Or Changing Hearts?
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Or Changing Hearts?
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Satanus
Skolio Hnau
"The Siege of your world shall be raised, the black spot cleared away, before the real beginning."
- Tor Oyarsa Perelendri
Lewis calls him the 'Bent One.'
The Scriptures speak of him as the Accuser. He chose to please himself rather than the Creator. This decision skewed his nature, and he is going about (even today), attempting to do the same to all other creatures.
As Lewis often illustrates, the sexual desire (for instance) has been skewed, and its purpose perverted.
God designed it so that it might draw man and woman close in a committed, covenant relationship. In this light, sexual desire is clearly morally good, as well as physically and emotionally pleasing.
However, when that desire is twisted by the Bent One, it evolves into lust (the detached urge for one's own gratification...an urge which is willing to demean the dignity of another to satiate itself.)
Similarly, we see this pattern in what is called the "economic drive." The Scripture never lauds laziness. Humankind is given responsibility, just as Adam & Eve are told to care for the garden. John Calvin reminds us that "work is holy."
However, when the drive to earn money is twisted, the genuine pleasure granted from God disappears, and is replaced by bondage. As one writer put it, "The workaholic can’t get off the treadmill to enjoy the fruit of his labor. He anxiously allows work to become compulsive, eating away at every area of his life. Then we have the greedy of this world who hoard their treasure, refusing to enjoy it themselves or share it with others. Instead, money becomes a substitute for God, an idol. The greedy seek their identity and ultimate security in money."
Such is the story of the rich man of Luke XII. His problem is not that he is happy about a great harvest, but that he falls prey to the illusion that his wealth equals true security. His trust is in earthly things (warehouses), which will always fail.
St. Augustine’s definition of the love of money (lucre) is one of the best. He illustrates that the wrong kind of love is not restricted to money alone. 'Whenever a created thing becomes no longer a means to love God but an end it itself, then you have that “love” which is idolatry and the root of all evil.'
Do we love the idea of finding the perfect mate? Of having a better marriage? Of having a child? Gettin a job? These desires are well and good, and the avid pursuit of each of these things can be an acceptable duty, depending on one's life.
The question is, however, whether or not these desires are steps on the road toward desiring God, or far-fetched detours which cater to our flesh. What matters most? Things below, or things above? (Colossians 3:1-2)
Agreed, there is a multiplicity of things we ought to be passionate about below; but we must still ask whether our zeal for health, love, kids, education, job, and financial security is and extension of our zeal for loving God and seeking his will?
From whence do we derive our ultimate satisfaction and security? In temporal things (people included) which pass away, or in a God who is forever? It doesn't take a whole lot to get us side-tracked.
It's been this way ever since our first parents were tempted by the Bent One.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
The Wii, the Truth & The Life
The Wii (pronounced "we") has been outselling its more powerful rivals, Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. The $250 machine from Nintendo has been in short supply in stores since its launch last November.
But less hype, and more on why Christianity today, is much like the Wii...
1. Sometimes we break it
Statistics say that as high as 35% of Wii owners who bought before the wrist-straps were re-issued, were slinging their Wii remotes across the room, 12% of them damaging either the controller, or something in the room.
Statistics also say that more than 50% of so-called "Christian" homes will experience a major relationship breakdown at some point, including divorce, abuse, or suicide. The similarities here are staggering.
Are we making sure we are strapped to our "controller?" What about our Bibles? Strapped to our wrists? Not usually. What about our Faith? Strapped? Not usually. Or, if so, the cord holding us to these things is so thin it will snap when confronted by a small amount of pressure.
Solution: Get a new wrist-strap, and hang on (Discard the sham, embrace the Truth)
2. Sometimes it's a little shaky
Unless you're pointing the Wii controller directly at the screen in some RPG's or first-person shooters, you will experience the dizzying spin known as the "Wii-free." Although some games (including Capcom's only Wii release) have overhauled their shooter-control system, Wii is still less popular in this area, especially to lazy shooters.
Similarly, our lives somtimes spin out of control, but this is only when we are not pointing at the main Thing. If we keep our focus on Christ, we'll never experience the Wii-free, we will always be on target, and (excuse the pun) at the top of our game. Maybe, for many of us, it's time to overhaul our system; re-focus, and get our priorities straight.
