Dale Cresap's blog

Have you ever had someone tell you not to take something personally? How else should you take it? My word pronounces woes upon those who bring offenses, and cause little ones to stumble. Yet your response to any statement will determine whether it is an observation or an offense, for offenses have a giver and a receiver, and in this case neither one is blessed. Be careful lest the things you say to others could be interpreted to have offensive intent, and assume the things they say to you were not meant to. Love on either side of the transaction will prevent an offense, and cover a multitude of sins. 

Do you lament that you don’t have enough resources to do what you want to do? Do you know what it means to be resourceful? It means to find a way to do what you need to do with what you have on hand. It may involve creative uses for ordinary things. Rather than looking for more stuff, consider what you can do with what you have. Consider the story of the loaves and the fishes. There was not enough to begin with, but there was something. In the economy of God and in the power of the Spirit, limited resources can be miraculously multiplied. How resourceful can you be with what you have now? 

Do you have a steady stream of thoughts in your head? Do you think of this stream as the essence of your identity? My word tells you to take every thought captive. If your thoughts are your true identity, then who is to take them captive? You are a spiritual being made in my image, and you are more than the sum of your thoughts. Your mind should be your servant rather than your master. It is not within you to direct your own steps, but I invite you to be led by the Spirit. If you do then your mind will be tuned to receive living and eternal truth, and I will be in all your thoughts. 

Do you always play it safe? There are some risks that are reckless and foolhardy, but there are others that are reasonable. I have a destiny for you, but you will not find it if you always take the path of least resistance. I called Abraham to leave his comfortable surroundings to go to a place I would show him later. Your call may not be this dramatic, but there will be some features in common. Don’t mistake comfort and ease for safety. You are safe with me even if it forces you out of your familiar surroundings and routines. This is the only way you can grow. This is the only way to walk into your destiny. 

I offer you abundant life. That includes the resources to carry it out. Do you assume this means an unlimited amount of money? Don’t confuse abundant life with abundant money. Haven’t you known people who were well off who led shallow and limited lives? I want you to learn the contentment of sufficiency. If you seek those things which are above, you will be glad to have enough resources to carry out the things that give meaning and purpose to your life. If you make money your goal as an end in itself, you will never have enough. It is still true that you cannot serve God and mammon. 

Are you as accepting of those outside the Christian faith as I was of those outside the Jewish faith? I never rejected my own faith tradition, but I was never ordained into its official hierarchy either. Most of my critical statements were directed toward Jews. Have you noticed how accepting I was toward those outside? Consider the Centurion, the Syro-Phoenician woman, and the woman at the well, whom I accepted even though I had to correct some of her views. I told my disciples that I had other sheep who were not of this fold. They had no concept of this. Do you? This was not a one-time observation. It is an eternal truth. 

In the beginning I created male and female. People have been struggling with this ever since, but consider what my act implies. Women are not inferior versions of men, and men are not inferior versions of women. Both men and women tend to be highly defensive and easily threatened regarding their gender, and this is even worse for believers who care about which is more spiritual. This is unfortunate because I have so much to teach you about the Kingdom of God through the differences between male and female, but if you can’t let go of your defensive position you are unable to hear it. 

In extreme situations in combat a soldier who leaves a secure position to advance on the enemy will ask his buddies to ‘cover me!’ Perhaps you have never been in such extreme conditions, but could the same concept still apply? Has anyone ever covered for you in an awkward or embarrassing situation, helping you to a place of safety by not passing on damaging information? Perhaps you have done the same for others. Did you find a sense of satisfaction in ‘having their back’?  Even in situations not as severe as combat the same terms are used for the same concepts. Love covers a multitude of sins. 

Do you see life as a game? It is often portrayed that way, with the goal of getting ahead. Some people have advantages and are ‘winning’, although in this game no one really wins. Grace changes the rules so that everyone can win. Have you noticed that not many noble are called to the kingdom? Who wants to change the rules of the game while they are winning? I send the sun and the rain on everyone, the wicked and the just alike. Do you see the abundance of your life as a gift from me? When riches increase don’t set your heart upon them. Don’t let your blessings keep you from grace. 

What if I loved everyone? What would I expect from my followers? I would make it easy for them, and make my kingdom accessible for everyone, particularly the poor. I wouldn’t require special garments that not everyone could afford. I wouldn’t require a pilgrimage to some location that was too far away for some people. I would ordain rituals that involved common ordinary materials like water, food and drink. I would structure a faith that could be practiced by anyone, anywhere. My kingdom is not of this world, but the faith I established can be followed by everyone in the world. If I loved everyone I would found the Christian faith.