Having communion and fellowship with others is very important to our faith. Worshipping with others, for example, is a wonderful experience; it is a picture here on earth, of what awaits us in eternity..
While it is true that we have our own personal relationship with God, (through our own readings of the word, through quiet times, and prayer times) our relationships with others is still significant to our faith. Some people are very extraverted, so communing with fellow believers is not typically a daunting task. People who are introverted, however, might find social situations less ideal.
But God does not command us to do what is comfortable for us. Christ tells us to have fellowship with one another, and unity with one another, because we are all one body. The Bride of Christ will be presented as a whole body to God, not as any particular individual. Octavius Winslow gives further encouragement for fellowshipping with Christians: "You will, by association and communion, assimilate with their spirit, and grow wiser, holier, and more useful by the all-powerful molding influence both of their precept and example. The influence which we all exert is not a matter for us to determine. The fact is certain. That influence is fixed. The great question is, what kind of influence shall it be?"
There is no such thing as an insignificant life. At one point or another, every life will impact the lives of many others. As people continue to be transformed by the all-consuming power of God's awesome spirit, we will influence others positively. And through this all, we understand the Almighty Power of God's hand in our lives and the lives of others.
Living Life
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
All Things Made New
as we get older, our bodies break down. They don't work as well as they used to. We have harder times recovering from workouts. Our metabolism slows down. Our knees and joints will start hurting more. We will start to run into more and more health risks, aches and pains. Clearly, our bodies were not meant for eternity.
Genesis 6:3 tells us that God has limited our years to 120, and nowadays even with the marvels of modern medicine, the current oldest person alive today is only 114 years old. Yet this was not always the case. Adam lived to be 930. Noah lived to be 950, and Methuselah, the oldest recorded man to ever live, lived 969 years. Clearly these men of old did not have bodies which started to break down at 40.
Our bodies may break down in the present age, but when Jesus comes back in power, and everything concerning the end comes to pass, we will be given new bodies. Take a time to think about that for a moment. We aren't given our old bodies restored, but we will be given completely new, eternal, glorified bodies. And we will live in a completely new heaven and earth. John Piper says, "So when God makes all things new, He make us new spiritually and morally, He make us new physically, and then He makes the whole creation new so that our environment fits our perfected spirits and bodies... God will make our relationship with Him new and glorious." This is the great and glorious God that we serve: God isn't just going to revamp an old tattered creation; God's migth allows Him to make a new, glorified creation.
Living Life
Genesis 6:3 tells us that God has limited our years to 120, and nowadays even with the marvels of modern medicine, the current oldest person alive today is only 114 years old. Yet this was not always the case. Adam lived to be 930. Noah lived to be 950, and Methuselah, the oldest recorded man to ever live, lived 969 years. Clearly these men of old did not have bodies which started to break down at 40.
Our bodies may break down in the present age, but when Jesus comes back in power, and everything concerning the end comes to pass, we will be given new bodies. Take a time to think about that for a moment. We aren't given our old bodies restored, but we will be given completely new, eternal, glorified bodies. And we will live in a completely new heaven and earth. John Piper says, "So when God makes all things new, He make us new spiritually and morally, He make us new physically, and then He makes the whole creation new so that our environment fits our perfected spirits and bodies... God will make our relationship with Him new and glorious." This is the great and glorious God that we serve: God isn't just going to revamp an old tattered creation; God's migth allows Him to make a new, glorified creation.
Living Life
Omnipotent Creator
Creation is mind-boggling. The earth itself is a spectacle. It is where humans have called their homes. It has seen the rise and fall of countless governments and nations. Despite all of man's great triumphs in art, music and literature, the world continues to spin as it always has.
And it is not only the home of humans, but also the dwelling place of thousands upon thousands of different plants, and multitudes of different animals.
As such, our world was placed at just the right distance away from the Sun. It was given the right mixture of gases in its atmosphere, so that essential gases would not escape, or harmful rays or space debris destroy us. It receives just the right mixture of heat from its core as well as heat from the Sun to stay comfortably safe for life on Earth. But our earth is just a smaller feature in our solar system.
Our solar system is but a spec in the Milky Way Galaxy, which is just one of many, many galaxies. There are billions, even trillions of magnificent stars. There are billions, even trillions of magnificent stars. Mike Taylor writes, "Now, Genesis's account of creation is, of course, very much from an Earth-o-centric perspective. But the connotation here... is that the stars were an afterthought! As though God, having made the Earth, then thought to himself, "Oh, OK, we'll have a few thousand million million million stars as well."
Unfortunately, when numbers become too small or too large, they being to lose their meaning. Nonetheless, our world, it would seem, is but an insignificant blip in the grand scheme of the Universe. And yet it holds the firm attention of the All-mighty Creator of the Universe.
Living Life
And it is not only the home of humans, but also the dwelling place of thousands upon thousands of different plants, and multitudes of different animals.
As such, our world was placed at just the right distance away from the Sun. It was given the right mixture of gases in its atmosphere, so that essential gases would not escape, or harmful rays or space debris destroy us. It receives just the right mixture of heat from its core as well as heat from the Sun to stay comfortably safe for life on Earth. But our earth is just a smaller feature in our solar system.
Our solar system is but a spec in the Milky Way Galaxy, which is just one of many, many galaxies. There are billions, even trillions of magnificent stars. There are billions, even trillions of magnificent stars. Mike Taylor writes, "Now, Genesis's account of creation is, of course, very much from an Earth-o-centric perspective. But the connotation here... is that the stars were an afterthought! As though God, having made the Earth, then thought to himself, "Oh, OK, we'll have a few thousand million million million stars as well."
Unfortunately, when numbers become too small or too large, they being to lose their meaning. Nonetheless, our world, it would seem, is but an insignificant blip in the grand scheme of the Universe. And yet it holds the firm attention of the All-mighty Creator of the Universe.
Living Life
Just Who Do We Think We Are?
Job is one of the oldest books of the Bible. It primarily focuses on an argument between Job and some of his friends over why Job has suffered the loss of his family, home and possessions. Job's friends claim Job must have done something wrong, and Job insists he is innocent. Eventually God shows up and says, "Just who do you think you are? Can you do what I can? Can you form worlds, take care of the earth, walk in the depths of earth, and make yourself radiate with glory? If you can, show Me. And WHEN you can, THEN we'll talk about how fair I am."
Yet all too often, humanity continues to think too highly of itself. We don't spend enough time coming to terms with how awesome our God truly is. We have come to think that we, who can't even change the color of our hair without some synthetic chemical process, have the right to challenge assumptions. We assume that we possess an individual intellect and moral capacity that rivals that of an eternal and holy God."
God has existed longer than we can imagine. His will is good and sovereign, and He knows what He is doing. Above all, we need to learn to stop second guessing God and just trust because 1)it will never change anything anyways, 2)He's been around a lot longer than us, and 3)He's capable of more than we could ever dream of.
Living Life
Yet all too often, humanity continues to think too highly of itself. We don't spend enough time coming to terms with how awesome our God truly is. We have come to think that we, who can't even change the color of our hair without some synthetic chemical process, have the right to challenge assumptions. We assume that we possess an individual intellect and moral capacity that rivals that of an eternal and holy God."
God has existed longer than we can imagine. His will is good and sovereign, and He knows what He is doing. Above all, we need to learn to stop second guessing God and just trust because 1)it will never change anything anyways, 2)He's been around a lot longer than us, and 3)He's capable of more than we could ever dream of.
Living Life
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Are you an overly defensive dater?
Are you an overly defensive dater?
By Dave Singleton
Ah, if only we all had a mirror to see ourselves when we’re interacting with our dates. Would that tell a story! But is it the same story or a different version that our dates experience?
“I thought I was poker-faced,” says Washingtonian Rachel, 32. “But the last guy I dated asked me how often I see my family, then claimed I shot him a haughty ‘mind your own business’ look. He said he was just asking a simple question. The truth is, I am not close with my family, but thought I hid it pretty well. I guess not.”
Without realizing it, you can come off as overly defensive to your dates. All it takes is one inquiring mind asking about aspects of your life that should be acceptable topics of conversation. Then, what should be an innocuous comment instead sets you off and you bristle for reasons you may not even understand at the time. If you think this might be you, know that the first step in changing such counterproductive behavior is self-awareness. Think back over some of your recent dates. Do any of these common defensive reactions sound familiar?
The “uncomfortable topic” cringe
Are you like Rachel? In other words, does a question about your family make your blood boil? Or does the mere mention of an ex send you into battle mode, ready to defend your relationship behavior and shoot down your date’s? How about that bad day at the office? Trust that if you’re feeling uncomfortable, you’re probably conveying that feeling to your date, too. So make sure you know which topics make you cringe beforehand; that awareness allows you to mentally prepare and answer such questions gracefully with a pre-planned response.
Fearful reactions to both positives and negatives
Defensive traits can really develop from being afraid of, well, anything — rejection, getting hurt, not living up to someone’s expectations, or doing something wrong. Sometimes, it’s not fear of something hurtful, but fear of something good that triggers your defensiveness. Fear of intimacy — a signal you and your date might be moving to a deeper (read: riskier) level in your budding relationship — can make you want to take control of the conversation and shut him or her down.
The “critical assumption” trap
“My parents were very disparaging,” says New Yorker Lisa, 36. “When I was growing up, I felt I could never do anything right.” Lisa’s hot-button topics concern eating, exercise, and work habits. So when her dates innocuously mentioned any of these issues, she overreacted until she realized what was happening and learned to manage her responses better. It’s key to realize those areas where you’re prone to negatively misinterpret a comment from someone who doesn’t know you very well and wrongly assume your date is being judgmental.
Avoiding the truth
“I was chronically late to all my dates with my boyfriend, Matt,” says Marylander Jean, 32. “I usually showed up stressed and blamed either traffic or work. After the fifth time, he asked me to just admit that I was late because I was late. I got mad at him for not understanding, but later realized he was right.” When you deny responsibility or make excuses, your date might assume you’re either missing the truth gene or lacking self-awareness. Neither impression helps nurture a new romantic relationship.
Fight-or-flight syndrome
“My date challenged me about my political stances, and I felt attacked,” says Californian Melanie, 37. “He thought we were having a friendly debate, but I wanted to either argue or walk out.” Melanie’s reaction is a common one for people who feel like they’re being confronted. But overly defensive daters jump to the wrong conclusions more than paratroopers hop out of airplanes, so make sure you’re clear about the difference between a real vs. perceived attack.
Eight tips to help change your behavior
For the sake of your dating success, it’s important to get a handle on overly defensive reactions, especially if you hope to build a successful, long-term relationship. In his book, The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, John Gottman, Ph.D. calls defensive behavior one of the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.” It’s a major cause of relationship distress and can nip your promising dinner date in the bud before you get to dessert, so don’t let that happen! Instead, follow these eight steps for recognizing the warning signs and adjust your “defensive date behavior” now:
1. Understand your personal triggers. Like Rachel, learn what things triggers your defensive reactions. Only you know the issues that will trip your switch; be prepared.
