In Genesis we read that God created everything in six days and rested the seventh day. Many, even christian friends say, "He couldn't", "He didn't". They are often theistic evolutionists saying "God created but by way of evolution". One day a friend said to me, "I have troubles with creation being in six days according to the Bible". My reply was, "So do I, I don't understand why it took God so long".
In not believing we limit God, our idea's are of a God limited as we are. Hence, "He couldn't have done it in six days, evolution is easier for us to grasp." Our God becomes "Not a great big God", but a God shrunk to our understanding.
If God be God, that is one of infinite power, He surely can do whatever He wishes, however He wishes?
If God said three days, that would be ok, if he said creation took Him a thousand years, that would be ok. If He said six seconds, that would be fine. Surely if God be God, the almighty creator being, He could create all things in way, and time, He likes? Why He did it in six days, and not another time scale, I honestly haven't a clue! He dosent tell us!
He simply tells us He did it in six days. What is our problem with this? Our problem is we have a limited view of God and His power. If God is limited He isn't God. God has unlimited power, He is beyond our finite understanding, in other words, our minds boggle as we try to take Him in with our very limited intellect.
In approaching God, the Almighty God, we simply have to take His word for things, this is simply called "faith". If in creation, or other matters, we cant accept God's Word, we are in fact calling Him a lier. Is God a man that He should lie?
As to science, there is much research that has major problems with evolutionary theory. Yep, science still call it a theory. But real question is, "Is God a lier?"or "Can I trust His Word?"
I Trust Him, after all He knows lots more than we do. Dear friends, do not limit God, so that He fits into your understanding, He isn't God if He does. God is far beyond our feeble minds, So accept what He tells you.
Friday, 14 October 2011
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Jesus Jesus Jesus.
If Christ wasn't true, it would be better if I had never been born. But the Lord Jesus Christ is true, and is alive.
Millions have testified to this fact, that He lives, that they have found in Him a living Savior. Of course many critics would wish you not to believe this. Why this hatred of truth? Simply this, if Christ lives we are bound to submit to His Gospel. People don't want to do this, preferring to live as they do. Because Jesus tells us our ways are not good.
In my own life there have been times I have lived for my own pathetic self and not for Christ Jesus. Yes I have failed many times, denied the Christ. This burdens me greatly, and the knowledge of all who I have failed. But Christ is my great hope, a wondrous Savior.
I commend Christ Jesus unto you all. He has done you no wrong. He died that you might live eternally. How many have loved you that much?
Friends, I recommend Christ Jesus to you. He is alive, he lives today at the right hand of God the Father. I have often failed, I am a mere man, but Christ never fails. Friends don't look to people, as we all to often fail. Turn to Christ Jesus, for He will never fail you.
Millions have testified to this fact, that He lives, that they have found in Him a living Savior. Of course many critics would wish you not to believe this. Why this hatred of truth? Simply this, if Christ lives we are bound to submit to His Gospel. People don't want to do this, preferring to live as they do. Because Jesus tells us our ways are not good.
In my own life there have been times I have lived for my own pathetic self and not for Christ Jesus. Yes I have failed many times, denied the Christ. This burdens me greatly, and the knowledge of all who I have failed. But Christ is my great hope, a wondrous Savior.
I commend Christ Jesus unto you all. He has done you no wrong. He died that you might live eternally. How many have loved you that much?
Friends, I recommend Christ Jesus to you. He is alive, he lives today at the right hand of God the Father. I have often failed, I am a mere man, but Christ never fails. Friends don't look to people, as we all to often fail. Turn to Christ Jesus, for He will never fail you.
Thursday, 6 October 2011
In God's eyes.
"All the ways of a man (person) are clean
in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth
the spirits."
Proverbs 16:2.
We are very good at justifying our own self's. We are so good at making excuses for ourselfs, for the way we live, do things, react to situations. Sadly, I have to confess, this has often been me! We are always the wronged party, we always are misunderstood, its the others who have done the wrong.
Also we are good at justifying our self, "I live a good life","I believe in God", "hey I go to church even",
we are never wrong, but always wronged. Can we see how pathetic this is, how wrong we are?
Bible clearly tells us we are sinners, that means living in willful disobedience to God and His Word. Friends hardest thing I ever did was to see myself as I really am, and that isn't a nice picture.
This message is for all, the christian included. We can think of ourselves as good church people, justifying ourselfs by the good things we do. Many religions seem to say, if we do more good things than bad things we will be right with god. The Bible says "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God".
Here we are told, "The Lord weigheth the spirits". In other words He knows what is in us, how pathetic our self-righteousness really is. When we see ourselfs as God see's us its not a pretty picture.
If your not a christian, what is your hope based on?, your own goodness? Christian what is your hope? your good church record? your hard work in the church and community?
