Dale Cresap's blog

Have you ever eaten junk food? This is a commonly used term for food that contains calories but not much nourishment. There is an entire industry based on providing this and it is readily available. It is appealing and most people eat some although a steady diet of it is not beneficial for you. Have you ever had any junk thoughts? These too are readily available, and you have unlimited opportunities for them, but a steady diet of these is not recommended either. Thoughts can be without redemptive purpose in the same way that food can contain calories but not provide nourishment. So I invite you to think on those things that are pure and lovely. Keep me in all your thoughts.

Are you familiar with the shortest verse in the Bible? It says that I wept. Do you find a profound truth in these two words? Do you also weep? What is it that moves you to tears?  One person will weep at the performance of a beautiful piece of music and the person next to them will be unmoved. Is the first one expressing weakness or the second one expressing indifference? You have a strong cultural bias against shedding tears, especially for men. Does this work for you or against you? Don’t let your cultural bias prevent you from experiencing and expressing the full range of human responses.

Do you always tell the truth? Is there ever a time when you should not tell the truth? Everyone who gossips will claim that they are telling the truth. Would that that were true. But even if it is, that is no excuse for speaking the truth without love. Can you tell the truth and do so in a way that is full of redemptive purpose? Only a fool utters all his mind and you know things that are true that you should not speak. It is the glory kings to search out a matter. People want to investigate and get to the bottom of things. But it is the glory of God to conceal a matter. Which of these is the greater glory?

I spoke to people about freedom and promised that those who continued in my word would know the truth and be free. My audience claimed that they had always been free. Can you lack freedom and not know it? Apparently so. Do you know people who claim to be free, who still follow predictable patterns based on habits, addictions, mindsets, or other forms of programming that interfere with real unforced choices? If such conditions existed in you are you sure you would be aware of it? My promise is still true. Note that it implies that truth and freedom are not a one-time thing, but require continuation with me.

And be ye not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds. Conformity means taking on the shape of something you are in contact with, such as molten metal taking on the shape of a mold in a foundry. This is a great method for making uniform castings, but it is not good for people, even though the same principle applies. But the passage offers a choice between alternatives, implying it will be one or the other. Being conformed to me means being transformed, because it is conformity to my transcendent image rather than anything of this world.

It is written that it is not in a man that walks to direct his own steps. That could be restated in that a man does not perceive his own best interests. Do you agree with this? Yet how many people are eager to seek out wise counsel rather than following their own preferences? Good advice is always available. What is more often lacking is the humility to accept it. Most people are inclined to trust themselves more than anyone else. Can you understand that you should trust yourself the least? Do you want the fullest, richest, and best possible life for yourself? Do you realize that you can’t get there on your own?

Are you an organ donor? Normally this would only occur in the event of your death, but you can make the designation in advance. This is a nice pro-life gesture in which your organs may live on and benefit others when you are gone. I have a superior alternative available to you right now. I have called you to be a living sacrifice. In this case you can donate your entire body, and you don’t have to wait until you die to do it. You can donate it now intact and functional. If you take this seriously you can provide a greater benefit for others while you are alive than your organs can after you die.

Do you know what tomorrow will bring? Do you even know that you will be here tomorrow? Then how should you live today? My word teaches you to watch for and be ready for my return. You can do this with the understanding that your departure may come first. Make your time count, and don’t put off what is essential because of what is urgent. I also said that your time is always ready. Opportunities to serve me will come to you unexpectedly. Don’t let them pass you by because you were not ready. Hold this perspective with joy and you too will be able to say that you have done all that the Father has given you to do.

Are you familiar with the idea of a pain threshold? Some people seem better able to cope with discomfort and endure it. This term is normally used in relation to physical pain, but not all pain is physical. Do you realize there is also an emotional pain threshold? If you answer my call to follow me you will suffer rejection as well. Come and join me outside the camp and bear my reproach. There is no nerve affected by this experience, but who can deny that it hurts to receive rejection in the places you would normally expect support? If you have a high emotional pain threshold you will continue to move forward in the integrity of your destiny even though it hurts. 

Do you want to be rich and famous? Would you settle for famous? Do you understand what problems come from this? You call famous people celebrities. People to celebrate? Everyone wants to be their friend. Adoring strangers come up wanting handshakes, photos, and autographs. There are a multitude of people to offer approval for their behavior no matter what it is. And so I taught you to beware when all men spoke well of you. Could you accept this treatment and still walk in humility and obedience to me, caring only what I thought of you? How well do celebrities do at this?