It's impossible to describe to a nonbeliever what it's like to be on fire for God. In my experience, it's something you've got to show them in the way you live and love. It's like with any relationship, you go through your ups and downs. One day you might be in the pits, but pretty soon your best friend or spouse or sister will come down to your level and bring you back up. Before long, you find yourself so passionate about this relationship, everything you do revolves around them. That's what your relationship with Jesus Christ should be like.
Maybe you've got Jesus already, and you've ridden a few waves since you became a Christian, but the next crest seems too far away. You're reading your Bible, and having your quiet time with the Lord, but somehow you're just not feeling it. Heck, you probably haven't even missed church in two months yet you're missing something.
It's not that you're in the wrong faith--you know there's no getting around Jesus being the way, the truth, and the life. For me, it often feels like I'm not doing enough to keep my passion for God alive when I've got it in full force. I hate how it feels to lose touch with God, even for only a split second.
Let's say you have accidentally drifted some. It doesn't matter how far, or for how long, just that you aren't feeling the fire you felt before. Every Christian feels this way at some point or another, and all they want is to feel the Holy Spirit guiding them once more.
Acts 4:31 offers a suggestion.
Get to know a small group of fellow believers with whom you can depend on, study the Bible together, and most importantly, pray with.
The verse says once they were finished praying, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly and without hindrance.
It sounds impressive considering moments earlier, the entire group had been discouraged and frustrated with the treatment of their buddies. They went from being in a spiritual slump to the top of their game, all because they prayed together. Huh.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
The First Nine Years of the Post 9-11 Era
Nine years ago, I was barely cognizant of the world I lived in; I was homeschooled and my aunt and cousins lived with me and my family. My young cousin Nick's birthday had been the day before. I'd known we were planning a big surprise party for him, and as usually happened when someone's birthday came in the middle of the week, we didn't celebrate the day of because everyone's schedules were different.
I'd already done my morning ritual, and had completed one of my assignments for the day already. I was waiting for it to be 9:00 when "The Magic School Bus" came on. It was one of the few shows my mom would let me stop doing school work to watch.
I couldn't watch it that morning, and that's when I first began to think something was wrong.
My mother was in the den watching the news. I could hear her speechlessness from the dining room table, but I didn't know what was up.
Moments before my show was going to start, my mother rattled off stern orders to my older brother, who sat in the TV room every morning to write about the news. The one command I remember most was for him to get a radio and keep track of all that was happening so he could let my mom know what the situation was while she was out.
Like nearly every parent, my mom hurried off to snatch the kids of the house from school (my cousins were not homeschooled).
My brother didn't have a radio he could carry around with him, but my mom remembered my grandma had given me a yellow radio-flashlight on her last trip. It'd come from the dollar store, and didn't work that great. That morning, it actually wasn't even assembled. The previous day--week--whenever, I had taken it apart to see what was inside it.
My mom wouldn't leave until I'd gotten that radio for my brother. That included me putting it back together in working order.
It was the only pocket-sized radio we had in the house, without digging out the old hurricane emergency radio.
As she hurried out the door, my mom mentioned to me that she was going to go pick up Billieanne, Paulina, and Nick. I didn't understand, and again, I thought it was a surprise birthday celebration for Nick. What was cooler than getting out of school early for the day to party?
For those who don't know, I live next to a giant naval air base. Jet noise is common place here.
We'd never heard jet noise like we did that morning.
I was walking into the den sometime that morning--still totally unaware of the chaos the world was in--when two jets sonic-boomed overhead.
A jet's afterburners are loud. The loudest they get around here is a whooshing roar that drowns out all noise for about ten seconds, and that intensity is actually pretty rare. The jets are normally only that loud during airshows and at random during the summer.
I may be wrong, but I don't think they're actually going super-sonic even when they're that loud. Also, they aren't allowed to fly that loud beneath a certain altitude because they're flying over a populated area. From what I understand, flying too low could rupture a person's ear drum, causing severe pain and bleeding.
Nine years ago, a pair of jets took off from the naval base at such an angle and velocity that hearing anything other than a dull ringing was impossible for a half hour.
I don't know how fast they were travelling, nor how low they were, nor do I even know what direction they were going in, but I know the only other time I've heard them that loud was at snack time later that day.
Now that I'm older, I wonder where they scrambled to and what, if any influence they had over the day's events.
That night, after a day spent entertaining my cousins by playing Mario 64 and pretending to be Mario giving them a tour of Peach's castle, my parents brought me into their bedroom.
They had been crying, and one of their bibles was open on the comforters.
They told me about everything that happened, how many people died.
Afterwards, we prayed together for the first time as a family that I can remember, other than the "say grace" ritual before dinner.
During this past week, the world has almost felt like it's just as bad a place to live in now as it was that morning when so many lives were lost.
