I often have wondered what is love really? I have been taught one thing by the media (books, T.V., movies, etc) and another by the other influences in my life.
Some of those things have told me love is about sex, But what about a love of a parent for the child (Oedipus aside)? Or the love shared between siblings? Others would tell me that love is about the heart and feelings, But if love relies on feeling/s then how can there ever be a “happily ever after”? feelings change from moment to moment.
I have had some insight from God in this. Through the bible that is. Love, he tells us, is patient and kind; it is thinking of others first, it is doing for others EVEN if they don’t seem to appreciate it. It is accepting the pain they inflict on you because they are selfish or angry.
In short it always puts others first, even when you feel like doing things your way instead.
It is seeking to do the needed things for others, EVEN WHEN THEY SAY THEY DON’T WANT IT.
I love certain people so I try to do the things for them that will make them better. When my daughter got stuff in her eye at school, it needed to be removed. Even though she didn’t want me to mess with her eye I still did what needed to be done so that she could start healing. And I stuck to it even through all her screaming and whining BECAUSE I LOVE HER.
I like the way the Greeks did things. They apparently have three words for love. Eros, Fileto, and Agape. These three definitions go a long way towards describing love.
Eros the love of a man for a woman. Husband and wife, the same places we get the word erotic from.
Fileto, love a child would have for a parent or maybe even a man for a friend. Friendly nonsexual.
Agape a deep abiding love. Deeper than the love that is signified by Fileto but still not sexual, a love that God has for us and that we ought to have for God And all of God’s creation.
Each of these loves might have elements that you would expect in another ( a man can love his wife “Eros” and also love his wife Fileto).
The amazing thing is that the love we truly need is seen in God. And that is a love we are supposed to show others.
Read your bible and learn about love. then you will know where it is at.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
WHEN SHOULD WE WORSHIP GOD?
Some people seem to be unaware of what is the appropriate time for them to worship God.
They know they can go to church on Sunday, and some even go on a Wednesday; But they are uncertain about the other 5 days of the week.
They might look Muslims and say “well it is easy for them, whenever the clerics call them to prayer. Or they can look at a clock and see when it is.
Well I have good news for you! I am about to give you the most astounding simplest easiest way to know when to worship God.
RIGHT NOW, and, oh yeah NOW and… well I think you get it. The point is that we can worship God at any time we want to. In fact that is exactly what we are designed to do. Amazing huh? We ought to start each day following God’s examples and asking him to be with us through our day, we ought to turn to him often and quickly throughout our day whenever the thought strikes or something comes up where we need his help or want to thank him, and we ought to do it again at night before going to bed thankfully appreciating the day that he has helped us get through.
This is NOT an easy thing I know but it is what he has made us for, and more importantly, as we do this we will find that it gets easier to do this simple thing. We will turn to him in troubled time because we are used to turning to him in ALL times, and we will benefit in ways we can never imagine.
See God asks us to include him in all things. God is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. That means he is always there, he always knows it (even ahead of time) and he is all powerful, nothing can beat him.
That means that even when you are trying to buy that fancy car, God is there… so why not include him in the deal? Ask him if that is the car he intends for you to own. Who knows maybe some people who have bought fancy cars would have been better off if they had included God’s plans in their purchases.
I know I can think of some certain celebrities who might still be with us if they had thought more about the car they bought first.
When you give that Presentation or report, when you go for a job interview, when you decide to go to a party… all of these are places God can lead you into what to say or do.
He asks all of his children to follow him ALL the time. Not just when it is convenient. Jesus says in Revelation 3:16, “So because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” we are to be all for Jesus (God) ALL the time; God does not want us to be wishy washy, that sends out a bad witness and that’s a bad thing.
They know they can go to church on Sunday, and some even go on a Wednesday; But they are uncertain about the other 5 days of the week.
They might look Muslims and say “well it is easy for them, whenever the clerics call them to prayer. Or they can look at a clock and see when it is.
Well I have good news for you! I am about to give you the most astounding simplest easiest way to know when to worship God.
RIGHT NOW, and, oh yeah NOW and… well I think you get it. The point is that we can worship God at any time we want to. In fact that is exactly what we are designed to do. Amazing huh? We ought to start each day following God’s examples and asking him to be with us through our day, we ought to turn to him often and quickly throughout our day whenever the thought strikes or something comes up where we need his help or want to thank him, and we ought to do it again at night before going to bed thankfully appreciating the day that he has helped us get through.
This is NOT an easy thing I know but it is what he has made us for, and more importantly, as we do this we will find that it gets easier to do this simple thing. We will turn to him in troubled time because we are used to turning to him in ALL times, and we will benefit in ways we can never imagine.
See God asks us to include him in all things. God is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. That means he is always there, he always knows it (even ahead of time) and he is all powerful, nothing can beat him.
That means that even when you are trying to buy that fancy car, God is there… so why not include him in the deal? Ask him if that is the car he intends for you to own. Who knows maybe some people who have bought fancy cars would have been better off if they had included God’s plans in their purchases.
