Who is Jesus?

Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of (B)Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, "Who do people say that I am?" (Mark 8:27)

Today, as I was reading the above verse from the gospel of Mark, I thought about the question Jesus posed. Just out of curiosity, I decided to google it. Here are the top 10 hits:

1. Jesus is the Messiah.
2. Jesus is the only way.
3. Jesus is the real one.
4. Jesus is the Son of God.
5. Jesus is both God and man.
6. Jesus is God in human flesh.
7 Jesus is the Word.
8. Jesus is Lord.
9. Jesus is the YHWH the "I am."
10. Jesus is not known amongst the public ...

Yes. Jesus is the Messiah, the only way, the Son of God, was both God and man...the Lord. Yet, for far too many people, Jesus is not known. Today, Jesus asks us, "Who do YOU say I am?" How will you respond? Will you affirm that he is the only way? The real one? The Lord? Or, will you say, "He is not known amongst us!" ?

Today, if you his his voice, do not harden your hearts..." (Hebrews 3:15)

Frustration

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:15-25)

I seriously could have written this! Sometimes I really disgust myself.

Have you ever battled with the same sin over and over? How did you handle it?

Looks Like Armageddon!?!

I had the weirdest telephone conversation today at work. I got a message off my machine from a middle aged man who was looking for a particular type of insurance that we do not offer. So, I called to tell him that and about midway into the phone call he says to me, "Are you a Christian?" I said that I was and he proceeded to tell me that he believes that Hurricanes Wilma, Rita and Katrina are sure signs that the world is getting ready to end. I didn't want to mention to him that hurricanes are not a new phenomena, being that he was a potential customer. Nevertheless, he continued to speak of death and devastation for a couple of minutes until I interjected with this hopeful statement: "Well, we should pray that this hurricane doesn't end doing the kind of damage that Katrina did." He said, "The wind blows where it will, we can't stop the hand of God." Then he asked me how old I am. I told him that I am 29. He said I sounded much younger and then he politely excused himself and hung up.

I guess he was looking for a younger woman. :)

A Charismatic Calvinist

Thanks to Jared, I discovered a new blog today called Reformation Theology Apparently it is from the folks at Monergism.com. I liked it so much, I decided to add it to the blogroll.

I particularly enjoyed John Hendryx's interview with John Sampson from Faith Community Church in Phoenix, Arizona. In it, Sampson tells the story of his poignant journey from Arminianism to Calvinism in a manner I think many of us can relate to. It is definitely worth the read.

Sampson also discloses that while his church is essentially reformed in theology, they are also charismatic. On the main page of the church's website, I found this article which attempts to answer the question, "Are miracles for today?" It is an interesting article and suggests that cessationism does not have strong biblical support, a view which I personally espouse. Here is an excerpt from his interview with Hendryx which I think is an excellent point:

Some would describe a charismatic in terms of the outrageous things we’ve all witnessed taking place on Christian television in America. That’s the only reference point some people have. That’s very sad because these extremes are as repulsive to me as they are to others.

Lets face it, eisegesis happens! It happens in all kinds of settings. Imagine for a moment a Christian television station that simply broadcasted the extremes within each denomination 24 hours a day, seven days a week

The Integrity of God

Webster's Dictionary defines integrity as:

1) An unimpaired condition: SOUNDNESS; 2) Adherance to a code of moral, artistic, or other values; 3) the quality or state of being complete or undivided: COMPLETENESS.

In very basic terms, integrity is doing what you say you will do when you say you will do it. It is standing up for what you believe is right no matter what the circumstances may be. A person of integrity does not waver. A person of integrity is steadfast. Although we often hear stories of men and women of great integrity, I submit to you that our God is the quintessential example of integrity.

"All scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness." 2 Timothy 3:16

God's word is his integrity. If we are to believe this, we must first acknowledge that The Bible is inspired and infallible. (2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16) Earlier this week I was talking to my mom about a bible study presentation she was giving at her church. When I mentioned starting with the premise that the bible is the inspired, infallible word of God, she said, "Oh, I think they all know that. It's too basic."

But is it?

I know that it is a statement that most evangelical Protestant churches list at the top of their statement of faith. But, I am not sure that we really believe it. At least we don't often live like we believe it. Because if we truly believe that the Bible is free from error, and fully inspired by God, then why do we have such a difficult time believing God for the things he promises to us in his word? The bible is full of examples of where God honored his word. In fact, he says that he places his word above his name! That's a pretty powerful statement.

Throughout history, God has shown himself faithful to his word. Lets consider a few prime examples:

In Genesis 2:16-17 he told Adam and Eve, "Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Although the serpent convinced them that they "would not surely die", God remained faithful to his word. As it is written in Romans 5:12 "...through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men..."

Perhaps one of the most memorable promises or covenants God made was with Abraham. In Genesis chapter 14-17 God promises to make Abraham the father of many nations. God said to him, "Look toward the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And then he said, "So shall your descendants be." (Genesis 15:5-6) We know that God honored that promise by giving life to Sarah's womb and blessing them with a son, Isaac. In fact, the Bible says in Galatians 3:29 that all who belong to Christ, both Jew and Gentile, are Abraham's descendants, and "heirs according to the promise."

In Isaiah, the coming of the messiah is prophesied. It is later fulfilled in the life of Jesus Christ, the one who would save the people from their sins and deliver us from the curse of the law. Thank goodness for the faithful integrity of our creator!