There's that nutcase claiming to be a Christian leader advocating a burning of the Kuran to spite Muslims out of remembrance for what happened nine years ago.
Just in case you didn't know, no one was burning the Kuran in the World Trade Center.
Don't hate Muslims because a few "super devout" radical psycopathes did some heinous acts in the name of allah or whatever.
They are no less exempt from God's love than anyone else, and for that we need to love them.
A topic I've seen bouncing around the headlines is that the vast majority of Americans/experts/whoever don't think Osama Bin Laden will ever be caught, captured, or killed. Some even go as far as to accuse the people going out and looking for him or the government for which they stand in the matter, claiming we can't kill a Saudi Prince.
If we as a nation are capable of risking war by invading a hostile country to assassinate a South-American drug lord like Pablo Eskabar, why would we hold back against the person responsible for brainwashing countless terrorists to kill countless more lives?
No, justice has to be done. Regardless of whether a US Marine zip-ties Bin Laden's hands behind his back, a 200lb bomb knocks his door down, or he trips over a stone in Pakistan and croaks, God will serve vengeance.
As hard as it is to believe, even Bin Laden could be forgiven of his sins. We must not forget that.
The times are dark, but there is a God shining in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome.
I'd already done my morning ritual, and had completed one of my assignments for the day already. I was waiting for it to be 9:00 when "The Magic School Bus" came on. It was one of the few shows my mom would let me stop doing school work to watch.
I couldn't watch it that morning, and that's when I first began to think something was wrong.
My mother was in the den watching the news. I could hear her speechlessness from the dining room table, but I didn't know what was up.
Moments before my show was going to start, my mother rattled off stern orders to my older brother, who sat in the TV room every morning to write about the news. The one command I remember most was for him to get a radio and keep track of all that was happening so he could let my mom know what the situation was while she was out.
Like nearly every parent, my mom hurried off to snatch the kids of the house from school (my cousins were not homeschooled).
My brother didn't have a radio he could carry around with him, but my mom remembered my grandma had given me a yellow radio-flashlight on her last trip. It'd come from the dollar store, and didn't work that great. That morning, it actually wasn't even assembled. The previous day--week--whenever, I had taken it apart to see what was inside it.
My mom wouldn't leave until I'd gotten that radio for my brother. That included me putting it back together in working order.
It was the only pocket-sized radio we had in the house, without digging out the old hurricane emergency radio.
As she hurried out the door, my mom mentioned to me that she was going to go pick up Billieanne, Paulina, and Nick. I didn't understand, and again, I thought it was a surprise birthday celebration for Nick. What was cooler than getting out of school early for the day to party?
For those who don't know, I live next to a giant naval air base. Jet noise is common place here.
We'd never heard jet noise like we did that morning.
I was walking into the den sometime that morning--still totally unaware of the chaos the world was in--when two jets sonic-boomed overhead.
A jet's afterburners are loud. The loudest they get around here is a whooshing roar that drowns out all noise for about ten seconds, and that intensity is actually pretty rare. The jets are normally only that loud during airshows and at random during the summer.
I may be wrong, but I don't think they're actually going super-sonic even when they're that loud. Also, they aren't allowed to fly that loud beneath a certain altitude because they're flying over a populated area. From what I understand, flying too low could rupture a person's ear drum, causing severe pain and bleeding.
Nine years ago, a pair of jets took off from the naval base at such an angle and velocity that hearing anything other than a dull ringing was impossible for a half hour.
I don't know how fast they were travelling, nor how low they were, nor do I even know what direction they were going in, but I know the only other time I've heard them that loud was at snack time later that day.
Now that I'm older, I wonder where they scrambled to and what, if any influence they had over the day's events.
That night, after a day spent entertaining my cousins by playing Mario 64 and pretending to be Mario giving them a tour of Peach's castle, my parents brought me into their bedroom.
They had been crying, and one of their bibles was open on the comforters.
They told me about everything that happened, how many people died.
Afterwards, we prayed together for the first time as a family that I can remember, other than the "say grace" ritual before dinner.
During this past week, the world has almost felt like it's just as bad a place to live in now as it was that morning when so many lives were lost.
There's that nutcase claiming to be a Christian leader advocating a burning of the Kuran to spite Muslims out of remembrance for what happened nine years ago.
Just in case you didn't know, no one was burning the Kuran in the World Trade Center.
Don't hate Muslims because a few "super devout" radical psycopathes did some heinous acts in the name of allah or whatever.
They are no less exempt from God's love than anyone else, and for that we need to love them.
A topic I've seen bouncing around the headlines is that the vast majority of Americans/experts/whoever don't think Osama Bin Laden will ever be caught, captured, or killed. Some even go as far as to accuse the people going out and looking for him or the government for which they stand in the matter, claiming we can't kill a Saudi Prince.
