Pagan Christianity Critique
2 hours ago
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Religious Self-Profiling
An interesting artical I found via "The Church of Facebook" blog, on religious self-profiling on social networking sites
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/january/20.14.html?start=1
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/january/20.14.html?start=1
Friday, January 8, 2010
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Conversation between Santa and Jesus...????
I wonder what kind of a conversations there would be if Santa and Jesus sat down over a hot cup of coco... hmmmm... I wonder...
Monday, November 30, 2009
Thoughts on Job
Life presents a lot of interesting experiences. Ones we've place ourselves in because of the discussions we make, and ones in which we find circumstances and the acts of other people have placed us in. Sometimes that can be a place of disorientation and chaos, I know for me it is anyway. It can be hard to find that word of wisdom, or just someone who understand, even if only on a small scale. And then as followers of Jesus we can't help but ask the hard question of where is God in all of this? And does God really understand?
I couldn't help but turn to the book of Job. Now, in no way do any of my situations compare to that of what he went through, but what I have found is that the way in which he thinks and responds to the different views that his friends present to him as explanations to his plight, and his trying to understand where God is in all of this, incredibly engaging and thought provoking.
What stands out to me the most in Job's story is that he finds a raw, honest reality of communicating his thoughts on God's involvement, or there lack of. Not once does Job curse God for his plight, but rather he acknowledges the greatness of God, and that God is ultimately in control. I was deeply struck by chapter 9
1 Then Job replied:
2 "Indeed, I know that this is true.
But how can a mortal be righteous before God?
3 Though one wished to dispute with him,
he could not answer him one time out of a thousand.
4 His wisdom is profound, his power is vast.
Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?
5 He moves mountains without their knowing it
and overturns them in his anger.
6 He shakes the earth from its place
and makes its pillars tremble.
7 He speaks to the sun and it does not shine;
he seals off the light of the stars.
8 He alone stretches out the heavens
and treads on the waves of the sea.
9 He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion,
the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
10 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted.
11 When he passes me, I cannot see him;
when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.
12 If he snatches away, who can stop him?
Who can say to him, 'What are you doing?'
13 God does not restrain his anger;
even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at his feet.
14 "How then can I dispute with him?
How can I find words to argue with him?
15 Though I were innocent, I could not answer him;
I could only plead with my Judge for mercy.
16 Even if I summoned him and he responded,
I do not believe he would give me a hearing.
17 He would crush me with a storm
and multiply my wounds for no reason.
18 He would not let me regain my breath
but would overwhelm me with misery.
19 If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty!
And if it is a matter of justice, who will summon him?
20 Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me;
if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.
21 "Although I am blameless,
I have no concern for myself;
I despise my own life.
22 It is all the same; that is why I say,
'He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.'
23 When a scourge brings sudden death,
he mocks the despair of the innocent.
24 When a land falls into the hands of the wicked,
he blindfolds its judges.
If it is not he, then who is it?
25 "My days are swifter than a runner;
they fly away without a glimpse of joy.
26 They skim past like boats of papyrus,
like eagles swooping down on their prey.
27 If I say, 'I will forget my complaint,
I will change my expression, and smile,'
28 I still dread all my sufferings,
for I know you will not hold me innocent.
29 Since I am already found guilty,
why should I struggle in vain?
30 Even if I washed myself with soap
and my hands with washing soda,
31 you would plunge me into a slime pit
so that even my clothes would detest me.
32 "He is not a man like me that I might answer him,
that we might confront each other in court.
33 If only there were someone to arbitrate between us,
to lay his hand upon us both,
34 someone to remove God's rod from me,
so that his terror would frighten me no more.
35 Then I would speak up without fear of him,
but as it now stands with me, I cannot.
What a profound chapter! Job knows the despair he is in, a despair not of his own making. He speaks out what is on his heart, yet does not curse God, he knows that God is ultimately in control.