2. Practice your reactions. Once you know what triggers you, practice your response to a potential hot-button question or comment from a date. Breathe; visualize responding easily and without stress.
3. Slow down your response time. When your date says or does something that’s likely to set you off, slow down and avoid replying too quickly if you feel uncomfortable or unsure of yourself. Take a minute to think before you speak.
4. Monitor your defensive behaviors. Keep track of how often you feel defensive during a date and how you typically react. Some people keep a journal to record what was said, how they felt, and how they physically reacted to a defensive dating interaction.
5. Get feedback from a trusted source. Ask your friends to give you feedback on any defensive reactions they’ve noticed in you. What do you typically say? What does your body language indicate? You and your date may not know each other well enough to make such an assessment correctly, so request this information from those who know you best.
6. Pay attention to the rules of body language 101. If you can, try to avoid these visible, non-verbal signs that tell your date you’re definitely feeling defensive:
Frowning
Squirming
Crossing your arms or legs
Raising your eyebrows
Staring unblinkingly for too long
7. Explore the other person’s perspective. When a date sends you into defensive behavior overdrive, don’t automatically defend yourself or try to attack back. Instead, ask questions to understand where your date’s coming from, assess his or her true intentions, and turn your solo defensive moment into a shared bonding experience.
8. Get help if you need it. If you find yourself completely stuck in “overly defensive dater” mode on a particular issue and are unable to control your behavior, consider spending time with a counselor to get at the root of the issue so you can better manage your response when you’re getting to know someone new.
Dave Singleton, an award-winning writer and columnist for Match.com since 2003, is the author of two books on dating and relationships. Send your dating questions and comments to him at Dave@Davesingleton.com.
Quoted: http://yahoo.match.com/cp.aspx?cpp=/cppp/yahoo/article.html&articleid=12233&TrackingID=526103&BannerID=763019
By Dave Singleton
Ah, if only we all had a mirror to see ourselves when we’re interacting with our dates. Would that tell a story! But is it the same story or a different version that our dates experience?
“I thought I was poker-faced,” says Washingtonian Rachel, 32. “But the last guy I dated asked me how often I see my family, then claimed I shot him a haughty ‘mind your own business’ look. He said he was just asking a simple question. The truth is, I am not close with my family, but thought I hid it pretty well. I guess not.”
Without realizing it, you can come off as overly defensive to your dates. All it takes is one inquiring mind asking about aspects of your life that should be acceptable topics of conversation. Then, what should be an innocuous comment instead sets you off and you bristle for reasons you may not even understand at the time. If you think this might be you, know that the first step in changing such counterproductive behavior is self-awareness. Think back over some of your recent dates. Do any of these common defensive reactions sound familiar?
The “uncomfortable topic” cringe
Are you like Rachel? In other words, does a question about your family make your blood boil? Or does the mere mention of an ex send you into battle mode, ready to defend your relationship behavior and shoot down your date’s? How about that bad day at the office? Trust that if you’re feeling uncomfortable, you’re probably conveying that feeling to your date, too. So make sure you know which topics make you cringe beforehand; that awareness allows you to mentally prepare and answer such questions gracefully with a pre-planned response.
Fearful reactions to both positives and negatives
Defensive traits can really develop from being afraid of, well, anything — rejection, getting hurt, not living up to someone’s expectations, or doing something wrong. Sometimes, it’s not fear of something hurtful, but fear of something good that triggers your defensiveness. Fear of intimacy — a signal you and your date might be moving to a deeper (read: riskier) level in your budding relationship — can make you want to take control of the conversation and shut him or her down.
The “critical assumption” trap
“My parents were very disparaging,” says New Yorker Lisa, 36. “When I was growing up, I felt I could never do anything right.” Lisa’s hot-button topics concern eating, exercise, and work habits. So when her dates innocuously mentioned any of these issues, she overreacted until she realized what was happening and learned to manage her responses better. It’s key to realize those areas where you’re prone to negatively misinterpret a comment from someone who doesn’t know you very well and wrongly assume your date is being judgmental.
Avoiding the truth
“I was chronically late to all my dates with my boyfriend, Matt,” says Marylander Jean, 32. “I usually showed up stressed and blamed either traffic or work. After the fifth time, he asked me to just admit that I was late because I was late. I got mad at him for not understanding, but later realized he was right.” When you deny responsibility or make excuses, your date might assume you’re either missing the truth gene or lacking self-awareness. Neither impression helps nurture a new romantic relationship.
Fight-or-flight syndrome
“My date challenged me about my political stances, and I felt attacked,” says Californian Melanie, 37. “He thought we were having a friendly debate, but I wanted to either argue or walk out.” Melanie’s reaction is a common one for people who feel like they’re being confronted. But overly defensive daters jump to the wrong conclusions more than paratroopers hop out of airplanes, so make sure you’re clear about the difference between a real vs. perceived attack.
Eight tips to help change your behavior
For the sake of your dating success, it’s important to get a handle on overly defensive reactions, especially if you hope to build a successful, long-term relationship. In his book, The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, John Gottman, Ph.D. calls defensive behavior one of the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.” It’s a major cause of relationship distress and can nip your promising dinner date in the bud before you get to dessert, so don’t let that happen! Instead, follow these eight steps for recognizing the warning signs and adjust your “defensive date behavior” now:
1. Understand your personal triggers. Like Rachel, learn what things triggers your defensive reactions. Only you know the issues that will trip your switch; be prepared.
2. Practice your reactions. Once you know what triggers you, practice your response to a potential hot-button question or comment from a date. Breathe; visualize responding easily and without stress.
3. Slow down your response time. When your date says or does something that’s likely to set you off, slow down and avoid replying too quickly if you feel uncomfortable or unsure of yourself. Take a minute to think before you speak.
4. Monitor your defensive behaviors. Keep track of how often you feel defensive during a date and how you typically react. Some people keep a journal to record what was said, how they felt, and how they physically reacted to a defensive dating interaction.
5. Get feedback from a trusted source. Ask your friends to give you feedback on any defensive reactions they’ve noticed in you. What do you typically say? What does your body language indicate? You and your date may not know each other well enough to make such an assessment correctly, so request this information from those who know you best.
6. Pay attention to the rules of body language 101. If you can, try to avoid these visible, non-verbal signs that tell your date you’re definitely feeling defensive:
Frowning
Squirming
Crossing your arms or legs
Raising your eyebrows
Staring unblinkingly for too long
7. Explore the other person’s perspective. When a date sends you into defensive behavior overdrive, don’t automatically defend yourself or try to attack back. Instead, ask questions to understand where your date’s coming from, assess his or her true intentions, and turn your solo defensive moment into a shared bonding experience.
8. Get help if you need it. If you find yourself completely stuck in “overly defensive dater” mode on a particular issue and are unable to control your behavior, consider spending time with a counselor to get at the root of the issue so you can better manage your response when you’re getting to know someone new.
Dave Singleton, an award-winning writer and columnist for Match.com since 2003, is the author of two books on dating and relationships. Send your dating questions and comments to him at Dave@Davesingleton.com.
Quoted: http://yahoo.match.com/cp.aspx?cpp=/cppp/yahoo/article.html&articleid=12233&TrackingID=526103&BannerID=763019
Saturday, June 25, 2011
All-Powerful Grace
Every Christian has come to the understanding that we need to be saved. Our sins weighed down on us, and there is one punishment for sinning; eternal death in heal. Some people, through varying circumstances, have come to realize that their sins are/were a heavy burden, and they are the more thankful to Christ for saving them from their deserved judgment.
But modern Christians, though we experience and appreciate grace, have come to devalue grace. Grace may wash away our sins, but we don't fully appreciate the penalty for our sins, or how deep the stain of sin goes. Grace, especially in a modern, western world, often comes cheaply. We might sin, and then feel bad about it, but thanks to our relationship with Christ, we know that ultimately God will forgive us for whatever we have done. Christians tend to fall into one of two traps in our faith: either Christians tend to lean too heavily on keeping the law and therefore become legalistic (which undermines grace) or people lean too heavily on the promise of forgiveness and continue in sin (which undervalues grace). Arthur Pink says, "It is His own sovereign and all-powerful work of grace toward and in those who are entirely destitute of merit, and who are so depraved in themselves that they will not and cannot take one step to the obtaining of salvation! Those who have been actually saved, owe far more to divine grave, than most of them realize."
Grace is not cheap, and it truly does require an all-powerful God to work out grace in our lives. After all, God does not only offer grace for us, but for all of humanity.
Living Life
But modern Christians, though we experience and appreciate grace, have come to devalue grace. Grace may wash away our sins, but we don't fully appreciate the penalty for our sins, or how deep the stain of sin goes. Grace, especially in a modern, western world, often comes cheaply. We might sin, and then feel bad about it, but thanks to our relationship with Christ, we know that ultimately God will forgive us for whatever we have done. Christians tend to fall into one of two traps in our faith: either Christians tend to lean too heavily on keeping the law and therefore become legalistic (which undermines grace) or people lean too heavily on the promise of forgiveness and continue in sin (which undervalues grace). Arthur Pink says, "It is His own sovereign and all-powerful work of grace toward and in those who are entirely destitute of merit, and who are so depraved in themselves that they will not and cannot take one step to the obtaining of salvation! Those who have been actually saved, owe far more to divine grave, than most of them realize."
Grace is not cheap, and it truly does require an all-powerful God to work out grace in our lives. After all, God does not only offer grace for us, but for all of humanity.
Living Life
The Power of Christ's Name
Everything about God is powerful, even His very name. The name of Jesus has had a huge impact on our society. Even from the very beginning, God has declared that His name is sacred, which is why the fourth commandment states that God's name must not be misused, as seen in Deuteronomy 5:11.
By the name of Jesus demons can be cast out, people can be saved, and the sick can be healed. Jesus Himself had power to do these things while here on Earth. But when Jesus ascended back up to heaven, He sent us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can (as deemed appropriate by God) enable us to do the very things that Christ did.
Men and women still claim these abilities today, but the skepticism of the world has divided Christians on what they will believe and what they will accept. Nonetheless, even if modern Christian can't agree on what is and isn't applicable to the church today, we all still have solid proof of the power of Jesus' name as seen in the New Testament. Acts 3:6 is just one example where the power found in the name of Christ heals a man, as described by John MacDuff:
"[A] helpless cripple, at the all-powerful name of "JESUS OF NAZARTEH, cast aside his crutches, rose from his couch of miserable helplessness, with strength in his powerless limb, and praise on his long-sealed lips."
Jesus' all-mighty name brings healing to the helpless. The cripple described in this biblical account was not looking to made whole. He simply wanted some change so that he might find his next meal. Then he encountered the power of Christ, through a simple prayer and the faithfulness of Peter and John.
