The church I am currently attending has this atmosphere, that I love. This makes me a little upset at myself but in strange ways. God is God. Not an idea or some experience that makes me feel good. I don't like saying I like one church over another for that matter. People will be able to meet God wherever they are, a certain church will not save you, nor any denomination. We only have one savior, Jesus Christ, so do not be confused when I say that I love the church's atmosphere.
This atmosphere of my current church reminds me greatly of the first church that I came to know God more intimately and first learn for myself about Jesus, when I was first a faith baby(haha). Everyone knew my name, and I knew a great deal of theirs(a feat since I am bad with names), and it wasn't just like brownie points for knowing their name. I might of not been praying so well for my church family, but I know that I was definitely in lots of prayers in that church, and I am thankful for that. Worship was WORSHIP! You could feel it something amazing around it, and here I go again thinking, I am just explaining an experience. Everyone was an integral part of the church and it felt good to be concluded, safe, and loved. It meant something to call them a church family. The family there reminded me oof the functioning body of the church.
1 Corinthians 12:14-18 "Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God has arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose."
What happened to that Zach? That Zach was eager to be a part of anything, youth group, and even learn to play bass for worship, I even played live worship. I even gave up driving my car for two weeks so I could save up the money to buy my first bass guitar. I still have my dedication prayer written down for it. That was so wonderful, I still think there is nothing better way to love God than those heartfelt prayer worship songs, playing my out of tune notes or offbeat, just knowing I was giving what I could to God. That Zach knew a little bit about God, definitely not so much as he does now but what is stopping me from going towards these thing in my current church?
To find easy blame I could say I fell into a comfort zone because I am too scared because of the experience I had leaving my first church when it came under new leadership. Now I know that is no excuse, I am responsible for my faith in action. It took a little push maybe, and I just thought it was in the most amazing way. I always sit in the same spot, talk to the same people(superficial stuff "Hello, My Name is Zach." "Oh, I'm doing fine"). Worship based on my feelings(bad idea far from what I use to do during musical worship) louder if I feel good, mouthing the words if I feel horrible that day. Take notes on the Sermon, maybe a few of my own, get sidetracked maybe reading something else.
Matthew 18:10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven."
Something happened last Sunday that I found myself laughing at myself for and I am glad it happened. The children stayed in the sanctuary this week. This mother that usually sits in the row in front of me sat in the same row. Her kids always sit to the right of her, but this week they were in the same row as me. Guess what happens? One of her children steal my seat while we are standing for worship. Since this happened, I found myself smiling all week. It was grand, I sat next to this lady, and I feel bad that I don't remember her name, she was so awesome and motherly to me. It felt awesome, God's love should shine through us and I felt it right there.
These children did not steal my seat out of spite, and I am not mad at them for taking "my spot." I found it kind of awesome that my perspective changed so much from a simple action. Moving 1 row back and throwing myself into "unknown" territory gave me a chance to be a better part of the functioning church, rather than some tumor sitting inside it.
Matthew 18:2-6 "And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Even if I'm Standing in the Fire
Here with Me by Everyday Sunday
You said that You hold the earth and moon
And I know that the morning bows to You
So when the water rushes over me
You'll be there to pull me from the deep
I believe that You are
Everything You say You are
I will follow You forever
Even if I'm standing in the fire
I believe, I believe and I have seen
I believe, I believe You're here with me
You said that Your light would chase the dark
Your love for me was written in the scars
So if I'm feeling paralyzed with fear
I know that You'll never leave me stranded here
I wanna be where You are
You carried me this far
I fell in love with a worship song but as you can tell I have already emphasized "Standing in the Fire". It is a good heartfelt worship and reminds me of 3 guys, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. These guys were at a point in life were many advisors to the King tried to indirectly kill people. The King set up a command that whoever does not worship the Golden Idols would be put into a blazing furnace. Its an awesome story so I rather you read it then I spoil it.
Daniel 3:9-30 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! 10 You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up."
13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?"
They replied, "Certainly, O king."
25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."
26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!"
So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way."