I know I can think of some certain celebrities who might still be with us if they had thought more about the car they bought first.
When you give that Presentation or report, when you go for a job interview, when you decide to go to a party… all of these are places God can lead you into what to say or do.
He asks all of his children to follow him ALL the time. Not just when it is convenient. Jesus says in Revelation 3:16, “So because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” we are to be all for Jesus (God) ALL the time; God does not want us to be wishy washy, that sends out a bad witness and that’s a bad thing.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
LEADERSHIP:
I want first of all to say this is not about politics. This is about doing your duty as a Christian and as a “citizen” of this world.
I know that we are not really supposed to be conformed to this world. But we do still have a duty as Christian’s to transform this world.
And to that end I want to talk about the election coming up this year.
Whether you believe that Obama has been a good president or not, we need to go out there and vote our conscience/s.
Let’s consider the virtues shown to us by Jesus Christ. He showed us what leadership is all about.
He refused to back down when he was in the right, he faced off against other leaders and powers as needed, he didn’t bow to others, he used force when it was needed. On the other hand…
He served those who followed him almost subserviently, he met the needs of others often before even considering his own needs and he went out of his way to reach out to those who needed him.
These are the qualities we need to look for in OUR leaders.
I recently heard someone lament that there was no real choice between the candidates, that they were “all the same”. but they aren’t. the trick is to get educated, find out what they are really all about and then vote for the one/s who will do things the right way, or if that is not an option you can vote for the ones that most closely fit that type.
Of course the advice I heard from one talk show pundit could also stand in good stead, that is “if you cannot find someone to vote for, then why not vote against the one who is worse,”.
That is to say you may find yourself in a position of having to decide the lesser of two evils, but even if that is how you pick your vote that is still an equally valid way to do it.
Good luck at the polls.
I know that we are not really supposed to be conformed to this world. But we do still have a duty as Christian’s to transform this world.
And to that end I want to talk about the election coming up this year.
Whether you believe that Obama has been a good president or not, we need to go out there and vote our conscience/s.
Let’s consider the virtues shown to us by Jesus Christ. He showed us what leadership is all about.
He refused to back down when he was in the right, he faced off against other leaders and powers as needed, he didn’t bow to others, he used force when it was needed. On the other hand…
He served those who followed him almost subserviently, he met the needs of others often before even considering his own needs and he went out of his way to reach out to those who needed him.
These are the qualities we need to look for in OUR leaders.
I recently heard someone lament that there was no real choice between the candidates, that they were “all the same”. but they aren’t. the trick is to get educated, find out what they are really all about and then vote for the one/s who will do things the right way, or if that is not an option you can vote for the ones that most closely fit that type.
Of course the advice I heard from one talk show pundit could also stand in good stead, that is “if you cannot find someone to vote for, then why not vote against the one who is worse,”.
That is to say you may find yourself in a position of having to decide the lesser of two evils, but even if that is how you pick your vote that is still an equally valid way to do it.
Good luck at the polls.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
BIBLE STUDY?:
Recently we got a new bible for our eldest child. She has moved up a grade in school so she is graduated to a new level in Sunday school and we fin that the “bible” she had before was inadequate. (to much of a storybook design to it.)
This caused me to comment that I wanted her to really get some use out of her new book. And that made me think too. To often we don’t study our Bibles like we should. I remember someone once asking me if I had read the Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien. I pointed out that I owned a copy and he, wisely, said “that doesn’t mean you’ve read it.”
And he is right. It is not enough t o Own the Bible and it doesn’t matter how many copies or translations you have. The question is are you reading it?
I will admit I do not open my Bible anywhere NEAR as often as I ought to, but I try. So I have to ask you now, What are YOU doing about getting into your Bible studying regularly?
Think about it. And if you want we can study together let me know in comments and I will collaborate with you, whoever you are, to start a Bible study/discussion online (E-Mail?) so we all can benefit from this great treasure.
This caused me to comment that I wanted her to really get some use out of her new book. And that made me think too. To often we don’t study our Bibles like we should. I remember someone once asking me if I had read the Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien. I pointed out that I owned a copy and he, wisely, said “that doesn’t mean you’ve read it.”
And he is right. It is not enough t o Own the Bible and it doesn’t matter how many copies or translations you have. The question is are you reading it?
I will admit I do not open my Bible anywhere NEAR as often as I ought to, but I try. So I have to ask you now, What are YOU doing about getting into your Bible studying regularly?
Think about it. And if you want we can study together let me know in comments and I will collaborate with you, whoever you are, to start a Bible study/discussion online (E-Mail?) so we all can benefit from this great treasure.
Monday, September 6, 2010
BIBLICAL LOVE:
On another one of my Blogs my subject for today was love. And I thought that this is a good place to talk about the love God wants us to have for other people.
See God sets the standard for us and he lets us know what he expects.
