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Addiction
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Jan 20, 2007 7:20 am
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To set the captives free! This was Jesus' stated purpose for His life. He was asked how people were captive as they thought they were free. NO, He said, sin has captured us and made us addicts. We can't stop sinning.
Actually people will admit, if they are in the mood to be honest, that they like sinning. It can be too late and the damage already done when they find out how degrading sin is. By this time they may not care anyway as they are on a roll to self destruction and extraction.
What then does Jesus do for us regarding our lifetime addiction to sin? He said He came to set us free from this addiction. I believe that His cure is partial in this life but continues into the next life and is fully completed only in the next life. In this life when we are freed by Jesus and begin our journey back to God, its one day at a time as Jesus taught us to pray, "...give us this day our daily bread."
Yes, I feel the addiction is broken, but the cravings still linger and are too easily stirred up and only keeping the truth before us on a daily basis will we be free in this life. Yes, the truth, one day at a time, prayer, support groups, confession are the means to recovery from addiction to sin. Thanks be to God.
Blessings,
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Jesus Reminders
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Jan 18, 2007 8:23 am
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In Jesus day, like today, people thought that disasters and calamities were a direct result of someone's sin. Jesus said that disasters are not due to sin but are the Lord's reminders to people to repent. For example, there was a tower in Siloam that fell and it killed 18 people. Jesus said those 18 persons were not worse sinners than the rest of the people so that this happened to them. The purpose of this disaster He said was a reminder for everyone to repent and get into God's grace before the future meeting with God so they would not perish.
Disease is one of the Lord's reminders. It makes us remember that we are mortal and terminal and the day will come when we will not recover from disease, and so be in the clear with Him through faith and grace.
The rainbow is the Lords reminder to Himself to not use water to rid the world of corruption again.
Death among family and friends from natural causes is the Lord's reminder to the living that the faith of the one passing will be rewarded and to those remaining behind to keep faith and how important it is.
Addictions are the Lords reminders not to push it and go past the limitations He has set.
Living out base desires is the Lord's reminder to not ignore Him but acknowledge Him as God.
Bugs and thieves destroying out stuff is a reminder from the Lord to have our treasure in the spirit world, rather than here on earth.
The sabbath is a reminder of the Lord to meet with other Christians.
Holy Communion is a reminder of the Lord what He has done for us to take away our sin.
Holy Baptism is a reminder of the Lord that we are not held accountable now for our sin as it is buried with Christ.
Each new day to us is a reminder of the Lord to pray and serve according to our gift.
Offerings given at the Lord's request is a reminder to us that it all belongs to Him anyway.
Showing mercy to others is a reminder to the Lord to show mercy to us.
Giving to the poorest is a reminder to the Lord to show mercy to us on the day of our need.
Blessings,
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The New Medical Morality
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Jan 16, 2007 8:32 pm
179 Views
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Right is right and wrong is wrong, so the saying goes. Since the days of the 10 commandments being written by the finger of God on stone tablets, people have tried to follow the letter of the commandments only to trip up.
Jesus revealed its more important by far to follow the spirit of the commandments. I feel Jesus is talking about the principle on which a commandments is based. For example, not working on the Sabbath was one of the 10 commandments which Jesus revealed was misinterpreted by the rabbi's as the sabbath was created for man not that man was created for the observance of the sabbath. It was the heart of the law which He opened up to us and revealed where God is coming from regarding human behavior.
So now today we come to moral issues that defy pat answers and challenge us to think and find answers that are in mankind's best interest. Lets go now to the Seattle Pediatric Hospital and visit the ethics committee discussing the parents request for the doctors to perform some medical miracles on their 6 year old daughter Ashley who is brain damaged. Ashely can't move; she can't feed herself; she can't sit up or dress herself and she is growing up, but this condition will not change. The Chairman of the bioethics committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics was flown in to advise. They were stunned at the request of Ashley's parents to keep her from growing up any more. Everyone wants what is in Ashley's best interest. As doctors and committee members met to think what that would be, they saw the wisdom of Ashley's parents. As an adult Ashley would have menstrual periods and cramps; she could get pregnant, she would possibly have uterine cancer from the family history, she would be much harder to transport and care for. It was decided after much thought to give Ashley estrogen to stop her growth at 4 feet 5 inches rather than let her grow to her adult size of 5 feet 8 inches. Also, they removed her uterus and breast tissue preventing any future cancer and pregnancy.