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
Many of my friends have been talking about Faith following government or faith versus Government and I think this is a good example as well as most of what happens in Daniel(a prophet who follows God faithfully and through his actions helps people find God and serves as a high government official). Government is definitely suppose to be follow as many people will start quoting Romans 13. Romans does a good job about living in faith but I think Daniel gives a good perspective of when we are not suppose to follow laws by Government, when it directly conflicts with the laws and commands God gives us. These man are faithful to follow God even threatened with burning in a Furnace. That faith amazed me and why I liked this song so much. It reminded me to go back and just reflect on this story. The fourth man is unknown but speculated to be an angel or even Christ himself, alas I do not know but definitely God's work is there when men thrown into this furnace walk around like nothing is happening. Any Christian should be able to want that faith, unwavering so much that people are amazed by our faithfulness and devotion to our cause they must find out what it is all about.
You said that You hold the earth and moon
And I know that the morning bows to You
So when the water rushes over me
You'll be there to pull me from the deep
I believe that You are
Everything You say You are
I will follow You forever
Even if I'm standing in the fire
I believe, I believe and I have seen
I believe, I believe You're here with me
You said that Your light would chase the dark
Your love for me was written in the scars
So if I'm feeling paralyzed with fear
I know that You'll never leave me stranded here
I wanna be where You are
You carried me this far
I fell in love with a worship song but as you can tell I have already emphasized "Standing in the Fire". It is a good heartfelt worship and reminds me of 3 guys, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. These guys were at a point in life were many advisors to the King tried to indirectly kill people. The King set up a command that whoever does not worship the Golden Idols would be put into a blazing furnace. Its an awesome story so I rather you read it then I spoil it.
Daniel 3:9-30 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! 10 You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up."
13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?"
They replied, "Certainly, O king."
25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."
26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!"
So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way."
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
Many of my friends have been talking about Faith following government or faith versus Government and I think this is a good example as well as most of what happens in Daniel(a prophet who follows God faithfully and through his actions helps people find God and serves as a high government official). Government is definitely suppose to be follow as many people will start quoting Romans 13. Romans does a good job about living in faith but I think Daniel gives a good perspective of when we are not suppose to follow laws by Government, when it directly conflicts with the laws and commands God gives us. These man are faithful to follow God even threatened with burning in a Furnace. That faith amazed me and why I liked this song so much. It reminded me to go back and just reflect on this story. The fourth man is unknown but speculated to be an angel or even Christ himself, alas I do not know but definitely God's work is there when men thrown into this furnace walk around like nothing is happening. Any Christian should be able to want that faith, unwavering so much that people are amazed by our faithfulness and devotion to our cause they must find out what it is all about.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
When the World Crumbles is Hope Left?
Hearing crying and slamming on the door, I knock on the bathroom door and ask if she is okay. She comes out crying and asks how could someone go on with a lie for two years and mess with her emotions in such a way. As I try to hug her tears away she goes on about how he took everything from her, since they shared their lives together all this time and now he says he was a fake. She asks me:
"How am I suppose to have hope?"
I couldn't give an answer to her. At least not on that made sense at the time. I know my hope is in Christ I do not understand how there is any hope in any other thing. That is not something I could tell someone who had disbelief in God. The best secular answer I could come up with was live today and hope tomorrow is better. That is still very depressing when given thought to for a long time. God had something for me the next day at church. Pastor Nate (http://naterhoads.wordpress.com/author/naterhoads/) had a message from Ecclesiastes. It taught me of this same message that life is very hard, bleak and even with faith life is still confusing. I left some to my own thoughts but never the less Pastor Nate teaches from a heart after God.
Ecclesiastes 1:1-111 The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:
2 "Meaningless! Meaningless!"
says the Teacher.
"Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless."
3 What does man gain from all his labor
at which he toils under the sun?
4 Generations come and generations go,
but the earth remains forever.
5 The sun rises and the sun sets,
and hurries back to where it rises.
6 The wind blows to the south
and turns to the north;
round and round it goes,
ever returning on its course.
7 All streams flow into the sea,
yet the sea is never full.
To the place the streams come from,
there they return again.
8 All things are wearisome,
more than one can say.
The eye never has enough of seeing,
nor the ear its fill of hearing.
9 What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.
10 Is there anything of which one can say,
"Look! This is something new"?
It was here already, long ago;
it was here before our time.
11 There is no remembrance of men of old,
and even those who are yet to come
will not be remembered
by those who follow.
