Sharing the Gift

It occurs to me that my religious beliefs are somewhat unknown to others and maybe even to myself so I thought I would write a few words for clarification.  This message is an old story, an unchanging story that when I tell it for myself is the same story that others have told and will tell so please bear with me and consider I condemn you for nothing and offer you the knowledge of the gift which I’ve been given.  Thus begins the closer look as to why I believe what I believe.  Quite simply I consider myself a follower of Jesus Christ.  Unfortunately unless clarified this statement of belief can mean various things to many different people.

Believing as I do that Jesus is the son of God and that he will return in a miraculous way takes of course faith.  Jesus performed miracles which were performed to acknowledge that he was of God and in complete agreement with God. This reality that man is an important part of God’s creation and that some things are brought together in an instant which seem to be beyond the comprehension of man.

More importantly I believe that Christ lived and taught in a way to suggest that men should not spend there time condemning but saving others.  He summed up the commandments to incorporate but two things.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart mind soul and spirit and Love your neighbor as yourself.    We can intuitively incorporate his main other teachings like turning the other cheek as just extensions to his basic premise that this life is not the end for those who believe.  We are instead made aware of the battle on earth to enslave men to their sin and make them subject to the punishment for their sin.   As Christians we are forgiven for sins as Christ is present in the Holy Spirit which does not allow us to unwittingly to deny God’s love.

This love is available to all human beings regardless of what they’ve done or even what they will do because in Christ the legal punishment for sin has been atoned.  It is important to me to make this a personal belief such that I do not get wrapped up or condemn anyone who wants to accept Christ.   

It is clear that this atonement was aimed not at the righteous but sinners, Tax Collectors, Prostitutes and everyman, all who are victims of our desire to sin.  Ironically there is nothing I can do to earn this free pass from the condemnation of sin, but to recognize the one who gives it.  There is nothing I can do to take this gift away from someone else who has received it.  Many may try and even suggest that I’m not allowed or worthy of this gift, but I am reminded that the Good News is the Good News that Jesus died, resurrected and is coming again.  That my days are short and these days are few in comparison to the reward of the gift of eternal life that awaits me and anyone else who chooses to believe and accept the gift which God has given us which is Jesus Christ our redeemer... There are certainly signs that suggest this may be the end times. The wiles of the devil and darkness continue to plague mankind, but remember Jesus Christ is the hope for everyman and his message is a message of Love for all time.

Its been a long time since I posted here!

I decided to post a few things here and elsewhere as I have been posting in numerous places for quite some time.  Here is a post I just posted over at Colbert Report Forum. Keep in mind these are usually in response to some kind of question being posed. Link to place at Colbert Report

God's Divinity is such that the Devil is a fool trying to rewrite a book that's already been written. Man's trying to figure out the author. (by me)

One may believe that we are a species barely aware of ourselves in cosmos of multiple dimensions. Awareness is the key to understanding ourselves in relation to living things. Consequently one could argue that many people barely surviving are in fact less aware of their relationship to the Cosmos. For instance I'm driving for miles down a straight road with only a few turns, however at each sharp turn I notice I pass a car the only cars I've passed for miles. I think to myself what if I had been crossing the double yellow line at the moment I took those turns. For many days I notice this continues to happen until I decide this is not coincidence. There is reality beyond our own and when souls seek evil or men pray we become yet more tangled in the dimensional dilemma. The issue of awareness becomes the most keen reality to existence of ourselves in the cosmos. The question of whether this reality can be discovered or manipulated or just learned is the basic question to our spiritual existence. This very question of whether there is an omnipotent God that already knows our future and even our thoughts suggests that the we are predestined and that are so called desires and determination are sadly figments of our imagination and real awareness is recognizing the higher power. Awareness of evil is in fact a road to discovering deeper meanings in the Cosmos.

