So really I started this so that I could have a more open community to the notes I was writing, but now I've felt like I should just use this also as an outlet for my thoughts.
So today I had College Algebra, a whole lot easier here at Tech than back home at National Park. There are still a few things that I'm not quite grasping though....
I finally got the rosters for the Toilet Bowl, flag football tournament on Saturday. It looks promising, right now I'm focused on getting my team through our side of the bracket, then we will worry about winning the whole thing.
So for some reason over this week I've begun to notice how lonely I truly am. It's not a fun feeling. I wrote about this girl that I like, and in talking to some of my other friends, they think I should tell her how I feel. But it's like anytime I get ready to, one of us has to go for some reason or another. I wish I could hang out with her, but it's hard when she's so far away. I'd really like to get to know her better, but we never have the time to talk.
Anyway. I'm going to try to sleep now.
(Title from Elements Combined by Fiction Family)
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
"There's Probably No God"
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1126226/Atheist-theres-probably-God-campaign-did-NOT-breach-advertising-code-rules-watchdog.html?ITO=1490
The above link is to the story about Ad's that Athiests have put on London's buses
The below link is one of the campaigns that Christians have put on London's buses, these ran during Christmas time
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christian.bus.adverts.declare.good.news.to.londons.commuters/21981.htm
I'm having a hard time finding the ad campaign that was talked about that went on during the summer months. But I find this very interesting, something I would consider along the lines of atheists fighting to get the ten commandments off of public property... The two sectors are "fighting" for lack of better term, back and forth combating each others ads. But what I find even more interesting is the way that the atheists worded their phrase "There's probably no God" they're leaving themselves open, I mean they are saying "We really don't know if there isn't a God or not," I mean don't atheists believe that there is no God, or at least God in the sense that we believe in.
This is something that is key though, transparency is something that everyone needs to have.
(Wow it's all coming together now, this is soooooo crazy, if you read what I wrote last night, you'll see that I nearly wrote along the lines of what I'm about to say on Sunday night, but that wasn't the right time, all because this is when God wanted me to write about it.)
This is the main reason that outsiders, don't want to come to church. Because we aren't open with who we are, we try to hide behind this mighty "I'm righteous" persona that no one wants to be around. Simply because the atheists are willing to admit that they aren't sure if there is a God or not is a big deal. It would be along the lines of Joel Osteen standing up on National Television and saying "I'm a pastor, but I have committed *insert sin,* and Jesus still loves me. Or us putting an ad up apologizing for not being transparent enough like "Yes people sin, but we strive everyday with Christ's help to be more like him."
I watched this movie Sunday, about an Amish man who goes to Hollywood as a missionary. He ends up in the t.v. business, and starts going to parties and what not for "promotion" in the end, after months of doing so, he ends up messing up, getting drunk, and other things. The girl he is in love with is devastated, he says "I messed up, everyone messes up sometimes" and she says "not you" and leaves him, well he ends up with a job as a guy in a hot dog suit, and while standing out there, he realizes that he still has Christ with him, and that Jesus still loves him, and that he needs to keep carrying out His work. So he begins preaching there on the street corner, gets arrested, and this girl that he loves comes and bails him out. She realizes that yes everyone messes up, and at least he was transparent enough to let her know that, and that he isn't going to get drunk or anything else.
If Christians were transparent, and loving, and not self righteous people who hold their faith above the people who have "messed up" there would be a whole lot more openness to the Word.
If you read that first news clip, you'll see that the Methodists have encouraged the atheist ads because it will make people think about God, and whether or not they believe in Him. If we would be transparent with people who aren't sure, and not condemn them for being outsiders, then people would be a whole lot more receptive to the Word, and Christ's love.
The above link is to the story about Ad's that Athiests have put on London's buses
The below link is one of the campaigns that Christians have put on London's buses, these ran during Christmas time
http://www.christiantoday.
I'm having a hard time finding the ad campaign that was talked about that went on during the summer months. But I find this very interesting, something I would consider along the lines of atheists fighting to get the ten commandments off of public property... The two sectors are "fighting" for lack of better term, back and forth combating each others ads. But what I find even more interesting is the way that the atheists worded their phrase "There's probably no God" they're leaving themselves open, I mean they are saying "We really don't know if there isn't a God or not," I mean don't atheists believe that there is no God, or at least God in the sense that we believe in.