How are we suppose to go on when everything becomes routine, the same, mundane, and boring? We look for something new on the horizon but it just leads us back to the same discontent we had before. Even if we find love, have a family or whatever, are we remembered? I can honestly say that my ancestors are not something on my mind usually. Is that remembrance that even my offspring's offspring will not even remember me and of all the history books we read, how many millions were just recorded as a statistic in death or population? Is that anyway we want to be remembered? If we have trouble understanding love and human emotions toward each other as she had then how are we suppose to have faith in even each other in this life? This is very bleak to have this pessimistic view. She even said with all this hurt she tried to find sources to have her stop thinking about him or thinking in this way mentioned. Is it nothing short of what this says:
"All streams flow into the sea,
yet the sea is never full.
To the place the streams come from,
there they return again."
We are like a sea, always needing to be filled with something constantly. The streams are like the silencers we put on life trying to stop us from thinking in that depressing mood. In my life that stream is obvious sometimes, I would say it was upgrading my car, farming achievements in some game, savings, education, seeking a love life, and friends. Do we always leave satisfied from anything we do? I know I do but the victory does not last long in my accomplishments. It comes down to I won't be remembered, and just forgotten. The other reason I highlight this verse of Streams flowing into the Sea because it also reminds me of a favorite passage in which Jesus talks to a Samaritan lady.
John 4:13-20 "Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
15The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water."
16He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back."
17"I have no husband," she replied.
Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. 18The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true."
19"Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.
This story also relates back to the girl's story in a way about wanting love and hope. I still can't answer her original question clearly in a secular matter instead I can only offer this. Jesus was not scared to search our hearts. When we make friends we usually stay safe asking education, career, family, friends, and stuff. Jesus talks to us in a different way. He might come up and ask what are we struggling with or directly confront our fears. Its hard for us to understand how he did not do this in judgement because thats all we use to measure each other.
Jesus spoke directly to this woman's needs, that being the feeling of being loved. She had 5 husbands yet was living with a new guy whom she was not married too. Those past husband and current men could be compared to being the streams into her sea yet never fulfilling what she was really seeking in life. Yet Jesus comes now as a promise to be really what she is seeking, and to think she was probably joking when she said, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water." That kind of water is the Amazing Love and Hope that can only come from the creator. An encounter with Jesus is something that penetrates to the deepest part of our soul, because to him there is no way to "measure up" or judge to a standard. Our schooling, possessions, friends, family, or career does not make us who we are deep down. Jesus is Hope for something better whether we understand it now or not.
"How am I suppose to have hope?"
I couldn't give an answer to her. At least not on that made sense at the time. I know my hope is in Christ I do not understand how there is any hope in any other thing. That is not something I could tell someone who had disbelief in God. The best secular answer I could come up with was live today and hope tomorrow is better. That is still very depressing when given thought to for a long time. God had something for me the next day at church. Pastor Nate (http://naterhoads.wordpress.com/author/naterhoads/) had a message from Ecclesiastes. It taught me of this same message that life is very hard, bleak and even with faith life is still confusing. I left some to my own thoughts but never the less Pastor Nate teaches from a heart after God.
Ecclesiastes 1:1-111 The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:
2 "Meaningless! Meaningless!"
says the Teacher.
"Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless."
3 What does man gain from all his labor
at which he toils under the sun?
4 Generations come and generations go,
but the earth remains forever.
5 The sun rises and the sun sets,
and hurries back to where it rises.
6 The wind blows to the south
and turns to the north;
round and round it goes,
ever returning on its course.
7 All streams flow into the sea,
yet the sea is never full.
To the place the streams come from,
there they return again.
8 All things are wearisome,
more than one can say.
The eye never has enough of seeing,
nor the ear its fill of hearing.
9 What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.
10 Is there anything of which one can say,
"Look! This is something new"?
It was here already, long ago;
it was here before our time.
11 There is no remembrance of men of old,
and even those who are yet to come
will not be remembered
by those who follow.
How are we suppose to go on when everything becomes routine, the same, mundane, and boring? We look for something new on the horizon but it just leads us back to the same discontent we had before. Even if we find love, have a family or whatever, are we remembered? I can honestly say that my ancestors are not something on my mind usually. Is that remembrance that even my offspring's offspring will not even remember me and of all the history books we read, how many millions were just recorded as a statistic in death or population? Is that anyway we want to be remembered? If we have trouble understanding love and human emotions toward each other as she had then how are we suppose to have faith in even each other in this life? This is very bleak to have this pessimistic view. She even said with all this hurt she tried to find sources to have her stop thinking about him or thinking in this way mentioned. Is it nothing short of what this says:
"All streams flow into the sea,
yet the sea is never full.
