Ok, so it's a day late, but still... Our youngest turned 1 year old yesterday, our Queen Esther... Isn't she adorable?!
Friday, May 23, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Extremes
Why is it that we are a people of extremes? I refer specifically to doctrinal questions right now. We have a hard time walking the balanced line wherein truth usually lies, and instead, we jump far away from the opposition, and we end up going too far.
For example: Justification by faith vs. works... Living in a predominantly Roman Catholic area, we have to deal with some of the errors in that religious system. Roman Catholic dogma states that salvation is by God's grace, which the individual receives through the sacraments. However, taking Communion (a sacrament) is a work. If salvation is of works, then it is no more grace, Romans 11.
So, here's what our extreme tendencies make us do, we jump so far away from that that we almost take away everything from "faith," and teach that all you have to do is to say a prayer, or even worse, just raise your hand. Works are almost discouraged as a whole, just because we want to be sure to be separated from the other side.
The fact is that we need to recognize that works are important, that they are a necessary result of salvation (result, not cause). We need to be balanced, and take the whole truth of God regardless of who else abuses different parts.
Now, what do we do with those that are too extremely balanced...
Just a Thought...
For example: Justification by faith vs. works... Living in a predominantly Roman Catholic area, we have to deal with some of the errors in that religious system. Roman Catholic dogma states that salvation is by God's grace, which the individual receives through the sacraments. However, taking Communion (a sacrament) is a work. If salvation is of works, then it is no more grace, Romans 11.
So, here's what our extreme tendencies make us do, we jump so far away from that that we almost take away everything from "faith," and teach that all you have to do is to say a prayer, or even worse, just raise your hand. Works are almost discouraged as a whole, just because we want to be sure to be separated from the other side.
The fact is that we need to recognize that works are important, that they are a necessary result of salvation (result, not cause). We need to be balanced, and take the whole truth of God regardless of who else abuses different parts.
Now, what do we do with those that are too extremely balanced...
Just a Thought...
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Wednesday
Well, it has been a full week since graduation. Tonight, I am going to go to church after dropping the kids off at AWANA, and then I get to sit in the service and hear some preaching. I don’t have to be anywhere or do anything other than just be there. This feels all new to me, and I get to enjoy it with Sarah too!
Ok, I think it’s time to pickup something to read and study. Anybody read any good books lately that they’d like to share about? I think I will keep reading my Biblical Greek book, but I doubt any of you will care about that.
I’ve graduated… it’s starting to sink in…
No thought today, just rambling.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Pascal vs. Paul
The French philosopher, Blaise Pascal, is known for his famous "wager." He proposed that since the existence of God cannot be determined through reason, that a person should "wager" that God does exist because if he is wrong, he has nothing to lose, and if he's right, he has everything to gain.
However, when we compare that to what the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:19, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."
I don't know about you, but having a "miserable life" would be something lost. That is, back to Pascal's wager, if there is no God, then Paul says I can expect to live the most miserable life of all men because I follow Christ. And if there's no God, then after this miserable life, there is... well... nothing?
Pascal's wager seems to have two flaws, in my ignorant opinion. First of all, it is still using "reason" to arrive at God. His wager is "reasonable," yet God demands that we come to Him by faith. "Without faith it is impossible to please Him" (Hebrews 11:6). Second, Pascal's wager dismisses the denial of self that the Christian life calls for. Dying is not a comfortable thing, but following Paul's example, all Christians should "die daily."
No, if God were not to exist, then we have everything to lose. However, God does exist; Jesus Christ did rise from the dead; our faith is not vain! I believe philosophy fails yet again to God's word.
Just a thought...
However, when we compare that to what the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:19, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."
I don't know about you, but having a "miserable life" would be something lost. That is, back to Pascal's wager, if there is no God, then Paul says I can expect to live the most miserable life of all men because I follow Christ. And if there's no God, then after this miserable life, there is... well... nothing?
Pascal's wager seems to have two flaws, in my ignorant opinion. First of all, it is still using "reason" to arrive at God. His wager is "reasonable," yet God demands that we come to Him by faith. "Without faith it is impossible to please Him" (Hebrews 11:6). Second, Pascal's wager dismisses the denial of self that the Christian life calls for. Dying is not a comfortable thing, but following Paul's example, all Christians should "die daily."
No, if God were not to exist, then we have everything to lose. However, God does exist; Jesus Christ did rise from the dead; our faith is not vain! I believe philosophy fails yet again to God's word.
Just a thought...
Thursday, May 15, 2008
The Stupid Graduate
The Stupid Graduate, that's me...
Proverbs 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
Last night's graduation was a great time. Yet, right in the middle of it, I had the opportunity to demonstrate my utter carelessness and stupidity. I had the opportunity to brag on my wife Sarah, but I didn't. The Bible says that whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour (aka grace) of the LORD. But by the grace and favour of God, I am what I am. I needed to tell the whole world that, but I didn't. I'm stupid.