This is something that is key though, transparency is something that everyone needs to have.
(Wow it's all coming together now, this is soooooo crazy, if you read what I wrote last night, you'll see that I nearly wrote along the lines of what I'm about to say on Sunday night, but that wasn't the right time, all because this is when God wanted me to write about it.)
This is the main reason that outsiders, don't want to come to church. Because we aren't open with who we are, we try to hide behind this mighty "I'm righteous" persona that no one wants to be around. Simply because the atheists are willing to admit that they aren't sure if there is a God or not is a big deal. It would be along the lines of Joel Osteen standing up on National Television and saying "I'm a pastor, but I have committed *insert sin,* and Jesus still loves me. Or us putting an ad up apologizing for not being transparent enough like "Yes people sin, but we strive everyday with Christ's help to be more like him."
I watched this movie Sunday, about an Amish man who goes to Hollywood as a missionary. He ends up in the t.v. business, and starts going to parties and what not for "promotion" in the end, after months of doing so, he ends up messing up, getting drunk, and other things. The girl he is in love with is devastated, he says "I messed up, everyone messes up sometimes" and she says "not you" and leaves him, well he ends up with a job as a guy in a hot dog suit, and while standing out there, he realizes that he still has Christ with him, and that Jesus still loves him, and that he needs to keep carrying out His work. So he begins preaching there on the street corner, gets arrested, and this girl that he loves comes and bails him out. She realizes that yes everyone messes up, and at least he was transparent enough to let her know that, and that he isn't going to get drunk or anything else.
If Christians were transparent, and loving, and not self righteous people who hold their faith above the people who have "messed up" there would be a whole lot more openness to the Word.
If you read that first news clip, you'll see that the Methodists have encouraged the atheist ads because it will make people think about God, and whether or not they believe in Him. If we would be transparent with people who aren't sure, and not condemn them for being outsiders, then people would be a whole lot more receptive to the Word, and Christ's love.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Just Keep Doing Your Best, and Pray That It's Blessed
So this past weekend/beginning of the week has been an interesting one for me.....
Friday I decided spur of the moment to go backpacking, I chose Mt. Nebo since it was close and an easy hike. Well after checking in, paying five bucks plus tax (five bucks for a spot that you hike to......I mean really?) anyway I'm packing in, and about a mile, mile and half into it, I turn a corner on the trail, and I see smoke, and I think "the campsites aren't that close to the trail...." and it's a tree! A tree full fledge on fire! Right beside the trail! So I'm like, I should probably call the park office, so I did, and they were like thanks for calling we'll get someone on that. In after thought I forgot to take a picture for all of ya'll to see...it was pretty spectacular, aside from the whole "Wow the whole mountain is about to go up in flames" thought. So yeah, I went on around to my campsite, where I had two different park superintendents come and talk to me. Very interesting thing, reporting forest fires... So yeah camped out by myself all that fun stuff....
Saturday wasn't really too eventful....
Sunday I get out of church and the gas cap on my car was gone, I either left it at the gas station, or someone came and took it. So yeah, that night I saw a movie out at a local church, I came back and was going to write a note about some things and also about a chapter I'm reading in the book "unChristian" (speaking of which Read it! really it will grow you in so many ways, I'm just three chapters in, and it's worth me buying it just for Chapter 3) I got two paragraphs into the note and God was just like "no you aren't going to write this" and that was that.
So I go to sleep and I have to be at work at 6am Monday morning, well I set my alarm, but it didn't go off, why it didn't go off I don't know, but I woke up at 6:10 and was only thirty minutes late for work. But really just on top of all that it made for a really weird four days.
I say all this, because after my whole "burning tree" experience, I felt that before I went to sleep I should read Exodus 3 and 4, Moses encounter with God in the burning bush.
1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up."
4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!"
And Moses said, "Here I am."
5 "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." 6 Then he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
7 The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."
11 But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"
12 And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain."
13 Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?"
14 God said to Moses, "I am who I am . This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.' "
15 God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.
16 "Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—appeared to me and said: I have watched over you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt. 17 And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey.'
18 "The elders of Israel will listen to you. Then you and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God.' 19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. 20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go.
21 "And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed. 22 Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver and gold and for clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters. And so you will plunder the Egyptians."
Then Chapter 4
Moses answered, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The LORD did not appear to you'?"
2 Then the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?"
"A staff," he replied.