Shortly before Jesus is crucified he makes another incredible promise. In John 2:19 he tells a group of unbeliving Jews, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Of course, they were astonished. They mocked him saying, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and in three days you will raise it up?" Little did they know he was talking about the temple of his body. Once again, God's integrity could not fail.

Finally, we know that Jesus promised his disciples that he would not leave them alone. He promised to send a comforter. (John 14:6) This promise is realized on the day of Pentecost when the holy spirit came upon them in the upper room and equipped them for the ministry God had called them to.

These are just a few examples of how God has honored his word throughout history. There are countless others. So, won't you decide today to believe God? He has promised us so much if we will only be as Abraham was, being "fully assured" that what God promises, he is "able to perform." (Romans 4:21)

God isn't a genie in a bottle or an ATM machine. He doesn't always cater to our every whim. He loves us far to much to do that. But, he wants us to come to him in prayer, allowing his desires to become our desires. If we do that, and seek him above all things, he promises to bless us with spiritual blessings beyond measure.

Do you need to experience God's peace? His forgiveness? I don't know the problems you are facing today, but I do know that God is greater than any problem we have. Reach out to him. I promise he will not disappoint you. His integrity depends on it.

Should I Be Offended? Insulted?

I was having an email discussion with one of the commenters here and I got this statement in response to one of the emails I sent:

"Its obvious you had someone write this email for you; if not at least dictate much of the verbiage."

Excuse me?

It gets better...

He goes on to say:

"Don't really know who wrote that email for you, but I'd appreciate it if they'd show the courage to at least reveal their identity. Or, at least communicate with me that you are getting help (a lot in this case) from a friend."

I don't know whether to be completely offended that my character has been called into question, or just laugh. I've never been accused of being a plagiarist before.

Psalm 63

God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.

Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.

So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

Psalm 63:1-8

Do you hunger for God this way? I know I do. This is one of my favorite psalms.

Bible Verse

Ok, I need your help. I am trying to select an appropriate bible verse for my father's headstone and I would like your suggestions.

Thanks!

Gender Roles in the Church

I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet... 1 Timothy 2:12

The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the law also says. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church. 1 Corinthians 14:34

Currently, there is an excellent post on the proper role of women in the church at Thinklings. Of course, this is a topic that people generally have very passionate opinions about.

I have to admit, this isn't a subject I have given much thought to until now. However, the newest associate pastor at my church is a woman and I am joining the church on Sunday. So, when I read Jared's post, It made me stop and think about my own opinions and beliefs about this controversial subject. Was Paul merely responding to a problem the early church faced? If so, what are we to make of his reference to created order immediately following his prohibition on women teaching or exercising authority over men? Was Paul somehow limited in his thinking because of the culture he lived in? If so, doesn't it damage the claim of inspiration and infallibility of the scripture to assert that Paul could have been culturally biased?

I could go on and on with questions that arise in my mind when I think about this issue. Its an interesting topic. I would love to hear your views.

World Communion Sunday

We participated in World Communion Sunday today at our church. This event takes place every year on the first Sunday in October in many churches throughout the world. It is an opportunity to unite in ecumenical worship with our brothers and sisters in Christ from other denominations. Today we celebrated the eucharist with our Lutheran, Episcopal, Baptist and Catholic neighbors in the middle of downtown Huntington. It was an amazing experiece. I was filled with awe to know that at the very same moment I was partaking in the sacraments, there were people all around the world doing the very same thing.

Towards the end of the service, one of the ministers made a comment that really touched my heart. He said, "What brings us all together, our faith in Jesus Christ, is far greater than those things which divide us."

Faith

I am really enjoying the bible study I am going to on Thursday nights. On the first night we learned a 5 statement pledge that will govern our study. It is:

1. God is who He says He is.

2. God can do what He says He can do.

3. I am who God says I am.

4. I can do all things through Christ.

5. God's word is alive and active in me.

I know this is going to be a powerful journey. I know it because from the moment I committed to doing this bible study I have had nothing but trouble. I have wanted to give up and say, "I quit" several times in the last two weeks. I believe that the enemy hates it when Christians get serious about their faith. He doesn't want anyone to be successful in Christ. He doesn't want us to advance the kingdom of God. He doesn't want us to reach out to the unchurched. He knows that he can't steal our salvation, but he would love to destroy our witness, our joy and our hope.

The truth is I just really want to reach the next level in my Christian life. I want to grow in my faith to the point that I completely trust God in all things. I really do thirst for him. I want to know him intimately. When I think about giving up, God is quick to remind me of the kind of life he brought me from. The fact is, no matter what kind of trials I face as a Christian, I know what a life without God is all about. As they say, "I've been there, done that, and I've got the t-shirt." The enemy is a liar and nothing he has to offer is worth the price you have to pay. I thank God that he reminds me of that every day.

Prayer Request

I would like to request prayer for my co-worker's grandson that was born yesterday. He has some birth defects that they were unaware of, despite many ultrasounds. He is missing his left middle finger and all the other fingers on both hands are webbed together.

The baby's name is Austin. His parents are Jennifer and Joey.

The Day of the Lord

I was running late for church this morning so I decided to go to a Baptist church that is a lot closer to my house. The topic of the sermon was "The Second Coming of Christ." As long as I have been attending the Presbyterian church, I don't recall ever hearing a sermon about eschatology. It has never been a subject that I was very interested in. Thus, I do not have a clearly formed belief concerning these things. So, how about it? What are your eschatological views? Are you Preterist, Premil, Postmil, Pre-wrath, Amil, etc...

