Yesterday, I had the opportunity meeting with my boss and a potential employee for an interview/planning session. My boss was asking open ended questions to this person such as, how can you advance our goals and interests, how can we fulfill your needs, etc. One question caught my attention. It was “What is your passion or why would you be passionate working here, what would motivate you?” The person answered with fine answers but the question came home to me, “Why am I passionate about what I am doing; what is it that motivates me?”
This question came home to me in a week when I am talking to several schools that are trying to make me passionate about their programs. They are trying to motivate me to see their college or university as the best option for me. And they are not above turning my arm with gifts and flattery to help me see that I am so good I need a top program like theirs. But with each college there is a different motivation: some point to the scholastic, learning for the sake of knowing; some to the practical, learning for the sake of making money; some to the personal, learning to advance who I am and what I want to be.
But what is my motivation right now as I work as a web programmer, and as I seek to extend my knowledge, why am I doing this? Is it for the money, that I make and what the further education would increase? Or for the ability to say I have a job and the sense of security and responsibility that it gives me? What about the different things that money can buy, is it for those things that I do this? Why do I do what I do? That is the question, as is said.
And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment.
And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." Mark 12:30-31
As I was thinking about this those verses in Mark popped into my mind and I realized this has to be the motivation of the Christian. How much of my heart do I need to love the Lord with? All of it. That leaves no room for loving anything else. Now then, how can I love my neighbor as myself? True love for God is always reflected in love for others.
And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' … Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' Matthew 25:33-45
My love for God is expressed in kindness (love) to my fellow man. So, when I am true Christian I will be an aid and assistance to others. This is the gospel in street clothes as some like to call it. “Be the change you want to see in the world” Gandhi. This is the second commandment and the way I show that I keep the greatest commandment.
What does this mean for me? Going back to the question in the beginning, what is my motivation, why am I passionate about web programming, or why should I be? When I stand on the sea of glass will my Lord say to me “well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of thy Lord?” Or will he say “since you didn’t do the good things unto the least of thy brethren, you didn’t do it to me?!” What do I want him to say?
I am not asking this to put a fear trap on myself, but to make me think about why I am doing what I am doing. That is the question.
God Bless!
Friday, March 2, 2007
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
A time to die
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
I found something interesting today called The Death Clock (deathclock.com). "The Internet's friendly reminder that life is slipping away..." I put in my numbers and I have a death date of Sunday, June 25, 2062. It is kind of a morbid message, and yet it shouldn't be. As Christians we should never fear what is beyond the grave. There should be something different about our outlook knowing that we don't face cold, pure annihilation at death.
We have a hope, a hope that burns within our heart. Hope in the coming of the Lord. How much more of the song do you need before you recognize #214 "We have this hope." It should be our song. That hope is our beacon, our guidepost. Without it we would not be Seventh-day Adventists: We believe in that soon coming, that glorious hope.
Something it makes you think about is the value of time. We only have so much time left, and while it may not be the amount specified in the Death Clock, it is finite. Even if we may not make much money for our time, our time is valuable. How much is time with your parents, your spouse, your children, and your friends worth? I think of something a friend of mine told me: "Thank you for taking this time with me. It is the thing you can give me that no one else can."
Something interesting that I noticed is the mode field on that site. I assume that it is speaking to the mode of living. There are 4 options: sadistic, pessimistic, normal, and optimistic. Changing those values greatly affects your estimated lifespan. For example, here is how my projected lifespan changes:
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. Proverbs 17:22
With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. Psalm 91:16
It is God's love for us and His working in us that causes this change to happen. He that has begun a good work will complete it in us. He desires to give us life eternal. Even if we don't have a long life here, God has promised to give eternal life to those that endure unto the end. We were not made to die. Death is a foreign thing to a ceaseless God that is the Alpha and the Omega, that is the beginning and the end.
So is there a time to die? Yes, there is. But with God all things are made new, and we have no more tears, no more sorrow, death will die. Death is swallowed up in victory, "O death where is thy sting, o grave thy victory?!" God's love for us will have saved us from ourselves, from the Devil, and to Him. "And so shall we ever be with the Lord. . ."