Sarah has been supportive of me through these years. We started Institute with a couple classes 6 years ago. I went full-time 5 years ago, taking one semester off for Joey being born. So, for the past 5 years, Sarah has been there encouraging me to finish (actually, she never cared if I was learning anything, she just wanted me to finish!). She has been by my side through other struggles we've had: being laid off from my job the month after we were married, struggling through very irregular income while trying to run my own business a few years back, and having to deal with creditors and bankruptcy as a result of that business. She has been the greatest help to me during all of that time.
She has given birth to our five wonderful children. 3 of which have been born during my time in institute, and 2 which were just very young when I started. She has been a great mother to them and had to do things with them that I should have done, but was unable to while in classes. She has done all of the work taking care of the children at times when I would be sitting in my office doing my homework, studying, or preparing some lesson.
And then there was this semester... Talk about finishing it off with a bang. Towards the end of last year, the debt that I carried over from the business caught back up to us, and the creditors finally got to the point where they were beginning to garnish my wages - that doesn't do very well on a tight budget! We finally were "forced" into filing bankruptcy. So, we've been dealing with that whole process and all that goes along with it. Then there was the little issue of a computer that was not backed up and half of a thesis that was lost. Needless to say, Sarah gave me as much time as I needed to get that re-written, and believe me, it was a lot of what should have been family time used to finish that. And the biggest difficulty this semester, was the miscarriage. With everything else going on, she had to deal with a physical and emotional trial greater, probably, than any other she has had before. Yet, she let me go on and finish. She still did all the same that she has done.
I should have said all of this last night, but I'm the stupid graduate, remember? As soon as I sat down and Seth got up (immediately praising his wife), I realized how dumb I was. My first thought was this: "I wish I had used notes!" My second thought was this: "How stupid I am, to think that I should have needed notes to remember to talk about Sarah." As Seth was talking, I thought about standing up when he finished and saying something about her then, but I thought it would have been inappropriate to interrupt the ceremony, especially after what Seth had just said and all... More evidence of my stupidity. It would have been very appropriate, but I didn't.
Whoso findeth a wife, findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. God's grace and favour was bestowed to me in the most incredible way when He gave me my wife. She is a wonderful mother. She shows me love when I do not deserve it. She is kind and patient towards other people. She is compassionate. She has a great voice to sing. She can cook. She can sew. And to top it all off, she's a great kisser!
I love my wife, and I am so thankful for her.
I love you, Sarah.
Proverbs 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
Last night's graduation was a great time. Yet, right in the middle of it, I had the opportunity to demonstrate my utter carelessness and stupidity. I had the opportunity to brag on my wife Sarah, but I didn't. The Bible says that whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour (aka grace) of the LORD. But by the grace and favour of God, I am what I am. I needed to tell the whole world that, but I didn't. I'm stupid.
Sarah has been supportive of me through these years. We started Institute with a couple classes 6 years ago. I went full-time 5 years ago, taking one semester off for Joey being born. So, for the past 5 years, Sarah has been there encouraging me to finish (actually, she never cared if I was learning anything, she just wanted me to finish!). She has been by my side through other struggles we've had: being laid off from my job the month after we were married, struggling through very irregular income while trying to run my own business a few years back, and having to deal with creditors and bankruptcy as a result of that business. She has been the greatest help to me during all of that time.
She has given birth to our five wonderful children. 3 of which have been born during my time in institute, and 2 which were just very young when I started. She has been a great mother to them and had to do things with them that I should have done, but was unable to while in classes. She has done all of the work taking care of the children at times when I would be sitting in my office doing my homework, studying, or preparing some lesson.
And then there was this semester... Talk about finishing it off with a bang. Towards the end of last year, the debt that I carried over from the business caught back up to us, and the creditors finally got to the point where they were beginning to garnish my wages - that doesn't do very well on a tight budget! We finally were "forced" into filing bankruptcy. So, we've been dealing with that whole process and all that goes along with it. Then there was the little issue of a computer that was not backed up and half of a thesis that was lost. Needless to say, Sarah gave me as much time as I needed to get that re-written, and believe me, it was a lot of what should have been family time used to finish that. And the biggest difficulty this semester, was the miscarriage. With everything else going on, she had to deal with a physical and emotional trial greater, probably, than any other she has had before. Yet, she let me go on and finish. She still did all the same that she has done.
I should have said all of this last night, but I'm the stupid graduate, remember? As soon as I sat down and Seth got up (immediately praising his wife), I realized how dumb I was. My first thought was this: "I wish I had used notes!" My second thought was this: "How stupid I am, to think that I should have needed notes to remember to talk about Sarah." As Seth was talking, I thought about standing up when he finished and saying something about her then, but I thought it would have been inappropriate to interrupt the ceremony, especially after what Seth had just said and all... More evidence of my stupidity. It would have been very appropriate, but I didn't.