If we as a nation are capable of risking war by invading a hostile country to assassinate a South-American drug lord like Pablo Eskabar, why would we hold back against the person responsible for brainwashing countless terrorists to kill countless more lives?
No, justice has to be done. Regardless of whether a US Marine zip-ties Bin Laden's hands behind his back, a 200lb bomb knocks his door down, or he trips over a stone in Pakistan and croaks, God will serve vengeance.
As hard as it is to believe, even Bin Laden could be forgiven of his sins. We must not forget that.
The times are dark, but there is a God shining in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Stuff to watch out for
I love how prophetic some of Jesus' teachings were. While he was at the temple in Jerusalem, some of his disciples acted like tourists. Like an omnipotent tour guide, Jesus said the temple would be destroyed. You know what's creepy? The temple was destroyed, just like Jesus said it would be, I think somewhere around 60AD.
Surprised, his followers asked when it was going to happen.
As Jesus often did, he answered indirectly. He warned them a lot of posers would appear, claiming to be Jesus, the one and only Prince of Peace.
Gee, I think there have been Jesus wanna-bes pretty much since he went up to heaven, am I right?
Jesus also advised them not to be frightened if they heard about some war or revolution going on because they had to happen first, and the end would follow eventually.
War, revolution, weren't these words tossed around on the news lately?
Jesus talked about massive earthquakes and various diseases and generally fearful events and also some great big signs from heaven.
Hmm...I'd be willing to bet those "great signs from heaven" he mentioned were probably his second coming, but that's just me. When it comes to apocalyptic prophesy, there's a lot of stuff that has to go down, so I could be wrong about this particular example.
Here's the part that fascinates me. Lots of people say we're in the end of times right now, and while we may be in the middle of a world with a surplus of Jesus-fakers, war-fighters, earthquakes, and diseases, followers of Christ are not being brought into churches or courthouses to be persecuted for our faith.
Please understand that just as the temple was torn down after Jesus said it would be, there were a lot of Christians persecuted for their faith soon after he went to heaven. In many parts of the world, there still are in fact, but I personally feel we're not yet in those dark days Jesus talked about.
Don't get me wrong, we're not far off. At the rate the world is spiraling downward, I wouldn't be surprised if our grandkids saw those days. Just look at how many people believe the Bible is old fashioned.
Jesus said that when we stand trial for our faith, we will be witnesses to the people there also.
As if we weren't already concerned enough about the whole dying for his name thing, we're going to have the added pressure of sharing the good news with our killers.
Yet, Jesus knew we might be a little nervous in that situation so he told us not to worry about making a rock solid defense before it all happens. He's got our backs, and if I had to guess, I'd say our Advocate looks pretty glorious in a suit and tie.
Get this, we're not just going to be arrested because some punk saw our faces on a wanted poster. Our own parents, brothers, relatives and friends will betray us, even to the point of having us killed. Talk about tough love.
Frankly, we'll get to know a lot of haters.
Either Jesus thought his followers had a snazzy hairdo, or he was serious about the whole eternal life thing.
I would guess the latter.
Jesus said Jerusalem would be a pretty sucky place to live during that time, at least until the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled.
To demonstrate how important everything he'd said was, Jesus gave them an illustration. Apparently, when fig trees sprout leaves, summer is near. Likewise, when all this stuff goes down, the kingdom of God is close at hand.
You know what? It's going to happen one day.
In the meantime, don't get too involved in the practices and issues of the world. If you spend all your time worrying about the anxieties of life, the coming of the kingdom of God will snap your ankle like a bear trap. If you live on the planet Earth, there's a good chance you'll see it happen.
Be always on the watch, and pray that you might escape what's about to happen, and also that you'll be able to stand before Jesus when that day comes. I can't speak for anyone but myself, but I don't want to be ashamed in front of Jesus because I didn't stand firm in the face of adversity to my faith.
Surprised, his followers asked when it was going to happen.
As Jesus often did, he answered indirectly. He warned them a lot of posers would appear, claiming to be Jesus, the one and only Prince of Peace.
Gee, I think there have been Jesus wanna-bes pretty much since he went up to heaven, am I right?
Jesus also advised them not to be frightened if they heard about some war or revolution going on because they had to happen first, and the end would follow eventually.
War, revolution, weren't these words tossed around on the news lately?
Jesus talked about massive earthquakes and various diseases and generally fearful events and also some great big signs from heaven.
Hmm...I'd be willing to bet those "great signs from heaven" he mentioned were probably his second coming, but that's just me. When it comes to apocalyptic prophesy, there's a lot of stuff that has to go down, so I could be wrong about this particular example.
