A Man 2018-88

Posted in Contemplation, Religious by

Just how do we feel about those that are not of our kind or looks. It is so easy to be judgmental and turn away from those not like us.  We do have much to learn about being more tolerant and forgiving to others that do not appear like us, or are different in many ways.

A Man   2018-88

I saw a man as if in a dream,

His hair was long like a once called hippy.

 

The sandals he wore appeared as old as he,

The smell of sweat was in the air, not clean.

 

Looks are not true of a man and his beliefs,

But, only are signs of what and how things just are.

 

Should I criticize the longhaired or bare footed,

Or those that are not like me?

 

A man died for me once who was like this,

Would I judge him today like he was then?

 

Do I cast a verdict for those not like me,

The outside looks are not the inside thoughts.

 

The self-righteous man has much to learn,

From those that walk the ways of life.

 

Den Betts

bettsden@gmail.com    email

thebettsden.com             blog

Infernal Internal 2018-87

Posted in Contemplation by

They say the brain is a magnificent organ, capable of doing so much, and I agree. It is extraordinary in its capabilities and what it does as part of the mind of man.

Infernal Internal    2018-87

 

Likened to a line of super Cray’s

in parallel for a mile

A microprocessor of renown

with extraordinary know how

 

The capability of doing much

in unknown ways and time

Its limits of intellect

not found; stay sublime

 

What key, what shibboleth

is required, for the one outside,

to release the master of within

and show itself with pride

 

To give full gifted power

and management of life

and dominate the existence

of man’s everyday strife?

Den Betts

bettsden@gmail.com    = Email

thebettsden.com            =  Blog

Message Heard 2018-86

Posted in Contemplation, Religious by

Ever wonder if you heard something and did not know what it was at the time? Sometimes I have, and it is somewhat disorienting at the time, the unknown, rearing its head when we least expect it.

Message Heard 2018-86

Beside a thatched dwelling

In front of a smoking fire

Bones, stones, and shells,

Fly to a mat of woven grass.

Foretelling a future, a decision

To be made, fate itself in limbo.

 

Frayed leather garments

Darkened by sweat and time

Cling to an old one with the

Insight, interpreting the fall.

The bush resounds; drums beat

Signaling the message told

By the ancient one; for all to hear.

 

Far away, a man dressed in pinstripes,

Moves his head with ear upraised.

The Manhattan intersection beckons

He lingers with a quizzical look, squinting.

The man walks away in the crowd,

Wondering what he heard in the wind.

Peace,

Den Betts  @        bettsden.gmail.com = Email

thebettsden.com      = Blog

Blackness and The Light 2018-85

Posted in Religious by

Blackness and The Light   2018-85

The epitome of the blackness in life is NOT defined by any other actions or inactions. The infestation occurs from many sources, which envelop us in ways that are terrible. This void of light can be made by things beyond our control.

Desolation can reign, where it will and what we do with this feeling of life occurrences can be changed; but it takes work sometimes if not all the time, to eradicate it.

The makeover to a venue of consolation is, or can be, a simple matter, but again it is an undertaking, which involves more than just a wish for betterment.

I can remember a time where the dark pit of despair lingered with me and that was not a pretty picture of life to experience. Some could say, I had every right to have those feelings, but, more importantly, digging out of that trough is a story I don’t want to rehash now.

Suffice to say, it took time, some professional help and understanding by those I love, that got me through it and on the road to normalcy. Nothing and I repeat, NOTHING is unsurmountable in life that cannot be changed around to a much better living. Nothing!

Yes, there may be a change in life, but this has to be accepted; period! Not easy, but the way of life today in this chaotic living we have now.

Black is a color, that’s all, and life can be changed to a brighter and more beautiful way of existence and expression.

When someone says, “I know how you feel” and you know they do not, tell them!!!!  I now say, that if you are living in the darkness of life, a blackness of existence, a period of desolation, I truly can say, I know what you are feeling, and I can only say also, there is hope, there is an escape, there is an answer.

It may not be what you want to hear, it may not be what you want to believe, and it may not be what you want to do, but the light will be exactly what you need to live again the way you want.

I have seen the light, I relish in the enjoyment of living, and my life is now one of acceptance of others, happiness of living, contentment of existence, and enjoyment of knowing the light of life is with me always. It is somewhat our job to become the sons and daughters of light, spreading this brightness to all that we know around us. I am content with living now, beyond my dreams.

Peace,

Den Betts

Question: What is the light?     

 In John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. 

In John 12:36, “Put your trust in the light, while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.” 

