Wear the Crown!

By Rick Blumenberg / @rickblumenberg

When we talk about “Wearing the Crown” the reference is usually to royalty. Crowns by nature are ostentatious. We very seldom see a humble crown. But the crowns God chooses for his people are ones that look good on everyone and are never out of place. They have no commercial worth but their value for character development is awesome!

Scripture has a lot to say about crowns. Proverbs 4:9 says to seek wisdom and she will give a crown of splen­dor. Proverbs12:4 notes noble character as being a husband's crown. Isaiah 35 writes of a “way of holiness” on which “only the re­deemed shall walk”. “They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads.” It seems all Bible crowns are crowns of Blessing!

Tanner Creek near our home.

But I’m thinking particularly of the crown in Psalm 103 where we’re told God crowns us with “loving-kindness and compassion.” And this crown is not limited to a few select saints. Loving-kindness is a Divine crown or character trait God wants to share with everyone. And this crown looks good even if everyone is wearing it.

As Christians we have a choice whether or not to wear it. God gives it to us but he doesn't staple it to our heads. However, the privilege of free-will is a weighty liberty. We can choose to reject the privilege, but after making that choice, we cannot choose the consequences. But if we choose not to wear the crown we cannot be Christ-like. Why forsake such a privilege for any reason?

If we choose, we can wear this crown of loving-kindness and compassion selectively. Wear it only for those we love (when we are not angry with them). Wear it for those we like (when they behave as we like). Wear it only for those who deserve it (when they deserve it). But if it’s the real thing we don’t make those distinctions.

If we aren't careful others can take our crowns. An example might be rude drivers. It’s better to forgive them! It’s not worth losing your crown even for a little while.

Whether or not we wear the Crown should never be an option. I don't mean God shouldn't give us the option, but it is an option we should never choose!

When you go into battle with Satan don't forget your Crown! There is an old song that says "When the battle's over we shall wear a crown". I agree, but maybe we should write a new song that sings "While the battle's raging we shall wear the crown" because the Crown of loving-kindness and compassion is an offensive weapon (and I don't mean using the sharp points to ram somebody). When we do battle with Satan we should not use the weapons of this world. Weapons like bitterness, hatred, envy, and so forth, destroy people! God's weapons, on the other hand (weapons like loving-kindness, compassion) heal people. When we do battle with Satan the goal must be to save people (bring spiritual healing) not to destroy them. We work with Christ to destroy the people-destructive “works” of Satan—not the people Satan is trying to destroy.

And finally, the crown that God gives us is an eternal crown. I Corinthians 9:25 tells us it is "a crown that will last forever."

God gives the crown.....Don't forget to wear it! When you go to work in the morning don't forget your crown! When you discipline your children, don't forget your crown! When you disagree with your spouse, or boss or neigh­bor...don't forget your crown!

When you wear the crown of King Jesus (the crown of loving-kindness and compassion) it blesses God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), it blesses all around whom you wear it, but it probably blesses you more than anyone else. Wear the Crown!

I'm Rick Blumenberg and that's My View from Tanner Creek.
   

Gift of Reading, Key to a Good Life

By Rick Blumenberg  / @rickblumenberg

I grew up in a reading home. Mom and Dad would read the paper together, trading sections as each finished. Living in a home before the days of television (and even pre-electric for the first few years) I realize we didn’t have some of the distractions of our present day but some evenings every person in the family would have a book in hand, or, be listening to one. And that fostered a love of reading. When Mom was an older teenager, she wrote a column for the local newspaper about neighborhood happenings. She was paid with a subscription and years later, when I was growing up, we still got a free paper that she had earned for us.

One of my fondest early memories was when Dad took us to the library in Charleston, Missouri, and we went home with an armload of books! And I discovered that when we had read them we could take them back and get more! It was an awesome experience for a boy who couldn’t remember a life without reading and had just discovered to read for himself. All of our family members are readers and book lovers, and many of us are writers. Some time ago I wrote two of my favorite poems on the subject of reading. I share them with you here. I dedicate them to my family—past, present and future—and to their love of reading.

The Gift

I received it from my parents

a lifetime ago.

The family read together—

it was part of being home.

One reading, others listening,

or each with book in sheltered cove

In summer ’neath the shade tree

in winter by the stove.

We gave it to our children—

this gift of love received,

before they could know or understand

the words that we would read.