Here's the part that fascinates me. Lots of people say we're in the end of times right now, and while we may be in the middle of a world with a surplus of Jesus-fakers, war-fighters, earthquakes, and diseases, followers of Christ are not being brought into churches or courthouses to be persecuted for our faith.
Please understand that just as the temple was torn down after Jesus said it would be, there were a lot of Christians persecuted for their faith soon after he went to heaven. In many parts of the world, there still are in fact, but I personally feel we're not yet in those dark days Jesus talked about.
Don't get me wrong, we're not far off. At the rate the world is spiraling downward, I wouldn't be surprised if our grandkids saw those days. Just look at how many people believe the Bible is old fashioned.
Jesus said that when we stand trial for our faith, we will be witnesses to the people there also.
As if we weren't already concerned enough about the whole dying for his name thing, we're going to have the added pressure of sharing the good news with our killers.
Yet, Jesus knew we might be a little nervous in that situation so he told us not to worry about making a rock solid defense before it all happens. He's got our backs, and if I had to guess, I'd say our Advocate looks pretty glorious in a suit and tie.
Get this, we're not just going to be arrested because some punk saw our faces on a wanted poster. Our own parents, brothers, relatives and friends will betray us, even to the point of having us killed. Talk about tough love.
Frankly, we'll get to know a lot of haters.
Either Jesus thought his followers had a snazzy hairdo, or he was serious about the whole eternal life thing.
I would guess the latter.
Jesus said Jerusalem would be a pretty sucky place to live during that time, at least until the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled.
To demonstrate how important everything he'd said was, Jesus gave them an illustration. Apparently, when fig trees sprout leaves, summer is near. Likewise, when all this stuff goes down, the kingdom of God is close at hand.
You know what? It's going to happen one day.
In the meantime, don't get too involved in the practices and issues of the world. If you spend all your time worrying about the anxieties of life, the coming of the kingdom of God will snap your ankle like a bear trap. If you live on the planet Earth, there's a good chance you'll see it happen.
Be always on the watch, and pray that you might escape what's about to happen, and also that you'll be able to stand before Jesus when that day comes. I can't speak for anyone but myself, but I don't want to be ashamed in front of Jesus because I didn't stand firm in the face of adversity to my faith.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
I need feedback on this one
A gay friend of mine posted as his Facebook status today, "Sometimes I think the best view of God is from Hell."
My immediate response is to get all theological, and explain that's not possible.
Then, it dawns on me that maybe he's writing that as his status because someone told him he was going to burn in Hell because he's gay. My response to that assumption is just as theological; Hell was never intended for people because it's where Satan and his legion of fallen angels are supposed to go. People send themselves to Hell by willfully believing the deceptions Satan has created, and in so doing, rejecting the grace, mercy, and love of God.
But, somehow, I don't think that's the right response either.
I feel like all I'm left with is this advice, "Do it with gentleness and respect" from somewhere in first or second Peter, and then from a few places, "Whatever you do, do in love."
***
I paused while writing this post to read the Bible. I knew I wasn't going to get an answer fast enough from the comments my followers might give me, so I went to God.
When I stopped reading and came back to my laptop to write, I wasn't quite sure what God was telling me. In both Matthew and Luke, I read the story about how the Pharisees claiming Jesus drove out demons because he himself had a demon. It felt like God was saying I should get all philosophical and church-y with my friend, but I knew that couldn't be what God was saying because the very same chapters pointed out just how useless church people can be. I don't think God would have me explaining the finer points of the Bible to someone who's probably never even heard half the stories I would reference.
Just now however, when I looked down to find the reference for a verse in which Jesus said "whoever is not with us is against us", God showed me what I was looking for.
Please, share your thoughts, whatever they are. I'd love to hear your approach, or discuss any bible verses or parts that would influence how you would respond. Thanks.
My immediate response is to get all theological, and explain that's not possible.
Then, it dawns on me that maybe he's writing that as his status because someone told him he was going to burn in Hell because he's gay. My response to that assumption is just as theological; Hell was never intended for people because it's where Satan and his legion of fallen angels are supposed to go. People send themselves to Hell by willfully believing the deceptions Satan has created, and in so doing, rejecting the grace, mercy, and love of God.
But, somehow, I don't think that's the right response either.
I feel like all I'm left with is this advice, "Do it with gentleness and respect" from somewhere in first or second Peter, and then from a few places, "Whatever you do, do in love."
***
I paused while writing this post to read the Bible. I knew I wasn't going to get an answer fast enough from the comments my followers might give me, so I went to God.
When I stopped reading and came back to my laptop to write, I wasn't quite sure what God was telling me. In both Matthew and Luke, I read the story about how the Pharisees claiming Jesus drove out demons because he himself had a demon. It felt like God was saying I should get all philosophical and church-y with my friend, but I knew that couldn't be what God was saying because the very same chapters pointed out just how useless church people can be. I don't think God would have me explaining the finer points of the Bible to someone who's probably never even heard half the stories I would reference.
