Colossians 3:3 "For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God."
This verse always comforts me. There are times when I am disappointed or scared and look around my life and wonder what on earth went wrong? How did I end up here? I think everyone has days like that sometimes. It's those times when I need to be reminded that this life here on earth is temporary, and it's not my real life. My real life is safe and secure and hidden with Christ.
Sometimes it is hidden for me, as protection, sometimes it is hidden from me, as a test. Will I still trust when life does not make sense? Will you?
It's so good to be reminded that because I have Jesus in my life, this life is not the end of everything. When it's over, I will wake up to the reality that it was nothing but one single breath, and my real home awaits. You know, I tried to tell people about the reality of heaven even in elementary school... my teachers thought I was suicidal because I looked forward to heaven so much. I do look forward to heaven, but no, I am not suicidal in the slightest.
I can't see the full purpose of my life right now. Really, none of us can. We will only see it when we get there, when we have eternity's perspective. Right now, we each follow Christ to the best of our ability, walking in the light we have. God is patient with us and He understands our weakness, He knows that we are little more than dust. He knows that we are dependent on the Holy Spirit for the strength and will to obey when it's hard.
So, when it seems that your life is in shambles, or that you have gone off course and don't know how to get back, remember that this life really only lasts for a moment, and that your real life is perfectly safe in the hands of a perfect God.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Living in Peace
In families and churches, how do we live in love and peace with our brothers and sisters in Christ when we disagree? (Note: scripture references will be at the end of the post, if you would like to look it all up.)
I have aunts and uncles and cousins who attend a church where the women all wear hats to church and do not speak or sing at all during the services. My Aunt Sarah also covers her head whenever she prays, even in private. In every other area of doctrine and all major issues, we agree.
I believe that the head covering is about authority (being under her husband's authority), and that a woman's hair is a sufficient physical covering (as it says just following one of the scriptures that speak about this), and that the verses that say that a woman should not speak in church can not mean that women are never to speak, because if she were to never speak that would contradict other scriptures where it says "your daughters will prophesy" and other scriptures.
Yet, when I visit in my Aunt and Uncle's home and go to church with them, I show respect by covering my head and being silent during the service. I have learned alot from my Aunt's godly example in her home. She is someone I respect and honor because of her faithful example of love and hospitality and submission to her husband. It makes no difference that we disagree on the interpretation of scriptures that honestly will have no bearing on whether or not we make it to heaven. There are scriptural reasons why I respect their way of doing things while in their home and neither of us impose our interpretations on the other.
We are called to live in peace with one another, to consider others more important than ourselves, and to maintain the bond of love between the brethren in Christ. We are told not to be quarrelsome and not to cause divisions and factions in the Body of Christ (the universal church, made up of all true followers of Jesus Christ). If (and when) we cut people off from our fellowship, we need to be absolutely sure that we have a solid scriptural reason for doing so. Jesus Christ does not take it lightly when people divide and cut off parts of His Body, which is also called His Bride.
In my family, we maintain love and unity in 2 ways. First, we focus on what unites us, what we do agree on, Jesus Christ and His Words, and His command that we love one another. When we visit in one anothers' homes or visiting one anothers' churches, we refrain from doing or saying anything that would cause our brothers and sisters in Christ to stumble. Second, we recommend that each person or family studies God's Word for themselves and prays about it, and when they are strong in their faith and knowledge of the Bible, each obeys what each believes the Lord is leading them to do, as their convictions dictate.
These principles are clearly seen in how Paul tells the Corinthian church how to respond to those who believe that they shouldn't eat meat sacrificed to idols, and he also covers similar topics in the book of Romans.
Let's make a big deal out of the things that affect people's eternal destiny, not the minor things that will not make a difference when we stand before Christ. Paul said that we neither gain nor lose anything by eating or not eating, and the same applies to whether or not a woman prays with her head covered, and other minor differences of Bible interpretation. Let's remember that man judges by external appearance, but God judges the heart.
Scriptures:
1 Corinthians 8:1-13, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Romans 12:3-16
Romans 13:8-10
Romans 14:1-23
Romans 15:1-8
Philippians 2:1-4
Titus 3:1-2, 9-10
I have aunts and uncles and cousins who attend a church where the women all wear hats to church and do not speak or sing at all during the services. My Aunt Sarah also covers her head whenever she prays, even in private. In every other area of doctrine and all major issues, we agree.
I believe that the head covering is about authority (being under her husband's authority), and that a woman's hair is a sufficient physical covering (as it says just following one of the scriptures that speak about this), and that the verses that say that a woman should not speak in church can not mean that women are never to speak, because if she were to never speak that would contradict other scriptures where it says "your daughters will prophesy" and other scriptures.
Yet, when I visit in my Aunt and Uncle's home and go to church with them, I show respect by covering my head and being silent during the service. I have learned alot from my Aunt's godly example in her home. She is someone I respect and honor because of her faithful example of love and hospitality and submission to her husband. It makes no difference that we disagree on the interpretation of scriptures that honestly will have no bearing on whether or not we make it to heaven. There are scriptural reasons why I respect their way of doing things while in their home and neither of us impose our interpretations on the other.