For example in the very beginning of the Bible (in Genesis) God shows us how we are supposed to deal with love between a man and a woman that is to say marital love. When we get married we are to leave our parents and cleave, or be joined to, our spouse. At that moment when the marriage bond is formed the family we grew up with is replaced by a new family bond that we have created.
That bond that is created is one that brings two totally different people together. And there may be differences in the way they were each raised. They also have different personalities and such and all this comes together to make a new experience for the new couple.
It is important at that time for the two people in that relationship to do two things. 1 they need to communicate, two they need to learn.
When my wife and I got married we had a truckload of differences, and they made life… Interesting… for both of us. But we were in a situation in a little studio apartment where we could not run away from each other and I think that helped we had to talk about things.
But there was more to it than that, clearly because the same situation did not help our neighbors any. (on either side of us), Maybe we learned from their mistakes too…
I love my wife and we have just this month celebrated 10 years together, Boy do I feel sorry for her putting up with ME for that long… but I hope that we have many more ahead.
There is another love though that is out there. We are to love our spouse, our parents our children and all and we are also to love others. Funnily enough we can use a similar model for all our relationships and God is the one who sets the tone for that.
Because the concept of how to act when you love someone is in the Bible. “God commanded his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, he sent his son to die for us. (Romans 5:8)
How about “For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son that whosoever should believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) or how about “A new command I give to you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35).
And what is the idea of love Jesus portrayed? It was service. He died on the cross for us he washed his disciples’ feet and he gave us this parable in Matthew 25:35-40.
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
Then the righteous will answer him, Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?
The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
That is what love is about That is the love that God shows us and that is the love he wants us to show to others.
See God sets the standard for us and he lets us know what he expects.
For example in the very beginning of the Bible (in Genesis) God shows us how we are supposed to deal with love between a man and a woman that is to say marital love. When we get married we are to leave our parents and cleave, or be joined to, our spouse. At that moment when the marriage bond is formed the family we grew up with is replaced by a new family bond that we have created.
That bond that is created is one that brings two totally different people together. And there may be differences in the way they were each raised. They also have different personalities and such and all this comes together to make a new experience for the new couple.
It is important at that time for the two people in that relationship to do two things. 1 they need to communicate, two they need to learn.
When my wife and I got married we had a truckload of differences, and they made life… Interesting… for both of us. But we were in a situation in a little studio apartment where we could not run away from each other and I think that helped we had to talk about things.
But there was more to it than that, clearly because the same situation did not help our neighbors any. (on either side of us), Maybe we learned from their mistakes too…
I love my wife and we have just this month celebrated 10 years together, Boy do I feel sorry for her putting up with ME for that long… but I hope that we have many more ahead.
There is another love though that is out there. We are to love our spouse, our parents our children and all and we are also to love others. Funnily enough we can use a similar model for all our relationships and God is the one who sets the tone for that.
Because the concept of how to act when you love someone is in the Bible. “God commanded his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, he sent his son to die for us. (Romans 5:8)
How about “For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son that whosoever should believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) or how about “A new command I give to you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35).
And what is the idea of love Jesus portrayed? It was service. He died on the cross for us he washed his disciples’ feet and he gave us this parable in Matthew 25:35-40.
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
Then the righteous will answer him, Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?
The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
That is what love is about That is the love that God shows us and that is the love he wants us to show to others.
Monday, August 30, 2010
WHY I SAY CHRISTIANITY IS “NICER” THEN ISLAM:
Put simply there is a rule within Christianity which states obey the law.
That is actually a paraphrase, the point is that Christians are supposed to obey the authority over them because that authority is supposed to be seen as an extension of the authority of God.
Oh yes there are times when the “authority” is not to be obeyed (like when it goes AGAINST God or his word, when it is truly immoral in other words) but all in all you really are supposed to be obedient, even when the law occasionally is stupid.
Other religions, most notably “Islam” or “Muslim” religion, has laws that are supposed to have come from “their god” which is very strict and flies against the laws that exist in the world.
I am specifically referring to “sharia” law.
Sharia Law demands an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. I have heard it quipped before that this leads to a lot of blind people who can only eat applesauce but I digress.
Really that IS what Sharia goes for, the thing is that Jesus said, in Matthew 5…
“38"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'[g] 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[h] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[i] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Sharia also says that women MUST cover their heads at all times. (thus the Hijab or the Burkah).
The thing is that some places have a dress code which does not allow for such a thing. So when a dress code forbids such a wearing the Muslim aggressively attacks that law.
Christian values try to accept the ways of the world in part because we are NOT to be OF this world.
We are ambassadors tp the world but our home is in heaven. And so we are representatives of that place we come from.
Jesus talked about love and peace. Islam talks about war and jihad.
Have “Christians” done bad things in the name of God/Christ? YES they have and I make no bones or excuses about that.
But people do things in the name of__________________ whatever you want to put in there, without actually being part of that organization.
How many of you out there have put a Christmas present under a tree that is “from Santa?” But You are NOT Santa are you? Do you go all over the world giving toys to every good little boy and girl? Do you have a bunch of elves up at the north pole working away on creating toys? Do you wear a red suit and fly in a sleigh pulled by eight tiny reindeer? Do you slide down chimneys?