In John 12:46, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in the darkness.”

Answer: Jesus Christ IS the light!!!!!!!! 

Who Am I 2018-84

Posted in Religious by

WHO AM I  ?   –  2018-84

 

I KNOW who I am, but guess one person does not know; so, this is about them and what they asked me.

I will just use “her” as a means of identification, for some people “out there” might know her, or perhaps not, but I don’t want her to get any more involved.

Who am I!? Well, she actually, said, “Who do you think you are?” This was in relation to either an email or posting I made many weeks ago, but was a pointed question to me

Anyhow, she asked me, and I stopped and thought and thought some more. My journey with God has had its ups and downs, that have been self-administered.  The road has been one of self-contemplation, self-denial, self-doubting, and basically self-everything else.

So, her question, made me stop and think. Think seriously about myself and what my journey to find God was all about. Part of this questioning evolved talking with my Pastor and stating some things that were factual, and this was after, again, a self-analysis of what my journey was all about.

What did I tell her?!  Well, it popped out after giving it good moments of this thinking.  I thought I knew why she asked so it was based on this process of thought.  It was a simple statement and gave her something to also think about, at the time.

I said:

I am NOT more than what I am.

What you see and hear is all that I am.

NOTHING MORE!  I just am.

I am NOTHING more than what I am

And What I am is EVERYTHING that I am.

 

Not earth shattering. Not a real, definitive statement. Not an explicit thought, but it is what I think of myself, and for a reason.

Something happened many years ago that changed me.  It turned me, finally, into what I call being a disciple of Jesus Christ. In fact, I recently stated this in a blog, or told someone, that I am a “poor example” of being a Christ disciple or student of Jesus Christ, but identify myself as one, anyhow.

I make NO claims of being special. I am not anything than who I was before and am now.  BUT, I have been changed.  I have allowed God to enter my life by submitting to Him and have surrendered myself to Jesus Christ.   Both actions are what I feel I have done, but, also feel that I am not doing a good job of it.  I think I will write about this shortly, if I remember.

Peace,

Den Betts            Email: bettsden@gmail.com       Blog: thebettsden.com

Life and Living 2018-83

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Life and Living          2018-83

What is life all about, the living itself or instead what we have done during the living? Each of us have the same amount of hours in the day to live and do.

Some of that time is spent eating and, of course, sleeping. There is that thing called WORK too!  

There is a multitude of other things that can take up our time, some quite fun, actually. I guess my next thoughts are meant for some and not for others.

What do we do that really means something to others? For instance: Is what we do only about ourselves? Do we just seek self-gratification and nothing else? Could we do something that means something to someone else instead? This thought process is like the saying about Christmas time. It is better to give than receive, but I believe many would not agree with that saying.   Normal!

We all do the same things every day, without any additional thoughts. Some are repetitious and perhaps boring to a degree. Some have the little things that make it somewhat different, but, all in all, still the same.

BUT, if we were to have a concentrated effort on the OTHER, and not US, that might prove to be VERY interesting in the long term of things in life. Wouldn’t that be different?

The joy, the pleasure, the love and many other feelings that OTHER would have, might very well make our day one of immense pleasure to ourselves.

Coupled with that, I would think the feeling of satisfaction could be exquisite. Many hours, many opportunities to give and in return receive, with the knowledge that we do make a difference to another person in the process.

The hours add up and our live journey to the final bell and maybe we will hear the ring of a difference to someone who NEEDS our actions in life.

God is there to listen to our needs, our desires, our wants, for He is Aware, Active, Alive, and ALWAYS PRESENT. Can’t guarantee what will happen if you speak to Him, but He is there………………

Peace,

Den Betts        Email: bettsden@gmail.com       Blog:  thebettsden.com

God’s Plan 2018-82

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God’s Plan       2018-82

If God has a “Plan” for us, sometimes, if not always, we do not know what it is for us.  In fact, we might be the last to know what the plan is.

OR, we might have a plan (actually His) and know it in complete detail, but then our plan is thwarted, and it falls apart without our say so, or for whatever reason.

I was in a stupor similar to a coma, had an oxygen mask and was in intensive care, all from the aftermath of a knee surgery, replacing the knee. I don’t remember much of that time period, but I somewhat recall words coming to me in my mind stating, “I am not ready for you, I have much for you to do.”

That was great, because I was told later that the doctor asked my dear wife if she wanted to have a DNR order for me at the time. She did not say, “Hell no” but did explain that the numbers on the machine and on the charts were not THAT bad.  (Don’t mess with an RN, which she was at the hospital)

The fact that it was NOT a booming voice, but instead a peaceful one, is just the way I remember it. Thinking back, I was not scared, but mindful of it and it did get my attention, which was saying a lot.

