Nameless But Notable XVI: Inquisitive Aliens

"Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. ~John 12:20-22

Over the period of Jesus' life, especially during His ministry, people came from far and wide to see, speak with, or be healed by Jesus. So what makes these guys different from the others? They were Greek...and Judeans always were cautious around those of foreign lands.

What is also interesting is they were in Jerusalem during Passover which meant Jerusalem would've been crawling with Jews not necessarily Greeks. It could be concluded that they were proselytes [προσήλυτος/proselytos] or "someone who has found his/her place". It was a general title given to a person who has switched totally to embrace a certain religion, in this case it was Judaism. They were also usually gentiles. By this point Jesus' fame would've preceded Him and it is clear these Greeks knew who Jesus was since they respectfully requested and audience with Him. Everyone wanted an audience with Him, why wouldn't proselyte Jewish Greeks? Did they beleive this might be the promised Messiah? Why did they approach Philip first? Is it because of his Greek name?

We do not know the answer to any of these questions. What we do know is the effect it has on Jesus and what Jesus does next.

"Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me." John 12:23-26

Jesus' moment of truimph and suffering is now at hand. He is troubled by the experience to come yet this is the exact reason He has come. This is just the opposite of saved humans. For both Jesus and us the purpose hinges on death. By His death we get salvation by our death we get freedom because of His salvation. At our death we are freed from the bondage of sin but only because of His death.

If we jump back to the Greeks we see that Jesus is about to fulfill the promise made by God to Abraham. That he would make Abraham a great nation but through this nation all nations would be blessed (Genesis 22:18)...even the Greeks...even Americans. It leaves one to wonder...did these Greeks again inquire about Jesus after His death? After he had died and was raised again on the third day? Did they become Christian converts too?

He Reigns

In the life of the believer we see the reign of Christ already. In the consummation of the ages Christ will reign in everyone’s life. Of particular interest in this Psalm is the last verse and its statement that, “Your statutes, Lord, stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days.” Again we are looking a situations totally controlled by God. He is in control at all times. His creation (mankind), are expected to adhere to God’s statutes. He is greater than all these things. So powerful He can overcome death. I see this in my life already as mentioned before. I still have battles with sin and in non-believers sin reigns supreme but in general, believers allow the Holy Spirit to control their lives. We still live in the flesh so this battle is not totally won. This will not take place until our glorification at death or if we are called up to be with the Lord. The Lord is firmly in control. Rejoice and be glad in his strong arm upholding his righteous people.

Not only should God's reign in mankind be evident but as Romans 1 also tells us, it is evident in His creation. The Lord established kingship when he created (Hbw: tebel). This doctrine is in stark contrast to the chaos and random happenings of the ancient pagans and today's secular evolutionists. Yahweh is the creator God and He has established (Hbw: tikkon) the world.

Just as God has established His sovereignty over the created order so that His throne was established long ago, He also has made a "firm" covenant with Israel or His chosen people (i.e.: your statutes v.5). This wholly "other" God has made his dwelling among His people in the Old Testament in the form of the temple. In the New Testament He makes His dwelling IN HIS PEOPLE! God's covenants are eternal, "firm", or "for endless days". This was confirmed in Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! He reigns!

Psalms 93

(1) The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty;
the LORD is robed in majesty and armed with strength;
indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.

(2) Your throne was established long ago;
you are from all eternity.

(3) The seas have lifted up, LORD,
the seas have lifted up their voice;
the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.

(4) Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
mightier than the breakers of the sea—
the LORD on high is mighty.

(5) Your statutes, LORD, stand firm;
holiness adorns your house
for endless days.

Exalt God - His Love Endures Forever

I believe I see a pattern in the Psalm below (sarcasm intended). It is repetitive and gets driven home like the strike of a hammer against steel. The repetitive blow of, “His love endures forever” literally becomes part of the reader as they read this refrain and it begins to internalize itself in the reader. Intermixed are statements of God's glorious attributes and His works which are testaments to His mighty and benevolent nature. Why will this Psalm become an anchor of stability in a sea of chaos and disorder? It is because it is immutable and unchanging throughout this Psalm. The eye and the mind are drawn to it because of its order and repetition. As you read it, words come to mind: steadfast, unchanging, loving, eternal, security. This is incredibly important for a person who has recently suffered a loss of a loved one or is in distress either from illness or stress. When man sees and grasps his finiteness and limitations it is good to know that we have an advocate that is infinite, unchanging and loving. Praise God forever.