These are all the things that Santa does, they are his “identity” if you will. If you do not do these things then you are not him. At best you are committing identity theft then when you claim to be him.
People might call themselves Christians but unless they ACT like Christians as outlined in the bible by God then they are NOT what they claim to be.
Islam on the other hand has always leaned the way that these people do today. And there is proof in their holy book/s that this is the way it is to be. THAT is why I can say that Christianity is nicer.
BTW if you want to know how a Christian is supposed to act I suggest you do read the Bible… then read the part about none of us being perfect and how we are all trying to improve within Christianity.
That is to say don’t be too quick to judge all those who do call themselves a Christian… you gotta look at how they are improving… it is a path to a destination not an end result.
That is actually a paraphrase, the point is that Christians are supposed to obey the authority over them because that authority is supposed to be seen as an extension of the authority of God.
Oh yes there are times when the “authority” is not to be obeyed (like when it goes AGAINST God or his word, when it is truly immoral in other words) but all in all you really are supposed to be obedient, even when the law occasionally is stupid.
Other religions, most notably “Islam” or “Muslim” religion, has laws that are supposed to have come from “their god” which is very strict and flies against the laws that exist in the world.
I am specifically referring to “sharia” law.
Sharia Law demands an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. I have heard it quipped before that this leads to a lot of blind people who can only eat applesauce but I digress.
Really that IS what Sharia goes for, the thing is that Jesus said, in Matthew 5…
“38"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'[g] 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[h] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[i] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Sharia also says that women MUST cover their heads at all times. (thus the Hijab or the Burkah).
The thing is that some places have a dress code which does not allow for such a thing. So when a dress code forbids such a wearing the Muslim aggressively attacks that law.
Christian values try to accept the ways of the world in part because we are NOT to be OF this world.
We are ambassadors tp the world but our home is in heaven. And so we are representatives of that place we come from.
Jesus talked about love and peace. Islam talks about war and jihad.
Have “Christians” done bad things in the name of God/Christ? YES they have and I make no bones or excuses about that.
But people do things in the name of__________________ whatever you want to put in there, without actually being part of that organization.
How many of you out there have put a Christmas present under a tree that is “from Santa?” But You are NOT Santa are you? Do you go all over the world giving toys to every good little boy and girl? Do you have a bunch of elves up at the north pole working away on creating toys? Do you wear a red suit and fly in a sleigh pulled by eight tiny reindeer? Do you slide down chimneys?
These are all the things that Santa does, they are his “identity” if you will. If you do not do these things then you are not him. At best you are committing identity theft then when you claim to be him.
People might call themselves Christians but unless they ACT like Christians as outlined in the bible by God then they are NOT what they claim to be.
Islam on the other hand has always leaned the way that these people do today. And there is proof in their holy book/s that this is the way it is to be. THAT is why I can say that Christianity is nicer.
BTW if you want to know how a Christian is supposed to act I suggest you do read the Bible… then read the part about none of us being perfect and how we are all trying to improve within Christianity.
That is to say don’t be too quick to judge all those who do call themselves a Christian… you gotta look at how they are improving… it is a path to a destination not an end result.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
BIBLICAL LOVE:
On another one of my Blogs my subject for today was love. And I thought that this is a good place to talk about the love God wants us to have for other people.
See God sets the standard for us and he lets us know what he expects.
For example in the very beginning of the Bible (in Genesis) God shows us how we are supposed to deal with love between a man and a woman, that is to say marital love.
When we get married we are to leave our parents and cleave, or be joined to, our spouse. At that moment when the marriage bond is formed the family we grew up with is replaced by a new family bond that we have created.
That bond that is created is one that brings two totally different people together. And there may be differences in the way they were each raised. They also have different personalities and such and all this comes together to make a new experience for the new couple.
It is important at that time for the two people in that relationship to do two things.
1. they need to communicate,
2. they need to learn.
When my wife and I got married we had a truckload of differences, and they made life… Interesting… for both of us.
But we were in a situation in a little studio apartment where we could not run away from each other and I think that helped, we had to talk about things.
But there was more to it than that, clearly, because the same situation did not help our neighbors any. (on either side of us), Maybe we learned from their mistakes too…
I love my wife and we have just this month celebrated 10 years together, Boy do I feel sorry for her putting up with ME for that long… but I hope that we have many more ahead.
There is another love though that is out there. We are to love our spouse, our parents our children and all and we are also to love others.
Funnily enough we can use a similar model for all our relationships and God is the one who sets the tone for that.
Because the concept of how to act when you love someone is in the Bible.
“God commanded his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, he sent his son to die for us". (Romans 5:8)
How about “For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son that whosoever should believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life". (John 3:16) or how about “A new command I give to you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35).
And what is the idea of love Jesus portrayed? It was service. He died on the cross for us he washed his disciples’ feet and he gave us this parable in Matthew 25:35-40.
