Conversation between Humans
Guy1: "I am a firm believer of God and what Jesus did for me. That comforts me even when in depression. I am glad to hear you are on your way to a healthier life. Its worth living whether you have the same beliefs as me or not."
Guy2:"Very well put and agreed. I am glad to see that despite a vast difference in sociological and religious belief's we are not so provincial minded to not see the other one's plight and feel sorrow. That is what amazes me about the spectrum of human emotion. That being on such different sides of various situations, we could both end up with such a similar result and outlook."
Guy1:"Jesus told us to love the way he does, basically unconditionally. Its your decision to act upon what you know and deal with your own convictions.
I know that I rather be able to relate to someone because I am human, just because of my belief, it does not make me something inhuman, different or better than you. I know there is a time and a place when to talk about my walk with Christ with people and a time to fellowship."
Guy2:"If more of the "Modern" Christian's thought along those same lines, and believed more in love and forgiveness then tyranny, displacement, and damnation, the world would be a much better place. We need more fellowship in this world these days. Comradery over combat any day."
This is a conversation with a man. I completely do not know this man at all, but on this one night. We came together as what we are deep down inside. Human. Full of emotion, sorrows, dreams, fears, and everything else between. This guy had dealt with being a happy and expecting father, until the baby's mother was convinced by his mother to get an abortion while he was working. Guys don't admit to crying much, but he told me he cried over this loss. Considering myself never being put in that situation it hurt because of my own aspirations to be a father someday. This guy even died from a suicide attempt. The doctor's were able to bring him back and I thank God for that, and I bet its the reason why we had the chance to talk to each other. This guy has a big heart and while God blesses us all, I hope the blessings go on with him.
Despite the distance I know that this guy would make a great friend, maybe since we were both faceless to each other we were able to more relate because we were not using the criteria of looks. I would like to be able to treat anybody the way we treated each other that night. I know that we are suppose to spread the word and be disciples of all nations but I scream no! I would scream no because as humans we make things goal oriented, it is easy to understand that way, get a point count for every convert and maybe a few more if they turn out to be a pastor. It just leads others to have the wrong perspective about Christ. In my last blog I talked about the perception people get of Christ because of our actions and if they are getting "tyranny, displacement, and damnation." Then we have failed at the greatest commandments Jesus told us.
Matthew 22:37-38 "Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
1 Peter 5:5-9 "5Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble." 6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."
Many people have told me to be Christ-like so people see us and really want what we have in Christ. Sometimes brothers in the Bible refers to those with faith but I would say it would make sense if we treated everyone as a sibling. Things are hard, we all have our own stories to tell and some might be similar. The mistakes I have made in life have become my testimony and other people might have made the same mistakes as me too. I rather relate to them through that hurt or suffering than scoff them because I was "further" along and overcame my trials. We are not against each other as humans.
I will end by saying that I would take "Comradeship over combat any day."
Monday, June 28, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Living like a Dying Thief
Luke 23:40-43 "39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
40But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
43Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
"I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." What comforting words, I hope I am not the only person that imagines Jesus telling us those words. Really it sets away our feelings of being left behind or that we will not be forgotten. Isn't that our plea every day, and the plight of our faith that god is to remember us and we to be written in the Lamb's Book of Life. This life means nothing to me if God would forget about me, I would like to feel like my faith will be sufficient enough to get into heaven just like this thief. That is comfort but with one exception, we're still living. I fear I have put myself in a bad position this way. That particular thief already lived his life to his actions, and dealt with the choices he made. Luckily, in a small time frame he realized his wrong doings.
If I set up that thief as a model for my faith life then am I going to do the sames things as him? First off I am not saying that the thief was lying in his last words. I always hated the idea of living the sin life and later coming into terms with God. I mean this criminal has come to terms with the fact he is dying, and that he lived a wrong life. The thief was paying the price for all the sick and horrible deeds that he did, and he felt remorse that Jesus was a good man.
The other criminal yelling, "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" Do we try to do that too much in our own lives? This criminal could of said these in words like they were of one kind, like Jesus was a criminal. That is how many people would think of Christ later because instead of us trying to live a Christ-like life, we portray the image that Christ-is like us. Say you don't or do but as a Christian we are always under watch from others, believers or non-believers.