What is interesting is that last night I was actually reading Revelations. While reading, I was thinking about the premillinial pre-trib teachings that I grew up with. Something struck me as I was reading. If this view is correct, then why would God loose Satan again to deceive the nations after the tribulation period and millinial reign is over? Who is he going to deceive? The saints who ruled with Christ? The people who accepted Jesus during the great tribulation? I find it hard to believe that those people who have made it through the great tribulation and all the wrath that has been poured down on sin would turn against God again.

"Believing God"- A Beth Moore Bible Study

I am really excited to report that I started an 11-week Beth Moore women's bible study tonight at my church, First Presbyterian. There were about 15 women there, raging in age from early 20's to late 60's. I am very optimistic about this bible study. Lately I have been feeling a little blah about my spiritual life and I have been experiencing some reservations about joining the church I attend. At first I felt that I wasn't being challenged enough. But, then I realized that perhaps it wasn't the church's fault, it might be mine! GASP! May it never be so! :)

The fact is that I normally just attend the traditional Sunday morning worship services and an occassional Sunday night contemporary service. I have not been going to Sunday School or participating in any small group bible studies. So, I think before I determine that " I am not being fed" I probably need to buy a set of silverware.

I enjoyed the small group experience because it provided me with an opportunity to get to know some of the women one on one. Its really hard to do that in regular church services. I hope this experience will help me feel more involved. I have felt like somewhat of an outsider for a while because I didn't really know anyone there when I started going.

Support the Relief Effort

The people of New Orleans, and the other cities and affected by Hurricane Katrina need our help. You may not think that the relatively small amount of money that you can afford to give will go very far. But, if we all give a little, together we can do a lot. Remember, this could be you or one of your family members. Show the love of God to those who are hurting by making a donation today. The Red Cross makes donating easy. You may give online here or you can reach them by phone at 1-800-HELP-NOW.

In addition to your monetary support, please continue to lift up all the people affected by this disaster in prayer.

Thank you and God Bless You.

Hurricane Katrina

My thoughts and prayers go out to all the people on the gulf coast who have been affected by Hurricane Katrina.

I received an email today from a co-worker in Ohio seeking assistance for her sister, Lisa who lives In New Orleans and lost everything in the Hurricane. Lisa is a widow and has two children. I can't even begin to imagine what she must be going through tonight.

As I sit here, warm and comfortable at the kitchen table, I am full of gratitude for the things I often take for granted: a roof over my head, a warm bed, and refrigerator full of food to eat.

The TV is on and I am staring in disbelief at the widespread destruction. One reporter just commented, "New Orleans as we know it is gone." Another reporter tells stories of entire families found dead in their homes. It is all so terribly sad.

Nightclubs and Bars

I have been talking to my friend, Doug, about something the last few days that I decided I would share with you and ask for your feedback. As a Christian, is it ok to go to bars and nightclubs? Why or why not? Also, is there a difference between the two? If so, what? Also, at what point does trying to live a Christian life turn into legalism?

I am purposely trying to keep my opinion to myself because I really want to know what others think. Lets just say that my friend and I seem to disagree. I do have an opinion, though I am not sure how strong it is. I am open to changing my view if someone can present me with convincing evidence. I think my friend is also open to well-reasoned evidence.

Thanks.

Overwhelmed

I am looking for advice. I just started back to school this week. I am carrying a full load and I also work at an insurance agency 30 hours a week. On the weekends, my mom ususally comes down to stay and often brings the baby that I mentioned in the prayer request post. Of course, I have church on Sunday and I also have a Thursday evening bible study that I will be participating in this fall. Needless to say, I am a little overwhelmed. My house is a mess. I am tired all the time and I am stressed out! I need to come up with a plan to get myself organized and my time managed efficiently. At this point when I am looking at all I have to do, I just can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions that anyone might have.

What has helped you become/stay organized?

Believing God?

We heard a rumor today at work that they might be closing our office. Of course, this has everyone in a panic. However, I don't think that God wants his children to live in fear. Many times in the last year I have been forced to acknowledge that God is my source, not man. People can let you down, circumstances can change, but God alone remains faithful. For this reason, we should have peace.

In one of her books, Beth Moore asks, "Do we merely believe in God, or do we believe God?" At first this seems like a simple question. But, is it really? How often do we worry and fret over things that happen to us and fail to recognize that God has promised never to leave us or forsake us. In fact, he cares for us so much that the bible says that even the hairs on our heads are numbered. Yet, our faith in his ability and willingness to take care of us, always seems to be lacking.

Of the many promises God gives believers in the bible, one of the most significant ones is peace. The bible has a lot to say about peace. A few good verses of scripture that come to mind are:

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." (Isaiah 26:3)

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27)

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

As believers, we have assurance that:

A. God is in control. The bible says that "The Lord has established his throne in the heavens and his sovereignty rules over all." (Psalms 103:19)

AND...

B. God is continually involved in our lives every single day. In fact, Romans 8:28 says: "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."


SO...

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phillipians 4:6-7)


The bottom line is this: If my office closes tomorrow, I know that God will make a way for me. He will open another window of opportunity. How do I know this? I know it because I've seen it happen. I believe with all my heart that "in ALL things" God truly does have a plan. And he is willing and able to bring something positive out of even the worst situations.