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor . . ., shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
I found something interesting today called The Death Clock (deathclock.com). "The Internet's friendly reminder that life is slipping away..." I put in my numbers and I have a death date of Sunday, June 25, 2062. It is kind of a morbid message, and yet it shouldn't be. As Christians we should never fear what is beyond the grave. There should be something different about our outlook knowing that we don't face cold, pure annihilation at death.
We have a hope, a hope that burns within our heart. Hope in the coming of the Lord. How much more of the song do you need before you recognize #214 "We have this hope." It should be our song. That hope is our beacon, our guidepost. Without it we would not be Seventh-day Adventists: We believe in that soon coming, that glorious hope.
Something it makes you think about is the value of time. We only have so much time left, and while it may not be the amount specified in the Death Clock, it is finite. Even if we may not make much money for our time, our time is valuable. How much is time with your parents, your spouse, your children, and your friends worth? I think of something a friend of mine told me: "Thank you for taking this time with me. It is the thing you can give me that no one else can."
Something interesting that I noticed is the mode field on that site. I assume that it is speaking to the mode of living. There are 4 options: sadistic, pessimistic, normal, and optimistic. Changing those values greatly affects your estimated lifespan. For example, here is how my projected lifespan changes:
- Sadistic: Wednesday, June 25, 2025
- Pessimistic: Saturday, April 20, 2041
- Normal: Sunday, June 25, 2062
- Optimistic: Thursday, August 11, 2072
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. Proverbs 17:22
With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. Psalm 91:16
It is God's love for us and His working in us that causes this change to happen. He that has begun a good work will complete it in us. He desires to give us life eternal. Even if we don't have a long life here, God has promised to give eternal life to those that endure unto the end. We were not made to die. Death is a foreign thing to a ceaseless God that is the Alpha and the Omega, that is the beginning and the end.
So is there a time to die? Yes, there is. But with God all things are made new, and we have no more tears, no more sorrow, death will die. Death is swallowed up in victory, "O death where is thy sting, o grave thy victory?!" God's love for us will have saved us from ourselves, from the Devil, and to Him. "And so shall we ever be with the Lord. . ."
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor . . ., shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Making Decisions
Making decisions is something everyone does their whole life. Making decisions is something everyone does, most of the time without thinking consciously. But at certain points in everyone's life they make very important decisions. Not like what to have for breakfast, although that is an important decision ;), but things like where do I go to college, whom do I marry, what job to except, where to move, etc. Those decisions have to made with more care than the daily decisions that I referenced earlier because they are more affecting.
The choice you make will affect you and others longer than the chose of whether to eat in the living room or in the kitchen. And when you come to those important decisions it is more imperative that you make a good or best decision. If you choose to eat in the living room as opposed to kitchen in most cases even if you made the "wrong" choice. Whereas in the marriage example, if you make the "wrong" choice, your stuck buddy! You have to live with the consequences of that choice for a long time.
So when we come to those important decisions how do we make a good, or the best, decision. I have made a list of 5 steps to making a Godly decision.
1. The Word of God
Psalms 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”
Whenever the Word of God specifies the course there is no need for any other counsel. Oftentimes what we are wondering is already answered in the Bible we just don't know it is there. This is the first step and many times may be the only step.
When we come to the Word we must be willing to accept whatever it has to teach us. If we do not have a spirit of willingness to do what it says we can be lead astray by our own desires and preferences. If we want to God to lead we must be willing to go where He wants us to go.
2. Godly Council
Proverbs 15:22 “Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established.”
Godly counsel is directly connected to the Word of God. The ideal Godly counselor will point us to the Word and give us counsel based on the Word. Again, we must be willing and open to accept what counsel we receive. But, I would caution that we must be good Bereans (Acts 17:10-11) and search the scripture for ourselves to know if the counsel is right.
3. Inner Conviction
John 14:26 “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything”
The Holy Spirit will guide us into the truth and will reinforce those things that we have been learning. The Holy Spirit has the duty of convicting and impressing upon minds the Truth; we know that He does this and we believe that He does this in the work of evangelism. But I believe He does the same kind of moving upon us personally, helping us to make Godly decisions.
