Magnificent Mile – Path Without End

75364021-1200px The study of human nature is the study of darkness and light in us.

More and more I find myself “a watcher”. I believe wisdom dictates it. I’m always looking “big picture”. I set my life according to the Infinite, not the finite. I have a mission in this earth and I must not let the foolishness of others interfere with the treasure I see before me.

America is in trouble, but mostly because “the church” is in trouble. There is no city upon a hill lifting a true standard of light for us to find our way. And now those seeds are coming to harvest.

“The night watchmen found me as they made their rounds. They beat and bruised me and stripped off my veil, those watchmen on the walls.” (Song of Songs 5:7)

No other book of the Bible is speaking to me louder at this time than the “Song of Solomon”, also known as “Song of Songs”. A materialistic money loving church has become comfortable in her bed and failed to rise when her lover showed up, dripping with the anointing. Now she is out in the darkness and in the streets searching for Him, and he is not to be found by her. The Night Watchmen find her and she is beaten and treated as a common thief.

Spiritually we are back at King Saul and a rising shepherd boy named David. We have two churches. The old traditional system that has been the status quo for many generations, and a rising young lad of an idea/ vision that is yet to prove itself. The one is very large, the other small, as in Microchurch. This is what I believe I have seen. I believe it so much that I put my feet where my mouth is and left the King Saul church to begin running with David. We got to get the anointing back! We got to bring the Ark of the Covenant back into the church, the body of Christ!

We are all aware of the perfect storm we’re in. Frustration is starting to set in as conflicting messages whirl all about us. People are beginning to reach max stress point. No one knows what to do with Covid, or what it will do with us as the next flu season arrives? Fear sweeps through the streets like a winter wind. Add Racism, protests, and rioting to the mix. Add a very heated election to the mix. Add China to the mix. Add people being evicted, loss of jobs, poverty, hate, media propaganda, and whatever else may be next to this mix. And what to do with our precious children? Go to school or not? Have we ever seen such a time? And where is the church in all this? Lost in a virtual world of “my best life now”.

David was a rag-tag group of mighty men before King Saul was finally overthrown by God Himself. There is a journey of the white owl we need to make, a journey of pure wisdom. This blog site will not be liked by the King Saul’s of this world, but maybe there are a few who are drawn to the caves of David.

Jonah admitted to the pagan sailors that the storm was because of him. Have we admitted this yet? Are we willing to be thrown overboard by the pagans? Or do we stay asleep in the bottom of the boat having our virtual services?

Violence is filling the land. The Magnificent Mile in Chicago was a result of foolish leadership entrenched in high places. They have tunnel vision. They refuse to see the forest because they have a tree or two they love. They love the finite rather than the Infinite, and yes… that is as foolish as Esau selling his birthright for a pot of beans! Anyone should be able to “SEE” it! And yet they don’t?

In recent months we could point to many such examples taking place in our cities. My own city of Indianapolis, the downtown area has been crippled! No one is going there. They fear for their life when they do. Stores are going out of business. And yet our leaders fail to fix the problem. The forest is burning while they drool over a few seeds they plan to plant.

They are determined to burn down the forest in order to plant their own tree. But I am not of their way, and I have a mandate from heaven to perform in the midst of even this perfect storm. How will God see it through? Can we walk on water? Can God keep us in the eye of the hurricane? And what shall come of the King Saul church and their King Theology? More virtual reality? We shall see… because I intend to be a Night Watchman.

snowy owl in Colorado — The night watchmen found me as they made their rounds.

portland-protests-2 Greed is not green!

Minimalism without contentment is just torment.

Jesus taught the life of the small footprint. As a follower of Christ, and someone who left traditional church because of its materialistic ways, I am very confused by a lot of what I see among Progressives. I’m beginning to think it’s just talk. I’m beginning to think that as a 65 year old country boy who follows Jesus, I’m more minimalist and green than most these people constantly screaming “Go Green!”

What was that on the Mag-Mile in Chicago on Sunday night? Mass looting by a bunch of violent greedy people from 11:00 pm. till early morning? 13 Officers injured? 2 people shot? Over 100 arrested? Hundreds breaking windows and robbing stores and banks in a mass attack? What is the true “WHY” in all this?

I see a lot of violence, greed, and confusion. They call for defunding police at the same time their hand is on the phone hitting speed dial for 911 because someone is breaking in their house! Media screams not to send children back to school at the same time NYC is? I have become Alice in Wonderland! I’ve been swallowed by the Rabbit Hole!

It’s easy to say you want to be a minimalist while you still have a bunch of nice stuff. I heard a lot of people saying: “You don’t live in Chicago! Mind your own business! These people deserve to have nice stuff too!” Oh really? Wow.

“Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.” (1st Tim. 6: 6)

The nature of “most” people is to want nice things. Personally, I think there is a lot to be said for seeking minimalism through the Spirit of God. True godliness with contentment is great gain. A fire is raging across this nation and many are not shouting about “color” as much as they are shouting they want “theirs”. But how do they want to get it? Hand outs? Special treatments? By way of hard work and wise consistent choices? Greed is not green.

I’m a watcher. I always have been. When I look at the fires raging I see a lot of discontent, contradiction, and ungodliness. No way will these people be happy even if more “special benefits” are given. They claim to just want a job and a chance. Well I got news, the jobs are out there even with Covid. I became a truck driver to earn money. It was hard work. There are lots of openings. My wife works for Cracker Barrel. They said they can’t get people to come back to work because unemployment is paying so well. My wife went back to work because that’s what honest hard working people do, even at age 62!

I see a bunch of hypocrites. Here’s a few tips. 1). Stay away from drugs. 2.) Don’t get drunk. Stay faithful and don’t sleep around! 3.) Stay honest. Don’t break laws! 4.) Educate yourself. Learn something! Become useful. 5.) Work hard. 6.) Be dependable and consistent. 7.) Prove yourself. 8.) Don’t be greedy! Seek a small footprint and be content! 9.) Seek wisdom. 10.) My own personal favorite: Love God and people! How can you say you love God and hate your brother?

I’ve watched a lot of people spend considerable money to buy a “Tiny House”. I didn’t know a small footprint had to be so expensive? But I’m waiting for the shows to come out about all the people who tried Tiny House living, and after 3 months were miserable! (And moved out.) These shows have not been allowed yet, but as a student of human nature, believe me they will come.

“Contentment”/ “Simplicity” is hard for a lot of people. They want things. It looks so good from the outside looking in, but once you’re in that tiny space and trying to find a place for the latest “thing” you’re craving? Those will be some very fun reality shows to watch.

Why is human nature so discontent? We always seem to want what we don’t have. When we finally get it, then it becomes old quickly and we want something else we don’t have. That is unless…you are a true minimalist. If you love simplicity and are truly content in small ways. How is it some of us have this and so many don’t? Who needs a mansion or fancy car with all the gadgets? What happened to the wisdom of less can be more?

Modern church has shot itself in the foot when it comes to materialism. What happened to “the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want?“ Since I left the complex and shallow modern church system to seek simple church and early church ways, my life has grown spiritually more than I ever imagined. I love our simple church and the people I fellowship with in our home, and everywhere. We call it > CHURCH EVERYWHERE.

Be still my soul. Seek peace.