Medical advances leave us with no choice but to think as Jesus thinks. WE have to be honest with ourselves before God and ask questions. Jesus healed, forgave, fed, restored, raised, taught. It is not a question of whether medicine will do these medical things that medicine is now capable of doing. Because they can be done, the question is when should they be done. As christian people we can help the most. Who understands God better than those with the indwelling Holy Spirit? Who knows the mind of God better than Christian people? Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would guide us into all truth.
Are you afraid to think? To me, it is even more scary not to think. It is said that evil will triumph when good people do nothing. Its much easier to fix a problem before it happens than fix it after it happens. The world needs christian thinking. Because we are capable of thinking are we not also responsible to think? The world doesn't know it or care, but the best thing this world has going for it is Christian people who think and act accordingly.
Blessings,
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When The Church Will Be ONE
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Jan 14, 2007 10:03 am
215 Views
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In the beginning the Church of Jesus was ONE. This also coincided with the oneness and strength of the Roman Empire. But, as the Empire of Rome began to fall apart so did the Church unity began to break up.
The outline of the great Church schism were forming early. The language between Italy and Greece were of course different which strained the unity. Also, the sheer size of the Church added to the tension. Differences in opinions and practices between west and east further escalated the beginning of the breakup.
So the Church is not of the world but is in the world and affected by world events. The Church in its infancy was assisted by the strength and stability of the Roman Empire.
Just so, the outlines of a world federation are forming and growing. Two new members were added to the EU or European Union in the last several weeks. This bring the union to more than 25 European Nations now with the newest two additions of Romania and Bulgaria. The United Nations, The OAS, NAFTA, OPEC, and others in the world are uniting and moving head long into a cooperative on a world wide basis that will lead to world stability. This will in turn lead to the unity of the Church as there is talk and movement in this directions also. The denominations are in dialog with each other and finding more common ground.
The world will be one and the church will again be one at least in name. Who will lead the way? The Roman Catholic Church of course. The Pope is the only Church authority who could call now for a world wide meeting of other Church leaders and most all would attend. Pope John Paul ll was the most traveled in history. His journey to the world was unending until his personage was excused from this earthly plane; and, in turn at his final remembrance the world came to him in unprecedented numbers, much more so than the passing of any other world figure has ever been attended. Even Jews and Arabs were there and shook hands on television before the world view.
Historically the Church has not yet been strong enough to be immune from world events, both bad and good. The Church motivates the world, which in turn provides a strengthened and stable environment for the Church to grow.
The world will become one. The Church will become one again, but will the Church be one in Jesus? For a while I feel so.
blessings,
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Why I Believe In Denominations
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Jan 14, 2007 8:40 am
198 Views
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Jesus used to have one name for His followers for the first few centuries and that was of course Christians. But as the Church grew in the cities the church bishop in Rome became widely influential, and this large group became the first name brand christian church and was called of course Roman Catholic. After a thousand years, as the Church grew in size and being too large to be controlled by man, there were then two name brand denominations: the west Roman Catholic and the East Catholic. Soon in historical terms, there were more name brands like Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran.
People of faith found fellowship lacking in the name brand Church's and joined much smaller christian groups that had closer personal fellowship, but also many local problems of power struggles that directly affected the harmony of the small church. The name brand Church's seeing the need for better fellowship among their membership where people often didn't even know each other on Sundays, provided small group functions as Bible studies and committee work.
So here we are today with a world wide Christian Church with large name brand groups, and a myriad of small groups that complete the make up of people of Christian faith.