4. Godly Provision/Circumstances
Exodus 17:6-7 “Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." And he called the place Massah and Meribah… saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"
Acts 8:1 On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
God uses providence to guide us. If I want to go to further my education at Yale but I don't have the money and I ask the Lord to guide and someone gives me $10,000 that is a providential guiding from the Lord. There are many ways for this to work, not just monetary, but in all the talent areas. The Lord might give you wisdom at a test or skill at a job interview.
Let's suppose I have a job offer in another state on the other side of the country. But I have aging parents and they have needs that require me to live near them. If they die that is a circumstance that supports me moving somewhere. As we go through the process of asking the Lord for guidance we should make sure to note the providences and circumstances He sets along the way.
5. Peace
Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,”
The final step in my list is peace. When God leads He gives a peace that passes all understanding. His peace is a peace that only comes by being in the Lord's will. He has a plan for each of us and there is nothing better than to know that you are following the Lord's plan for you.
So as you make those important decisions remember to seek God's will. He desires to show us His plan for each decision. Remember the 5 steps I have found in God's word to coming to a Godly decision.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11
God Bless!
The choice you make will affect you and others longer than the chose of whether to eat in the living room or in the kitchen. And when you come to those important decisions it is more imperative that you make a good or best decision. If you choose to eat in the living room as opposed to kitchen in most cases even if you made the "wrong" choice. Whereas in the marriage example, if you make the "wrong" choice, your stuck buddy! You have to live with the consequences of that choice for a long time.
So when we come to those important decisions how do we make a good, or the best, decision. I have made a list of 5 steps to making a Godly decision.
1. The Word of God
Psalms 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”
Whenever the Word of God specifies the course there is no need for any other counsel. Oftentimes what we are wondering is already answered in the Bible we just don't know it is there. This is the first step and many times may be the only step.
When we come to the Word we must be willing to accept whatever it has to teach us. If we do not have a spirit of willingness to do what it says we can be lead astray by our own desires and preferences. If we want to God to lead we must be willing to go where He wants us to go.
2. Godly Council
Proverbs 15:22 “Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established.”
Godly counsel is directly connected to the Word of God. The ideal Godly counselor will point us to the Word and give us counsel based on the Word. Again, we must be willing and open to accept what counsel we receive. But, I would caution that we must be good Bereans (Acts 17:10-11) and search the scripture for ourselves to know if the counsel is right.
3. Inner Conviction
John 14:26 “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything”
The Holy Spirit will guide us into the truth and will reinforce those things that we have been learning. The Holy Spirit has the duty of convicting and impressing upon minds the Truth; we know that He does this and we believe that He does this in the work of evangelism. But I believe He does the same kind of moving upon us personally, helping us to make Godly decisions.
4. Godly Provision/Circumstances
Exodus 17:6-7 “Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." And he called the place Massah and Meribah… saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"
Acts 8:1 On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
God uses providence to guide us. If I want to go to further my education at Yale but I don't have the money and I ask the Lord to guide and someone gives me $10,000 that is a providential guiding from the Lord. There are many ways for this to work, not just monetary, but in all the talent areas. The Lord might give you wisdom at a test or skill at a job interview.
Let's suppose I have a job offer in another state on the other side of the country. But I have aging parents and they have needs that require me to live near them. If they die that is a circumstance that supports me moving somewhere. As we go through the process of asking the Lord for guidance we should make sure to note the providences and circumstances He sets along the way.
5. Peace
Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,”
The final step in my list is peace. When God leads He gives a peace that passes all understanding. His peace is a peace that only comes by being in the Lord's will. He has a plan for each of us and there is nothing better than to know that you are following the Lord's plan for you.
So as you make those important decisions remember to seek God's will. He desires to show us His plan for each decision. Remember the 5 steps I have found in God's word to coming to a Godly decision.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11
God Bless!
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Single Women and their place in the Bible
I have launched on a mini study of the role and place of single women in the Bible. This may sound strange coming from a guy but I have been reading a book that is taking a very unique view of women in the Bible and I want to find out the truth of the thing.
