Truth2Freedom's BlogThe mindset in postmodernism is that objective truth does not exist. But in post-truth, the person believes that objective truth exists, but they subordinate truth to their preferences, or their comfort. In other words, one doesn’t care that truth exists or what the truth is if it doesn’t line up with one’s preferences. "There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily" - George Washington letter to Edmund Randolph — 1795. Faith in Jesus Christ is our response to God's elective purpose in our life. These two truths--God's initiative and man's response--co-exist throughout the Bible. The gospel is "the message of truth" because truth is its predominant characteristic. Salvation was conceived by the God of truth (Ps. 31:5); purchased by the Son, who is the truth (John 14:6); and is applied by the Spirit of truth (John 16:13). To know it is to know the truth that sets men free (John 8:32). Believers are people of the truth (John 18:37), who worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24), and who obey the Word of truth (John 17:17). People have rejected, neglected, redefined, and opposed God’s truth for centuries. Some cynically deny that truth even exists or that it can be known by men (John 18:38). Others foolishly think that denying truth will somehow make it go away. Truth determines the validity of one's belief. Believing a lie doesn't make it true. Conversely, failing to believe the truth doesn't make it a lie. The gospel is true because Jesus is true, not simply because Christians believe in Him. His resurrection proved the truth of His claims and constitutes the objective basis of our faith (Rom. 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:3). Truth is our protection and strength (Eph. 6:14). Throughout history, people have tried everything imaginable to gain favor with God. Most turn to religion, but religion apart from Christ is merely a satanic counterfeit of the truth. At the heart of every false religion is the notion that man can come to God by any means he chooses--by meditating, doing good deeds, and so on. But Scripture says, "There is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). That name is Jesus Christ, and we come to Him by confessing and repenting of our sin, trusting in His atoning death on the cross, and affirming His bodily resurrection from the grave (cf. Rom. 10:9-10). There is no other way to God. False religious leaders and teachers talk much about God’s love, but not His wrath and holiness; much about how deprived of good things people are, but not about their depravity; much about God’s universal fatherhood toward everyone, but not much about his unique fatherhood toward all who believe in His Son; much about what God wants to give to us, but nothing about the necessity of obedience to Him; much about health and happiness, but nothing about holiness and sacrifice. Their message is full of gaps, the greatest of which leaves out a biblical worldview of the saving gospel and replaces it with the worldview of postmodernism with its dominant ethical system of relativism. The Bible describes mankind in the end times: “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 3:7). Spiritual answers cannot be deduced by human reason alone (1 Cor. 2:14). It’s not that spiritual truth is irrational or illogical, but that human wisdom is defective, because it’s tainted by man’s sinfulness, and unable to perceive the things of God. That is why the Bible is so important. It gives us the answers we can’t find on our own. It is God’s Word to mankind. Scripture is divinely revealed truth that fills the vacuum of spiritual ignorance in all of us. Post-truth is the word of the year for 2016 and also the philosophy of the day, According to the dictionary, “post-truth” means, “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” Simply put, we now live in a culture that seems to value experience and emotion more than truth. In a “post-truth” world, people make choices based on emotion and experience rather than objective fact. So in a post-truth world, truth is irrelevant. What exactly is a post-truth culture? It’s a culture where truth is no longer an objective reality. It has become subjective. It’s what’s true for me—my beliefs, my opinions, determine my truth. So in our post-truth culture, man determines truth. Man makes himself the ultimate authority. This starting point, which rejects God’s Word and the idea of moral absolutes, makes truth subjective. Truth will never go away no matter how hard one might wish. Christianity is grounded in objective truth. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Objective truth exists because we have God’s Word. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Thy word is truth” (John 17:17), and Paul and James describe the Bible as “the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15; James 1:18). The Psalmist says, “The entirety of your word is truth” (Psalm 119:160). Jesus Himself said, “For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” (John 18:37). When Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except by me” (John 14:6), He wasn’t expressing His personal belief or opinion. He was speaking the truth, a fundamental reality that doesn’t change from person to person. It doesn’t matter if our culture thinks all roads lead to God. The truth of the matter is “no one comes to the Father but by [Jesus].” This blogs goal is to, in some small way, put a plug in the broken dam of truth and save as many as possible from the consequences—temporal and eternal. "The further a society drifts from truth, the more it will hate those who speak it." - George Orwell
drawing someone into existence… I like that a lot. I used to draw all the time a few years ago. mostly yu-gi-oh & anime characters… the face & hands are always the hardest to perfect…
great poem moonie!
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very cool that you are drawing moon…i want to see more of your work…a very magical tale in your verse…the man of your dreams first on canvas then in real life…
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Could turn into a nightmare – lol
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Would be rather freaky to open the door and find your drawing in the flesh….a magical tale in these lines.
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Romance meets reality – smiles
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MDW…
Those hands should play the piano!!
The Poet is brilliant….
