C.S. Lewis quote:
All that we call human history--money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery--[is] the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.
Not sure about the "happy" part. It might be petty, but I try to stay away from "God makes you happy" in favor of using the word "Joy."
Still - a nice Lewis quote, I think.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
The Gospel and the glory
The gospel of Jesus Christ might not always sound or look the way I think it should, but it will always glorify God.
I've been going through Jonah and this is something Jonah had to struggle and eventually just deal with. The gospel Jonah understood was one meant only for God's chosen people and not the Assyrians. Jonah did not expect, and did not want, the gospel of God's mercy to extend to his enemies.
But - in the end the repentant people of Nineveh gave God glory for His merciful warning.
God was glorified, and continues to be glorified thousands of years later as we read this story.
I hate that I see Jonah in myself so much. God help me!
I've been going through Jonah and this is something Jonah had to struggle and eventually just deal with. The gospel Jonah understood was one meant only for God's chosen people and not the Assyrians. Jonah did not expect, and did not want, the gospel of God's mercy to extend to his enemies.
But - in the end the repentant people of Nineveh gave God glory for His merciful warning.
God was glorified, and continues to be glorified thousands of years later as we read this story.
I hate that I see Jonah in myself so much. God help me!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
I Believe in God
Like usual, I was checking out other people's stuff and saw something I liked. So here it is. Thanks Jared!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Redemption
Hosea 7:13
Woe to them, for they have strayed from me!
Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against me!
I would redeem them,
but they speak lies against me.
The NIV says "I long to redeem them"
God's desire, from the instant we needed it, has been redemption. How incredible! How wonderful! How amazing is God's love for us.
Adam and Eve - IN God's presence - walking and talking with God in the garden still chose to sin.
And we're no different. Christians and non Christians alike. We've all CHOSEN sin. We all sin without thinking about it. We all sin inadvertently. And, when convicted of that sin, we (hopefully) repent and ask for mercy. But, there are always sins we CHOOSE to commit. Knowing God. Experiencing His greatness. Feeling the presence of His Spirit. And we still make the choice to sin.
And yet.... !!!!!
God's intention has always been to redeem us.
After sin entered creation, God told the deceiver - "he (talking about Jesus) will crush your head" Gen. 3:15. God has promised the destruction of evil. God has promised that Jesus will crush Satan. On the cross Jesus became obedient to death. Through the resurrection, Jesus guaranteed Satan's defeat. Jesus has crushed and WILL crush evil.
The reason for that is because God wants, and has wanted ever since it became necessary, to redeem us. His beloved. His most precious creation. GOD, the creator. The maker of everything. THE Glorious God. has made a way for us.
He longs to redeem us. He has already made it possible. It's already done!!
That gets me excited.
God is so good.
So, that's what I've been thinking about for a couple of days.
Bye bye.
Woe to them, for they have strayed from me!
Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against me!
I would redeem them,
but they speak lies against me.
The NIV says "I long to redeem them"
God's desire, from the instant we needed it, has been redemption. How incredible! How wonderful! How amazing is God's love for us.
Adam and Eve - IN God's presence - walking and talking with God in the garden still chose to sin.
And we're no different. Christians and non Christians alike. We've all CHOSEN sin. We all sin without thinking about it. We all sin inadvertently. And, when convicted of that sin, we (hopefully) repent and ask for mercy. But, there are always sins we CHOOSE to commit. Knowing God. Experiencing His greatness. Feeling the presence of His Spirit. And we still make the choice to sin.
And yet.... !!!!!
God's intention has always been to redeem us.
After sin entered creation, God told the deceiver - "he (talking about Jesus) will crush your head" Gen. 3:15. God has promised the destruction of evil. God has promised that Jesus will crush Satan. On the cross Jesus became obedient to death. Through the resurrection, Jesus guaranteed Satan's defeat. Jesus has crushed and WILL crush evil.
The reason for that is because God wants, and has wanted ever since it became necessary, to redeem us. His beloved. His most precious creation. GOD, the creator. The maker of everything. THE Glorious God. has made a way for us.
He longs to redeem us. He has already made it possible. It's already done!!
That gets me excited.
God is so good.
So, that's what I've been thinking about for a couple of days.
Bye bye.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
What is Jesus Saying to You?
My in-laws sent me a link to a cool article / blog posting something or other. It's about Brother Yun, a Chinese evangelist. It's definitely a nice read.
Here's an excerpt from it:
“For a long time we have proclaimed a very strange gospel in this nation,” Yun says. “The gospel is a very comfortable and pleasant thing for everyone. But the gospel is really to die for Jesus. “The core of my message is taking up your cross and following Jesus every day-walking out from the security of the church structures and buildings. Jesus never said it would be a wonderful and peaceful joy ride to follow Him in this world. He said, ‘In this world you will have suffering, but do not lose heart, for I have overcome the world.’ “The requirement for a disciple, according to the Bible, is very high. First of all, you have to die. Taking up your cross means you have to die to your own desires-to self-and walk behind Jesus. That’s a disciple.”
You can check it out by following this link
Peace out.
Here's an excerpt from it:
“For a long time we have proclaimed a very strange gospel in this nation,” Yun says. “The gospel is a very comfortable and pleasant thing for everyone. But the gospel is really to die for Jesus. “The core of my message is taking up your cross and following Jesus every day-walking out from the security of the church structures and buildings. Jesus never said it would be a wonderful and peaceful joy ride to follow Him in this world. He said, ‘In this world you will have suffering, but do not lose heart, for I have overcome the world.’ “The requirement for a disciple, according to the Bible, is very high. First of all, you have to die. Taking up your cross means you have to die to your own desires-to self-and walk behind Jesus. That’s a disciple.”
You can check it out by following this link
Peace out.
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