Prayer Request

I would like to make a special prayer request. If you read this post, please pray for a special little boy in my life. His home situation is not the best. His mother has some emotional problems and may have a drug problem as well. I fear for the safety and well-being of this baby while he is in her care. My prayer is that God will watch over him and keep him safe and that if his mother is unable to get herself some help, that he would be removed from the home and placed with someone who will love him and care for him. My mom confronted her today about her behavior and she got very upset and told my mom that she would never let her see the baby again. My mom has kept him nearly every single weekend since he was 9 days old. He is now 8 months. My mother is just devastated, and worried. She really needs our prayers as well. It has been a rough year for her. Her boyfriend died in July of 2004 of a sudden heart attack, my father ( her ex-husband) was diagnosed less than a month later with cancer and he died in June of this year. Now this with the baby....

Thanks.

A Love Song to the Lord

I found this song in my real player library tonight. I have no idea where it came from. I have never heard it before. As, I listened to the lyrics, I was filled with such gratitude and reminded of all that the Lord has done for me. I couldn't have written a better "love song" to Him. This one says it all:

when i think about the Lord
by james huey

when i think about the Lord
how He saved me, how He raised me
how He filled me with the Holy Ghost
how He healed me to the uttermost
when i think about the Lord
how He picked me up
turned me around
how He placed my feet
on solid ground

it makes me want to shout
hallelujah! thank you, Jesus!
Lord, you're worthy
of all the glory, and all the honor
and all the praise!
Hallelujah! thank you, Jesus!
Lord, you're worthy
of all the glory, and all the honor
and all the praise!

Limited Atonement?

Hebrews 10:26-30 (NIV)

26If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[a] and again, "The Lord will judge his people."

I believe that the vs. 29 above appears to conflict with the doctrine of limited atonement. I am curious as to how Calvinists view that particular verse in light of their beliefs. To be fair, I think John 10 is equally problematic for Arminianism. Now, obviously there must be a way to reconcile seemingly contradictory truths. That is where I am right now.

Breaking Free

Our church is beginning an 11 week Beth Moore women's bible study in September, called Living Beyond Yourself: Exploring the Fruits of the Spirit. Since I was not familiar with Moore's writing, I decided to check her out at Borders. I skimmed a few of her selections and decided to purchase a book called Breaking Free: Making Liberty in Christ a Reality in Life. I have only read a few chapters, but so far I like what I have read. I think this is a great book for anyone who wants to know God better and have a stronger relationship with him. In the book, Moore discusses five hinderances that can impede our Christian walk and keep us from experiencing all that God intends for his children. According to Moore, these hinderances include:

1. Unbelief - She makes an excellent point when she questions, Do we merely believe in God? (For our salvation) Or, do we really believe God, including all the promises in His word?

2. Idolotry - I think this is a huge issue. What things in our lives have we, either intentionally, or unintentionally, given a higher priority than serving God? Our kids? Our jobs? Our mates? Our friends? A bad habit? This is a very worthwhile question to ask ourselves. I think the truth might surprise us if we get real with ourselves.

3. Prayerlessness

4. Legalism

5. Pride

Interview Meme

Here's how it works. I will ask the the first 5 people to reply to this post 5 questions. You will respond to them on your own blog and then repeat the process with 5 other people. Sounds fun! Lets get started.

Here are the questions Shrode asked me over at Thinklings

1. Tell me about your siblings. How many do you have? What was it like growing up with them? Do you still get along? Do you consider them close friends? How often do you talk to each other?

I have one sister, Deidra. She is 24 years old. We are 5 years apart (I am 29) so we didn't really hang out together growing up. But, we moved in together after she graduated high school and moved here for college. We have been very close ever since. She lives in Florida now and is school to be a Chiropractor. I talk to her pretty much every day or at least every other day. I just got back from visiting her on Monday.

2. When did you first become a Christian? How did that happen? What's your story?

Well, I was raised in a Baptist church. I went just about every Sunday with my Grandma. My parents attended a non-denominational church when I was a teenager and I went there until I graduated high school. My best friend's dad was the pastor. I guess you could say I was a pew warmer, but definitely not a dedicated believer.

Anyway, I quit going altogether after I moved to Atlanta in 1994 to go to college. From that point on I became very uninterested in anything remotely Christian or religious. I decided that I wasn't sure I even believed in "all that stuff." I thank my Liberal Arts education for that. (Just kidding...sorta)

A few years ago I went through a phase where I visited many different churches, trying to find one I liked. But, I was involved with a guy who was an unbeliever and he really gave me a hard time and I wasn't really that committed so I stopped going.

Last year, I met a guy...and if I told you what I was doing or where I was when we met, you would KNOW that I definitely wasn't seeking. But, as it would appear, the Holy Spirit was seeking me. This guy told me he was a Christian and we began talking about the Lord. I was highly skeptical. I told him that I had been to a lot of churches in my area and none of the appealed to me. He recommended a Presbyterian church and I agreed to go once just to get him off my back. Well, shortly thereafter, I found out that my dad had cancer. This was merely a month after my mom's boyfriend dropped dead from a sudden heart attack. This coupled with a lot of other personal issues, brought me to the brink of a nervous breakdown.

I should back up a bit and say that first of all, I was very skeptical of religion because no one that I knew really seemed to be better off for having it. My parents were unhappy, divorced, etc... My dad, who used to be a Sunday School teacher, was an alcoholic. My mom attended a Charismatic non-denominational church that preaches the prosperity gospel, yet she still seemed decidely unhappy. So, I thought...who needs all that? Prayer doesn't even work. I remember praying as a kid for things to happen (my grandfather and my grandmas sister to be healed from cancer) and yet they died.

