Desires of the Flesh

"You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace." Galatians 5:4

"I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith." - Philippians 3:8-9

Any desire, however high and lofty, becomes a desire of the flesh when it is prompted in response to a sense of condemnation; that is a sense of guilt and pressure. Even a high desire like loving God and others becomes a movement of the flesh in that instance because, however good and noble the action, it is actually a movement toward self-justification and self reliance. Whenever we feel the need to justify ourselves it is always an indicator that we are under law.

God has given us a Spirit of freedom, and freedom is our safeguard. A sense of pressure, guilt, fear, or resentment is always an indicator that, at that moment we are trusting, or are being tempted to trust, something other than Christ for our sense of justification. We have turned to some other law or rule keeping system, and our attempts to gain self-justification war against the spirit of God within us.

The pressure simply reveals. The pressure is not the problem. Neither is guilt, fear, or resentment. These disturbing emotions are gifts notifying us, like dummy lights on a car, that there is something wrong. We need to check under the hood...check our heart, and let these disturbing emotions lead us back to the freedom of trusting, not in our ability (or inability) to establish our own sense of righteousness, or right-ness, but back to the freedom of trusting in the sure truth that we are acceptable and counted righteous by our faith in the finished work of the cross.

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." - Galatians 5:1

can't take what I'm given

"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." - Matthew 5:5

Note that their meekness and their status as inheritors are linked. They need no longer seek power to gain what they desire for they are inheritors. All the earth is theirs. Who labors for what they already posses?

"For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and you are Christ's; and Christ is God's."
- 1 Corinthians 3:21-23

It's like the dime store wisdom the the youngest child intuitively grasps. When the child has a few bucks its like the whole store opens up to him. All things are potentially his and joyous hopes rise in his heart. Yet, when he finally finds and purchases that special something that he believes can fill the scope of his joy and longing, contain it so to speak, the disappointment is almost immediate. He begins to think man this isn't what I should have gotten, I should have gotten x, y, or z. What is happening, whether it is articulated or not, is the sudden realization that he has not simply purchased an object, but has just forfeited a store!

So it is for believers. We settle on an object we treasure and give it our hearts. Yet we too instinctively know that we have not gained an object so much as we have just forfeited the world. Or as Christ put it gained the world yet forfeited our soul . I would say attempted to gain the world. For it is only the meek who actually gain it. Those who have stopped trying to posses and grasp through power.

A hand clasped on one thing is a hand void of all else.

Longing for God

We see, if ever we see, not with our eyes but with the eyes of our heart. In the secret longing and subtle ache.

It is the longing for something, some...thing, that nothing, no...thing in our grasping can ever fill. We must remember that all that is, is consecrated to His glory. That is, everything points to Him. Therefore in a sense all that is, is holy.

We make the mistake of trying to attach our inner emptiness to some particular experience, hoping to gain from the particular a taste of the transcendent. Yet all glorifies God. All is holy.

In forsaking the now of this sanctified moment we attempt to limit, control, and posses God. In the process though it is we who are limited, controlled, and possessed.

Who need search for what they already posses? All is holy.

"Do all to the glory of God." -1 Corinthians 10:31

"Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." - Psalm 46:10

inside the box

inside the box

filled with unclaimed mysteries
beckoning the curious mind
emptied of its former goods
amid the wrappings left behind

a time machine, a turtle shell
an incubator for the soul
a tiny fort, a submarine
a cozy little hobbit hole

just a universe away
ideas flower, senses bloom
secret space to call my own
right there in the living room

shadowy forms and pinhole stars
cardboard scent and muffled sound
amplify my sense of self
diminishing the world around


paul keener

Sage Tree

Sage Tree


It stood age spotted and grey
A withered old man
Leaning severely under the weight of time
Exposed, fragile

Once a formidable presence
Strong limbs effortlessly lifting
Small children to perch
On broad shoulders

Once robust
Bright green leaves
Windblown and dancing
With the ideals of youth

Seasons were relentless
Time was determined
To strip him bare
Of all but his dignity

Creaky bones and thin skin
Trembling slightly in the breeze
Sets him whispering and muttering
Senile and incoherent


Paul Keener

I AM

I Am


I am from the Phillips and the Keeners
From the dark rich soil of strong and sorrowful Germanic poachers
And the chaotic overgrowth of brash and colorful Bohemian laborers
From beer drinkers and ballroom boasters
From stoics and fools
From Kathi and Jody

I am from the carnival
From rushed and crowded days and long and lonely roads
From diesel generators, fumes and grind
Flashing lights and a blur of faces
From vagabonds and drifters, con men and pipe dreams
From disposable clothing and hand me down friendships

I am from those who seemed to dwell on the outside
Window peering, pseudo sophisticates
Tattered garments worn with pride
From smooth talkers and polished yet fragile images
From lonely crowds, rich humor and biting wit
Flashes of grace and untethered hopes

I am from the backseat
Endless roads, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, and Jim Croce
From odd relatives and awkward visits
From unnamed longings and unfocused grasping
From old sorrows and soiled memories
From deep darkness yet deeper hunger

I am from the resurrection clan
From cave dwellers and truth tellers
From darkened pits and breathless light
From spiritual grit and surprising mercy
From the moment it started
Till this moment I write
From it all
I am

An introduction

Hello all. My name is Paul Keener. This is my first blog, and to be quite honest it's a little freaky. I don't know the "rules of play" or even if there are any. That said, I must think I have something to say or I wouldn't be here. So, I look forward to your comments, questions, or whatever.

As you can see I haven't much to offer at this point, but I've only just started and already chewed up about three hours just getting to this point. As addicting as I sense this could well become I feel life nipping at my heels and must resume later.