When we stand before God, what are we going to say?," Hey I did my best", "I'm good I went to church!. I was in ministry for thirty years, my personal prayer is, "God have mercy on me a sinner!"
John's Gospel chapter 3 verse 16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Believing in God/Christ means I no longer believe in myself, my own perceived goodness, but on what God says. I am a sinner in need of a savior, Jesus Christ is that, the only, Savior.
Have I lived a good life? no I haven't, sadly so many times I have done wrong. So I see myself in God's eyes, beat on my chest and pray, "God have mercy on me a sinner!".
How good are you in your own eye's? How good are you in God's eyes?
May God helps us all to see ourself's in His, God's eye's.
in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth
the spirits."
Proverbs 16:2.
We are very good at justifying our own self's. We are so good at making excuses for ourselfs, for the way we live, do things, react to situations. Sadly, I have to confess, this has often been me! We are always the wronged party, we always are misunderstood, its the others who have done the wrong.
Also we are good at justifying our self, "I live a good life","I believe in God", "hey I go to church even",
we are never wrong, but always wronged. Can we see how pathetic this is, how wrong we are?
Bible clearly tells us we are sinners, that means living in willful disobedience to God and His Word. Friends hardest thing I ever did was to see myself as I really am, and that isn't a nice picture.
This message is for all, the christian included. We can think of ourselves as good church people, justifying ourselfs by the good things we do. Many religions seem to say, if we do more good things than bad things we will be right with god. The Bible says "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God".
Here we are told, "The Lord weigheth the spirits". In other words He knows what is in us, how pathetic our self-righteousness really is. When we see ourselfs as God see's us its not a pretty picture.
If your not a christian, what is your hope based on?, your own goodness? Christian what is your hope? your good church record? your hard work in the church and community?
When we stand before God, what are we going to say?," Hey I did my best", "I'm good I went to church!. I was in ministry for thirty years, my personal prayer is, "God have mercy on me a sinner!"
John's Gospel chapter 3 verse 16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Believing in God/Christ means I no longer believe in myself, my own perceived goodness, but on what God says. I am a sinner in need of a savior, Jesus Christ is that, the only, Savior.
Have I lived a good life? no I haven't, sadly so many times I have done wrong. So I see myself in God's eyes, beat on my chest and pray, "God have mercy on me a sinner!".
How good are you in your own eye's? How good are you in God's eyes?
May God helps us all to see ourself's in His, God's eye's.
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
True worship.
I love the worship/musical group at church we attend. Also love when our organ is played to some fine older hymns. Worship just lifts my soul, I feel good about God. But worship is far more than music, hymns and songs of spiritual worship.
Worship is founded on the truth, on obeying God's Word, the Bible. Worship is doing what God wants us to do, to follow Jesus, Gods Word, God's will for our lives. Our music, hymns and songs, are an expression of that worship, they are not in themselves worship alone. Can I truly worship if I am doing what is wrong? if I am not obey God? what He teaches me in His Word, the Bible?
I can sing those hymns and songs of worship, get an emotional high, but if my heart and life isn't right with God it cant be pure worship.
When I was a child, when we went into church, it was quiet. People were silent in prayer, preparing themselves for worship. Now I am not saying a noisy church before the service, as people greet one another is a bad church, far from it. My point is, we need to be right with God for worship to be pure/true.
God deserves to be worshiped. We eat food He provides for us, a bad harvest could change all that. He provides for us, cloths, health, homes, etc etc. But most of all God gave us the Son to die for our sins on the cross. God does so much for us, He deserves our worship, and for it to come from a pure obedient heart.
So my dear friends, we need to be right with God, to deal with those things that hinder true and pure worship. Then, when the organ/worship band start up, we can praise God for fact we are right with Him through Christ.
Worship is founded on the truth, on obeying God's Word, the Bible. Worship is doing what God wants us to do, to follow Jesus, Gods Word, God's will for our lives. Our music, hymns and songs, are an expression of that worship, they are not in themselves worship alone. Can I truly worship if I am doing what is wrong? if I am not obey God? what He teaches me in His Word, the Bible?
I can sing those hymns and songs of worship, get an emotional high, but if my heart and life isn't right with God it cant be pure worship.
When I was a child, when we went into church, it was quiet. People were silent in prayer, preparing themselves for worship. Now I am not saying a noisy church before the service, as people greet one another is a bad church, far from it. My point is, we need to be right with God for worship to be pure/true.
God deserves to be worshiped. We eat food He provides for us, a bad harvest could change all that. He provides for us, cloths, health, homes, etc etc. But most of all God gave us the Son to die for our sins on the cross. God does so much for us, He deserves our worship, and for it to come from a pure obedient heart.
So my dear friends, we need to be right with God, to deal with those things that hinder true and pure worship. Then, when the organ/worship band start up, we can praise God for fact we are right with Him through Christ.
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
The importance of church history.
