began to see the light and life of Jesus, I was changed. I am NOT the man I was before then, and have since, become a student or disciple of Jesus in the process.

I struggled for understanding of what occurred. I tried to accept counseling of WHY and perhaps WHAT to do, or become and it was interesting for me.  But, in reality, time is a way of fleshing out the why’s and what’s of life and I believe I now know some of the answers.

My tenure as the lay leader President of the church I belong to, helped me to a degree. It gave me an insight as to the workings of the church and that was important to me at that time.  I learned and tried to lead as best as I could and in the process also found out some things; private things about myself.

Now I am basically on my own, learning more about the Scriptures, about Jesus and accepting the fact that it is about ME and my relationship with the Triune God. It is not about my possibly being an evangelist or anything like that. It is about my learning more about myself and my God and Savior Jesus Christ and I am finding it is a long process.

I had a Reaffirmation of Baptism a few years ago. That simple action meant much to me. That anniversary is coming up too and I look at that date as a milestone also. It was on the day before Easter which is called Paschal Vigil or Vigil Easter. My friend Paul, was my sponsor then and he continues to give me inspiration in my life.

As I have said before, I KNOW there is a God!    He is alive, He is active, He is aware by having His presence with us always. Praise be to God…………………………………………………………………………

Den Betts

Baptism of Jesus Experienced 2017-07

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Baptism of Jesus Experienced  2017-07

I attended a retreat last night that was sponsored by the Jesuit House of Parma, OH. This retreat will be an ongoing weekly thing during Lent at Celebration Church where I attend The overall title of the retreat is Living Prayer: My Life In God.

The theme last night was about “Gospel Contemplation”. This is where a Scripture passage is used to seek an openness to the Holy Spirit for guidance in life. A passage from the Bible was read, relating to the baptism of Jesus. We were asked to allow our imaginations to read into the passage and see what transpired.

This passage was where John baptized Jesus and is described in Mark 1 Verse 9-11.  In this it reads: “At the time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descended on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven. “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

We were then allowed time to think about this passage and project ourselves into contemplating this passage from the Gospel. The following is what I experienced:

“I was aware of myself. I was in the water in the Jordon River. Many people were being baptized by John. The people were speaking, but I could not understand them; I presume it was Aramaic, which I could not follow.

The water was warm, it was flowing around me and came up to my stomach. I was “the watcher”, in case people were swept downstream from where John was standing in waist high water.

One person came into the water and John led him to the spot he was using to immerse people for baptism.  This person was Jesus, as it fit the scenario, in my mind.

John took him by the hand, and then wrapped his arm around Jesus holding his back. He was talking to Him and then lowered Jesus backward into the water. John held him under the water for a short period and then lifted him upward with his arm.

Jesus was radiant and smiling as he came up to the surface.  Then, an extremely bright light filled the sky. The clouds were blown away and the sky was a vibrant blue, with the sun shining, bathing all that the rays hit around us.  A quivering halo effect enveloped both men as Jesus was highlighted by the intense rays shining down. A voice boomed from above and shook the earth and made the water of the Jordon dance.

“You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” The people on shore were scared. They backed away from the water looking upward. John stood with open mouth as he held onto Jesus. He looked awe inspired with open eyes, first looking at Jesus then upwards, then back to Jesus.

At that moment Jesus looked at me. I stood in the water, sort of dazed.  He stared at me, cocked his head to the side then nodded up and down.  I looked at Him and said, “I know who you are and what you are.” He chuckled a bit and said “Peace be with you for I know who you are too.”

About that time a gong rang and the time for contemplation was over.  I sat and thought about what I experienced and recalled when I had another time with Jesus, which I will relate later this month.

Peace,

Den Betts