Just now however, when I looked down to find the reference for a verse in which Jesus said "whoever is not with us is against us", God showed me what I was looking for.
Please, share your thoughts, whatever they are. I'd love to hear your approach, or discuss any bible verses or parts that would influence how you would respond. Thanks.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Spooky Stuff
Everyone has their own ghost story, regardless of whether they believe in ghosts or not. Even the most doubtful skeptic could tell you about a friend or relative who claims to have encountered a ghost. Even so, not a lot is known about ghosts except that it has been scientifically proven unusual changes in the immediate environment occur some of the time a ghost is said to be doing something. TV shows like Sci-Fi's Ghost Hunters try to explain the presence of alleged ghosts through scientific investigation. While they can't define what a ghost is, they usually show how vulnerable we are, if not to ghosts then to fear.
Me, personally, I don't watch shows like Ghost Hunters because I don't like watching anyone take stupid risks. The risk in my mind isn't "Oh geez, they're stupid going looking for something that if it exists could be kind of scary and maybe even dangerous." I feel they'd be safer if they walked up to a sleeping grizzly and poked it with a stick.
I don't doubt ghosts exist, although let me say they are probably not the souls of the dead coming back to haunt their old hideouts. Of course, from a theological standpoint, it might be possible that's what ghosts are, but I'd rather not try to explain on my own why it could be possible given what the bible says about a person's soul and when exactly the soul goes to heaven or hell after the body dies. I'd be happy to share my thoughts on the matter if someone familiar with scripture would like to debate it with me; I know both David and Emerald could if they wanted.
As for what I think ghosts are, that's an easy one. They're instruments of Satan in his war against God, more than likely, literal demons. Most of the time, hauntings do more to divide a family and destroy a person's faith than they do anything else. They're not just playful annoyances that interfere in the lives of a selected minority.
A few years ago, my grandparents lived in a haunted house. It was out in middle-of-nowhere Virginia and was over a 100 years old. I think someone had told me two people had died in the house, both from old age, but I can only be sure of one. While she was living there, my grandma had encountered a fair bit of paranormal activity, including two human forms.
The first encounter was a knock at the front door one day, and when she answered it, apparently there was a little old lady with creepy red eyes and wild white hair just standing there. My grandma tried talking to her, but she didn't say anything back. Eventually, I think my grandma closed the door and went back to what she was doing, praying as she did so.
The other one happened while she was washing dishes once. There was no one in the house except her and her husband, who was asleep and bed-ridden at the time. From the parlor, her piano began playing. Confused, she went to check it out, and saw a farmer in muddy overalls sitting at the bench playing. Yet, the front door was still shut and locked, and there was no way this man could've gotten inside. My grandma got that same feeling she'd had with the other encounter, so she retreated back into the kitchen. When she left, she asked him to close the lid when he was done.
Cherie's also encountered her own fair share of ghostly phenomena, being that she goes to one of the oldest colleges in the country. From the tours she's given me of the campus, pretty much every other building is haunted. Some of them had suicides, some murders, and some other stuff happen in them. The part that freaks her out though is that one night she was out doing something with one of the clubs she's in, and apparently there was an eerie light flickering in one of the third-floor windows of the most haunted building. I think the building was supposed to empty and locked for the night, so they couldn't explain why there was any light at all.
The color still drains from her face when she talks about it.
It's scary stuff to think about, demons and whatnot. I understand entirely why Cherie is so shook up after her experience, and frankly, if I didn't have Jesus, I'd be cowering just by talking about it.
But, with Jesus, it's not me who cowers. After Satan got pwned, Jesus gave his disciples the authority to overcome whatever Satan can throw at them.
Thus, as a believer in Jesus Christ, I've got a bodyguard. I need not fear any demon.
But that's not why I celebrate. I celebrate because I know I'm going to heaven one day.
Me, personally, I don't watch shows like Ghost Hunters because I don't like watching anyone take stupid risks. The risk in my mind isn't "Oh geez, they're stupid going looking for something that if it exists could be kind of scary and maybe even dangerous." I feel they'd be safer if they walked up to a sleeping grizzly and poked it with a stick.
I don't doubt ghosts exist, although let me say they are probably not the souls of the dead coming back to haunt their old hideouts. Of course, from a theological standpoint, it might be possible that's what ghosts are, but I'd rather not try to explain on my own why it could be possible given what the bible says about a person's soul and when exactly the soul goes to heaven or hell after the body dies. I'd be happy to share my thoughts on the matter if someone familiar with scripture would like to debate it with me; I know both David and Emerald could if they wanted.
