Dale Cresap's blog

I promised that I would come back. Do you wonder when this will occur? I did tell you to watch for my return, but I also said that no man knows the day or hour. This has not prevented many of my followers from trying to guess. There should have been more embarrassment than there was for failed predictions. How should you approach this matter? Watch for me, and do the work I have called you to. Today is the only time within your influence. Concern yourself more with being ready than with trying to predict the future.

Do you think you are special? You are. You are fearfully and wonderfully made in my image. You are unique and you are loved, and you have a destiny that only you can fulfill. Is this enough? For this is true of every person. Do you want to be more special than others? This causes problems. What good will come of the comparison and climbing for position? This is caused by insecurity. Those who do not know they are loved are grasping for it. Those who know they are don’t need to.

Do you believe in the value of diversity? Do you see this as a recent secular idea? It was my idea first. Look at the diversity of my creation. Do you see me as the one who loves you and your group? How convinced are you that my love extends to everyone in the same measure? It is true that I have a chosen people, but it was my intention from the first to use them as a basis for accepting and blessing all nations. Do you regard yourself as one of my chosen people now? Demonstrate this by taking up the same mandate. Can you express my love toward those who are entirely different from you?

You have your own gifts and other people have theirs. Do you think that yours are the best? Do you discount the value of the gifts and service of others? Do you expect to get a reward for the exercise of your superior gift? How would you like to get yours and the reward of someone else as well? You will be recognized for your faithfulness, but he who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. There are enough other positions listed to imply that this principle is universal. Love one another and regard others for their place in my body.

Do you consider yourself to be risk-seeking or risk-averse? Most believers do not intentionally seek out risk, but it will come to you since you can’t avoid making decisions in the absence of certainty about future events. Trying to avoid all risk is the worst risk of all. Consider the parable of the talents. All of the servants who took chances with the Master’s money were commended. The one who was not was the one who hid the talent in the earth, even though he returned it intact. The question of risk-taking can be reframed as acting in faith.

Do you believe in guardian angels? There are some verses that give hints and suggestions but leave the question unresolved. There is another way to approach this question. You live in a dangerous world. It is full of infectious agents, machinery, moving vehicles, harsh conditions and beings of malevolent intent. Do you have any instances in your past in which you should not have survived but did? Many of these? How long do you think you would last if the world were governed by uncaring and indifferent randomness? Do you see the same principle in everyone you meet?

Do you want to have more money? Do you think of wealth only in terms of money? Does wealth have other dimensions? What about human presence? Think of the most meaningful interactions you have had. They probably did not involve money, but they did involve a person who was fully alert, aware, engaged, and present with you. Have you found that such people are rare? Have you found that most people are only able to offer you presence that is diminished by being distracted, clouded, dark or indifferent in some way? You can’t blame them if this is all they have to give. They are poor.

Have you encountered things that resonate with you? This term refers to things that vibrate at the same frequency, and in a human context it refers to things that you identify with and accept as valid truth in the absence of strict proof. This is intuitive knowing. Do you recall my statement that the Kingdom of God is within you? This is the source of resonance. You can encounter things that concur with truth that is already present in you, but it is possible for you to be unaware of that which is already there.

Are you familiar with the idea of paying back? This is the expected transaction to complete the process of a loan. This is expected and mandatory. What about paying it forward? This is not as common and is an act of faith. If you are kind to strangers it is not the conclusion of a transaction but the beginning of one. Where will it end? You have no way of knowing, but do it in faith anyhow. Your acts of love and generosity will have effects and far-reaching influence more than you can imagine. Trust me to keep track of this. Someday I will show you how your good deeds played out.

Which commandment do you think is the most difficult to follow? How about loving your enemies? How do you go about this? Are you content to hold a favorable opinion toward them? This is a commandment that is easier to keep in the abstract than in the concrete. But is that enough? Do your enemies know that you love  them? Express this in word and deed. Do good to those who persecute you, and hate you, and despitefully use you, that you may be the children of your Father in heaven who loves them as much as he loves you.