Last night I saw Transformers: ROTF. I enjoyed it, although I have heard that the first one was much better- but I (apparently should be ashamed) haven't seen it. Anyways, there was one part where one of the (ridiculously good-looking) army dudes looked at optimus prime in awe and said, "If we were made in God's image, who made him?" I have spent some time trying to figure out if they producers or whoever had that in there to be funny, or, them being the creators of this movie, making them above God. I'm more along the lines of the first one (except I didn't think it was funny) being the motive behind it. Whatever the case, I have been thinking about the reality of the movie and the ideas of aliens and such, and I have some questions: Why is there so much interest and money gone into the search for aliens when there is a lack of evidence for their existence? More than that, the evidence of intelligent design goes so far beyond any idea of aliens, and yet people spend billions of dollars searching for life outside of our planet? In fact, Richard Dawkins (the big evolution guy) even admitted that there is a "possibility" that creatures (which evolved, of course) placed life on earth. He just admitted that an intelligent being (or beings) placed life on earth, but there is no acception for the idea of God, which is ridculous. I will absolutely agree that natural selection occurs but it has only proven itself within one species! (I have never seen any intermediates for anything eg. amphibian-bird like fossil, ape-like humans- every single "link" they found was proven to be ape or human). This is just a start, I could go on about the fallicies of past carbon and uranium dating, light from stars and let's not forget fossils. If you think I'm going to believe that I came from a loud noise and all this order came about- including morality and completely obvious spirit in humans compared to say, a raccoon; not to mention the improbability that all by accident, the earth is in the perfect ring of rotation around the sun that life not only survives but flourishes - I suppose I would be a sucker for the most ridiculous religion humans can create. "A fool says in his heart there is no God".
Anyways. Back to aliens. So much money and man-power is being spent on looking for these things that we have little to no evidence of their existence, when there are people dying because they didn't get to eat for the last 3 months and their poor bodies are being destroyed by bacteria that we get rid of with a round of antibiotics.
Stop spending millions on looking for something that doesn't exist, sell that telescope and feed half of Africa for a month.
I'm done ranting. :) If you want to find a good website for answers to questions about evolution, creation and Jesus, go to the Creation Ministries Internation website at creation.com
God bless!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Sunday best? Hmmm....
If you spend more time thinking and talking about what to wear to church (or what another person wore to church) than what the service is actually about, maybe it's time you re-evaluate why you go to church.
I'm not saying there is anything wrong with getting dressed up for church- but make sure you actually understand why you do it. God wants a clean, washed heart. Let's focus on that before criticizing those who don't dress their best. How do you think someone who is finally open to the gospel for the first time in his/her life is going to feel walking in a building full of dressed up church goers and they come in ripped jeans? Jesus said that it is very hard for a rich man to enter into heaven- and the very first impression given would be
1) I'm not rich enough to come to this church
2) I need to buy new things to come to this church
3) Jesus only wants a relationship with people in good clothes.
You are also giving a reason for everyone else in the church (who come to the understanding that dressing up is the only way) to judge those who don't come in their "Sunday best". And that my friends, is a sin. Paul discussing in 2 Corinthians the importance of not causing another brother to sin in what are considering "gray" areas. I was once told that for that very reason alone, people should dress up so that they don't cause the other people to sin. It's not those who don't dress up that cause the others to sin, its those who enforce "Sunday best" as a rule that cause others to sin.
That being said, I understand the importance of getting dressed up for church- you want to symbolize worship as giving your best to Jesus. I get that. I'm ok with that. In fact, I personally (usually) wear nicer clothes to church. Just don't force that on anyone else- especially considering the idea of wearing suits and skirts to church is not anywhere in the Word. In fact, Jesus called the well-dressed Pharisees "cups that are clean on the outside, but dirty on the inside" and "whitewashed tombs filled with dead-mans bones".
