I have been really busy lately, and it’s a shame because the one thing I sacrifice when I get busy is my time alone with God. The one thing that is most vital, I drop as soon as I get busy. Even as I am writing this I can feel the Holy Spirit convicting me that I should say I also sacrifice my time serving God, but since I really haven’t been doing that lately I’m not sure that counts.
The other day I was listening to a sermon, probably by Matt Chandler, and in it, he talked about how important prayer is. He went on to say that when we pray we ask for things and usually pray for others and such, and then he posed a very dangerous question, why don’t we be an answer to our own prayers? For instance, Jim lost his job so his wife has to work late during the week, so I pray that God will help comfort Jim’s family and that he can find a job. So being the good American Christian, I feel that I have done my part, look at me, I am awesome because I spent twenty seconds thinking about someone else. But what if, I answered my own prayer? What if I let God use me to comfort Jim’s family? So maybe now, I make dinner for the family every Tuesday night and I go over to their home, encourage them and let them know that I am not only praying for them but I am serving God by serving them. Then, they are encouraged because the can begin to see how God is beginning to care for them even in this difficult time, so surely the God who moved me to serve them will also provide for Jim’s family. I’m not say that Jim’s family should just wait for a job to drop out of the sky, but that they would begin to see, that God has always been their provider not Jim’s job.
I know this was kind of brief, but I hope you can begin to see the point I am trying to get across. So often we treat God as our heavenly waiter, just waiting around for him to bring us cool stuff, and that is not at all who God is. We are the body, we need to move, I need to move.
I think for the past couple of months, I have written very few posts because I have been quite convicted about the nature of and purpose of my blogging. So I want to take a second to, at least for my sake, state my intentions for this. In list form for those who enjoy it…
1. As an act of worship, I cannot begin to tell you how much I learn just by writing and listening and reading for this. I don’t think I have some special gift or that I am so super holy person nor am I necessarily always right about things I post. But I write because for me, this is an act of worship and I hope that God through my erratic grouping of thoughts that become posts encourages others as well.
2. To get others to think.
3. This isn’t really a reason, but just a warning to me, lest I get too puffed up. Simply writing about God doesn’t mean I am serving him, I will be the first to call myself a hypocrite when I write about things and then never do them myself. But I hope it is a start, a beginning of a transformation in me to serve God and spread the gospel.
One last thing, there is a back story to this but I won’t share it at this time. But I am amazed how arrogant the left is when they claim to be all the things they are not. I was called a Nazis, because of what I believe, someone, claiming to be opened minded person called me a Nazis then proceeded to make a joke about the aggie bonfire collapse. That’s all, just wanted to share that, and btw no, I did not say anything to provoke those comments nor did I respond in a like manner. It just sucks, I needed to share that because it made me feel better. So thanks for reading.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
God's faithfullness
It has been a while since i have posted on here so i just wanted to take some time and not write about one thing, but just articulate some things i feel God has been teaching me as of late. However, i started writing my first thought and then i started reading commentaries on it, and i decided that i should just stick with it...
1) His faithfulness is bigger than my doubt, 2 Timothy 2:11-13;
"If we died with him
we will also live with him;
if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
if we are faithless,
he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown himself."
If we died with him - Through our salvation in Christ, we are one, and there as he died on the cross so too did we. While he physically suffered and died, as repentant Christians our old selves, our sins, our old way of live, also died with him.
we also live with him - Since we died with him as one, we too live with him as one. As his chosen people, we share in his glory. It just hit me again, how backward God and Christianity is (at least to the wisdom of the world), because for the world, life begins at birth and ends in death, basically life begets death. However, the gospel and the cross, say that through death, life begins, basically death begets life. I like that...