OK, that is great, and I feel, I believe, what I heard was a message from God, saying something to me. Then, later, when I was more aware, I then asked, “What ‘Plan’ does God have for me?” What I have found out or came to realize is the fact that I am LIVING under God’s plan, since then, now and in the future. It took me awhile to understand the ramifications of what that Plan was or is, but it finally came to me what was expected. 

It would be terrific if God could lay it all out for us right away, so we would know exactly what to expect, what to do in detail.  We would know what to do when we should modify our actions to fulfill the Plan.

God does NOT work that way though.  He might have a “Plan”, but it allows for human interpretation and change, because we ARE human. We are subject to outside influences and though the “Plan” might be a good one, it is affected by our life’s living choices

He KNOWS that, and His patience and understanding are supreme, therefore He puts up with the deviations we subject His “Plan” to, that we are supposed to make happen.

Part of, but not all of the Plan is getting closer to God and Jesus Christ.  This is NOT easy, again, due to our human frailties, but, is part of the fulfillment process. There is more, but, since it is the Plan for ME, I will not go into any more detail.

Suffice it to say, God is out there, He is Aware, He is Alive, He is Active, and He is ALWAYS Present to talk to, to reply and be heard, to submit to, and to love, as He loves us all.

Peace,

Den Betts            Email: djbetts@gmail.com       Blog: thebettsden.com

Cross Bearer 2018-81

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Cross Bearer   2018-81
Why wear a cross? Some do so, as a piece of jewelry that looks nice, even great. Others have their own reasons to do so, which could be many out there.

I wear a simple cross like a shield. It is a way to make me conduct myself in a way I feel our Savior would want me to do as his disciple.

In Ephesians 6:16 it states, “Take up the Shield of Faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Here it also goes into detail ow what we can do otherwise, although I will not go that far myself. I find a shield is a barrier to outside influences and only means something to the one wearing it.
I find it difficult to do those or any things that would be contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ. If I do so, the cross reminds me as to who and what I am: again, a disciple of Jesus.

Does my cross I wear make any statements to others? Yes!

Indirectly, it shows others that I am a practicing Christian; one that believes in His teachings, believes in going to a religious sanctuary, or church, o0n la regular basis, and who is unafraid to tell the Word to any that will listen.
My cross does NOT say that I am a religious nut. It does NOT give me the right to use the Bible as a weapon to try to prove a point or accuse anyone of not being like me, a follower of God, and student of Jesus Christ.

I wear my cross daily, when I travel outside my home, but that is my choice, which is my decision in life. If I give my cross to someone, it is given with NO strings attached, other than the one that holds it around the neck.
There are NO requirements for others to do so, it is up to the wearer and Jesus as to when, where, why, and how much they do so.

The worn cross is a symbol to some, a statement to others and is a means of expression to telling a belief of the mind in a way, using no words. It is a simplistic unadorned object from the earth representing a means, a way, of reaching the universe, the heavens above. It is an object, simplifying pain and death, of cruelty beyond description, but promising s a life of joy beyond belief. It IS, a sign of the Son of God, of suffering for the sons and daughters of the Father for the promise of eternal life.

I share these crosses I make, at no cost to those I give them to, but with the hope that they will wear them in a humble way and not any other way. They are not made of gold or silver, but in earth like material, signifying the Son of God, who died for our sins, and promising eternal life.

Peace,

Den Betts Email: bettsden@gmail.com Blog: thebettsden.com

Where is Heaven 2018-80

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Where is Heaven?

I asked this before, “Where is Heaven” and one person answered – “Here and now, Heaven on Earth”, without any explanation, which was fine.! There have been many opinions as to exactly where Heaven is located, some quite bizarre, most, if not all, being incorrect.

So, where is it that eternal life accommodates the multitude of those that have traveled on the final journey to the hereafter?

Not in the clouds with harps and choruses singing in tune.  The few stories in Scripture, sometimes refer to “UP” as the direction to look for Heaven as a reference and that is OK, but this does not make a definitive answer as to where, how far up or anything else. In Mark 16:19, it states, “Jesus was taken up in Heaven and sits at the right hand of God.”

So, it is typical, and I could say correct, to look up when we pray to God. Another is Colossians 3:1 where the Apostle Paul states, “Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on those above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not in Earthly things.”