Living Life
By the name of Jesus demons can be cast out, people can be saved, and the sick can be healed. Jesus Himself had power to do these things while here on Earth. But when Jesus ascended back up to heaven, He sent us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can (as deemed appropriate by God) enable us to do the very things that Christ did.
Men and women still claim these abilities today, but the skepticism of the world has divided Christians on what they will believe and what they will accept. Nonetheless, even if modern Christian can't agree on what is and isn't applicable to the church today, we all still have solid proof of the power of Jesus' name as seen in the New Testament. Acts 3:6 is just one example where the power found in the name of Christ heals a man, as described by John MacDuff:
"[A] helpless cripple, at the all-powerful name of "JESUS OF NAZARTEH, cast aside his crutches, rose from his couch of miserable helplessness, with strength in his powerless limb, and praise on his long-sealed lips."
Jesus' all-mighty name brings healing to the helpless. The cripple described in this biblical account was not looking to made whole. He simply wanted some change so that he might find his next meal. Then he encountered the power of Christ, through a simple prayer and the faithfulness of Peter and John.
Living Life
How Much Do Sins Weigh?
Human relations can be exhausting work. Whether it is playing with kids, working in customer service, or counseling people stuck in difficult circumstances, there is a certain amount of stress that comes with dealing with people. Everyone makes mistakes, and sometimes even really good people make very, very stupid mistakes.
Through human relations, we learn to carry the burden of others. As we learn to communicate with our hearts, we learn to lift others up and support others in difficult circumstances. While this is possible with a few close people, this objective becomes increasingly more difficult with even just a few more people.
Consider then what Jesus did on the cross. Christ put the entire weight of humanities sins on His back. People estimate that somewhere between 50 billion and 100 billion people have been born on this earth to date. Yet Christ died for each and every one of them. Christ put the weight of the sins of 50billion + people on His shoulders. And Christ will continue to offer that, and more, for those who come after us. This might be a problem for future generations if God was limited in power. Thankfully, our God has unlimited power, love and grace.
J.R. miller states, "God is strong, omnipotent. We need not fear that His power to keep us will ever fail. There never is a moment when He is not able to sustain us. When the question is asked, 'From whence shall my help come?' the answer is, 'My help comes from Jehovah, who made heaven and earth!' He who made all the worlds and keeps them all in being - can surely bear up one little human life and protect it from harm
Living Life
Through human relations, we learn to carry the burden of others. As we learn to communicate with our hearts, we learn to lift others up and support others in difficult circumstances. While this is possible with a few close people, this objective becomes increasingly more difficult with even just a few more people.
Consider then what Jesus did on the cross. Christ put the entire weight of humanities sins on His back. People estimate that somewhere between 50 billion and 100 billion people have been born on this earth to date. Yet Christ died for each and every one of them. Christ put the weight of the sins of 50billion + people on His shoulders. And Christ will continue to offer that, and more, for those who come after us. This might be a problem for future generations if God was limited in power. Thankfully, our God has unlimited power, love and grace.
J.R. miller states, "God is strong, omnipotent. We need not fear that His power to keep us will ever fail. There never is a moment when He is not able to sustain us. When the question is asked, 'From whence shall my help come?' the answer is, 'My help comes from Jehovah, who made heaven and earth!' He who made all the worlds and keeps them all in being - can surely bear up one little human life and protect it from harm
Living Life
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
The Almighty Armor of God
God almighty power has many implications in our lives. It means that He is capable of bringing us up out of disasters, and it means that we can cast all our worries and troubles and problems on Him. It means that God is capable of forgiving every sin, and rescuing us from temptation. But the implications of Christ's love and power go even further. Christ's love and power not only rescue us again and again from attack, but they protect us from future attacks.
1 Thessalonians 5:8 says, "But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet." God's love and power are meant to literally cover us like armor. Just as an armor plate would protect our physical bodies from harm, God's love protects our spiritual bodies. Our hope of salvation in our omnipotent creator is what keeps our minds safe from the attacks of the enemy. John Angell James observes, "Satan may be, is, powerful, more powerful than we imagine - but God is all-powerful...God lends you His almightiness. Go to the field not only as warriors and heroes- but as God-prompted, Got sustained men."
God the Spirit dwells in us, and therefore we have access to the all-mighty power of God. Regardless of how powerful our adversaries are, God is the MOST powerful, and it is He who protects us. When we realize this, we will lose our fear of the world, and live whole-heartedly for Christ.
Living Life
1 Thessalonians 5:8 says, "But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet." God's love and power are meant to literally cover us like armor. Just as an armor plate would protect our physical bodies from harm, God's love protects our spiritual bodies. Our hope of salvation in our omnipotent creator is what keeps our minds safe from the attacks of the enemy. John Angell James observes, "Satan may be, is, powerful, more powerful than we imagine - but God is all-powerful...God lends you His almightiness. Go to the field not only as warriors and heroes- but as God-prompted, Got sustained men."
God the Spirit dwells in us, and therefore we have access to the all-mighty power of God. Regardless of how powerful our adversaries are, God is the MOST powerful, and it is He who protects us. When we realize this, we will lose our fear of the world, and live whole-heartedly for Christ.
Living Life
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Letting God of Self-Confidence
The world tells us that it is important to be confident in who you are. Know who you are. Know what your strengths and weakness are. Don't be afraid to try anything new, and don't be ashamed of who you are or where you come from. This seems like great advice, so what's the problem?
The world tells us that self-confidence is good, but it also neglects to mention the existence of God. God is very real, and it is in Him that we should be finding our source of confidence in this world. The problem with self-confidence is that it can easily lead to pride, and God does not like pride. God does not call us to be consumed by guilt, or to minimize our talents or experiences. He does, however, want and demand glory. Every gift we have is from God. When we start to forget this, God intervenes. John Piper says, "God's first great design in all our trouble is that we might let go of self-confidence. When we do that, there is a temporary sense of falling. But by faith in God's mercy, we land, infinitely more secure, in the arms of our Father, who is utterly in control at the brink of life and death."
Our God is our Rock, our Foundation, and our Fortress. He will not be moved. In Him, we are eternally (both now, and in the future) completely secure. Finding security in God means letting go of our security on Earth, and that requires a leap of faith. So we are presented with a choice: stay in an empty, deteriorating world, or vault into the all-powerful arms of God?
Living Life
The world tells us that self-confidence is good, but it also neglects to mention the existence of God. God is very real, and it is in Him that we should be finding our source of confidence in this world. The problem with self-confidence is that it can easily lead to pride, and God does not like pride. God does not call us to be consumed by guilt, or to minimize our talents or experiences. He does, however, want and demand glory. Every gift we have is from God. When we start to forget this, God intervenes. John Piper says, "God's first great design in all our trouble is that we might let go of self-confidence. When we do that, there is a temporary sense of falling. But by faith in God's mercy, we land, infinitely more secure, in the arms of our Father, who is utterly in control at the brink of life and death."
Our God is our Rock, our Foundation, and our Fortress. He will not be moved. In Him, we are eternally (both now, and in the future) completely secure. Finding security in God means letting go of our security on Earth, and that requires a leap of faith. So we are presented with a choice: stay in an empty, deteriorating world, or vault into the all-powerful arms of God?
Living Life
Omnipotent Rescuer
The end of the world is coming. We live in a physical world, and as such, this world is bound bu finite laws. This world, and this current Universe, will not last forever. But the ultimate fate of the Universe and everything in it is in the hands of God. God created the heavens and the earth, and bu His hand, they will pass away.
This present earth will be destroyed by fire, according to 2 Peter 3:7, but long ago it was destroyed by water. Only one family witnessed the destruction of the entire earth and survived through it: Noah and his family. Noah's story can be found in Genesis 6-9. It emphasizes that the world had become so corrupt and wicked, that God sought to destroy the entire Earth on the account of men's wicked ways, yet Noah was saved for his righteousness. Lewis Bayly says, "His personal description stands in the end of ver, 9; 'Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations; and Noah walked with God,' where we find him honored with three noble attributes, which make up the character of a complete Christian - honesty, uprightness, and piety. And they received much excellency and luster from a circumstance of time; 'In his generations,' which are manly and mainly corrupt."
This accounts depicts the almighty power of our God in two ways. It demonstrates how God is fully capable to bring ultimate judgement on the ungodly. But even in the midst of absolute judgment, God still rescued Noah from doom. As 2 Peter 2:9 demonstrates, "If this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment."
Living Life
This present earth will be destroyed by fire, according to 2 Peter 3:7, but long ago it was destroyed by water. Only one family witnessed the destruction of the entire earth and survived through it: Noah and his family. Noah's story can be found in Genesis 6-9. It emphasizes that the world had become so corrupt and wicked, that God sought to destroy the entire Earth on the account of men's wicked ways, yet Noah was saved for his righteousness. Lewis Bayly says, "His personal description stands in the end of ver, 9; 'Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations; and Noah walked with God,' where we find him honored with three noble attributes, which make up the character of a complete Christian - honesty, uprightness, and piety. And they received much excellency and luster from a circumstance of time; 'In his generations,' which are manly and mainly corrupt."
This accounts depicts the almighty power of our God in two ways. It demonstrates how God is fully capable to bring ultimate judgement on the ungodly. But even in the midst of absolute judgment, God still rescued Noah from doom. As 2 Peter 2:9 demonstrates, "If this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment."
Living Life
Saturday, June 18, 2011
The Sovereignty of God and Comfort
Tragedies in life are difficult to deal with, regardless of who we are. Unexpectedly losing a loved one tears at our soul. Finding out about terminal cancer, or perhaps that our livelihood has been stolen from us, can make us feel numb and hollow.
We serve an awesome, all-powerful God. We know this, and as we walk with God, we come to understand this more and more. When times are difficult for us, we can turn to our awesome God for love, comfort and support. But this is not true for our unbelieving friends.
There will always be people in our lives who do not know Christ, and it is our objective to always point them to Christ. But most importantly, we want to direct them to meaningful relationships with Christ. We will never convince someone to come to Christ on our own accord (that is the job of the Holy Spirit), and we certainly do not have any quota to meet. Regardless of religious affiliation, people should never be treated like a product. The Desiring God staff writes, "As lovers of an all-powerful God, let us be prepared to love people in their pain empathetically and mercifully pointing them to a God who is in control."
Pain... hurts. If we are trying to move in someone's life without being empathetic to their situation, then we need to check ourselves and our motivation. Above all, we have been told to love God and to love others. Our mission is not to manipulate others when they are vulnerable, but to lovingly, mercifully, and empathetically direct them to Almighty God.
Living Life
We serve an awesome, all-powerful God. We know this, and as we walk with God, we come to understand this more and more. When times are difficult for us, we can turn to our awesome God for love, comfort and support. But this is not true for our unbelieving friends.