3 The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground."
Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. 4 Then the LORD said to him, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail." So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. 5 "This," said the LORD, "is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you."
6 Then the LORD said, "Put your hand inside your cloak." So Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was leprous, like snow.
7 "Now put it back into your cloak," he said. So Moses put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored, like the rest of his flesh.
8 Then the LORD said, "If they do not believe you or pay attention to the first miraculous sign, they may believe the second. 9 But if they do not believe these two signs or listen to you, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the river will become blood on the ground."
10 Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue."
11 The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD ? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."
13 But Moses said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it."
14 Then the LORD's anger burned against Moses and he said, "What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you. 15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. 17 But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it."
18 Then Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, "Let me go back to my own people in Egypt to see if any of them are still alive."
Jethro said, "Go, and I wish you well."
19 Now the LORD had said to Moses in Midian, "Go back to Egypt, for all the men who wanted to kill you are dead." 20 So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand.
21 The LORD said to Moses, "When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. 22 Then say to Pharaoh, 'This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I told you, "Let my son go, so he may worship me." But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.' "
24 At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met {Moses} and was about to kill him. 25 But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son's foreskin and touched {Moses'} feet with it. "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me," she said. 26 So the LORD let him alone. (At that time she said "bridegroom of blood," referring to circumcision.)
27 The LORD said to Aaron, "Go into the desert to meet Moses." So he met Moses at the mountain of God and kissed him. 28 Then Moses told Aaron everything the LORD had sent him to say, and also about all the miraculous signs he had commanded him to perform.
29 Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelites, 30 and Aaron told them everything the LORD had said to Moses. He also performed the signs before the people, 31 and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.
Two entire chapters, that's the most I've done so far, anyway it will all come together.
So Moses sees this burning bush, now out there, where Moses is from, I know he didn't have the reaction I had, I mean first off he was on Jethro's land, and secondly it wasn't burning anything else, nor was it burning itself up. But seriously, think about what you would do if you saw a burning bush, you would flip right? I mean, I stay calm in most situations, like I did when I saw the tree, I looked at it, assessed that though it was burning pretty strong, that it wasn't burned enough that it would be falling over anytime soon, at which point I would have flipped, I would have been yelling at the lady and trying to figure out what I could use to did trenches around the fire.
Anyway enough about myself. So Moses starts talking to God through the bush. This is interesting because it's one of the few times, that God actually presents himself as an object for us to "see." So he tells Moses to take his sandals off because he's on Holy ground. Then he goes on to tell Moses what he expects him to do. What does Moses do? He questions God! Questions GOD! I mean honestly, you are talking to God, wouldn't you have enough fear of him that you would just say "Yes, Lord" and move on, but we see this with other important figures in the Bible also.
Genesis 32:22-30
22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak."
But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."
27 The man asked him, "What is your name?"
"Jacob," he answered.
28 Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, [a] because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."
29 Jacob said, "Please tell me your name."
But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, [b] saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."
Jacob wrestles with God
So yeah, I mean really, why not just do what God wants?
So after God shows Moses all these signs, so Moses can "prove" God is real, He has told him what to say so that people will know it's the real God. Then after he complained that he couldn't speak, he brought forth his older brother.
God was seriously getting mad, I mean really, making God mad? Why can't you just trust Him, I mean really he's God, do you think he's just going to leave you hanging up there?
So then we have this interesting picture of Moses stopping for the night and God trying to kill him, now it's really interesting how {Moses} is put in there. The reason why it's done this way is because it is assumed that it is Moses spoken about here, the original Hebrew just says "his." What is thought of here, is that Moses son was not circumcised and in order for Moses to do work for God he must be circumcised, and since Moses knows that his son needs this, but hasn't done it God is going to kill him.
When I first read it, I missed the whole circumcision thing, and was like, wow Moses made him that mad! I mean, really if it was over Moses asking questions, why aren't we all dead? But this was about something greater than that.
But I mean really, why do we question God? We are told specifically that he is going to find someone else to do it, if we won't. But why would we not want to? It is an honor for us to be a part of his plan! When we are a part of God's plan we are storing up our rewards in heaven! Which is far greater than anything we can ever imagine
I say all this, and tell you all about my weekend, because, I really don't know how focused on him I was this weekend. And I wasn't really looking for what he wanted me to do, and I feel that that may perhaps be the reasoning for all the mishaps I encountered. So in summary, do as God directs, and you'll be on the right track.
