My comment thingy is still not working. Thanks a lot Blogspot.
Anyhow, Ginx, I make my posts on atheism from direct comments by atheists.
Ya, I know, not all atheists think exactly the same but I never write a post based on only one comment. When I wrote the post Atheists, Irony and Prophecy, Hugo said that all of the following were wrong; that atheists have never said the stuff in my post:
...the Bible, the Book that atheists see as a great joke...
...Today, these two groups are together gayly pushing their way to the front of the line...
...Atheists laugh at and cheer for the exodus from Christianity that is taking place before our very eyes....
... It must look to them as though victory is imminent...
... atheists around the globe pursue active opposition to all things related to God...
...this is an all out effort to rid the world of anything to do with the idea of Creator God and the worship of Him...
The very next day, THE VERY NEXT DAY I was meandering through atheist blog posts and EVERY SINGLE ONE of these assertions that I made in my post were proved true by atheist bloggers.
Anyhow, this argument about Christian arrogance when thanking God is a favourite of Richard Dawkins and others of his ilk. He finds it particularly annoying when a Christian thanks God that s/he survived when others have died.
Monday, June 27, 2011
To Thank God Is The Height Of Arrogance
've posted this a couple times before. Hugo has even commented on it before. But here he is, commenting on the last three or four posts, once again showing that he and all other atheists have zero understanding of the concept of God's Grace. So arrogant are atheists that they cannot conceive of anyone doing something good to them or for them without their own character or abilities having played some role in the graciousness of the giver. If someone was to give Hugo a million dollars, he would spend the rest of his life trying to figure out what he'd done right to make that person be so generous to him. That's how atheists think. So here, once again is a post explaining how atheists see being grateful for God's free gift of Grace, a sign of arrogance. They see it as arrogance because as all atheists know, their good fortune cannot originate in the giver but only in themselves, in their character and abilities which compel the giver to give.
Oh, and this will be my last post until we’re back from the Canadian Rockies around July 15.
One of the things that drives atheists to distraction is to hear someone thanking God for their survival after some type of disaster. This is especially true if someone else has died in the disaster. Here’s an example of how atheists think.
My plane is arriving home - finally. I’m tired. I’m hungry. It’s the dead of night and the rain is coming down in sheets. That would make me nervous enough but the bigger problem is this. The plane’s landing gear is only partially down. All the fuel that can be burned off is gone and we’re 1km back on final approach. I think I can see the flashing lights of some of the emergency vehicles that are waiting for us. We’ve assumed the crash position.
It’s the hardest, bone crunching landing that I’ve ever experienced. Blood is pouring from my mouth. I find out later that my left leg is broken just above the ankle. We skid for what seems like forever. The last thing I remember is seeing the wing, right where my window and protective fuselage used to be, tear away. I’m soaked in fuel and exposed to the elements as we careen off the end of the runway and into, what I later learn to be, bush and wasteland. The next thing I know, a rescue crewman is lifting me out of my seat. There are screams and smoke and shouts of “Hurry - Hurry!” I’m lying in the rain beside a fire truck, about two hundred meters from the plane when it explodes. The screams of those still inside will remain with me for the rest of my life.
Four days later, two of us are being released from the hospital. There’s a small crowd outside and they’re clapping for us. News Reporters ask if they can interview us. All I have to say is, “I am so very thankful to the rescue crew for saving my life. I can’t say enough about how absolutely grateful I am to all those who risked their lives in order to save mine.”
I’m taken aback when someone from the crowd yells, “I’m an atheist and that gives me the right to say to your face, ‘How dare you say that you’re thankful to be alive when 57 other people died? How arrogant can you be? You think you’re somebody special? You think you’re better than those other people? Well I’m here to tell you that you’re not!’”
Never one to back down from perceived injustice, I reply, “I may not be special, but the people who risked their lives in order to save mine certainly are.”
“Then why didn’t they save everyone’s life? My daughter died on that plane and I say the rescuers are nothing but cowardly scum.”
“Just because you’re angry at them doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t be grateful.”
“Yes it does. Yes it does you arrogant . . .!”
I interrupt. “Why?” I ask, genuinely interested. “Why shouldn’t I thank someone who saved my life, even if he didn’t save someone else’s?”
Breaking into tears of rage, the man ends with, “Because he should have saved everybody or nobody that’s why.”
While the analogy is admittedly imperfect, the point is clear. For thousands of years, atheists have used “this one saved / that one dead” as “proof” that God doesn’t exist. I know. It’s a stupid argument, but so are all their denials of God. One thing that atheists cannot tolerate is a God who is Sovereign; a God who will choose one and not another. They would rather pretend that God doesn’t exist than bow down to such a God. God however replies back to such atheist accusations with, “You can worship Me as Sovereign Lord and be saved, or you can reject My Lordship and die in your sins. Because you have rejected Me and want nothing to do with Me, I say to you, “Thy will be done.””
Unless God is "good" to everyone, then in the atheist mind, God isn’t good to anyone. As the saying goes, “Unbelief always comes from seeing oneself as good and God as evil.”
In the atheist mind it’s black or white, right or wrong, totally acceptable or totally unacceptable. It’s this rigid and repetitive, persistent and pervasive, black and white thinking that is the cause of atheist rants toward survivors who are thankful to God. It’s the survivor who bears the brunt of the atheist’s misdirected anger. The survivor is accused of being arrogant for being grateful. Sometimes it’s hard to see why atheists deem logic and reason to be exclusively within their domain.
Oh, and this will be my last post until we’re back from the Canadian Rockies around July 15.
One of the things that drives atheists to distraction is to hear someone thanking God for their survival after some type of disaster. This is especially true if someone else has died in the disaster. Here’s an example of how atheists think.
My plane is arriving home - finally. I’m tired. I’m hungry. It’s the dead of night and the rain is coming down in sheets. That would make me nervous enough but the bigger problem is this. The plane’s landing gear is only partially down. All the fuel that can be burned off is gone and we’re 1km back on final approach. I think I can see the flashing lights of some of the emergency vehicles that are waiting for us. We’ve assumed the crash position.
It’s the hardest, bone crunching landing that I’ve ever experienced. Blood is pouring from my mouth. I find out later that my left leg is broken just above the ankle. We skid for what seems like forever. The last thing I remember is seeing the wing, right where my window and protective fuselage used to be, tear away. I’m soaked in fuel and exposed to the elements as we careen off the end of the runway and into, what I later learn to be, bush and wasteland. The next thing I know, a rescue crewman is lifting me out of my seat. There are screams and smoke and shouts of “Hurry - Hurry!” I’m lying in the rain beside a fire truck, about two hundred meters from the plane when it explodes. The screams of those still inside will remain with me for the rest of my life.
Four days later, two of us are being released from the hospital. There’s a small crowd outside and they’re clapping for us. News Reporters ask if they can interview us. All I have to say is, “I am so very thankful to the rescue crew for saving my life. I can’t say enough about how absolutely grateful I am to all those who risked their lives in order to save mine.”
I’m taken aback when someone from the crowd yells, “I’m an atheist and that gives me the right to say to your face, ‘How dare you say that you’re thankful to be alive when 57 other people died? How arrogant can you be? You think you’re somebody special? You think you’re better than those other people? Well I’m here to tell you that you’re not!’”
Never one to back down from perceived injustice, I reply, “I may not be special, but the people who risked their lives in order to save mine certainly are.”
“Then why didn’t they save everyone’s life? My daughter died on that plane and I say the rescuers are nothing but cowardly scum.”
“Just because you’re angry at them doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t be grateful.”
“Yes it does. Yes it does you arrogant . . .!”
I interrupt. “Why?” I ask, genuinely interested. “Why shouldn’t I thank someone who saved my life, even if he didn’t save someone else’s?”
Breaking into tears of rage, the man ends with, “Because he should have saved everybody or nobody that’s why.”
While the analogy is admittedly imperfect, the point is clear. For thousands of years, atheists have used “this one saved / that one dead” as “proof” that God doesn’t exist. I know. It’s a stupid argument, but so are all their denials of God. One thing that atheists cannot tolerate is a God who is Sovereign; a God who will choose one and not another. They would rather pretend that God doesn’t exist than bow down to such a God. God however replies back to such atheist accusations with, “You can worship Me as Sovereign Lord and be saved, or you can reject My Lordship and die in your sins. Because you have rejected Me and want nothing to do with Me, I say to you, “Thy will be done.””
Unless God is "good" to everyone, then in the atheist mind, God isn’t good to anyone. As the saying goes, “Unbelief always comes from seeing oneself as good and God as evil.”
In the atheist mind it’s black or white, right or wrong, totally acceptable or totally unacceptable. It’s this rigid and repetitive, persistent and pervasive, black and white thinking that is the cause of atheist rants toward survivors who are thankful to God. It’s the survivor who bears the brunt of the atheist’s misdirected anger. The survivor is accused of being arrogant for being grateful. Sometimes it’s hard to see why atheists deem logic and reason to be exclusively within their domain.
What Does He Do?
The Spirit’s major role lies with His being the absolutely essential constituent of the whole of Christian life, from beginning to end. The Spirit thus empowers ethical life in all of its dimensions - personal, corporate, and in the world. Believers in Christ who are Spirit People first and foremost, are variously described as living by the Spirit, walking in the Spirit, being led by the Spirit, bearing the fruit fo the Spirit, and sowing the Spirit, the Spirit conforms the believer into the likeness of Christ to the glory of God. The Spirit is therefore the empowering presence of God for living the life of God in the present.
Gordon Fee
The purpose of this experience is spiritual empowerment, both to stimulate consistent growth in Godliness and to enable the believer to bear witness concerning the gospel and to serve the Lord with spiritual power.
Gordon Fee
The purpose of this experience is spiritual empowerment, both to stimulate consistent growth in Godliness and to enable the believer to bear witness concerning the gospel and to serve the Lord with spiritual power.
Rabbi Zusya said that on the Day of Judgment, God would ask him, not why he had not been Moses, but why he had not been Zusya.
I would rather be what God chose to make me than the most glorious creature that I could think of; for to have been thought about, born in God’s thought, and then made by God, is the dearest grandest, and most precious thing in all thinking.
George Macdonald
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:14
I would rather be what God chose to make me than the most glorious creature that I could think of; for to have been thought about, born in God’s thought, and then made by God, is the dearest grandest, and most precious thing in all thinking.
George Macdonald
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:14
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Atheist Plagiarism
Anyone who’s done any writing anywhere knows that plagiarism is a serious offence.
Atheists beware!
“All good things and every perfect gift is from above. Coming down to us from the Creator of heavenly lights in whom there is no changing or shifting like shadows.”
I’ve written a couple times how the atheist Hugo would like me to avoid giving glory and praise and honour to God and instead proclaim pride and self-sufficiency in the advancements that have come into my life.
Well, if I didn’t want to be guilty of plagiarism, I suppose I could follow the atheist’s advice. But that would be wrong. Wouldn’t it?
In reality, I am not the Author of my life. I am not the Master of my fate. I am not the Captain of my soul. I am not self-sufficient and neither is any other human being. Taking credit for God’s gifts to me, be they challenging or easy, is the same as plagiarism.
That is why I give credit where credit is due - to God the Father and to my Lord and Saviour Jesus the Christ to whom all glory and honour and worship belong.
Atheists beware!
“All good things and every perfect gift is from above. Coming down to us from the Creator of heavenly lights in whom there is no changing or shifting like shadows.”
I’ve written a couple times how the atheist Hugo would like me to avoid giving glory and praise and honour to God and instead proclaim pride and self-sufficiency in the advancements that have come into my life.
Well, if I didn’t want to be guilty of plagiarism, I suppose I could follow the atheist’s advice. But that would be wrong. Wouldn’t it?
In reality, I am not the Author of my life. I am not the Master of my fate. I am not the Captain of my soul. I am not self-sufficient and neither is any other human being. Taking credit for God’s gifts to me, be they challenging or easy, is the same as plagiarism.
That is why I give credit where credit is due - to God the Father and to my Lord and Saviour Jesus the Christ to whom all glory and honour and worship belong.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Atheists and No Rest For The Wicked
Have you read that verse in the Bible? It is so true. And how could it not be true? For those who reject God’s presence in their lives, those who advocate self-sufficiency, those people must never cease from work, from worry, from making sure everything in their lives is working properly. That’s a tough job. Close your eyes for a moment and something might go wrong.
Hugo the atheist wants that kind of life for me. Become self-sufficient and be proud of yourself. That’s his advice.
On the other hand, Jesus says, “Come to Me all of you who are weary and are carrying a heavy load and I will give you rest for your souls.”
Hmm, work endlessly or relax. Which would you want?
Because of five decades of arthritis, I have a GOOD bed.
It’s big.
It’s high.
It’s just the right firmness.
The support that my bed gives to me is - well - perfect.
It gives me as good a rest as any bed possible.
That’s just like Jesus.
I can rest the full weight of my life upon Jesus and trust without measure in His ability and willingness to support me. I can relax fully because the rest for my soul that Jesus provides requires no effort to support or sustain myself. He does it all.
Hugo the atheist wants that kind of life for me. Become self-sufficient and be proud of yourself. That’s his advice.
On the other hand, Jesus says, “Come to Me all of you who are weary and are carrying a heavy load and I will give you rest for your souls.”
Hmm, work endlessly or relax. Which would you want?