As for what I think ghosts are, that's an easy one. They're instruments of Satan in his war against God, more than likely, literal demons. Most of the time, hauntings do more to divide a family and destroy a person's faith than they do anything else. They're not just playful annoyances that interfere in the lives of a selected minority.
A few years ago, my grandparents lived in a haunted house. It was out in middle-of-nowhere Virginia and was over a 100 years old. I think someone had told me two people had died in the house, both from old age, but I can only be sure of one. While she was living there, my grandma had encountered a fair bit of paranormal activity, including two human forms.
The first encounter was a knock at the front door one day, and when she answered it, apparently there was a little old lady with creepy red eyes and wild white hair just standing there. My grandma tried talking to her, but she didn't say anything back. Eventually, I think my grandma closed the door and went back to what she was doing, praying as she did so.
The other one happened while she was washing dishes once. There was no one in the house except her and her husband, who was asleep and bed-ridden at the time. From the parlor, her piano began playing. Confused, she went to check it out, and saw a farmer in muddy overalls sitting at the bench playing. Yet, the front door was still shut and locked, and there was no way this man could've gotten inside. My grandma got that same feeling she'd had with the other encounter, so she retreated back into the kitchen. When she left, she asked him to close the lid when he was done.
Cherie's also encountered her own fair share of ghostly phenomena, being that she goes to one of the oldest colleges in the country. From the tours she's given me of the campus, pretty much every other building is haunted. Some of them had suicides, some murders, and some other stuff happen in them. The part that freaks her out though is that one night she was out doing something with one of the clubs she's in, and apparently there was an eerie light flickering in one of the third-floor windows of the most haunted building. I think the building was supposed to empty and locked for the night, so they couldn't explain why there was any light at all.
The color still drains from her face when she talks about it.
It's scary stuff to think about, demons and whatnot. I understand entirely why Cherie is so shook up after her experience, and frankly, if I didn't have Jesus, I'd be cowering just by talking about it.
But, with Jesus, it's not me who cowers. After Satan got pwned, Jesus gave his disciples the authority to overcome whatever Satan can throw at them.
Thus, as a believer in Jesus Christ, I've got a bodyguard. I need not fear any demon.
But that's not why I celebrate. I celebrate because I know I'm going to heaven one day.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Ban on the Disembowling of Goats
I can't imagine what it must've been like to be Jesus when he was confronted by the Pharisees or their agents every day. They thought they knew Scripture better than anyone, but at the same time, they were talking to the dude who might as well have written the book they thought they knew.
I bet, in some ways, it was a lot like when someone writes a flamboyant novel or research paper, and then at an interview about it, the reporters barrage him with questions about what his stance is on whatever based on a single line they lifted out of context and used to describe the entire work.
Or, for a better example, imagine Christina Rossetti sitting in a college-level literature classroom as the students discuss what symbols are at work in Goblin Market. The interpretation of the work is not the same as the intention of the work.
Let me get to the point. While reading Matthew today, I read the part where the Pharisees want to know why Jesus is eating with the tax collectors and sinners. Jesus replied with one of my favorite Bible quotes, "It's not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." The verse that came next surprised me, perhaps because I'm familiar with this story from another gospel where Jesus elaborates more on that point. Here, however, he gives a different explanation than the one I'm familiar with.
He tells the Pharisees to go and research what the Scripture says concerning what God wants, specifically about Him wanting mercy and not sacrifice.
My Bible had a little note on that phrase directing me to Hosea 6:6. Now, I took it upon myself to check it out and see what it meant for myself. Sure, I know what Jesus taught overall, and I've read the Bible enough times I could probably give a convincing answer if someone asked me to explain why God wanted mercy not sacrifice, but I knew deep down that if it were a test question, my essay would be wrong.
I'm okay faking it on a Shakespeare test if I have to, but I don't want to allow myself the same lack of motivation, knowledge, and confidence when it comes to what I believe. My former Shakespeare prof might have been a perfectionist, but God's perfect.
Here's what it means that God wants mercy and not sacrifice, at least my interpretation thereof.
Yeah, sure, God allows us to have ups and downs in life, but even when we're down in the dumps, we have the promise of eternity in heaven with God by the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Since we have such a hope, we should praise the Lord, giving him all the credit that's due, cause God's not going to leave us high and dry.
But, we need to be careful not to get too religious and too dependent upon our rituals. When we bury God beneath going to church on Sunday or doing a daily devotion, we lose track of what God wants for us.
Tithing more and slaughtering sheep aren't what brings us close to God. To know God is to imitate God, and God is a loving and merciful God. It stands to reason that God wants us to love and forgive one another, just as he loves and forgives us. He also wants us to acknowledge his presence in our lives.
