All posts by L.L. Shelton

About L.L. Shelton

Bonnie is a Jesus Lover, and in light of the fact, loves His wonderful church. She is interested in many things and enjoys sharing her view of some of them on this blog. She is a poet and a singer of songs. She resides in Memphis, Tennessee, where she is a dedicated wife and the mother of seven children- five of whom she educates at home, as the eldest two have graduated homeschool and are pursuing their own interests. In her spare moments she may be found in her home office with a client, as she is a practicing Biblical Counselor and a Life Coach. She welcomes you to print and share her articles and poetry, and to quote freely from them with the understanding that she is to be acknowledged as the author. Mrs. Shelton does NOT OWN the copyright to the majority of the photos and other types of illustration used on this site!

About This Emerging Church Thing

Church Culture, Living the Word, , ,

This one’s for you, Jill. And it’s better late than never, huh?

I’ve been a part of church culture all of my life, and it occurs to me that in some instances we are apt to throw the baby out with the bathwater. And there may be a baby emerging from this Emergent Church thing. If so, right after we dry it off, properly clothe it, and snuggle it- we need to go ahead and throw out that bathwater…

Please consider that reason is not absent because experience is present. Words do not loose their importance in the company of image- words often conjure image. All that is external does not become meaningless because of the worth of what is internal. Feelings are not without significance in the face of the tangible. These things are true.

Now, the presence of Truth does not indicate a lack of love; nor does it indicate an intolerance for ignorance of its existence. On the contrary! As Christians, we are bound to acknowledge, in fact compelled to heed the undeniable presence of Truth, and to lovingly point others toward it.

For Our LORD has declared Himself to be Truth incarnate; therefore the pursuit of absolute truth is the most rational, the sanest occupation for any man.

Of course, it is true to any thoughtful person that much of what we think we know- we do not know, and that we may even in glorified state not know it all; however this does not negate the value of what we do now know.

And the pursuit of Truth most certainly does not breed arrogance. It produces confidence. It is sin that breeds arrogance, a lust to be right, and the desire for control. Nevertheless, the loving quest for what is true will often produce righteous leaders. This is not to say self-righteous leaders, and the distinction is important.

For what we actually know, should be determined by no less than a clear eye focusing a penetrating gaze upon The Word of God; and then filled with reasonable passion for Him who has declared Himself to be Truth, that eye must strive to maintain an unclouded view of the world and all that is in it, through the lens of The Spirit of Truth.

Thus, it should be understood that the awareness of and love for Truth, will no more violate the experience of Faith, than being alert to the existence of water and desiring it, will ruin the experience of swimming.

That said, I should also say that a swim in a cool, clear creek on a hot summer’s day is a delight, but a swim in dirty, lukewarm bathwater is another thing all together.

Copyright 2011, L.L. Shelton

Twice From Wonderland, And There To Stay

Poetry,

Into the rabbit hole she fell
Searching for heaven- reaching hell;
Entangled then in his embrace,
Destined to die there in that place.

“Save me,” He heard her strangled plea,
“Where is The One to rescue me?”
Into her soul He poured just then,
Himself to triumph over sin.

He marked her with His Holy Seal.
He loved her with unending zeal.
No longer did she lie confused,
But rather stood; with Him bemused.

Said He, “Your cause has been my own,
And now I’ve come to take you home.”
In garment bright and clean arrayed,
She by His side forever stayed.

©2011, L.L. Shelton

Ride Out of Time

Poetry, ,

Be not discouraged, Royal Bride!
The Prince of Peace is at your side.
The Wind within you chant and chide,
Throughout eternity you’ll ride!

Mine, forever! My grace abounds!
Saints stand with you gathered ’round.
No harm beset you while I’m found,
Be glad you stand on holy ground!

My angels with you through the night,
Dispatched to aid you in my sight!
I will turn all that’s wrong to right,
Just as the day that swallows night.

©2011, L.L. Shelton 1/28/2011

The Story of Us As I Have Understood It

Poetry,

For Emily, Donald, Anna, Jonathan, Alexander, Jaxon, and Little Madelyn, with great and genuine affection

Man began before the ages,
Thought within Eternal Pages.
By stirrings of His mind was wrought,
A lover for Himself He sought…

My Love be mine, by me fashioned,
Will be brought to know my passion.
She, placed in Paradise to rule
Will meet The Serpent, come to woo.

The choice be hers to honor me,
She’ll fall into her destiny.
Convinced she is not truly free,
In selfishness she’ll flee from me.

Into her nature she’ll descend,
Still I to hers my soul will mend.
From dust to dawn I will transcend,
Myself in Christ will recommend,

Restoration through salvation,
Genesis to Revelation,
And though it cost me all, I Am.
I’ll be for her The Spotless Lamb.

I will buy back what once was mine,
Will burn away the dross- refine.
I will most purposefully die
Restoring luster to her eye.