"Just keep doing you best, and pray that it's blessed, Jesus will take care of the rest"
(Title from He'll Take Care of the Rest by Keith Green)
Friday I decided spur of the moment to go backpacking, I chose Mt. Nebo since it was close and an easy hike. Well after checking in, paying five bucks plus tax (five bucks for a spot that you hike to......I mean really?) anyway I'm packing in, and about a mile, mile and half into it, I turn a corner on the trail, and I see smoke, and I think "the campsites aren't that close to the trail...." and it's a tree! A tree full fledge on fire! Right beside the trail! So I'm like, I should probably call the park office, so I did, and they were like thanks for calling we'll get someone on that. In after thought I forgot to take a picture for all of ya'll to see...it was pretty spectacular, aside from the whole "Wow the whole mountain is about to go up in flames" thought. So yeah, I went on around to my campsite, where I had two different park superintendents come and talk to me. Very interesting thing, reporting forest fires... So yeah camped out by myself all that fun stuff....
Saturday wasn't really too eventful....
Sunday I get out of church and the gas cap on my car was gone, I either left it at the gas station, or someone came and took it. So yeah, that night I saw a movie out at a local church, I came back and was going to write a note about some things and also about a chapter I'm reading in the book "unChristian" (speaking of which Read it! really it will grow you in so many ways, I'm just three chapters in, and it's worth me buying it just for Chapter 3) I got two paragraphs into the note and God was just like "no you aren't going to write this" and that was that.
So I go to sleep and I have to be at work at 6am Monday morning, well I set my alarm, but it didn't go off, why it didn't go off I don't know, but I woke up at 6:10 and was only thirty minutes late for work. But really just on top of all that it made for a really weird four days.
I say all this, because after my whole "burning tree" experience, I felt that before I went to sleep I should read Exodus 3 and 4, Moses encounter with God in the burning bush.
1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up."
4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!"
And Moses said, "Here I am."
5 "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." 6 Then he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
7 The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."
11 But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"
12 And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain."
13 Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?"
14 God said to Moses, "I am who I am . This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.' "
15 God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.
16 "Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—appeared to me and said: I have watched over you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt. 17 And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey.'
18 "The elders of Israel will listen to you. Then you and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God.' 19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. 20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go.
21 "And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed. 22 Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver and gold and for clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters. And so you will plunder the Egyptians."
Then Chapter 4
Moses answered, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The LORD did not appear to you'?"
2 Then the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?"
"A staff," he replied.
3 The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground."
Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. 4 Then the LORD said to him, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail." So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. 5 "This," said the LORD, "is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you."
6 Then the LORD said, "Put your hand inside your cloak." So Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was leprous, like snow.
7 "Now put it back into your cloak," he said. So Moses put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored, like the rest of his flesh.
8 Then the LORD said, "If they do not believe you or pay attention to the first miraculous sign, they may believe the second. 9 But if they do not believe these two signs or listen to you, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the river will become blood on the ground."
10 Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue."
11 The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD ? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."
13 But Moses said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it."
14 Then the LORD's anger burned against Moses and he said, "What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you. 15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. 17 But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it."
18 Then Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, "Let me go back to my own people in Egypt to see if any of them are still alive."
Jethro said, "Go, and I wish you well."
19 Now the LORD had said to Moses in Midian, "Go back to Egypt, for all the men who wanted to kill you are dead." 20 So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand.
21 The LORD said to Moses, "When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. 22 Then say to Pharaoh, 'This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I told you, "Let my son go, so he may worship me." But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.' "
24 At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met {Moses} and was about to kill him. 25 But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son's foreskin and touched {Moses'} feet with it. "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me," she said. 26 So the LORD let him alone. (At that time she said "bridegroom of blood," referring to circumcision.)
27 The LORD said to Aaron, "Go into the desert to meet Moses." So he met Moses at the mountain of God and kissed him. 28 Then Moses told Aaron everything the LORD had sent him to say, and also about all the miraculous signs he had commanded him to perform.
29 Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelites, 30 and Aaron told them everything the LORD had said to Moses. He also performed the signs before the people, 31 and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.
Two entire chapters, that's the most I've done so far, anyway it will all come together.