Here are some reference pages I used in my study:
http://christian-dating-service-plus.com/ ?! - the content is fine, the name is not what I am looking for
http://www.ninetyandnine.com/ - good list
So from those we get this list:
Damaris (Acts 17:34)
Dorcas (Acts 9:36-42)
Euodias and Syntche (Philippians 4:2)
Lydia (Acts 16:13-15, 40)
Martha and Mary and Lazarus’ sisters, (Luke 10, John 11 and 12)
Mary (Romans 16:6)
Mary Magdalene (Matthew 27, Mark 16, and John 19)
Phoebe (Romans 16:1,2)
Susanna (Luke 8:2,3)
Note: those are only NT examples, here are the OT examples I can think of:
Miriam, most likely (Ex 15:20-21, Num 12:1-15, 20:1)
Queen of Sheba (2Chr 9:1-12)
Huldah (2Ki 22:14-20, 2Chr 34:22-28)
Noadiah (Neh 6:14)
I am sure I am leaving out someone but I can't think of any more that I know are single. Now, of the the NT list only Dorcas, Lydia, Mary and Martha, and Mary Magdalene really have very much of a story. The others are just mentioned in passing or very briefly.
For the OT all except Noadiah have sufficient info to study and come too some conclusions. What those conclusions will be I will have to finish later.
God Bless!
Here are some reference pages I used in my study:
http://christian-dating-service-plus.com/ ?! - the content is fine, the name is not what I am looking for
http://www.ninetyandnine.com/ - good list
So from those we get this list:
Damaris (Acts 17:34)
Dorcas (Acts 9:36-42)
Euodias and Syntche (Philippians 4:2)
Lydia (Acts 16:13-15, 40)
Martha and Mary and Lazarus’ sisters, (Luke 10, John 11 and 12)
Mary (Romans 16:6)
Mary Magdalene (Matthew 27, Mark 16, and John 19)
Phoebe (Romans 16:1,2)
Susanna (Luke 8:2,3)
Note: those are only NT examples, here are the OT examples I can think of:
Miriam, most likely (Ex 15:20-21, Num 12:1-15, 20:1)
Queen of Sheba (2Chr 9:1-12)
Huldah (2Ki 22:14-20, 2Chr 34:22-28)
Noadiah (Neh 6:14)
I am sure I am leaving out someone but I can't think of any more that I know are single. Now, of the the NT list only Dorcas, Lydia, Mary and Martha, and Mary Magdalene really have very much of a story. The others are just mentioned in passing or very briefly.
For the OT all except Noadiah have sufficient info to study and come too some conclusions. What those conclusions will be I will have to finish later.
God Bless!
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Lesson 8 from Ecclesiastes quarterly
Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. Ecclesiastes 7:29 - Memory verse for this week
You can get the lesson quarterly in pdf form for this weeks lesson here or here for the teacher's version.
You can find the entire chapter here courtesy of BibleGateway.com.
This is not a formal "article" just some notes that I have typed up for preservation's sake of our discussion and my thoughts.
Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. Ecc 7:28-29
Solomon cannot figure out women. This is not a text against women, Solomon is not a woman hater. cf. Ecc 9:9, Pr 1-9
And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her. Ecc 7:26
Solomon is bemoaning the extra wives that he had. Not women in general, but not being true to his first wife. That is what he is saying.
For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. Ecc 7:20
That is a lot like Paul, Rom 3:23, All have sinned...
All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself ? Ecc 7:15-16
Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. Ecc 7:29
God made us good; but we have messed it up. Yet, God has a plan for us to save us. John 3:16
Man was made upright flies in the face of evolution. Evolution man gets better; creation men becomes degraded.
A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth. Ecc 7:1
A good name has something to do with a good reputation. CD Brooks' father sent him to college. His father didn't have much money to give him but he gave him a good name.
When we become a Christian we get a good name. Jacob had his name changed from trickster to overcomer, Prince with God.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. Rev 2:17
God is going to give us a new name. In the 10 commandments, what is third commandment? Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. Third Commandment is not in the New Testament; the fourth is. Cursing, and swearing, what does that really mean? When a woman gets married he takes her husband name; we take Christs name when we become a CHRISTian. We should represent his name well.