That is when weird things started happening. First of all my friend recommended a book for me to read called: "When God Writes Your Life Story." I read that book (still skeptical) and I felt like my whole view of religion had been radically transformed. You mean, its not supposed to be all about me? Wow. Ok. That is definitely not what they are preaching down the street at First Name-It-And-Claim-It Community Church.

Then, I was in the library waiting for some friends to get off work so we could go to dinner and I was browsing. A book jumped out at me on the shelf. It was called, "Its Not All About Me" or something like that, by Max Lucado. I was like, "Interesting." Then I finally went to that Presbyterian church my friend was bugging me about. The message was about how we try to plan our own lifes and do it our way intead of letting God lead us. The minister said, "Its not all about us, it about God." I was like, "Hmm. Ok this is getting weird." Then I picked up a copy of PDL and the very first line of Ch. 1 was "Its not about you." Ok, I am totally spooked now. Finally, I visited one of those semi-prosperity gospel type churches on a night that the pastor was out of town. The associate pastor was preaching and all of the sudden he says, "I don't really know why I am saying this. And, I might tick some people off, but you know, its not all about you and me. We can't expect just to pray gimme, gimme when we aren't even doing our part to serve God and devote ourselves to his will. We need to seek him first and then..."

At that point, I was like, "Ok, I get it God."

I basically had shunned religion because I had a very badly misconceived idea about what it was all about. When I realized it was not all about me, but rather it was about giving glory and honor to God and letting him lead the way, my life was radically changed. I consider it one of those lightbulb moments.

I accepted Jesus in the fall of 2004 and I was baptized in March of this year.


3. Being a fairly new believer, how did you come to know so much about Calvinism? How come you are not a Calvinist? Actually, rereading some of your posts, it seems you may be a Calvinist after all. So are you or aren't you? And why or why not?

When my friend recommended a Presbyterian church I said, "Wait. Aren't they Calvinists?" He said something like, "I don't know, I think." I am just not the kind of person who can do anything without "full disclosure" so I decided to find out more. When I first started going to the Presbyterian church I talked to the associate pastor about Calvinism because I was concerned. I thought Calvinism was evil. But, of course, that is coming from someone who had never read the bible before, unless you count during Sunday school as a kid. So, you know...

Once I really started learning more about Calvinism, I became somewhat obsessed with figuring out if it was true. I read as much as I could about it and started talking to people online.

I am still on the fence, but I have to admit that Calvinism has some pretty persuasive arguments in its favor. There is just something about it that I am not quite comfortable with yet, though. But, I have to say that the more I study the word, the harder I am finding it to completely dismiss Calvinism. Esp. in light of John Ch. 10 and Romans 9.


4. What's in your CD player right now?

Sugarland, Norah Jones and a Contemporary Christian praise CD

5. If you could own any TV show on DVD from the 80's or earlier, what would it be?

Punky Brewster

Florida

I went to Florida to visit my sister for a little mini-vacation this past weekend. I had a great time. I had never been to my sisters new place so I really enjoyed that. We did some power shopping one afternoon and I feel the need to share with you my current list of must have items:

1. Hanae Mori Butterfly perfume. I can't begin to tell you how delicious this smells - And, the bottle is also pretty. Notes include: Strawberries, Bilberries, Black Currant, Bulgarian Rose, Jasmine, Ylang-Ylang, Sandalwood, Almond, Praline.

According to Sephora:

The fragrance is a rare blend of berries and flowers, with a distinctive tone of strawberries and almond, giving an impression of vanilla. The bottle's top is distinctly made from glass, a first for any fragrance. The top represents the beauty and delicate shape of a butterfly with folded wings.

2. Phyto Phytodefrisant Hair Relaxing Balm- A must have for anyone who must content with humidity.

3. Bath and Body Works' new fall scent, Brown Sugar and Fig. It smells heavenly.

And, my latest and greatest restaurant find:

Seasons 52 in Altamonte Springs, Fl. Everything on the menu is under 500 calories and tastes fantastic. I went there with my sister and I'll admit I was a skeptic. I was expecting to find something along the lines of the Weight Watchers menu at Applebees and it was nothing like that at all. The food was excellent - very flavorful. I got crab stuffed shrimp with asparagus and squash. My sister got pork tenderloins with pollenta. The desserts are fantastic as well. They each come served in a tall shot glass and are just enough to top off the delicious dinner. With many items coming in under 300 calories each, this restaurant definitely deserves a visit.

PS. I am saving the horrible part of my vacation story until tomorrow...

Peter Jennings Dies

Former "ABC Nightly News" anchor and highly revered journalist, Peter Jennings, passed away on Sunday at his home in New York City after a battle with lung cancer.

I was deeply saddened to hear of Jennings' death. My father passed away in June from the same type of cancer. I know that he empathized deeply for Mr. Jennings when he heard that he was ill, even writing to him to let him know that he would keep him in his prayers.

When I heard last night that Peter Jennings had passed away, memories of my dad's own illness and death came rushing back. Cancer is such an awful, dehumanizing disease. Watching someone suffer when there is nothing you can really do to help them is the hardest thing I have ever had to do.

If there is one positive thing that came from my own father's illness it is the realization that our bodies are truly temples of the holy spirit and we should make every effort to take care of them. My dad did not not do that. He drank excessively and smoked since he was a teenager. His struggle with alcoholism would last his entire life. When my dad accepted Jesus he quit drinking. This lasted for about 10 years, I think. Then, one night at dinner, he gave in to the lie. He thought he could master what had mastered him. "Just one drink," he said. That one drink led to another drink and only stopped when he saw his own mortality face to face. Its amazing how finding out that you are dying can really put things into perspective.