Because of five decades of arthritis, I have a GOOD bed.
It’s big.
It’s high.
It’s just the right firmness.
The support that my bed gives to me is - well - perfect.
It gives me as good a rest as any bed possible.
That’s just like Jesus.
I can rest the full weight of my life upon Jesus and trust without measure in His ability and willingness to support me. I can relax fully because the rest for my soul that Jesus provides requires no effort to support or sustain myself. He does it all.
Election
I believe in the doctrine of election, because I am quite certain that, if God had not chosen me, I should never have chosen Him; and I am sure He chose me before I was born, or else He never would have chosen me afterwards; and He must have elected me for reasons unknown to me, for I never could find any reason in myself why He should have looked upon me with special love.
Charles Spurgeon
Charles Spurgeon
Friday, June 24, 2011
Atheists and a Culture of Proud
Can you imagine how much pride a person must have to think that s/he is not part of the problem that inflicts the world? Atheists like Hitchens and Dawkins actually believe that the world’s problems are caused, not by corrupt humans, but by religion, or the wrong political party or - well -pick something.
You can pick anything but yourself because to pick yourself might damage your precious pride. The multi-divorced Dawkins and the drunken Hitchens are so blinded by pride that they actually absolve themselves from what’s wrong with the world. They actually believe the world would be better if people thought / acted like they did and believed what they believe.
And contrary to what most atheists would like to think, I do NOT believe the world would be better off if people thought / acted like me or believed what I believe. I agree with G. K. that what’s wrong with the world IS me. Not because of my religion but because I am a human whose character, like all other humans is hopelessly lost.
On the other hand, I do think the world would be better off if people thought / acted like Jesus and believed what He taught; believed to the point of taking on the character of Jesus through the indwelling of His Holy Spirit.
I’ve written on how the atheist Hugo would love me to wear the shackles of pride.
Instead I’m thinking, ‘If only I could shake off pride completely!’
And why would I want to get rid of pride? Because I love freedom.
The fact is, it’s only the humble who know freedom.
“God opposes the proud but gives His grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under God’s mighty hand so that at just the right time He will lift you up. Cast all your anxiety and worries upon Him because He cares about you.” 1st Peter 5:5-7. Next to John 3:16 I think this is the most important verse in the Bible.
. Where ever you find anxiety or worry you’ll find a person trying to be self-sufficient.
. Where ever you find someone troubled by fear, you’ve found someone trying to act independent of God.
. Where ever you find worry or anxiety you’ll find at the root a person with too much pride to obey God.
And that’s what Hugo the atheist wants for me.
Gee, thanks a lot.
Jesus’ solution on the other hand is to give me a life of peace and joy and a life that is free from worry.
Jesus promises to give to me His grace - His Grace! - and all I have to do is humble myself by doing what?
By working harder?
By striving longer?
By carrying a bigger load?
Ha! Of course not.
Jesus promises to give to me His Grace if I let Him - did you get that? - if I let Him do all the work.
“Throw your cares and anxiety and worry and problems at Me and let Me carry them.
Uhmmm o- - -k.
Jesus says, “Humble yourself by admitting that you aren’t in control and I’ll prove to you that I care about you by making your life run as smoothly as life in this fallen world can run.”
Hugo says that my faith in Jesus, that depending on Him as my guide isn’t like a mechanical guidance system (see my post “Yellow Submarine) because it hasn’t been tested. What a preposterous statement! The faith of Christians has been tried, tested and found eminently reliable 100's of billions of times.
. Humble myself, reject pride and quit stealing glory from where it’s due, and in return I’m given joy and peace and freedom that is good beyond description.
. Humble myself, reject pride, and in return I’m given a life where good comes out of any and every situation.
And THAT is what Hugo would like me to give up so that I can adopt his proud self-sufficiency.
Good grief what a stupid idea!
I’ve left the atheist’s culture of pride and I ain’t never coming back.
You can pick anything but yourself because to pick yourself might damage your precious pride. The multi-divorced Dawkins and the drunken Hitchens are so blinded by pride that they actually absolve themselves from what’s wrong with the world. They actually believe the world would be better if people thought / acted like they did and believed what they believe.
And contrary to what most atheists would like to think, I do NOT believe the world would be better off if people thought / acted like me or believed what I believe. I agree with G. K. that what’s wrong with the world IS me. Not because of my religion but because I am a human whose character, like all other humans is hopelessly lost.
On the other hand, I do think the world would be better off if people thought / acted like Jesus and believed what He taught; believed to the point of taking on the character of Jesus through the indwelling of His Holy Spirit.
I’ve written on how the atheist Hugo would love me to wear the shackles of pride.
Instead I’m thinking, ‘If only I could shake off pride completely!’
And why would I want to get rid of pride? Because I love freedom.
The fact is, it’s only the humble who know freedom.
“God opposes the proud but gives His grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under God’s mighty hand so that at just the right time He will lift you up. Cast all your anxiety and worries upon Him because He cares about you.” 1st Peter 5:5-7. Next to John 3:16 I think this is the most important verse in the Bible.
. Where ever you find anxiety or worry you’ll find a person trying to be self-sufficient.
. Where ever you find someone troubled by fear, you’ve found someone trying to act independent of God.
. Where ever you find worry or anxiety you’ll find at the root a person with too much pride to obey God.
And that’s what Hugo the atheist wants for me.
Gee, thanks a lot.
Jesus’ solution on the other hand is to give me a life of peace and joy and a life that is free from worry.
Jesus promises to give to me His grace - His Grace! - and all I have to do is humble myself by doing what?
By working harder?
By striving longer?
By carrying a bigger load?
Ha! Of course not.
Jesus promises to give to me His Grace if I let Him - did you get that? - if I let Him do all the work.
“Throw your cares and anxiety and worry and problems at Me and let Me carry them.
Uhmmm o- - -k.
Jesus says, “Humble yourself by admitting that you aren’t in control and I’ll prove to you that I care about you by making your life run as smoothly as life in this fallen world can run.”
Hugo says that my faith in Jesus, that depending on Him as my guide isn’t like a mechanical guidance system (see my post “Yellow Submarine) because it hasn’t been tested. What a preposterous statement! The faith of Christians has been tried, tested and found eminently reliable 100's of billions of times.
. Humble myself, reject pride and quit stealing glory from where it’s due, and in return I’m given joy and peace and freedom that is good beyond description.
. Humble myself, reject pride, and in return I’m given a life where good comes out of any and every situation.
And THAT is what Hugo would like me to give up so that I can adopt his proud self-sufficiency.
Good grief what a stupid idea!
I’ve left the atheist’s culture of pride and I ain’t never coming back.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Atheists Encourage Pride
The resident atheist at Thesauros is offended that I dare to give to Creator God what the atheist thinks belongs solely to me - Pride and Glory for “my” accomplishments. The atheist says that I should be proud of any changes for the better that have been made in my character.
Humility, according to him is the wrong approach.
As every Bright knows, humility is for losers. Not taking credit for accomplishments is like lying to yourself. That’s why this atheist wanted me to adopt the greatest sin (probably the first sin) and certainly the most destructive sin in the universe -
Pride.
Ya. Good advice.
Let me say just a few things about pride
“This is the one upon whom I will look; he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at My Word.” Isaiah 66:2
“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward Him.” 2nd Chronicles 16:9
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:7
“At every stage of our Christian development and in every sphere of our Christian discipleship, pride is the greatest enemy and humility is our greatest friend.”
John Stott
“Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, s/he will not go unpunished.” Proverbs 16:5
Pride is when humans attempt to glorify the self in areas where only God deserves all the glory.
So the question becomes - What is humility? Or
Why can an atheist never be truly humble?
The answer? Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God’s holiness and our sinfulness.
Now, sceptics often accuse Christians of promoting a “worm theology.” They accuse us of trying to get people to think less of themselves. Actually, humility is not thinking less of yourself. Humility is simply a way of being human in which you think of yourself less often. In fact Christianity as Jesus taught encourages people to strive for greatness.
If you look at Mark 10: 35-45, you’ll see a story of pride, full blown pride even in those who’d spent three years studying under the working definition of humility. Twelve men, proud men, so proud that Hugo would pat them on the back for having the right attitude, are arguing about who among them is the greatest. When Jesus asks them what the argument is about, appropriate shame strikes them speechless - for a short time.
Having gotten the right response to pride, Jesus continues His final trip to Jerusalem; a trip where He is willingly giving Himself over to be tortured to death for our sins. And while making this trip, two of the men, brothers James and John pick up the theme of greatness. So confident are they in their abilities that they ask Jesus (whom they believed would soon become the next Ruler of Israel, defeater of the Roman Empire) if they can sit as co Rulers with Him. “We can do it, Jesus. We’re proud of our abilities.”
So Jesus once again addresses the issue of pride with His students.
Notice that Jesus doesn’t say, “Don’t strive for greatness.” Instead, Jesus redirects their ambition. He takes them in exactly the opposite direction of that to which atheists aspire. He redirects their ambition in a manner that would have, and perhaps did make Nietzsche wretch. To help His students understand the essence of greatness, Jesus says to them, “I [the Creator of the universe] did not come into the world to be served, but to serve others and to give My life as a ransom for many - So Follow Me. Be like Me. Do as I do in My relationship with others, including you (Remember Jesus as the foot washing slave - even washing the feet of Judas the one Jesus knew was about to betray Him to death?). Don’t grasp for power so you can lord it over people as the pagans do. Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant and whoever wants to be the greatest, that person must be the slave of all.”
Should I follow Hugo’s advice, advice that he truly believes is good for the world, where individuals motivated by self-interest, self-indulgence, and a false sense of self-sufficiency pursue self-glorification?
“You should be proud of what you’ve done.”
Pfft!
No thanks. Instead with the power and ability and desire that God places within me, I’ll serve others for the glory of God and the furthering of His Kingdom.
Besides, I’ve already been where Hugo advises me to go. I’ve already lived with the goal to become self-sufficient, seeking to cultivate self-confidence for the purpose of self-glorification. I’ve been there and in comparison to a life following Jesus, it’s third rate at best.
I’ll never be rid of pride completely, but thanks to God alone, I no longer run after it. I’ll leave that to atheists for whom pride is just one entity of their triune god.
Humility, according to him is the wrong approach.
As every Bright knows, humility is for losers. Not taking credit for accomplishments is like lying to yourself. That’s why this atheist wanted me to adopt the greatest sin (probably the first sin) and certainly the most destructive sin in the universe -
Pride.
Ya. Good advice.
Let me say just a few things about pride
“This is the one upon whom I will look; he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at My Word.” Isaiah 66:2
“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward Him.” 2nd Chronicles 16:9
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:7
“At every stage of our Christian development and in every sphere of our Christian discipleship, pride is the greatest enemy and humility is our greatest friend.”
John Stott
“Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, s/he will not go unpunished.” Proverbs 16:5
Pride is when humans attempt to glorify the self in areas where only God deserves all the glory.
So the question becomes - What is humility? Or
Why can an atheist never be truly humble?
The answer? Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God’s holiness and our sinfulness.
Now, sceptics often accuse Christians of promoting a “worm theology.” They accuse us of trying to get people to think less of themselves. Actually, humility is not thinking less of yourself. Humility is simply a way of being human in which you think of yourself less often. In fact Christianity as Jesus taught encourages people to strive for greatness.
If you look at Mark 10: 35-45, you’ll see a story of pride, full blown pride even in those who’d spent three years studying under the working definition of humility. Twelve men, proud men, so proud that Hugo would pat them on the back for having the right attitude, are arguing about who among them is the greatest. When Jesus asks them what the argument is about, appropriate shame strikes them speechless - for a short time.
Having gotten the right response to pride, Jesus continues His final trip to Jerusalem; a trip where He is willingly giving Himself over to be tortured to death for our sins. And while making this trip, two of the men, brothers James and John pick up the theme of greatness. So confident are they in their abilities that they ask Jesus (whom they believed would soon become the next Ruler of Israel, defeater of the Roman Empire) if they can sit as co Rulers with Him. “We can do it, Jesus. We’re proud of our abilities.”
So Jesus once again addresses the issue of pride with His students.
Notice that Jesus doesn’t say, “Don’t strive for greatness.” Instead, Jesus redirects their ambition. He takes them in exactly the opposite direction of that to which atheists aspire. He redirects their ambition in a manner that would have, and perhaps did make Nietzsche wretch. To help His students understand the essence of greatness, Jesus says to them, “I [the Creator of the universe] did not come into the world to be served, but to serve others and to give My life as a ransom for many - So Follow Me. Be like Me. Do as I do in My relationship with others, including you (Remember Jesus as the foot washing slave - even washing the feet of Judas the one Jesus knew was about to betray Him to death?). Don’t grasp for power so you can lord it over people as the pagans do. Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant and whoever wants to be the greatest, that person must be the slave of all.”
Should I follow Hugo’s advice, advice that he truly believes is good for the world, where individuals motivated by self-interest, self-indulgence, and a false sense of self-sufficiency pursue self-glorification?
“You should be proud of what you’ve done.”
Pfft!
No thanks. Instead with the power and ability and desire that God places within me, I’ll serve others for the glory of God and the furthering of His Kingdom.
Besides, I’ve already been where Hugo advises me to go. I’ve already lived with the goal to become self-sufficient, seeking to cultivate self-confidence for the purpose of self-glorification. I’ve been there and in comparison to a life following Jesus, it’s third rate at best.