What personalities of the criminals are reflected in our lives? I don't think that they were a coincident for them to be crucified next to Jesus, which is why I like that Luke goes into this account e\dea to be like the thief asking for Jesus to remember him. Sitting on that cross dying, you don't have time to lie to yourself about anything and pure brutal honesty about yourself is definitely to come out.
Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
This doesn't make sense unless you look at it in the context of the times. If you were carrying a cross it was a death sentence. You were a dead man. Why would Jesus tell us to take up something as scary as death happily? For the same reason that thief saw the light near the end of his life, of the speck we focus on we miss the huge picture and the true happiness that lies in looking at the whole thing.
Matthew 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
40But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
43Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
"I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." What comforting words, I hope I am not the only person that imagines Jesus telling us those words. Really it sets away our feelings of being left behind or that we will not be forgotten. Isn't that our plea every day, and the plight of our faith that god is to remember us and we to be written in the Lamb's Book of Life. This life means nothing to me if God would forget about me, I would like to feel like my faith will be sufficient enough to get into heaven just like this thief. That is comfort but with one exception, we're still living. I fear I have put myself in a bad position this way. That particular thief already lived his life to his actions, and dealt with the choices he made. Luckily, in a small time frame he realized his wrong doings.
If I set up that thief as a model for my faith life then am I going to do the sames things as him? First off I am not saying that the thief was lying in his last words. I always hated the idea of living the sin life and later coming into terms with God. I mean this criminal has come to terms with the fact he is dying, and that he lived a wrong life. The thief was paying the price for all the sick and horrible deeds that he did, and he felt remorse that Jesus was a good man.
The other criminal yelling, "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" Do we try to do that too much in our own lives? This criminal could of said these in words like they were of one kind, like Jesus was a criminal. That is how many people would think of Christ later because instead of us trying to live a Christ-like life, we portray the image that Christ-is like us. Say you don't or do but as a Christian we are always under watch from others, believers or non-believers.
What personalities of the criminals are reflected in our lives? I don't think that they were a coincident for them to be crucified next to Jesus, which is why I like that Luke goes into this account e\dea to be like the thief asking for Jesus to remember him. Sitting on that cross dying, you don't have time to lie to yourself about anything and pure brutal honesty about yourself is definitely to come out.
Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
This doesn't make sense unless you look at it in the context of the times. If you were carrying a cross it was a death sentence. You were a dead man. Why would Jesus tell us to take up something as scary as death happily? For the same reason that thief saw the light near the end of his life, of the speck we focus on we miss the huge picture and the true happiness that lies in looking at the whole thing.
Matthew 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Job's Friends
Job 2:11 "11When Job's three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. 12 When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was."
You know, people associate with Job a lot because of this short time of trials must of sucked for him. Even his friends saw the great amount of suffering he was in. They were truly great friends until one respect. They started trying to figure everything out, pointed fingers, and even accused their friend of lying.
I always told myself I want friends like Job had, well erase the quality they show after these verse. Job was extremely overcame in sorrow and with his disfigurement his friends did not recognize him. They began to cry. Yes weep and cry because of how much sorrow he was in. How many times have I had a friend that looked at me and really understood how bad I felt? A few times I am sure but I don't think they understood it as great as Job's friends did. They tore their clothes and sprinkled dust on their heads; that was customary of times though. Do not be afraid to be my friend, I won't come running and stripping my clothes off because I heard your problem.
The tearing or rending of clothes was an outward sign of grief and distress over some disaster or calamity. It was also a sign of deep sorrow and mourning over someone who has died. That was customary to that time. I might come and hug you and cry still but I'll keep my clothes on. I promise as long as you do the same thing for me.
His friend's however tried to solve Job's problem and that turned into so many other problems (example: blaming, accusing, assumptions, and even pride). Sometimes we do have to handle things for ourselves but it is nice to have the comfort of our friends understand out struggles, and help once in a while, but not every single time. I do not think that gives us the right to decided when to help a friend or not, but I know that we can always be supportive in all issues. The friends made many valid points I think but not valid accusations, they should of just keep weeping with Job till he figured it out for himself. Sadly the friends charging him let him to demand God's audience. Imagine how scary that really is, especially when God responds like this:
Job 40:1-2"The LORD said to Job:
2 "Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?
Let him who accuses God answer him!""
