In Ezekiel 47, Ezekiel describes a vision in which he saw a river flowing out of a house, and a man measuring the flow of the water. At first, the water is a trickle. The man measures a thousand cubits. The flow increases to being at the ankles. He measures another thousand cubits. The flow increases to being at the knees. He measures another thousand cubits. The flow increases to the loins. He measures another thousand cubits. The flow increases to be able to be swum in. In the Life-Study...
Written on July 3, 2017
Brother Ron Kangas, Question and Answer time with the saints in Boston:
Sometimes, we will do things out of our good heart, that the Lord who is living inside of us isn't doing.
Being a Christian is all about following the Lord Jesus Christ. Afterall, there wouldn't be much in "Christian" without "Christ". Following the Lord would be easier, if this was was just a matter of obeying the rules. However, that is too simple. The Lord Jesus is a living person, who is living inside of each and...
Written on August 21, 2013
I haven't been doing well spiritually. There are many reasons, but I won't get into them. I've just noticed that I haven't been very thankful for everything the Lord has given me. In fact, it's gotten to a point where it's hard to pray, because I do it so rarely, because I rarely give thanks to the Lord. When I do pray, out of necessity, I really feel like a hypocrite. A hypocrite, literally, as in like an actor. Someone wearing a mask. In short, I hate it.
Then, I found out that one...
Written on June 5, 2013
It is a virtue to be humble. But, it is rare to find someone who is truly humble. Since man can only look on the outward, it is impossible to tell whether someone is humble. Of course, we can act or pretend, but are we truly humble? I have realized that I am not humble, even when I try to be. Recently, I read a Psalm which described what being humble is like, and I think this hits the mark:
O Jehovah, my heart is not proud,
Nor are my eyes haughty;
Nor do I go...
Written on November 26, 2011
Recently, people have said things to me which have been brewing inside. The result has been positive, kind of like ginger beer (non-alcoholic, mind you). This is what I would like to share now, in the hope that it may also positively affect anyone else who reads this, and also as a memorial for myself should I ever find myself in the same place I have been this past year.
Someone told me a story:
One time, a young man, for whatever reason, did not think that he was being given what...
Written on November 4, 2011
Psa. 84:4-12:
Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will yet be praising You. Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, In whose heart are the highways to Zion. Passing through the valley of Baca, They make it a spring; Indeed the early rain covers it with blessings. They go from strength to strength; Each appears before God in Zion. O Jehovah God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob. Behold our shield, O God; And look upon the face of Your anointed. For a day...
Written on October 3, 2011
Man is made of three parts: body, soul and spirit. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24). In reading the Bible, this has become gradually clearer to me.
Reading the Bible is not physically gratifying. I do not feel the same after reading the Bible, as I do after going through a good workout, after eating a big meal, or when waking up after a good night's rest. After reading the Bible, I am still hungry, if I haven't eaten, and still tired,...
Written on June 17, 2011
Perhaps one of the main driving / motivating factors in my life is my desire to have a meaningful life. I believe that many people have the same desire. A year ago, when everything was in the air, there was a decision for me to make. I could either serve the Lord, by testifying for Him on the college campuses, to bring God to the students who are seeking Him, or I could get a job, and work. Serving the Lord and bearing fruit was the more profitable choice, of the two. It was a living that would...
Written on May 24, 2011
Straight from hymnal.net:
I know not what awaits me,
God kindly veils my eyes,
And o'er each step of my onward way
He makes new scenes to rise;
And every joy He sends me comes
A sweet and glad surprise.
Where He may lead I'll follow,
My trust in Him repose;
And every hour in perfect peace,
I'll sing, "He knows, He knows";
And every hour in perfect peace,
I'll sing, "He knows, He knows."
One step I...
Updated on March 3, 2011
Isa. 11:6-9 - And the wolf will dwell with the lamb; And the leopard will lie down with the kid, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a young boy will lead them about. The cow and the bear will graze; Their young will lie down together; And the lion will eat straw like the ox. The nursing child will play by the cobra's hole, And upon the viper's den The weaned child will stretch his hand. They will not harm nor destroy In all My holy mountain, For the earth will be...