Are you a christian, want to know what Christians believe, or should believe? I have always found the study of church history, historical theology totally captivating. Now I am not saying those who have gone before us always got it right, but I am saying we can learn from them, their lives,beliefs. One of the things that convinced me of the Christian faith was, that so many died for their beliefs.
I guess like me, you wouldn't die for something that's not important? Yet for the doctrines of Christ many gave up their lives rather than deny them! Wow!, what they believed meant something to them. I mean, no-one is going to give up their lives for a theory, I sure am not. Those Christians had more than a theory, a doctrine. they had a reality, and that reality was Christ.
Christ you see lives, in reality, in His church, in His peoples reality, their lives. I, like many many before me believe in a real, risen, alive today, Christ. You see "Christ" is not a curse word, He is a reality. Have you discovered His reality?
I guess like me, you wouldn't die for something that's not important? Yet for the doctrines of Christ many gave up their lives rather than deny them! Wow!, what they believed meant something to them. I mean, no-one is going to give up their lives for a theory, I sure am not. Those Christians had more than a theory, a doctrine. they had a reality, and that reality was Christ.
Christ you see lives, in reality, in His church, in His peoples reality, their lives. I, like many many before me believe in a real, risen, alive today, Christ. You see "Christ" is not a curse word, He is a reality. Have you discovered His reality?
Book recomendation
'Reformed Dogmatics' by Heinrich Heppe.
This is the book Karl Barth used as foundation to his lectures in dogmatics. If you want to know the thinking of the reformers, this is the book. You don't need to be 'Reformed' theologically to benefit from this book. A must for all lovers of Historical theology.
This is the book Karl Barth used as foundation to his lectures in dogmatics. If you want to know the thinking of the reformers, this is the book. You don't need to be 'Reformed' theologically to benefit from this book. A must for all lovers of Historical theology.
God's mercy
I consider myself a bit of a failure, do you? Guess i never was what I hoped I would be. We all have dreams, but most of us fall short of them in some way.
The problem is, there OUR dreams, our ambitions, our wants and desires.
I wanted to be a great minister of religion, pastoring some great church, being known.
Problem being, if it is a problem? God had other ideas for me. His ways were not my ways, His plans for me differed from mine. Do you have this problem?
Most of our failures are in our own eyes, yes we do have failures. God on the other hand see's our downs as a learning curve, our failures as an opportunity to learn from Him. Are we able to listen to what He is saying at such times?
I'm at present, in my life, in a place I never expected to be in. Age sixty-two, no longer in ministry I was in, learning from my mistakes.
My thirty years as an evangelist/chaplain with a wonderful organization are now past. Those were great times, loved the work, loved the organization, I still do ! But I really wanted to be, as I have mentioned, a great preacher in a great church.
I could give way to regrets, disappointments, low feelings, at not attaining my ambitions. But have learn my ambitions for my life were not God's. What we must do to find contentment are fined God's plan for our lives. I never became minister of some great church, but my thirty years in evangelism were a joy to me.
Now that that is all past I know longer have a ministry. What I do have is a place of rest, and recovery, in a lovely town in English West-Midlands. We have become members of a great church, full of very neat people
I'm learning God's plans for me at my age, a real learning curve.
Are you frustrated that your dreams, ambitions, desires, never came about? Are you willing, like me to find what God wants for your life now? Because i assure you, when we submit to God, He has a plan for our lives, at every point in our lives.
The problem is, there OUR dreams, our ambitions, our wants and desires.
I wanted to be a great minister of religion, pastoring some great church, being known.
Problem being, if it is a problem? God had other ideas for me. His ways were not my ways, His plans for me differed from mine. Do you have this problem?
Most of our failures are in our own eyes, yes we do have failures. God on the other hand see's our downs as a learning curve, our failures as an opportunity to learn from Him. Are we able to listen to what He is saying at such times?
I'm at present, in my life, in a place I never expected to be in. Age sixty-two, no longer in ministry I was in, learning from my mistakes.
My thirty years as an evangelist/chaplain with a wonderful organization are now past. Those were great times, loved the work, loved the organization, I still do ! But I really wanted to be, as I have mentioned, a great preacher in a great church.
I could give way to regrets, disappointments, low feelings, at not attaining my ambitions. But have learn my ambitions for my life were not God's. What we must do to find contentment are fined God's plan for our lives. I never became minister of some great church, but my thirty years in evangelism were a joy to me.
Now that that is all past I know longer have a ministry. What I do have is a place of rest, and recovery, in a lovely town in English West-Midlands. We have become members of a great church, full of very neat people
I'm learning God's plans for me at my age, a real learning curve.
Are you frustrated that your dreams, ambitions, desires, never came about? Are you willing, like me to find what God wants for your life now? Because i assure you, when we submit to God, He has a plan for our lives, at every point in our lives.
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