Thursday, November 18, 2010

WHERE IS LOVE?:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.