Saturday, October 23, 2010
Coming Soon!
It's been a while since I last posted, however, hopefully that will change soon. I'm hoping to post a list of books I have read in the past year with what I think of each of them. Since I've been more busy than last year, I haven't read quite as many books as last year (bummer!), but I did get close to 40.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Down a Lonely Road
Very often, the life of a Christian may seem lonely. Sometimes following the Lord Jesus does not seem very popular or politically correct. For that matter, it probably won't be popular most of the time. Jesus wasn't liked very much and He said we shouldn't expect it to be better for us as His followers.At times the Christian will walk down the narrow way all by himself. The world will hate us and John tells us not to be surprised (1 Jn. 3:13) when it happens. Even people within the religious establishment won't understand or like us. Christ was persecuted and harassed by the Pharisees and Sadducees. They were the religious leaders of their day. Should we expect any better than the One who walked before us?
However, we should not be tempted to think we are the only ones on this journey. There are still others who have not bowed the knee to Baal. God will always have a remnant and even though they may not be walking with us right at this particular moment, we can rest assured that God will not leave us alone forever. The Christian can also take comfort that God is with us always.
We walk a narrow road that not many find (Matt. 7:14), but thank God for those who do find it and! Let us walk the way together.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Beck Rally and Christians
Has anyone else noticed just how much Glenn Beck has been talking about God lately on his show? I find it amazing and as he readily admits, he believes the only way to restore America to her former greatness is for divine intervention to occur.
What does surprise me (well sort of) is how many people who call themselves evangelical Christians are supporting Beck and his rally. Why do I have a problem with this? Glenn Beck is a Mormon for one. And how does he know God wants to restore America to her former greatness?
In 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 we read, "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?"
So lets give these people the benefit of the doubt and say the we know God wants to restore the USA. However, these same people (many who claim to be Christians) are hooking themselves up with an unbeliever. Why are we trying to use the world, no matter how clean cut beck maybe, to try to restore America? Doesn't this directly contradict the above Scripture?
Another point to consider is that when Beck talks about God, he is not referring to the God of the Bible, but the god of Mormonism. The god of the Mormons is a totally different being than God the Father. Check out here what Mormons teach and believe about their God.
CNN reported here that there was much controversy surrounding Glenn Beck's rally. They weren't only talking politically either. Christians have taken sides as well. Some say, "There is no need to 'de-Christianize' each other over the matter." The thing is there's no way we could "de-Christianize" Beck because he isn't a Christian to begin with!
As a challenge to my fellow Christians, please consider whether the Lord Jesus would have you participating in a rally that is being headed up by non-Christians. "What fellowship has light with darkness?"
What does surprise me (well sort of) is how many people who call themselves evangelical Christians are supporting Beck and his rally. Why do I have a problem with this? Glenn Beck is a Mormon for one. And how does he know God wants to restore America to her former greatness?
In 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 we read, "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?"
So lets give these people the benefit of the doubt and say the we know God wants to restore the USA. However, these same people (many who claim to be Christians) are hooking themselves up with an unbeliever. Why are we trying to use the world, no matter how clean cut beck maybe, to try to restore America? Doesn't this directly contradict the above Scripture?
Another point to consider is that when Beck talks about God, he is not referring to the God of the Bible, but the god of Mormonism. The god of the Mormons is a totally different being than God the Father. Check out here what Mormons teach and believe about their God.
CNN reported here that there was much controversy surrounding Glenn Beck's rally. They weren't only talking politically either. Christians have taken sides as well. Some say, "There is no need to 'de-Christianize' each other over the matter." The thing is there's no way we could "de-Christianize" Beck because he isn't a Christian to begin with!
As a challenge to my fellow Christians, please consider whether the Lord Jesus would have you participating in a rally that is being headed up by non-Christians. "What fellowship has light with darkness?"
Friday, August 27, 2010
Books, Books, and More Books
Currently being read:
The Last Jihad by Joel C. Rosenberg
To be read:
The Gospel of Healing by A.B. Simpson
The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis
My Name is Number 4 by Ting-Xing Ye
The Last Jihad by Joel C. Rosenberg
To be read:
The Gospel of Healing by A.B. Simpson
The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis
My Name is Number 4 by Ting-Xing Ye
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Fun Family Games
There are some evenings when we are all at home and just want to do something as a family. Many times we'll get out a game that the whole (at least most of us :) like to play. Below are some of the things we play.
Dutch BlitzRook
Squelch (also known as Farkle)
UnoDominoes
Those are just a few of the family games we play. Maybe you play some that you'd like to share about in a comment.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
On Relating to the Government
How is a Christian supposed to view and relate to an earthly government? Is it by getting involved with the system, trying to reform it, or is there a different way? I believe the Bible gives clear answers to this issue.
"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." (1 Tim. 2:1-2)
Verses like these encourage us to remember our government leaders in prayer, not to get involved in politics and try to bring about godliness through a corrupt system.