You know, people associate with Job a lot because of this short time of trials must of sucked for him. Even his friends saw the great amount of suffering he was in. They were truly great friends until one respect. They started trying to figure everything out, pointed fingers, and even accused their friend of lying.
I always told myself I want friends like Job had, well erase the quality they show after these verse. Job was extremely overcame in sorrow and with his disfigurement his friends did not recognize him. They began to cry. Yes weep and cry because of how much sorrow he was in. How many times have I had a friend that looked at me and really understood how bad I felt? A few times I am sure but I don't think they understood it as great as Job's friends did. They tore their clothes and sprinkled dust on their heads; that was customary of times though. Do not be afraid to be my friend, I won't come running and stripping my clothes off because I heard your problem.
The tearing or rending of clothes was an outward sign of grief and distress over some disaster or calamity. It was also a sign of deep sorrow and mourning over someone who has died. That was customary to that time. I might come and hug you and cry still but I'll keep my clothes on. I promise as long as you do the same thing for me.
His friend's however tried to solve Job's problem and that turned into so many other problems (example: blaming, accusing, assumptions, and even pride). Sometimes we do have to handle things for ourselves but it is nice to have the comfort of our friends understand out struggles, and help once in a while, but not every single time. I do not think that gives us the right to decided when to help a friend or not, but I know that we can always be supportive in all issues. The friends made many valid points I think but not valid accusations, they should of just keep weeping with Job till he figured it out for himself. Sadly the friends charging him let him to demand God's audience. Imagine how scary that really is, especially when God responds like this:
Job 40:1-2"The LORD said to Job:
2 "Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?
Let him who accuses God answer him!""
Sunday, June 20, 2010
The Image of Question
Matthew 22: 18-22 "18But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, 20and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"
21"Caesar's," they replied.
Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
22When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away."
When I read this was I amazed? I kind of wish I could find the information on how many times people were amazed in scripture. It has to be a lot about every teaching of Jesus people were amazed, but I think they were amazed in a different way then when we glaze over the scripture we take for granted. I feel safe in saying that everybody reading this the first time was like, oh yeah money, pay taxes, and tithe to God. Right? That is not that amazing if you ask me, especially since I degraded it to those simple words but it has to be something more than that.
Jesus was a man of parables, with many things said having somewhat hidden or meanings that require deeper thought upon numerous meanings. Jesus was aware of the intent of their question but gave them a answer that hit them in the heart, something I did not understand in my first reading of this scripture. Jesus asked whose portrait or for better wording whose image was on the coin.
Matthew 20:21 "21"Caesar's," they replied.
Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
Seems like a total idea to money and tithing since yes all of creation is God's and he allows us to work and make money. All things in our life are because of him, we could stand to make sure we pay taxes and tithes. What if this was another time that Jesus was being wonderful in our wording that maybe glancing over this we do not understand what really happened? I think people were amazed because people had on their hearts from the beginning of creation.
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
If Caesar's image was upon that coin and belongs to him, and we are made in God's image, then just as Jesus originally stated we would belong to God. Doesn't that give you a feeling of worth? We are God's! Whenever Jesus asks a question to his audience or us specifically, we get hit with what the right answer is, but we do not want to accept it because it hurts our pride. Its quite funny because its the question we ask him in tricky wording to justify our actions. For example:
Luke 20:1-8 " 1One day as he was teaching the people in the temple courts and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. 2"Tell us by what authority you are doing these things," they said. "Who gave you this authority?"
3He replied, "I will also ask you a question. Tell me, 4John's baptism—was it from heaven, or from men?"
5They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Why didn't you believe him?' 6But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet."
7So they answered, "We don't know where it was from."
8Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.""
This cuts away from the point of imagery of us belonging to God but I figured that many times when talking or praying to God we ask questions. I admit I ask a lot of questions, usually the recurring one is why this or that. How many times do we really want the answer? How many times do we just want them answered our way and not asking really for the truth? Our questions should be thought out better than just spouting them off, we don't know everything, and most the time we do not need to know everything. I hope my questions for God have meaning better than why is my car not working, but more spent on questioning how I can improve my character or walk with Christ.
21"Caesar's," they replied.
Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
22When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away."