When a saved person dies when they are safe. When a Christian dies their battle is done; when someone is born they have 70 years of fighting before them.
It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. Ecclesiastes 7:2-4
How can it be better to be at a funeral? We try to not think about death. We take the body away quickly, cover it with flowers, etc. We are headed toward death from birth. This life is to prepare for death. The goal is to die well, with no regrets.
In Florida, don't go to your own funeral: Alisa/Allison Matreya a 27-year-old said she had been diagnosed with cancer. Finally she had someone call and say that she was in hospice. She faked the whole thing so that she could go to her funeral and hear what people would say about her. "I knew I had to leave so I thought this would make it easier," she said.
Some people live for parties. You loose the purpose of life.
Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. Amos 4:12
When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled. And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. John 11:33-35
Why did Jesus weep? The others were weping; he wept for their mourning.
Prepare to meet your God every day. Jesus said he that "seeks to save his life shall loose it;and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it." Take up your cross daily.
Suicide is the dumbest thing you can do. Most suicide's awake in a lost condition. It permanently seals bad conditions. Death is the beginning of the real life.
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity. Ecc 7:5-6
The rebuke of the wise man makes a better person.
Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart. Ecc 7:7
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Verse 8
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:2
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Rev 1:8
If you let him write on your life, he will finish it.
Prayer of patience?: "Dear God grant me patience right now!" Here is the patience of the saints. Eternal life is given to the patient.
Heb 6:12, Mat 24:13, Rom 2:7, Jam 5:11
Patience and endurance; when Moses delayed his coming off the mount the people needed patience. There are many who start well as a Christian and they loose patience.
There once was an oyster whose story I tell,
Who found that some sand had got into his shell.
It was only a grain, but it gave him great pain
For oysters have feelings although they're so plain.
Now, did he berate the harsh workings of fate
that brought him to such a deplorable state?
Did he curse at the government, cry for election,
And claim that the sea should have given him protection?
No- he said to himself as he lay on a shell,
Since I cannot remove it I shall try to improve it.
Now the years have rolled around, as the years always do.
And he came to his ultimate destiny: stew.
And the small grain of sand that had bothered him so
Was a beautiful pearl all richly aglow.
Now the tale has a moral, for isn't it grand
What an oyster can do with a morsel of sand?
What couldn't we do if we'd only begin
with some of the things that get under our skin.
- Anonymous
A pearl is garment of patience that endures an annoyance.
Patience= saved; proud=lost
The Devil was destroyed by his pride.
Pro 16:19, 27:2, Mat 23:11-12
Self-praise in their conversation; What were the disciples arguing about before the last supper?
Mark 9:33-34
We should not give preference to face, or race, or place
The operative word in the chapter is wisdom/wise, used 13 times
What brings wisdom? Humble heeds counsel wise. Pr 11:2
Can God learn anything?
Pr 15:33 Humility connected with wisdom.
Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this. Verse 10
Good old days; these are the good old days. Someday I will look back and say these were the golden years. The past is not always better.
The depression were the "Good old days"
Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense: but the Excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. Verse 11, 12
Is inheritance good of bad? It is frequently not a good thing to those who don't know how to work.
A fool and his money will soon be parted. Did Solomon get an inheritance? Yes, from David, second only to Rehoboam.
Money as a defense - when a poor person is convicted of some crime without attorney, the rich have the defense of good lawyer.
Samuel's sons took bribes.
Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? Verse 13
A young tree grows as it is bent. Some people wait until they are too late in life to be saved
Leopard changes his spots.
In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him. Verse 14
Matt 5:45 Jesus blesses and tries everyone. There will be ups and downs all through a persons life.
God is a God of the valleys and the God of the mountains. God is with us on the mountaintops and the valleys. When Jesus came off the mount of transfiguration he met the boy with a demon.
All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. Verse 15
Why do bad things happen to good people? Longest reigning king Manasseh. He repents in his old age and God forgives him. Why did that happen? Their blood was seed. Samson, more at death than in life.
Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself ? Verse 16
Did the pharisees have the artificial righteousness? Pray to be seen, give to be seen. Do not be overly righteous.