To the place the streams come from,
there they return again."
We are like a sea, always needing to be filled with something constantly. The streams are like the silencers we put on life trying to stop us from thinking in that depressing mood. In my life that stream is obvious sometimes, I would say it was upgrading my car, farming achievements in some game, savings, education, seeking a love life, and friends. Do we always leave satisfied from anything we do? I know I do but the victory does not last long in my accomplishments. It comes down to I won't be remembered, and just forgotten. The other reason I highlight this verse of Streams flowing into the Sea because it also reminds me of a favorite passage in which Jesus talks to a Samaritan lady.
John 4:13-20 "Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
15The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water."
16He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back."
17"I have no husband," she replied.
Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. 18The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true."
19"Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.
This story also relates back to the girl's story in a way about wanting love and hope. I still can't answer her original question clearly in a secular matter instead I can only offer this. Jesus was not scared to search our hearts. When we make friends we usually stay safe asking education, career, family, friends, and stuff. Jesus talks to us in a different way. He might come up and ask what are we struggling with or directly confront our fears. Its hard for us to understand how he did not do this in judgement because thats all we use to measure each other.
Jesus spoke directly to this woman's needs, that being the feeling of being loved. She had 5 husbands yet was living with a new guy whom she was not married too. Those past husband and current men could be compared to being the streams into her sea yet never fulfilling what she was really seeking in life. Yet Jesus comes now as a promise to be really what she is seeking, and to think she was probably joking when she said, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water." That kind of water is the Amazing Love and Hope that can only come from the creator. An encounter with Jesus is something that penetrates to the deepest part of our soul, because to him there is no way to "measure up" or judge to a standard. Our schooling, possessions, friends, family, or career does not make us who we are deep down. Jesus is Hope for something better whether we understand it now or not.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Constant Heartbreak since the Fall
Genesis 3:6-13 "When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"
10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"
12 The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."
13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?"
The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate.""
The Garden of Eden was a place in God's presence. In his love, and all the joy that comes from knowing and being able to talk with your creator. Adam had to have talks while walking with God around the garden. Naked yes but what are clothes when we don't know we are naked. The Garden was a place were God's love was tied to humans closely and very intimately. Nothing exists such as rape, jealousy, hate, confusion, and any other problems you could think of basically. In the presence of God we have security and do not have to worry about such things. I think that its not stressed enough what actually happens here in Genesis.
"I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
As Adam hid in his newly made Garment's he feared God. Have you ever wondered why Adam would fear God now though? I mean all God showed to Adam was love and one command. Adam did not know what lying was, what death was, or what insecurity was prior to that one fruit, all he knew about really was the love he recieved from God. That was until he ate the fruit.The fruit gave him knowledge of uncertainty sort of. He went from having the amazing love of God to nothing. He knew that he had betrayed God, something new to him, and was not sure that God would still love him at all. Its quite sad to think of this unlimited love instantly cut off because of one bite.
"The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."
It also starts where we shove the blame to someone else or try to disassociate from negative situations. I mention before talking to a guy that I was able to cast aside looks, since we were faceless to each other, to be a friend to the guy who had great loss. I wished that I was able to treat someone in life like that. At face value seeing a person as a person not that they are ugly or beautiful, and I know I am very guilty of this bias I have. Its something trained to us and a part of us since the fall. I bet we can all remember someone in grade school, middle school, or high school that we made fun of, if we didn't make fun of them, we were not able to make friends with them because we did not want the association to them. Why would we make friends with him and risk the chance of being made fun of? I noticed at the end of High School that many of those barriers were breaking down between everyone and where talking a bunch more. It was still very superficial still, and I am sure we still wouldn't hang out with those previously mentioned "undesirables." Back to Adam's new found fear though when all these things were new.
If Adam had been able to see all that God had done, and all the love he could offer, with this new knowledge, Adam's imagination could run wild with scenarios of what God might do to him. Adam points blame to Eve. God questions the woman and gets the story of deceit. The man seems to forget one part about his story though. Now you can see that when sin was introduced it was quite a slippery slope. Blame, Lying, Half-Truths, Jealousy, Confusion. Its not like Eve was alone to be deceived, "She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it." WHO WAS WITH HER! WHO WAS WITH HER! The man knew about what God said about the fruit yet he let her go onto it, for he was curious too. I don't think his original plan was that she would be a scapegoat. Scheming minds work fast when they are saving their own skin, Adam surely figured God would not cut of his love if the woman was the cause.