When I read this was I amazed? I kind of wish I could find the information on how many times people were amazed in scripture. It has to be a lot about every teaching of Jesus people were amazed, but I think they were amazed in a different way then when we glaze over the scripture we take for granted. I feel safe in saying that everybody reading this the first time was like, oh yeah money, pay taxes, and tithe to God. Right? That is not that amazing if you ask me, especially since I degraded it to those simple words but it has to be something more than that.
Jesus was a man of parables, with many things said having somewhat hidden or meanings that require deeper thought upon numerous meanings. Jesus was aware of the intent of their question but gave them a answer that hit them in the heart, something I did not understand in my first reading of this scripture. Jesus asked whose portrait or for better wording whose image was on the coin.
Matthew 20:21 "21"Caesar's," they replied.
Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
Seems like a total idea to money and tithing since yes all of creation is God's and he allows us to work and make money. All things in our life are because of him, we could stand to make sure we pay taxes and tithes. What if this was another time that Jesus was being wonderful in our wording that maybe glancing over this we do not understand what really happened? I think people were amazed because people had on their hearts from the beginning of creation.
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
If Caesar's image was upon that coin and belongs to him, and we are made in God's image, then just as Jesus originally stated we would belong to God. Doesn't that give you a feeling of worth? We are God's! Whenever Jesus asks a question to his audience or us specifically, we get hit with what the right answer is, but we do not want to accept it because it hurts our pride. Its quite funny because its the question we ask him in tricky wording to justify our actions. For example:
Luke 20:1-8 " 1One day as he was teaching the people in the temple courts and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. 2"Tell us by what authority you are doing these things," they said. "Who gave you this authority?"
3He replied, "I will also ask you a question. Tell me, 4John's baptism—was it from heaven, or from men?"
5They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Why didn't you believe him?' 6But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet."
7So they answered, "We don't know where it was from."
8Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.""
This cuts away from the point of imagery of us belonging to God but I figured that many times when talking or praying to God we ask questions. I admit I ask a lot of questions, usually the recurring one is why this or that. How many times do we really want the answer? How many times do we just want them answered our way and not asking really for the truth? Our questions should be thought out better than just spouting them off, we don't know everything, and most the time we do not need to know everything. I hope my questions for God have meaning better than why is my car not working, but more spent on questioning how I can improve my character or walk with Christ.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
A Look at Love through Adam and Eve's eyes.
Genesis 2: 19-23 "19 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field.
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
23 The man said,
"This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called woman,
for she was taken out of man."
I bet when you read this verse you think of animals all single filed walking up to Adam sitting behind this desk interviewing each and every animal that came to God. Making sure that his "helper" would meet these certain specifications and based on their skills would consider them for hire. No? What have you thought it was like then? The writer of this book was a man of understatements, and we are only left to speculate so much. God was proving a point though. At this point we know Adam is still naked and not ashamed of his nakedness. He does not have the knowledge to be ashamed yet. As weird as it sounds, I think Adam was a naked man running around and trying to befriend all these animals all around the garden. Not a small garden, I bet the Garden of Eden was massive big as a continent or something like that. I laugh at him trying to get a Cow to listen to him or if a tiger would let him pet him and command him. Adam only task set by God in this point is to care over the animals and garden and not to eat the of the Tree of Knowledge, what kind of Animal could possibly help him with that. Especially if those animals can not even communicate with Adam.
God made us in his image. This idea pleases me a lot but do not take what I think as truth because I could be wrong. It adds to my idea to heaven a little bit. Imagine the Garden of Eden, where you live with God with his infinite love leaving you with no insecurities at all. "But for Adam [you in this example] no suitable helper was found." God made us in his image and we realize we are relational. Even Adam only with God and the creatures in the Garden, was not satisfied in companionship and God knew this; and so God had Eve in mind for Adam. God does not need us humans, as we do not need relationships(such as in a guy and girl) but we receive great joy from this, just as God gets great joy from our company. God made Adam work for it though. I don't want to go into whether Adam and Eve were created the same day or not but how long did Adam run around naked trying to make friends with the creatures before God gave him Eve. Seriously how long would it take me to get tired of trying to do the impossible, then at the end of the work God gave Adam, Eve.