I’ll never be rid of pride completely, but thanks to God alone, I no longer run after it. I’ll leave that to atheists for whom pride is just one entity of their triune god.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Atheists, Irony and Prophecy
I don’t know if all people find the ironic funny, but I sure do.
And I know that Hugo does.
What I find mostly amusing is how the Bible, the Book that atheists see as a great joke is also the Book whose prophecy atheists are fulfilling - exactly.
Isn’t that ironic?
Can you see the humour in that?
I sure can.
For example, this Book that atheists mock says that as we near the end of history, atheism and homosexuality will rise in unison. Today, these two groups are together gayly pushing their way to the front of the line (hey -it’s their turn) completely unaware of the role they are playing in eschatological prophecy.
Atheists laugh at and cheer for the exodus from Christianity that is taking place before our very eyes. And who can blame them? It must look to them as though victory is imminent. And yet, how can it be a victory when the One whose existence atheists deny predicted thousands of years ago that as history nears its end, there will be a huge exodus of people from Christianity?
The final laugh comes as atheists around the globe pursue active opposition to all things related to God. This is not just and attitude of, “Eh, who cares about religion. Let other people worship their gods. I want to watch tv.” No, this is an all out effort to rid the world of anything to do with the idea of Creator God and the worship of Him.
What’s funny about that?
Well, again, atheists around the world are coming together to fulfill the prophecy that as history nears its end, there will be active rebellion and opposition to anything having to do with Creator God.
Thank you atheists for being such willing participants in God’s plan for your lives.
See also - http://thesauros-store.blogspot.com/2011/06/still-another-addition.html
And I know that Hugo does.
What I find mostly amusing is how the Bible, the Book that atheists see as a great joke is also the Book whose prophecy atheists are fulfilling - exactly.
Isn’t that ironic?
Can you see the humour in that?
I sure can.
For example, this Book that atheists mock says that as we near the end of history, atheism and homosexuality will rise in unison. Today, these two groups are together gayly pushing their way to the front of the line (hey -it’s their turn) completely unaware of the role they are playing in eschatological prophecy.
Atheists laugh at and cheer for the exodus from Christianity that is taking place before our very eyes. And who can blame them? It must look to them as though victory is imminent. And yet, how can it be a victory when the One whose existence atheists deny predicted thousands of years ago that as history nears its end, there will be a huge exodus of people from Christianity?
The final laugh comes as atheists around the globe pursue active opposition to all things related to God. This is not just and attitude of, “Eh, who cares about religion. Let other people worship their gods. I want to watch tv.” No, this is an all out effort to rid the world of anything to do with the idea of Creator God and the worship of Him.
What’s funny about that?
Well, again, atheists around the world are coming together to fulfill the prophecy that as history nears its end, there will be active rebellion and opposition to anything having to do with Creator God.
Thank you atheists for being such willing participants in God’s plan for your lives.
See also - http://thesauros-store.blogspot.com/2011/06/still-another-addition.html
Ezekiel 36:26-27
Ezekiel 36:26-27 - I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Yellow Submarine
Have you ever wondered at how submarines can drive all over the ocean, through valleys, over mountain ranges, even tailgate another submarine (Hey, every holiday I watch Hunt For Red October) and know, precisely where they are? What an amazing thing! These women and men have faith in their means of navigation. The systems have been tested, tried and trusted.
Abraham did something similar. He didn’t have a clue where God was taking him. He left everything he knew as familiar and safe and, trusting his Guide, having faith in the One who said “Follow Me,” Abraham set off on a journey the repercussions of which the world is still experiencing.
Those who follow Jesus do the same thing. As humans, we are strangers on earth. We don’t know which direction to choose. That’s why every generation makes pretty much the same mistakes of previous generations, even when they know history.
With Jesus as our guide a whole new way of being human unfolds before us. We no longer need to depend on feelings to sort things out. It’s a wonderful thing to not need to worry about tomorrow, whether we’ll have enough to eat or clothes to wear. My life has never been even close to being as exciting as after becoming a follower of my reliable Guide, Jesus the Christ. As Jesus said, “
“Blessed are they that have not seen [Me], and yet believe.”
Blessed doesn't describe by half how great it is to be in a healed relationship with one's Creator.
Abraham did something similar. He didn’t have a clue where God was taking him. He left everything he knew as familiar and safe and, trusting his Guide, having faith in the One who said “Follow Me,” Abraham set off on a journey the repercussions of which the world is still experiencing.
Those who follow Jesus do the same thing. As humans, we are strangers on earth. We don’t know which direction to choose. That’s why every generation makes pretty much the same mistakes of previous generations, even when they know history.
With Jesus as our guide a whole new way of being human unfolds before us. We no longer need to depend on feelings to sort things out. It’s a wonderful thing to not need to worry about tomorrow, whether we’ll have enough to eat or clothes to wear. My life has never been even close to being as exciting as after becoming a follower of my reliable Guide, Jesus the Christ. As Jesus said, “
“Blessed are they that have not seen [Me], and yet believe.”
Blessed doesn't describe by half how great it is to be in a healed relationship with one's Creator.
Monday, June 20, 2011
That’s Not My Job!
An atheist that hangs out here has told me that I have never presented evidence that is able to convince Him to convert to Christianity and he doubts that I ever will present such evidence.
Of course, he’s correct. Not only because it can’t be done, but also because That’s Not My Job.
It’s the Holy Spirit who convicts and He only convicts those who are destined for salvation.
For those who are perishing, all the evidence IN the universe and OF the universe isn’t enough and it never will be enough to convince them. Their eyes have been blinded and their ears have been made deaf so that they can receive exactly what they want - an eternity separated from their Creator.
For those who are destined to be saved, the simplest gospel message possible will be more than enough to trigger a hunger and thirst for Truth that will never be quenched this side of eternity. For those who are headed for heaven, only a single verse (sometimes the most innocuous verse) will open up for them God penetrating Truth.
That Truth will reveal the person’s true sinful condition and h/her desperate need for forgiveness.
That Truth will convince the person that s/he is loved and accepted by the greatest Love in the universe.
That Truth will convince that person that s/he has been freely forgiven.
You’re right Hugo. Like most other atheists, you couldn’t become a Christian even if you wanted to. It’s tragic that atheists find begging so repulsive because your Creator and mine says that if you seek Him with all your heart He will make Himself known to you. If you call out to Him for forgiveness, He will save you. But that requires humility and humility is anathema to Brights who would rather stand in hell than kneel in heaven.
Of course, he’s correct. Not only because it can’t be done, but also because That’s Not My Job.
It’s the Holy Spirit who convicts and He only convicts those who are destined for salvation.
For those who are perishing, all the evidence IN the universe and OF the universe isn’t enough and it never will be enough to convince them. Their eyes have been blinded and their ears have been made deaf so that they can receive exactly what they want - an eternity separated from their Creator.
For those who are destined to be saved, the simplest gospel message possible will be more than enough to trigger a hunger and thirst for Truth that will never be quenched this side of eternity. For those who are headed for heaven, only a single verse (sometimes the most innocuous verse) will open up for them God penetrating Truth.
That Truth will reveal the person’s true sinful condition and h/her desperate need for forgiveness.
That Truth will convince the person that s/he is loved and accepted by the greatest Love in the universe.
That Truth will convince that person that s/he has been freely forgiven.
You’re right Hugo. Like most other atheists, you couldn’t become a Christian even if you wanted to. It’s tragic that atheists find begging so repulsive because your Creator and mine says that if you seek Him with all your heart He will make Himself known to you. If you call out to Him for forgiveness, He will save you. But that requires humility and humility is anathema to Brights who would rather stand in hell than kneel in heaven.
Hosea 11:1-4
When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Love Is . . .
I can’t remember the singer’s name but a line in her song, “Love is - What you want it to be.”
As we look at the state of the world, it appears that a lot of people agree with her.
And some old singer from back in the day, Tina Turner sang, “What’s love but a second hand emotion.”
Our Creator, who IS Love tells us that true love, His love, is not an emotion at all. For emotions cannot be commanded and yet He commands us to love others. Nor is love open for personal definition. Love isn’t just whatever you want it to be.
Jesus said, “A new command I give you. Love one another as I have loved you.”
If you think about it, that’s a bit weird. The Biblical command regarding loving others goes all the way back to Leviticus and Deuteronomy - several thousand years before Jesus came into the world.
So what’s new about His command?
Well, notice that Jesus tacked on, “As I love you.” That my friend is HUGE. That kind of love is so different, so counterintuitive compared to what we naturally understand love to be, that Jesus also said,
“They will know you belong to Me because you love one another [as I love you].”
Why? What’s so different about how Jesus loves us? How is that love different than the love that we as humans normally give?
True love is patient and kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, in fact it keeps no record of wrongs. Real Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. True Love never fails.
1st Corinthians 13:1-8.
The definition of love above is how Jesus loves.
I couldn’t tell you how many people, divorcing people, who’ve told me that they still “love” the person they’re abandoning while their actions and thoughts bear zero resemblance to the above definition.
The love of God is tenacious, relentless and even aggressive in nature. This love never backs down. “The gates of hell will not be able to stand against it.” The love that God places within us will not allow another person’s improper actions to deflect us from our goal, from our destiny to treat our enemies with love, to do good to those who hate us, to pray for those who persecute us.
Are you rolling your eyes yet? I don’t blame you if you do. There are a lot of people who call themselves christians who are a long, long way from displaying this kind of love. I work with them every day in counselling. “My wrong behaviours are your fault,” seems to be the order of the day for many, many christians. No wonder people sneer at the Church and at those who walk through its doors every week.
Still not convinced that God’s Love is different than worldly love?
Here’s what worldly love says.
"I tried to love h/her and be kind to h/him, but it didn’t work," so: They stoped trying.
. They walk away from the relationship.
. They divorce their spouse.
Reality is, when we try loving someone and they stay the same so we walk away, we weren’t loving or being kind - we were manipulating and controlling.
For a follower or disciple of Jesus, we offer love and allow the other person(s) the freedom to accept or reject that love.
True love never fails.
“But that’s not fair!” I hear it all the time, and I think.
Yes - And?
If love had something to do with fair Jesus would have never come to earth to provide for a forgiven and healed relationship with our Creator. Jesus, our example and character goal, came to earth knowing in advance that He would be abused, misunderstood, mistreated, rejected, insulted, betrayed and ultimately have humanity do our absolute worst to Him. Yet He entered into a covenant relationship with us anyway because He loves us. And then Jesus said, “Pick up your cross and follow Me (be like Me, do what I did, act like I did), in your relationship with others.”
“But then I’m just giving in.”
Trust me. Trying loving as Jesus commands and you’ll soon see that it’s a long, long way from doing nothing or from just giving in.
“But that kind of love isn't even humanly possible?”
No, it isn’t.
“But then the person is getting away with doing what’s wrong.”
Really?
Have you ever read Romans 12:17-21? "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is Mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
So what difference does this make in our lives and what’s love got to do with it, do with it, do with it? Trusting that things will be made right and just in the end is exactly what allows us to love unconditionally now. The apostle Paul writes in his letter to a friend named Timothy, “Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.” This is the same Paul who said, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Nobody is going to get away with anything. Those who are filled with the Spirit of their Lord and Saviour do not grieve as those who have no hope. Neither do we love as those who have no hope. We know that we serve a perfectly Just, Righteous and Loving God. It is not up to us to set things right here on earth. In fact changing other people is beyond what we are able to do. Nor do we need to change or fix or transform other people.
We are here on earth to love others - period.
It is God’s job to set things right. It is the Holy Spirit who changes other people’s hearts - and ours.
That’s doesn’t mean that we don’t work for peace. However Paul acknowledges, "as far as it is up to YOU, live in peace with everyone."
Now, Hugo the atheist says that we can just decide to love our enemies, those who hate us and persecute us. He says that all that's needed is to throw in a little self-effort and ding dong, we'll possess the ability to love others even as God loves us. Well, maybe Hugo can do that but I couldn’t and neither can anyone else that I know well.
So how does God “put in” this kind of love? He hammers it in, pounds it in, He grinds it into our character.
God brings / allows difficult people and events to come into our lives that raise to the surface the most disgusting / immature aspects of our characters. Our fears and insecurities, our irritability / anger / rage and bitterness, our dependencies / addictions, our selfishness and corrupt self-love and unwillingness to forgive.
These are the things that God wants us to remove from our lives! And when He does, what’s left is the ability to love as He loves.
When we have a difficult spouse, or boss, or parent, or co worker, or neighbour, when we lose our job, or our child dies, or our house burns to the ground, when the spot on the lung shows up in the x ray, when the character traits described above rise to the surface, those of us in a healed relationship with God find Him saying,
“Look! Look! This kind of behaviour is not acceptable for someone who calls h/herself a Christian. Here it is for all to see. Let Me help transform and conform you into the image of your Lord and Saviour Jesus the Christ” - Romans 8:29.
The prevailing characteristics of Jesus (found in Galatians 5:22-23) is headed by Love, and Love is defined above. The worst thing we can do is take what God highlights in our lives and ignore it or tolerate or justify it by pointing out what’s wrong in some other person’s life. The trick is to repent of what He has brought to light and let Him deliver on His promise of making us a New Creation.