Psalm 136

(1) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
(2) Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
(3) Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
(4) to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
(5) who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
(6) who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
(7) who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
(8) the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
(9) the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

(10) to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.
(11) and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.
(12) with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.

(13) to him who divided the Red Sea[a] asunder
His love endures forever.
(14) and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
(15) but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.

(16) to him who led his people through the wilderness;
His love endures forever.

(17 to him who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.
(18) and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.
(19) Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.
(20) and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.
(21) and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.
(22) an inheritance to his servant Israel.
His love endures forever.

(23) He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
(24) and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.
(25) He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.

(26) Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.

In this Psalm we see the proper response to a God whose love endures forever. Who always looks out for our own good. Who frees us from sin. Who can deliver the Israelites through the Red Sea. Who gave us a massive sun to govern the day and the moon and stars to govern the night. A God who is far above our ways but still chooses to condescends and love a sinner like you and like me.

Psalm 150

(1) Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
(2) Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
(3) Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
(4) praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
(5) praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
(6) Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.

Under The Bed Or In Our Head?

I must admit that I am feeling rather listless right now. A few days after loosing my father I feel quite disjointed. Sunken. Scatterbrain. Out of phase. Caught in neutral between the joy of youth in the 1970's-1980's and the pain of loss today. The sun seems too bright right now. The sky is crystal blue but life seems to be casting shadows at high noon on a cloudless afternoon. I am going through life in rewind but standing still. I know better days are coming. Rejoicing comes in the morn.

For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:5

Do you remember long ago when you were a child? You awoke in the middle of the night and saw those dreadful shadows that lingered on the wall? They were cast by the moon light shining through the trees outside your window and silhouetting them on the wall of your bedroom? The fear of the unknown monster under your bed. You were afraid to put you feet on the floor until morning. Those monsters that your parents told you were not real eventually disappeared because they were not real. They were replaced with real monsters or should I say monstrosities of your own making from sin.

Now you are God's grown child. You still wake at night though. Fearful shapes are cast on your mind. Worry, fear, guilt, sin...and you cry, "Father Father help me, am afraid!". These demons that haunt you, these fears are just as real as the shadows you saw as a child and the unknown "thingy" that tormented you as a child under the bed or in your closet. Satan and the evil or this world loves to play on your doubts and fear of the unknown and spin them into some type of phantasm. The Bible is clear what you are suppose to do in these situations.

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 3-5

We are to take these phantasms and chimera captive and pull or put them down so they can do no damage. Sometimes these phantasms and chimera are more then they appear. God holds out His hand and says, "Fear not my child for I am with you." There is nothing to be afraid of! God shall remove all the tears.

How free of worry, strife and sorrow would your life be if you would only hand it over to God. Your life is weighed down with these things because you do not trust to turn them over to God. There is nothing too large or too small that God will not take on for you if you would only call on Him. Call on His name. Jesus.

Do not shut yourself up in your fears! No! Do not shut yourself up in your sorrows and sadness. Go...GO!!! Go forth into the world with your work. Even with a listless and dragging spirit. It is in the work and service of others and in the sympathy for others suffering that God's comfort lies. It is in this paradox, in these types of situations that we are confronted and shown face-to-face the humanity within us all. In these situations it cannot be avoided. Having suffered ourselves and then we see others suffer the same way we respond...in mercy. It is in this response that we begin to become sanctified and more like Christ...

Mercy...merciful...because we can...because we choose to not because we are made to. In this free will volitional act we become more holy.