We all have our own crosses to bear. I personally do not struggle with alcoholism or smoking. But, I have my own issues. With the grace of God, I pray that I can overcome them.

My thoughts and prayers are with the Jennings family tonight. May God's grace and peace be with them.

"Professing to be wise, they became fools..."

I came across another great post today regarding the Christian blogosphere. The blogger, Tom Reindl, writes here:

"I am wondering about what I have been writing lately. For that matter, I am wondering about what most Christian bloggers have been writing about. Further that, I am wondering what most Christian authors, including the well known ones, have been writing about.

A thought occurred to me yesterday...how we can seem to know so much about God, and our faith, and yet how we seem to have little or none of the power that comes with the Kingdom. And so I brought that thought up when I was in silence with Abba..."

He goes on to say:

"I am far more interested in knowledge than I am in practical living. By “practical living”, I mean, as far as a believer goes, I am an infant. Yet I want to discuss the deeper “truths” of our faith as if I have been, or am a mature follower of Christ, which I am not. I go so far with this as to disdain real love so that I can talk about love instead..."

This seems like a very timely post. Perhaps God is trying to speak to the Christian blogosphere. It seems that there are posts like this cropping up all over the place in the last few days. I know when I feel like God is trying to speak to me, it is always confirmed in several different places. If I go to church on Sunday and this is the topic of the sermon, I will probably pass out. :)

The Power of the Tongue- Or As Dan Edelen asks, "Has The Christian Blogosphere Lost its Collective Mind?"

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 NASB

Yesterday I posted about the problem of division in the church. As I mentioned, what led me to write about the subject was the fact that I came across a rather disturbing website which singled out various men of God as hell-bound heretics. As I considered the premise of Mr. Fish's argument, that all doctrine is essential for salvation, and any deviation from what he consider's to be truth, is a damnable offense, it brought to mind the broader issues of division within the church. It isn't hard to find a good Calvinist vs. Arminian debate on the net these days. For the most part, people tend to remain respectful. But, there are those who insist on name calling and judging the salvation of those who disagree with them. I had one person say that my comments were "nasty" and ask me if I was even a woman, just because I said that I didn't think that calling other Christians heretics was a very nice thing to do.

In my experience, there is a tendancy in these kind of discussions towards wanting to be right, instead of wanting to lead others to truth. We really do need to prayerfully consider our motivation when we debate doctrine with fellow believers. Do we really practice love towards those who we disagree with? Do we want to illuminiate the truth to them, or do we just want to argue? Wanting to be right, just for the pleasure of proving others wrong is a sin. It's called pride.

Dan Edelen posted a wonderful piece on this subject on his blog. You can find the link here. You might also want to check out a post by Bill over at the Thinklings website.

It is my sincere hope that the Christian blogosphere will embrace the suggestions Dan makes and that we will prayerfully consider our motivations before we open our mouths in the future.

I am not suggesting that it is wrong to point out false teaching in the Church. Clearly we have a biblical obligation to do so. However, I believe it is the manner in which we do so that is important. Just because we might not know/can't see the person we are presently engaging in a heated debate with, it is not an excuse for manners to go out the window. Furthermore, I submit that so-called heresy hunters who spew forth hate on the pages of their websites, are in no better shape than the worst heretics they call out.

May God have mercy upon us and forgive us for our the evil we do with our tongues.

Division in the Church

Today when I was researching something on the internet, I came across a website purely by accident. I was very disturbed by what I read here

Apparently this guy, Darwin Fish (reportedly his real name), earnestly believes that he could very well be the only preacher on the planet who is in truth. He admits there could be others, but if so he is unware of their existence.

OK. Wow.

He goes on to say that anyone who doesn't agree 100% with his interpretation of the bible is wrong and that they are false teachers who are going to hell. He even lists them by name!

As a (relatively) new believer, this site really upset me. Its not that I believe Mr. Fish. Obviously, I believe he is wrong. Yet, it did cause me to think about the division that exists in the church. According to some researchers, there are approximately 8,000 different Protestant denominations. I don't know about you, but I think that is a lot. For this reason, many Catholics argue that it proves the error of the doctrine of sola scriptura. While I disagree, I think "The Church" may have been onto something when they discouraged private ownership/reading of the bible. (Ok...not really.)

Honestly though, how have we gotten so divided? I think that I am pretty well read and intelligent. Yet, I have a difficult time discerning the proper interpretation of scripture. Certainly, I don't want to be believe something that is wrong. But, I am sure that my Calvinist friends, with whom I often disagree, feel the same way. How can two people both approach the bible with an open mind, ask God for the guidance of the holy spirit, and each come away with a different understanding of what is being said? I just don't understand. I find the deep divisions within the church today to be very disturbing. I know that this is notwhat God wanted. Yet, he had to know it would end up this way.

What makes it even worse is the fact that the more I study, the greater the divide I find within Protestant theology. On the surface these doctrinal differences might seem slight. But when you think about it, the underlying issues at the core of these differences are very important. For example, the whole Calvinist vs. Arminian vs. Molinism vs. Open Theism vs. Etc... debate is very serious. In Calvinist theology, God's love is very different than it is for the Arminian. Similarly, the question of how God knows what he knows is very different among these different theologies. The open theist believes that God knows everything that can be known, but does not know the free choices of his creatures before they occur. While the Calvinist believes that God knows everything that is going to happen because he has determined it. (To be fair...this a gross oversimplification of Calvinism. There are various splinters within Calvinism as well as to the extent and nature of determinism)

What we are left with is a question that I found posed on a blog earlier this week. "Is Christianity Broken?"