God puts us into impossible situations so that we are forced to call out to Him for help. Contrary to popular opinion, God does give us more than we can handle (See 2nd Corinthians 1:9). Family conflict, sorrow, loss, tragedy, pain and so on are not wasted during our time on earth. They are not useless byproducts of living in a fallen world. All these things are used by God to change us. We never “arrive” so to speak. As Christians we are always beginning again. We can always have less anger, less judgmentalism, more grace, more mercy and more real love.
As we look at the state of the world, it appears that a lot of people agree with her.
And some old singer from back in the day, Tina Turner sang, “What’s love but a second hand emotion.”
Our Creator, who IS Love tells us that true love, His love, is not an emotion at all. For emotions cannot be commanded and yet He commands us to love others. Nor is love open for personal definition. Love isn’t just whatever you want it to be.
Jesus said, “A new command I give you. Love one another as I have loved you.”
If you think about it, that’s a bit weird. The Biblical command regarding loving others goes all the way back to Leviticus and Deuteronomy - several thousand years before Jesus came into the world.
So what’s new about His command?
Well, notice that Jesus tacked on, “As I love you.” That my friend is HUGE. That kind of love is so different, so counterintuitive compared to what we naturally understand love to be, that Jesus also said,
“They will know you belong to Me because you love one another [as I love you].”
Why? What’s so different about how Jesus loves us? How is that love different than the love that we as humans normally give?
True love is patient and kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, in fact it keeps no record of wrongs. Real Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. True Love never fails.
1st Corinthians 13:1-8.
The definition of love above is how Jesus loves.
I couldn’t tell you how many people, divorcing people, who’ve told me that they still “love” the person they’re abandoning while their actions and thoughts bear zero resemblance to the above definition.
The love of God is tenacious, relentless and even aggressive in nature. This love never backs down. “The gates of hell will not be able to stand against it.” The love that God places within us will not allow another person’s improper actions to deflect us from our goal, from our destiny to treat our enemies with love, to do good to those who hate us, to pray for those who persecute us.
Are you rolling your eyes yet? I don’t blame you if you do. There are a lot of people who call themselves christians who are a long, long way from displaying this kind of love. I work with them every day in counselling. “My wrong behaviours are your fault,” seems to be the order of the day for many, many christians. No wonder people sneer at the Church and at those who walk through its doors every week.
Still not convinced that God’s Love is different than worldly love?
Here’s what worldly love says.
"I tried to love h/her and be kind to h/him, but it didn’t work," so: They stoped trying.
. They walk away from the relationship.
. They divorce their spouse.
Reality is, when we try loving someone and they stay the same so we walk away, we weren’t loving or being kind - we were manipulating and controlling.
For a follower or disciple of Jesus, we offer love and allow the other person(s) the freedom to accept or reject that love.
True love never fails.
“But that’s not fair!” I hear it all the time, and I think.
Yes - And?
If love had something to do with fair Jesus would have never come to earth to provide for a forgiven and healed relationship with our Creator. Jesus, our example and character goal, came to earth knowing in advance that He would be abused, misunderstood, mistreated, rejected, insulted, betrayed and ultimately have humanity do our absolute worst to Him. Yet He entered into a covenant relationship with us anyway because He loves us. And then Jesus said, “Pick up your cross and follow Me (be like Me, do what I did, act like I did), in your relationship with others.”
“But then I’m just giving in.”
Trust me. Trying loving as Jesus commands and you’ll soon see that it’s a long, long way from doing nothing or from just giving in.
“But that kind of love isn't even humanly possible?”
No, it isn’t.
“But then the person is getting away with doing what’s wrong.”
Really?
Have you ever read Romans 12:17-21? "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is Mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
So what difference does this make in our lives and what’s love got to do with it, do with it, do with it? Trusting that things will be made right and just in the end is exactly what allows us to love unconditionally now. The apostle Paul writes in his letter to a friend named Timothy, “Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.” This is the same Paul who said, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Nobody is going to get away with anything. Those who are filled with the Spirit of their Lord and Saviour do not grieve as those who have no hope. Neither do we love as those who have no hope. We know that we serve a perfectly Just, Righteous and Loving God. It is not up to us to set things right here on earth. In fact changing other people is beyond what we are able to do. Nor do we need to change or fix or transform other people.
We are here on earth to love others - period.
It is God’s job to set things right. It is the Holy Spirit who changes other people’s hearts - and ours.
That’s doesn’t mean that we don’t work for peace. However Paul acknowledges, "as far as it is up to YOU, live in peace with everyone."
Now, Hugo the atheist says that we can just decide to love our enemies, those who hate us and persecute us. He says that all that's needed is to throw in a little self-effort and ding dong, we'll possess the ability to love others even as God loves us. Well, maybe Hugo can do that but I couldn’t and neither can anyone else that I know well.
So how does God “put in” this kind of love? He hammers it in, pounds it in, He grinds it into our character.
God brings / allows difficult people and events to come into our lives that raise to the surface the most disgusting / immature aspects of our characters. Our fears and insecurities, our irritability / anger / rage and bitterness, our dependencies / addictions, our selfishness and corrupt self-love and unwillingness to forgive.
These are the things that God wants us to remove from our lives! And when He does, what’s left is the ability to love as He loves.
When we have a difficult spouse, or boss, or parent, or co worker, or neighbour, when we lose our job, or our child dies, or our house burns to the ground, when the spot on the lung shows up in the x ray, when the character traits described above rise to the surface, those of us in a healed relationship with God find Him saying,
“Look! Look! This kind of behaviour is not acceptable for someone who calls h/herself a Christian. Here it is for all to see. Let Me help transform and conform you into the image of your Lord and Saviour Jesus the Christ” - Romans 8:29.
The prevailing characteristics of Jesus (found in Galatians 5:22-23) is headed by Love, and Love is defined above. The worst thing we can do is take what God highlights in our lives and ignore it or tolerate or justify it by pointing out what’s wrong in some other person’s life. The trick is to repent of what He has brought to light and let Him deliver on His promise of making us a New Creation.
God puts us into impossible situations so that we are forced to call out to Him for help. Contrary to popular opinion, God does give us more than we can handle (See 2nd Corinthians 1:9). Family conflict, sorrow, loss, tragedy, pain and so on are not wasted during our time on earth. They are not useless byproducts of living in a fallen world. All these things are used by God to change us. We never “arrive” so to speak. As Christians we are always beginning again. We can always have less anger, less judgmentalism, more grace, more mercy and more real love.
Still Wrong - continued . . .
Continued from You must be “God’s slave.”
Have you ever heard Bob Dylan’s song, “You’re Gonna Have To Serve Somebody”? One line goes, “It may be the devil. Or it may be the Lord, but you’re gonna have to serve somebody.”
Now, atheists find the ideas of being anyone’s slave repulsive. What they don’t realise is that in a moral universe, we’ll all slaves of somebody. The saddest part, in the case of atheists, is that they take the disease that is killing them (pseudo freedom) and clutch it to their bodies as though it’s their most valuable gift / trait. Freedom, as you understand freedom does not exist.
We begin this life in a dungeon of sin, alienated from our Creator. We have no way of paying our debt to free ourselves from that dungeon. The dungeon of sin is ruled by satan and we begin life as his slaves. Jesus, out of love and mercy and grace has chosen billions of people to be released from this slavery to sin and satan. He redeemed us (which is a term taken from the slave trade) by paying the debt for us. We can be freed from slavery to satan but now we belong to Creator God.
It’s one or the other. One owner will take us to eternity in hell. The other owner will take us to eternity in heaven. It’s your choice down which road you will go. Right now, by your choice, you are on the road to hell.
“For those God foreknew He also predestined and those He predestined He also called; those He called He also justified, those He justified He also glorified.” Romans 8:30
Let me explain this a bit more for any reader who is more open minded that you, Hugo.
To be redeemed means to have been bought at a price - which brings about a change in ownership. But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When He was hung on the cross, He took upon Himself the curse for our wrongdoing. Galatians 3:13. “He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins.” Ephesians 1:7. The death of Jesus means we were bought back from captivity or slavery to sin. We were slaves, owned by satan, and Jesus’ death bought us, so that we are now owned by Him. “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom He paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 1 Peter 1:18-19
Yet another word associated with the death and resurrection of Jesus is Justification. “And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. Romans 5:9. “Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.” Romans 3:24. Jesus’ death declared us innocent of our guilt. I was guilty as charged, but because of my faith in Jesus I have been declared not guilty
The last word that explains what was accomplished through Jesus’ death and resurrection is Reconciliation. “For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still His enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of His Son. Romans 5:10. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them.” 2 Corinthians 5:19. The death of Jesus has restored our right relationship. We have been given peace with God and now we have direct access to God. What we destroyed, God has repaired.
Have you ever heard Bob Dylan’s song, “You’re Gonna Have To Serve Somebody”? One line goes, “It may be the devil. Or it may be the Lord, but you’re gonna have to serve somebody.”
Now, atheists find the ideas of being anyone’s slave repulsive. What they don’t realise is that in a moral universe, we’ll all slaves of somebody. The saddest part, in the case of atheists, is that they take the disease that is killing them (pseudo freedom) and clutch it to their bodies as though it’s their most valuable gift / trait. Freedom, as you understand freedom does not exist.
We begin this life in a dungeon of sin, alienated from our Creator. We have no way of paying our debt to free ourselves from that dungeon. The dungeon of sin is ruled by satan and we begin life as his slaves. Jesus, out of love and mercy and grace has chosen billions of people to be released from this slavery to sin and satan. He redeemed us (which is a term taken from the slave trade) by paying the debt for us. We can be freed from slavery to satan but now we belong to Creator God.
It’s one or the other. One owner will take us to eternity in hell. The other owner will take us to eternity in heaven. It’s your choice down which road you will go. Right now, by your choice, you are on the road to hell.
“For those God foreknew He also predestined and those He predestined He also called; those He called He also justified, those He justified He also glorified.” Romans 8:30
Let me explain this a bit more for any reader who is more open minded that you, Hugo.
To be redeemed means to have been bought at a price - which brings about a change in ownership. But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When He was hung on the cross, He took upon Himself the curse for our wrongdoing. Galatians 3:13. “He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins.” Ephesians 1:7. The death of Jesus means we were bought back from captivity or slavery to sin. We were slaves, owned by satan, and Jesus’ death bought us, so that we are now owned by Him. “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom He paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 1 Peter 1:18-19
Yet another word associated with the death and resurrection of Jesus is Justification. “And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. Romans 5:9. “Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.” Romans 3:24. Jesus’ death declared us innocent of our guilt. I was guilty as charged, but because of my faith in Jesus I have been declared not guilty
The last word that explains what was accomplished through Jesus’ death and resurrection is Reconciliation. “For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still His enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of His Son. Romans 5:10. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them.” 2 Corinthians 5:19. The death of Jesus has restored our right relationship. We have been given peace with God and now we have direct access to God. What we destroyed, God has repaired.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Hugo is STILL Wrong
“Perhaps you disagree, but saying that I am wrong... really?”
Yes - Really. You think opinions can’t be wrong?
There is nothing about who I am today, at least re: character improvements that I’ve set out to create. And it has nothing to do with "believing" as strongly as I can believe. It has everything to do with Jesus - who He is and His plan for our lives.
I’ve put no effort into changing, no plan, no goal. All I’ve done is hang out with Jesus and any change in character, such as it is, has been completely and totally His doing. Like I say, if someone just met me today and observed who I am, s/he might think, “Eh, what’s the big deal? He seems like a jerk to me.” But if that person compared the today me with the Rod in his pre Jesus days, I think a lot of people would say, “I want some of whatever made that guy change.” At least they’d say that until they found out it was Jesus and then most of those people would decide to stay as is.
======
“So you mean you actually have a way to convince me that something in this quote was wrong:”
It is wrong. I don’t need to convince you or anyone else. I know that I have nothing to be proud of; at least not as I understand pride. I’m pleased with what God has done, and so are those who must spend time with me, but proud of what “I” have accomplished? Not a chance. That would be like me being proud that I caused myself to be born in Canada.
=====
“I sincerely believe that you should be proud of the changes you made to your life. It's just an opinion.
It’s a belief / opinion that is wrong because pride is something that is far more dangerous than it is good. Pride has no interest in being “as good as.” Pride makes people want to be better than. That’s what makes proud atheists so obnoxious.
I’m a better mother, a better teacher, a better student, a better bowler, a better person and on and on. I'm a bright and you're not! Pride has no interest in being as good as - only better than, and that leads to a crappy attitude. Our school is better than your school. My race is better than your race. My political party is better than your party. My religion is better than your religion. Pride is a horrible scourge on society. That’s why “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
=====
“You can claim that it's because some supernatural agent helped you, but you need to prove that,”
Says who? I know the things that I’m capable of and character transformation is not one of them. I’m not saying that no one is capable of self-improvement. I saying that I am not. I’ve never even been interested in self-improvement. I’m a high functioning sociopath with little or no inherent love for others. Like the moon, without the Son I’m a cold hard stone.
=====
“insult my intelligence and label me as slow of thought.”
When the spiritual self is strangled or ignored, a person is less than half alive, dull of mind and slow of thought. That’s not an insult. It’s just a fact.
=====
“the only thing I can be wrong about is whether you were helped by the Holy Spirit or not.”
Exactly! And that changes everything. “To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.” Colossians 1:29.
That is exactly what you’re wrong about.