We make this monsters powerless and harmless by turning them over to God. We remove the power they have over us by turning to God. These monsters whether they are imagined or real cannot stand in the face and presence of an Almighty God. Do not be intimidated. Do not be afraid. Just like the movie Monsters, Inc. these things under the beds in our lives get their power from our fears. God has made it clear, we are not to be afraid. He is in control. He didn't say easy, He said do not be afraid. We need to hand these ornery brutes over to God to tame them and make them serve us not let us serve them.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

A Kingdom of Priests: A Holy Nation

"You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” Exodus 19:4-6

We see features of God's covenant with Israel described here. What parallels are there between these and our position under the Gospel with Jesus Christ?

God delivered people out of Egypt like bring them from death to life (redemption). For Israel, Egypt was a place of affliction, suffering and subjugation. This similarity is seen in the Christian and the world in general. God makes a covenant with them that allows them to be His people and have an exalted position among all the nations. God has made them a “holy nation”. If they accept and obey this covenant God would make them a treasured possession; a kingdom of priests. God was offering them dignity in His yoke rather than a subjugated slave’s yoke that must do a master’s bidding against their will. We see here the “slave to sin or slave to Christ”. By submitting themselves to the stipulations of God’s covenant god would elevate their status and remove them from their bondage.

The Bible’s whole theology of redemption in the New Testament is summarized in these verse. (1) God judges the enemies of His people and His kingdom. (2) He redeems His people and brings them back to Himself. (3) If they truly turn to Him in their hearts not just do so as outward window dressing (Pharisees), God would exalt them. This is similar to what Christ does in Philippians. He did have to be Jesus submitted Himself to the will of the Father even to the point of humiliation and the Crucifixion. What did God do? He exalted the Son. His name above all names. (4) Having turned to Him, they will then have a special relationship with Him as they will represent Him as His priests to the world. In this way there is a way for all of humanity to approach God to get back into a correct relationship with Him as there was before the Fall.

What we see in this chance of redemption is God’s grace at work. In the Old Testament we see it in the form of the Law as this is the way God chose to reveal Himself and His perfect will. It is done through the covenant with His people. The demands of the Law are not random. They are exact and they are a reflection of God’s character, his justice, His mercy, His love, etc. We then see this same revelation reflect and embodied in God’s Son. Hebrews states this extremely well.

"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world." Hebrews 1:1-2

We also see that this relationship is maintained and upheld by faith. Faith that he, Jesus, gave Himself to redeem us from “all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” Titus 2:14

“...you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Pet 2:5

“…But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Pet 2:9

Through Christ’s sacrifice and redemption we are given the ability as believers in Christ, to do what Israel inevitably has failed to do to this point.

Soul Forged: The Lord As A Blacksmith

Forge

By: maxarkes

Sometimes it can feel as if you have been in the forge under intense heat and repeated blows from The Blacksmith's hammer for a long time. The metal is just beginning to cool and the impact of the hammer has folded the steel over on itself. It is a new creation made from the material of the old. The story of all new creations in Christ. The Lord is a blacksmith. He keeps a refining fire stoked and a keen eye on His creation as He shapes them by striking while they are white hot. The creation does not give easily and it is only under the heat and pressure that His prized possessions begin to take shape. It is as if His possessions have wills of their own always trying to fight the reshaping. He is a blacksmith and He keeps forging on. As people are always coming to Him requiring his sacrifice and service of salvation and sanctification. A Blacksmith that is also your Father, your Friend, and your Neighbor.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ~2 Corinthians 5:17

Sparks like stars fly upward from His hammer as He shapes with another annealing blow of the divine. There will be no swarf or waste product. The Smith will reuse all of the material. There is no waste in this Smith's world he uses everything, even the stuff others would've discarded as bad or useless. In The Smith's forge even the waste goes to good use. The only requirement for this Smith is that the new creation be pure...holy.