Because in the end, you can wear that beautiful flowing dress or that straight suit to church- but if your heart is hard, all the effort made was fruitless. So let's stop judging people for what is worn. Make a decision in your own heart that you are comfortable with. If you decide that you think God wants you to wear your best clothes, far be it from me to judge you. But it goes both ways. Let's not judge one another on matters that are not pertinent to salvation. I cringe hearing "Can you BELIEVE she wore that?!!" when other issues such as drunkenness, lust and pornography are alive in a church... not to mention the very problem at hand: gossip.
We give Satan easy access when the "yeast is alive and spreading" in the church and yet focus our attention on small, traditional, religious matters. Watch out for his attack.
In the end, I thank God for his undividing love for all people, whether you dress up to go to church or are in your ripped, dirty clothes, 3 days worn, worshipping in your basement. Praise Him for His desire for a pure heart. Because only He can clean that, and so every single bit of glory that only He deserves goes to Him.
I'm not saying there is anything wrong with getting dressed up for church- but make sure you actually understand why you do it. God wants a clean, washed heart. Let's focus on that before criticizing those who don't dress their best. How do you think someone who is finally open to the gospel for the first time in his/her life is going to feel walking in a building full of dressed up church goers and they come in ripped jeans? Jesus said that it is very hard for a rich man to enter into heaven- and the very first impression given would be
1) I'm not rich enough to come to this church
2) I need to buy new things to come to this church
3) Jesus only wants a relationship with people in good clothes.
You are also giving a reason for everyone else in the church (who come to the understanding that dressing up is the only way) to judge those who don't come in their "Sunday best". And that my friends, is a sin. Paul discussing in 2 Corinthians the importance of not causing another brother to sin in what are considering "gray" areas. I was once told that for that very reason alone, people should dress up so that they don't cause the other people to sin. It's not those who don't dress up that cause the others to sin, its those who enforce "Sunday best" as a rule that cause others to sin.
That being said, I understand the importance of getting dressed up for church- you want to symbolize worship as giving your best to Jesus. I get that. I'm ok with that. In fact, I personally (usually) wear nicer clothes to church. Just don't force that on anyone else- especially considering the idea of wearing suits and skirts to church is not anywhere in the Word. In fact, Jesus called the well-dressed Pharisees "cups that are clean on the outside, but dirty on the inside" and "whitewashed tombs filled with dead-mans bones".
Because in the end, you can wear that beautiful flowing dress or that straight suit to church- but if your heart is hard, all the effort made was fruitless. So let's stop judging people for what is worn. Make a decision in your own heart that you are comfortable with. If you decide that you think God wants you to wear your best clothes, far be it from me to judge you. But it goes both ways. Let's not judge one another on matters that are not pertinent to salvation. I cringe hearing "Can you BELIEVE she wore that?!!" when other issues such as drunkenness, lust and pornography are alive in a church... not to mention the very problem at hand: gossip.
We give Satan easy access when the "yeast is alive and spreading" in the church and yet focus our attention on small, traditional, religious matters. Watch out for his attack.
In the end, I thank God for his undividing love for all people, whether you dress up to go to church or are in your ripped, dirty clothes, 3 days worn, worshipping in your basement. Praise Him for His desire for a pure heart. Because only He can clean that, and so every single bit of glory that only He deserves goes to Him.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
The List
Here are some one or two or three liners that I have gathered over time (more will come!):
1) You can't depend on the world, alot of people, cars, money, paraphernalia, computers, your job, or even yourself. Only God never has and never will fail.
2) Pouring rain and human voices in song mixed in two is quite the beautiful sound.
3) Love others.
4) Best friends can be just that: the best. :)
5) Seek out a mentor who is willing to be your friend. The relationship is a blessing, and its shine will make you smile more brightly everyday.
6) Running in the rain is exhilerating.
7) Cookies and tea may not take the pain away, but they definitely are great ways to get through the mess.
8) Serve your significant other. It is the only way a relationship will work.
9) Take that step of faith and stand up for what you believe in, even if it means giving up all you have. Because in being willing to give it all, you gain Everything.
10) Dance like no one is looking.
11) Don't be afraid to raise your hands in worship.