There will always be people in our lives who do not know Christ, and it is our objective to always point them to Christ. But most importantly, we want to direct them to meaningful relationships with Christ. We will never convince someone to come to Christ on our own accord (that is the job of the Holy Spirit), and we certainly do not have any quota to meet. Regardless of religious affiliation, people should never be treated like a product. The Desiring God staff writes, "As lovers of an all-powerful God, let us be prepared to love people in their pain empathetically and mercifully pointing them to a God who is in control."
Pain... hurts. If we are trying to move in someone's life without being empathetic to their situation, then we need to check ourselves and our motivation. Above all, we have been told to love God and to love others. Our mission is not to manipulate others when they are vulnerable, but to lovingly, mercifully, and empathetically direct them to Almighty God.
Living Life
Friday, June 17, 2011
10 Beauty Moves Guys Find Sexy.
10 Beauty Moves Guys Find Sexy
We asked, they spilled. Real guys dish about what they find sexiest in their mates. We bet some of their turn-ons surprise you!
1) When You Bare It All
Did you know that the average American woman spends almost $200 a year on her makeup? That's a shocking $13,000 spent over her lifetime. And the kicker: Our guys actually prefer our skin sans accompaniment.
"I love how she looks when she first wakes up, " says Keith, 36, of his fiancée, April. "Fresh, clean, natural. I hate when she piles on that cakey eye stuff. She still looks good, but she just doesn't look as much like herself."
Chris, 23, concurs. "I was actually drawn to [my girlfriend] Stephanie because she didn't wear makeup. She didn't really look like she was trying to be noticed. That was cool, you know?"
"She's never as gorgeous as she is just out of the shower," says Daniel, 30, of his wife, Gina. "When she’s all natural, scrubbed clean, and walking around in a towel — man, I love that. I actually proposed to her in that towel!"
"I absolutely hate lip gloss," says Taylor, 21. "My girlfriend's always trying to kiss me with it on, and it's so sticky! Seriously, why do you ladies like that stuff?"
"Lip gloss is the worst," says Taylor’s friend Rand, 22. "I can never get it off my face! It completely takes the romance out of kissing because I keep thinking about how annoying it is."
2) Your Belly
If you're like most of us, you've probably lost count of the millions of hours you've spent doing ab exercises. And that's the good news. The bad news? Turns out guys don't actually care as much as we think they do.
"I love her stomach!" says Derke, 30, of his wife, Lita. "It's too round," she protests. He maintains that it's "perfect. She's soft and feminine and I love that her body just fits with mine."
"[My wife] Irene's soft and curvy, and I love that about her," says William, 40.
"She's got all the right goods in all the right places," says Jermaine, 35, of the "significant lady" in his life. "As far as I'm concerned, there's a reason they call 'em 'love handles!'"
"I'm not perfect, so I definitely don’t expect [my girlfriend] Cate to be," says Ben, 29. "I love her, all of her, physically and mentally; I'm sure I would still love her if she dropped 10 pounds or dyed her hair pink, but I think she's exceptional just the way she is."
"She's only gotten more lovely with age," says Henry, 81, of his wife Edith. "Neither one of us have the bodies we used to, but I love each wrinkle and stretch mark. They're a testament to the life we've shared together. I didn't fall in love with her because she looked like Ava Gardner (which she did); I fell in love with her because she was the sweetest girl in the world, and that hasn’t changed in over 50 years of marriage."
3) When You Do That Thing You Do
One person's garbage is someone else's treasure. Let me put it another way: The right guy is going to find your weird habits absolutely adorable.
"She sings completely off-key," says Ivan, 38, of his wife, Rachele. "It's so endearing. When she sings in the shower, it's a beautiful, terrible symphony that never fails to make me smile."
"My girlfriend has a habit of twirling her hair that used to drive me up the wall," says Colin, 21. "Once we were dating a while, though, I realized that she only does it when she's deep in thought. Now it's really cute!"
"She leaves her bras everywhere," Phillip, 31, says about his wife, Helene. "On door handles, over the shower rod — I even found one on the coat rack once. It used to drive me crazy, but when she pointed out that I leave my [dirty] socks everywhere, I realized we're two peas in a pod."
"[My girlfriend] Tiffany and I have completely opposite tastes in music," says Sam, 22. "I'm more Talking Heads than Lady Gaga per se, but even though I only go to pop concerts with her to be supportive, I like that our separate interests mean we're both exposed to stuff we otherwise wouldn't be interested in knowing anything about."
"She has a knowledge of celebrity culture that is completely beyond me," says Pat, 24, of his girlfriend, Caroline. "I never know (or care about) anything that's going on in Hollywood, but she's can go on for hours about who's dating whom, and who just broke up with that guy from that movie, and what the new hit spots are. I think it's cute though; I mean, that's her thing, just like rugby is mine. We all need our own things; it's what keeps things spicy."
4) When You Toss the Dryer
"Amy refuses to leave the house without stick-straight hair," says Steve, 23, of his naturally curly-haired girlfriend. "It's ridiculous! Every day, she spends hours in the bathroom using that straightener thing. I wish she'd leave it curly, at least a few days a week."
We're pretty sure that the "straightener thing" Steve was referring to is a flatiron, and we're even more sure that he's echoing the sentiment of many more guys out there: We like your hair just the way it is!
"This one's spent hundreds, no, thousands, of dollars on relaxers, extensions, perms, and color jobs over the years," says Clement, 45, of his wife, Cherie. "You name it, she's tried it. But eventually, she came to realize what I'd known all along: that she was blessed with beautiful hair naturally."
"Her hair was, honest to God, bright yellow," says Jason, 42, of a bad dye his wife had a few years ago. "I mean, it really looked terrible — like a highlighter. After that, she stopped coloring her hair, and I think she's never looked better."
"[My girlfriend] Danielle's got really thick hair," says Steve, 30. "She's probably in the bathroom about two hours every day, just working on her hair. Which is fine, except she thinks it only takes her about 30 minutes, so when we're running late for something and she says, 'Oh, I'm just going to hop in the shower and do my hair real quick,' it's frustrating. Every hair does not have to be perfect, woman!"
5) Your Eyelashes
"I love her eyes," says Trevor, 46. "Sometimes she looks at me under her lashes and it makes me want to head straight to the bedroom!"
"Right now, her eyelashes look so fluffy, says Derek, 24, who didn't know that his girlfriend was wearing falsies at the time. "Her eyes are one of her best features, so I love that her lashes make my attention goes straight there."
"Her eyelashes? Yeah, they're ridiculous," says Seth, 26, of his girlfriend's notoriously long lashes. "I actually noticed them right off the bat when we first met. She knows how to use them, too! She just looks at me, and I'm like, 'Okay, what do you want?'"
"His girlfriend's lashes are incredible," says Seth's friend Vik, also 26. "I’ve gotta get me a girl like that."
6) Your Legs
This one's a no-brainer, ladies: big ones, small ones, short ones, long ones, they're all good as far as the menfolk are concerned.
"They're so smooth!" says James, 26, of his girlfriend Sarah's legs. "I love the way they feel. And when she wears heels? Forget about it. Her legs are insane."
"I'm a leg man myself," says David, 43. "I can't resist my wife when she crosses and uncrosses her legs. She knows it, too!"
"Why do I like women's legs? I'm not sure I have a good answer," says Nate, 32. "I just do. They're elegant, you know? And smooth! Women always have such smooth legs, and, as a guy, I guess I'm attracted to things that are different, that I don't have, if that makes sense. It's why I like boobs, too — cause I don't have them!"
"Oh, I'm definitely a leg man," says Lars, 51. "I don't even care what the rest of her looks like, but if a woman has a nice pair of legs, I'm down for the count. Hey, your legs are pretty good. How about it?" he propositions this reporter. "You could be wife number three!"
No thanks, Lars. But, we do hear you, lads. If wielded the right way, a woman's legs can be a powerful weapon. Our advice? Take care of your legs, and they'll take care of you.
7) Your Style
Time to break out the feathers, bright nail polish, and all those other trends you love, because, fashionable or not, nothing makes you sexier than you being you.
"Sandy has a style that's completely her own," says Dennis, 51, of his wife of 27 years. "She's always been a free spirit, and I love that she wears crazy hats and dresses over pants."
Patrick, 33, loves that his wife wears her bright red hair in a spiky pixie cut and refuses to wear high heels. "She knows what works for her, and I love that!" he says. "She used to do ballet, so she said after years of being up on her toes, she's going to wear flats from now on. Honestly? I don't care. She'll always be sexy to me, no matter what she wears or how she looks."
"I'm pretty subdued, so it was a real change to date someone who dresses more flamboyantly," says Mike, 44, of his girlfriend Eva's recent birthday outfit: a sequined, backless dress, feathered hair-piece, and hot pink crocodile booties. "I love it, though. It's always a reflection of her personality, and she always looks amazing."
When Robert, 47, showed up for a blind date with Maggie, he wasn't expecting to be meeting the girl in the Shakespearean garb. "She worked at a nearby Renaissance fair, and had just gotten off work," he said. "At first I thought it was weird, but then I was like, 'Okay, yeah, this girl is awesome!'" That was seven years ago, and the couple got engaged two years ago. "She actually totally got me into the Renaissance fair circuit," he says, "and I love it!"
Related: Decode His Compliments
8) Your Scent
"I don't know how she does it, but she always smells delicious," says Brent, 29, of his girlfriend, Cate. "Even when she just gets out of the shower!"
"I love inhaling her right here," says Damien, 35, pointing to the area of his girlfriend Veronica's neck right under her ear, where she says she applies Burberry's The Beat perfume every morning. "She smells amazing, all sexy and soft."
Mike, 30, loves his fiancée Nadine's Jo Malone Vanilla & Anise perfume. "All her stuff smells like it," he says. "I love when I wake up and she's gone, I can still smell it on her pillow."
Tyler, 26, says his girlfriend "asked for a bottle of Stellanude by Stella McCarthy for her birthday, and now I know why. She smells incredible in it. It's seriously like an aphrodisiac for me. All I can think about is her wearing nothing except that perfume."
Related: Scents to Get You Through Every Situation
9) When You Ask for What You Want
"Take it from me," says Dean, 45. "The key to a successful relationship is for the woman to go into every situation assuming that her mate is dense. Like me and my wife. I don't get subtleties. Our relationship improved ten times when she finally stopped implying things she wanted and started asking straight out."
"My wife's pretty bossy," says Peter, 67. "But that can be a good thing. At least I know what she wants!"
"I'm not a mind reader!" says Mike, 25. "I'll be honest — I rarely know exactly why my girl's frustrated or mad at me. We finally had it out, and she realized she needs to be more open with me."
"My one complaint about my [new] girlfriend is that I wish she would speak up more about what she needs and wants from me...sexually speaking," says Adam, 34. "She's shy and kinda self-conscious maybe, which is fine, but I'm never sure if I'm doing what she wants me to do."
"I think directness [in bed] is sexy," says Jake, 28. "When a woman takes charge, it takes the pressure off of me and lets me relax and enjoy the ride."
"Nothing's more of a turn-on for me than when my girlfriend tells me what to do in bed," says Xavier, 36.