If we endure (suffer) - For me this is the hard part. What this looks like for me, right now, is looking at my budget and realizing that the money i have, is not mine, but God's. I've been working for almost a year now, so i have been developing a strategy for my money so that i can provide for myself, and one day my wife, then my kids, and then my retirement. It's a wonderful process, because it's so important to be a good steward with what God provides. It's tough though, cause in my limited faith, i feel like, i need it all, and i get caught thinking of all the things i could do with that extra 10%. But who am i? Who am i to tell God that i trust him with my life, but i don't trust you to provide for me on 90% of my income. My pastor said it so well, he used his life as an example, and asked us how much is a loving wife worth? How much are three loving children worth? etc... There is no price tag, all good gifts come from God, and i hope that i will always give back a portion of what he as given me, not like Cain, but with the heart of Abel.
We will also reign with him - this is the cool part, because our suffering for him, brings God glory, and ultimately will gloryify us too, which is how we can take joy in our trials. We reign for all eternity with Christ, which begins at salvation. It's so comforting to know that God is with me, and while i may face trial or suffer here, my kingdom is secure in the eternal grace of God. What hope! I've mentioned it before, but this is why the new testament writers are always pointing to eternity and to put our hope and thoughts and joy in Christ's eternal glory. Faith, the assurance of things hoped for.
If we disown him, he will disown us - I think this speaks for itself. God is just, we were created for his purpose to be holy and glorify him. In the same way that if i had a spoon that had a hole in, i would through it away because it does not fulfil the purpose it was created for, God will disown us if we disowned the purpose we were created for.
If we are faithless, he will remain faithful - The foundation of the God who was, is and is to come. God does not change, and his character is not dependent on us, his love, his agape is not conditional. He is the rock, the cornerstone, the God of the OT is the God of the NT. Even as a christian, i have to remind myself that when i fail, that God does not, and that he will provide and that i should trust his faithfulness. On the other side, this is why it is really funny, or sad, that atheist will say that God does not exist and then spend their whole lives trying to prove God doesn't exist. It's the same as me going into a closet and saying the sun does not exist, i can say it all day long, but my view does not determine whether the sun exists or not.
He cannot deny himself - Again, God is who he says he is. His word is true and if i find myself confused or misguided i need only to look into the God who judges without partiality, and trust that he will lead me by the still waters, even if i can't see them.
Sorry if this got long, but i started looking into this set of verses and i had never really studied them. I wanted to just write little bits about several different things, but for me, there are times where i just become enamoured with God's word and i had to just sit on this for a bit. I used crosswalk.com and found a great set of commentaries, John Gill's Exposition of the Bible, and i would highly recommend it for help studying the bible.
As i always try to, i found a great video the other day. It was truly awesome, so watch and enjoy!!! It's called the cardboard testimonies...
http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8616c1559ab4221b3910
1) His faithfulness is bigger than my doubt, 2 Timothy 2:11-13;
"If we died with him
we will also live with him;
if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
if we are faithless,
he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown himself."
If we died with him - Through our salvation in Christ, we are one, and there as he died on the cross so too did we. While he physically suffered and died, as repentant Christians our old selves, our sins, our old way of live, also died with him.
we also live with him - Since we died with him as one, we too live with him as one. As his chosen people, we share in his glory. It just hit me again, how backward God and Christianity is (at least to the wisdom of the world), because for the world, life begins at birth and ends in death, basically life begets death. However, the gospel and the cross, say that through death, life begins, basically death begets life. I like that...
If we endure (suffer) - For me this is the hard part. What this looks like for me, right now, is looking at my budget and realizing that the money i have, is not mine, but God's. I've been working for almost a year now, so i have been developing a strategy for my money so that i can provide for myself, and one day my wife, then my kids, and then my retirement. It's a wonderful process, because it's so important to be a good steward with what God provides. It's tough though, cause in my limited faith, i feel like, i need it all, and i get caught thinking of all the things i could do with that extra 10%. But who am i? Who am i to tell God that i trust him with my life, but i don't trust you to provide for me on 90% of my income. My pastor said it so well, he used his life as an example, and asked us how much is a loving wife worth? How much are three loving children worth? etc... There is no price tag, all good gifts come from God, and i hope that i will always give back a portion of what he as given me, not like Cain, but with the heart of Abel.