“See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years." ~Malachi 3:1-4

The new creation has been put through the flame. It was a heat that most wince away from when the forge door is opened or when the bellows are pumped to superheat the flame.Once the object to be worked has been heated it becomes malleable or softened so that it can be wrought. When cold and detached these creations are rigged and unbending. Once the Smith's creation has been put through the flame and becomes compliant enough it can be drawn out and spread over a wider area. It can be fashioned into a point or given a utilitarian edge like a wedge or chisel. The Smith can actually us His Smith's chisel and peen hammer to fashion another chisel to be used to create yet another chisel (and so on). The superheated creation can be bent to places or angles it didn't know it could bend. Punching can create indentations, bends, angles, holes or keys where there were none before giving The Smith's new creation a place to be filled or a place that will match up and mate with another of the Smith's creations. Alone these fitted pieces can do work but nothing as efficient as they can when used in unity. The synergy they create as a functioning system in a mutual dependency vastly outweighs their individual usages. The positive effect they have on the world when they work together vastly outweighs the impact one of them have on an individual basis.

A unification process of individual pieces can also be done in the form of welding also to create a rigged and permanent bond. In The Smith's forge the pieces to be welded are heated to what is generally referred to as "welding heat". The Smith judges the correct temperature by sight: The metal will glow internally an intensely. At this temperature the steel is near molten and impurities are burned off at an accelerated rate.

"Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel; remove wicked officials from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness." ~ Proverbs 25:4-5

Any foreign material or impurities that form in this fusion, such as the sin or unrighteousness that can weaken the unity of parts and potentially cause it to fail are removed. Thus interactions must be kept pure. The Smith will also carefully shape mating faces so that as they are brought together, unwanted elements are squeezed out as the creations are joined together.

"We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed..." ~2 Corinthians 4:8-9

The Smith cleans the parts to be joined with a course objects that abrades them and scrapes them clean and makes them pure, He then will put them in the fire to heat again. With a mixture of pounding, drawing and upsetting through a hammering process the faces will be shaped so that when finally brought together the center of the two will connect first and the connection spread outward under the hammer blows, pushing out impurities/sin.

The joining that was begun with the taps and eventually blows from The Smith's hammer. Often the joint is weak and incomplete, so The Smith will again heat the joint to temperature and work the weld with light blows to "set" the weld and finally to dress it into its final shape. It will be a glorious thing. 

There are no guarantees this will be the last forging. If the new creation breaks or is compromised, this process will need to be repeated to repair or remove imperfections

The new creation has taken shape or has been reformed. Often times it looks the same as the old but the inside is different in ways that will become evident on the surface later. A new internal strength. A new compassion for mankind. A need to "be with" others to help them, not just "go to" them once in a while. An understanding for others that will need to go through the same heat and forging process. Heated, hit with repeated shaping blows - heated again - hit with more shaping blows...

The Lord is a Blacksmith
Magnificent works are forged
Master of hammer, anvil and man
Shaping an essence of holiness

Can you hear the echoing ring?
The resounding of His hammer?
The Lord is Blacksmith and King
In Heaven's foundry He is Master

Ray Pierson: Well Done Good And Faithful Servant

Raymond (Ray) Pierson
April 23, 1942 - November 11, 2010

In my 41 years of life this is the hardest thing I've ever had to do. To eulogize and bury my father (Ray) and watch my mother (Kate) become a widow.

Dad's boat has left and arrived on the distant shore. Jesus has come to greet him after a long, rigorous journey. We'll be coming behind you soon enough Pop. Enjoy your heavenly treasures that have been stored up for you during the years of faithful and steadfast service to the Lord.
______________________________________

Snapshot of A Godly Life



In his earthy home Kate was Ray’s everything and Ray was Kate’s everything. If there is any one physical, earthly thing that both of them might have/had regrets leaving behind it was leaving behind each other.

“Tamquam Alter Idem” ...“As If Another Self”

This Latin phrase describes my parents marriage to a "T". A by-product of this love is typing to you now and the other is his brother. Marriage and spiritual unity’s purest manifestation is a child or children. To me this is the truest testament of God’s love and proof of his existence. Each of us is a miracle that has a purpose bestowed upon them by an Almighty God.

Raymond Pierson. Most knew him by “Ray”. I knew him by “Dad” or “Pop” depending on my mood. In a Father’s Day sermon one time I was asked, “What one word best describes your father?” As usual, if there is a loophole in something I will find it because of my over-analytical nature. I found this loophole in the word “integrity”. Integrity holds within its breadth multiple words or intents that I believe encompass everything that described my father.