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
Then the righteous will answer him, Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?
The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
That is what love is about That is the love that God shows us and that is the love he wants us to show to others.
See God sets the standard for us and he lets us know what he expects.
For example in the very beginning of the Bible (in Genesis) God shows us how we are supposed to deal with love between a man and a woman, that is to say marital love.
When we get married we are to leave our parents and cleave, or be joined to, our spouse. At that moment when the marriage bond is formed the family we grew up with is replaced by a new family bond that we have created.
That bond that is created is one that brings two totally different people together. And there may be differences in the way they were each raised. They also have different personalities and such and all this comes together to make a new experience for the new couple.
It is important at that time for the two people in that relationship to do two things.
1. they need to communicate,
2. they need to learn.
When my wife and I got married we had a truckload of differences, and they made life… Interesting… for both of us.
But we were in a situation in a little studio apartment where we could not run away from each other and I think that helped, we had to talk about things.
But there was more to it than that, clearly, because the same situation did not help our neighbors any. (on either side of us), Maybe we learned from their mistakes too…
I love my wife and we have just this month celebrated 10 years together, Boy do I feel sorry for her putting up with ME for that long… but I hope that we have many more ahead.
There is another love though that is out there. We are to love our spouse, our parents our children and all and we are also to love others.
Funnily enough we can use a similar model for all our relationships and God is the one who sets the tone for that.
Because the concept of how to act when you love someone is in the Bible.
“God commanded his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, he sent his son to die for us". (Romans 5:8)
How about “For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son that whosoever should believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life". (John 3:16) or how about “A new command I give to you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35).
And what is the idea of love Jesus portrayed? It was service. He died on the cross for us he washed his disciples’ feet and he gave us this parable in Matthew 25:35-40.
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
Then the righteous will answer him, Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?
The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
That is what love is about That is the love that God shows us and that is the love he wants us to show to others.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
GOD AS MY FATHER AKA PARENTHOOD
A long time ago I was not too happy with the man My mom chose to marry. He had adopted me legally, but I did not feel any real emotions of love for the man.
I was driven if you will to make up my mind about what a Father was.
My explanation...
Father = one who gives you life.
Dad = One who supports you and teaches you the lessons of life.
Daddy = One who kisses your boo-boos, listens to you and loves you totally and unconditionally who will shelter you when the monsters come.
(don't get me started on step dads or whatever.)
Now obviously I had a Father, I am alive.
And I guess I had a dad, though he wasn't the best. But I never really had a daddy when I was growing up.
Fortunately, I was found By God and adopted into his kingdom and he has been all three to me.
I hope that he can be all three for you too.
If you EVER want to know how to meet God and how to know him as your Father, Dad, and Daddy. Comment to me (I won't post it if you don't want me too.) with a way that I can tell you more, And I will be happy to let you know what it is that Makes God so cool in my life. (I will also help lead you to him if you want.)
I was driven if you will to make up my mind about what a Father was.
My explanation...
Father = one who gives you life.
Dad = One who supports you and teaches you the lessons of life.
Daddy = One who kisses your boo-boos, listens to you and loves you totally and unconditionally who will shelter you when the monsters come.
(don't get me started on step dads or whatever.)
Now obviously I had a Father, I am alive.
And I guess I had a dad, though he wasn't the best. But I never really had a daddy when I was growing up.
Fortunately, I was found By God and adopted into his kingdom and he has been all three to me.
I hope that he can be all three for you too.
If you EVER want to know how to meet God and how to know him as your Father, Dad, and Daddy. Comment to me (I won't post it if you don't want me too.) with a way that I can tell you more, And I will be happy to let you know what it is that Makes God so cool in my life. (I will also help lead you to him if you want.)
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Well, well, well
Recently an internet friend pointed out on Facebook that a “Christian” singer decided to “come out of the closet” and in noting that this friend expressed disappointment and frustration.
I told her that I understood and felt the same way when another performer that I admired had done the same… that performer’s recent revelation was also a surprise to her.
See in the Christian world we have a set of standards. Some people want to berate us for them, they want to yell at us for them, but the problem is that these standards are not set BY us they are set by God.
I can hear it now “OH SEE I TOLD YOU THAT THEIR GOD WAS HATEFUL” but wait.
That was not and is not God’s master plan.
God wants us to be filled with joy!
Those who would detract from this point would say “how can you say God wants us filled with joy when he allows people like [homosexuals] to be so unhappy and people pick on them?”
Now there is an interesting point, studies show that Homosexuals ARE generally less happy… by nature! They are more depressed and more likely to attempt suicide than “straight” people. That shows that these people do NOT have joy! Quite the opposite! Even when they have had their lifestyles “accepted”.
What they fail to acknowledge and will even argue against is the fact that homosexuality is sinful. But deep down inside they know the truth.
Our society has become a very permissive one. We allow all kinds of things in the spirit of “if it feels good how can it be bad?”