Updated on March 3, 2011
This quote from the first page of The Normal Christian Life is being impressed on me, as of late. Living in today's world is confusing at times. It seems that sometimes black is taken as white, and white, for black. Sometimes, it even seems that it is impossible to survive without conforming to the way of the world. Every man is for himself, trying to get the upper hand, taking advantage of the vulnerable. In this kind of environment, how can we live the Christian life, full of the virtues of...
Updated on March 3, 2011
In a modern developed country, it is supposedly hard to find an idol, if you were to look for a statue of metal or stone. But, a study of Exodus in the account of the famed golden calf reveals that while the golden calf cannot be found, the principle of idolatry abounds, though in a more subtler form.Reading this chapter carefully, it should be noted that the golden calf was made of gold. To trace the source of the gold back, we would see that this gold was given to the children of Israel by the...
Written on September 1, 2010
In Exodus, there is a passage concerning the incense to be offered on the incense altar. What is interesting about this passage is that the making of this incense, or the making of any similar kind of this incense for personal use was strongly prohibited, punishable by death. This seemingly overly-severe punishment actually holds much significance, which I started to see after reading a message concerning it in the Life-study. The incense on the incense altar typifies prayer. Physically the burning...
Written on September 1, 2010
A couple days ago, I met up with Sergio Mejia, a brother who attended the training with me. He finished the program one semester before I did, and it has been a couple months since I finished the program myself, so in total, it was about one year since we last saw each other. The last time we talked, I came to the awareness that he could be considered legally blind. The problem he had involved the retina, and so could not be fixed simply with glasses. So, I was very interested about getting together...
Written on May 19, 2010
It was Lord's Day morning, earlier this week. I was waiting for the
rest of my family to get ready, and decided to pick up reading my Bible
from where I left off a couple months ago. Interestingly, I had
finished Isaiah 8, with the following verse: "And they look to the
earth, but, there is only distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish
and being thrust into darkness." That had somewhat matched my
experience at the time.
But, then, that morning, when I started reading, Isaiah 9 begins with
this:...
Written on April 15, 2010
A notion prevalent in Christianity today is that once we believe in the Lord Jesus, we are saved from going to hell, to going to heaven. This destiny is based on the unshakable word of God, and will happen, regardless of anything we do, whether good or bad. At best, this concept misses the target. Worse, it is misleading, and causes God's people to squander the many opportunities prepared by God for them to be transformed and conformed to the image of the firstborn Son of God. Almost as prevalent...
Written on March 19, 2010
While listening to this precious hymn by my brother, Howard Higashi, I could not help but be overcome by a longing for the Lord's return. The chorus is as follows:Come, Lord Jesus,Please come, dear Bridegroom;Precious One, come soon, come soon.Lord, consume me!Oh Lord, don't let me stray, Faithful to You all the way.
Written on March 17, 2010
In the Bible, there is something called the flesh. It is everything that has to do with our natural life, whether it is our natural patience, or our natural quick-temperament. The flesh is a hiding place for Satan. Galatians 5:16-17 tells us that if we "walk by the Spirit", we shall not "fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh". The flesh is in direct opposition to God, the Spirit, who is leading us and guiding us. Thus, we must...
Written on March 7, 2010
Exo. 16 and Num. 11 - While many Christians know that manna is a type of Christ, this truth has been mere doctrine for most, who lack the adequate experience. Such was my case, which was exposed this morning. The description of manna is very much different from our natural concept. While we (speaking for myself, and most people, whom I assume are like me) are always looking for greatness, much like the Jews in John 6, the Lord Himself desires to be small in the eyes of man; small enough for man...
Written on February 24, 2010
Matt. 24:45 - This verse has been constantly welling up in me for about 1.5 years now. By disposition, I am not very outspoken. I am easily discouraged. I like to keep to myself. Some consider me an introvert. Yet, it was because of this verse that I have gone out again and again to preach the gospel, in hope that I would be found faithful. I have chosen to deny my preference of keeping to myself, to make a fool out of myself, in order to feed those who are hungry.These times have been mundane,...
Updated on February 13, 2010