Solution: Keep your focus on the game, don't be distracted ("Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us")
Friday, July 6, 2007
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Friday, June 22, 2007
Filming will begin April 15, 2007, actor Michael Shanks told IGN.com.The storyline "has to do with wrapping up the Ori storyline, which is the storyline that has taken prominence for the last two years of the show. I don't know if [Cooper] is going to wrap it up completely or bring it to some conclusion for the sake of the fans and the franchise, to bring that epic struggle to a close."(Actor Michael Shanks, in an interview with IGN.com)
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Friday, June 15, 2007
Strong in the Force
Faith & StarWars
The Force: Although not every religion teaches that there is a God, they do teach that there is more to life than just what we can see around us.
Similarly, central to Star Wars is the concept of The Force. This is a semi-personal dimension of the Universe which has purposes for humanity but also controls their actions. In Star Wars (SW) Obi Wan Kenobi teaches Luke about The Force:
Ben: The force is what give a Jedi his power. It’s an energy field created by all living things it surrounds us and binds the galaxy together...
Luke: You mean it controls your actions?
Ben: Partially. But it also obeys your commands.
In Christianity, God is central to Christian belief as the Creator of the heavens and Universe. However, God is not an impersonal energy field but a personal Being. God interacts with us, and has plans reaching into Eternity. Although the world is at enmity with God because of evil, He is present within the world through the Holy Spirit (‘Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives you?’ (1 Corinthians 3:16).
The Dark Side of The Force: The Force in the SW saga has both a good and dark side. In this relational sense, it does not suggest that God himself is evil or dark, but that one may accept the ways of darkness, while professing to walk in the light, as some Sith are seen to do.
This is a reality, since the Bible tells us that there are many who will say, "...didn't I do wonderful things in the name of (Light)?" But that God will say, "I never knew you." This is a call to Christians to examine themselves and see if they are truly walking in the Light, and not deceived by the darkness.
Good verses evil: As with all the SW films TESB deals with the theme of good versus evil. In the gospels, Jesus speaks of this as a struggle between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of the devil. In some respects, this is similar to how we allow the things of darkness to take over who we are meant to be as followers of the Way of Christ. In a similar way Luke confronts Darth Vader in ROTJ and challenges him to remember who he once was:
Luke: … you were once Anakin Skywalker, my father..
Vader: That name no longer has any meaning for me.
Luke: It is the name of your true self. You’ve only forgotten.
The conflict within: As far as TESB and all religions are concerned there is a conflict between good and evil in the universe. However, this conflict is also one that happens within people. In TESB Luke experiences this conflict when he enters the tree (‘a servant of evil’) on Dagobah as part of his Jedi training. Yoda tells him he does not need to take his weapons with him but Luke ignores this and comes face to face with a vision of Darth Vader which he fights. The recognition of the conflict between good and evil in a person comes when Luke cuts off Vader’s head and sees his own face behind the mask. This scene is clearly echoed in the next film (ROTJ) when Luke fights Vader in the presence of the Emperor and when he almost gives in to his hate and anger in order to defeat him. That Luke is Vader’s son also underlines the temptation he faces to turn towards the dark side. In the New Testament the Apostle Paul notes a similar conflict in himself when he writes, ‘I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do’ (Romans 7:15). In fact, just as in the SW films the Jedi are trained to control their emotions, so all religions teach that the way to overcome the desire to do evil is to focus on good so that evil (sin) may be removed from a person’s life (E.g. ‘Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.’ (James 4:7-8)).
In TESB Yoda teaches Luke about the ease at which a person can turn towards evil:
Luke: Is the dark side stronger?
Yoda: No, no. Easier, quicker, more seductive.
Luke: But how am I to know the good side from the bad?
Yoda: You will know. When you are at peace… calm… passive.
In TPM Yoda echoes the teaching concerning true peace, which Christ taught.
Yoda: Much fear I sense in him.
Anakin: What’s that got to do with anything?
Yoda: Everything! Fear leads to anger; anger leads to hate; hate leads to suffering.
In comparison, Jesus experienced temptations which were designed to turn him away from following his true destiny.
Like Jesus, follow the True Way of Light, and embrace the peace that comes with it!
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Denomination?
Strange combination... I know... I still believe in the filling of the Holy Spirit as well as all of the Spiritual Gifts (yes... even the supernatural ones!). You see, we have this tendency to take doctrines that have been abused (and trust me... the doctrines of Spiritual Gifts have been abused!), and act as if they do not exist! We NEED the Holy Spirit if we are to live a life in service for the Lord... and we need His gifts! Sadly, we treat the Holy Spirit like a cancer that we wish wasn’t there, and this is truly sad indeed!