12) Reflection, evidenced-based practice, love and prayer is the best formula to become the nurse you aspire to be.
13) Sorry Goo Goo Dolls... I wouldn't "give up forever to touch you". I'd give up everything for forever- but that is a nice tune anyways:)
14) Learn from the past to live in the present for the future.
15) Looking for employment is more work that working a full-time job. And you don't get paid.
16) It's okay to walk down memory lane- even the tough ones. It will make you realize why you are the way you are.
17) I will forever remember the importance of inside shoes, eraser bits, flying kleenexes and zest. Thanks class of DACS 2003.
18) Look back at the persons you thought you were in love with at different parts of your life. Figure out why you thought you loved them and then why you realized it would never have worked.
19) Pray to see how far the east is from the west. Even in your limited knowledge as a human being of how unimaginable it is, it will blow your mind.... and you'll probably have an ugly cry, which is okay :)
20) Don't be afraid of change. In the event of remaining the same- you become dry and stale. If the tree seed never changed, it would never grow, never bear fruit.
21) Man's architecture doesn't even remotely compare to the astounding glory of God's creation.
22) I love travelling.
23) Boys were silly in high school. They get sillier in university. It's part of their maturing process. LOL
24) Those who are injust and cruel generally need more love than those who they were injust or cruel to. They may not deserve love, but they need it.
25) The friends I see like 5 times a year are some of my favourite people!
26) Religion is taking grace and making it ugly by centering it on man. Relationship takes that grace and watches as it blooms to something more and more beautiful. (thanks for the idea, Gwen!) :)
27) Dare to be bold. Step on someone's toes.
28) Outer beauty impresses for 5 minutes. Inner beauty impresses forever.
29) I will declare my choice to the nations... I will SHOUT for joy in the congration!! I WILL worship God!
30) The day choice overrides life is another day where thousands die.
31) Mom, I love you, but I am not so sure you had what's best in mind for when you made me wear those awful flower dresses. And you're amusement doesn't count as having my best in mind.
32) A picture unknowingly taken of someone laughing...beautiful.
33) Don't throw yourself at him. Let him do the chasing. It's the way it was designed! <3
34) puberty= drama. dating= more drama. wait till after high school, kids.
somehow 35-38 went missing...
39) Sometimes when you just get a feeling about something, the general rule is to go with it. It's how I passed pharm. Do you want me to be your nurse?
40) Children react to your actions, words have little meaning.
41) It is hard not to get angry at someone who manipulates you. It is even harder not to pity then.. But the hardest of all is loving them.
42) Don't hate someone because you don't agree with their lifestyle. Chances are, if you examine closely, you'll end up hating everyone, including yourself. Jesus expressed love to everyone..
43) Just like being in a garage doesn't make you a car, so standing in a church, or being born in a specific family does not make you a Christian.
44) Chuck Norris jokes can be that funny.
45) Don't be afraid to talk about: 1) body- we all have one, 2) mental health issues-it can happen to anyone and it should be treated as any other illess, and 3) sex- majority of people have or will do it.
46) The truth really does set you free.
47) Entering a number of brand new atmospheres with alot of people can make even the most extrovert person shy and awkward.
48) Bitterness: just like oxygen to fire, if you feed it: it will consume more and more of you.
50) If you push something on me just because you think I need to think or do things a specific way, chances are I'll either do the opposite in spite of you, or I will do what you say- but my respect for you as a person is gone.
51) Christians:"I think..." will NEVER compare to "this is what God says..." So don't argue "I think..." with me if I have already proven you wrong with Scripture. You may not like it, but that's the way it is.
52) "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me".
53) Don't be afraid to leave the dirty dishes in the sink once and a while if it means quality time with friends and family.
54) A fool thinks he is wise. A wise man knows himself to be a fool.
55) Love. Because He loved you first.
What a great way to spend an hour! :)
So today I decided to just randomly open a passage and write about it. So I closed my eyes opened the Bible and I landed on Mark 14. I chose (out of Mark 14- quite the larger chapter)- a section where Jesus prophesies about Peter's denial.