"My eyes are continually toward the LORD, For He will pluck my feet out of the net. Turn to me and be gracious to me, For I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; Bring me out of my distresses. Look upon my affliction and my trouble, And forgive all my sins. Look upon my enemies, for they are many, And they hate me with violent hatred. Guard my soul and deliver me; Do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You." Psalms 25:15-21

When you think of the word integrity I think of honesty. My dad was honest sometimes painfully so. He was not “big” on “small” talk. If he liked you he blessed you by asking “God be with you” because he understood that if God was with you, no one could stand against you.

"…for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you." Deut 20:4

If you angered him he told you to “go pound rock salt”. He did not mince words. When he was younger he apparently had a very formidable reputation. I very rarely saw this side of my father but judging by the way he was treated with respect by others that ran into him when I was younger I would have to say they either respected him or feared him. Dad always paid his bills. Although he couldn’t always pay them in-full at time of delivery but the bills got paid. The local stores up until the early 90s knew that Dad was good for the money and usually gave goods on credit. And just so you know, Pop didn’t have any credit cards. They trusted him because he was an honest man.

"Continue to live such honest lives among the gentiles that, when they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good works and glorify God when he visits them." 1 Peter 2:12


When you think of the word integrity I think of steadfastness, solidness. Although my faith and many others had faltered, this man’s faith never wavered. Not even through the suffering towards the end. He was consistent like the ticking and movement of a timepiece. Occasionally you had to wind him up but once this was done he was like walking on solid ground. At least to all outward appearances, he was solid as a rock. He told me no man’s an island but Dad appeared to be. Now that I’ve gotten older I believe this was his most admirable trait. Amazing actually. Considering how difficult life had been for mom and him at times. And when I say difficult I’m talking about Job difficult, not the difficulty of other biblical people that had similar but surmountable problems. I’m talking pestilence and poverty problems. This man overcame hardships like steel being tempered in a flame. I guess this is why he always jokingly told me, “You can’t hurt steel” when we were sparing and/or wrestling. I think he understood how tough his life was but was humble enough to realize it with a sense of humor. He was a laborer. A hard worker with calloused hands but a soft heart. It was as if he understood perfectly his place in God's plans. It is this that I find most remarkable of all. No matter how hard a lot he had in life, he never bashed God, only called on Him for help or praised His name. Who am I to do any different? Praise God for a loving and strong roll model. Praise God for a loving God.

“Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, unmovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that the work that you do for the Lord isn't wasted.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

When you think of the word integrity you think God-fearing or a man of God. Jesus to be specific. Boy did Dad love Jesus and so did Mom. I believe he was married to the Bride of Christ first and to Kathryn Pierson second but with equal measure he loved them both.

“Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it” Ephesians 5:25

I initially didn’t understand this zealousness to profess their faith and belief. To surmise in a very brief form I will say this. I believe both of my parents were buoyed by the Holy Spirit.

Never be lazy in showing such devotion. Be on fire with the Spirit. Serve the Lord. Rom 12:11

My father liked fishing the sea but towards the end of his life never go the chance to go again. Life got in the way. The reality is...he ended up being a fisherman like his father was before him anyway. I believe he remained a fisherman until the end of his life, until the very last day in the ICU and hospice. Ironically, he was not using tackle and nightcrawlers to catch fish with scales and gills; he was using the “Word” and his internalization of the Word in his behavior to catch people. He had become a fisher of men.

While Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers-Simon (also called Peter) and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea because they were fishermen. And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Matthew 4:18-20

Above all he adored his wife “Kathryn”, “Kate” [I call her “Mom”]. He loved her with a passion like Christ has for the Church.

There are so many other things I want to continue to say in detail about my father but like life this eulogy must end. In the end, unlike the loophole I’ve created of the "one" word in that sermon “integrity”, there are no loopholes in death. God, Jesus, made this very clear. Only through him Jesus Christ, do we enter the gates of heaven and because God is so powerful we cannot do this alive in body.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

There is a word for this and it is called “salvation”. And behind this word lies the ultimate promise, which is based in faith.