My question is then, “Where is UP?” It could be a figure of speech, but not a direction to explicitly go to, and does it imply, how high up is it?  I believe my friend Paul was correct when he said, “Here and Now”.

Heaven is NOT on a planet elsewhere in the Universe and a far distance from Earth, as another friend suggested.  Sort of like the 4th or 5th rock from the Sun.

I prayed to God and feel like He answered me by saying “You are here now also, the same answer as Paul’s, since I was in my living rom I looked around and saw Earthly possessions I have and nothing else.

Do I know for sure –” No!” I believe Heaven is here and now, not far away as I said.  It is NOT a “Heaven on Earth” existence, but instead a Heaven that is here on Earth, in its existence.

How so!?

The easy or most understood explanation would be to say “Heaven exists in a way similar to a Parallel Universe, that our souls inhabit together in one plane while our Earthly bodies are in another. This goes beyond theory’s that abound on this subject, and it could be the way it is.  This is an easy way of describing Heaven’s existence of where it is at, without trying to figure out some convoluted explanation.

A Parallel Universe is one, where it – “Heaven” exists on Earth, but the worldly inhabitants of Earth do not comingle with the souls there. We cannot see them (the Souls) and they cannot see us (our Earthly bodies) or react to us, yet we are together in the same p lace (Earth) at the same time.

Oh yes, “What about “UP”.  I ask, “How high is UP and then state, “It can be as high as needed or desired by God.” It will be interesting to see if there are stages or levels in Heaven. If souls do not have human form or are “wispy” in nature, then Height is not a problem for those there.

One more thought!  “Who is there in Heaven, and if God loves all of us, does all of mankind that has passed away actually reside? there? What does that mean?

All is all, means no exclusions; the good, the bad and otherwise. Why not, and give this a ponder, are there again stages or levels of souls being placed there in Heaven, dictated by God? Will see!

I believe in God!  I also, believe in a hereafter called Heaven. Where and how it is, will be found out eventually and the mysteries of life (and death) will be known.

Amen!

Peace,
Den Betts                            Email: bettsden@gmail.lcom     Blog:  thebettsden.com

God’s Face and Ours 2018-79

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God’s Face and Ours  2018-79

A face that would be recognizable, I ask, not mine, His!!! The short answer would be YES, but the long one, has to be clarified. One God, three faces make for a convoluted answer.

Jesus would have been known by others back in His days, as a distinct person and was known by His looks, not as we see Him on pictures being portrayed today or the near past times, but as He was in His time frame. The Son of God, had features then and will have them in the hereafter that will be seen and known as being Jesus, the Son. BUT what He, the Son, looked like then, may not be what He looks like now in Heaven, for all to see.  Well, maybe so, don’t actually know.

Not even Moses had seen the “Father God” the God of the Universe, nor anyone else, then or now. (Genesis 13:20).  So, does He, have facial form, or is His aura that of an unknown, yet, recognizable entity, even in the hereafter? The guess would be, that He DOES have facial form, or the same form we will have, and ALL will know who the “Father God” is, when observed.

Ponder this: The face of God, will be a mirror image of us, each of us. IF you were to look into the eyes of another, or can see by the look, you will see God, and if you look closely, you will see yourself, and by doing so, see God again. Not comparable to others, of another color, creed, or anything Earthly, but more personal to each one of us here on Earth. That is what the “Fatherly God” will be seen to look like in Heaven.

Then there is the Holy Spirit, the third part of the Triune God.  The Holy Spirit is and has been the spirit and its form for identification is what it is, and that is what will be seen, the spirit of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will and has now, the form of the Spirit of God and transcends the normalcy of having to take a human form, unless It wants to do so. But It will be known by all in Heaven for what It is, the Holy Spirit, and all will know when they see It.

The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit will, again, be known without question.  But, also, one more tidbit of info, without any question of who we are, from one another, even with our forms being spiritual and NOT defined by human form, we will know who we are from each other.

The same goes for our more ancient ancestors, who we have no pictures of or data to dwell on for I.D.  We will just KNOW who they are and they will know us also. Their history, their personal stories of life, will be there to know, to observe, to experience and appreciate. The inner connections to one another will not require a DNA test to ascertain who is who, and the relationships; it will be just known by all.

This is going to be exciting for all of us; repeat ALL of us. To recap, the face of God is to be seen, the face of Jesus will be seen again, and the Holy Spirit will infuse us with the knowledge of what it is like. Those that have gone before us will be exposed for us to enjoy and to rejoin with the past.

Peace,

Den Betts            Email: bettsden@gmail.com     Blog:  thebettsden.com