Paradox of Sin

(Picture of Cheri Keaggy--Talented Christian Artist)

I was driving back from Arizona today and contemplating this issue of sin and believers. I find myself going back and forth between Christian and secular music and noting that when it comes to sin there is many times little difference between the performers, although we tend to put our trust in one more that the other.

Sin is a paradox because if I sin and ask for forgiveness, then it really doesn’t matter what I do. For instance if I’m a minister in a church and I have an affair and then leave the church and marry the other woman. I then ask for forgiveness. The man should then be forgiven What if I would ask the minister if he would do it again --What would he say?

Apparently people are only judged when it comes to salvation. If you believe the bible then you must also believe that the person is forgiven who repents and believes in Christ as their savior. As an observer or church member of this minister above I may feel bitterness, anger even depression—Is it possible this church member is then wrapped up in sin because of a lack of faith.?

For example David and Bathsheba: David sinned by first having an affair then committed murder by sending Bathsheba’s husband to the front lines. These two wed and had Solomon upon whose throne and lineage that the Lord Jesus Christ will reign forever. Would David if asked commit the sin again with Bathsheba?

We must be missing something and that something is faith. No matter what happens a person with faith should be confident that God is working for their good. Victimization in itself is a sin---no this can’t be or could it be. It’s imperative that friends and other Christians help victims to allow them to overcome their adversary.

The power to forgive and the power to have faith are important actions of free will. The power to forgive yourself and others are ways to move mountains. When bad comes have faith and move mountains. When good comes have faith move mountains. Remember Job—He lost everything but still had faith. His wife told him to curse God and die. His friends tried to find fault in his ways. Job suffered greatly but was still victorious. The only answer to this paradox of sin is that faith in Christ in all situations is key to defeating the enemy and accessing the power of God.

This has been a tough year for me personally from a "religious" perspective. I have become more aware than ever of the importance of "Grace". I must say it is difficult to not be a hypocrite when we discuss our religious views and even more difficult to accept the reality of so much "Christian Hypocrisy." The war in Iraq certainly hasn't helped matters. It seems that most ministers support the war, but on what grounds. Jesus Christ was able to accept "sinners" and sought them out for the purpose of "redemption". Christ didn't want us to pass judgment, but to "forgive". If we can "forgive" and accept God's sovereignty our own spiritual and mental health will benefit.

State of Mind that is Pleasing to God

I saw an ad for The ONE Campaign on TV. Sounds like a great idea. The whole idea of God's Grace through Christ is God giving us this undeserved gift his only Son. It's difficult not to want to at least support giving to people around the world in such desperate need.

Please don't feel like I'm soliciting you for something here. I'm just sharing an idea.

Richard Stearns of World Vision

A Day in the Life

Today is the first day of this Blog. I've concluded that blogging can be a good thing, however dangerous it is to let your thoughts or beliefs out freely among the masses. My efforts for this blog are to encourage faith in Christ. Instead I'm hoping to share, contemplate and gain understanding.

I read a little bit of a blog called An Acceptable Time. It inspired me to hear a woman talk about fasting in their faith. The Jews and Muslims whom I've known also do this. I must admit it can be a frightening thing- confronting our spirtuality- quietly accepting and asking for God's intervention. The words of Solomon remind me that being to righteous is also not necessarily a good thing. This is why I know Christ is for me -- Mercy and Grace.

I'm currently reading for maybe the fourth time Brennan Mannings "Ruthless Trust". I happen to own this book and find it inspiring. The older I get the more I find that things haven't turned out as I would have planned. I'm certainly less than yet more than I would have thought. My work is service oriented which I like to do, although the weather has been cold and working out in this weather can make a man age more rapidly. I have teenagers and I'm hoping like all parents that life will be good to them.

The elections here in Indiana are next week. I can't wait for them to be over. All the rhetoric--I don't think God's laughing about all the inuendo especially everyone trying to get what they want and claim God's on their side.

Thought for today:

"And what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God?" Micah 6:8