We will also reign with him - this is the cool part, because our suffering for him, brings God glory, and ultimately will gloryify us too, which is how we can take joy in our trials. We reign for all eternity with Christ, which begins at salvation. It's so comforting to know that God is with me, and while i may face trial or suffer here, my kingdom is secure in the eternal grace of God. What hope! I've mentioned it before, but this is why the new testament writers are always pointing to eternity and to put our hope and thoughts and joy in Christ's eternal glory. Faith, the assurance of things hoped for.
If we disown him, he will disown us - I think this speaks for itself. God is just, we were created for his purpose to be holy and glorify him. In the same way that if i had a spoon that had a hole in, i would through it away because it does not fulfil the purpose it was created for, God will disown us if we disowned the purpose we were created for.
If we are faithless, he will remain faithful - The foundation of the God who was, is and is to come. God does not change, and his character is not dependent on us, his love, his agape is not conditional. He is the rock, the cornerstone, the God of the OT is the God of the NT. Even as a christian, i have to remind myself that when i fail, that God does not, and that he will provide and that i should trust his faithfulness. On the other side, this is why it is really funny, or sad, that atheist will say that God does not exist and then spend their whole lives trying to prove God doesn't exist. It's the same as me going into a closet and saying the sun does not exist, i can say it all day long, but my view does not determine whether the sun exists or not.
He cannot deny himself - Again, God is who he says he is. His word is true and if i find myself confused or misguided i need only to look into the God who judges without partiality, and trust that he will lead me by the still waters, even if i can't see them.
Sorry if this got long, but i started looking into this set of verses and i had never really studied them. I wanted to just write little bits about several different things, but for me, there are times where i just become enamoured with God's word and i had to just sit on this for a bit. I used crosswalk.com and found a great set of commentaries, John Gill's Exposition of the Bible, and i would highly recommend it for help studying the bible.
As i always try to, i found a great video the other day. It was truly awesome, so watch and enjoy!!! It's called the cardboard testimonies...
http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8616c1559ab4221b3910
Monday, February 2, 2009
Little Red Riding Hood or (llrh for short)
I have to say this is long, but i really feel that God was teaching me so much, so please read, there is so good stuff and a video at the end! Please, feel free to comment
It's funny how God reveals himself. For quite a while i have had a real problem with the prosperity gospel, and as a result Joel Olsteen. I don't have a problem with him because i dislike what he has to say, i have a problem with him because God's word is in direct contradiction to what he 'preaches'. But the kicker for me has been trying to explain to others that what he teaches is not the God of the Bible, but in fact it is false teaching, because if it is not 100% truth then it is no truth at all! So usually the conversation will go like this;
guy #1 'So what do you think of Joel Olsteen?'
guy #2 'Oh, well he has a big church, and i've seen his book, i've even seen him on t.v., he's got the bible in the air, and he's always smiling and talking about God.'
guy #1 'Yeah, he's real positive, always saying how God wants us to be happy and wants the best for us.'
me 'Yeah, but what he's saying isn't really the truth, God didn't create us to give us good lives, thats not the gospel. He says that if you believe then God owes you an easy, rich, and healthy life'
guy #2 'Well, at least he teaches about God, and look at all those people at his church, at least they're in church.'
guy #1 'yeah, whats wrong with what he's saying, he uses the bible?'
So to that, here is my response, . . . .
