Dale Cresap's blog

Do you see the world the way it is? Everyone likes to think that their perception of reality is correct. Yet you can see in other people a distortion of their view of reality. Is it possible that this same disconnect applies to you and you are unaware of it? Could you see the world the way you are rather than the way it is? Be open to this possibility. I told a story about someone with a log in his eye that he needed to remove before he could assist his brother in removing the speck from his eye. If you continue in my word you shall know the truth and have clear vision to see the world as it really is, and be free.

I was a stranger and you took me in. When you have done it unto the least of these you have done it unto me. Do you practice hospitality? Some have entertained angels unawares. Do you realize that not all hospitality occurs in your home? How welcoming are you when you are in a group of familiar friends and someone new comes along. Put yourself in their place. You have been an outsider yourself in unfamiliar situations. You have a choice to make a newcomer feel welcome and at ease, or not. This too is an expression of hospitality. Do unto others as you would have done unto you.

Do you have a limited budget? Do you know anyone who doesn’t? The nature of money is that if you spend it on one thing you can’t spend it on another, so you have to make some choices with limited resources. Do you have a budget for prayer? Prayer is your means to access the resources of heaven, which are unlimited. They are available to whosoever will ask, and whatsoever you desire and ask for in  faith you shall receive. Would you spend your money differently if you had an unlimited amount? Be as diligent to spend your unlimited prayer budget.

You are aware that you should not tell a lie. If you do not speak anything that is untrue, could there still be a problem? Can you live a lie without speaking one? Which of these is worse? If your manner of life is inconsistent with your beliefs and values what term would you use to describe it? If you keep secrets and no one inquires about them, is that honest or not? You are not required to tell everything to everyone. Only a fool utters all his mind. But I gave you a conscience  to direct you in the path of truth so you know when your actions are not what they should be.

I said that unless a grain of wheat dies it abides alone, but if it dies it brings forth much fruit. I was referring to myself, but you can see that this is true of every seed. The growth of a seed is necessary for the multiplication of the plant, but the seed itself is consumed in the process. There was a unique role in this process for the redemption of humanity that only I could fulfill, but the same principle applies to my followers. And so I told them to lay down their lives and pick up their crosses and follow me. Paul understood this when he said that he died daily, and that death worked in him that life might come forth in you. Do you? Are you willing to be consumed in the process?

What is one of the most valuable traits in produce? Stores are eager to claim that their tomatoes and other vegetables and fruits are vine ripened. Gardeners will tout the same quality in the things they grow. Do you recall my statement to my followers that I am the vine and they are the branches, and I told them to abide in the vine. You may think of your maturing in the faith as being similar to ripening. You are not your own redemption project, but mine. You will not complete the good work I have begun in you, but I will. If you abide in me then you too will be vine ripened.

Has anyone ever told you to ‘watch where you’re going’? This is an early and deeply embedded lesson, and avoiding collisions, especially while driving, is important. But this advice can work against you too. If your only focus is on getting to your destination, then you miss most of the opportunities of the journey. I taught my disciples while I was in the way with them. Do you see the importance of this as more than just getting to another place? It got them to another place in a spiritual sense that you couldn’t walk to. I have things to teach you during your journey as well. Stop and smell the roses.

How long did you go to school? The accepted wisdom is that education precedes life and performance, but when is it over? At about age 20? Some people stay in school beyond this, and there are mature people who return to school, but these are rare. Should you go back to school at 50 to learn things you need to know at 50 that you weren’t ready to learn at 20? But where is there a structured way to do this? In the absence of that believers should see themselves as sojourners for whom education is a permanent endeavor. If you are willing to enroll in the University of the Holy Spirit you will find that class is always in session.

Do you pursue excellence? Every area of human endeavor has those who excel, who put in the discipline and effort to be the best, whether it is athletic, artistic, intellectual, commercial or many more. You have admired displays of excellence in performance or competition and rightly observe that it took a great commitment of time to achieve at this level, but the time will pass whether you pursue excellence or not. Do you think there is such a thing as spiritual excellence? There isn’t a competition or awards banquet in this category, at least not in this world. Do you still consider spiritual excellence to be worth a lifetime of discipline and effort?

Do you think of suffering and misery as the same thing? Suffering comes to all, but not all are miserable. And some people are miserable with very little suffering. I tell you to count it all joy when you encounter trials and afflictions, knowing that there is eternal value in these things. Misery is a choice, and lacking a transcendent perspective makes it easier to choose. If you can look past your unpleasant circumstances and see those things which are above, then you can have joy even in your suffering and this will be a testimony to the Kingdom of light to those around you who are in darkness.