In Hell I’ll stand to take her place
To earn for her redeeming grace.
Her true identity once lost,
She’ll find once more nailed to the cross.

Now in mine be One, gentle, wise,
Truth full, who sees with my own eyes;
Who’ll convict and comfort ever,
Who’ll from grace be severed-never!

Once lover of the world made wise
Will come her nature to despise.
My nature now she’ll learn to crave.
She will be mine beyond the grave!

Thus she will wander lost no more.
She will be with me as before.
All be mine by my own power-
Redemption be our finest hour!

©2011, L.L. Shelton

In Response to “Dawn” by Robert Bly

Poetry,

Who are you, Mr. Bly,
And what do you realize
When you ponder the things you see?

Do you know that
Those who realize The Baby
And then ponder the things they see

Are new forms of creation
And that too, for each of them
A glass ceiling has been destroyed?

Do you know, my friend,
Setting stars never disappear
That they only hide for an instant?

Will you understand the
Language you seek to recover
Has been recovered by the new?

And it is now sung
Throughout the universes
Known and unknown for all ages

And the stars which twinkle,
Hide and reappear once more
Are named and they sing the same song!

©2010, L.L. Shelton

“Dawn” by Robert Bly

For the Church

Poetry,

His Radiant Bride

Is this she, made to give her precious son
To mouth of beast, small body now undone;
Calm, serene, stands to sing His Word, far flung
Strains echoing today pushed from her tongue?

Is this she, His forgiveness still doth seek
For enemies who plot to make her weak,
Heart gladdened, mind made strong, thoughts gathered round
The Throne while body slumps beneath the mound;

Who dipped in boiling oil, her mind took flight
As joined with You she hoped, conspired to write
The story, draw the picture that depicts
The Final Word above The Crucifix;

Whose persecutors mocked her, caused her frown,
When preaching loud her Lord and by them found,
Proposed to murder her such as The Crown,
She rallied, Will you hang me upside down?

‘Tis she! Who burneth brightly whilst she sings,
Truth, Love, Light, Beauty founded by her King,
Established for eternity her thoughts
To bring Him glory by His Word was bought.

‘Tis she! Who smells the smoke of ugly zeal
Yet marches forward carrying His Will.
She shudders not as gazing on that hill,
Knows where her Master’s passion leadeth still.

Her head she places squarely on the block,
Surrenders up her self, blood smattered frock.
Small price is paid. Forever with His flock!
She reigns eternally upon The Rock.

Her heart emboldened, empowered to feel,
Her mind enlightened by His plan to heal,
His people to redeem, selfishness kill,
She glories on marked with His Holy Seal;

His Good Love never failing to inspire
In her the most magnificent desire
To see Him face to face, behold her Sire.
Let God be true and every man a liar!

©2011, L.L. Shelton

Who I Am

Living the Word

I have been pondering for some time on this subject. The title to the page was suggested with the site, as was the idea that I should display some biographical information. Of course, any of you who know me are aware that a request of this nature will suggest to me a pause for deeper consideration… and so the site has been up awhile as I have been attempting to formulate a thoughtful response.

Also, those of you who know me personally are aware that I am a dedicated wife and a homeschooling mother of seven. But this will be news to those readers with whom I am not acquainted. Our children range in age from twenty-three and graduated from college, to three and in the nursery. I genuinely love my friends and my family, and I attempt to live as a good citizen within my various societies, great and small. But… who am I?

I considered simply typing in my written testimony of salvation, self-published in nineteen ninety-four, but that seemed to be a bit of a cop out on the opportunity presented. I mean, only cyberspace people would actually arrange for this type of intimate assessment of one’s self, impose no deadline, and make available the medium for the world to observe the outcome. Maybe I should explore this inquiry- Who am I? – in depth, present a truly well contemplated answer…

First, a few words about who I was:  I was she who ate the fruit.  I was the blind beggar, unable to know what caused my foot to stumble.  I was the paralytic…  the woman at the well…  the leper…  the one overcome with fear of the storm.  I was the one with a dreaded disease.  I was the one sick and unable to heal myself-  or to find The One to heal me.  I was the one lost and alone with no knowledge of how to escape my personal hell on earth.  I was the one dead- unaware.

Then…  Jesus found me.  He revealed to me Himself, in all His loveliness, in all His purity, in all His perfection.  He showed me that He is The Way and The Truth and The Life, leading to Light and Love.   He displayed to me His generosity of Spirit, and His wisdom.  He made plain to me the will of The Father, which is His Holy Word.

And I became no one.  I am nothing.   Apart from my Savior, I have no good thing.  I…

I am hopefully dying a bit each day as He transforms my mind-my self into His mind-His self; molding me and making me the self He originally designed me to be, but whom I would never have embraced before He made me His own.

Who am I? I am His.

And the question ever begging to be asked is:  Who is He?

It Was For Me A Song

Poetry,

You came and kissed the earth

With lips so soft and sweet,

To grant mankind new birth

That we would worship at your feet.