Those who practice that lifestyle while still claiming to be Christian are saying things like… “ oh the Bible doesn’t REALLY say anything against homosexuality, it’s all a misunderstanding, or a misinterpretation, or the church trying to pass judgment where even God wouldn’t.”
The thing is that even if you believe the Bible doesn't really say anything specific about homosexuality, God always sets an example of what he expects out of us. So when he created Adam and Eve he was saying. “that is my plan, that Man and Woman should be together one with the other.” as clichéd as it is and as much as I hate the saying considering my name it is still true that God created Adam and Eve in the beginning… Not Adam and Steve.
Side note: if you doubt this point consider also that God created ONE man and ONE woman, that was also an example he set. And EVERY time we see someone in the Bible practicing Polygamy we see how badly it turns out for them.
Just ask Abram and David.
So what is joy? How do we receive the Joy that God has for us? I think we all can learn from a man named Horatio Spafford. He wrote the song “it is well with my soul” in 1871 Mr. Spafford, who was an attorney in Chicago, lost a lot of money when the great fire of Chicago happened, he also had lost his young son, around the same time, to scarlet fever.
He had plans to go to England with his family in 1873 but urgent business came up and so while his wife and 4 daughters went on ahead on the Ville de Harve, a luxurious French cruise ship, he stayed behind with the intention of catching up later.
On the way to England the Ville De Harve struck another ship, an iron sailing vessel and sank in smooth seas in two hours, and Horatio Spafford lost his four daughters.
When she arrived in England, his wife sent him the message “survived alone”.
Horatio immediately left to join his wife. On the way to England as he crossed over the spot where his daughters had drowned, Mr. Spafford wrote the song “It is well with my soul”.
That is the joy and peace that God gives us. It is not a fleeting emotional happiness; it is a deep, lasting, patient, comfort, contentment and peace.
Even when we are grieving we are comforted and can find our strength in him.
When we deny his word and his rules we deny that peace and joy he can give us.
I hope that we all can have the joy that God provides.
Here are the lyrics to the song it is well.
IT IS WELL.
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Refrain
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
Refrain
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
Refrain
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
Refrain
But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!
Refrain
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
Refrain
I told her that I understood and felt the same way when another performer that I admired had done the same… that performer’s recent revelation was also a surprise to her.
See in the Christian world we have a set of standards. Some people want to berate us for them, they want to yell at us for them, but the problem is that these standards are not set BY us they are set by God.
I can hear it now “OH SEE I TOLD YOU THAT THEIR GOD WAS HATEFUL” but wait.
That was not and is not God’s master plan.
God wants us to be filled with joy!
Those who would detract from this point would say “how can you say God wants us filled with joy when he allows people like [homosexuals] to be so unhappy and people pick on them?”
Now there is an interesting point, studies show that Homosexuals ARE generally less happy… by nature! They are more depressed and more likely to attempt suicide than “straight” people. That shows that these people do NOT have joy! Quite the opposite! Even when they have had their lifestyles “accepted”.
What they fail to acknowledge and will even argue against is the fact that homosexuality is sinful. But deep down inside they know the truth.
Our society has become a very permissive one. We allow all kinds of things in the spirit of “if it feels good how can it be bad?”
Those who practice that lifestyle while still claiming to be Christian are saying things like… “ oh the Bible doesn’t REALLY say anything against homosexuality, it’s all a misunderstanding, or a misinterpretation, or the church trying to pass judgment where even God wouldn’t.”
The thing is that even if you believe the Bible doesn't really say anything specific about homosexuality, God always sets an example of what he expects out of us. So when he created Adam and Eve he was saying. “that is my plan, that Man and Woman should be together one with the other.” as clichéd as it is and as much as I hate the saying considering my name it is still true that God created Adam and Eve in the beginning… Not Adam and Steve.
Side note: if you doubt this point consider also that God created ONE man and ONE woman, that was also an example he set. And EVERY time we see someone in the Bible practicing Polygamy we see how badly it turns out for them.
Just ask Abram and David.
So what is joy? How do we receive the Joy that God has for us? I think we all can learn from a man named Horatio Spafford. He wrote the song “it is well with my soul” in 1871 Mr. Spafford, who was an attorney in Chicago, lost a lot of money when the great fire of Chicago happened, he also had lost his young son, around the same time, to scarlet fever.
He had plans to go to England with his family in 1873 but urgent business came up and so while his wife and 4 daughters went on ahead on the Ville de Harve, a luxurious French cruise ship, he stayed behind with the intention of catching up later.
On the way to England the Ville De Harve struck another ship, an iron sailing vessel and sank in smooth seas in two hours, and Horatio Spafford lost his four daughters.
When she arrived in England, his wife sent him the message “survived alone”.
Horatio immediately left to join his wife. On the way to England as he crossed over the spot where his daughters had drowned, Mr. Spafford wrote the song “It is well with my soul”.
That is the joy and peace that God gives us. It is not a fleeting emotional happiness; it is a deep, lasting, patient, comfort, contentment and peace.
Even when we are grieving we are comforted and can find our strength in him.
