Category Archives: Religious

Most anything dealing with the religious nature of life. This could be interesting, or not, or enlighting, or perhaps, inbetween

Discipleship 101 2018-06

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Discipleship 101 –   2018-06

Love came to us, looking like a Cross. For us, not to take up the Cross of Jesus is giving up our duty as a disciple, in God’s mind. There is NO other choice; we can call ourselves a Christian, but we will lack the moniker of being described as a disciple.

We, who we are, can begin with the Cross we carry, and I do NOT mean you have to wear one. This moment, when we placed our faith in God and Jesus, for our salvation, started a new beginning within us. The Apostle Paul, put it exactly, when he wrote in Galatians 2:20,” I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Jesus told the eleven disciples, “All authority in Heaven and Earth, has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you, and surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the ages.”

I believe we are all tasked with a couple of things.  First, we should honor God Himself, knowing that the Cross and what it represents, that we MUST surrender ourselves to Jesus Christ, and in doing so, make it known that we ARE Christians, believing in Him.

More importantly, we as Christians, have a duty to go beyond being JUST a Christian, and preform as a disciple of Christ.  In doing so, we are obligated in making other disciples around us in the process. I would think this is called discipleship.

This involves a commitment on our part to do something that might be out of our norm, and makes us uncomfortable, also. We have to let people know we are Christian, and that we are disciples of Jesus Christ and not just in our church, but outside the envelop of comfortable living and service.

I now have a habit of saying to people at times, “Peace be with you” or God’s Peace, or “May the love of God be with you.” Those words may perk up their minds that I am a follower of God. It may also, get a good reaction from them or peak their interest further. Then again, it may not!

Let them know you are with Christ in your life and invite them to talk about their beliefs of God and Jesus. In doing so, it may open an avenue of discussion. If you are comfortable, evolve and give any knowledge you have about Jesus and His teachings. The best instruction book regarding this are the Scripture passages taken from the Bible and any version will do.

I like the versus from Mathew and Mark where Jesus said, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” who were mostly fishermen of the area, who did become his disciples. We can ALL become disciples of Christ and spread the Word and create more disciples in the world.

If we do, we will then turn ourselves from followers, to active Christians and become true disciples of Jesus Christ. It is easy to call ourselves something, but harder to live the life of what we call ourselves. Don’t be afraid of stating who and what you are today.  Let any that doubt, know you are indeed, slaves to God and you have surrendered yourself to Jesus as his disciple.

Peace be with you,

Den Betts                                            bettsden@gmail.com

Sins and Forgiveness 2018-03

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                                               Sin and Forgiveness 2018-03

I am a sinner!!!!  We ALL are sinners whether we admit it or not. When I know I have sinned, I am ashamed that I have done something that goes against the will of God, but I will comment on this another time.

The basic, main thing is, that the one God of the universe DOES forgive us when we sin. That, in itself, is a blessed thing to know and realize.  God is a loving god and does love ALL His children, even when we sin repeatedly. Wow, that is somewhat hard to fathom, know or comprehend.

I then ask, how can God do this and why? I like to believe that God is a god with an unconditional love for His children. But, again, I ask, how and why does He do this?

I read that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), but then ask, how does this relate to God loving us and forgiving us?  I think the key is the continuation of this verse “but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.”

When the Godhead (the Father, Son and Holy spirit) decided to take His self as human flesh and become the God-man, it reinforced John’s statement in John 1:14 when he said, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The Word, being Jesus Christ. Because He became and was infinite God, he had infinite ability to take on Himself, the sins of the world.

What a gift. Jesus therefore died, NOT just for us, you and I, but also for God the Father Himself.

Again, Jesus died, not just for us, but also as a propitiation or satisfaction of a requirement that was intrinsic in the basic nature of God.  We can stand clean and free of contamination in God’s presence – sin free!!!!

I said, God loves and forgives us, but He is a righteous and just God. Since He DOES love us, He was willing to come down from his throne in the form of man, as Jesus Christ, and pay the price for us, which was His death on the cross.  Forgiveness HAS a price and He paid the price for this forgiveness Himself, through the cross of Jesus.

To be forgiven also demands responsibility. The love of God for each of us has an obligation of our loving His son, who gave His life, so our sins are forgiven. This is such a small (let me say) price to pay or thing to do, but as a Christian, I feel I not only want to do, but MUST do.

You can do what you want to do, that is your decision. I do not know the ramifications of your not doing what God decrees or desires, but we will find out eventually. I feel that only God can know or decide as to what happens if we do not believe in God or Jesus Christ, because I surely do not know and doubt if any human living on Earth really knows.

I wish you well and invite ALL, to become closer to God and to find Jesus Christ as your savior in life’s journey. Thanks be to God!!!