We can try to live a wonderful religious life. That doesn't mean that bad things won't happen to us or the people we love. What matters is the way we respond to those situations and ultimately God.
I know there have been times in which I have caused my own pain and despair, and times in which people have cause me pain and despair. However, I am grateful to Job's story because it means that I can communicate with the creator of the universe who I know to be majestic, deserving of respect and great honour, but in whom I can communicate honestly with about my life. Knowing that in light of Jesus' life, death and resurrection, God understands even though I may sometimes not.
I couldn't help but turn to the book of Job. Now, in no way do any of my situations compare to that of what he went through, but what I have found is that the way in which he thinks and responds to the different views that his friends present to him as explanations to his plight, and his trying to understand where God is in all of this, incredibly engaging and thought provoking.
What stands out to me the most in Job's story is that he finds a raw, honest reality of communicating his thoughts on God's involvement, or there lack of. Not once does Job curse God for his plight, but rather he acknowledges the greatness of God, and that God is ultimately in control. I was deeply struck by chapter 9
1 Then Job replied:
2 "Indeed, I know that this is true.
But how can a mortal be righteous before God?
3 Though one wished to dispute with him,
he could not answer him one time out of a thousand.
4 His wisdom is profound, his power is vast.
Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?
5 He moves mountains without their knowing it
and overturns them in his anger.
6 He shakes the earth from its place
and makes its pillars tremble.
7 He speaks to the sun and it does not shine;
he seals off the light of the stars.
8 He alone stretches out the heavens
and treads on the waves of the sea.
9 He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion,
the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
10 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted.
11 When he passes me, I cannot see him;
when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.
12 If he snatches away, who can stop him?
Who can say to him, 'What are you doing?'
13 God does not restrain his anger;
even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at his feet.
14 "How then can I dispute with him?
How can I find words to argue with him?
15 Though I were innocent, I could not answer him;
I could only plead with my Judge for mercy.
16 Even if I summoned him and he responded,
I do not believe he would give me a hearing.
17 He would crush me with a storm
and multiply my wounds for no reason.
18 He would not let me regain my breath
but would overwhelm me with misery.
19 If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty!
And if it is a matter of justice, who will summon him?
20 Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me;
if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.
21 "Although I am blameless,
I have no concern for myself;
I despise my own life.
22 It is all the same; that is why I say,
'He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.'
23 When a scourge brings sudden death,
he mocks the despair of the innocent.
24 When a land falls into the hands of the wicked,
he blindfolds its judges.
If it is not he, then who is it?
25 "My days are swifter than a runner;
they fly away without a glimpse of joy.
26 They skim past like boats of papyrus,
like eagles swooping down on their prey.
27 If I say, 'I will forget my complaint,
I will change my expression, and smile,'
28 I still dread all my sufferings,
for I know you will not hold me innocent.
29 Since I am already found guilty,
why should I struggle in vain?
30 Even if I washed myself with soap
and my hands with washing soda,
31 you would plunge me into a slime pit
so that even my clothes would detest me.
32 "He is not a man like me that I might answer him,
that we might confront each other in court.
33 If only there were someone to arbitrate between us,
to lay his hand upon us both,
34 someone to remove God's rod from me,
so that his terror would frighten me no more.
35 Then I would speak up without fear of him,
but as it now stands with me, I cannot.
What a profound chapter! Job knows the despair he is in, a despair not of his own making. He speaks out what is on his heart, yet does not curse God, he knows that God is ultimately in control.
We can try to live a wonderful religious life. That doesn't mean that bad things won't happen to us or the people we love. What matters is the way we respond to those situations and ultimately God.
I know there have been times in which I have caused my own pain and despair, and times in which people have cause me pain and despair. However, I am grateful to Job's story because it means that I can communicate with the creator of the universe who I know to be majestic, deserving of respect and great honour, but in whom I can communicate honestly with about my life. Knowing that in light of Jesus' life, death and resurrection, God understands even though I may sometimes not.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
True colours of Youth Ministry!!
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