Whoso findeth a wife, findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. God's grace and favour was bestowed to me in the most incredible way when He gave me my wife. She is a wonderful mother. She shows me love when I do not deserve it. She is kind and patient towards other people. She is compassionate. She has a great voice to sing. She can cook. She can sew. And to top it all off, she's a great kisser!
I love my wife, and I am so thankful for her.
I love you, Sarah.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Sad Story... Again
Well, this is the third sad story I have in a row. The only thing is that it is only sad for others. You see, I got myself married to the most BEAUTIFUL and WONDERFUL and GRACIOUS woman in the entire world! And that happened 9 years ago on this day! It's great for me, but sad for all the other guys in the world because she's all mine! :)
Anyway, I love you, Sarah. Happy Anniversary!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Follow Up on the Sad Story
2 Kings 1:3 But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?
Today's post is a follow up on yesterday's. You can find that here, although more importantly would be to read the original story here. Oh, and by the way, here is Seth's take on the story too.
The verse I added above, in 2 Kings 1, was the result of a king that fell down and got hurt. So, what was the king's reaction? He went to enquire of Baalzebub whether or not he was going to make it through the sickness. Elijah comes to meet the messengers that King Ahaziah sent, and he basically says to them, "You go up to find your help from other places, because you do not have a God."
What does Elijah and Ahaziah have to do with this little girl that died? Probably nothing, but I would like to bring to light an issue that I believe we many times neglect. The parents of this girl were trusting God for the healing of their daughter. God does still heal. He has not stopped being the Great Physician. Ahaziah failed to look to God for his problems, and God was quite displeased. This family believed they were faithfully looking to God, and yet their daughter died. What do we do?!
Well, let me first give you a test, I would probably fail this test, but here goes: You and your child are riding your bikes down the street. The kid hits a bump, and falls into traffic and is hit by a car. You get up to him and see that he is bleeding and unconscious. What is your first reaction?
Call 911?
Call out to God?
Ahaziah called 911. This family called out to God.
Now, lest any of you think I am trying to defend this family's actions, I am not. I take my children to the doctors (well, usually Sarah does). However, if my first response to sickness is, alright we better go get them checked out, instead of asking for God's mercy, then my outlook is skewed. God surely did give man the understanding and knowledge of the human body and of medicine. If we are to think that man came up with medical knowledge on by himself, then we fail to really understand man's utter dependence on God. It may be God had already answered that family's prayer years earlier when he let the doctors discover the cure for that little girl's problem.
In summary: We need to look to God for our help, and not to ourselves. It would be great if we were in so close communion with God at all times that of course we would seek God first. However, God has already provided so much in His love, and we should be aware of it.
Just a thought...
Today's post is a follow up on yesterday's. You can find that here, although more importantly would be to read the original story here. Oh, and by the way, here is Seth's take on the story too.
The verse I added above, in 2 Kings 1, was the result of a king that fell down and got hurt. So, what was the king's reaction? He went to enquire of Baalzebub whether or not he was going to make it through the sickness. Elijah comes to meet the messengers that King Ahaziah sent, and he basically says to them, "You go up to find your help from other places, because you do not have a God."
What does Elijah and Ahaziah have to do with this little girl that died? Probably nothing, but I would like to bring to light an issue that I believe we many times neglect. The parents of this girl were trusting God for the healing of their daughter. God does still heal. He has not stopped being the Great Physician. Ahaziah failed to look to God for his problems, and God was quite displeased. This family believed they were faithfully looking to God, and yet their daughter died. What do we do?!
Well, let me first give you a test, I would probably fail this test, but here goes: You and your child are riding your bikes down the street. The kid hits a bump, and falls into traffic and is hit by a car. You get up to him and see that he is bleeding and unconscious. What is your first reaction?
Call 911?
Call out to God?
Ahaziah called 911. This family called out to God.
Now, lest any of you think I am trying to defend this family's actions, I am not. I take my children to the doctors (well, usually Sarah does). However, if my first response to sickness is, alright we better go get them checked out, instead of asking for God's mercy, then my outlook is skewed. God surely did give man the understanding and knowledge of the human body and of medicine. If we are to think that man came up with medical knowledge on by himself, then we fail to really understand man's utter dependence on God. It may be God had already answered that family's prayer years earlier when he let the doctors discover the cure for that little girl's problem.
In summary: We need to look to God for our help, and not to ourselves. It would be great if we were in so close communion with God at all times that of course we would seek God first. However, God has already provided so much in His love, and we should be aware of it.
Just a thought...
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