Peace,

Den Betts                                            bettsden@gmail.com

I wish to thank Josh McDowell & his book “More Than a Carpenter” for insights for this blog. I also recommend this book and “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis – Both available at Amazon

What n When to BLOG in 2018-01

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What n When to BLOG  in 2018-01

I am a self-avowed Christian as many know. But if you did not realize this is a fact, I state it now!!

Sometimes when I write, I might think I am writing to only Christians, and, in reality, I know I am not doing so. I do know that I am getting out to people of many faiths, no faiths, as well as various ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

I would not try to offend anyone, but do know that if someone objects with what I write, they have the option of not reading what I write. The one rule I have is I will NOT get into a debate with anyone in a blog about religion or faith, although I would welcome any comments about what I write.

If I were to be asked how do I identify myself, my reply would be, “I am a disciple (student) of Jesus Christ” and might add, “and not a good one at that.” I am learning though, but it is a slow process.

I am not out to convert anyone from their faith or religious denomination, chastise someone for how they believe, pray or do not do, or if they attend worship at a place of worship or other agenda regarding God.

If someone does not believe in God, so be it. That is their prerogative. If any one is given any insight, make them think, or challenges anyone, because of what I write, I think that will be great, period….

I look forward to 2018 with the ability to write, explain, discuss, disclaim and again challenge, and most of all welcome others to experience what I have been doing, loving the journey of becoming closer to the one God of the Universe.

Peace,

Den Betts                                            bettsden@gmail.com

Bad and Good inn Life 2017-63

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Bad and Good in Life 2017-63

Bad things happen in life to us, or to others, that are beyond the normal.  Also, good things happen to us that are beyond belief at times, and are truly great when they do occur.

Is it incorrect to BLAME God when the bad things occur—- such as death from an auto accident, hurricane or tornado for instance? Or just something in life that takes one away from us.

Then, is it the correct thing to do by giving God all the CREDIT when the good things happens, such as the birth of a baby, a lifesaving result in the hospital, or any nice, good thing that we experience?

We, most of us, DO want to blame God or on the other side, give Him credit!  Human nature, maybe. Or, at least some are tempted to do so.

BUT, is God thinking otherwise, saying, “I did NOT do that bad thing and I am not the one that made the good thing to be in our mind and life.”

I believe that God is blamed more than given credit for at times, depending on the circumstances in life for each of us.

We as God’s children, have a responsibility for what happens to us in our lives, for what happens most of the time; bad and good.

Hurricanes are normal!  If there are many deaths that are the result, maybe the blame is, or could be, put on the people that built the houses, where they did and lived in the path of the destruction. Same as for those living in tornado alley, where they are a common occurrence.

The cute baby that is born is part of God’s plan of procreation and is normal!  I think God enjoys another child being born and is there when it is going on, at the delivery.

When I state God is alive, I mean it!   When I say He is active, I also mean it! When I aver that God is aware, this is a fact!  Because, He is ALWAYS present, regardless.  Regardless of the bad and the good things that are part of our existence here on earth.

God is with the people that die during the hurricane, with the mother when the little baby arrives!

AND, most of all is Present with all of us-  ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS!!!!!!!

Peace,

Den Betts                            bettsden@gmail.com

Birthday Times 2017-62

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Birthday Times   2017-62

Birthday’s come but once a year, then they are over to await next year where once, again, they are celebrated. Quite a bit might have happened in the past year and much to anticipate in the next.

Some of the past memories we may want to forget, yet the future experiences, we look forward to with anticipation. I would imagine the far majority of the days in between the birthdays are or could be just Ho Hum, with nothing to remember or write about.

We just celebrated Christmas. We got revved up about the 25th of December with the anticipation of its coming, we experienced the actual day

THEN —-   BOOM!!!!! It was over!!!!!

Is it, the day after, on the 26th  ,a letdown, basically???? I used to feel it was somewhat of a letdown with the absence of Christmas music, the shopping for things, the get togethers of family, etc. I even had or still do, in the attic, a mirror with Scrooge on it and the words Bah Humbug…

I stopped, or quit, feeling this way, when I started to realize the significance of the event we were celebrating. It was when I realized that Christmas was NOT about our gifts to each other, but instead, it was about what the birth of Jesus was, as a gift, to all of us.

The eventual gift of salvation, because of the birth of Jesus Christ, but in the final reality of the death and resurrection, that gives all of us the eternal gift of salvation and continued life.

WOW, what a gift!!!!!!!!!

What a birthday to celebrate!!!

What a promise of eternal life beyond birthdays of once a year!!!!

Peace,
Den Betts                                            bettsden@gmail.com

I write this on the day of MY birthday anniversary, Dec 29th.

Love n Hate 2017-61

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                                                            Love n Hate  2017-61

Love is just a word!

BUT, it is a word with meaning, with feeling, and is, of course, involving emotion. Love could be expressed as the opposite of hate, but is love related to this differing word.