Moral of the story: In bed and out, make sure your guy knows what you like — how will he find out otherwise?
Related: Beauty Moves to Get You Both in the Mood
10) Your Job
"My wife used to be a professor of women's studies," says Al, 72. "I love that her longtime passion about women's rights helped her find a job where she was able to help others appreciate themselves better and fight for their rights."
"Maybe this sounds silly," says Garrison, 42, "but I find my wife sexiest when she puts on her power suit before a big meeting. I don't know — maybe it's the fact that it reflects how smart and capable and passionate she about her career, but that suit does the trick better than any French maid costume."
"She works in an elementary school," says Samuel, 49, of his wife, Annie. "I love watching her with her kids. It's absolutely amazing to see the way they respond to her. And when I see how fulfilled she is in her career, I'm just so happy to have married a beauty with brains, too."
"My girlfriend's in public relations," says Hector, 26, "which is something I know nothing about, but it's very cool to watch her at work — she's always on the go. I really admire her and everything that she's done. She came to America when she was 14, and went on to graduate from an Ivy League school and have a really successful career. Is that a turn-on? Definitely. I love that she's smart!"
Quoted: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/10-beauty-moves-guys-find-sexy-2496924/
Power over Our Hearts
We are wretch, awful people. Sometimes, it is necessary for us to view ourselves in this light, because it helps us avoid pride. This attitude helps us come before God in humility. After all, James 4:6 says, "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but show favor to the humble.'" There is benefit in being humble.
However, there are times when we feel overwhelmed by our sin. We know what we should be doing, we know how we should be acting, and we are not living up to the standard that Christ has set before us. We become burdened by our sin, and we allow that burden to taint how we view ourselves. Instead of living humbly under the freedom banner of Christ, we become disgusted with ourselves and hide in the filth of our sin while increasing the mounds of self-pity around us. Nonetheless, we can still turn to our almighty God, who is capable of lifting us out of any pit of sin or self-pity. J.C. Philpot say, "When we feel the power of sin, the tyranny of our vile lusts and passions, and what our nature is capable of it left to its own will and way - how sweet and suitable is the promise, ' You will again have compassion on us; You will subdue our iniquities and hurl all our sins into the depths of the sea!' Micah 7:19."
Our sin has been conquered once and for all by Christ. Regardless of how our hearts feel, or how our hearts condemn us (1 John 3:20), Christ has hurled every last sin we have committed, as well as the ones we will commit far from us. So says our Almighty God.
Living Life
However, there are times when we feel overwhelmed by our sin. We know what we should be doing, we know how we should be acting, and we are not living up to the standard that Christ has set before us. We become burdened by our sin, and we allow that burden to taint how we view ourselves. Instead of living humbly under the freedom banner of Christ, we become disgusted with ourselves and hide in the filth of our sin while increasing the mounds of self-pity around us. Nonetheless, we can still turn to our almighty God, who is capable of lifting us out of any pit of sin or self-pity. J.C. Philpot say, "When we feel the power of sin, the tyranny of our vile lusts and passions, and what our nature is capable of it left to its own will and way - how sweet and suitable is the promise, ' You will again have compassion on us; You will subdue our iniquities and hurl all our sins into the depths of the sea!' Micah 7:19."
Our sin has been conquered once and for all by Christ. Regardless of how our hearts feel, or how our hearts condemn us (1 John 3:20), Christ has hurled every last sin we have committed, as well as the ones we will commit far from us. So says our Almighty God.
Living Life
I AM: In Control
Jesus is always in control. There is no circumstance that exists without His knowledge or without God's approval. We might not always understand our circumstances, or how our different situations will work out, but we need to learn to rest in God and trust Him.
Consider the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Throughout the course of Jesus' ministry on earth, Christ made enemies. While many people flocked to Him to hear His message of salvation, not everyone liked what He had to say, John 8:58-59, for example, states one instance in which Jewish leaders tried to stone Jesus.
Jesus evaded these men here, but at the appointed time, Jesus handed Himself over to the very people who wanted Him dead. Jesus was forced to endure on of the most painful death imaginable, and was buried a dead man. It would seem that at this point, Jesus' enemies have won. The 12 apostles themselves were overcome with despair, and in their grief they returned to their original life. Yet through it all, God was in control. William Plumer says, "It is true that both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together; but it was for to do whatever God's hand and God's counsel determined before to be done. Acts 4:27,28. No power had they against Jesus except as the Almighty lengthened their chain."
We happen to have the benefit of time. We know that Christ rose victoriously to life again. Furthermore, we know that we too, will be raised victoriously through Christ in glorious bodies. Therefore, if our ultimate destination is victory and glory, we should easily be able to trust God with everything in between, because God is in complete control over everything.
Living Life
Consider the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Throughout the course of Jesus' ministry on earth, Christ made enemies. While many people flocked to Him to hear His message of salvation, not everyone liked what He had to say, John 8:58-59, for example, states one instance in which Jewish leaders tried to stone Jesus.
Jesus evaded these men here, but at the appointed time, Jesus handed Himself over to the very people who wanted Him dead. Jesus was forced to endure on of the most painful death imaginable, and was buried a dead man. It would seem that at this point, Jesus' enemies have won. The 12 apostles themselves were overcome with despair, and in their grief they returned to their original life. Yet through it all, God was in control. William Plumer says, "It is true that both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together; but it was for to do whatever God's hand and God's counsel determined before to be done. Acts 4:27,28. No power had they against Jesus except as the Almighty lengthened their chain."
We happen to have the benefit of time. We know that Christ rose victoriously to life again. Furthermore, we know that we too, will be raised victoriously through Christ in glorious bodies. Therefore, if our ultimate destination is victory and glory, we should easily be able to trust God with everything in between, because God is in complete control over everything.
Living Life
Our Meek, Almighty God
How can a good, all-powerful God allow evil to exist? If god was really good, why would He let us suffer? If God was really all-powerful, why doesn't He stop evil from happening?
The problem with these questions is that they assume that evil is a thing. For example, darkness is not a thing; it is an absence of light. If you want to make a room darker, you simply remove or block light. Cold, too, is not a thing, but it just the absence of heat or energy. In this same way, evil is the lack of good.
God never created an evil world or evil people. As Genesis 1 tell us, God created a good world, and He gave humanity free will. Greg Johnson contends, "Human beings are capable of great beauty and kindness, but also great evil. Children are cute, but selfish. Adults are smart, but manipulative. This Bible accounts for both the glory and the same of being human. We're God's image, but an image marred and distorted by our divorce from our Creator."
God made us good, but we chose, and continue to choose, to rebel. If God decided to wipe evil from the face of then planet, every one of us would be eradicated, because we are all evil. So, instead of destroying humanity, God decided to redeem it.
Evil exists, because we exist, and God loves us too much to destroy us all. Humans do commit terrible crimes and atrocities, but our God is the omnipotent judge. Every action will be accounted for. God is confident in who He is and what He is capable of, and so He meekly (meekness = strength under control) lets us follow the desires of our heart.
Living Life
The problem with these questions is that they assume that evil is a thing. For example, darkness is not a thing; it is an absence of light. If you want to make a room darker, you simply remove or block light. Cold, too, is not a thing, but it just the absence of heat or energy. In this same way, evil is the lack of good.
God never created an evil world or evil people. As Genesis 1 tell us, God created a good world, and He gave humanity free will. Greg Johnson contends, "Human beings are capable of great beauty and kindness, but also great evil. Children are cute, but selfish. Adults are smart, but manipulative. This Bible accounts for both the glory and the same of being human. We're God's image, but an image marred and distorted by our divorce from our Creator."
God made us good, but we chose, and continue to choose, to rebel. If God decided to wipe evil from the face of then planet, every one of us would be eradicated, because we are all evil. So, instead of destroying humanity, God decided to redeem it.
Evil exists, because we exist, and God loves us too much to destroy us all. Humans do commit terrible crimes and atrocities, but our God is the omnipotent judge. Every action will be accounted for. God is confident in who He is and what He is capable of, and so He meekly (meekness = strength under control) lets us follow the desires of our heart.
Living Life
Upsetting the Almighty God
When we are saved, we experience freedom and forgiveness from our sins for the first time. However, accepting Christ as our Lord is not the end of our spiritual journey. Finding salvation should prompt us to go and tell others how to be saved. We should be thankful for the gift we have received, and it would be crazy to try and keep the gift of salvation to ourselves. But, there should be another motivating factor for us to go out and evangelize as well. Death is severe, and it needs to be treated seriously.
When someone dies, there are only two possibilities: that person will either go to heaven, or that person will go to hell. Upon dying, there are no longer any more chances to accept or reject God. Once someone dies, there is no longer any chance to be saved by the grace of God, if they have not already been saved.
"When the gospel takes root in our souls it awakens us to the horrible reality of eternal suffering in hell, under the wrath of a just and omnipotent God. And it impels us to rescue the perishing, and to warn people to flee from the wrath to come."
Typically, people are drawn to God because of the love and comfort He provides. But this does not change His just nature. God has every right to be furious with those who stubbornly reject Him and His statutes. Because God is omnipotent. He is capable of unleashing His unlimited power in the form of judgment on these people.
We should then evangelize for two reasons: to share about Christ limitless love in our own lives, but also to warn people of the consequences of upsetting the Almighty God.
Living Life
When someone dies, there are only two possibilities: that person will either go to heaven, or that person will go to hell. Upon dying, there are no longer any more chances to accept or reject God. Once someone dies, there is no longer any chance to be saved by the grace of God, if they have not already been saved.
"When the gospel takes root in our souls it awakens us to the horrible reality of eternal suffering in hell, under the wrath of a just and omnipotent God. And it impels us to rescue the perishing, and to warn people to flee from the wrath to come."
Typically, people are drawn to God because of the love and comfort He provides. But this does not change His just nature. God has every right to be furious with those who stubbornly reject Him and His statutes. Because God is omnipotent. He is capable of unleashing His unlimited power in the form of judgment on these people.
We should then evangelize for two reasons: to share about Christ limitless love in our own lives, but also to warn people of the consequences of upsetting the Almighty God.
Living Life
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Uncertainity Requires Almight God
Wouldn't it be nice if everything was perfect? Wouldn't it be nice if life was stable and constant, and you always knew what was coming and what to expect? We all know that life isn't this way but wouldn't it be nice if it was?
At first glance, this would seem to be true. However, if life was perfect and predictable, we would have no need to develop our relationship with God. If our lives were perfect, we would have no need to rust God with important decisions, because there would never be any uncertainty.
Difficult situations full of uncertainty force us to trust God, and to believe that He really does know best. So when God takes us through trials, we learn that we really can trust God.
Dave Harvey suggests, "God delights to put us in this position because it postures us to depend on Him and to exercise faith towards Him. It's how He rescues us from the misplaced security that is such a consuming distraction in the postmodern world."