Sadly, we've all done wrong and broken faith with God. As much in our society today as in that of the Israelites, we've let our leaders and our religion distract us from God's true intentions. We've lusted after people who aren't our partner; we might as well have screwed the most attractive of them.
In order for us to be fruitful, it's necessary that our crimes and wrongdoings come out, even if only through our confession of them. It's easy to forget God knows what we've done wrong, whether or not we want to admit it ourselves.
Every one has one sin they're guilty of, be it befriending the world, burning with sexual passion for the wrong someone, getting hammered at a wild party, feeling a tad homoerotic, or simply forgetting God would help if asked.
We're supposed to stand out from the crowd, living as beacons of light to an otherwise dark world. Because we trust in God and have Jesus as out Lord and Savior, we're supposed to be completely different than who we were before we believed and repented.
Don't let your self-confidence and pride mess you up; if you're not careful, you might forget God did everything in your life, not you.
Know what you believe and don't get lured off the path by a cluster of sweet berries just a step or two away. They're poison. Can't you see the skeletons piled around the bush?
Stop complaining about your so-called hopeless situation. Use the gifts God gave you to make the world a better place, not to get rich quick.
(Psst, I think God's trying to get your attention. You might want to see what he has to say--it looks important.)
Don't worry about whatever religious practice you think usurps them all. It doesn't. What matters is forgiving whoever hurt you the way God forgave you when you hurt Him.
I bet, in some ways, it was a lot like when someone writes a flamboyant novel or research paper, and then at an interview about it, the reporters barrage him with questions about what his stance is on whatever based on a single line they lifted out of context and used to describe the entire work.
Or, for a better example, imagine Christina Rossetti sitting in a college-level literature classroom as the students discuss what symbols are at work in Goblin Market. The interpretation of the work is not the same as the intention of the work.
Let me get to the point. While reading Matthew today, I read the part where the Pharisees want to know why Jesus is eating with the tax collectors and sinners. Jesus replied with one of my favorite Bible quotes, "It's not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." The verse that came next surprised me, perhaps because I'm familiar with this story from another gospel where Jesus elaborates more on that point. Here, however, he gives a different explanation than the one I'm familiar with.
He tells the Pharisees to go and research what the Scripture says concerning what God wants, specifically about Him wanting mercy and not sacrifice.
My Bible had a little note on that phrase directing me to Hosea 6:6. Now, I took it upon myself to check it out and see what it meant for myself. Sure, I know what Jesus taught overall, and I've read the Bible enough times I could probably give a convincing answer if someone asked me to explain why God wanted mercy not sacrifice, but I knew deep down that if it were a test question, my essay would be wrong.
I'm okay faking it on a Shakespeare test if I have to, but I don't want to allow myself the same lack of motivation, knowledge, and confidence when it comes to what I believe. My former Shakespeare prof might have been a perfectionist, but God's perfect.
Here's what it means that God wants mercy and not sacrifice, at least my interpretation thereof.
Yeah, sure, God allows us to have ups and downs in life, but even when we're down in the dumps, we have the promise of eternity in heaven with God by the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Since we have such a hope, we should praise the Lord, giving him all the credit that's due, cause God's not going to leave us high and dry.
But, we need to be careful not to get too religious and too dependent upon our rituals. When we bury God beneath going to church on Sunday or doing a daily devotion, we lose track of what God wants for us.
Tithing more and slaughtering sheep aren't what brings us close to God. To know God is to imitate God, and God is a loving and merciful God. It stands to reason that God wants us to love and forgive one another, just as he loves and forgives us. He also wants us to acknowledge his presence in our lives.
Sadly, we've all done wrong and broken faith with God. As much in our society today as in that of the Israelites, we've let our leaders and our religion distract us from God's true intentions. We've lusted after people who aren't our partner; we might as well have screwed the most attractive of them.
In order for us to be fruitful, it's necessary that our crimes and wrongdoings come out, even if only through our confession of them. It's easy to forget God knows what we've done wrong, whether or not we want to admit it ourselves.
Every one has one sin they're guilty of, be it befriending the world, burning with sexual passion for the wrong someone, getting hammered at a wild party, feeling a tad homoerotic, or simply forgetting God would help if asked.
We're supposed to stand out from the crowd, living as beacons of light to an otherwise dark world. Because we trust in God and have Jesus as out Lord and Savior, we're supposed to be completely different than who we were before we believed and repented.
Don't let your self-confidence and pride mess you up; if you're not careful, you might forget God did everything in your life, not you.
Know what you believe and don't get lured off the path by a cluster of sweet berries just a step or two away. They're poison. Can't you see the skeletons piled around the bush?
Stop complaining about your so-called hopeless situation. Use the gifts God gave you to make the world a better place, not to get rich quick.