We are called to live in peace with one another, to consider others more important than ourselves, and to maintain the bond of love between the brethren in Christ. We are told not to be quarrelsome and not to cause divisions and factions in the Body of Christ (the universal church, made up of all true followers of Jesus Christ). If (and when) we cut people off from our fellowship, we need to be absolutely sure that we have a solid scriptural reason for doing so. Jesus Christ does not take it lightly when people divide and cut off parts of His Body, which is also called His Bride.
In my family, we maintain love and unity in 2 ways. First, we focus on what unites us, what we do agree on, Jesus Christ and His Words, and His command that we love one another. When we visit in one anothers' homes or visiting one anothers' churches, we refrain from doing or saying anything that would cause our brothers and sisters in Christ to stumble. Second, we recommend that each person or family studies God's Word for themselves and prays about it, and when they are strong in their faith and knowledge of the Bible, each obeys what each believes the Lord is leading them to do, as their convictions dictate.
These principles are clearly seen in how Paul tells the Corinthian church how to respond to those who believe that they shouldn't eat meat sacrificed to idols, and he also covers similar topics in the book of Romans.
Let's make a big deal out of the things that affect people's eternal destiny, not the minor things that will not make a difference when we stand before Christ. Paul said that we neither gain nor lose anything by eating or not eating, and the same applies to whether or not a woman prays with her head covered, and other minor differences of Bible interpretation. Let's remember that man judges by external appearance, but God judges the heart.
Scriptures:
1 Corinthians 8:1-13, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Romans 12:3-16
Romans 13:8-10
Romans 14:1-23
Romans 15:1-8
Philippians 2:1-4
Titus 3:1-2, 9-10
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Resources for Honest Seekers and Curious Christians
This is a list of excellent websites that specialize in answering the tough questions people have about the Bible and God. They are excellent for helping Christians stand strong in their faith in the face of criticism and for helping those who are willing to come to Christ but need a few questions answered before they take that leap of faith.
http://www.carm.org
http://www.rationalchristianity.net/
http://www.christianapologetic.org/
*free download of the book "Christian Handbook of Reason and Insight for Scientists and Technologists".
http://www.allaboutgod.com/christian-apologetics.htm
*Excellent article about remaining humble and not relying on intellectualism while also defending the faith through apologetics.
http://www.answersingenesis.org
*some very strong articles in revealing the errors in carbon dating and radiometric dating, lots of interesting info for the evolution vs. creation type questions.
http://www.biblicaldefense.org/
*links to many scientific research papers and transcribed debates between scholars on both sides of Christianity and atheism.
http://www.josh.org/
Josh McDowell, author of "Evidence that Demands a Verdict", has many free online articles, mp3 downloads, and e-books available.
http://www.jesuscentral.com
This site is massive with enough info on the life of Christ, the historical accuracy of the New Testament, etc, that to go through it all would take probably at least 10 hours. Excellent source! 5 STARS!!!
http://www.leestrobel.com/
Author of "The Case for Christ" and "The Case for Faith", his website includes many video lectures for those who would rather watch video than read pages of info.
*** A little note, Mr. Strobel has made many enemies among atheists, and a google search of his name will reveal only about 4 or 5 favorable websites in a sea of over 300,000.
http://www.carm.org
http://www.rationalchristianity.net/
http://www.christianapologetic.org/
*free download of the book "Christian Handbook of Reason and Insight for Scientists and Technologists".
http://www.allaboutgod.com/christian-apologetics.htm
*Excellent article about remaining humble and not relying on intellectualism while also defending the faith through apologetics.
http://www.answersingenesis.org
*some very strong articles in revealing the errors in carbon dating and radiometric dating, lots of interesting info for the evolution vs. creation type questions.
http://www.biblicaldefense.org/
*links to many scientific research papers and transcribed debates between scholars on both sides of Christianity and atheism.
http://www.josh.org/
Josh McDowell, author of "Evidence that Demands a Verdict", has many free online articles, mp3 downloads, and e-books available.
http://www.jesuscentral.com
This site is massive with enough info on the life of Christ, the historical accuracy of the New Testament, etc, that to go through it all would take probably at least 10 hours. Excellent source! 5 STARS!!!
http://www.leestrobel.com/
Author of "The Case for Christ" and "The Case for Faith", his website includes many video lectures for those who would rather watch video than read pages of info.
*** A little note, Mr. Strobel has made many enemies among atheists, and a google search of his name will reveal only about 4 or 5 favorable websites in a sea of over 300,000.
Monday, June 8, 2009
New Bible
I have been wanting a new Bible for a couple of months now. I tend to get myself a new one whenever there has been a major event in my spiritual life. For example, I got a new Bible in 1999, after I had recovered from one of the biggest heartbreaks of my life. And I got a new one at the end of Bible College in 2001. I think that the journey I have been going through in the last couple of months is worthy of a new Bible.
So, I bought myself one! It's nice. Red and black leather cover, not too big, in the New Living Translation. I have been used to the New American Standard Bible for almost my whole life (it's the version I've been reading since I was 8), so the change is refreshing and breathing fresh life into verses I've known for years.
So, I bought myself one! It's nice. Red and black leather cover, not too big, in the New Living Translation. I have been used to the New American Standard Bible for almost my whole life (it's the version I've been reading since I was 8), so the change is refreshing and breathing fresh life into verses I've known for years.
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