God is greater than we are, and He is capable of far more that we will ever be able to accomplish. However, we will never know this is true of God, if we aren't to accomplish. However, we will never know this is true of God, if we aren't allowed to experience it. The world will always try to convince that we do not need God. It offers sources of knowledge, entertainment and pleasure, power and money, and even security. The world offers everything from sex, drugs, money, friends, flat screen TVs, to civil rights groups, animal activists, music, art and theater. Yet the world cannot out match God. God offers something of more value than all the money in the world: grace, and an all-powerful capability to rescue us.
Living Life
At first glance, this would seem to be true. However, if life was perfect and predictable, we would have no need to develop our relationship with God. If our lives were perfect, we would have no need to rust God with important decisions, because there would never be any uncertainty.
Difficult situations full of uncertainty force us to trust God, and to believe that He really does know best. So when God takes us through trials, we learn that we really can trust God.
Dave Harvey suggests, "God delights to put us in this position because it postures us to depend on Him and to exercise faith towards Him. It's how He rescues us from the misplaced security that is such a consuming distraction in the postmodern world."
God is greater than we are, and He is capable of far more that we will ever be able to accomplish. However, we will never know this is true of God, if we aren't to accomplish. However, we will never know this is true of God, if we aren't allowed to experience it. The world will always try to convince that we do not need God. It offers sources of knowledge, entertainment and pleasure, power and money, and even security. The world offers everything from sex, drugs, money, friends, flat screen TVs, to civil rights groups, animal activists, music, art and theater. Yet the world cannot out match God. God offers something of more value than all the money in the world: grace, and an all-powerful capability to rescue us.
Living Life
God Must Be All-Powerful
To be God requires being all-powerful. If God were not all-powerful, it would mean that there are events outside of His control. It would mean He wouldn't have absolute power to always and absolutely save us from our sins.
If God were every truly limited in power, it would have drastic consequences for all of creation. But as we walk in fellowship with God, we realize who He is. Furthermore, we realize the importance of declaring God as the All-powerful One. Arthur Pink says, "We cannot have a right conception of God unless we think of Him as all-powerful, as well as all-wise. He who cannot do what he will, and perform all his pleasure, cannot be God. As God has a will to resolve what He deems good, so has He power to execute His will."
God's power is evident in all of creation. Creation ranges from the incredibly complex to the wonderfully simple. God created plants, animals mountains and rivers, and He called it all good. God's power is evident in his preservation of his creation. Forests could not exist if God did not tend after them. He not only created the Universe and everything in it, but he allows it to continue to exist. If everything was randomly created, then it would follow logic that everything could randomly cease to exist. But God is in control, and this universe was not created by random chance. Good shows His divine power in our own lives through our testimony. Good continuous demonstrates His Almighty Power, so that we might glorify Him.
Living Life
If God were every truly limited in power, it would have drastic consequences for all of creation. But as we walk in fellowship with God, we realize who He is. Furthermore, we realize the importance of declaring God as the All-powerful One. Arthur Pink says, "We cannot have a right conception of God unless we think of Him as all-powerful, as well as all-wise. He who cannot do what he will, and perform all his pleasure, cannot be God. As God has a will to resolve what He deems good, so has He power to execute His will."
God's power is evident in all of creation. Creation ranges from the incredibly complex to the wonderfully simple. God created plants, animals mountains and rivers, and He called it all good. God's power is evident in his preservation of his creation. Forests could not exist if God did not tend after them. He not only created the Universe and everything in it, but he allows it to continue to exist. If everything was randomly created, then it would follow logic that everything could randomly cease to exist. But God is in control, and this universe was not created by random chance. Good shows His divine power in our own lives through our testimony. Good continuous demonstrates His Almighty Power, so that we might glorify Him.
Living Life
Omnipotent Holy Spirit
God is a jealous God. He proclaims that there is no other God but Him, and He will not tolerate the worship of other gods. Doesn't this idea of one God contradict the doctrine of the Trinity? The idea of the trinity is better understood in the context of water. Ice is a solid, water is a liquid, and water vapor is a gas. But in each phase or form, they are all still H2O. Their forms, properties and attributes change, but their chemical makeup does not. At their core, they all remain the same. Just as water is still water is whatever form it takes, God is still God in whatever form He takes.
God exists in three forms, which make up the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. Of the three person of God, the Holy Spirit often comes under attack for not only being God, but being alive at all. Some cult prefer to think of the Holy Spirit as the magical power that God wields; or God's superhuman ability.
The Holy Spirit is not only alive, but He is God as well. Winfield Bevins lists some attributes of the Holy Spirit: "1. Omnipresent: The Holy Spirit is everywhere at all times (Psalms 139:7-10). 2.Omnipotent: The Holy Spirit is all-powerful (Luke 1:35). 3 Omniscient: The Holy Spirit has all knowledge (1 Corinthians 2:10-11). 4. Eternal: The Holy Spirit has no beginning and no end (Hebrews 9:14). 5 Holy: The Holy Spirit is wholly pure, perfect and sacred."
God may exist in different forms, but if God is omnipotent in one form, He remains omnipotent in another. After all, God makes it clear: God doesn't change who He is.
Living Life
God exists in three forms, which make up the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. Of the three person of God, the Holy Spirit often comes under attack for not only being God, but being alive at all. Some cult prefer to think of the Holy Spirit as the magical power that God wields; or God's superhuman ability.
The Holy Spirit is not only alive, but He is God as well. Winfield Bevins lists some attributes of the Holy Spirit: "1. Omnipresent: The Holy Spirit is everywhere at all times (Psalms 139:7-10). 2.Omnipotent: The Holy Spirit is all-powerful (Luke 1:35). 3 Omniscient: The Holy Spirit has all knowledge (1 Corinthians 2:10-11). 4. Eternal: The Holy Spirit has no beginning and no end (Hebrews 9:14). 5 Holy: The Holy Spirit is wholly pure, perfect and sacred."
God may exist in different forms, but if God is omnipotent in one form, He remains omnipotent in another. After all, God makes it clear: God doesn't change who He is.
Living Life
I AM WHO I AM
When you meet someone for the first time, how do you introduce yourself? Do you prefer to be known by the job or position that you hold at work? Are you typically known for your academic prowess, your organization skills, or perhaps a dry sense of humor?
When God visits Abraham in Genesis 17:1, He describes Himself as God Almighty to signify that He is fully equipped to provide Abraham with a natural son through his wife, Sarah, even though they are both well past the age of having children. Later, God declares, "I AM WHO I AM" or "I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE" (these are pronounced as YAHWEH in Hebrew) to Moses to reaffirm His might in Exodus 3:14.
John Piper argues that God revealed His different names in this order for a purpose: "The name YAHWEH is a greater name than the name GOD ALMIGHTY... If Israel learned the first-grade lesson that their God is I AM WHO I AM, they will be all the more courageous." This is a lesson still applies to us today. Long ago, God declared that He is the Almighty One. In our daily lives, God is the Almighty One. When things are difficult, stressful, painful, or impossible, God is the Almighty One. The reassurance that we take from this, is that God is fully capable and fully powerful in any circumstance. The statement where God says He is I AM, should remind us, that God will not change. So take this heart: God says, "I am Almighty God, and I AM WHO I AM." Or in other words " I am Almighty God, and I act like it."
Living Life
When God visits Abraham in Genesis 17:1, He describes Himself as God Almighty to signify that He is fully equipped to provide Abraham with a natural son through his wife, Sarah, even though they are both well past the age of having children. Later, God declares, "I AM WHO I AM" or "I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE" (these are pronounced as YAHWEH in Hebrew) to Moses to reaffirm His might in Exodus 3:14.
John Piper argues that God revealed His different names in this order for a purpose: "The name YAHWEH is a greater name than the name GOD ALMIGHTY... If Israel learned the first-grade lesson that their God is I AM WHO I AM, they will be all the more courageous." This is a lesson still applies to us today. Long ago, God declared that He is the Almighty One. In our daily lives, God is the Almighty One. When things are difficult, stressful, painful, or impossible, God is the Almighty One. The reassurance that we take from this, is that God is fully capable and fully powerful in any circumstance. The statement where God says He is I AM, should remind us, that God will not change. So take this heart: God says, "I am Almighty God, and I AM WHO I AM." Or in other words " I am Almighty God, and I act like it."
Living Life
The Almight Alpha and Omega
How do you know God? How do you feel that relate with Jesus? Would you be most likely to describe Him as your friend, father, or provider? There are many titles that are associated with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; one name for God that is more readily brushed off (possibly because we find it harder to relate to) is Alpha and Omega.
The terms alpha and omega come from the ancient Greek alphabet. Just as the English alphabet beings with A and ends with Z, so the Greek alphabet beings with alpha (A) and ends with omega (Ω). Jesus Christ claims the title for Himself in Revelation 1:11 and again in Revelation 22:13. Mike Bickle argues, "We can't just take Revelation 1:11 and separate it and just study 'Jesus: the Alpha and Omega.' It's in the context of the prophecy He's giving to John. He's saying, 'John, you have to know I am the A to Z of love. I am the A to Z of power. I am the A to Z of strategic of wisdom. I am the A to Z of what it means to be God.'"
Dictionaries list every word in English from A to Z. Obviously, not every language uses the same alphabet, but the point remains the same. If a word exists, it will be in a dictionary. Dictionaries, in a sense, house the complete lexicon of a language. Jesus Christ is then painting in a very vivid picture that all things, ALL things, being and end with Him.
Living Life
The terms alpha and omega come from the ancient Greek alphabet. Just as the English alphabet beings with A and ends with Z, so the Greek alphabet beings with alpha (A) and ends with omega (Ω). Jesus Christ claims the title for Himself in Revelation 1:11 and again in Revelation 22:13. Mike Bickle argues, "We can't just take Revelation 1:11 and separate it and just study 'Jesus: the Alpha and Omega.' It's in the context of the prophecy He's giving to John. He's saying, 'John, you have to know I am the A to Z of love. I am the A to Z of power. I am the A to Z of strategic of wisdom. I am the A to Z of what it means to be God.'"
Dictionaries list every word in English from A to Z. Obviously, not every language uses the same alphabet, but the point remains the same. If a word exists, it will be in a dictionary. Dictionaries, in a sense, house the complete lexicon of a language. Jesus Christ is then painting in a very vivid picture that all things, ALL things, being and end with Him.
Living Life
Finite needs, Infinte God
We need many things to survive. Without some source of food, water, shelter, warmth, and air we will die. Humans also, at some point or another, need community, money, joy, sleep and love. We require many things - some tangible and other intangible - in our lives in order to simply exist. We need much more in order to thrive in our lifetime.
In order to thrive, we require a relationship with God. We require healthy relationships, and meaningful work or experiences.