Dr. Zeus and Eggemier, The train that Tried

            and the Little Red Hen—

We watched their bright eyes sparkle

as reading would begin.

And now our children's children

are readers once again.

I don't know when it started.

I hope it never ends.

                                                --Rick Blumenberg

The Key

Read my child

            and no one can enslave you.

A book shall be your golden key

            to a strong unopened door.

With a book and time to read it

            the whole earth you can roam

And where others cannot travel

            you will be at home.

Read my child

            and travel far upon the deep.

Walk abroad on distant shores

            while others are asleep!

A book shall be your ocean barque

to sail the distant seas

And reading be your shining wing

            To ride upon the breeze.

                                    --Rick Blumenberg

I’m Rick Blumenberg and that’s My View from Tanner Creek.

  

Let’s Get Down to Basics: An Introduction to Christian Living

64 page, soft cover

$5.00 cost plus $2 postage. (PayPal or checks accepted.)

For purchase, contact me on Facebook/Rick Blumenberg


Let’s Get Down to Basics—An Introduction to Christian Living is a 64 page book for persons wanting to investigate the Christian faith. It is also good for new Christians who want a good beginning for a life-time commitment to Christ and for mature Christians who want to review some basic teachings of the Christian faith.

The biggest problem with this book is the small print size. I used the small print so I could get all the text into only 64 pages to save money and because I was young and had better eyesight.

 “Basics” is written from the Wesleyan-Arminian perspective as curriculum for a new Christians’ class but also works well as a stand-alone read. Here is an outline of the chapters with short explanations about what each teaches.

Chapter One: Bible Study is Basic, teaches the importance of regular and sustained Bible study for those who want to live a Christ-like life.

Chapter Two: Am I Really a Christian? This chapter helps the new Christian to confirm their relationship with Christ so they can live with assurance so they will not be confused when Satan tries to tempt them to doubt their faith and dessert it.

Chapter Three: I am Stronger than Temptation. Chapter 3 deals with the reality of temptation and helps the new Christian know how to face it victoriously and defeat it any time it rears its ugly head.

Chapter Four: Prayer is My Privilege. Prayer is the greatest privilege we have as the people of God and is our greatest help for normal everyday living. God gave us prayer because he loves us and wants to be constantly available to us. Prayer is his method.

Chapter Five: I Can Discover God’s Will. This chapter introduces and explains the concept that God’s will for us is what is best for us and that when we seek and find God’s will, we also find the best life has to offer.

Chapter Six: What Do You Mean…Stewardship? Giving to God through tithes and offerings is an important part of Christian living, but it is sometimes difficult for the new believer to accept. It is important and this chapter will help you understand why.

Chapter Seven: A Second Step. Salvation is not the end of the Christian life, but the beginning, or first step. Step two is learning to surrender our lives to the leadership of the Holy Spirit and allow him permanent residence in our heart, mind and life. He is the comforter, counselor and guide for whom we are most grateful.

Chapter Eight: I Have a Spiritual Gift? Explains the concept of spiritual gifts, how we receive them as gifts from God and how to develop them for greater effectiveness to bless our own lives and the lives of those in our sphere of influence. We don’t choose them. They are gifts from God, given at his discretion to bless our lives and build his kingdom.

Chapter Nine: Living Holy. God’s plan is for his Spirit to live in us and our call from God is to surrender our lives to him so he can make us holy, like he is. As Christians, we are sacred temples in which God lives when we allow him access or invite him in. This chapter tells in understandable language how to make this happen.

Chapter Ten: I Can Tell Others! Evangelism: sharing our faith with friends and family, is one of the greatest joys of the Christian life, but one that causes the most consternation and feelings of failure. This chapter will help you to understand it and hopefully help you to witness to your faith with greater confidence.

Chapter Eleven: Symbols of My Faith. Ordinances practiced by many Christian groups include baptism, communion and foot-washing. These are symbols of faith—symbolic actions that are living pictures of spiritual realities. You will learn their importance and how to practice them in the church.

Chapter Twelve: My Faith as a Parent. Parenting is at the same time, the most difficult and most rewarding task you will ever attempt. The Christian is privileged to parent under the leadership of God, who is the best parent and is both our parent and our best example for parenting.

Chapter Thirteen: The Last Chapter. This title has a double meaning. The literal last chapter of the book, it deals with the church age, the last chapter in Kingdom history. It gives an amillenial view of last things or the way God plans to finish his earthly program.