If one has a hate feeling, is that an absence of love and does the love feeling  show the absence of hate?

Can there be a love-hate relationship that embodies both feelings? Or is it like spring water and mineral oil that do not mix, but instead, separate?

Can I love God and hate the devil, yet in this love of God, do I still allow the devil to intrude and tempt? Or most of all succeed????

If so, WHY?

A paradox of thought, loving one and allowing the other at the same time to interfere!

Why can’t I love God, SO MUCH, that I will surrender or submit myself totally without the pressure of the devil to be included?

Of course, I know the answer, but do I NOT want to state it or even admit it as so???????

BUT, the great thing is, God still loves me, forgives me and with that I know I am saved. Or hope so!!!!!!

 Peace,
Den Betts                                            bettsden@gmail.com

I do NOT believe in God anymore 2017-60

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I do NOT believe in God anymore   2017-60

NO!  Do NOT!  To believe in God is to feel a kindred spirit, an acknowledgement that your belief is true, and you do not doubt. SO, do I believe or not believe; that is the question? If I believe, then I MIGHT have, at one time, NOT believed; but now do so.

What would make me believe, where I did not before? Would it take someone to convince me to continue?  Would I have read something (like the Bible?) to change my mind?

Perhaps, an event occurred that was so overwhelming, and I HAD no other choice but to believe? Did I hear something, and also was there some strange thing to make me go beyond just believing?

PERHAPS!!!!

I do NOT (JUST) believe in the one God of the Universe, maker of heaven and Earth!        

I do NOT (JUST) believe in the God child Jesus Christ, THE savior of all mankind!

I do NOT (JUST) believe in the Holy Spirit, whose presence is around and within me!

NO, it is not (JUST) a belief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It Is a FACT. I know there is a God.  He is real.   He is alive.   He is active. He is present with me    ALWAYS!!!!!!!!!!

God loves me, He loves you, He loves all his children even those that doubt his existence. The story of the Son of God, named Jesus Christ is a fact, true, and accurate, and his “being”, is one of hope of our salvation.

 

OH, BTW, in the title of this post between the words “NOT “and “believe”, I  might have forgotten to insert the word JUST and threw in the word “anymore” for the heck of it!!!

 

Peace,

 

Den Betts                                            bettsden@gmail.com

Complacency 2017-59

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                                                    Complacency 2017-59

The feeling of being smug or having an uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one’s achievements when accompanied by unawareness of deficiencies. There is goodness and badness in almost everything in life and being complacent is one of those. The word, complacent doesn’t tell all though.

We can be complacent in life and NOT be in a negative mode. We are so, as an example, when we feel complacent where the government does something that will affect us; or when a child accepts the parent’s decision on something that does affect them.

We as humans, become complacent by NOT doing something about an issue and just accept what is thrown our way. A moment of complacency is suddenly stopped when the cold reality of life jumps into our lives. If we are mostly successful in life, we could become complacent and then find that a failure in an action is a wakeup call.

Looking back at my life, I was becoming complacent in the subject of my belief in God. I was saying the Lord’s Prayer by rote, without thinking of the words, just mumbling them when prodded by whomever was in charge.  I would celebrate Christmas with no thought of what it really was all about for me.  I thought I was “doing good” by going to church; period. I did not realize that I was just going through the motions of being a Christian, and as they say, just talking the talk, but not walking the walk. I wonder who said that!?

I guess what I said in my blog, “Rite of Passage”, where I stated “The change from one aspect of life to another, can take a meaning in so many ways of life. For me, it is one, which I have been blessed or made more whole, but most definitely it changed me in many ways. Years now since it began, the Rite slowly evolved, adapted, tweaked, and became what it is today.  A journey of life everlasting. One that is mine to own, accept, attest to, take credit for, in its endeavors.”

We, are complacent if we allow ourselves to be. Sometimes we are so, without knowing, but most often, if we are aware of self, we can see ourselves in another light. I had someone ask me, “Why are you the way you are now?” I could have said, “Because I am no longer complacent in life”, but instead, looked him in the eye and told him, “Because God and I have found each other”, which maybe meant the first thing too.

Peace,

Den Betts                                            bettsden@gmail.com

Coming out of the closet!! 2017-58

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Coming out of the closet 2017-58

 

There are MANY closets to come out of, in life.  Each of us, all of us, have something we hold dear to only ourselves, and do NOT share with any others.  When, and if we do, then we take the chance that we will be highly criticized, held in contempt, or other negative thoughts or actions by those others. It is also, a chance for our being able to finally release ourselves of hidden angst, or a release to freedom of expression.