Trying to have all our needs and wants met can be very stressful. Everyone wants to have a full, if not meaningful life. However, we are not always blessed with a good job, nor are we always blessed with shelter. These are physical needs, and some may argue that our spiritual needs are more important than our physical needs. But our God does not diminish our needs, be they mental, physical, emotionally or spiritual. God desires to meet all our needs. John MacDuff says, "Your need is great. From the humblest crumb of providential goodness, up to the richest blessing of Divine grace, you are hanging from moment to moment a pensioner on Jehovah's bounty! But, fear not! 'I am the Almighty God!' Finite necessities can never exhaust infinte fullness. 'My God shall supply all your needs!'"
Of all our great needs, we need to realize that our list is still finite. We will only ever need a certain amount of food in our lifetime. We will only ever have a set amount of experiences. But however our needs manifest, they will never outweigh nor surmount what God is capapble of giving us.
Living Life
In order to thrive, we require a relationship with God. We require healthy relationships, and meaningful work or experiences.
Trying to have all our needs and wants met can be very stressful. Everyone wants to have a full, if not meaningful life. However, we are not always blessed with a good job, nor are we always blessed with shelter. These are physical needs, and some may argue that our spiritual needs are more important than our physical needs. But our God does not diminish our needs, be they mental, physical, emotionally or spiritual. God desires to meet all our needs. John MacDuff says, "Your need is great. From the humblest crumb of providential goodness, up to the richest blessing of Divine grace, you are hanging from moment to moment a pensioner on Jehovah's bounty! But, fear not! 'I am the Almighty God!' Finite necessities can never exhaust infinte fullness. 'My God shall supply all your needs!'"
Of all our great needs, we need to realize that our list is still finite. We will only ever need a certain amount of food in our lifetime. We will only ever have a set amount of experiences. But however our needs manifest, they will never outweigh nor surmount what God is capapble of giving us.
Living Life
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Accountable to the Almighty
How much does God impact this world? Does God still interact with this world as often as He did in the past? Did God set things in motion, and then walk away? We might be tempted to ask these questions, especially as we look at the world around us. This world seems to be getting worse and worse. If God really did love us and care for us, then He wouldn't let all these evil things in the world happen. If God was really involved in my life...
We know that God loves us because He sent His precious Son to die for us. Proving that evil exists does not disprove His existence, or how much He loves us, or the extent of His involvement on earth. Proving evil exists simply proves that evil exists. Proving misery exists, again simply proves misery exists. What is more, misery has been promised in this world because sin exists in this world. Still, as Thomas Brooks writes, "Whatever the means or instruments of our misery are - the hand is God's! It behooves us, in every judgement, to see the hand of the Lord, and to look through visible means to an invisible God!"
No one can say how or why God acts the way He does, in the manner that He does, because God is not accountable to men for His actions. God is Almighty, that is, the ruler of all things. Every action is reported to God. Everyone who does something is accountable to God, be it angel, demon, or human. Therefore, we need to remember that in all things, we are accountable to Christ. By the measure of Christ, we will stand or fall, and only through our Almighty Christ can we stand.
Living Life
We know that God loves us because He sent His precious Son to die for us. Proving that evil exists does not disprove His existence, or how much He loves us, or the extent of His involvement on earth. Proving evil exists simply proves that evil exists. Proving misery exists, again simply proves misery exists. What is more, misery has been promised in this world because sin exists in this world. Still, as Thomas Brooks writes, "Whatever the means or instruments of our misery are - the hand is God's! It behooves us, in every judgement, to see the hand of the Lord, and to look through visible means to an invisible God!"
No one can say how or why God acts the way He does, in the manner that He does, because God is not accountable to men for His actions. God is Almighty, that is, the ruler of all things. Every action is reported to God. Everyone who does something is accountable to God, be it angel, demon, or human. Therefore, we need to remember that in all things, we are accountable to Christ. By the measure of Christ, we will stand or fall, and only through our Almighty Christ can we stand.
Living Life
Omnipotent Redeemer
It is amazing to consider what God is capable of. There is nothing that is too difficult for Him. God created the heavens and the earth. He made the moon, the stars, the ocean, and land. He made diamonds, gold, silver, and other precious jewels as well as the giant sequoias, and the long-loving bristlecone pines. He made simple organisms such as single celled bacteria, as well as the complex human body.
The God of the universe created all things. Paul attest to this in Colossians 1:16: " For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him."
For all the achievements of mankind, we have never created anything as beautiful as God has. Yet, God's creation of the world and everything in it was not His greatest achievement. Octavious Winslow writes, "The Redemption of man is the achievement of God... God spoke the universe out of nothing, and formed man from the dust of the earth, but in there Redemption of man, He became incarnate in the person of His beloved Son, exhausting heaven of its richest treasure, and conferring that treasure upon man in the person of Jesus the Savior, 'His unspeakable gift.'"
What is the most amazing is that this is OUR God. We get the chance to not only serve, but love, and have fellowship with the One who not only created, but rules the physical and spiritual realms. This amazing powerful being is not just an acquaintance, or even simply a friend or lover. Our God, is our Almighty Redeemer. There is nothing that He cannot redeem us from, by sheer magnitude of His will
Living Life
The God of the universe created all things. Paul attest to this in Colossians 1:16: " For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him."
For all the achievements of mankind, we have never created anything as beautiful as God has. Yet, God's creation of the world and everything in it was not His greatest achievement. Octavious Winslow writes, "The Redemption of man is the achievement of God... God spoke the universe out of nothing, and formed man from the dust of the earth, but in there Redemption of man, He became incarnate in the person of His beloved Son, exhausting heaven of its richest treasure, and conferring that treasure upon man in the person of Jesus the Savior, 'His unspeakable gift.'"
What is the most amazing is that this is OUR God. We get the chance to not only serve, but love, and have fellowship with the One who not only created, but rules the physical and spiritual realms. This amazing powerful being is not just an acquaintance, or even simply a friend or lover. Our God, is our Almighty Redeemer. There is nothing that He cannot redeem us from, by sheer magnitude of His will
Living Life
Can God Do Anything?
If God can do anything, could He create a boulder so big that He could not lift it? Could He create a burrito so hot He could not eat it? These seemingly "intelligent" trick questions, meant for no other purpose than to disprove the existence of God, are fundamentally flawed.
First, these questions misunderstand the meaning of the word omnipotent. Second, these questions misunderstand God.
Rich Deems says, "The Bible says that God cannot commit sin. God cannot lie. Therefore, biblical omnipotence does not mean God can do all things. God cannot do anything that is contrary to His holy character. However, God can do anything that He determines to do. This is the true meaning of omnipotence - the ability to do anything that one sets out to do."
In Jesus' day, men always tried to trap Jesus in His words. Using human thoughts or arguments, men such as the Pharisees and Sadducees continually attempted to trick Jesus, or present Jesus with an impossible question to answer. But Jesus, being God, was able to cut through their "intelligence" to the core of their hearts.
Consider this seemingly impossible trick question: If God is immortal, but God can do anything, can God die? This is exactly what happened with Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, who is both fully man and fully God, did completely die on the cross. But, being God, He conquered death and rose to life. If someone can't accept this answer to this impossible paradoxical question, then that person certainly won't accept any answer to any other trick question. Their heart has already been decided.
Living Life
First, these questions misunderstand the meaning of the word omnipotent. Second, these questions misunderstand God.
Rich Deems says, "The Bible says that God cannot commit sin. God cannot lie. Therefore, biblical omnipotence does not mean God can do all things. God cannot do anything that is contrary to His holy character. However, God can do anything that He determines to do. This is the true meaning of omnipotence - the ability to do anything that one sets out to do."
In Jesus' day, men always tried to trap Jesus in His words. Using human thoughts or arguments, men such as the Pharisees and Sadducees continually attempted to trick Jesus, or present Jesus with an impossible question to answer. But Jesus, being God, was able to cut through their "intelligence" to the core of their hearts.
Consider this seemingly impossible trick question: If God is immortal, but God can do anything, can God die? This is exactly what happened with Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, who is both fully man and fully God, did completely die on the cross. But, being God, He conquered death and rose to life. If someone can't accept this answer to this impossible paradoxical question, then that person certainly won't accept any answer to any other trick question. Their heart has already been decided.
Living Life
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Omnipotent God
One of the distinguishing aspect about Christianity is that we are encouraged to challenge what we are taught in church by pastors and teachers with what the Word says. Questioning your own pastor's teaching is not generally tolerated in other religions. however, Scripture encourages us to test teaching because there is great value in knowing what the word of God says.
Many pastors teach us (among many things) that God is omnipotent. So- as we have been commanded to test teachings with the Bible - does the Bible actually say that God is omnipotent? Revelation 19:6 does refer to God as omnipotent in the King James Version and New King James Version, but God is referred to as "Almighty" in different translations. Why the difference? Wallance Smith writes, "The Greek word translated as 'Omnipotent' here is pantokrator, meaning 'All-ruling' or as it is more frequently translated 'Almight.' When we say God is 'Almighty,' we are stating our belief in His authority and rulership over all creation, and the Bible is firm in declaring this fact."
While the Bible may not often expressly say that God is omnipotent, it does frequently say that God is Almighty. Genesis 17:1, Job 11:7, Psalm 91:1, and Isaiah 6:3 are just a few of many examples found in the Bible of God declaring Himself to be the Almighty One. Because God does so often declare in His Scripture that He is God Almighty, we, as His followers, need to pay attention to it. When God repeats something in the Bible, it is usually because He wants us to focus on it.
Living Life
Many pastors teach us (among many things) that God is omnipotent. So- as we have been commanded to test teachings with the Bible - does the Bible actually say that God is omnipotent? Revelation 19:6 does refer to God as omnipotent in the King James Version and New King James Version, but God is referred to as "Almighty" in different translations. Why the difference? Wallance Smith writes, "The Greek word translated as 'Omnipotent' here is pantokrator, meaning 'All-ruling' or as it is more frequently translated 'Almight.' When we say God is 'Almighty,' we are stating our belief in His authority and rulership over all creation, and the Bible is firm in declaring this fact."
While the Bible may not often expressly say that God is omnipotent, it does frequently say that God is Almighty. Genesis 17:1, Job 11:7, Psalm 91:1, and Isaiah 6:3 are just a few of many examples found in the Bible of God declaring Himself to be the Almighty One. Because God does so often declare in His Scripture that He is God Almighty, we, as His followers, need to pay attention to it. When God repeats something in the Bible, it is usually because He wants us to focus on it.
Living Life
Disciples: Faithful to the End
Jesus was faithful to the end by even allowing Himself to be killed. God actually allowed His own death to happen. This is impossible to even imagine in today's society, where we fight for every breath, and we don't give into death no matter what.
What is more amazing is that Jesus passed this legacy onto His disciples; a legacy to finish strong, and to stay faithful to the very conclusion of our time on this earth. Of all the 12 disciples, only John was not martyred or killed in a terrible manner. Of course, John was not killed in a terrible manner because he somehow survived being boiled alive. All the rest were crucified, stoned, beheaded, and stabbed, because of the Gospel.