Great One Shot…G
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Thanks for the kindness
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If only I pursued this… I love drawing so I know what a challenge it is to draw someone’s face… specially the one you love.
Nice to meet you ~
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So today’s a triple celebration: One Stop’s birthday, your poem, and your return to drawing. How lovely that your hand works in concert with the words in your head.
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A truly beautiful write!
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How can I possibly dricesbe your content without sounding stupid? I guess it’s too late now, but this is great content. I like how you made this information so engaging.
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A really lovely poem about a very lovely idea…I could imagine a novel or a film exploring the/a story around your poem/idea….I wonder, if to some extent, we all ‘draw’ someone in our minds before they appear..then life throws surprises! hmm..happy drawing Leslie!! :))
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This set my imagination off on a Poe-like tangent – what if the “man” brought into existence is some sort of soul-less golem? Sorry to be macabre, but I can’t help but wonder what happens next.
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I did see a Jekyll Hyde aspect as well 🙂
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I like your blog its awesome. You are my night in siihnng armor the love of my life. You are my prince charming at the ballroom fest night. I can’t wait to see more of your poetry about just about everything. For video games you should start at Secret of Mana and then maybe Dawn of Mana ^_^
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Beautiful, tender piece. I envy those who can sketch…such a great gift…painting the page into existence.. 🙂
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Wow…lovely, Moonie…and keep drawing. there is nothing more substaining than knowing how to draw. It’s a major foundation in life….never guessed.
You brought the gift right to the door!
Lady Nyo
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Congratulations on starting your drawing again…
I recently started drinking again
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Leslie,
First of all I would like to comment on your beautiful poem. I really enjoyed the mixture of poetry and drawing. The talent apparent in both. I don’t know if you are going to share, but if you do I would love to see your artwork!!! Second, congratulations on a year at One Stop Poetry, thank you for making it all possible. It is hard to think a year has gone by. I’m glad I met a friend like you. Cheers to another fantastic year and many more!!!!
~Corbie Sinclair
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The best part is the friendships we have gained …
The hand I can’t take credit for – my problem is time to write and draw
Hugs Corbie
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Leslie…for the first time in years, I picked up a box of colored pencils, and spent the weekend doodling my heart out. I can’t say I’m very good, but my goodness…what therapy came with those strokes of color going every direction…forming ultimately a collage of the most unexpected things…much like seeing that “person” come to life at the hands of your pencil. I thought this piece brought that all in and then some! Another wonderful write that was much appreciated, as is all the work you do at Onestop. I think I can speak for all of us when I say “THANK YOU! and of course, Happy Birthday! 🙂
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“My first sweep of your jawline
a shade around your nose
caught on your eyes
what happened who knows”
Beautiful rhymning and dream made real. Wow, what a romantic tale. Thank you for sharing.
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Yes the romantic returns…
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What an intriguing concept! Love this, Leslie!
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Wow I’d love to draw things into existence. Let’s just say I’d be rich! 🙂
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I didn’t know you are an artist as well as poet! That you could conjure up your love…and have him return..wow! And now you are conjuror! Lovely poem and the accompanying art …a double whammy!
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wow a great poem with quite an unusual theme … it’s almost like, a woman is giving birth … 🙂
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great poem and great sketch ~ i love hands! congratulations on OSP’s anniversary!
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Oh nice, keep up with your art work, you gave inspiration to me too, may be I ll start back again.
The poetry, I would call it a soothing melody, clasped with some questions, Lovely it is.
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What a lovely read. Dreams can say so many things to us and they do sometimes become our reality, too. Thank goodness it had a happy ending, I love happy endings~!
Thank you for visiting me and the great comment and, thank you too for all the work you each put into to organising One stop Poetry for us all.
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Magical poem! Absolutely loved it!
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A beautiful poem Leslie. To be able to draw into existence our dreams of love is a dream in itself, one i know I wish I could live out. Beautiful Leslie!
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Leslie, I love the concept of drawing someone into existence. Even if the drawing isn’t complete, you’ve already written the person into existence.
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Nice drawing. Some say hands are harder to draw than faces.
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I love the detail of the first few stanzas– I would encourage you to write free verse for awhile, and drive for images that evoke emotion throughout the poem– great job. xxxj
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So good to see you back. Missing Pete. ..a lot this particular week. Hope you’re feeling better. I think drawing must be good therapy and magic to keep the “hurties” away. We’re hanging in here. Loved this piece – sort of reminded me of that TV drama – the Doll Maker – where she thought she could sculpt the face of God. Maybe you can “draw” Angels to your door. I believe in that! All love your way, sweet one.
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Life imitates art imitates life, and love. Well done, Leslie.
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Moonie said: June 28th, 2011 6:23 pm
Ok that last comment was for someone else – I thought I was at his sight The sad reality of life and yet dreams can break in to the reality Beautiful …
Moonie said: June 28th, 2011 6:20 pm
Take care please my friend
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Love it!
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Wonderful poem!
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