My very best and dear friend, whom I love so very much, came out of the closet, when he let my wife and I know he was gay.  Actually, we sort of knew, just did not have any confirmation by him.  My son is one of the good people in life, and he and his male spouse are examples of how to be and act in life with others on this planet Earth. To any religious leaders, followers of any religion, good ol boys in life or any of that ilk, you can go F— yourselves IF, you have any prejudicial thoughts regarding this subject. I maintain that Jesus Christ, my ultimate teacher in life, loves my son as he is and, also, any others like him. 

Another closet that some live in and deal with in life are those that keep themselves in denial until they admit their problem.

I know someone who I admire, love and respect, who finally came out and made decisions about being an alcoholic.  He joined the AA group and adheres to the 12-step program of living life.  His wife, at that time, did not do so and had drug addiction issues. He is now remarried to a wonderful lady and enjoying life.  He is a distant blood cousin and I look at him as one of the great people that I am fortunate to know.

Another closet dweller that I know is one that might have been a binge eater, but now is an avid exercise person who changed her life style. She is really looking great and is encouraging others to revamp their lifestyles also. She has a wonderful outgoing personality that is so great.

OK, Now Me!!!    First off, I am not gay, not an alcoholic, maybe a little overweight, but not a binge eater in life.  I say, if you know of someone that is one of these, that you give support to them, accept them as they are, and most of all love them; you do not have to understand the situation.  That could be a tall order to do, I realize.

I am 76 years old and for the past and last 1/3 of my life, I have lived with a situation of life. My dear wife and close family, some of my closest friends and a few others know of what I have lived with in my later years of life.

On April 18, 1991, my life was changed forever. Thirty-five feet from my driveway, I ran over a manhole in the street that collapsed from the weight of the van I was driving. The van went up, I went up, the van came down and I was still going up.   I then,ended up in the hospital with a TBI or Traumatic Brain Injury. I was in the hospital and rehabilitation unit for 8 weeks or so; a long time. I will NOT — now make this a diatribe of this episode of life, but will state this:

I still have problems of dealing with the ramifications of having a TBI.  The “IT” of so, now long ago, affects me in certain ways even now.  I do not try to “hide” in a closet and deny how I feel, how the TBI affects me, somewhat “rules me” in life, etc.

When I say or my wife states, “He is not feeling well” it most likely means I am not up to par in doing something or anything.  That is the way it is; period!!!!!!!!!

While I have not tried to hide in my closet with my disability, I have tried to do what I can on a daily existence, and believe this is being honest with others. I will now tell any, that I feel like crap, if I do, and hope they will believe me, and understand. If not, tough crap on them.  I have NEVER, and NEVER will, use my disability as an excuse on purpose to get out of doing something, or in any way take advantage of a situation because of my TBI.  Also, if I say, “I do not remember”, I mean it; period!!!!

I guess this post is somewhat of a “get it off my chest” type thing, but I hope it is not a “in your face” statement, but it might appear so.

I also say this.  If you see someone with ANY disability, either physical or mental, try to have some compassion for them, try to have some empathy, and realize how much or how fortunate you are not walking in their shoes of life.  Closets come in all shapes, styles and configurations; we all have them to a degree, big or small, and sometimes it is better to let it go, and get a release from them.

Peace,

Den Betts                            bettsden@gmail.com

DEATH – A Continuation of the Journey of Life 2017-54

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DEATH – A Continuation of the Journey of Life 2017-54

When it happens, I believe it is just another facet of living. The trip of life will be changed, but in the change, it will be exciting. No longer is the mind concerned about worldly problems, local factions or personal needs.  A change that will be profound.

The imperfections that were being carried during the old journey will be gone. The aches, the pains, the torments of the mind will have flown the coop, fading into oblivion. Earthly needs will be non-existent and will be thrown by the wayside- discarded like old socks past their prime.

No looking back now!  Those left behind will catch up with us soon enough, and not that long in the scope of time tables of life. A new adventure of living now not to be afraid of, but instead, a glorious awakening of existence. New contacts to be introduced too and also the re-acquaintances of those in the past to greet us, and bring us up to date of factual things unknown before.

Old stories of living life to be checked out, to ascertain their correctness and to realize if they were true or not. The opportunity, at last, to meet with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in person. Wow, how awe inspiring of a thought. Questions to ask that were always in the background, but now answered, now known.

No more wondering, no more confusion, no more strife and despair, now peace. The feeling of contentment, of satisfaction and of completeness, which will now be the norm in a way of life. The final journey with all the promises, wished for, now a reality.

The soul of being, encapsulated in an essence of life in the hereafter, spending time with others of the same ilk in the new life, the new journey. No regrets, just a feeling of being where we were meant to be, how we are, as we are, in a total forever.

Death is NOT a terrible or horrible thing for those in the second journey, the continuation of life. It is one of joy and not of tribulations of despair. Perhaps for those left behind, for a while, until being reunited with those that took the step to a journey of life everlasting. This is what I believe!!!!!

Peace,

Den Betts    Say hello, comment, or questions at  bettsden@gmail.com