Mark Driscoll challenges us: "You're either going to go out like Judas or Jesus - that's how your life is going to end. You're going to go out like Jesus, faithful to the end, whatever the cost, or you're going to go out like Judas, prematurely, tragically, rebelliously, shamefully."
This is not to say that those who are called to Christ must go out and die horrific deaths. We do not have to be crucified to go to heaven. But this is a challenge for us to emulate our Lord. Jesus was faithful with His calling to the very end. He did not take a break or a vacation before His death. He did everything He could do to prepare the people of this world before He had to leave it. That is the life that we should try to be living. God the Son was faithful to the end, and He wants us to be faithful to the end, whatever that calling may be.
Living Life
What is more amazing is that Jesus passed this legacy onto His disciples; a legacy to finish strong, and to stay faithful to the very conclusion of our time on this earth. Of all the 12 disciples, only John was not martyred or killed in a terrible manner. Of course, John was not killed in a terrible manner because he somehow survived being boiled alive. All the rest were crucified, stoned, beheaded, and stabbed, because of the Gospel.
Mark Driscoll challenges us: "You're either going to go out like Judas or Jesus - that's how your life is going to end. You're going to go out like Jesus, faithful to the end, whatever the cost, or you're going to go out like Judas, prematurely, tragically, rebelliously, shamefully."
This is not to say that those who are called to Christ must go out and die horrific deaths. We do not have to be crucified to go to heaven. But this is a challenge for us to emulate our Lord. Jesus was faithful with His calling to the very end. He did not take a break or a vacation before His death. He did everything He could do to prepare the people of this world before He had to leave it. That is the life that we should try to be living. God the Son was faithful to the end, and He wants us to be faithful to the end, whatever that calling may be.
Living Life
God: Faithful to the End
God had been promising a Promised Land for a long time. God promised Abraham not only descendants, but a land for them to live on. Then Abraham died and Isaac came. Then Isaac died and Jacob (later named Israel) was born. Jacob was born, had 12 sons, and died in the land of Egypt. Three generations had passed, and God had still not fulfilled His promise. Fast forward over 400 years of life in Egypt, and another 40 years of wandering in a circle in the desert.
Finally Joshua son of Nun, the former servant of Moses, enters the scene and starts conquering the Promised Land. Even so, when Joshua was at the end of his life, he realized that this was not the end of Israel's relationship with God. Jeff Miller says, "Joshua reflects on the proven faithfulness of the Lord once again. He then brings Israel to a crossroads and challenges them to choose their response to this faithful God. The Israelites have been recipients of the faithful service of God; now they are given the opportunity to serve Him in return."
God may have seemed to take a long time to answer His initial promise, but He did answer nonetheless. What is important to note, is that our relationship with God is not just built on promises and rewards. What we see from the Bible is that there are consequences for our faith, and consequences for our unfaithfulness. God will always be faithful, but that does not mean that we will always be faithful. But instead of dwelling on how bad we can be, it is better to look at a life that was faithful to the end, and to see how God responded.
Living Life
Finally Joshua son of Nun, the former servant of Moses, enters the scene and starts conquering the Promised Land. Even so, when Joshua was at the end of his life, he realized that this was not the end of Israel's relationship with God. Jeff Miller says, "Joshua reflects on the proven faithfulness of the Lord once again. He then brings Israel to a crossroads and challenges them to choose their response to this faithful God. The Israelites have been recipients of the faithful service of God; now they are given the opportunity to serve Him in return."
God may have seemed to take a long time to answer His initial promise, but He did answer nonetheless. What is important to note, is that our relationship with God is not just built on promises and rewards. What we see from the Bible is that there are consequences for our faith, and consequences for our unfaithfulness. God will always be faithful, but that does not mean that we will always be faithful. But instead of dwelling on how bad we can be, it is better to look at a life that was faithful to the end, and to see how God responded.
Living Life
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
5 ways to show that you’re a catch
5 ways to show that you’re a catch
By Stephen F. Milioti
You know it’s happened to you: You’re heading home from a first date, fairly pleased yet a little unsure about how it went. Then you stop short and suck in a breath, realizing you forgot to mention some interesting accomplishment or anecdote that would have gone over perfectly. Uh-oh; now you’re worried you didn’t say anything interesting. And you’re an interesting person!
Now, we’re not talking about bragging about your high-school hockey trophies or gabbing on endlessly about having “found yourself” in Paris. But there are certain things you can mention that will let you impress your date, without a doubt, and will add some heft to casual first-date small talk. Here are five topics to tackle and how to artfully bring them up.
1. Whatever you’re passionate about. Maybe it’s your love of art and culture. Or history. Or tropical bird-watching. Anything, in fact, except celebrities and what’s on TV. You want to show that you do things in your spare time that enrich you as a person, not just sit on the sofa with Us Weekly. And even if you and your date are both super into celebrity gossip, it’s hardly a unique trait to build a relationship on. Spend those early dates getting to know the important facts about each other; specifically, the passions that make each of you tick and distinguish you from the other single folk out there.
Sample segue: “I liked The Book of Eli because it got people talking about the Bible, which isn’t true of most popular movies! I’m one of those people who loves getting into a literary discussion of the Bible — how about you?”
2. Your domestic genius. It’s universally impressive to keep a stylish home, and it’s doubly impressive if you’re a great cook. “Cooking is one of my passions,” says James Humphrey, a public relations manager in New York. “I can go on for hours talking about how much I hate Emeril but think Lidia Bastianich is the bomb!” If you know how to make a great meal, it’s definitely worth mentioning on the first date — a little private at-home dinner party just might be in your future. Even mentioning how much you love to make crafty birthday gifts for friends or have fondue parties can reveal a little about your nesting talents.
Sample segue: “How’s that chicken stew you ordered? I got this amazing recipe last summer that I’ve customized by...”
3. Your family values. It can be a big plus to let your date know that your family is important to you, but that they don’t run your life. Share a story that describes your family in context (“We always played pranks on birthdays; I was a bit of a ringleader…”), but don’t go into anything that makes you sound bitter (“The man also known as my father”) or attached at the hip (“Oh, this sweater? My mom made me try on every one in the store!”).
Sample segue: “My parents and I couldn’t be more different — except when it comes to…”
4. Community service. If you’re active in community organizations that help people in any way, this is definitely something to bring up on a first date. Of course, bragging about giving lots of money to charities... well, that’s just showing off. But just mentioning that you do volunteer work — like delivering meals to homebound people, or even just hosting events for a local professional organization — shows a sense of humanity that’s an indisputable selling point.
Sample segue: “That neighborhood is really changing — I used to go there sometimes for [insert charity name] and it was on the dangerous side, but now it’s really improving!”
5. Your ability to laugh at yourself. This one’s less about saying one particular thing and more about having a lighthearted tone. “Everyone has faults, and to be able to laugh at them is charming,” says Humphrey. “It’s always great to give a funny story about something you did to embarrass yourself — like my going up to Eva Longoria at a TV event and mistaking her for someone else.” Your embarrassing moment doesn’t have to involve a celeb, of course; it should just be something that shows you’re a human with faults and that you can acknowledge those flaws without falling to pieces.
Sample segue: “I love my job and fortunately, I work with great people. They didn’t even make too much fun of me the time I…” Odds are, your date will find your self-deprecating humor charming.
Stephen F. Milioti writes for New York, the New York Observer and Salon.
Quoted: http://yahoo.match.com/y/article.aspx?articleid=5769&TrackingID=526103&BannerID=748179
By Stephen F. Milioti
You know it’s happened to you: You’re heading home from a first date, fairly pleased yet a little unsure about how it went. Then you stop short and suck in a breath, realizing you forgot to mention some interesting accomplishment or anecdote that would have gone over perfectly. Uh-oh; now you’re worried you didn’t say anything interesting. And you’re an interesting person!
Now, we’re not talking about bragging about your high-school hockey trophies or gabbing on endlessly about having “found yourself” in Paris. But there are certain things you can mention that will let you impress your date, without a doubt, and will add some heft to casual first-date small talk. Here are five topics to tackle and how to artfully bring them up.
1. Whatever you’re passionate about. Maybe it’s your love of art and culture. Or history. Or tropical bird-watching. Anything, in fact, except celebrities and what’s on TV. You want to show that you do things in your spare time that enrich you as a person, not just sit on the sofa with Us Weekly. And even if you and your date are both super into celebrity gossip, it’s hardly a unique trait to build a relationship on. Spend those early dates getting to know the important facts about each other; specifically, the passions that make each of you tick and distinguish you from the other single folk out there.
Sample segue: “I liked The Book of Eli because it got people talking about the Bible, which isn’t true of most popular movies! I’m one of those people who loves getting into a literary discussion of the Bible — how about you?”
2. Your domestic genius. It’s universally impressive to keep a stylish home, and it’s doubly impressive if you’re a great cook. “Cooking is one of my passions,” says James Humphrey, a public relations manager in New York. “I can go on for hours talking about how much I hate Emeril but think Lidia Bastianich is the bomb!” If you know how to make a great meal, it’s definitely worth mentioning on the first date — a little private at-home dinner party just might be in your future. Even mentioning how much you love to make crafty birthday gifts for friends or have fondue parties can reveal a little about your nesting talents.
Sample segue: “How’s that chicken stew you ordered? I got this amazing recipe last summer that I’ve customized by...”
3. Your family values. It can be a big plus to let your date know that your family is important to you, but that they don’t run your life. Share a story that describes your family in context (“We always played pranks on birthdays; I was a bit of a ringleader…”), but don’t go into anything that makes you sound bitter (“The man also known as my father”) or attached at the hip (“Oh, this sweater? My mom made me try on every one in the store!”).
Sample segue: “My parents and I couldn’t be more different — except when it comes to…”
4. Community service. If you’re active in community organizations that help people in any way, this is definitely something to bring up on a first date. Of course, bragging about giving lots of money to charities... well, that’s just showing off. But just mentioning that you do volunteer work — like delivering meals to homebound people, or even just hosting events for a local professional organization — shows a sense of humanity that’s an indisputable selling point.
Sample segue: “That neighborhood is really changing — I used to go there sometimes for [insert charity name] and it was on the dangerous side, but now it’s really improving!”
5. Your ability to laugh at yourself. This one’s less about saying one particular thing and more about having a lighthearted tone. “Everyone has faults, and to be able to laugh at them is charming,” says Humphrey. “It’s always great to give a funny story about something you did to embarrass yourself — like my going up to Eva Longoria at a TV event and mistaking her for someone else.” Your embarrassing moment doesn’t have to involve a celeb, of course; it should just be something that shows you’re a human with faults and that you can acknowledge those flaws without falling to pieces.
Sample segue: “I love my job and fortunately, I work with great people. They didn’t even make too much fun of me the time I…” Odds are, your date will find your self-deprecating humor charming.
Stephen F. Milioti writes for New York, the New York Observer and Salon.
Quoted: http://yahoo.match.com/y/article.aspx?articleid=5769&TrackingID=526103&BannerID=748179
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