When we are too smart to learn
Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? Verse 17
Jeremiah 17:9
Whose hearts are wicked? The human heart, every heart. But are there some people who are given up to wickedness, more wicked than others? There are some who are struck down for their exceeding wickedness that their wickedness not increase: Ananias and Sapphira; Nadab and Abihu, etc.
Are there varying degrees of sin? There are varying degrees of punishment so there must be varying degrees of sin.
Do not multiply wickedness - Barnes translation?
It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all. Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. verse 18, 19
For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. Verse 20
All have sinned
Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others. Verse 21, 22
Don't become distracted or upset about those that gossip about you. People don't mean everything they say. People have become so upset with what everyone says. If you throw mud you loose ground. Don't give someone a piece of your mind you could ill afford to loose.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Is there anything left we can trust?
This is a post in progress, as most of mine are. This post will talk about ways in which we can show the Bible to be true.
The Bible is true to itself - when rightly understood it has no contradictions, no conflicts of statement.
The Bible is true when it speaks about the natural and physical world - it was scientifically accurate far before the secular science "discovered" the things the Bible already stated. Examples: The world is round; the wind circles the earth in courses (that is the atmosphere) Ecc; others... Health principles
The Bible is true in it's prophetic statements - Every one of the Bible's time prophecy's have been fulfilled on time. All of it's prophecy's of the Messiah, of Christ, have been fulfilled right on time.
The Bible is true because of the change that it says will occur in the life will occur in the life when someone follows Christ.
The historical statements of the Bible can be verified by non-religious sources - cf. Michael Hasel's presentation at GYC 2005
The problem with proving the Bible is that the Bible says it can't be proved. It's a little like creation in the Bible: it doesn't prove creation, it states it. The Bible doesn't prove itself; it states that it is.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Heb 11:6
This brings up something that those of modernity often throw at Christians in particular and those of a religion in general: that Christianity requires faith and science doesn't. I just want to say here and now, "read my lips: they both require faith." For you to believe the Bible with all of it's proofs is as plausible and possibly more so than to believe science with all of it's proofs.
Communism was the acid test of secularism. One of it's basic philosophies was that there is no God. But it failed! It came to the test and it could not provide the utopia that the rationalist said it could. Not that I have anything against rationalists or thinking, Christianity is not a religion of bury-your-head-in-the-sand people. But the principles of thinking found in the Bible, those very principles are being used in a non-religious way and that is a recipe for disaster.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
I will continue this post on further mornings.
God Bless!
The Bible is true to itself - when rightly understood it has no contradictions, no conflicts of statement.
The Bible is true when it speaks about the natural and physical world - it was scientifically accurate far before the secular science "discovered" the things the Bible already stated. Examples: The world is round; the wind circles the earth in courses (that is the atmosphere) Ecc; others... Health principles
The Bible is true in it's prophetic statements - Every one of the Bible's time prophecy's have been fulfilled on time. All of it's prophecy's of the Messiah, of Christ, have been fulfilled right on time.
The Bible is true because of the change that it says will occur in the life will occur in the life when someone follows Christ.
The historical statements of the Bible can be verified by non-religious sources - cf. Michael Hasel's presentation at GYC 2005
The problem with proving the Bible is that the Bible says it can't be proved. It's a little like creation in the Bible: it doesn't prove creation, it states it. The Bible doesn't prove itself; it states that it is.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Heb 11:6
This brings up something that those of modernity often throw at Christians in particular and those of a religion in general: that Christianity requires faith and science doesn't. I just want to say here and now, "read my lips: they both require faith." For you to believe the Bible with all of it's proofs is as plausible and possibly more so than to believe science with all of it's proofs.
Communism was the acid test of secularism. One of it's basic philosophies was that there is no God. But it failed! It came to the test and it could not provide the utopia that the rationalist said it could. Not that I have anything against rationalists or thinking, Christianity is not a religion of bury-your-head-in-the-sand people. But the principles of thinking found in the Bible, those very principles are being used in a non-religious way and that is a recipe for disaster.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
I will continue this post on further mornings.
God Bless!
Finally, Brethren, and this time I mean brethREn
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