The story is that a little girl wants to go see her grandmother, before she leaves, her mothers tells her to go straight to grandma's house, she warns her that the woods are dangerous and not to doddle. As little red riding hood is going through the woods, she sees the flowers and is tempted to go and pick them. Forgetting what her mother, who cares and protects her, told her, she stops and picks flowers. While her guard is down, the wolf appears. The wolf asks her what she is doing, and lrrh tells him that she is going to grandma's house through the woods. Suddenly, lrrh remembers what her mom told her and she runs off to grandma's house. But it's too late, the wolf knows how to trap her, he knows her heart, and what makes her vulnerable. So, the Wolf eats grandma and disguises himself as her. Then lrrh comes in and knocks on the door, the Wolf, disguised as grandma and knowing how to temp lrrh, answers with sweet words as the trap is set. In walks lrrh, she notices something doesn't look right, but she can't figure it out, because after all, it's dressed like grandma, it doesn't completely sound like her, but she is sick. So lrrh says, 'what big ears you have!' What big eyes you have! and to both the Wolf replies with answers, which don't seem like lies unless lrrh knew the truth. Finally, she says what big teeth you have, and then the Wolf pounces and attacks. Lrrh realizes it is not grandma, but in fact the wolf, and she screams for help because she cannot save herself. So in comes the local woodsman, brave and strong, forces the wolf to spit out grandma and then he goes he kills the wolf deep in the woods so that it can never deceive people again.
Sound familiar?? I hope so. The part of the story i want to focus on is the wolf disguising itself. Lrrh, knew her grandmother, it says she had visited before, but it had been a long time so she didn't recognize her like she should normally. The wolf uses this to draw lrrh in to his trap, not with lies, but with little twists and half truths. Like the wolf and lrrh, so satan does with us. (1 Peter 5:8-9) So whether, flowers, wolves, or smiling preachers, satan disguises himself and waits for the vulnerable.
I know this long, but one more...
This is what i feel is a good metaphor to better explain Joel Olsteen and the posterity gospel.
Imagine, you have heard of dogs and cats but have never seen one. So you ask me, 'Mike, what does i dog look like?' So i show this picture,
See, its labeled Dog. Oh, and look again...
See, its got four legs and a tail...
OH, and look at the fur and whiskers and paws!!
If you had never seen a dog or cat before, but know some basics about dogs, i could probably convince you that this is what a dog is, i used facts, right? If you believe me because i could show these things, you would go on think that you knew dogs. You could talk about them a bit, you might describe some of its characteristics. However, if you know the truth and you know what a dog is because you spend time with one and read about them etc..., you would call me a mad man for trying to tell people that a cat is really a dog! I think though, this is the scariest part, if for years you believe that a dog is really what a cat is, because i said so, when someone finally comes to you and says, 'No, thats nothing like a dog, it might have some similar attributes, but thats no more a dog then i'm a tree.' I would imagine, you would respond with outrage, or disbelief, or convince yourself that it's really the same thing despite the differences, but what matters is you believe you know the dog. In the same way, i say, the Bible says, this is what is happening now. In the same way the prosperity gospel is no gospel at all!!
There are so many verses which speak about what i wrote about so i will try to throw down just a few...
1 tim 6:20-21 - Turn from false knowledge
1 Cor 2:17 - There are false teachings, with impure motives
1 Cor 4:4 - evil will deceive you
John 8:44 -Deceit is satans native tongue
1 tim 6:3-5 -about false teachers
Eph 6:10-18 -Arm yourself with the truth of God to protect against the devils schemes
and there are many many more, i want to finish by sharing a video clip of Mark Driscoll and sharing the differences between the Gospel and the prosperity Gospel...video
Sunday, January 18, 2009
dear diary,
I usually don't come on here to just write my feelings like a diary, but i feel the need to share tonight about what God is teaching and showing me. I have been living and working in my hometown for about 6 months now, and it has been quite the adjustment. I'm not the kind of person who wants to be close to home, but that was where God had opened doors for me.
God has taken me down a path i never could have imagined and why i thought that would change once i graduated college i dont know. It's been so hard to be content with everything, i guess thats part of who i am, but can i say that trying to find fulfillment in my circumstances is the suck. And here is the worst part, i have it great. Great job, great family, great house, nice car, good friends, great health, etc..., but satan has his way of twisting it all. And here is what he as been telling me, he's told me, yeah i have great things here, but look over there, see how much more money they are making. See how much nicer it is where they live, can you imagine how happy you would be if you could just get there?