When we deny his word and his rules we deny that peace and joy he can give us.
I hope that we all can have the joy that God provides.
Here are the lyrics to the song it is well.
IT IS WELL.
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Refrain
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
Refrain
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
Refrain
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
Refrain
But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!
Refrain
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
Refrain
Monday, August 2, 2010
My new blog schedule
Hello all.
I am so sorry that I have not been following up on my blog/s. the good news is that I will be tring to do a better job of it. I think there will have to be a schedule though. For my general blog I will try to post three or four times a week. The politically incorrect and Christian blogs though will be a once a week option.
It seems that for me I get so caught up in things that I tend to forget these things. (or I get so tired of being online that I give up before I get to the blog/s. so I will try to change that up.
I also sometimes cannot think of anything g to post. So I will have to switch on my brain a little more often. But I do want to post regularly and in such a way that it is pertinent and of value to my readers.
Thank you for your patience as I get my self sorted out.
Your’s faithfully…
Colt!
I am so sorry that I have not been following up on my blog/s. the good news is that I will be tring to do a better job of it. I think there will have to be a schedule though. For my general blog I will try to post three or four times a week. The politically incorrect and Christian blogs though will be a once a week option.
It seems that for me I get so caught up in things that I tend to forget these things. (or I get so tired of being online that I give up before I get to the blog/s. so I will try to change that up.
I also sometimes cannot think of anything g to post. So I will have to switch on my brain a little more often. But I do want to post regularly and in such a way that it is pertinent and of value to my readers.
Thank you for your patience as I get my self sorted out.
Your’s faithfully…
Colt!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Radio Evangelism
Reccently I heard an amazing thing,
Someone was trying to witness to someone else on the radio. Let me give some background.
As I have said before I work nights and I tend to listen to talk radio because of that. Well there is a radio show on at night that I usually do NOT listen to because the host is against just about everything I am for.
He has always portrayed himself as a very liberal, anti religion, type of person.
The real problem is that he always acts as if he wants to get into serious fights, I mean knock down fisticuff type FIGHTS with anyone who disagrees with him. If you do not think like he does you are an idiot and a fool who deserves nothing more than to be boiled in oil and cut into a billion little pieces. And he has made this very clear for a long time now.
He always demands that everyone hear his point of view but he refuses to extend the same courtesy to anyone else and, quite frankly, he will do anything in his power to shut up everyone who follows a different outlook.
But I digress…
The thing is that a lady called into his show and started trying to witness to him. Now don’t get me wrong. She has some real guts here. I wouldn’t do this because I have heard how he operates on enough occasions that I am not willing to “beard the beast in his lair”. But the lady made a fatal mistake.
She was telling the host about Romans 3:23 (For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God) And what this means. He sidetracked her at this point which he is wont to do and he started asking her if she believed in the bible all the way through. She stated that she did. So he said “so you think that adulterers ought to be stoned?” she said no then he said “well then you don’t believe the bible All the way through. Because in the bible it says that adulterers must be stoned.”
I would have tried to point out that I can believe the WHOLE bible because Jesus said “I fulfill the law and the prophets” which means he paid the penalty. “The wages of sin is death” that is why when an adulterer was caught he or she had to be stoned (and by the way that goes for all the sins that were to be punished that way). Stoning leads to death. That was the, supposed, inevitable result of such action (or so it was believed). But because Jesus lived a perfect sinless life he did not owe the debt due from sinners, but he paid it anyway. Because he paid it we do not have to pay it ourselves. He died so adulterers could get off without a stoning.
Again it is like the judge who pays your traffic ticket for you because you couldn‘t.
The law says if you speed you must be fined, if you are fined the fine must be paid. The judge paid the fine so you don’t have to, the law is satisfied and it still exists and it still works. But you got off without the penalty imposed by that law. The Law in this case is the old testament and the judge is Jesus. See you can believe in the whole thing (the Bible) there is no inconsistency. *
After being flustered by his taking it off track she tried to rally but then she made her fatal mistake. She went back to Romans 3:23 and he asked her “who made us sinners?” and he badgered her at that not letting her continue until she finally answered.
Unfortunately she said “God made us sinners.” At that moment he knew he had her. You could hear the triumph in his voice, and that allowed him to make his point and caused her to lose her argument (her witness).
He believes that God is a killjoy, a mean, vindictive, petty, inconsistent, TYRRANICAL Jerk. (and subsequently so are all those evil horrible Christians.)
So The host’s point was along the lines of “Even if this ‘Christian God’ exists he must be a mean and terrible guy who has it out for us.” And when the caller said that God is the one who makes us sinners, he claimed, “that means that he is punishing us for being exactly what he made.”
You do not punish a dog for doing what you teach him to do, you do not punish a soldier for fighting a war (“at least not if you are a conservative” And thus he also “proves” conservatives are “hypocrites”) these things are not appropriate so “how dare this so called God of yours punish us for doing that which he made us to do?”
See the problem is God did NOT make us to be sinners. But he made us with Choice. We have “free will.” That free will means we get to choose whether we will obey or not.