So Moses sees this burning bush, now out there, where Moses is from, I know he didn't have the reaction I had, I mean first off he was on Jethro's land, and secondly it wasn't burning anything else, nor was it burning itself up. But seriously, think about what you would do if you saw a burning bush, you would flip right? I mean, I stay calm in most situations, like I did when I saw the tree, I looked at it, assessed that though it was burning pretty strong, that it wasn't burned enough that it would be falling over anytime soon, at which point I would have flipped, I would have been yelling at the lady and trying to figure out what I could use to did trenches around the fire.
Anyway enough about myself. So Moses starts talking to God through the bush. This is interesting because it's one of the few times, that God actually presents himself as an object for us to "see." So he tells Moses to take his sandals off because he's on Holy ground. Then he goes on to tell Moses what he expects him to do. What does Moses do? He questions God! Questions GOD! I mean honestly, you are talking to God, wouldn't you have enough fear of him that you would just say "Yes, Lord" and move on, but we see this with other important figures in the Bible also.
Genesis 32:22-30
22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak."
But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."
27 The man asked him, "What is your name?"
"Jacob," he answered.
28 Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, [a] because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."
29 Jacob said, "Please tell me your name."
But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, [b] saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."
Jacob wrestles with God
So yeah, I mean really, why not just do what God wants?
So after God shows Moses all these signs, so Moses can "prove" God is real, He has told him what to say so that people will know it's the real God. Then after he complained that he couldn't speak, he brought forth his older brother.
God was seriously getting mad, I mean really, making God mad? Why can't you just trust Him, I mean really he's God, do you think he's just going to leave you hanging up there?
So then we have this interesting picture of Moses stopping for the night and God trying to kill him, now it's really interesting how {Moses} is put in there. The reason why it's done this way is because it is assumed that it is Moses spoken about here, the original Hebrew just says "his." What is thought of here, is that Moses son was not circumcised and in order for Moses to do work for God he must be circumcised, and since Moses knows that his son needs this, but hasn't done it God is going to kill him.
When I first read it, I missed the whole circumcision thing, and was like, wow Moses made him that mad! I mean, really if it was over Moses asking questions, why aren't we all dead? But this was about something greater than that.
But I mean really, why do we question God? We are told specifically that he is going to find someone else to do it, if we won't. But why would we not want to? It is an honor for us to be a part of his plan! When we are a part of God's plan we are storing up our rewards in heaven! Which is far greater than anything we can ever imagine
I say all this, and tell you all about my weekend, because, I really don't know how focused on him I was this weekend. And I wasn't really looking for what he wanted me to do, and I feel that that may perhaps be the reasoning for all the mishaps I encountered. So in summary, do as God directs, and you'll be on the right track.
"Just keep doing you best, and pray that it's blessed, Jesus will take care of the rest"
(Title from He'll Take Care of the Rest by Keith Green)
Friday, January 23, 2009
I confess I don't have alot, but what I've got is because of YOU!
Why is it that we want to be recognized for our works?
I mean given, some people like to stay in the back and not be noticed, but deep down inside we want to be recognized. We want to be appreciated!
James 1:9-11
"9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.
10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.
11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business"
Proverbs 16:5,18-19
" 5 The LORD detests all the proud of heart.
Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed
than to share plunder with the proud. "
Proverbs 31:30-31
"30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."
2 Chronicles 15:7-8
" 7 But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded."
8 When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded the prophet, he took courage. He removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns he had captured in the hills of Ephraim. He repaired the altar of the LORD that was in front of the portico of the LORD's temple."
Proverbs 13:13
"He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded."
Ecclesiastes 2:9-11
"9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my work,
and this was the reward for all my labor.
11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;nothing was gained under the sun."
I could go on with the verses all day, as a matter of fact in the NIV the word "reward" in all its forms appears seventy five times throughout the scriptures.
I'm reading this book, "Be A People Person" by John Maxwell. I've stated this in previous notes as well. Anyway, there is a chapter on Encouragement in the book. This is where I was reading today when I had these thoughts.
Why do we only reward the children?
Why do we loose focus on God and focus on our works?
Why are we seeking a worldly reward and not a heavenly one?
In response to my first question posed. In the church (Southern Baptist) we have AWANA's and RA's(Royal Ambassadors) ect. Where children are rewarded for the Bible memorization, and other good merits. Once we graduate to Youth, College, and even Adult Small Groups, there are no rewards. As a matter of fact, typically we loose the accountability that we had in grade school, for reading the Bible, and maintaining a daily walk with Christ.