So what ends up happening is im robbed of all my joy for where i am now cause i start to buy into these thoughts, and now i begin to pursue these 'goals' because with them is happiness, . . . . right next to the pot of gold guarded by a mythical unicorn. But God (which i have said before could be the most beautiful words in all of scripture EPH 2:4) has been so merciful through it all, guiding me and carrying me when i couldn't see the way. Let me be clear, it's not like i've gone astray and fathered many sons, i have been seeking him, but i had this junk with me, and until i brought that to God then God wasn't gonna deal with me.
I guess what i am saying is i've been getting real honest with God lately, and its been so good. I was listening to a John Piper pod cast and he was talking about John the Baptist, and i heard the verse, And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace (JOHN 1:16esv) and it was just so true, and beautiful. I hate my flesh, i hate this broken world, i just wish i could dwell completely with Him the way i am suppose to. In him is life, and it is so draining to try it on my own but i do it all the time. I love 2 Cor. 12:9, But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
i'm weak...
sorry, but im hooked on Lecrae, and this is probably his best work yet...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MllhC0qyEjY
God has taken me down a path i never could have imagined and why i thought that would change once i graduated college i dont know. It's been so hard to be content with everything, i guess thats part of who i am, but can i say that trying to find fulfillment in my circumstances is the suck. And here is the worst part, i have it great. Great job, great family, great house, nice car, good friends, great health, etc..., but satan has his way of twisting it all. And here is what he as been telling me, he's told me, yeah i have great things here, but look over there, see how much more money they are making. See how much nicer it is where they live, can you imagine how happy you would be if you could just get there?
So what ends up happening is im robbed of all my joy for where i am now cause i start to buy into these thoughts, and now i begin to pursue these 'goals' because with them is happiness, . . . . right next to the pot of gold guarded by a mythical unicorn. But God (which i have said before could be the most beautiful words in all of scripture EPH 2:4) has been so merciful through it all, guiding me and carrying me when i couldn't see the way. Let me be clear, it's not like i've gone astray and fathered many sons, i have been seeking him, but i had this junk with me, and until i brought that to God then God wasn't gonna deal with me.
I guess what i am saying is i've been getting real honest with God lately, and its been so good. I was listening to a John Piper pod cast and he was talking about John the Baptist, and i heard the verse, And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace (JOHN 1:16esv) and it was just so true, and beautiful. I hate my flesh, i hate this broken world, i just wish i could dwell completely with Him the way i am suppose to. In him is life, and it is so draining to try it on my own but i do it all the time. I love 2 Cor. 12:9, But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
i'm weak...
sorry, but im hooked on Lecrae, and this is probably his best work yet...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MllhC0qyEjY
Sunday, January 4, 2009
All Creation Growns
From time to time, the worlds events just get to me. Some day i just want to wake up and turn on the news and not find murder, war, death, abuse, sickness and famine. I wish we could just live in peace. As a christian, i know that this cannot happen. So i find my hope not in world peace, or cures for cancer or utopias or even hip new politicians and old cotton topped ones, but in God.
I found rest in the knowledge that when i turn on the tv and find all these horrific things that it only leads me closer to God and only deepens my hope and longing for Him. Since the fall and until Christ comes back there will always be horrible things (matthew 24) and no matter how educated or political or worldly or how much we want peace it will never come, how arrogant is it for us to think that we can fix our present situation. it doesn't mean we don't try, as christians we are called to love and suffer for everyone, but a finite man cannot resolve eternal problems. ONLY God can bring peace through the restoration of man with himself and the final eternal destruction of sin and evil (just read Revelations). If you say that we can make peace permanent and that if we can just get this person elected or just cure this disease then things will be right and if you put your trust and hope in man you will be disappointed! The writers of the NT constantly urge and command us to put our hope in things ETERNAL, because this world is broken, and it will fail you, and if you say that it hasn't failed you then please, leave your bedroom and go outside.