If we choose to not obey then we are sinners. And at some time we all have chosen to disobey.
Let me put it to you this way. If you are a parent this will be easier to understand.
When your child chooses to obey you out of love does that bring you more pleasure or less pleasure than when you have to force them to do what needs to be done?
It makes you happier if they obey and do for you out of love or respect for you.
Same thing for God. He wants us to grow and develop, so he must give us the chance to learn and expand, so we need to be allowed choice.
He wants us to be able to CHOOSE to serve him because that willingness is more pleasing and satisfying then simple automatons. So when we choose to disobey that is entirely of our own volition.
*And just so you know someone else later called the show and tried making the points I am making now but he would not talk about it. He refused to get into that debate, ridiculed that caller and hung up on the caller because he knew that he would not win that argument.
Someone was trying to witness to someone else on the radio. Let me give some background.
As I have said before I work nights and I tend to listen to talk radio because of that. Well there is a radio show on at night that I usually do NOT listen to because the host is against just about everything I am for.
He has always portrayed himself as a very liberal, anti religion, type of person.
The real problem is that he always acts as if he wants to get into serious fights, I mean knock down fisticuff type FIGHTS with anyone who disagrees with him. If you do not think like he does you are an idiot and a fool who deserves nothing more than to be boiled in oil and cut into a billion little pieces. And he has made this very clear for a long time now.
He always demands that everyone hear his point of view but he refuses to extend the same courtesy to anyone else and, quite frankly, he will do anything in his power to shut up everyone who follows a different outlook.
But I digress…
The thing is that a lady called into his show and started trying to witness to him. Now don’t get me wrong. She has some real guts here. I wouldn’t do this because I have heard how he operates on enough occasions that I am not willing to “beard the beast in his lair”. But the lady made a fatal mistake.
She was telling the host about Romans 3:23 (For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God) And what this means. He sidetracked her at this point which he is wont to do and he started asking her if she believed in the bible all the way through. She stated that she did. So he said “so you think that adulterers ought to be stoned?” she said no then he said “well then you don’t believe the bible All the way through. Because in the bible it says that adulterers must be stoned.”
I would have tried to point out that I can believe the WHOLE bible because Jesus said “I fulfill the law and the prophets” which means he paid the penalty. “The wages of sin is death” that is why when an adulterer was caught he or she had to be stoned (and by the way that goes for all the sins that were to be punished that way). Stoning leads to death. That was the, supposed, inevitable result of such action (or so it was believed). But because Jesus lived a perfect sinless life he did not owe the debt due from sinners, but he paid it anyway. Because he paid it we do not have to pay it ourselves. He died so adulterers could get off without a stoning.
Again it is like the judge who pays your traffic ticket for you because you couldn‘t.
The law says if you speed you must be fined, if you are fined the fine must be paid. The judge paid the fine so you don’t have to, the law is satisfied and it still exists and it still works. But you got off without the penalty imposed by that law. The Law in this case is the old testament and the judge is Jesus. See you can believe in the whole thing (the Bible) there is no inconsistency. *
After being flustered by his taking it off track she tried to rally but then she made her fatal mistake. She went back to Romans 3:23 and he asked her “who made us sinners?” and he badgered her at that not letting her continue until she finally answered.
Unfortunately she said “God made us sinners.” At that moment he knew he had her. You could hear the triumph in his voice, and that allowed him to make his point and caused her to lose her argument (her witness).
He believes that God is a killjoy, a mean, vindictive, petty, inconsistent, TYRRANICAL Jerk. (and subsequently so are all those evil horrible Christians.)
So The host’s point was along the lines of “Even if this ‘Christian God’ exists he must be a mean and terrible guy who has it out for us.” And when the caller said that God is the one who makes us sinners, he claimed, “that means that he is punishing us for being exactly what he made.”
You do not punish a dog for doing what you teach him to do, you do not punish a soldier for fighting a war (“at least not if you are a conservative” And thus he also “proves” conservatives are “hypocrites”) these things are not appropriate so “how dare this so called God of yours punish us for doing that which he made us to do?”
See the problem is God did NOT make us to be sinners. But he made us with Choice. We have “free will.” That free will means we get to choose whether we will obey or not.
If we choose to not obey then we are sinners. And at some time we all have chosen to disobey.
Let me put it to you this way. If you are a parent this will be easier to understand.
When your child chooses to obey you out of love does that bring you more pleasure or less pleasure than when you have to force them to do what needs to be done?
It makes you happier if they obey and do for you out of love or respect for you.
Same thing for God. He wants us to grow and develop, so he must give us the chance to learn and expand, so we need to be allowed choice.
He wants us to be able to CHOOSE to serve him because that willingness is more pleasing and satisfying then simple automatons. So when we choose to disobey that is entirely of our own volition.
*And just so you know someone else later called the show and tried making the points I am making now but he would not talk about it. He refused to get into that debate, ridiculed that caller and hung up on the caller because he knew that he would not win that argument.
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