Here’s a comforting thought:

When we get to heaven we will no longer have to be concerned with how our communication (or lack thereof) might be interpreted. Instead, everyone will just *know* what the other person means.

This is not so while on this temporal earth. So now comes the discomforting present reality. Our communication in our present condition is one marred by sin, and one thing we know about sin is that it makes one stupid. I sense a syllogism budding forth:

1. Sin makes you stupid.
2. All people have sinned.
3. We’re all stupid.

O! do I ever know that this describes me with frightful accuracy! For example, a few months back a professing Christian brother strolled over to my blog and stirred the pot by belittling my use of certain older language. There’s no doubt that this was foolishness on his part, for it wasn’t an affirmation of the sentiment found in my blog post. It certainly wasn’t to my edification. Nor did it serve any beneficial purpose whatsoever to anyone. Instead it was a needless, below-the-belt, comment.

And here is where sin came in. I had several options. I could have deleted his comment, ignored his comment, or just politely respond and say, ‘Thanks for your thoughts.’ Is this what I did? No. Why? Because sin makes you stupid. It mars your communication. It makes you lust after defending yourself when it’s not even necessary to do so. I responded to his comment with scorn and sarcasm. I really “showed” him. I even spent time authoring subsequent posts…all to his comment that had the relevance and importance of minutia.

Okay, so it’s one thing to let your communication be driven by that mad dog residue of sin when you’re battling it out with someone who is trying to provoke you in an unChristian manner. However, what happens when you can’t even properly communicate with those whom you love? Do you know how sin has affected my communication in this context? I get impatient. I grow easily irritated. I do not take constructive criticism as such, but instead see it as accusation and belittlement.

I’ll also admit this: Even though I am an intense and passionate person, due to sin’s residue lining the walls of my heart, I don’t take into consideration sometimes that other folks can easily misinterpret my intensity and passion as anger. I don’t even realize it, but in the heat of discussion my volume exponentially increases. Sin stinks. Not only is it (most importantly) treasonous toward the Most High God, but it is damaging to ourselves and our loved ones.

One of the damages that will accompany us in this life is that of miscommunication. I feel like I’m the King of that Failure right now. I’m so glad that God has saved me and will continue to mold me into a better friend and communicator. Until that time, Friends, I ask for your patience, forgiveness, and understanding as I stumble through my most-of-the-time poor conversations, blogposts, letters, etc. I look forward to the day when I can communicate perfectly with each one of you in the presence of God and all His saints. Amen.

To My Best Friend:

You know who you are. Please accept my profound apologies for not being a better respondent in our communication. I have wounds and histories in the past that, combined with indwelling sin, render my communication as coming across very rough and seemingly insensitive. I assure you that I am thankful for our friendship and hope that God, in His mercy, will perpetuate our Christian love for one another into eternity. You remain steadfastly in my thoughts and affections, I suppose I just don’t communicate that very well.

Here’s the new recording of my semi-known “Deficient Grace”

The Arminian Rendition of Amazing Grace (Lyrics Below)

“Deficient Grace”

Verse 1:Total Depravity Terminated

On neutral ground, I’ll make my choice
Detached from death in sin
Able to see iniquity
And will myself to him

Verse 2:Unconditional Election Conditioned

Twas grace that made me savable
But did not make it sure
It took my will to make it real
And it may not endure

Verse 3:Limited Atonement Limited

The blood he shed, he shed for all
A mere symbol of his love
Held no real pow’r in of itself
Just vain hope from above

Verse 4:Irresistible Grace Resisted

This god is but a gentleman
Not wanting to intrude
We have rejected o’er and o’er
While he, for us, has wooed

Verse 5: Perseverance of the Saints Perished

I willed myself to be redeemed
On one of my smarter days
So if I sin badly enough
I’ll probably fall away

or

Alternate Verse 5:

Though he’s big enough to justify
And holds all things in his hand
I’m strong enough to leave his grip
And thwart his pseudo-plan (more)

1.
Your righteousness for my wickedness
Who am I for such exchange?
You bore his wrath, while I transgressed
Just to give me your Name

Chorus (a)
Who am I, who am I, Lord, Who am I?
That you would die, you would die for me
To satisfy the wrath of God Most High
Oh I ask, Lord, Who Am I?

2.
So here I am, a Child Of God
Who am I for such a name?
Because from Birth, I Loved You not
Yet you saved me anyway

3.
Oh, Gracious Lord, Who none can match
Who are You to be so kind?
You hold the heavens in your hands
Yet mortal man is on your mind

Chorus (b)
You are God, You’re the Lord, and You reign on high
And you, you do as you please
You are God, you’re the Lord Jesus Christ
Sovereign God of everything,

Bridge:
You gave me a new heart
And you raised me from the Grave
And by virtue of Your Blood
I am Saved!

So Who am i, Who am I, no longer Who I was
No I died, was made a brand new man
You satisfied the wrath of God most High
Now I know who I am

I’m the redeemed of the Lamb
—————————–

If you’d like to download it, right click here and click on “Save target as…”

If you’re using Firefox and have the AdBlock add-on (like I do), you’ll have to disable it in order to use the onsite player to listen. If you don’t want to disable it, you can just click the link below, or right-click and download it by “Save target as …”

Even Me

Verse 1:
I stood there mortified
Before You, O Lord
Because I was Naked and Exposed
My heart was terrified
As you thundered Your Laws

I had no defense, no excuse
For you to remove the noose from around my neck
I was at the end of my rope

Verse 2:
One by one, you scrutinized
My wretched, sinful ways
And I had no recourse
With each new word I realized
my sins with great remorse

But knowing that You, are holy and just
i knew that I must pay the price
For eternity

Bridge:
My head sank low I was all alone
with no redress, in my distress
What had I done against this Holy God
I had transgressed His holy law
I stood condemned by my own sin
And here I was…at my own end?

Verse 3:
Then I awoke, from my dream
To the preaching of Your Word
And I was haunted by Your Ghost

(Sung to Bridge Tune)
What I heard was bliss, That your righteousness
Had replaced a people’s Wickedness

(Back to Verse Tune)
And that You’d receive all those who believe
By your Spirit’s call including me

(Oh, and Lord, Precious Lord, I believe) Now I believe.

Jesus, I need, Your strength to help me along
Cuz I am so weak, and Lord you are so very strong

Oh yes Lord I can see a need you
And yes, Lord, I believe I need you
So I sing this song with Confidence

Yes, Jesus Loves Me
Yes, Jesus Loves Me
Yes, Jesus Loves Me
The Bible tells me me so.
————————

If you’d like to download it, right click here and click on “Save target as…”