=====
“We see religious people all around the world doing good things in the name of their gods.”
Yes, but not BECAUSE of their “gods.” They are straining to complete “the wheel of rebirth and suffering” in an attempt to APPEASE their gods. That is not Christianity. See the June 14th post “Walk by the Spirit” http://thesauros-store.blogspot.com/2011/06/walk-by-spirit.html
In Christianity I work OUT my salvation. In all other religions, including Roman Catholic, one works FOR one’s salvation.
=====
“Yet, the way you act is exactly the way anybody would act if they truly believe their religion.”
I disagree. As Buddhism says, “The tears of another man are just water.” In Christianity, the tears of another man are a window into his soul, and that compels us, out of love, to do something to help.
=====
“So either you are a slave of God, deciding nothing . . .,”
There you go - Hugo, you’re getting it!
To be continued in the next post.
Yes - Really. You think opinions can’t be wrong?
There is nothing about who I am today, at least re: character improvements that I’ve set out to create. And it has nothing to do with "believing" as strongly as I can believe. It has everything to do with Jesus - who He is and His plan for our lives.
I’ve put no effort into changing, no plan, no goal. All I’ve done is hang out with Jesus and any change in character, such as it is, has been completely and totally His doing. Like I say, if someone just met me today and observed who I am, s/he might think, “Eh, what’s the big deal? He seems like a jerk to me.” But if that person compared the today me with the Rod in his pre Jesus days, I think a lot of people would say, “I want some of whatever made that guy change.” At least they’d say that until they found out it was Jesus and then most of those people would decide to stay as is.
======
“So you mean you actually have a way to convince me that something in this quote was wrong:”
It is wrong. I don’t need to convince you or anyone else. I know that I have nothing to be proud of; at least not as I understand pride. I’m pleased with what God has done, and so are those who must spend time with me, but proud of what “I” have accomplished? Not a chance. That would be like me being proud that I caused myself to be born in Canada.
=====
“I sincerely believe that you should be proud of the changes you made to your life. It's just an opinion.
It’s a belief / opinion that is wrong because pride is something that is far more dangerous than it is good. Pride has no interest in being “as good as.” Pride makes people want to be better than. That’s what makes proud atheists so obnoxious.
I’m a better mother, a better teacher, a better student, a better bowler, a better person and on and on. I'm a bright and you're not! Pride has no interest in being as good as - only better than, and that leads to a crappy attitude. Our school is better than your school. My race is better than your race. My political party is better than your party. My religion is better than your religion. Pride is a horrible scourge on society. That’s why “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
=====
“You can claim that it's because some supernatural agent helped you, but you need to prove that,”
Says who? I know the things that I’m capable of and character transformation is not one of them. I’m not saying that no one is capable of self-improvement. I saying that I am not. I’ve never even been interested in self-improvement. I’m a high functioning sociopath with little or no inherent love for others. Like the moon, without the Son I’m a cold hard stone.
=====
“insult my intelligence and label me as slow of thought.”
When the spiritual self is strangled or ignored, a person is less than half alive, dull of mind and slow of thought. That’s not an insult. It’s just a fact.
=====
“the only thing I can be wrong about is whether you were helped by the Holy Spirit or not.”
Exactly! And that changes everything. “To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.” Colossians 1:29.
That is exactly what you’re wrong about.
=====
“We see religious people all around the world doing good things in the name of their gods.”
Yes, but not BECAUSE of their “gods.” They are straining to complete “the wheel of rebirth and suffering” in an attempt to APPEASE their gods. That is not Christianity. See the June 14th post “Walk by the Spirit” http://thesauros-store.blogspot.com/2011/06/walk-by-spirit.html
In Christianity I work OUT my salvation. In all other religions, including Roman Catholic, one works FOR one’s salvation.
=====
“Yet, the way you act is exactly the way anybody would act if they truly believe their religion.”
I disagree. As Buddhism says, “The tears of another man are just water.” In Christianity, the tears of another man are a window into his soul, and that compels us, out of love, to do something to help.
=====
“So either you are a slave of God, deciding nothing . . .,”
There you go - Hugo, you’re getting it!
To be continued in the next post.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Looks Who’s Watching!
The Arizona Atheist is convinced that cameras are watching him. The "Man" is out to get him, or so he thinks. As he drives down the street, this atheist is certain that he’s seen cameras move for no other reason than to find out where he’s going. The guy even blames Red Light Cameras for rear end collisions.
Chris Hitchens has a similar issue but this time it really is The MAN upstairs who’s bugging him. Chris can’t stand it that God sees everything that he does.
Personally? It makes me chuckle.
“He’s watching you poo Mr. Hitchens!”
Who cares if the police are watching? Really - who cares? Ya, you know who cares. It’s those who are doing or who would like to do something wrong. They’re the same ones who hit the brakes every time they see a speed trap ahead. They need to do that because without being watched they can’t make themselves do the right thing.
I say, “Let em watch." The only time that the law will have an interest in me is when being a Christian becomes a crime. And if that happens in my lifetime they can come and get me. I want to live my life so transparently, so consistently that it will be impossible to not convict me.
The following is a copy of a note found written in the office of a young Pastor in Zimbabwe, following his martyrdom for his faith in Jesus Christ.
I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made - I’m a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.
My past is redeemed
My present makes sense
My future is secure.
I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colourless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, fake friendships, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean in His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer, and I labour with power.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my Guide reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitated in the presence of the enemy, pander at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me.
And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me - my banner will be clear!
Chris Hitchens has a similar issue but this time it really is The MAN upstairs who’s bugging him. Chris can’t stand it that God sees everything that he does.
Personally? It makes me chuckle.
“He’s watching you poo Mr. Hitchens!”
Who cares if the police are watching? Really - who cares? Ya, you know who cares. It’s those who are doing or who would like to do something wrong. They’re the same ones who hit the brakes every time they see a speed trap ahead. They need to do that because without being watched they can’t make themselves do the right thing.
I say, “Let em watch." The only time that the law will have an interest in me is when being a Christian becomes a crime. And if that happens in my lifetime they can come and get me. I want to live my life so transparently, so consistently that it will be impossible to not convict me.
The following is a copy of a note found written in the office of a young Pastor in Zimbabwe, following his martyrdom for his faith in Jesus Christ.
I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made - I’m a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.
My past is redeemed
My present makes sense
My future is secure.
I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colourless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, fake friendships, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean in His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer, and I labour with power.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my Guide reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitated in the presence of the enemy, pander at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me.
And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me - my banner will be clear!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Still Another Addition
I’ve posted on this before but I have another addition.
1) In the Bible, we have a Book that diagnoses the atheist problem clearly and concisely -
“No one is without excuse. The universe declares the existence of God.”
To date, nothing has been able to refute or falsify that claim.
2) The Bible tells us -
“What is visible is made from what is not visible”
- This 1,500 years before the microscope was invented.
3) The Bible tells us -
“God sits enthroned above the CIRCLE of the earth . . .”
- This thousands of years before people accepted that the earth wasn’t flat.
4) The Bible tells us -
“The earth will wear out like and old garment, There will be famines in many lands and war without ceasing,”
- this 2,000 years before anyone dreamed that the earth could run short of anything.
5) The Bible tells us -“The Lord suspends the earth over nothing.”
- This, 5,000 years before modern man confirmed its truth.
6) The Bible tells us -
“The number of the stars are like the sand which is on the seashore.”
- This, thousands and thousands of years before the telescope. Without the telescope only ~ 5,000 stars are visible to the naked eye. To say they were uncountable would have seemed preposterous. Yet it’s the truth.
7) This is a Book that -
Predicted the Israelites would be scattered throughout the world, that Israel as a nation would disappear only to return as a nation with Jews coming back from around the world.
- this 3,000 years before the return of Israel as a nation took place.
8) The Bible is a Book that -
2,000 years before science confirmed the fact that sexual involvement with another person triggers “bonding” chemicals in our brains that affect us more powerfully than any other type of behaviour. Sexual sin therefore has an affect on us like no other sin has the power to inflict. We are to be one with our married spouse. Yet adultery or fornication bonds us with someone who will probably not be with us for life. Either way, the profound emotional bond is broken when sexual sin takes place and a deep emotional wound is formed, a wound which must be covered over with yet another layer of emotional hardness. No wonder the “love of many is growing cold” as what were once vices are now accepted and even promoted habits.
1st Corinthians 6:16,18 - Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.”
=====
Of course, those on the side of our Creator have been in opposition to materialists for ever. Materialists of course being those who falsely claim that they won’t believe anything that hasn’t been logically proven to them. They have to “see it to believe it.” It’s a lie, but still they say it ad nauseam.
“The Pharisees objected, “All we have is your word on this. We need more than this to believe.”
Jesus replied, “You’re right that you only have my word. You decide according to what you can see and touch. I don’t make judgements out of the NARROWNESS OF MY EXPERIENCE but in the largeness of the One who sent Me, the Creator, Father God. You are tied down to the mundane; I’m in touch with what is beyond your horizons. You live in terms of what you see and touch. I’m living on other terms. I told you that you were missing God in all this. If you won’t believe I am who I say I am, you’re at a dead end in terms of learning.” John 8:14-18, 23,24.
The Bible has many, many verses whereby the authors record their dealing with those in their community who were materialists. These authors are trying to explain, both from evidence and from experience that there is much more to life than what meets the eye, or any of the other senses for that matter. For example:
Romans 1:1 . . . since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
Hebrews 11:3 - “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”
I find this verse fascinating. Here we have a 1st century author declaring a truth that wasn't confirmed until the first living cells were observed under a microscope in the middle of the 15th century.
2nd Corinthians 5:12 - “We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again . . . so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.”
2nd Corinthians 4:18 - “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Rather than constricting life, as so many suppose, a life with Jesus at the centre and with God as the cause opens one’s mind to a storehouse of wisdom and knowledge that is simply unavailable to those who try to live life on their own terms. Humbly accepting that we are not the centre of the universe and opening ourselves to the wisdom of God is the most liberating move that a person can make. It is the most intellectually fulfilling move that a person can make.
1) In the Bible, we have a Book that diagnoses the atheist problem clearly and concisely -
“No one is without excuse. The universe declares the existence of God.”
To date, nothing has been able to refute or falsify that claim.
2) The Bible tells us -
“What is visible is made from what is not visible”
- This 1,500 years before the microscope was invented.
3) The Bible tells us -
“God sits enthroned above the CIRCLE of the earth . . .”
- This thousands of years before people accepted that the earth wasn’t flat.
4) The Bible tells us -
“The earth will wear out like and old garment, There will be famines in many lands and war without ceasing,”
- this 2,000 years before anyone dreamed that the earth could run short of anything.
5) The Bible tells us -“The Lord suspends the earth over nothing.”
- This, 5,000 years before modern man confirmed its truth.
6) The Bible tells us -
“The number of the stars are like the sand which is on the seashore.”
- This, thousands and thousands of years before the telescope. Without the telescope only ~ 5,000 stars are visible to the naked eye. To say they were uncountable would have seemed preposterous. Yet it’s the truth.
7) This is a Book that -
Predicted the Israelites would be scattered throughout the world, that Israel as a nation would disappear only to return as a nation with Jews coming back from around the world.
- this 3,000 years before the return of Israel as a nation took place.
8) The Bible is a Book that -
2,000 years before science confirmed the fact that sexual involvement with another person triggers “bonding” chemicals in our brains that affect us more powerfully than any other type of behaviour. Sexual sin therefore has an affect on us like no other sin has the power to inflict. We are to be one with our married spouse. Yet adultery or fornication bonds us with someone who will probably not be with us for life. Either way, the profound emotional bond is broken when sexual sin takes place and a deep emotional wound is formed, a wound which must be covered over with yet another layer of emotional hardness. No wonder the “love of many is growing cold” as what were once vices are now accepted and even promoted habits.
1st Corinthians 6:16,18 - Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.”
=====
Of course, those on the side of our Creator have been in opposition to materialists for ever. Materialists of course being those who falsely claim that they won’t believe anything that hasn’t been logically proven to them. They have to “see it to believe it.” It’s a lie, but still they say it ad nauseam.
“The Pharisees objected, “All we have is your word on this. We need more than this to believe.”
Jesus replied, “You’re right that you only have my word. You decide according to what you can see and touch. I don’t make judgements out of the NARROWNESS OF MY EXPERIENCE but in the largeness of the One who sent Me, the Creator, Father God. You are tied down to the mundane; I’m in touch with what is beyond your horizons. You live in terms of what you see and touch. I’m living on other terms. I told you that you were missing God in all this. If you won’t believe I am who I say I am, you’re at a dead end in terms of learning.” John 8:14-18, 23,24.
The Bible has many, many verses whereby the authors record their dealing with those in their community who were materialists. These authors are trying to explain, both from evidence and from experience that there is much more to life than what meets the eye, or any of the other senses for that matter. For example:
Romans 1:1 . . . since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
Hebrews 11:3 - “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”
I find this verse fascinating. Here we have a 1st century author declaring a truth that wasn't confirmed until the first living cells were observed under a microscope in the middle of the 15th century.
2nd Corinthians 5:12 - “We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again . . . so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.”