When a woman gives birth she goes through immense pain. Why? When the child comes out of the womb it comes screaming and crying, why? Or have you ever heard a coyote howl? Romans 8 tells us that all creation groans, and we groan inwardly, so when you understand that, then birth pains, babies crying and coyotes howling start to have a much deeper meaning. It is all a groan that says we were not meant for this world, and that until it is restored we will find suffering the norm. So i look to Christ for my hope. My faith is in him. You cannot have faith in Christ without hope in our redemption by him.
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Romans 8
"22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
2Co 4:17 - Show Context
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
2Co 4:18 - Show Context
as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
2Co 5:1 - Show Context
For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Col 3:1 - Show Context
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God
1Pe 5:10 - Show Context
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
Man cannot save man, if they could we would not need God. We cannot fix ourselves. My hope is in peace not yet seen, in a restoration not yet realized, and a joy not yet fully understood.
this song just resonates with me...
I found rest in the knowledge that when i turn on the tv and find all these horrific things that it only leads me closer to God and only deepens my hope and longing for Him. Since the fall and until Christ comes back there will always be horrible things (matthew 24) and no matter how educated or political or worldly or how much we want peace it will never come, how arrogant is it for us to think that we can fix our present situation. it doesn't mean we don't try, as christians we are called to love and suffer for everyone, but a finite man cannot resolve eternal problems. ONLY God can bring peace through the restoration of man with himself and the final eternal destruction of sin and evil (just read Revelations). If you say that we can make peace permanent and that if we can just get this person elected or just cure this disease then things will be right and if you put your trust and hope in man you will be disappointed! The writers of the NT constantly urge and command us to put our hope in things ETERNAL, because this world is broken, and it will fail you, and if you say that it hasn't failed you then please, leave your bedroom and go outside.
When a woman gives birth she goes through immense pain. Why? When the child comes out of the womb it comes screaming and crying, why? Or have you ever heard a coyote howl? Romans 8 tells us that all creation groans, and we groan inwardly, so when you understand that, then birth pains, babies crying and coyotes howling start to have a much deeper meaning. It is all a groan that says we were not meant for this world, and that until it is restored we will find suffering the norm. So i look to Christ for my hope. My faith is in him. You cannot have faith in Christ without hope in our redemption by him.
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Romans 8
"22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
2Co 4:17 - Show Context
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
2Co 4:18 - Show Context
as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
2Co 5:1 - Show Context
For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Col 3:1 - Show Context
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God
1Pe 5:10 - Show Context
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
Man cannot save man, if they could we would not need God. We cannot fix ourselves. My hope is in peace not yet seen, in a restoration not yet realized, and a joy not yet fully understood.
this song just resonates with me...
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
tidbits
A few things have been on my mind lately, and that’s all the introduction I can come up with.
1. It snowed last week, and only God could create something so beautiful.
2. This is a broken world, and while here in texas the snow was beautiful, in other places it causes death and hunger and suffering. Like love, sex, money, and self this world takes good things and twists them for evil.
3. A lot of post modern thinkers claim that religion causes more evil than anything else. I completely agree, that’s why I am a Christian. The root of religion creates an ideology of superiority because religions are based on following rules and doing certain tasks to achieve paradise or nirvana, therefore, anyone who does not do what you do to be a good ‘moral’ person is inferior. Christianity is the only ‘religion’ , for lack of a better word, which says that there is nothing we can do to deserve heaven, we all fall short. Therefore, Jesus offers grace. No one else offers grace. You cannot be proud about something you did not earn.
3a. Atheists, agnostics, etc, of the like are hypocrites of the worst kind. While they claim to not believe in anything, they too, are religious, their belief in no god is a belief which guides there perspective on life just like Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, etc. ‘RELIGION can be defined as: a set of beliefs that explain what life is all about, who we are, and the most important things that human beings should spend their time doing.’ They claim to be open minded, yet they exclude the gospel as a rational doctrine of belief and life. They call Christians dumb, simple, arrogant, and hateful but Jesus Christ calls them sons and daughters, his beautiful bride.