We also must realize that God calls us to be subject to all "higher powers" (Rom 13:1). God has set up and allowed all governments, no matter how evil they appear to be. For some reason, in God's divine sovereignty, He allows corrupt politicans and rulers to be set up over people. Think of Jesus, He lived under the most corrupt and missued political powers of His day (Rome), but He did not speak out against it or try to reform it. Instead He went about His Father's business which was healing the physically and spiritually broken people around Him.
However, if our leaders are telling us to do something that goes against the Word of God, we must not do it. We have to be like the apostles and the early church and obey God rather than man.
A verse that brings much comfort to me is Proverbs 21:1, "The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will." The Lord rules over all, including wicked men who seem to have much power and use it for evil purposes. All of God's children can rest in the fact that He rules and reigns in the heavens and no matter what men say and do, He can work it for good. PTL!
"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." (1 Tim. 2:1-2)
Verses like these encourage us to remember our government leaders in prayer, not to get involved in politics and try to bring about godliness through a corrupt system.
We also must realize that God calls us to be subject to all "higher powers" (Rom 13:1). God has set up and allowed all governments, no matter how evil they appear to be. For some reason, in God's divine sovereignty, He allows corrupt politicans and rulers to be set up over people. Think of Jesus, He lived under the most corrupt and missued political powers of His day (Rome), but He did not speak out against it or try to reform it. Instead He went about His Father's business which was healing the physically and spiritually broken people around Him.
However, if our leaders are telling us to do something that goes against the Word of God, we must not do it. We have to be like the apostles and the early church and obey God rather than man.
A verse that brings much comfort to me is Proverbs 21:1, "The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will." The Lord rules over all, including wicked men who seem to have much power and use it for evil purposes. All of God's children can rest in the fact that He rules and reigns in the heavens and no matter what men say and do, He can work it for good. PTL!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Who are We to Judge?
"I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?" (1 Cor. 5:9-12)
Paul had a lot to deal with in the church at Corinth. They had become puffed up and even allowed a person to stay within their midst who was indulging in sexual immorality (not even of a kind that was tolerated by pagans). The apostle commanded that these type of people be removed from the fellowship. Then he goes on into more teaching about association.
As Christians, we aren't supposed to associate with sexually immoral people. However, Paul wasn't talking about those people out in the world, but of those in the Church. Why not those in the world? Because we'd have to be totally removed from the world. As long as we're alive, there will always be immoral, greedy, idolatrous men and women that we, out of necessity, have to have dealings with.
Then Paul goes on to say that anyone who calls himself a Christian brother and is involved in sexual immorality, greed, swindling, drunkenness, etc. we're not to associate with. This leads to an interesting point. The apostle Paul asked the question ,"What have I to do with judging outsiders?" Outsiders meaning those who make no claim of having been born-again and aren't in the church. What can you expect from sinners anyways? Sinners do as sinners do. However, if a person calls himself a brother, he immediately puts himself in the realm of judgement from other believers. In fact, Paul says we are to judge inside the church!
This type of teaching is largely overlooked. Instead of judging those inside the church, fingers are often pointed at unsaved politicians, movie stars, or someone else in the limelight. Are we to just except and think that the sins of the unsaved are OK? No, but as was said earlier, what can be expected from sinners? Is abortion, sexual immorality (fornication, adultery, homosexuality), drunkenness, and all other manner of sin OK? No! God's wrath will come on all sin, but our judgement is to be reserved for those within the church, not those who are outsiders.
Many won't like this type of teaching. In the modern "church", we are told not to judge, just love. This is not what we see from the apostle Paul's example or teachings. Judge the people within the church, not the outsiders.
Paul had a lot to deal with in the church at Corinth. They had become puffed up and even allowed a person to stay within their midst who was indulging in sexual immorality (not even of a kind that was tolerated by pagans). The apostle commanded that these type of people be removed from the fellowship. Then he goes on into more teaching about association.
As Christians, we aren't supposed to associate with sexually immoral people. However, Paul wasn't talking about those people out in the world, but of those in the Church. Why not those in the world? Because we'd have to be totally removed from the world. As long as we're alive, there will always be immoral, greedy, idolatrous men and women that we, out of necessity, have to have dealings with.
Then Paul goes on to say that anyone who calls himself a Christian brother and is involved in sexual immorality, greed, swindling, drunkenness, etc. we're not to associate with. This leads to an interesting point. The apostle Paul asked the question ,"What have I to do with judging outsiders?" Outsiders meaning those who make no claim of having been born-again and aren't in the church. What can you expect from sinners anyways? Sinners do as sinners do. However, if a person calls himself a brother, he immediately puts himself in the realm of judgement from other believers. In fact, Paul says we are to judge inside the church!
This type of teaching is largely overlooked. Instead of judging those inside the church, fingers are often pointed at unsaved politicians, movie stars, or someone else in the limelight. Are we to just except and think that the sins of the unsaved are OK? No, but as was said earlier, what can be expected from sinners? Is abortion, sexual immorality (fornication, adultery, homosexuality), drunkenness, and all other manner of sin OK? No! God's wrath will come on all sin, but our judgement is to be reserved for those within the church, not those who are outsiders.
Many won't like this type of teaching. In the modern "church", we are told not to judge, just love. This is not what we see from the apostle Paul's example or teachings. Judge the people within the church, not the outsiders.
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