Christians are losing the battle (Christendom? the culture? what has been Western Civilization) because we're so divided. All behind our doctrinal fences. And Jesus prayed so earnestly (on the eve of His crucifixion, no less) that we would all be one.. That we would be close.. Even "as He and the Father are one". But look at us! We see all the differences, rather than common ground. When perhaps unity would rub off some of those rough edges!
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Friday, March 22, 2013
Truth Will Win
I don't know why untruth (untrue things) get such a deep hold within people and within institutions. Why?
If Christians (the churches) think they are going to, or are supposed to "subdue the world" they're wrong! Jesus said His kingdom was/is not of this world"! Yes, I'd like to see the mad dash toward collapse,etc slowed down (my interest in politics). But that's about all I can hope for. This world is going to, and actually is supposed to, collapse! Why? So God can be proven right! God is life. A person (or angel, or any other rational creature) cannot wander away from God. That's the whole thing/lesson in a nutshell, this chewing upon the knowing of good from evil (life from death, true from untrue).
Yes, God could have spared us all this! Himself too! He being Life, lives through and experiences it all! Why'd he put Himself, and all of us, through all this? I can only assume, through logic, that it's because He's not creating robots or an ant farm. And this life is a unavoidable journey and lesson, if there's to be thinking ability or rational creatures that is! Because, thinking ability sooner or later includes being able to choose and make choices, etc.
"It pleased God to reconcile ALL things to Himself through Him (Jesus), all things whether in heaven or on earth" Colossians 1:20
"For even as in Adam all die, so also in the Christ all shall be made alive, 23 but each in his proper order, " 1 Corinthians 15:22
Resurrection of all - Contemporary English Version (CEV)
"22 Adam brought death to all of us, and Christ will bring life to all of us. 23 But we must each wait our turn. Christ was the first to be raised to life, and his people will be raised to life when he returns. 24 Then after Christ has destroyed all powers and forces, the end will come, and he will give the kingdom to God the Father." [oh! 1st, Jesus was resurrected, then 2nd, the resurrection of all believers at His return, and 3rd, another raising to incorruption and immortality at the 'end' when ALL things are made new.. after the millennium and its purpose, and what is commonly called judgment day, and its purpose.]
"25 Christ will rule until he puts all his enemies under his power, 26 and the last enemy he destroys will bedeath. 27 When the Scriptures say that he will put everything under his power, they don't include God. It was God who put everything under the power of Christ. 28 After everything is under the power of God's Son, he will put himself under the power of God, who put everything under his Son's power. Then God will mean everything to everyone."
"God is the savior of all, especially those which believe" 1 Tim 4:10
If Christians (the churches) think they are going to, or are supposed to "subdue the world" they're wrong! Jesus said His kingdom was/is not of this world"! Yes, I'd like to see the mad dash toward collapse,etc slowed down (my interest in politics). But that's about all I can hope for. This world is going to, and actually is supposed to, collapse! Why? So God can be proven right! God is life. A person (or angel, or any other rational creature) cannot wander away from God. That's the whole thing/lesson in a nutshell, this chewing upon the knowing of good from evil (life from death, true from untrue).
Yes, God could have spared us all this! Himself too! He being Life, lives through and experiences it all! Why'd he put Himself, and all of us, through all this? I can only assume, through logic, that it's because He's not creating robots or an ant farm. And this life is a unavoidable journey and lesson, if there's to be thinking ability or rational creatures that is! Because, thinking ability sooner or later includes being able to choose and make choices, etc.
"It pleased God to reconcile ALL things to Himself through Him (Jesus), all things whether in heaven or on earth" Colossians 1:20
"For even as in Adam all die, so also in the Christ all shall be made alive, 23 but each in his proper order, " 1 Corinthians 15:22
Resurrection of all - Contemporary English Version (CEV)
"22 Adam brought death to all of us, and Christ will bring life to all of us. 23 But we must each wait our turn. Christ was the first to be raised to life, and his people will be raised to life when he returns. 24 Then after Christ has destroyed all powers and forces, the end will come, and he will give the kingdom to God the Father." [oh! 1st, Jesus was resurrected, then 2nd, the resurrection of all believers at His return, and 3rd, another raising to incorruption and immortality at the 'end' when ALL things are made new.. after the millennium and its purpose, and what is commonly called judgment day, and its purpose.]
"25 Christ will rule until he puts all his enemies under his power, 26 and the last enemy he destroys will be
"God is the savior of all, especially those which believe" 1 Tim 4:10
Thursday, March 21, 2013
God's Awesome Plan
For some reason I ended up reading about rebellion under Moses, in Numbers, and rebellion against David, in Chronicles, all in one day. I'm struck with how the message was 'if you rebel against my King, you cannot live' and how that is ultimate reality! (Psalm 2)
- God is life itself, the life force. To rebel against Him, to wander from Him, (surely?) is to wander from life and living. After both resurrections and the long day of 'judgment' (of all human history, etc) perhaps there might be some hold out, who says 'no, I choose not to believe, keep my name out of that book of life!'