I submit that it isn't broken. It is merely full of broken people who are trying to find the truth. May God lead us to His truth and help us to be more loving towards one another, even when we disagree.

The Power of Praise

Life is difficult.

This simple, yet profound statement is the opening line of M. Scott Peck's "The Road Less Traveled". He affirms this to be "a great truth, one of the greatest truths."

When we look at the world in which we live, it isn't hard to see that Peck is right. Life IS difficult. It is easy to become overwhelmed with the stress of day to day life. Often we face challenges that we feel powerless to overcome. There are days when we don't feel like getting out of bed, and days when we feel like giving up.

Despite all this, there is good news for those who put their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. As the Apostle Paul said, we "can do all things through Him who gives us strength."(Philipians 4:13) In fact, Jesus himself said, " These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

How do we tap into this power Paul talked about and the promise of peace Jesus gave us? I believe the first step is praise. We need to look no farther than the Lord's Prayer for evidence of this. When Jesus instructed his disciples how to pray, he instructed them to began by saying "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name..." By beginning our prayer with praise we are humbling ourselves before God, lifting him up in adoration, entering into the very presence of God. And where the presence of the Lord is, there is power! Psalms 22:3 says that God inhabits the praises of his people.

The bible has a lot to say about the power of praise. In 2 Samuel 22:4, David said, "I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies."

I would like to point to two different stories in the bible that demonstrate the power of praise. One is in the Old Testament, the other in the New.

2 Chronicles Ch. 20 tells the story of Jehosophat and the children of Judah who found themselves outnumbered by the hostile armies of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir. The situation was bleak. The odds were agaisnt them. However, in the midst of the trial, Jehosophat did not focus on the problem. He focused on praise. The bible says that "As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated."

In the book of Acts we find a similar story. In Acts 16 we find Paul and Silas jailed for declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ. Instead of giving up, we see once again that they were not moved by their circumstances. They knew the power of praise. Just like the story of the Hebrew children in the fiery furnace, they were strong in their faith. They trusted God to deliver them. And, in the midst of their problems they gave him praise and honor.

Acts 16:16-35

"...The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened..."

We can develop a heart of praise like Jehosophat, David, Paul and Silas. I believe that if we learn how to give God praise in all things, he will deliver us from the bondage of our pain. We don't have to carry our burdens. Jesus paid the price for our sins and he defeated the power of the enemy.

Jesus wants us to trust him. For we know that, "God works everything for good to those who love him and are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

I Bless Your Name
Words and Music by Elizabeth Goodine

In prisoners' chains
With bleeding stripes
Paul and Silas prayed that night
And in their pain began to sing
Their chains were loosed
And they were free

I bless Your Name
I bless Your Name
I give You honor, give You praise
You are the Life, the Truth, the Way
I bless Your Name
I bless Your Name

Some midnight hour
If you should find
You're in a prison in your mind
Reach out and praise
Defy those chains
And they will fall
In Jesus' Name

We bless Your Name
We bless Your Name
We give You honor, give You praise
You are the Life, the Truth, the Way
We bless Your Name
We bless Your Name

You are the Life, the Truth, the Way
We bless Your Name
We bless Your Name

Calvinism Revisited

I visited a new blog today and I noticed this comment on Calvinism from Ellen, the blogger.

“I have come to realize that all parts of TULIP either stand or fall together - it's hard to understand a "3-pointer...”

I couldn’t agree more. This reminded me of the discussions I had a few months ago with various Presbyterian ministers (PCUSA) on the issue of Calvinism and the 5-points (TULIP). Here is the question I asked:

“Hi. I am considering becoming a Presbyterian and I am interested in finding out what your beliefs are regarding Predestination. Specifically, I would like to know (1) how central is the Calvinist doctrine of Predestination to the Presbyterian faith? (2) What percentage of Presbyterian ministers would you estimate are strict 5 point Calvinists? (3) And, could you please share your individual opinion on the doctrine?”

The responses I got were mixed. A few admitted to being 5-point Calvinists. But the rest resisted such a label and instead opted to call themselves 3-point Calvinists, 4-point Calvinists, or simply rejected the entire association with Calvinism.

This led me to question how a person could logically be a 3 or 4 point Calvinist. Does such a thing exist? To point out the logical inconsistencies, here are a few excerpts from the email exchanges I engaged in with one of the ministers:

Rev. Jones: “I have no idea how many ministers believe in the five points of Calvinism. I must confess that I am probably a four pointer, not quite comfortable with Calvin’s certainty around “Limited Atonement.” The notion that God has from the beginning of time destined some for damnation is unsettling to me. While God is utterly free, and does not need to consult this pastor concerning such matters, as I focus upon what I do about God in Jesus Christ, who is “the one sufficient revelation of God” and the Word of God incarnate, I am less apt to want to limit this Great God in any way! I trust in God through Jesus Christ for my salvation, for I am a sinner saved only by His grace. I would commend that grace to all, believing that God wills and wants all to know of the love He sent Jesus to embody and proclaim. I will leave the rest up to God, trusting that He alone knows what is best, and will do it.”

To which I replied:

“I am trying to understand how a person can be a 4-point Calvinist. I am not saying it isn't possible, just that there is apparently something I am not getting. If you believe in irresistible grace, (assuming you are not a universalist that believes all people will be saved), how then can you not believe in limited atonement? For, if God's grace can not be revisited by the "elect" and the non-elect can't believe without it, due to mankind’s total depravity, then isn't the only logical conclusion that can be made is that unless every person is elect then Christ only died for the sins of some and not all?”