So, paraphrasing: Jesus tells them that they will "all fall away" and quoting Zech 13:7- where the shepherd will be struck, and the sheep will be scattered. He then brings comfort, saying that after He is risen, He will go ahead of them to Galilee. Peter denies it- and quite boastfully announces that even if everyone else falls, he won't. Jesus plans on humbling him- and He tells Peter that before the rooster crows, he will deny Jesus three times. So Peter gets real serious- "even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you".
O boy. Reading this I was thinking what am I going to talk about? First things first, Jesus Himself references people "falling away". I want to make something LOUD and CLEAR. there is a heresy in some theology that a person who is saved can "fall away" or lose their salvation. References to Heb 11 will be made- but when someone "loses their salvation"- this identifies certain persons who have been in the Christian community and understand the way to salvation (however have NOT been saved- not yet repenting, not yet acknowledging Christ as their Saviour)- and they decide to walk away. In a sense, they are losing their salvation, because they walked away from the only way to be saved.
How do I know someone can't lose their salvation? Read Eph 1:13, 14; Gal 3:29; The whole book of Romans! The Spirit is ours for eternity, a deposit GARUNTEEING our inheritance. A garuntee is stronger than a promise- and we know that God keeps His promises. How much more can we understand the truth of a garuntee from Him then! Praise God! We are His forever.
Okay so lets get back to Mark 14. So here's what I think. Time and time again we are reminded in Scripture that God requires complete humbleness in ourselves and disgust in our sins. A beautiful thing that God desires is a broken heart. I think, because God will make whats evil good- He used Peter's sin of denial 2 ways:
1) For Peter- to break Peter. To make him humble, before He lifted Peter up- to be a rock to the new church after Christ returned to heaven.
2) For us- to show us what He sees. Peter denied Christ 3 times over a period of time, an hour or so- not just a matter of 2 minutes as is often suggested. We could say "how could Peter be so dumb, even after Jesus told him that actual day he was going to deny Jesus?" Well... I take a look at my life. I have been taught the Word since I can remember- and guess what? Day after day after day I deny my Saviour- even though He told me how to live a life for Him! If you read Luke- it gives the most detailed description of Peter's denial and even amongst the gaurds beating and mocking- just as the rooster crowed, Jesus looked straight at Peter. Every time we deny Christ- Christ looks at us, it is another added weight of sin that was upon Him as He hung there. As sin weighs heavy on our hearts, we can now take another view to this passage to realize something. That even in Peter's sin- Christ looked at him, to not just show Peter that he sinned, but that in his sin, Jesus would still behold him. Jesus still sees us, even in our sin.
Peter went outside and wept bitterly. My guess it was 3 steps passed the "ugly"cry- one that no other expression of emotion can match. This is the brokenness I was talking of earlier.
So give yourself to God. "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentence" (Luke 6:31) Weep- but don't lose heart! If you read further on in the passage the most beautiful, selfless, most wonderfully indescribable gift is given. Someone who didn't deserve to give Himself, willingly dies, because He loves us.
And after repentance, we are justified before God. Having the Spirit, you can't and never will lose your salvation! So we live our lives of service for Christ- and give ourselves to serving each other as well, just as Christ gave Himself for us. :)
whew. that was a biggie! I have so much more I could have said... but that's for another day. Time "serve" by doing housework for my mom.... arggg. hahaha!
So, paraphrasing: Jesus tells them that they will "all fall away" and quoting Zech 13:7- where the shepherd will be struck, and the sheep will be scattered. He then brings comfort, saying that after He is risen, He will go ahead of them to Galilee. Peter denies it- and quite boastfully announces that even if everyone else falls, he won't. Jesus plans on humbling him- and He tells Peter that before the rooster crows, he will deny Jesus three times. So Peter gets real serious- "even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you".