2nd Corinthians 4:18 - “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Rather than constricting life, as so many suppose, a life with Jesus at the centre and with God as the cause opens one’s mind to a storehouse of wisdom and knowledge that is simply unavailable to those who try to live life on their own terms. Humbly accepting that we are not the centre of the universe and opening ourselves to the wisdom of God is the most liberating move that a person can make. It is the most intellectually fulfilling move that a person can make.
“A person must confront his own sinfulness in all its ravaging depths before he can enjoy the comforts of salvation”
Martin Luther.
It comes as a surprise to many to learn how very different Christianity is from other religions; at its core, it isn’t about morality, or philosophy, or self-fulfillment. Rather, it’s about grace and forgiveness and starting over.
Once again, Hugo is wrong. As I said in a post a couple days ago, about the work of the Holy Spirit, these changes are an inside job, one that is done by the Holy Spirit with cooperation from us, that by grace is given to us by the Holy Spirit.
Martin Luther.
It comes as a surprise to many to learn how very different Christianity is from other religions; at its core, it isn’t about morality, or philosophy, or self-fulfillment. Rather, it’s about grace and forgiveness and starting over.
Once again, Hugo is wrong. As I said in a post a couple days ago, about the work of the Holy Spirit, these changes are an inside job, one that is done by the Holy Spirit with cooperation from us, that by grace is given to us by the Holy Spirit.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
I Once Was Blind But Now I See
My cousin’s husband works with the blind. He was telling me one day how his clients learn to trust someone who can see - even if that “someone” is a dog. Little by little the person learns that this guide does not lead them into walls or off steps or in into dangerous areas. Over time, as bad things fail to happen, the person begins to travel almost as though s/he could see.
That’s what the journey with Jesus is like. In our pre Christian days we thought that we could see but in many areas of life, relationships mostly, we were crashing into walls, falling off steep embankments and continuously hurting ourselves and others.
“Blessed are they that have not seen Me yet still believe.”
There’s an understatement if there ever was one.
For those of us who have put our trust in Jesus, we've learned that He can be trusted in any and all situations. He does not forsake us. He does not give up on us and He leads us through danger and into safety.
That’s what the journey with Jesus is like. In our pre Christian days we thought that we could see but in many areas of life, relationships mostly, we were crashing into walls, falling off steep embankments and continuously hurting ourselves and others.
“Blessed are they that have not seen Me yet still believe.”
There’s an understatement if there ever was one.
For those of us who have put our trust in Jesus, we've learned that He can be trusted in any and all situations. He does not forsake us. He does not give up on us and He leads us through danger and into safety.
Walk by the Spirit?
We can never view the ethical activity of the believer apart from the Spirit’s work nor the Spirit’s ethical direction and enablement apart from the believer’s active expression of his or her faith. This process is concursive, which is to say that more than one agent is involved.
God is at work and so too is the believer as Philippians 2:12,13 shows.
How the Spirit effects these changes positively and negatively is not revealed. Mystery remains. Scripture is non-postulational. It does not offer theories concerning the nature of realities or processes. Instead it affirms that certain realities are so, and the believer by faith lives as if they are so, and in so doing finds that they indeed are so (solvitur ambulando) “It is solved by walking.”
Richard Longenecker and Graham Cole
God is at work and so too is the believer as Philippians 2:12,13 shows.
How the Spirit effects these changes positively and negatively is not revealed. Mystery remains. Scripture is non-postulational. It does not offer theories concerning the nature of realities or processes. Instead it affirms that certain realities are so, and the believer by faith lives as if they are so, and in so doing finds that they indeed are so (solvitur ambulando) “It is solved by walking.”
Richard Longenecker and Graham Cole
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Is Jehovah Just Like Daddy?
I know that you don’t know me
I could be living next to you
My lifestyle is respectable
I go to church on Sunday too
I have two sons and a daughter
And a house and car and wife
And I’m comfortable and satisfied
And happy with my life
Now my two boys are my pride and joy
And they both look just like me
And my daughter says the strangest things
But then again she’s only three
She popped one out last Tuesday night
And repeated it next day
You feel they look right through you
When you hear what children say
Is Jehovah just like daddy
Does he come home late at night
Does he love his little children
If we do everything just right
Does he go to church on Sunday
Cause my mommy wants him to
Is Jehovah just like daddy
Is he just like you?
This made me feel uneasy
But I brushed the thought aside
I was pretty good, even better than most
And besides I had my pride
But when I walked by her room late last night
Heard her praying in the dark
Her words of trust and innocence
Knocked the truth into my heart
God are you just like my daddy
Do you come home late at night
Do you love your little children
If they do everything just right
Do you go to church on Sunday
Cause your mommy wants you to
God are you just like my daddy
Is he just like you?
I didn’t feel so proud to hear aloud
The things my daughter said
And I didn’t care to be standing there
With those ideas in my head
I wasn’t all I thought I was
I’d fallen short some way
But I made a vow to change somehow
When I heard my daughter say
God if you’re my heavenly daddy
Like the preacher says you are
Does that mean, that you never pray
That you’d rather wash the car
Do you ever read the Bible
Or do you leave that to my mom
Do you care about the things you got
More than daddy’s little ones
And I cried to God to help me
Show my children who He is
Cause my daughter’s final question
Was to ask Jehovah this
God if you’re just like my daddy
Should I even talk to you
Or just pretend that you’re not there
And be like daddy too
Is Jehovah just like daddy
Does he come home late at night
Does he love his little children
If we do everything just right
Does he go to church on Sunday
Cause his mommy wants him to
Is Jehovah just like daddy
Is he just like you?
Rick Lett from the cd "Just You And Me"
I could be living next to you
My lifestyle is respectable
I go to church on Sunday too
I have two sons and a daughter
And a house and car and wife
And I’m comfortable and satisfied
And happy with my life
Now my two boys are my pride and joy
And they both look just like me
And my daughter says the strangest things
But then again she’s only three
She popped one out last Tuesday night
And repeated it next day
You feel they look right through you
When you hear what children say
Is Jehovah just like daddy
Does he come home late at night
Does he love his little children
If we do everything just right
Does he go to church on Sunday
Cause my mommy wants him to
Is Jehovah just like daddy
Is he just like you?
This made me feel uneasy
But I brushed the thought aside
I was pretty good, even better than most
And besides I had my pride
But when I walked by her room late last night
Heard her praying in the dark
Her words of trust and innocence
Knocked the truth into my heart
God are you just like my daddy
Do you come home late at night
Do you love your little children
If they do everything just right
Do you go to church on Sunday
Cause your mommy wants you to
God are you just like my daddy
Is he just like you?
I didn’t feel so proud to hear aloud
The things my daughter said
And I didn’t care to be standing there
With those ideas in my head
I wasn’t all I thought I was
I’d fallen short some way
But I made a vow to change somehow
When I heard my daughter say
God if you’re my heavenly daddy
Like the preacher says you are
Does that mean, that you never pray
That you’d rather wash the car
Do you ever read the Bible
Or do you leave that to my mom
Do you care about the things you got
More than daddy’s little ones
And I cried to God to help me
Show my children who He is
Cause my daughter’s final question
Was to ask Jehovah this
God if you’re just like my daddy
Should I even talk to you
Or just pretend that you’re not there
And be like daddy too
Is Jehovah just like daddy
Does he come home late at night
Does he love his little children
If we do everything just right
Does he go to church on Sunday
Cause his mommy wants him to
Is Jehovah just like daddy
Is he just like you?
Rick Lett from the cd "Just You And Me"
Friday, June 10, 2011
“We are, by astronomical standards, a pampered, cosseted, cherished group of creatures; our Darwinian claim to have done it all ourselves is as ridiculous and as charming as a baby’s brave claim to be standing on its own feet while holding both of his mother’s hands. If the universe had not been made with the most exacting precision we could never have come into existence. It is my view that these circumstances indicate the universe was created for man to live in.”
John A. O’Keef
John A. O’Keef
Thursday, June 9, 2011
The View From Here is Incredible
It is so uplifting to see the changes brought about by a healed relationship with Jesus.
I personally know men and women who were as addicted to sex as anyone has ever been to heroin. Now they are faithful partners to husbands and wives. They are people who weep for those still caught in the sex trap.
I know people who were as vile and crude and violent as was I. Now they love peace, they eschew foul talk and notice people in need while others walk on by.
I know former thieves who are now honest and hard working, former atheists who now worship their Creator, mockers who now allow their “yes” to be “yes” and their “no” to be “no.”
I know people who were dependent on having the things of the world reflect back to them their sense of value and worth. Now they know that all that is seen will pass away with hardly a notice while the most important things in life remain unseen.
You cannot bring about these marvellous changes in yourself. Yet Jesus will, if you allow Him, transform you into a trophy of grace and mercy. He who began a good work in you will, according to His promise, carry on until that transformation is complete and perfect.
I personally know men and women who were as addicted to sex as anyone has ever been to heroin. Now they are faithful partners to husbands and wives. They are people who weep for those still caught in the sex trap.
I know people who were as vile and crude and violent as was I. Now they love peace, they eschew foul talk and notice people in need while others walk on by.
I know former thieves who are now honest and hard working, former atheists who now worship their Creator, mockers who now allow their “yes” to be “yes” and their “no” to be “no.”
I know people who were dependent on having the things of the world reflect back to them their sense of value and worth. Now they know that all that is seen will pass away with hardly a notice while the most important things in life remain unseen.
You cannot bring about these marvellous changes in yourself. Yet Jesus will, if you allow Him, transform you into a trophy of grace and mercy. He who began a good work in you will, according to His promise, carry on until that transformation is complete and perfect.
What An Amazing Gift
The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.
Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Jesus died unnecessarily.
Galatians 2:20
Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Jesus died unnecessarily.
Galatians 2:20
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Caw Caw
Did you see? Researchers in Liverpool have discovered that the common Crow (little smaller than a Raven, little bigger than a Starling) is the only bird out of all the birds in the world who do not and indeed cannot involuntarily flap their wings. Unlike other birds, in order to fly, crows must tell themselves:
“Flap”
“Flap”
“Flap”
This curious anomaly was discovered when Professor of Zoology, Raymond Jaboeuf noticed that crows were unusually vocal while sitting on a tree or other perch but “said” almost nothing while flying. As well, Jaboeuf noticed that when crows did speak back and forth to each other while flying, both birds would descend rapidly in direct proportion to the amount of talking that took place. Obviously unable to talk and fly at the same time without great difficulty, “Female crows would sometimes almost plummet from the sky when carrying on about something.”
Examining the brains of crows in the laboratory setting showed a marked difference compared to resectioned portiones of other bird’s brains where wing movements are controlled. Mr. Jaboeuf explained, “While the brains of the common Crow are almost identical in size to the human brain, they have simply not evolved the ability to utilise wing movements without conscious control commands. This is much like a human male who must tell himself to flap his penis to rid himself of excess urine after peeing.”
“Flap”
“Flap”
“Flap”
This curious anomaly was discovered when Professor of Zoology, Raymond Jaboeuf noticed that crows were unusually vocal while sitting on a tree or other perch but “said” almost nothing while flying. As well, Jaboeuf noticed that when crows did speak back and forth to each other while flying, both birds would descend rapidly in direct proportion to the amount of talking that took place. Obviously unable to talk and fly at the same time without great difficulty, “Female crows would sometimes almost plummet from the sky when carrying on about something.”
Examining the brains of crows in the laboratory setting showed a marked difference compared to resectioned portiones of other bird’s brains where wing movements are controlled. Mr. Jaboeuf explained, “While the brains of the common Crow are almost identical in size to the human brain, they have simply not evolved the ability to utilise wing movements without conscious control commands. This is much like a human male who must tell himself to flap his penis to rid himself of excess urine after peeing.”
Atheist Technicalities
We're now into "morals on the go" where atheists must ask, "But how about this situation? Is this ok to do?"
Hugo is no different.
First of all the term "atheists" (which you say is a gross generalisation) is directly from Greta's blog. She includes all atheists in her guilt free fornication.
God says that for the protection of marriage, of the children and of society in general, sex is to be reserved for marriage and marriage is to be till "death do us part." While non-Christians can technically go do as they please, "morally correct sexual contact" for Christians or non Christiains takes place within the context of marriage. Of course the "acts" need to be consensual and not demeaning to either partner even within marriage but all things being equal, God created us profoundly sexual beings and He meant for us to enjoy it within those guidelines.
Those who rebel against their Creator also rebel against His guidelines and so we have what we have.
Divorce by the millions.
Abortions by the tens of millions.
Children abanondoned by one or both parents.
People using each other as sexual objects and the emotional fallout that comes from that.
Atheist / pagan utopia.
Who could ask for more?
Hugo is no different.
First of all the term "atheists" (which you say is a gross generalisation) is directly from Greta's blog. She includes all atheists in her guilt free fornication.
God says that for the protection of marriage, of the children and of society in general, sex is to be reserved for marriage and marriage is to be till "death do us part." While non-Christians can technically go do as they please, "morally correct sexual contact" for Christians or non Christiains takes place within the context of marriage. Of course the "acts" need to be consensual and not demeaning to either partner even within marriage but all things being equal, God created us profoundly sexual beings and He meant for us to enjoy it within those guidelines.
Those who rebel against their Creator also rebel against His guidelines and so we have what we have.
Divorce by the millions.
Abortions by the tens of millions.
Children abanondoned by one or both parents.
People using each other as sexual objects and the emotional fallout that comes from that.
Atheist / pagan utopia.
Who could ask for more?