Adam had to be getting tired of Animals in the way of being friends with them, I am sure that he really appreciated Eve, his wife, after dealing with stinking animals for most of the day or for years(again whatever information you read or believe on that). We have came a far way from what God has graced Guys with. A helper, not a slave. Imagine the giant garden again that Adam spend all this time running naked around to find a helper, and now he has one, running around showing Eve all of God's beautiful creation to her. Sharing all this with her, and teaching her the name of the animals he named, totally enjoying her company. The book(Searching for God Knows What) that gave me this idea even mentions this great gift has became so desensitized that any guy can see a girl online whenever because we have devalued them so much. It makes me feel sick at myself that I enjoyed girls the way I have and feel like I have stolen somebody else's gift, because I was to selfish to wait for my own. I thought treated girls a little better from a revelation a while ago but I think I have either settled back into it or I really had no clue that first time.
"This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called woman,
for she was taken out of man."
I am pretty sure was the first time something was poetic in the Bible and it was Adam's first words to Eve. It might not seem that great of a poem to me, but kind of makes me think of how girls do love poetry especially when a guy compares beautiful stuff to them. Really though, Its like the formulas we have set up as I mentioned in my about me. I can make a list of all the things I love about a girl. In the end its just a list, and which is why I think partially that love is full of stupid actions sometimes. A poem is for beauty and explains meanings, why else are humans so obsessed with Art, it answers more questions about why than the math problem 2+3=5 does. That list is like a math problem to us Guys, it makes sense, name enough points and those points might equal what the girl wants and balance the equation? Nope! Girls are not math problems. They like stuff just like we like stuff, human too. Girls probably like a picture more than us handing them a math problem too. I don't think God wanted woman to be treated like they were through the Bible, and its not like the internet was the only reason girls were desensitized, they were devalued very quickly after the fall. I guess this has been aimed towards more guys to appreciate girls more and see them as something than more than what we think they are.
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
23 The man said,
"This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called woman,
for she was taken out of man."
I bet when you read this verse you think of animals all single filed walking up to Adam sitting behind this desk interviewing each and every animal that came to God. Making sure that his "helper" would meet these certain specifications and based on their skills would consider them for hire. No? What have you thought it was like then? The writer of this book was a man of understatements, and we are only left to speculate so much. God was proving a point though. At this point we know Adam is still naked and not ashamed of his nakedness. He does not have the knowledge to be ashamed yet. As weird as it sounds, I think Adam was a naked man running around and trying to befriend all these animals all around the garden. Not a small garden, I bet the Garden of Eden was massive big as a continent or something like that. I laugh at him trying to get a Cow to listen to him or if a tiger would let him pet him and command him. Adam only task set by God in this point is to care over the animals and garden and not to eat the of the Tree of Knowledge, what kind of Animal could possibly help him with that. Especially if those animals can not even communicate with Adam.
God made us in his image. This idea pleases me a lot but do not take what I think as truth because I could be wrong. It adds to my idea to heaven a little bit. Imagine the Garden of Eden, where you live with God with his infinite love leaving you with no insecurities at all. "But for Adam [you in this example] no suitable helper was found." God made us in his image and we realize we are relational. Even Adam only with God and the creatures in the Garden, was not satisfied in companionship and God knew this; and so God had Eve in mind for Adam. God does not need us humans, as we do not need relationships(such as in a guy and girl) but we receive great joy from this, just as God gets great joy from our company. God made Adam work for it though. I don't want to go into whether Adam and Eve were created the same day or not but how long did Adam run around naked trying to make friends with the creatures before God gave him Eve. Seriously how long would it take me to get tired of trying to do the impossible, then at the end of the work God gave Adam, Eve.
Adam had to be getting tired of Animals in the way of being friends with them, I am sure that he really appreciated Eve, his wife, after dealing with stinking animals for most of the day or for years(again whatever information you read or believe on that). We have came a far way from what God has graced Guys with. A helper, not a slave. Imagine the giant garden again that Adam spend all this time running naked around to find a helper, and now he has one, running around showing Eve all of God's beautiful creation to her. Sharing all this with her, and teaching her the name of the animals he named, totally enjoying her company. The book(Searching for God Knows What) that gave me this idea even mentions this great gift has became so desensitized that any guy can see a girl online whenever because we have devalued them so much. It makes me feel sick at myself that I enjoyed girls the way I have and feel like I have stolen somebody else's gift, because I was to selfish to wait for my own. I thought treated girls a little better from a revelation a while ago but I think I have either settled back into it or I really had no clue that first time.
"This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called woman,
for she was taken out of man."