People need people. This is obvious, it is scientific, it is just a fact of life. Our health and well being is not good in isolation. It is better in fellowship with others. After a life time of membership in both name brand Christian Churchs, and small Christian Churchs, I am persuaded that the name brand Christian Churchs offer the best safe haven for christians because even with power struggles in the leadership, this does not affect and harm the membership near as much as in the smaller churchs; and for those needing closer fellowship in the large churchs, this can now be found if you will ask and look for it.
blessings
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Three Views Of The World
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Jan 12, 2007 8:46 am
215 Views
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Following the world wide flood, little did Noah know that his three sons would populate the world again around three ways of living. Talk about each child being unique and different. The world has felt this uniqueness ever since Shem, Ham, and Japheth were born to Noah and Mrs. Noah. Thats simple enough, but whats so striking is how different each son was and their progeny.
Shem brought Asia into the world. This included the middle east and South America. People of this area of the world think that everything cycles, that life goes in circles. These people gave us the most profound philosophies the world has ever received
Ham brought Africa into the world. This group of people love domination. They are sensitive to power and control. These are issues that mean a lot to them.
Japheth brought Europe into the world. This group of people see life as having beginnings and endings. Science is a favorite subject here. These people love to investigate and define things in terms of starting and stopping.
Do you want to make sense out of the daily news? See where in the world the news originates and then look at it in terms of how people think in that area of the world.
blessings,
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New Years Blues
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Jan 12, 2007 8:30 am
202 Views
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Do you ever get the blues? Sometimes the blues are followed by an event in our life. But, sometimes its deeper. There is a sinking feeling. This is a spiritual blue, so the researchers say.
The New Years blues is likely just coming down off the high we have been on from the holidays. Taking up new projects, getting some rest, and time will get us going again.
Spiritual blues require acceptance, and surrender. Joy follows. Once again blessed are the poor in spirit; and God gives grace to the humble, but resists the proud.
blessings,
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Why The Universe Is So Big
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Jan 11, 2007 2:45 pm
224 Views
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From the beginning our human race has looked outward to the frontier, to see what there is to see, to quench the thirst for adventure, to explore.
The Europeans wanted to do more business so they set sail. When they landed in the Americas and established a base, and wanted then to explore this new land and sent Lewis and Clark out to map and describe.
The oceans are still left to explore. Inner space is still being explored. Outer space is just beginning to be explored and is calling louder every day.
If we can dream it, we can do it. The means has always become available to explore whether it be ships, planes, or rockets. It is our privilege to explore what the Lord has made. He always gives us the materials to satisfy our desire to go and see.
This universe is so big because, after exploring this now small planet Earth, we need more worlds to explore. I am confident the means will become available to space travel, and once again go see what's there. The Lord made oceans for us to cross, and new lands to explore. He made also new worlds for us to go see. As always we will bend the knee and acknowledge that He is God and we are man. And, as always the first explorers will pay a price, but they will be honored in our history books as the first ones to see.
blessings,
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Mystery Of Mysteries
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Jan 11, 2007 2:25 pm
208 Views
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The Lord has hidden things that He might be respected, but, it is the privilege of kings to search them out.
Is anything fully understood? It seems there is still more to learn about any subject you name. Outer space, inner space, the oceans, life sciences, you name it, there is more to learn, more to discover.
What about Christianity? Our life relationship with the Lord is based on faith in action. Its not based on sight or how much we understand. To have faith at all is a gift.
The point of all this is that relief is ours when we accept our position in life as admiring, respecting and following God, not thinking we understand anything fully and thus being equal with Him. This got one angel in serious trouble and led to a lost world.
Be wise and acknowledge that God alone understands it all about everything or anything. Be smart and get past this burden thinking you know it all about anything.
Its humbling isn't it? It is suppose to be.
blessings,
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News Around The World
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Jan 6, 2007 7:50 pm
211 Views
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Its fascinating. I love watching the news. Seeing the Gospel play out, human nature in action, the constant appeal to justice and rights of individuals and groups of people, is indeed the living Bible translated into sight, sound, and sensibilities.
Who is responsible to respond to this daily news that reinforces the law of God written on our hearts? Yes, You, and You, and You. We are all responsible just as the people who passed by the man along the roadside beaten and robbed. The religious people passed him by and probably wagged their heads and said shame, shame, what a shame. For what are we responsible? To pray of course. We are spectators and participants in this wide world now as Christian people. Perhaps more than anytime in history, we can affect, effect, and disinfect this world, so in retrospect we will smile and hear it said, "Well done you good and faithful servant....."
blessings,
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