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Sexting Is Cool?
A friend told me today about some politician in the States, married for less than a year who was caught sexting with several women, none of whom were his wife.
That’s not the worst part.
The sad thing, the tragic thing is that, as my friend told me, most of the people interviewed on our local news channel said that in their minds, sexting by a married person or with a married person is not adultery. A few of the women who spoke with the roving reporter said that sexting was in fact best when done with someone who is married. “It adds to the excitement.” I doubt if one of the women was atheist Greta Christina but I'd be surprised if she didn't agree. Guilt free adultery is highly prized by atheists. At least that what they brag about in their surveys.
To those who say the Bible is out of date, I say, it is becoming more and more relevant by the hour. The worship of sex puts Temple Prostitutes well within our reach. Our empty souls have placed sex at such a demand that we can’t even avoid a plague of STD’s. We’d rather kill tens of millions while waiting for a miracle pill than risk appearing uncool by suggesting that perhaps casual sex is not such a good thing. Society is moving inexorably back into ancient times, not just by the increasing brutality inflicted upon humans by humans, but especially as it pertains to the increasingly low view held of women. There are more women sold into sexual slavery today than at any other time in history. And modern women seem more than willing to play that role, somehow seeing their sexualised selves as progressive.
Of course sexting is adultery! You are giving to another person what rightfully and exclusively belongs to your spouse, i.e. your emotions, your soul, your love. Every moment a person spends lusting after another person is a moment that is stolen from your partner.
Why would you want to become involved with a man or women who is so self-absorbed, so self-obsessed, so selfish, self-centred and cruel that s/he would do that to h/her spouse? That’s what you call exciting? To spend time with a moral invalid?
What does that say about you and your emotional and relational stability?
Any emotionally, spiritually and relationally healthy individual would respond to your sexting offer by saying, "Why would I want to be with someone who is so self-absorbed, so self-obsessed, so selfish, self-centred and cruel that s/he would do that to my spouse?"
Unless you have the most pathetic of marriages (open) where you are both so self-absorbed that you stand no chance of being faithful to each other, sharing your body, mind and soul with another, even as a fantasy (which is really just electronic foreplay) is the very definition of cheating.
And for those who say it isn’t cheating, let them find out that their partner is doing it with someone else and then ask them the same question.
I think sexting is pathetic - it's just another example of two human beings using each other for selfish means. This is not something we need in a world where the overall level of love diminishes exponentially by the day.
That’s not the worst part.
The sad thing, the tragic thing is that, as my friend told me, most of the people interviewed on our local news channel said that in their minds, sexting by a married person or with a married person is not adultery. A few of the women who spoke with the roving reporter said that sexting was in fact best when done with someone who is married. “It adds to the excitement.” I doubt if one of the women was atheist Greta Christina but I'd be surprised if she didn't agree. Guilt free adultery is highly prized by atheists. At least that what they brag about in their surveys.
To those who say the Bible is out of date, I say, it is becoming more and more relevant by the hour. The worship of sex puts Temple Prostitutes well within our reach. Our empty souls have placed sex at such a demand that we can’t even avoid a plague of STD’s. We’d rather kill tens of millions while waiting for a miracle pill than risk appearing uncool by suggesting that perhaps casual sex is not such a good thing. Society is moving inexorably back into ancient times, not just by the increasing brutality inflicted upon humans by humans, but especially as it pertains to the increasingly low view held of women. There are more women sold into sexual slavery today than at any other time in history. And modern women seem more than willing to play that role, somehow seeing their sexualised selves as progressive.
Of course sexting is adultery! You are giving to another person what rightfully and exclusively belongs to your spouse, i.e. your emotions, your soul, your love. Every moment a person spends lusting after another person is a moment that is stolen from your partner.
Why would you want to become involved with a man or women who is so self-absorbed, so self-obsessed, so selfish, self-centred and cruel that s/he would do that to h/her spouse? That’s what you call exciting? To spend time with a moral invalid?
What does that say about you and your emotional and relational stability?
Any emotionally, spiritually and relationally healthy individual would respond to your sexting offer by saying, "Why would I want to be with someone who is so self-absorbed, so self-obsessed, so selfish, self-centred and cruel that s/he would do that to my spouse?"
Unless you have the most pathetic of marriages (open) where you are both so self-absorbed that you stand no chance of being faithful to each other, sharing your body, mind and soul with another, even as a fantasy (which is really just electronic foreplay) is the very definition of cheating.
And for those who say it isn’t cheating, let them find out that their partner is doing it with someone else and then ask them the same question.
I think sexting is pathetic - it's just another example of two human beings using each other for selfish means. This is not something we need in a world where the overall level of love diminishes exponentially by the day.
Why Do We Do It?
Failure to know what God is like and what He expects from us leads inevitably to a life of frustration and failure, now and ultimately.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” Hosea 4:6.
You know who God blames for this tragedy? Christians! Pastors specifically but all of us - no doubt.
There is so much incorrect and deliberately false information online it just boggles the mind. As if the lies weren’t enough, we Christians and how we live our lives just makes a mockery of what Jesus came to do - to show us the way home.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” Hosea 4:6.
You know who God blames for this tragedy? Christians! Pastors specifically but all of us - no doubt.
There is so much incorrect and deliberately false information online it just boggles the mind. As if the lies weren’t enough, we Christians and how we live our lives just makes a mockery of what Jesus came to do - to show us the way home.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Uh Oh
Did you read the actual paper?
Um - no. I stole this chart from someone else. Bad idea huh? Anyway, to me it doesn’t matter and I say why in the last paragraph of that post.
=====
Wait, what? Who said that it was a trivial game to see if God existed?
We come to God on His terms, not through some game whereby even if you did have evidence, like a life-sustaining universe you’d still to your old beliefs.
=====
“you are basically using your thought process to determine what the Bible "should" say.”
Are you suggesting that the Bible is all one genre of literature.
=====
“Jesus is love, hope, forgiveness, ...,”
That’s part of who He is.
=====
"Do you know how this sounds to me? I know what God wants; I think like God?"
Ya I know how it sounds to you, but that’s just ignorance on your part. Eg. Within the context of what I’m saying - God thinks murder is wrong. If you think murder is wrong then you think like God. God thinks stealing is wrong. If you think stealing is wrong you think like God. After 30 years of following Jesus, reading His Word, listening to His leading, I honestly can’t think of one area where I don’t agree with what God says in His Word. That’s not equating myself with God. It’s just saying that I agree with Him about life, sin, salvation etc. etc. I want what He wants. His will is my will.
=====
“I understand that when you believe, certain thoughts, certain ideas, certain things you read in the Bible, make more sense to you than to me, and especially have more meaning.”
I don't think you do understand. Believing isn't some decision that I've made. "Oh ok, I guess I'll decide to believe this but not that." When I say that I believe in God / Jesus I mean that I can’t NOT believe in Him. Just like you can’t make yourself believe in Creator God, He is so real to me that I can’t make myself not believe in Him. I could ignore Him, refuse to listen to Him, reject His authority. But not believe in Him? That is no longer an option for me.
When a person accepts God on His terms, He opens up the meaning of Scripture. Before that, it’s just words - some of them very poetic or interesting but still, just words. After conversion, God allows the meaning to come forth.
=====
“Does the Holy Spirit writes stuff in it and then tell you 'look what I just put', or does the Holy Spirit waits for you to generate ideas, and then tell you 'pick that one'.”
I don’t know. For example - “Love your enemy.” Before knowing Jesus those are words that may strike someone as stupid.
To another it’s weakness.
To another they’re something impossible.
To another a lofty ideal but not realistic.
To another a behaviour but not a feeling.
To another the words are a challenge.
There could be more options but before Jesus’ Spirit enters a person, they are basically words and nothing more. Nothing to take too seriously.
After Jesus’ Spirit begins guiding, counselling, correcting etc., to love one’s enemies starts to take on a whole new meaning; it starts to make sense. Jesus opens one’s eyes to see how loving one’s enemies fits in with all the other stuff that He says - they’re no longer just words.
Is the meaning something that's been “put in” or “selected” from my own thought process? I don’t know. To me it doesn’t matter. All I know is that after repenting, the sanctification process, the transformation process, the change process begins. Before I became a Christian I didn't see any need for change. After salvation I couldn't see how I could remain the same. That seems like something that was "put in" but in the end I don't care.
=====
Um - no. I stole this chart from someone else. Bad idea huh? Anyway, to me it doesn’t matter and I say why in the last paragraph of that post.
=====
Wait, what? Who said that it was a trivial game to see if God existed?
We come to God on His terms, not through some game whereby even if you did have evidence, like a life-sustaining universe you’d still to your old beliefs.
=====
“you are basically using your thought process to determine what the Bible "should" say.”
Are you suggesting that the Bible is all one genre of literature.
=====
“Jesus is love, hope, forgiveness, ...,”
That’s part of who He is.
=====
"Do you know how this sounds to me? I know what God wants; I think like God?"
Ya I know how it sounds to you, but that’s just ignorance on your part. Eg. Within the context of what I’m saying - God thinks murder is wrong. If you think murder is wrong then you think like God. God thinks stealing is wrong. If you think stealing is wrong you think like God. After 30 years of following Jesus, reading His Word, listening to His leading, I honestly can’t think of one area where I don’t agree with what God says in His Word. That’s not equating myself with God. It’s just saying that I agree with Him about life, sin, salvation etc. etc. I want what He wants. His will is my will.
=====
“I understand that when you believe, certain thoughts, certain ideas, certain things you read in the Bible, make more sense to you than to me, and especially have more meaning.”
I don't think you do understand. Believing isn't some decision that I've made. "Oh ok, I guess I'll decide to believe this but not that." When I say that I believe in God / Jesus I mean that I can’t NOT believe in Him. Just like you can’t make yourself believe in Creator God, He is so real to me that I can’t make myself not believe in Him. I could ignore Him, refuse to listen to Him, reject His authority. But not believe in Him? That is no longer an option for me.
When a person accepts God on His terms, He opens up the meaning of Scripture. Before that, it’s just words - some of them very poetic or interesting but still, just words. After conversion, God allows the meaning to come forth.
=====
“Does the Holy Spirit writes stuff in it and then tell you 'look what I just put', or does the Holy Spirit waits for you to generate ideas, and then tell you 'pick that one'.”
I don’t know. For example - “Love your enemy.” Before knowing Jesus those are words that may strike someone as stupid.
To another it’s weakness.
To another they’re something impossible.
To another a lofty ideal but not realistic.
To another a behaviour but not a feeling.
To another the words are a challenge.
There could be more options but before Jesus’ Spirit enters a person, they are basically words and nothing more. Nothing to take too seriously.
After Jesus’ Spirit begins guiding, counselling, correcting etc., to love one’s enemies starts to take on a whole new meaning; it starts to make sense. Jesus opens one’s eyes to see how loving one’s enemies fits in with all the other stuff that He says - they’re no longer just words.
Is the meaning something that's been “put in” or “selected” from my own thought process? I don’t know. To me it doesn’t matter. All I know is that after repenting, the sanctification process, the transformation process, the change process begins. Before I became a Christian I didn't see any need for change. After salvation I couldn't see how I could remain the same. That seems like something that was "put in" but in the end I don't care.
=====
I’m Smarter Than Uuuuu R
Oh dear, have you noticed the snickering happening over on atheist blogs?
Someone has played the correlation / causation game and somehow atheists have come to the conclusion that they are smarter than Christians.
Of course that’s nothing new. After all, as any atheist thinks to h/herself when in the presence of a Christian, “I’m a bright and you’re not.”
Sadly, if you as an atheist have come to that conclusion on the basis of this “study,” you may not be as bright as you think.
Here are the rankings from the table:
Left Hippocampus: Largest to Smallest [Smartest to Dumbest]
1. Other Protestants
2. Life Changing Religious Experience (recent)
3. Born-again Protestants (recent)
4. Born-again Protestants (years ago)
5. Catholic
6. No religion (that would include atheists)
7. Life Changing Religious Experience (years ago)
Right Hippocampus: Largest to Smallest [Smartest to Dumbest]
1. Other Protestants
2. Catholic
TIE 3. Born-again Protestants (years ago)
TIE 3. Life Changing Religious Experience (recent)
5. Born-again Protestants (recent)
6. No religion (that would include atheists)
7. Life Changing Religious Experience (years ago)
Folks, people with the smallest hippocampus are not Christians. The smallest hippocampus has had “life changing religious experience” — not a Christian conversion.
The second smallest has no religion. You know - like - atheists!
This goes for both the right and left hyppocampus.
Hello! Atheists, were you reading this in the dark perhaps?
Of course, who is intelligent or not intelligent should be of no concern to anyone. We see all around us that intelligence has no correlation to wisdom with very smart people doing very dumb things all the time.
The dumbest thing anyone can do, smart or not smart is to say,
“I’d rather stand in hell than kneel in heaven.”
It’s physically impossible to get dumber than that.
Someone has played the correlation / causation game and somehow atheists have come to the conclusion that they are smarter than Christians.
Of course that’s nothing new. After all, as any atheist thinks to h/herself when in the presence of a Christian, “I’m a bright and you’re not.”
Sadly, if you as an atheist have come to that conclusion on the basis of this “study,” you may not be as bright as you think.