The issue with most (certainly not all) charismatics is that they seem to diminish the importance of Scripture in relation to their spiritual "experience". They are more interested in hearing a "word from God" than they are in reading His revealed Word in the Scriptures. This is very dangerous...
The issue with most (again, certainly not all) in the reformed movement is that they seem to de-spiritualize Christianity in favor of a tangible intellectual pursuit. We tend to fear that which we cannot understand, and this leads to our ignoring the very power that beings about salvation itself. We would rather debate obscure theological issues than go out and express the love of Christ, an act that requires the power of the Holy Spirit!
So there you go! A little background never hurts! So, what does this have to do with what denomination we are? Glad you asked! While we may differ on some lesser doctrines... we are in agreement concerning the following issues:
- We must realize that salvation is a miracle wrought by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
- We must acknowledge that God is the supreme Sovereign of the universe, and that we can do nothing outside of His Holy Will.
- The reformed movement (and the entire Church for that matter) desperately needs the supernatural power that flows from the Holy Spirit in order to truly bring about positive change in the Church today.
- We must not seek after "Signs and Wonders." We must seek God through His Scripture and earnestly pray that His Glory would shine through all that we think,say, and do.
- We must be in complete submission to the Holy Scriptures. We must hold all things in subjection to them! The entire Christian experience is subject to the Word of God, and anything contradictory to His Word is to be cast out completely.
- We must (forgive the cliché) practice what we preach. We must love God with all of our heart and our neighbor as ourselves. This is the GREATEST command in scripture!
- We must study to show ourselves approved! Intellectual pursuit is not to be frowned upon, so long as it is accompanied by supernatural power of God in bringing about our understanding.
This only scratches the surface!! But, it gives you an idea as to where we are coming from.
We find it hard to place ourselves in a "denomination" for the simple reason that it is unprecedented in scripture. We are not "anti-denominational" in any way, we just do not see such divisions taught in scripture, therefore we will abstain from labeling ourselves as such. We follow "The Way (being Jesus Christ)."
If we are to be labeled, we would prefer our label point directly to Christ... instead of a man-made institution.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Alright... I am attempting to write a sermon...
I figured it would be cool to see if anyone had any ideas...
I am using Matthew 22 (love God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself), and I am going to take those and tie them into the idea of the "Christian experience." I want to explain that Christianity is not merely an intellectual pursuit... Debunking the idea that we aren't expected to "feel" anything at conversion... We think that if we tell ourselves in our heads "I'm saved, I'm saved.." that we ARE! That's like saying "I'm a banana, I'm a banana.." and expecting to be a banana!
We must experience a true re-birth that flows from the real baptismal regeneration that comes from a miracle wrought in our very hearts by the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit! We run so fast from "emotionalism" that we forget that the Christian life is an every day experience of grace and power. We cannot love lest we have the power of the Holy Spirit guiding our thoughts and actions. If we feel no different... then we act no different... then we ARE no different. Book knowledge is well and good, but it is useless without daily living that knowledge.
Paul Washer gave an illustration that I thought was awesome...
(My paraphrase)
What if I was late this morning? What if you asked me, "Why?" and I said something like this:
On my way here, I had a flat tire. It was very frustrating! I got out of the car, began to take off the tire, and replace it with the spare... As I was tightening one of the lug nuts, it fell off and rolled to the middle of the highway. I ran out to pick it up, and as I looked up I saw a 10 ton Logging Truck five feet away from me... The Logging Truck ran over me... and that is why I am late this morning.
You would say that I was insane! You don't have an encounter with a 10 ton Logging Truck and come away unchanged!
...You don't have an encounter with the God of all Creation and come away unchanged!!
I don't know... That is what I have right now.... any ideas??
Monday, May 14, 2007
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
"O that You would slay the wicked, O God; Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed. 20 For they speak against You wickedly, And Your enemies take Your name in vain. 21 Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? 22 I hate them with the utmost hatred; They have become my enemies. "
The Fighter Verse team made a judgment call that these "problem" verses of Psalm 139:19-22 did not directly serve the tactical aims of the memory program, and might require so much explanation as to be distracting from the goal of strengthening faith. But for many of us, the strength of faith calls for an explanation. So I will give some pointers for how to understand them. I hope you will pray and ponder so that these pointers become providers of God-taught riches.
1. These verses are in the category of "imprecatory psalms," which include 5:10; 10:15; 28:4; 31:17-18; 35:4-6; 40:14-15; 58:6-11; 69:22-28; 109:6-15; 139:19-22; 140:9-10. They call down divine curses and express hatred for the enemies of God.