Well, it’s that time again! The third installment of my Deep Thoughts: Espresso Shots from Your Truth Barista!
If you don’t know what Espresso Shots are, they’re mostly random thoughts that pop into my head throughout the day as I study God’s word, read through the wild ‘n wacky news cycle and surf social media. They’re my observations and reflections, sometimes inspired by God and others when my snarky side lets loose. (Can those two things abide in the same body?)
I’ve culled most of these Espresso Shots from my Facebook page. Yes, I’ve inflicted my musings on those friends who haven’t blocked or unfriended me (yet).
Go here to read about the genesis of the Deep Thoughts: Espresso Shots from Your Truth Barista from the Frothy Thoughts Blog. And be sure to check out Deep Thoughts, Part Deux
And here we go.
Espresso Shots from your Truth Barista
“Give a donkey a megaphone, and the bray just gets louder” (Book of Jay, chapter 4, verse 3).
I keep hearing about people getting ‘triggered’ by the way someone looks at them.
When I was raising children, I heard, “Dad, he’s looking at me.” Obviously, getting “triggered” means a childish inability to handle life’s difficulties.
Helpful tip: Triggered = Offended. Why is this important? Offended is MY problem, and I have to deal with it. “Triggered” is an excuse to make it someone else’s problem and justify my obnoxious response to the other person’s so-called offense.
From my Minnesota residency days:
I saw water in the street gutter today. It’s great to see winter bleed out and die.
The best thing about winter? Spring. The 2nd best thing? A snowblower!
I used to work at a job that required a bachelor’s degree where I was paid $15/hour to grade standardized tests for high school students who made $15/hour and couldn’t write a coherent sentence. (Shakin’ my head.)
What does it mean to be “saved?”
I like how Dr. Michael Heiser explains it in his book Unseen Realm. We are born with an allegiance to self and the world. When God reveals Himself to us and the way back to Him, we switch allegiances. When we switch, the Lord regenerates us according to His promise and empowers us to live in His kingdom and walk His kingdom ways. Our job is to learn how to walk out our allegiance to the Lord, i.e., obey His words. Easy to understand.
My new pledge of allegiance: “I pledge allegiance to Yeshua and the united people of God, and to His kingdom over which He reigns, one family, under God, indivisible, with liberty and love for all.
I think air travel in the middle seat is pretty close to the lowest ring of Dante’s hell.
Seriously, how is Safety Dance even a song?
During his campaign, one-time Democratic presidential candidate (2020) Julian Castro said that we need scads of immigrants because Americans aren’t having enough kids to replenish the population. Still, the Democrats keep pushing Americans to have abortions.
One-time Democratic presidential candidate (2020) Pete Buttigieg declared that a baby’s first breath determines life during the campaign. I agree. The fertilized egg receives oxygen from the mother for cellular respiration. It may be a shared breath via mom, but it’s a breath. Hence, life. Game, set, match. (Hat tip to my lovely wife, Jeanne, for the inspiration.)
Define hypocrisy: The Left violates your privacy by dictating to the extreme what you put into your body, soda, yet howl “Privacy!” over what a woman takes out of her body/aborts, a baby.
The pro-abortion crowd doesn’t want to hear that what they are killing is a human being. Either that or they don’t care that they’re killing a human being, and that’s a chilling thought!
You can never have amoral (non-moral) legislation. All legislation is based on some standard of what is right or wrong. The decision is on whose standard of morality do you want to make into law?
My response to anyone who says God’s love allows same-sex ‘marriage’ and sexual relationships? God’s love will not allow what His holiness cannot sanction.
The Messiah is never late, nor is he early; he arrives precisely when he means to! (Luke 13:31-33, hat tip to The Lord of the Rings, Fellowship of the Ring)
The Bible calls us “worthless servants” (Luke 17:10, worthless = useless, good for nothing). We cost more to God than what we return. Therefore, our ROI (return on investment) is extremely low. But Jesus knows that. Do your best anyway. Remember, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Luke 19:17). Faithful outweighs the return.
Some change their lives to align with God’s Word. And then some change God’s Word to align with their lives.
“Woe to you experts in the law! You have taken away the key to knowledge. You didn’t go in yourselves, and you hindered those who were trying to go in” (Luke 11:52). I wonder how many leaders and professors of liberal seminaries will hear this from Jesus’ lips? How many liberal pastors will hear the same?
“While everyone was amazed at all the things he was doing, he told his disciples, ‘Let these words sink in: The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.’ But they did not understand this statement; it was concealed from them so that they could not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it” (Luke 9:44-45). Sometimes, for the sake of His plan, Jesus keeps you in the dark. It’s okay. Just roll with it.
Think you’re the only one who has gone through your particular temptation? Think again. “After the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him (Jesus) for a time” (Luke 4:13). “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). “For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted” (Hebrews 2:18). 1) Jesus has perfect understanding, compassion, and help for all who want it. 2) We have no excuse. Choose wisely.
With the God of All Creation standing watch over Israel (Psalm 121:4, 33:12-15), why doesn’t Israel just tell the rest of the world to go pound sand?
God has given us all we need. We just have to catch up with his wisdom.
On Jesus and being His disciple:
How can one call themselves a rabbi’s disciple when they flagrantly reject their rabbi’s teaching/command?
Students don’t take a class to tell the professor he’s wrong or take regular shots at their professor’s own textbook to maintain their ignorance or error. Why do so many Christians today think they can be that kind of student?
We’re not verbal witnesses primarily, but lifestyle witnesses. Words without a demonstrable life backing them up are meaningless. A truly discipled and spiritually active life speaks louder than any words. But actions and words are best.
July 17 is National Tattoo Day, National Yellow Pig Day, National Hot Dog Day, National Lottery Day, and National World Emoji Day. So, take a tattooed yellow pig to a hot dog lunch with your lottery winnings and celebrate by posting an emoji.
Question:
Me: Why do many deliverance ministers shout when casting out demons? Jesus cast demons out “with a word” (Matthew 6:16).
God: It’s hard to cut wood with a dull ax.
Addendum: Does the same apply to loud preachers?
It never ceases to amaze me how humanity can invent technological marvels and then turn them around for evil—for example, TV, the internet, and guns. The problem isn’t the object. It’s the soul.
According to Britain’s Sun newspaper (a 2019 article), in one month 53 Americans died in mass shootings, and (about) 40,000 died from obesity.
So, let’s apply the opposition’s logic. Gun deaths = take away guns that cause those deaths. Therefore, for obesity deaths = take away food that causes those deaths. On the other hand, we could just teach and encourage gun/food responsibility.
But then, the opposition will want to have food registration, mandatory food classes, food safety, and safe-eating seminars. Will there be a modified ATF, a Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Food? Will we have to apply for Conceal and Carry permits for food? Will only certain types of food be allowed, like kale (yuck!)? Will certain kinds of food be labeled “assault” foods and banned? Will condiments be classified as gun magazines are, i.e., you can only have one condiment on your sandwich instead of the full complement? If we order food online, will we have to have it sent to a government-approved food distributor for pickup? Will we have to transport all food in a closed container unless we are at a designated eating range? When pulled over by the police, will it be mandatory to declare all snacks present in the car or be subject to arrest and confiscation of our Twinkies?
It’s a slippery slope, especially with mayonnaise.
“When food is outlawed, only outlaws will have food.”
Here’s a final Espresso Shot straight from my wife, Jeanne: “Don’t assume by the color of my skin that I’m judging you by the color of your skin.”
Bam!
Pastor Jay Christianson
The Truth Barista, Frothy Thoughts