God made us for him to love and for us to love him. This was all fine and dandy till the fall. The hugest part why out of the many various people I have meet and talk to have some sort of trouble or some sort of heartache weighing on them. It has been so long since the fall that we still feel and want that connection to our creator, whether we choose to believe it or not. We can try to hid it in other items or relationships but I think we only poorly simulate what we really call for inside and thats the love from God. Its not only humans that want that connection again. God is surely heartbroken too. That even God close to the fall already had his ideas set for the redeeming power of Jesus to be given to us, and all the stories and history to help us understand more. God didn't make us robots though, and we choose that fruit the first time, and he gives us the choice again in the end for us to choose the lamb's sacrifice to enter into his love again.
John 14:6 "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"
10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"
12 The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."
13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?"
The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate.""
The Garden of Eden was a place in God's presence. In his love, and all the joy that comes from knowing and being able to talk with your creator. Adam had to have talks while walking with God around the garden. Naked yes but what are clothes when we don't know we are naked. The Garden was a place were God's love was tied to humans closely and very intimately. Nothing exists such as rape, jealousy, hate, confusion, and any other problems you could think of basically. In the presence of God we have security and do not have to worry about such things. I think that its not stressed enough what actually happens here in Genesis.
"I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
As Adam hid in his newly made Garment's he feared God. Have you ever wondered why Adam would fear God now though? I mean all God showed to Adam was love and one command. Adam did not know what lying was, what death was, or what insecurity was prior to that one fruit, all he knew about really was the love he recieved from God. That was until he ate the fruit.The fruit gave him knowledge of uncertainty sort of. He went from having the amazing love of God to nothing. He knew that he had betrayed God, something new to him, and was not sure that God would still love him at all. Its quite sad to think of this unlimited love instantly cut off because of one bite.
"The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."
It also starts where we shove the blame to someone else or try to disassociate from negative situations. I mention before talking to a guy that I was able to cast aside looks, since we were faceless to each other, to be a friend to the guy who had great loss. I wished that I was able to treat someone in life like that. At face value seeing a person as a person not that they are ugly or beautiful, and I know I am very guilty of this bias I have. Its something trained to us and a part of us since the fall. I bet we can all remember someone in grade school, middle school, or high school that we made fun of, if we didn't make fun of them, we were not able to make friends with them because we did not want the association to them. Why would we make friends with him and risk the chance of being made fun of? I noticed at the end of High School that many of those barriers were breaking down between everyone and where talking a bunch more. It was still very superficial still, and I am sure we still wouldn't hang out with those previously mentioned "undesirables." Back to Adam's new found fear though when all these things were new.
If Adam had been able to see all that God had done, and all the love he could offer, with this new knowledge, Adam's imagination could run wild with scenarios of what God might do to him. Adam points blame to Eve. God questions the woman and gets the story of deceit. The man seems to forget one part about his story though. Now you can see that when sin was introduced it was quite a slippery slope. Blame, Lying, Half-Truths, Jealousy, Confusion. Its not like Eve was alone to be deceived, "She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it." WHO WAS WITH HER! WHO WAS WITH HER! The man knew about what God said about the fruit yet he let her go onto it, for he was curious too. I don't think his original plan was that she would be a scapegoat. Scheming minds work fast when they are saving their own skin, Adam surely figured God would not cut of his love if the woman was the cause.
God made us for him to love and for us to love him. This was all fine and dandy till the fall. The hugest part why out of the many various people I have meet and talk to have some sort of trouble or some sort of heartache weighing on them. It has been so long since the fall that we still feel and want that connection to our creator, whether we choose to believe it or not. We can try to hid it in other items or relationships but I think we only poorly simulate what we really call for inside and thats the love from God. Its not only humans that want that connection again. God is surely heartbroken too. That even God close to the fall already had his ideas set for the redeeming power of Jesus to be given to us, and all the stories and history to help us understand more. God didn't make us robots though, and we choose that fruit the first time, and he gives us the choice again in the end for us to choose the lamb's sacrifice to enter into his love again.
John 14:6 "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Monday, June 28, 2010
Perception of Others and Ourselves
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."
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."
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!""
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