- Maybe someone will have hardened their heart so hard against God, and hate Him enough to choose non-existence for their self. And all the crowd that does live, both heavenly and earthly, would mourn deeply. And no one would mourn more than the Father and the Son.. But wait! There's the Lake Of Fire! Put him in the lake of fire for an age and even another age if need be.. for cleansing by God's spiritual fire. For our God is a consuming fire.
- God is life itself, the life force. To rebel against Him, to wander from Him, (surely?) is to wander from life and living. After both resurrections and the long day of 'judgment' (of all human history, etc) perhaps there might be some hold out, who says 'no, I choose not to believe, keep my name out of that book of life!'
- Maybe someone will have hardened their heart so hard against God, and hate Him enough to choose non-existence for their self. And all the crowd that does live, both heavenly and earthly, would mourn deeply. And no one would mourn more than the Father and the Son.. But wait! There's the Lake Of Fire! Put him in the lake of fire for an age and even another age if need be.. for cleansing by God's spiritual fire. For our God is a consuming fire.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
They Are Just Plain Wrong
Surely the 'judgments' of God are nothing more than results? Or so I am prone to think. But every once in a while you happen across someone who says God is cruel or hardhearted, why just look at the flood (of Noah's day) they say! How could God do such a thing! Well they completely overlook the verse which says the thought of every person was only continuously evil.
- And I still think, even this, was a natural result and consequence. For how could it continue? And if it were to continue on and on, how would that be merciful?
- And I still think, even this, was a natural result and consequence. For how could it continue? And if it were to continue on and on, how would that be merciful?
Thursday, March 7, 2013
HEALING
A lot of people believe in God - it's not that hard, well perhaps a little for some, in these days of modern invention and busyness. But to see the Great Spirit and Presence of Life (often perceived in moments of quietness) is to receive some portion of healing just in the perceiving.
- Add to this, that he sent a son (a unique first Son) to gather all things back to God and perfection. What was done was done, and now this Son says he has the keys to life, death and the grave.
- "Grave" is the proper translation of what some have translated 'hell', a preChristian idea and far cry from the "Sheol" of B.C. and the Old Testament.
- Jesus said "it is finished". After the consummation of mankind's history (or did we think man's empire, "house of merchandise" and self seeking could endure and smother the planet forever?) We are told we "will be like Jesus" ..who healed everything he touched. Just read the Gospel (testimony) of Mark! The chapter begins with Christ's introduction by wild man, John the Baptist. And by the end of that first chapter, Jesus has healed so many that great crowds are following him everywhere he goes, so much so that he can no longer enter the towns but remains outside the towns. (Which he seems to prefer anyway!)
- Jesus is "the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature." Hebrews 1:3.
- "The cow and the bear shall graze.. together; and the lion shall" (once again) eat straw like the ox." Isaiah 11:7
- "..they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; Everyone will find rest beneath their own fig trees or grape vines, and they will live in peace. This is a solemn promise of God All-Powerful." Micah 4:3,4
- "All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him." Psalm 22:27
His Spirit Heals each of us, the whole planet.. and life.
There is creative POWER in our thoughts and WORDS, and also of course, in our prayers for one another...
- Add to this, that he sent a son (a unique first Son) to gather all things back to God and perfection. What was done was done, and now this Son says he has the keys to life, death and the grave.
- "Grave" is the proper translation of what some have translated 'hell', a preChristian idea and far cry from the "Sheol" of B.C. and the Old Testament.
- Jesus said "it is finished". After the consummation of mankind's history (or did we think man's empire, "house of merchandise" and self seeking could endure and smother the planet forever?) We are told we "will be like Jesus" ..who healed everything he touched. Just read the Gospel (testimony) of Mark! The chapter begins with Christ's introduction by wild man, John the Baptist. And by the end of that first chapter, Jesus has healed so many that great crowds are following him everywhere he goes, so much so that he can no longer enter the towns but remains outside the towns. (Which he seems to prefer anyway!)
- Jesus is "the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature." Hebrews 1:3.
- "The cow and the bear shall graze.. together; and the lion shall" (once again) eat straw like the ox." Isaiah 11:7
- "..they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; Everyone will find rest beneath their own fig trees or grape vines, and they will live in peace. This is a solemn promise of God All-Powerful." Micah 4:3,4
- "All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him." Psalm 22:27
His Spirit Heals each of us, the whole planet.. and life.
There is creative POWER in our thoughts and WORDS, and also of course, in our prayers for one another...
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