“For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten Son, and whosoever shall believe in him shall not perish but live and everlasting life.” John 3:16

In closing I will offer this:

Like God our heavenly Father passed agape love on to my father and gave him these aforementioned attributes encapsulated in the larger mantle of “integrity” I hope that at least one iota of what my earthly father passed on to me in terms of character I’ve managed to pass on to my sons Seth and Bryce. This is Pop's (Ray Pierson’s) legacy which I believe ultimately was one of God’s purposes for him.

Dad, I believe you are now in the presence of an Everlasting Almighty God. Jesus has assured us of this by taking on our sins at the cross. I also believe you will be recognized by all those whom have gone before you including the likes of Moses, Joshua, David...and the list is long. You will know them by name and they will all know you by your name. Raymond Pierson, Ray, Husband, Pop, Son, Pop-Pop.

I love you Pop...Christ be with you.

Peaks and Valleys: Both Test Souls

I know that at some point in the near future things will get back to normal (whatever that is). Until then my family and I will need to get to tomorrow by putting one foot in front of the other in a form of locomotion that keeps us moving forward. Life has brought me to my knees in more ways than one. It has physically brought this once proud boy down and it has brought me to my knees in prayer. I have nowhere else to turn in this situation. God has made me totally dependant on Him. In this situation there is no substitute for Him, only He will do.

Rivers of living water will not run on mountain tops at the peak of our lives and at the peak of our performances. They do not run where all can see us in the glory that God has given us. Water runs in the valleys at the lower points in our lives. It is this water in these valleys that sustain lives. We must often scale a mountain just to find some of those valleys. It is in these valleys where we build our strength to help us carry on when we begin to climb the next mountain.

It is in the bottoms of the valleys where we see the beauty of the wildflower and the gentle wind blown grasses of summer. It is overlooking the valley or in the valley where we see the mother nursing the newborns and new creation of life in the springtime.

It is in our low points in the valley that we find the things that we need to persevere in our toughest endeavours. Living water and the grains and fruits that produce the bread of life. It is in the bowed over position of our labor in these valleys and in the sweat of our toil that we reap the reward of our labor and Christ's. It is the head that is bowed in sadness and tears that will again be lifted to rejoice in the sweet victory of Jesus Christ.

We cannot expect to remain at exalted peaks or in the lulls of our valleys in this life but to experience a fluctuation of intermittent peaks and valleys. We cannot be expected to stand on mountains forever because there is nothing there to nourish us but neither can we remain in the valleys. Staying in either place too long stagnates and makes us complacent or kills us spiritually. We learn perseverance by a constant testing of our character. Highs and lows, highs and lows. This requires that we occasionally walk through valleys to reach the other mountains we need to scale in our life. As we all know, both the valleys and mountains require exertions and effort. Occasionally, they cause hardships, skinned up knees and tears. Some mountains are higher than others and some valleys lower than other valleys. Sooner of later you will be required to walk through your lowest valley but what you gain on your way through may sustain you on the trek up to your highest mountain peak.

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Hebrews 12:22-24


Psalm 65

For the director of music. A psalm of David. A song.

(1) Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion;
to you our vows will be fulfilled.

(2) You who answer prayer,
to you all people will come.

(3) When we were overwhelmed by sins,
you forgave our transgressions.

(4) Blessed are those you choose
and bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house,
of your holy temple.

(5) You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds,
God our Savior,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas,

(6) who formed the mountains by your power,
having armed yourself with strength,

(7) who stilled the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
and the turmoil of the nations.

(8) The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;
where morning dawns, where evening fades,
you call forth songs of joy.

(9) You care for the land and water it;
you enrich it abundantly.
The streams of God are filled with water
to provide the people with grain,
for so you have ordained it.

(10) You drench its furrows and level its ridges;
you soften it with showers and bless its crops.

(11) You crown the year with your bounty,
and your carts overflow with abundance.

(12) The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;
the hills are clothed with gladness.

(13) The meadows are covered with flocks
and the valleys are mantled with grain;
they shout for joy and sing.