Why don't we do homework handouts for everyone? Why not every week memorize a verse as a church or a youth group? Why not work on memorizing an entire passage of Scripture over a period of time? Do you know how much heavenly reward we could gain from this? Not only that, but we could allow for an "earthly" reward for the person who does the best. An incentive to try harder. But we have to be careful and not build too much into it. Not to take our focus off of Christ. But wouldn't it be great if we could find that medium, and everyone in the church body memorizing Scripture and growing in Christ in ways they haven't known since grade school!
Now on to the second question. Ego maniacs, self-righteousness. Why? Solomon himself in Ecclesiastes said that it was meaningless. Everything that the Bible talks about on the subject, talks about how dangerous it is. A straight path to destruction. Why would we want to reward ourselves, bring a focus onto us away from God? This is just lessening our reward. Oh it may be great to be noticed here, right now, for what we are doing for Christ, but wouldn't you much rather want a heavenly reward than an earthly one? I know I would.
There I go, I've summed up questions two and three in one paragraph.
But seriously. The Lord rewards us for keeping our focus on him. As stated in Proverbs 31. Why not live all out for Him and get the heavenly reward, than to stay focused on the world, and receive an earthly reward.
As stated in Hebrews 11
"If they had dwelled on the old country they could have stayed there, but they didn't, they were looking for a new one, and for this God was proud, and had a heavenly home prepared for them"
(that is extremely paraphrased)
(Title from the song Because of You by Keith Green)
I mean given, some people like to stay in the back and not be noticed, but deep down inside we want to be recognized. We want to be appreciated!
James 1:9-11
"9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.
10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.
11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business"
Proverbs 16:5,18-19
" 5 The LORD detests all the proud of heart.
Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed
than to share plunder with the proud. "
Proverbs 31:30-31
"30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."
2 Chronicles 15:7-8
" 7 But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded."
8 When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded the prophet, he took courage. He removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns he had captured in the hills of Ephraim. He repaired the altar of the LORD that was in front of the portico of the LORD's temple."
Proverbs 13:13
"He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded."
Ecclesiastes 2:9-11
"9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my work,
and this was the reward for all my labor.
11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;nothing was gained under the sun."
I could go on with the verses all day, as a matter of fact in the NIV the word "reward" in all its forms appears seventy five times throughout the scriptures.
I'm reading this book, "Be A People Person" by John Maxwell. I've stated this in previous notes as well. Anyway, there is a chapter on Encouragement in the book. This is where I was reading today when I had these thoughts.
Why do we only reward the children?
Why do we loose focus on God and focus on our works?
Why are we seeking a worldly reward and not a heavenly one?
In response to my first question posed. In the church (Southern Baptist) we have AWANA's and RA's(Royal Ambassadors) ect. Where children are rewarded for the Bible memorization, and other good merits. Once we graduate to Youth, College, and even Adult Small Groups, there are no rewards. As a matter of fact, typically we loose the accountability that we had in grade school, for reading the Bible, and maintaining a daily walk with Christ.
Why don't we do homework handouts for everyone? Why not every week memorize a verse as a church or a youth group? Why not work on memorizing an entire passage of Scripture over a period of time? Do you know how much heavenly reward we could gain from this? Not only that, but we could allow for an "earthly" reward for the person who does the best. An incentive to try harder. But we have to be careful and not build too much into it. Not to take our focus off of Christ. But wouldn't it be great if we could find that medium, and everyone in the church body memorizing Scripture and growing in Christ in ways they haven't known since grade school!
Now on to the second question. Ego maniacs, self-righteousness. Why? Solomon himself in Ecclesiastes said that it was meaningless. Everything that the Bible talks about on the subject, talks about how dangerous it is. A straight path to destruction. Why would we want to reward ourselves, bring a focus onto us away from God? This is just lessening our reward. Oh it may be great to be noticed here, right now, for what we are doing for Christ, but wouldn't you much rather want a heavenly reward than an earthly one? I know I would.
There I go, I've summed up questions two and three in one paragraph.
But seriously. The Lord rewards us for keeping our focus on him. As stated in Proverbs 31. Why not live all out for Him and get the heavenly reward, than to stay focused on the world, and receive an earthly reward.