4. Atheists, agnostics, etc. claim that the presence of evil means there cannot be a god. If that’s true, then they must admit that there is no god, therefore, they cannot blame him for the evil they say he causes because in their religion, he doesn’t exist, making it impossible for him to cause or allow evil or good. In addition, they must also admit that in a godless world there is no hope, because we are all subject to this evil, godless world where at any moment we would become active participants in. Also, without the standard of God, what is evil?* The evil they claim that happens on a daily basis would in-fact not be evil, but would be just the way it is, an eventuality, normal. Their life, would be a pointless endeavor to death. The end.
-* yes I know the common theories about this question, and they all fall short unless the standard comes from God.
5. there is more to come, but I’m le tired. Please feel free to comment, even more so if you disagree.
6. Most of this comes from the amazing book, The Reason for God, by Timothy Keller
1. It snowed last week, and only God could create something so beautiful.
2. This is a broken world, and while here in texas the snow was beautiful, in other places it causes death and hunger and suffering. Like love, sex, money, and self this world takes good things and twists them for evil.
3. A lot of post modern thinkers claim that religion causes more evil than anything else. I completely agree, that’s why I am a Christian. The root of religion creates an ideology of superiority because religions are based on following rules and doing certain tasks to achieve paradise or nirvana, therefore, anyone who does not do what you do to be a good ‘moral’ person is inferior. Christianity is the only ‘religion’ , for lack of a better word, which says that there is nothing we can do to deserve heaven, we all fall short. Therefore, Jesus offers grace. No one else offers grace. You cannot be proud about something you did not earn.
3a. Atheists, agnostics, etc, of the like are hypocrites of the worst kind. While they claim to not believe in anything, they too, are religious, their belief in no god is a belief which guides there perspective on life just like Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, etc. ‘RELIGION can be defined as: a set of beliefs that explain what life is all about, who we are, and the most important things that human beings should spend their time doing.’ They claim to be open minded, yet they exclude the gospel as a rational doctrine of belief and life. They call Christians dumb, simple, arrogant, and hateful but Jesus Christ calls them sons and daughters, his beautiful bride.
4. Atheists, agnostics, etc. claim that the presence of evil means there cannot be a god. If that’s true, then they must admit that there is no god, therefore, they cannot blame him for the evil they say he causes because in their religion, he doesn’t exist, making it impossible for him to cause or allow evil or good. In addition, they must also admit that in a godless world there is no hope, because we are all subject to this evil, godless world where at any moment we would become active participants in. Also, without the standard of God, what is evil?* The evil they claim that happens on a daily basis would in-fact not be evil, but would be just the way it is, an eventuality, normal. Their life, would be a pointless endeavor to death. The end.
-* yes I know the common theories about this question, and they all fall short unless the standard comes from God.
5. there is more to come, but I’m le tired. Please feel free to comment, even more so if you disagree.
6. Most of this comes from the amazing book, The Reason for God, by Timothy Keller
Monday, November 17, 2008
Am i lost or just less found?
So i have been doing some gut checking recently, and while i know the end is worth wild the means are far from enjoyable. Over the past six months i don't have much to show for this. If i can be honest with myself, i would rather die now than know that i will spend the rest of my life as what some have called a tame safe life in suburbia America where i go to church and attend sunday school and write checks so that i feel that i am being all God has created me to be. This has been my path the past six months... and if this is where God wants me to be, then i will glorify him, here, now, but i will not allow the call of God to be drowned out by meetings, bills, and alarm clocks.
I am not saying that i haven't learned anything through this, i have, trust me. I am so blessed to be able to be in this position now, but this is not where i long to be. I love my job, i love architecture, i love getting paid, and having nice things, and there are countless ways to serve God here and now. But i find that i long for more. For those that know me, this will sound weird at best, but i really want some tattoos and a piercing and to go to some place far away and just live simply serving God's people returning occasionally to write about my experience. Not because i find it romantic or edgy or the 'in thing', but because i want to fulfill the purpose for which i was created for.