Here are the rankings from the table:
Left Hippocampus: Largest to Smallest [Smartest to Dumbest]
1. Other Protestants
2. Life Changing Religious Experience (recent)
3. Born-again Protestants (recent)
4. Born-again Protestants (years ago)
5. Catholic
6. No religion (that would include atheists)
7. Life Changing Religious Experience (years ago)
Right Hippocampus: Largest to Smallest [Smartest to Dumbest]
1. Other Protestants
2. Catholic
TIE 3. Born-again Protestants (years ago)
TIE 3. Life Changing Religious Experience (recent)
5. Born-again Protestants (recent)
6. No religion (that would include atheists)
7. Life Changing Religious Experience (years ago)
Folks, people with the smallest hippocampus are not Christians. The smallest hippocampus has had “life changing religious experience” — not a Christian conversion.
The second smallest has no religion. You know - like - atheists!
This goes for both the right and left hyppocampus.
Hello! Atheists, were you reading this in the dark perhaps?
Of course, who is intelligent or not intelligent should be of no concern to anyone. We see all around us that intelligence has no correlation to wisdom with very smart people doing very dumb things all the time.
The dumbest thing anyone can do, smart or not smart is to say,
“I’d rather stand in hell than kneel in heaven.”
It’s physically impossible to get dumber than that.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
What is the atheist’s “simple cell”
“a veritable micro-miniaturized factory containing thousands of elegantly designed pieces of intricate molecular machinery, made up of all together one hundred thousand million atoms, far more complicated than any machinery built by man and without parallel in the non-living world … an object resembling an immense automated factory … carrying out almost as many unique functions as all the manufacturing activities of man on earth,”
Australian microbiologist Michael Denton,
Australian microbiologist Michael Denton,
Friday, June 3, 2011
Hey Hugo
First, let me start with your experiment from, if I remember back 40 years, psych 101 - “Don’t think about the colour red” I think it was in the text book. Even back in the day when I mocked God and those who believed in Him, I wouldn’t have tried such a trivial game to see if God existed.
=====
"First, how do you distinguish between your own self, your conscience, and God, when praying. In other words, the information and/or knowledge and/or skills that you can get/improve while praying must come from an external source. How can you identify elements coming from outside?"
That’s not always easy to do - sometimes I suspect it’s impossible. One main way of distinguishing something “from” God is, does it agree with what the Bible says. For example, Let’s say my kids saw a neighbour take some of tools out of my garage when I wasn’t home and now several weeks after his job was done he still hasn’t returned them. In fact, as we’re talking one day on his driveway I can see my tools sitting on his workbench. This is the third time he’s done this. I’ve told him that I don’t mind lending him tools but I want him to ask so I know where my things have gone. I am really, really upset that he’s done it again.
I silently ask God how I should handle this. I “hear” “Firmly but politely tell him you notice your tools on his bench and say "Would you get them for me so I can take them home." Remind him that you want him to ask before taking you stuff. Then forgive him.”
Since God’s Spirit lives within me, since I know what the Bible says about these kinds of situations, since after 30 years of learning from God and my conscience is tuned to His will, it would be near impossible to tell where I end and He begins re: my thoughts.
On the other hand, if I ask, “How do I handle this Lord,” and I “hear” “Rip him a new one. Who does that jerk think he is. End this friendship now!” I know, because it contradicts what the Bible says that I’m not hearing from God. I may be hearing from "my old self" or I may be hearing from a "dark" external source. I'm not sure how one would tell nor am I sure what difference it would make as to the source.
Further, when I talk to you or other atheists in a tone of distain and derision, I am deliberately ignoring the Bible / God / conscience.
=====
"I don't understand exactly what you mean when you say that you get knowledge/insights through prayer? Is there really an interaction with an external source or do you consider that it's already all "in there" and that prayer only makes you access it "within" yourself?"
I don’t think you CAN understand this Hugo. That’s not an insult. It just is. Until God speaks to us, until He makes us know something about Himself, we can’t know it. Like the concept of grace. Without really knowing what we’re asking for, humans think they want justice, not grace. Only after learning grace by receiving grace can we know grace. The same with God Himself, until He reveals Himself to you, i.e. communicates His existence to you (not your conscience and certainly not you), you CAN’T know He exists. You can act like you believe in His existence, but sooner or later you’ll just become another John Loftus.
For some old atheist questions on prayer see:
http://makarios-makarios.blogspot.com/2009/05/atheist-missionary-tract.html
=====
"First, how do you distinguish between your own self, your conscience, and God, when praying. In other words, the information and/or knowledge and/or skills that you can get/improve while praying must come from an external source. How can you identify elements coming from outside?"
That’s not always easy to do - sometimes I suspect it’s impossible. One main way of distinguishing something “from” God is, does it agree with what the Bible says. For example, Let’s say my kids saw a neighbour take some of tools out of my garage when I wasn’t home and now several weeks after his job was done he still hasn’t returned them. In fact, as we’re talking one day on his driveway I can see my tools sitting on his workbench. This is the third time he’s done this. I’ve told him that I don’t mind lending him tools but I want him to ask so I know where my things have gone. I am really, really upset that he’s done it again.
I silently ask God how I should handle this. I “hear” “Firmly but politely tell him you notice your tools on his bench and say "Would you get them for me so I can take them home." Remind him that you want him to ask before taking you stuff. Then forgive him.”
Since God’s Spirit lives within me, since I know what the Bible says about these kinds of situations, since after 30 years of learning from God and my conscience is tuned to His will, it would be near impossible to tell where I end and He begins re: my thoughts.
On the other hand, if I ask, “How do I handle this Lord,” and I “hear” “Rip him a new one. Who does that jerk think he is. End this friendship now!” I know, because it contradicts what the Bible says that I’m not hearing from God. I may be hearing from "my old self" or I may be hearing from a "dark" external source. I'm not sure how one would tell nor am I sure what difference it would make as to the source.
Further, when I talk to you or other atheists in a tone of distain and derision, I am deliberately ignoring the Bible / God / conscience.
=====
"I don't understand exactly what you mean when you say that you get knowledge/insights through prayer? Is there really an interaction with an external source or do you consider that it's already all "in there" and that prayer only makes you access it "within" yourself?"
I don’t think you CAN understand this Hugo. That’s not an insult. It just is. Until God speaks to us, until He makes us know something about Himself, we can’t know it. Like the concept of grace. Without really knowing what we’re asking for, humans think they want justice, not grace. Only after learning grace by receiving grace can we know grace. The same with God Himself, until He reveals Himself to you, i.e. communicates His existence to you (not your conscience and certainly not you), you CAN’T know He exists. You can act like you believe in His existence, but sooner or later you’ll just become another John Loftus.
For some old atheist questions on prayer see:
http://makarios-makarios.blogspot.com/2009/05/atheist-missionary-tract.html
Hey Hugo
My blogger isn't allowing me to comment in my own blog window so - sure. You can ask me about prayer but for now I'll have to answer as a post.
Well, atheist - That’s Where You’re Wrong!
It’s somewhat amusing to listen to atheists as they say things like, “Just be good for goodness sake,” or “I don’t need God to be a good person.”
What’s amusing about that? Well, concocting a set of rules and attempting to live by them, even succeeding to live by them does not a good person make. What you usually end up with is the same old self-centred person who is able to impress others with outwardly good yet contrived behaviours. And since humans judge by outward appearances, we believe these really are good people. That’s why we’re so outraged when these “good” people do something visibly wrong. It’s especially shocking, disturbing and infuriating when these people have been playing the role of a religious person. In fact, the result of attempting to be good on our own power, as we see in virtually every human alive, is a pride filled individual who judges others by their lack of the very same characteristics this person has managed to present.
Of course self-improvement is possible. There is no shortage of moral pagans. That’s what makes being a follower of Jesus so radical - an cool.
What Jesus and all the rest of the New Testament writers show, is that true goodness is an inside job.
Jesus said to those whose outward behaviours were almost perfect, “Prostitutes and other sinners are entering heaven instead of you.”
Can you imagine the shock and outrage that these “good” people experienced? To be told that the ones that they looked down on were seen in God’s eyes as worthy of salvation? How could that be?
The person who has been brought into God’s Kingdom is being transformed into the likeness of Jesus. It begins with an acceptance of being loved, of being forgiven and of being declared righteous.
Any improvement in behaviours is a secondary result.
Because true goodness begins on the inside, and because it comes from an outside source, in fact the only source of goodness, there is nothing for the person to brag about. Yet, you truly will know them by their fruit or inward character (love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness and self-control). That’s why, when Jesus is describing those who are His true followers, they reply, “Lord, when did we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give water to the thirsty.” People who are good from the inside out don’t even know when they’re doing “good deeds.” It is not a conscious act. It just comes naturally. It’s no contrivance. It’s no effort or desire to do what’s right. It's just the character of Jesus showing through.
Notice if you will, that when we are brought into the family of God, where His will is done on earth as it is in heaven, the improvements are usually community oriented. For example, mutual kindness, forgiveness of others, honesty with others, helping with the sick and orphans, the poor and the chemically dependent. It’s developing a community (one that will be transferred to heaven) where there is neither male nor female, slave nor free. It’s a community where there is no favouritism in race, or gender or culture or class. The Gospel is the same for all.
What’s amusing about that? Well, concocting a set of rules and attempting to live by them, even succeeding to live by them does not a good person make. What you usually end up with is the same old self-centred person who is able to impress others with outwardly good yet contrived behaviours. And since humans judge by outward appearances, we believe these really are good people. That’s why we’re so outraged when these “good” people do something visibly wrong. It’s especially shocking, disturbing and infuriating when these people have been playing the role of a religious person. In fact, the result of attempting to be good on our own power, as we see in virtually every human alive, is a pride filled individual who judges others by their lack of the very same characteristics this person has managed to present.
Of course self-improvement is possible. There is no shortage of moral pagans. That’s what makes being a follower of Jesus so radical - an cool.
What Jesus and all the rest of the New Testament writers show, is that true goodness is an inside job.
Jesus said to those whose outward behaviours were almost perfect, “Prostitutes and other sinners are entering heaven instead of you.”
Can you imagine the shock and outrage that these “good” people experienced? To be told that the ones that they looked down on were seen in God’s eyes as worthy of salvation? How could that be?
The person who has been brought into God’s Kingdom is being transformed into the likeness of Jesus. It begins with an acceptance of being loved, of being forgiven and of being declared righteous.
Any improvement in behaviours is a secondary result.
Because true goodness begins on the inside, and because it comes from an outside source, in fact the only source of goodness, there is nothing for the person to brag about. Yet, you truly will know them by their fruit or inward character (love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness and self-control). That’s why, when Jesus is describing those who are His true followers, they reply, “Lord, when did we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give water to the thirsty.” People who are good from the inside out don’t even know when they’re doing “good deeds.” It is not a conscious act. It just comes naturally. It’s no contrivance. It’s no effort or desire to do what’s right. It's just the character of Jesus showing through.
Notice if you will, that when we are brought into the family of God, where His will is done on earth as it is in heaven, the improvements are usually community oriented. For example, mutual kindness, forgiveness of others, honesty with others, helping with the sick and orphans, the poor and the chemically dependent. It’s developing a community (one that will be transferred to heaven) where there is neither male nor female, slave nor free. It’s a community where there is no favouritism in race, or gender or culture or class. The Gospel is the same for all.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
So What’s He Do?
A lot of people, Christians even, aren’t sure what God’s Spirit does in a person’s life. Well, for one thing, the Holy Spirit allows us to communicate, spirit to Spirit with our Creator. God’s Spirit guides us, comforts us, counsels us and corrects us.
The Spirit of the living God opens our eyes to see the true horror of sin and eventually make us hate sin almost as much as does God Himself. God’s Spirit makes us long for holiness and loathe the evil still left in us. God in Spirit form takes our cold, cold hearts and creates a human being who is able to love. The Holy Spirit is the source and finishers of our sanctification. If you desire to do what’s right, it is the Holy Spirit that is working in you to want what’s right and it is the Holy Spirit Who gives you the strength and courage to do what’s right.
So what does He do? He makes a person ready for heaven.
The Spirit of the living God opens our eyes to see the true horror of sin and eventually make us hate sin almost as much as does God Himself. God’s Spirit makes us long for holiness and loathe the evil still left in us. God in Spirit form takes our cold, cold hearts and creates a human being who is able to love. The Holy Spirit is the source and finishers of our sanctification. If you desire to do what’s right, it is the Holy Spirit that is working in you to want what’s right and it is the Holy Spirit Who gives you the strength and courage to do what’s right.
So what does He do? He makes a person ready for heaven.
Church Growth
Now, friends, I want to report on the surprising and generous ways in which God is working in the churches in Macedonia province. Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colours: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts. I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could — far more than they could afford! — pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians.
2 Corinthians 8:1-4
2 Corinthians 8:1-4
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Who Do You Think You Are?
Jesus:
Broke the Sabbath on multiple occasions
Forgave sins
Hung out with sinners
Chased people out of the Temple
Called the religious leaders terribly insulting names
So they asked Him, “Who do you think you are?”
You know what He told them, and that’s why they killed Him.
Broke the Sabbath on multiple occasions
Forgave sins
Hung out with sinners
Chased people out of the Temple
Called the religious leaders terribly insulting names
So they asked Him, “Who do you think you are?”
You know what He told them, and that’s why they killed Him.
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me — everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:4-9
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me — everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:4-9
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