As stated in Hebrews 11
"If they had dwelled on the old country they could have stayed there, but they didn't, they were looking for a new one, and for this God was proud, and had a heavenly home prepared for them"
(that is extremely paraphrased)
(Title from the song Because of You by Keith Green)
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Everybody loves him, but they can't get close, at least that's what he's told
What defines a friendship?
Many would quote Proverbs 18:24
"24 A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
Typically, we just see the second part of that verse, and really I just looked it up for the last part, I didn't even realize the first part.
This is just goes to show you how much God is leading me towards what I need to see right now. Just so everyone knows, what I write about, it isn't stuff I just pick up, it's something I've heard or thought of, and God has prodded me to search further, I'm just asking ya'll to go on the journey with me.
Here I am right now, sitting in my dorm room (I really should be reading something for classes, but it's not overly important at the moment...) And this has been on my heart for the past few days. Last night I ate supper by myself, now I say this not to bring pity on myself, or any other form of glory or what you would think, I'm using it for a point.
When I started out this year at Tech, I had about six friends in the Arkansas Tech Network, two of which were freshmen like me, one an alum, and three who were current students. I have now expanded to Fifty-One friends from the Arkansas Tech Network. That is more people than I can tag in this note! But to be honest with you, there were probably three of them in the caf last night, and I didn't feel comfortable going up and eating with any of them.
A Friend who sticks closer than a brother. Really? I mean I honestly, have to say, I don't have a friend like that. I never have. Now I have many companions. MANY companions. I mean who can seriously go through all 400 and something friends, and remember each of their names? That's something I can do, not to gloat, but I can. But I can honestly say that I wouldn't feel comfortable walking up to any one of them and telling them some things about me.
It's not supposed to be that way. But I am yet to find someone who is willing to invest the time to get to know me like that. Now it can be disheartening, but at this point I am maintaining hope that it's simply because Christ is yet to provide me with the right person to be that friend. Because I certainly don't want to come to ruin. I mean none of us would even wish that on somebody. (well maybe we would.............but that would be a sin....so we don't). But it says MAY come to ruin. So there is hope yet!
(Title from Star of the Show by Everyday Sunday)
Many would quote Proverbs 18:24
"24 A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
Typically, we just see the second part of that verse, and really I just looked it up for the last part, I didn't even realize the first part.
This is just goes to show you how much God is leading me towards what I need to see right now. Just so everyone knows, what I write about, it isn't stuff I just pick up, it's something I've heard or thought of, and God has prodded me to search further, I'm just asking ya'll to go on the journey with me.
Here I am right now, sitting in my dorm room (I really should be reading something for classes, but it's not overly important at the moment...) And this has been on my heart for the past few days. Last night I ate supper by myself, now I say this not to bring pity on myself, or any other form of glory or what you would think, I'm using it for a point.
When I started out this year at Tech, I had about six friends in the Arkansas Tech Network, two of which were freshmen like me, one an alum, and three who were current students. I have now expanded to Fifty-One friends from the Arkansas Tech Network. That is more people than I can tag in this note! But to be honest with you, there were probably three of them in the caf last night, and I didn't feel comfortable going up and eating with any of them.
A Friend who sticks closer than a brother. Really? I mean I honestly, have to say, I don't have a friend like that. I never have. Now I have many companions. MANY companions. I mean who can seriously go through all 400 and something friends, and remember each of their names? That's something I can do, not to gloat, but I can. But I can honestly say that I wouldn't feel comfortable walking up to any one of them and telling them some things about me.
It's not supposed to be that way. But I am yet to find someone who is willing to invest the time to get to know me like that. Now it can be disheartening, but at this point I am maintaining hope that it's simply because Christ is yet to provide me with the right person to be that friend. Because I certainly don't want to come to ruin. I mean none of us would even wish that on somebody. (well maybe we would.............but that would be a sin....so we don't). But it says MAY come to ruin. So there is hope yet!
(Title from Star of the Show by Everyday Sunday)
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Don't You Wish You Had The Answers?
After listening to a message by my good friend Matt Scully on fasting, I wanted to read some more into the verses, and see what I could find for myself. So I started in John 6, here are some of the passages that stood out to me.
John 6: 26-29
" 26Jesus answered, 'I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.
27Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.'
28Then they asked him, 'What must we do to do the works God requires?'
29Jesus answered, 'The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.' "
John 6: 32-40
" 32Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.
