Ok, it's been a loooooong time since my last post. Maybe I'll post more frequently. Maybe. :-) But I couldn't resist the following...
"...so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him" (Hebrews 9:28).
It is assumed (and rightfully, obviously so) that those who will be saved are characterized by an eager waiting. If we really believe all that God has said and we have staked our lives on it, then OF COURSE waiting eagerly for His return will automatically be a fitting description of our attitude. Right? What does it mean if secretly, deep down someone would rather Jesus not return so that he/she could experience something in this life here on earth? Important question to ponder.
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Monday, October 15, 2012
Saturday, December 10, 2011
It's Irrational to Reject God
I learned this week that Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) was the first person we know of to have recorded using a cost-benefit analysis. His subject matter was not economics as one may guess, but rather it was God. He wrote in a dialogue format in which he was debating with a supposed opponent. Pascal argued that the cost, or risk, associated with believing in God was incredibly small compared to the infinite reward if you turned out to be correct. I'll summarize his and his opponents' positions below. My summary is a bit tailored to our modern world, but here goes...
He likened it to gambling. If you were offered the opportunity to gamble in a game where the outcomes were so favorable compared to the risk, would you play? If I toss a fair coin and it comes up heads I will give you a million dollars; but if it comes up tails you give me one dollar--would you play? (Hint: you'd be a fool not to.)
Pascal argued that to believe in God carried such minimal risk (you'd miss out in drunkenness and a bunch of other vices that would ruin your life, for example) and enormous (eternal) reward that you'd be a fool not to take it. Similarly, if you believe in God and end up ring wrong then you have lost nothing much. The cost-benefit analysis is heavily favoring believing in God.
Pascal's opponent replied that Pascal was correct. The rational and reasonable thing to do was to take up the "bet" and believe in God. However, the opponent maintained that when he tried to believe in God he just couldn't. He tried to believe but failed.
Pascal's reply is what I particularly enjoyed in this little excerpt from history: Well, then you can't say that your unbelief is due to reason and intellect. Your unbelief is not rational at all. It is completely reasonable to seek out God and attempt to find him. Being content with unbelief is intellectually foolish. Don't claim that your unbelief is due to your superior intellect. On the contrary it is your own prejudices, lusts, and other sins that are preventing you from doing what is rational -- seeking out and believing in God.
"The fool has said in his heart that there is no God." -- Psalm 14:1
He likened it to gambling. If you were offered the opportunity to gamble in a game where the outcomes were so favorable compared to the risk, would you play? If I toss a fair coin and it comes up heads I will give you a million dollars; but if it comes up tails you give me one dollar--would you play? (Hint: you'd be a fool not to.)
Pascal argued that to believe in God carried such minimal risk (you'd miss out in drunkenness and a bunch of other vices that would ruin your life, for example) and enormous (eternal) reward that you'd be a fool not to take it. Similarly, if you believe in God and end up ring wrong then you have lost nothing much. The cost-benefit analysis is heavily favoring believing in God.
Pascal's opponent replied that Pascal was correct. The rational and reasonable thing to do was to take up the "bet" and believe in God. However, the opponent maintained that when he tried to believe in God he just couldn't. He tried to believe but failed.
Pascal's reply is what I particularly enjoyed in this little excerpt from history: Well, then you can't say that your unbelief is due to reason and intellect. Your unbelief is not rational at all. It is completely reasonable to seek out God and attempt to find him. Being content with unbelief is intellectually foolish. Don't claim that your unbelief is due to your superior intellect. On the contrary it is your own prejudices, lusts, and other sins that are preventing you from doing what is rational -- seeking out and believing in God.
"The fool has said in his heart that there is no God." -- Psalm 14:1
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Our Lives In View of Some Heroes of the Faith
This really helped keep me awake this morning! Better than coffee! :-)
Our Lives In View of Some Heroes of the Faith
If you knew for a certainty that “men of God” whom you’ve so admired from over the centuries (Abraham, Job, Elijah, Moses, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, David, etc.) all looked forward to the days you would live and somehow viewed these days as the days their lives and work and sacrifice pointed to and worked towards—if you knew that to be true, do you think that would cause you to take your day today a little more seriously? Would that change how hard you dig inside to connect with Heaven on even small issues? Would it change how you look into the eyes of your child or neighbor? How quickly you soften your heart? The kinds of things you choose to invest your heart in? Will you consider it?... (Matt. 11:13; Heb. 11:39-40; 1Pet. 1:10-12) —bb
TextMessages.JesusLifeTogether.com/Our-Lives-and-Heroes-of-the-Faith
Our Lives In View of Some Heroes of the Faith
If you knew for a certainty that “men of God” whom you’ve so admired from over the centuries (Abraham, Job, Elijah, Moses, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, David, etc.) all looked forward to the days you would live and somehow viewed these days as the days their lives and work and sacrifice pointed to and worked towards—if you knew that to be true, do you think that would cause you to take your day today a little more seriously? Would that change how hard you dig inside to connect with Heaven on even small issues? Would it change how you look into the eyes of your child or neighbor? How quickly you soften your heart? The kinds of things you choose to invest your heart in? Will you consider it?... (Matt. 11:13; Heb. 11:39-40; 1Pet. 1:10-12) —bb
TextMessages.JesusLifeTogether.com/Our-Lives-and-Heroes-of-the-Faith
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Changing the World
Vision With Action Can Change the World
“Without Vision, the People shrug off responsibility.”
“Be doers, and not hearers only.”
“Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes time. Vision with action can change the world.” (J. Barker)
“Without Vision, the People shrug off responsibility.”
“Be doers, and not hearers only.”
TextMessages.JesusLifeTogether.com/Vision-With-Action
“Without Vision, the People shrug off responsibility.”
“Be doers, and not hearers only.”
“Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes time. Vision with action can change the world.” (J. Barker)
“Without Vision, the People shrug off responsibility.”
“Be doers, and not hearers only.”
TextMessages.JesusLifeTogether.com/Vision-With-Action
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
LOVE the Truth
I have met quite a few people through the years who respond to Truth by saying something like, "Thanks, you've given me a lot to think about." Ultimately, over time, the culture that these people surround themselves with and immerse themselves into prevails. In the end, they do not submit to the Truth that they are shown. Instead they "chew on it" and "like it" but refuse to treasure it, live for it, and die for it. They therefore never truly rise above the nominal Christianity they were born into. They may reach a state of "better than average" but they fall FAR, FAR SHORT of SUPERNATURAL.
The same can happen to US (ie, ANYONE) if we treat "Truth" as something to be evaluated and studied and "remembered." Truth is to be TREASURED and THEREFORE we remember it. Where your TREASURE is, there shall your heart be. We remember the truth and live the truth because we TREASURE the truth. We LOVE the truth and so are saved (2 Thess 2:10-12). Otherwise, anything short of loving and treasuring and being changed by the truth will cause us to be overcome by a strong delusion. We will be deluded. Maybe we will think we are fine. Maybe we will think we know the truth because we've heard it and even "liked it" and "thanked" the one who brought it to us. But in the end if we are not CHANGED because we have treasured and honored and submitted to the Word of God we will be deluded and believe the lie. It must infuriate God so much that He Himself sends the strong delusion to people. He will not have a bunch if counterfeits! Let's treasure what He treasures.
The same can happen to US (ie, ANYONE) if we treat "Truth" as something to be evaluated and studied and "remembered." Truth is to be TREASURED and THEREFORE we remember it. Where your TREASURE is, there shall your heart be. We remember the truth and live the truth because we TREASURE the truth. We LOVE the truth and so are saved (2 Thess 2:10-12). Otherwise, anything short of loving and treasuring and being changed by the truth will cause us to be overcome by a strong delusion. We will be deluded. Maybe we will think we are fine. Maybe we will think we know the truth because we've heard it and even "liked it" and "thanked" the one who brought it to us. But in the end if we are not CHANGED because we have treasured and honored and submitted to the Word of God we will be deluded and believe the lie. It must infuriate God so much that He Himself sends the strong delusion to people. He will not have a bunch if counterfeits! Let's treasure what He treasures.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Christianity is Not a Religion, Nor a Holy Day Meeting
The following was a quote that was emailed to me this morning:
"Suppose Christianity is not a religion but a way of life, a falling in love with God, and, through Him, a falling in love with our fellows. Of course, such a way is hard and costly, but it is also joyous and rewarding even in the here-and-now. People who follow that Way know beyond all possible argument that they are in harmony with the purpose of God, that Christ is with them and in them as they set about His work in our disordered world. If anyone thinks this is perilous and revolutionary teaching, so much the better. That is exactly what they thought of the teaching of Jesus Christ. The light He brought to bear upon human affairs is almost unbearably brilliant: but it is the light of Truth, and in that light human problems can be solved."
-J. B. Phillips (1906-1982), When God Was Man [1954]
"Suppose Christianity is not a religion but a way of life, a falling in love with God, and, through Him, a falling in love with our fellows. Of course, such a way is hard and costly, but it is also joyous and rewarding even in the here-and-now. People who follow that Way know beyond all possible argument that they are in harmony with the purpose of God, that Christ is with them and in them as they set about His work in our disordered world. If anyone thinks this is perilous and revolutionary teaching, so much the better. That is exactly what they thought of the teaching of Jesus Christ. The light He brought to bear upon human affairs is almost unbearably brilliant: but it is the light of Truth, and in that light human problems can be solved."
-J. B. Phillips (1906-1982), When God Was Man [1954]
Thursday, October 20, 2011
A Good Parent
The following was written by some friends:
What is the definition of a “good” mother or a “good” father? It’s not about simply providing the children with food, clothing, and shelter, or taking them to the zoo, golfing, flying kites, riding bicycles, “family dinners and devotionals,” growing gardens, passing or dribbling a ball with them, painting pictures, and educating them. A “good” mother or father is one who leads the children to the REAL Jesus, in intimacy, and zeal, and love, and total abandonment—and demonstrates all of that daily, amongst the Saints themselves. Anything less is subtly but surely DESTROYING our children (as nice and warm and fuzzy as it may seem), by teaching them a value system that will lead them towards dullness, deception, and death. Let’s do it Right, in Him and through Him, for His Glory!
www.JesusLifeTogether.com
What is the definition of a “good” mother or a “good” father? It’s not about simply providing the children with food, clothing, and shelter, or taking them to the zoo, golfing, flying kites, riding bicycles, “family dinners and devotionals,” growing gardens, passing or dribbling a ball with them, painting pictures, and educating them. A “good” mother or father is one who leads the children to the REAL Jesus, in intimacy, and zeal, and love, and total abandonment—and demonstrates all of that daily, amongst the Saints themselves. Anything less is subtly but surely DESTROYING our children (as nice and warm and fuzzy as it may seem), by teaching them a value system that will lead them towards dullness, deception, and death. Let’s do it Right, in Him and through Him, for His Glory!
www.JesusLifeTogether.com
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