O boy. Reading this I was thinking what am I going to talk about? First things first, Jesus Himself references people "falling away". I want to make something LOUD and CLEAR. there is a heresy in some theology that a person who is saved can "fall away" or lose their salvation. References to Heb 11 will be made- but when someone "loses their salvation"- this identifies certain persons who have been in the Christian community and understand the way to salvation (however have NOT been saved- not yet repenting, not yet acknowledging Christ as their Saviour)- and they decide to walk away. In a sense, they are losing their salvation, because they walked away from the only way to be saved.
How do I know someone can't lose their salvation? Read Eph 1:13, 14; Gal 3:29; The whole book of Romans! The Spirit is ours for eternity, a deposit GARUNTEEING our inheritance. A garuntee is stronger than a promise- and we know that God keeps His promises. How much more can we understand the truth of a garuntee from Him then! Praise God! We are His forever.
Okay so lets get back to Mark 14. So here's what I think. Time and time again we are reminded in Scripture that God requires complete humbleness in ourselves and disgust in our sins. A beautiful thing that God desires is a broken heart. I think, because God will make whats evil good- He used Peter's sin of denial 2 ways:
1) For Peter- to break Peter. To make him humble, before He lifted Peter up- to be a rock to the new church after Christ returned to heaven.
2) For us- to show us what He sees. Peter denied Christ 3 times over a period of time, an hour or so- not just a matter of 2 minutes as is often suggested. We could say "how could Peter be so dumb, even after Jesus told him that actual day he was going to deny Jesus?" Well... I take a look at my life. I have been taught the Word since I can remember- and guess what? Day after day after day I deny my Saviour- even though He told me how to live a life for Him! If you read Luke- it gives the most detailed description of Peter's denial and even amongst the gaurds beating and mocking- just as the rooster crowed, Jesus looked straight at Peter. Every time we deny Christ- Christ looks at us, it is another added weight of sin that was upon Him as He hung there. As sin weighs heavy on our hearts, we can now take another view to this passage to realize something. That even in Peter's sin- Christ looked at him, to not just show Peter that he sinned, but that in his sin, Jesus would still behold him. Jesus still sees us, even in our sin.
Peter went outside and wept bitterly. My guess it was 3 steps passed the "ugly"cry- one that no other expression of emotion can match. This is the brokenness I was talking of earlier.
So give yourself to God. "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentence" (Luke 6:31) Weep- but don't lose heart! If you read further on in the passage the most beautiful, selfless, most wonderfully indescribable gift is given. Someone who didn't deserve to give Himself, willingly dies, because He loves us.
And after repentance, we are justified before God. Having the Spirit, you can't and never will lose your salvation! So we live our lives of service for Christ- and give ourselves to serving each other as well, just as Christ gave Himself for us. :)
whew. that was a biggie! I have so much more I could have said... but that's for another day. Time "serve" by doing housework for my mom.... arggg. hahaha!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Joining the bandwagon!
Much to Laura's discontent, I am going to be a blogger. This came about because I sometimes have much needed things I want to say... but they aren't appropriate for facebook status (I suppose I am a nerd now).
The name for my blog came about from a long standing joke between Amber, Heidi and myself and possibly others. It comes from Psalm 27, with a context of God placing us in a safe place in the day of trouble, he protects us. By placing us safe on a high rock, we will be protected. It reminds me of the lyrics "On Christ the Son and Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand". God is my rock, my fortress and my foundation.
The joke came because we could just be "high" on a rock. Which is pretty funny when you're 12. *disclaimer- If you know me, you know I have never been high, let along high on a rock*
Anyways. Welcome to my blog. Welcome to my life :)
The name for my blog came about from a long standing joke between Amber, Heidi and myself and possibly others. It comes from Psalm 27, with a context of God placing us in a safe place in the day of trouble, he protects us. By placing us safe on a high rock, we will be protected. It reminds me of the lyrics "On Christ the Son and Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand". God is my rock, my fortress and my foundation.
The joke came because we could just be "high" on a rock. Which is pretty funny when you're 12. *disclaimer- If you know me, you know I have never been high, let along high on a rock*
Anyways. Welcome to my blog. Welcome to my life :)
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