33For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
34"Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."
35Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
36But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.
37All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
38For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.
40For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." "
John 6: 43-51
" 43"Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered.
44"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
45It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.'[d] Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.
46No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.
47I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.
48I am the bread of life.
49Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died.
50But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die.
51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." "
John 6:53-58
" 53Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
54Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
55For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.
56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.
57Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.
58This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." "
John 6: 61-65
"61Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you?
62What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before!
63The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit[e] and they are life.
64Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.
65He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." "
So I know that's alot of verses to chew up and swallow, but I like to make sure that people have context around what is being talked about.
"Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life"
"The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent"
Working for eternal life, not food that spoils. Believing in Christ, well that's simple right? I mean there are so many who believe in Christ. I mean as John Reuben says in God Music "Even Satan can say Jesus Loves You." Satan believes in Jesus's diety, what's the difference between him and us? Satan has not given his life to Jesus though, this is the difference. But if we are not giving our lives to Jesus, and just believe in his diety, then we are just as bad as Satan himself!
But we have been drawn in my the Father himself, and Satan has denied that.
"I tell you he who believes has eternal life"
If we accept God's calling and believe in his Son, then we will be saved. After which we will be truly devoted to Him and what He wants us to do. To ensure that we are living for Christ, and not just believing in his diety we have to "eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink of His blood."
Being a cannibal doesn't really sound appetizing to me, but this isn't what Christ is talking about, and this is what he tells the Disciples further down in the passage, because they are equally confused.
"63The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit[e] and they are life. "
Essentially, all this flesh and blood stuff is just how he is talking about the Spirit. What he is saying is that while he was still on earth, believing in Him, and seeing Him on earth, and doing what he was asking them to do, was believing in Him. But once he left, it was up to the Spirit to guide us with what Christ wants done.
I love this section of Scripture because it is such a great portrayal of the Trinity. The Father, who came before the Son. Then the Son talking about how when he leaves, the Spirit will be the one to follow. How essentially they are three in one. It is amazing! Everything about Christ is amazing.
(Title from Don't You Wish You Had The Answers by Keith Green)
John 6: 26-29
" 26Jesus answered, 'I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.
27Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.'
28Then they asked him, 'What must we do to do the works God requires?'
29Jesus answered, 'The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.' "
John 6: 32-40
" 32Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.
33For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
34"Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."
35Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
36But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.
37All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
38For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.
40For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." "
John 6: 43-51
" 43"Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered.
44"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
45It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.'[d] Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.
46No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.
47I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.
48I am the bread of life.
49Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died.
50But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die.
51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." "
John 6:53-58
" 53Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
54Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
55For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.
56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.
57Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.
58This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." "
John 6: 61-65
"61Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you?
62What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before!
63The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit[e] and they are life.
64Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.
65He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." "
So I know that's alot of verses to chew up and swallow, but I like to make sure that people have context around what is being talked about.
"Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life"
"The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent"
Working for eternal life, not food that spoils. Believing in Christ, well that's simple right? I mean there are so many who believe in Christ. I mean as John Reuben says in God Music "Even Satan can say Jesus Loves You." Satan believes in Jesus's diety, what's the difference between him and us? Satan has not given his life to Jesus though, this is the difference. But if we are not giving our lives to Jesus, and just believe in his diety, then we are just as bad as Satan himself!
But we have been drawn in my the Father himself, and Satan has denied that.
"I tell you he who believes has eternal life"
If we accept God's calling and believe in his Son, then we will be saved. After which we will be truly devoted to Him and what He wants us to do. To ensure that we are living for Christ, and not just believing in his diety we have to "eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink of His blood."
Being a cannibal doesn't really sound appetizing to me, but this isn't what Christ is talking about, and this is what he tells the Disciples further down in the passage, because they are equally confused.
"63The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit[e] and they are life. "
Essentially, all this flesh and blood stuff is just how he is talking about the Spirit. What he is saying is that while he was still on earth, believing in Him, and seeing Him on earth, and doing what he was asking them to do, was believing in Him. But once he left, it was up to the Spirit to guide us with what Christ wants done.
I love this section of Scripture because it is such a great portrayal of the Trinity. The Father, who came before the Son. Then the Son talking about how when he leaves, the Spirit will be the one to follow. How essentially they are three in one. It is amazing! Everything about Christ is amazing.
(Title from Don't You Wish You Had The Answers by Keith Green)
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