(Psst, I think God's trying to get your attention. You might want to see what he has to say--it looks important.)
Don't worry about whatever religious practice you think usurps them all. It doesn't. What matters is forgiving whoever hurt you the way God forgave you when you hurt Him.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
With you in Spirit
With the coming of the internet age, it's not six degrees of separation any more. It's four clicks to Facebook. At first, the internet was limited to computers, but people soon found they wanted to stay up to date with their friends wherever they went. Here, where I live, nearly everyone under the age of 45 has a smart phone, making it possible to have the world in your pocket.
Sometimes, I wonder though, how in a world of global connectivity, can we share our faith and reflect Jesus? I've always been of the mindset that you can't show someone what God has done in your life unless you show them who you are first. It's always been a struggling point for me, like when I would go to a new church or encounter a sidewalk preacher; I had trouble accepting their message--even if I knew it to be biblically sound--if I didn't see their personality and some of who they were at the same time.
For me, it certainly doesn't seem possible to have the same impact on people's lives through an instant message or Facebook wall that you would have in person. I know some people can do it, but it doesn't feel like what I'm good at. The fact I have a follower I've never personally met continues to amaze me.
Even though I don't feel like a great christian light in this world of wires, I try. Whether it's keeping this blog alive, or doing a bible study through texting, or reaching out when I can to pray for believers and nonbelievers alike, I do my best. Naturally, I prefer interacting in person, but that's not always going to be possible for everyone we've ever met.
You know, even though the only way early Christians could bridge the gap was a donkey moseying to the next town, they managed to keep in touch.
Look at Paul, Christianity's very own go-to guy. Because of him, more than half the New Testament shows us how we can love others without seeing them in person. Paul loved the churches so much, he wrote them frequently to encourage and instruct them.
One trick you can use to reach out to your friends and acquaintances whom you wouldn't normally see, is through prayer. Epaphras certainly had the right idea.
Of course, the surplus of technology and ways to communicate should only help you when you're comforting others. We've all had one of those moments when we see a friend is hurting just from the way they wrote that text message. It sounds impossible, and we can't explain it, but somehow, it happens every now and then. If we're able to discern or suspect something might be awry with our closest friends, because maybe their smiley faces are more frowney and tearful, we should offer whatever comforts we can. Don't be limited by 160 characters--that's what elipses are for.
Remember how Jesus said if two people agree upon anything they ask for, it will be done by God the Father? This rule still applies even if said people aren't in the same room. Therefore, we should continue to share our prayer needs with one another even when we're only able to talk in short email conversations.
Although it is possible to spread the good news through virtual mediums, we should make every effort to see one another.
Whatever you do, do it in love.
Sometimes, I wonder though, how in a world of global connectivity, can we share our faith and reflect Jesus? I've always been of the mindset that you can't show someone what God has done in your life unless you show them who you are first. It's always been a struggling point for me, like when I would go to a new church or encounter a sidewalk preacher; I had trouble accepting their message--even if I knew it to be biblically sound--if I didn't see their personality and some of who they were at the same time.
For me, it certainly doesn't seem possible to have the same impact on people's lives through an instant message or Facebook wall that you would have in person. I know some people can do it, but it doesn't feel like what I'm good at. The fact I have a follower I've never personally met continues to amaze me.
Even though I don't feel like a great christian light in this world of wires, I try. Whether it's keeping this blog alive, or doing a bible study through texting, or reaching out when I can to pray for believers and nonbelievers alike, I do my best. Naturally, I prefer interacting in person, but that's not always going to be possible for everyone we've ever met.
You know, even though the only way early Christians could bridge the gap was a donkey moseying to the next town, they managed to keep in touch.
Look at Paul, Christianity's very own go-to guy. Because of him, more than half the New Testament shows us how we can love others without seeing them in person. Paul loved the churches so much, he wrote them frequently to encourage and instruct them.
One trick you can use to reach out to your friends and acquaintances whom you wouldn't normally see, is through prayer. Epaphras certainly had the right idea.
Of course, the surplus of technology and ways to communicate should only help you when you're comforting others. We've all had one of those moments when we see a friend is hurting just from the way they wrote that text message. It sounds impossible, and we can't explain it, but somehow, it happens every now and then. If we're able to discern or suspect something might be awry with our closest friends, because maybe their smiley faces are more frowney and tearful, we should offer whatever comforts we can. Don't be limited by 160 characters--that's what elipses are for.
Remember how Jesus said if two people agree upon anything they ask for, it will be done by God the Father? This rule still applies even if said people aren't in the same room. Therefore, we should continue to share our prayer needs with one another even when we're only able to talk in short email conversations.
Although it is possible to spread the good news through virtual mediums, we should make every effort to see one another.
Whatever you do, do it in love.
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