Eternal optimism now within my heart aflame

For You have beckoned to me-

You have called my soul by Name!

And I will mourn my passing never-

Won’t sing as one who has no hope!

To own You be my sure endeavor,

It was for me the world You spoke.

©2010, L.L. Shelton

You Can’t Legislate Morality and Other Fallacies

Politics, ,

Does anyone else remember this catch phrase- you can’t legislate morality?  I heard it often.  I didn’t think about it as often.  I’m really thinking about it now.

America, not only can we legislate morality, but we do it everyday up there in DC, and in every voting booth around this country.  May  I submit to you that we’ve been a bit confused regarding the difference between morality and true spirituality?

Morality is a set of standards put forth, by which a society or an individual agrees to be governed.  Spirituality is something else altogether, it may imply a moral code, but only if that code is felt or believed to be necessary by the person possessing his spirituality.

Again, I urge that we Christians take our place in the governing of society wherever and whenever possible.  Of course, it is understood that we belong in church government and in the pulpits, but we belong everywhere!  We are to live in this world! We are not to be like those who take their places among the unbelievers, but we are to take our places among the unbelievers…our places.

True Christians have the opportunity to legislate morality in this nation.  Scripture makes it clear that while we cannot legislate true spirituality, we may be given the opportunity to legislate morality. We are America! As of today, we have that opportunity! This great and imperfect nation needs True Christian leadership at every level.  Let’s stop allowing the world to intimidate us, and get to work!

BTW- For those of you who read my posts consistently, there is no contradiction here.  You can love someone without wanting him to be your President (or your preacher).  And,  President Carter, no disrespect intended, according to Scripture, neither being black nor being a woman is being involved in a lifestyle that is declared by God in Scripture to be offensive to Himself.

A Note to The Westboro Baptists and to All Who May Have Misunderstood Christmas

Bible Talk, Church Culture, Living the Word, Politics, , , ,

While I may not be compelled to label you as goats, as you are and will be labeled appropriately by One greater than us all, I do stand with Danny Akin and others who have considered the possibility.

Are you unaware of the Absolute Truth and Authority of Scripture? Is it possible that you do not consider the entire Word?

Have you considered the Word of The Lord in Matthew 2:8, 9:4, and 12:25? God knows your thoughts! Are you as angry with yourself for your own evil thoughts, as you are at the openly homosexual for his? Have you considered the Word of The Lord in Luke 5:22, Luke 6:8, 9:47? Have you thought about His Word in Mark 2:8, 8:17, and 12:15? How about John 2:23?

Is one man’s sexual offense greater than that of another? I am sure from Scripture that God hates fornication, adultery, homosexuality, pedophilia, and the like. He also hates gossip, envy, and divorce. God hates sin because He loves man and sin destroys man.

Is one man’s thoughtful or behavioral response to any temptation weighed differently in heaven than another’s? Is one man’s illegitimate desire or action more offensive to God than that of another? I submit to you that the answer is no.

And so we have Christmas! God came as Christ to be with man, so that the man who is with Christ will no longer be ultimately destroyed by his sin! Hallelujah! God with us!

I do believe there is Scriptural evidence to support our understanding that heavenly rewards may be adjusted according to our record here, and there is tremendous empirical evidence to support the fact that the natural consequences of sin vary greatly and are certainly destructive according to the degree of depravity displayed in the offense.

However, whatever the natural consequences of sin, our mandate as individual Christians is to love in Christ, all of humanity; and to call one another to account as well as others, in The Spirit of Love. (Luke 6:27-36)

Of course, we must consider that it is NOT loving not to call ourselves and one another to account when we are obviously offending God, according to His Word; as then we would be helping ourselves and one another along the path to evil, to compounded sin, or to hell.

This is why it is so important for each of us to remember that we are unable to effectively call another to repentance when we have sin that we have failed to forsake in our own lives, thus we must daily confess our obvious and secret sin, seeking forgiveness for all that is in us that has offended God and then receive that forgiveness. Only then, may we be ready to assist the next man. (Luke 6:39-42)

And one conspicuous way to assist each other is to meet the need we all share as human beings for love, grace, encouragement, companionship, and tenderness.  Some say that we cannot offer these things to those outside the church because we are not to fellowship with the unbeliever. If you are one of them, I submit to you that we have a tendency to misunderstand the term “fellowship” in this instance, as it is intended to imply that we must not engage in those things that are an offense to Our Wonderful God no matter our company or our circumstance, however we are encouraged by the example of Scripture to engage any human being in the love of Christ Jesus Our Lord.

Furthermore, we can offer these things to one another more readily without falling into sin ourselves if we are keeping up the spiritual disciplines in our own lives! My friend, and brother in Christ, Dr. Don Whitney, has written a most excellent and readable guide for today’s Christian called Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. It has been a benefit to me and I highly recommend it to all.

May God help us this Christmas and always to remember that Christ is Christmas! And may He assist us in our attempts to aid one another in His Almighty Love!