He responded with this comment:

“If my position on this is not utterly logical, which you quite clearly point out, and which I was quite aware before you helped me to see this logical inconsistency, it is because, to quote Pascal in another context, ‘The heart has its reasons of which the mind knows nothing.’”

Wow. What kind of theology is that supposed to be?

I had recently read a post at Thinklings that talked about what it means to be Reformed and since it echoed my own questions, I voiced my concerns. You can check out Linked from Monergism.com

Commenting on my assertion that the five points stand or fall together, Jared made this observation:

"...Even though it's unpopular to say so, I don't think anyone can really be a 4-point Calvinist or a 3-Point Calvinist. Grant the first point (Total Depravity) as understood in classic Reformed theology, and the next four fall right into place. You can't have one without the other. This doesn't stop folks from trying, obviously, and usually they have to do so by altering previous points somewhat.

I feel the same way about free-willers who say they really believe salvation is by God's grace alone. If that's really true, I'd like to ask, why is salvation contingent for them upon "acceptance." It's illogical.

But that's the game we all play, and we all play it for the most part to get along. Debates are great, but I'm not a huge fan of dissention. I'll be danged if I'll insist upon my good friend Kenny that he believes Christians are saved by works. I might believe that theologically, but in good faith I trust his heart and mind to the Holy Spirit and his biblical conscience. I know he does the same for me."

Better to Marry Than To Burn

I came across an interesting post on celibacy at Challies. It is an interesting post, offering an alterative interpretation of Paul's commentary on marriage. You can find the full article here:

Amazing Grace

I found excerpts from an interview with U2 rocker, Bono on a couple of different blogs today while I was surfing. The full interview appears in a new book, Bono in Conversation, by journalist Michka Assayas. Despite what you may think of Bono, his insights on grace vs. karma are very good. For example, he says: "I’d be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge. I’d be in deep sh**. It doesn’t excuse my mistakes, but I’m holding out for Grace. I’m holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don’t have to depend on my own religiosity....The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death. That’s the point. It should keep us humbled… It’s not our owngood works that get us through the gates of Heaven."

Amen to that. I think we would all be in "deep sh**" if it weren't for God's amazing grace.

For more of the interview and some interesting comments go to Bono
Preaches The Gospel

Fear of Commitment?

Ok, I am thinking that I might have been wrong about not having "issues."
Allow me to explain...

I went shopping today for a sleeper sofa for my home office/guest room. I picked out the one I wanted and placed my order. I even paid for it. Then, I got home and started having serious doubts. First, I worried that it wouldn't fit through the door of the room. I measured. Twice. With that issue settled, I then began to wonder if I really liked the color I selected. Oh, no...and what about the pattern of the throw pillows. Nearly in panic attack mode, I found my way to the manufacturer's website. There I found that I could build my own sofa online.

To make a long story short, I have spent the last several hours putting together every single combination of sofas and pillows humanly possible. I have determined, after four frantic phone calls to various friends and relatives, that I made a mistake. I don't like the pattern I selected for the throw pillows. No, wait. I actually hate the pattern I selected for the throw pillows.

Now, just to be clear, we are talking about two very small, square pillows. I can't even commit to two pillows. I have spent nearly my entire day consumed by my own inability to make a decision about pillows. Therefore, does it really come as a surprise to anyone that I am still single?

Hi, my name is Gina, and I can't commit...

Book Junkie

Its official. I am a book junkie! I just bought two more books tonight at Borders. I can't even begin to tell you how many books that I have purchased and never finished reading. There are even a few that I have never read at all. I am out of control.
Books I Am Currently Reading- "Women, Celibacy, and The Church" by Annemarie Kidder; "Church History in Plain Language" by Bruce Shelley; "Desiring God" by John Piper; and "He Still Moves Stones" by Max Lucado.
I also bought a Bible commentary tonight that was recommended by fellow bloggers over at the Thinklings called "Baker Commentary on the Bible" edited by Walter Elwell

TULIP- Does God Love Everyone?

TULIP is the 5 letter acronym that Reformed theologians use to explain the doctrine of Predestination. For those who aren't familiar with TULIP, I will give you a quick overview:

T-Total Depravity. Through Adam, we are all born with a sin nature. We are not as sinful as we possibly can be, but every part of our being is tainted by sin. Because of this, we don't seek God unless he first works to regenerate our hearts. Without God's intervention we would never seek him.

U- Unconditional Election. God chose certain people before the foundation of the world to be saved based upon nothing that they have done or ever will do to deserve his mercy. It was exclusively based on the sovereign will of God.

L- Limited Atonement. Christ died only for the elect. Thus, his atonement was actual and not merely potential.

I- irresistible Grace. The elect can't resist the redemptive, regenerative grace poured out upon them by God.

P- Perseverance of the Saints. Those that God elected unto salvation will persevere in the faith. They can not lose their salvation.

I recently commented on a post at a blog called He lives about the fruitfulness of vocally proclaiming a doctrine such as this that emphasizes that God does not love everyone. In what way does this doctrine further the cause of Christ? How do you effectively preach the gospel of Jesus Christ if you truly believe that God created some people that he would never enable to believe in him for salvation? Is this the kind of God that the bible portrays? I am open to points of view on both sides of the issue. Just keep it civil, please! : )