I am pretty sure was the first time something was poetic in the Bible and it was Adam's first words to Eve. It might not seem that great of a poem to me, but kind of makes me think of how girls do love poetry especially when a guy compares beautiful stuff to them. Really though, Its like the formulas we have set up as I mentioned in my about me. I can make a list of all the things I love about a girl. In the end its just a list, and which is why I think partially that love is full of stupid actions sometimes. A poem is for beauty and explains meanings, why else are humans so obsessed with Art, it answers more questions about why than the math problem 2+3=5 does. That list is like a math problem to us Guys, it makes sense, name enough points and those points might equal what the girl wants and balance the equation? Nope! Girls are not math problems. They like stuff just like we like stuff, human too. Girls probably like a picture more than us handing them a math problem too. I don't think God wanted woman to be treated like they were through the Bible, and its not like the internet was the only reason girls were desensitized, they were devalued very quickly after the fall. I guess this has been aimed towards more guys to appreciate girls more and see them as something than more than what we think they are.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Ask someone, What is Heaven Like?
I have been thinking a lot about what is heaven like. You know everybody has those preconceived ideas of what it is like. You know pearly white gates(though in my study I found some gates in heavens are decorated with Precious Gems), Peter being the bouncer and making sure you are in the Lamb's Book of Life, giving you your wings and halos and letting you in(and no we do not become angels in heaven, they are not humans and actually I think they get jealous of us sometimes). Asking a few people about what they thought heaven was like, I found something a little scary, They DO NOT mention God at all, and he is completely disassociated from heaven. Some even said heaven was just what our idea of it was, and thats what it would be. Heaven has became this silent bullet to the head to some, for example, Lenny of Mice and Men, but instead of the fluffy bunnies, we keep our mind's busy with life and that when we die some miraculous place called "Heaven" is waiting for us. Heaven is a nice idea to calm us of the ideas of not existing. WHAT IF WE ARE WRONG?! I grew some fear at the thought of being wrong, being a believer I know that something is waiting and that is going to be judgement from God.
John 14:6 "Jesus Answered, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the father except through me.
With that I know that I can sleep a little easier at night, but I had thoughts heaven was like hanging out with friends, playing some video games, maybe chilling with family. I also thought that heaven is worshiping God forever. I love worship but given enough of something I would get bored of worship and God would see that in my thoughts, might reject me for that. So I got thinking into what is heaven really like? Not my thoughts of what it is, but what it really is?
2nd Peter 13 "But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness."
Prior to this verse it talks about the destruction, and relates it into the beginning of creation, some very serious stuff that I could go into about the poetic, true meanings, and probably even a bunch of prophesy but I do not fell like going into all that detail. Caitlin actually pointed me specifically to this verse when I asked her about heaven. It gave me a feeling inside. It was very joyful that we can look forward to a NEW heaven and NEW earth since this one is ending in destruction, OR DOES IT (Read Blog:Going Green the way to Heaven)?
2 Corinthians 5:1-5 "1Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."
Things are beginning to look more hopeful, I think I do want to be in my heavenly clothes. Maybe for that reason I think I might be able to be what I really want to be for God or just the fact that it is a present from God? The spirit was given to us as a deposit, as a guarantee of what is to come. What happens when we don't feel that Spirit of God on us anymore? Is it something that is can be shed away, or is it a place that the convictions bring us back to God suggesting the Spirit is still there?
2 Corinthians 5:6-10 "6Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.7We live by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
I actually decided to look more into the context of this because one of my favorite verses are contained in this and I figured I rather see what my favorite verse is all about in context. 2nd Corinthians 5:7, "We live by faith, not by sight." Could it be that my fear that I might get bored in heaven when worshiping that is a figurative term for sight? I want to be pleasing to god but I do not think my body is that willing for it, away from my body and in heavenly clothing would I be able to be pleasing in whatever tasks lay await in heaven? I leave this all these open questions to ask yourself, because God is real, and God is waiting to hear from you, and teach you. I think that this was put on my heart because when I ask myself these questions I think others could benefit from asking these questions themselves. What is heaven is like? No one really knows what it really is like, what we will do there, or really what it looks like such as an artist could not draw. This last passage leaves me with great joy and a better idea of what is to come.
Revelations 21:2-5"2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
5He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.""
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)