And this has been so hard to even deal with, and half the time i think i am crazy, i actually hope i am, cause most people thought Jesus was a little crazy. But i cannot continue to know my savior and not be radical, i cannot claim to know the truth and not be changed by it, and i cannot see what i have seen and experience what i have experienced and not move to proclaim the hope which i cling to. For now that means being here in Houston, but who knows what is next. I know that in God's mercy he is using this time for a purpose that i cannot see yet, and that i need for my heart to come closer to his and to be patient for his timing. I have been saying that no matter my circumstances, if my chief goal is to glorify Christ then i can't lose because my joy is found in eternity and not in my circumstances...
i have the words and a link to Brooke Fraser's C.S. Lewis Song below, i believe that finding her music has been an answered prayer for me. She is an incredible song writer and her heart for Christ is something that i long for and this particular song really says what my soul is searching through...
C.S. Lewis Song by Brooke Fraser
If I find in myself desires nothing in this world can satisfy,
I can only conclude that I was not made for here
If the flesh that I fight is at best only light and momentary,
then of course I'll feel nude when to where I'm destined I'm compared
[CHORUS]
Speak to me in the light of the dawn
Mercy comes with the morning
I will sigh and with all creation groan as I wait for hope to come for me
Am I lost or just less found?
On the straight or on the roundabout of the wrong way?
Is this a soul that stirs in me, is it breaking free, wanting to come alive?
'Cause my comfort would prefer for me to be numb
And avoid the impending birth of who I was born to become
[CHORUS]
[BRIDGE]
For we, we are not long here
Our time is but a breath, so we better breathe it
And I, I was made to live,
I was made to love, I was made to know you
Hope is coming for me
Hope, He's coming
I am not saying that i haven't learned anything through this, i have, trust me. I am so blessed to be able to be in this position now, but this is not where i long to be. I love my job, i love architecture, i love getting paid, and having nice things, and there are countless ways to serve God here and now. But i find that i long for more. For those that know me, this will sound weird at best, but i really want some tattoos and a piercing and to go to some place far away and just live simply serving God's people returning occasionally to write about my experience. Not because i find it romantic or edgy or the 'in thing', but because i want to fulfill the purpose for which i was created for.
And this has been so hard to even deal with, and half the time i think i am crazy, i actually hope i am, cause most people thought Jesus was a little crazy. But i cannot continue to know my savior and not be radical, i cannot claim to know the truth and not be changed by it, and i cannot see what i have seen and experience what i have experienced and not move to proclaim the hope which i cling to. For now that means being here in Houston, but who knows what is next. I know that in God's mercy he is using this time for a purpose that i cannot see yet, and that i need for my heart to come closer to his and to be patient for his timing. I have been saying that no matter my circumstances, if my chief goal is to glorify Christ then i can't lose because my joy is found in eternity and not in my circumstances...
i have the words and a link to Brooke Fraser's C.S. Lewis Song below, i believe that finding her music has been an answered prayer for me. She is an incredible song writer and her heart for Christ is something that i long for and this particular song really says what my soul is searching through...
C.S. Lewis Song by Brooke Fraser
If I find in myself desires nothing in this world can satisfy,
I can only conclude that I was not made for here
If the flesh that I fight is at best only light and momentary,
then of course I'll feel nude when to where I'm destined I'm compared
[CHORUS]
Speak to me in the light of the dawn
Mercy comes with the morning
I will sigh and with all creation groan as I wait for hope to come for me
Am I lost or just less found?
On the straight or on the roundabout of the wrong way?
Is this a soul that stirs in me, is it breaking free, wanting to come alive?
'Cause my comfort would prefer for me to be numb
And avoid the impending birth of who I was born to become
[CHORUS]
[BRIDGE]
For we, we are not long here
Our time is but a breath, so we better breathe it
And I, I was made to live,
I was made to love, I was made to know you
Hope is coming for me
Hope, He's coming
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