However, I believe we should always have faith in God’s promises.

Even though sometimes it seems that God is just not listening, we should not lose faith. We should examine our hearts and see if there is something lingering there that is actually blocking the blessings that God wants to send our way.

This sounds harsh, I know. I have been plagued with financial problems for the past 5 years. That’s why I can talk about it.

I’ve been reading “Your Best Life Now” by Joel Osteen, and I have come to realize that the “bitter root” of resentment and anger have been living inside of me.  How can God fill us up with love, light and blessings when we are hiding anger, resentment, bitterness and even hatred?

Ask God to show you what you are hiding in your heart that needs to come to the surface and be dealt with… then listen for the answer.

Once you know what bitter root has taken a home in your heart, you can choose to forgive the hurt – forgive the pain – and forgive the person or persons who brought you to that place.

It’s a daily thing for me now, I MUST remember to pray for this person and choose to forgive him over and over again. It has not been a one-time event, but a process. That bitter root has been living inside of me for a very long time, and it has affected my life in numerous ways.

Grace abounds when we ask for it, and there is more than enough grace to forgive and start anew.

God bless you!

Words of St. Patrick… my prayer today and every day…

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left
Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ where I arise
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

The other day, I came across a verse that gave me much comfort concerning the matter, and I shared it with her.

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Philippians 2:13 (New Living Translation)

I love the way this translation reads. It makes so much sense.

God has given us the desires that began when we were just children… it might have been singing, dancing, art, crafts, flowers, building, cooking, making people laugh….

Whatever it was that brought us the most joy may have had the hidden key to our divine plan.

As long as our young people continue in their faith, seeking God and staying in communion with Him, then they can trust that the desire in their heart is planted there by God, and that He will give them the power to follow that dream.

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13 (New Living Translation)

I received news yesterday about a friend; our worship leader / singer / musician (guitar) had a serious accident involving his hand. Tendons were cut and I do not yet know the extent of the injury or the prognosis.

I do know that God can heal and I know that Romans 8:28 has carried me and many others through many a crisis… And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God.

I woke up with him on my mind… and that great old hymn “God Will Take Care of You.” Reading and singing this song today has reminded me that God will take care of me, too.

No matter what happens, there is always a purpose, a lesson, and an opportunity to grow and share.

The lyrics say it all.

1. Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
God will take care of you;
beneath his wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.

Refrain:
God will take care of you,
through every day, o’er all the way;
he will take care of you,
God will take care of you.

2. Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
when dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you.
(Refrain)

3. All you may need he will provide,
God will take care of you;
nothing you ask will be denied,
God will take care of you.
(Refrain)

4. No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
lean, weary one, upon his breast,
God will take care of you.
(Refrain)

Find your favorite hymn on HymnSite.com.

A science professor begins his school year with a lecture to the students, ‘Let me explain the problem science has with religion.’

The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand…

‘You’re a Christian, aren’t you, son?’

‘Yes sir,’ the student says.

‘So you believe in God?’
‘Absolutely.’

‘Is God good?’
‘Sure! God’s good.’

‘Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?’
‘Yes.’

‘Are you good or evil?’
‘The Bible says I’m evil.’

The professor grins knowingly. ‘Aha! The Bible!’ He considers for a moment. ‘Here’s one for you. Let’s say there’s a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?’

‘Yes sir, I would.’

‘So you’re good…!’
‘I wouldn’t say that.’

‘But why not say that? You’d help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn’t.’

The student does not answer, so the professor continues. ‘He doesn’t, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?’

The student remains silent.

‘No, you can’t, can you?’ the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.

‘Let’s start again, young fella. Is God good?’
‘Er…yes,’ the student says.

‘Is Satan good?’
The student doesn’t hesitate on this one. ‘No.’

‘Then where does Satan come from?’
The student falters. ‘From God’

‘That’s right. God made Satan, didn’t he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?’
‘Yes, sir.’

‘Evil’s everywhere, isn’t it? And God did make everything, correct?’

‘Yes.’

‘So who created evil?’ The professor continued, ‘If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.’

Again, the student has no answer. ‘Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?’

The student squirms on his feet. ‘Yes.’

‘So who created them?’

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. ‘Who created them?’ There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. ‘Tell me,’ he continues onto another student. ‘Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?’

The student’s voice betrays him and cracks. ‘Yes, professor, I do.’

The old man stops pacing. ‘Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?’

‘No sir. I’ve never seen Him.’

‘Then tell us if you’ve ever heard your Jesus?’
‘No, sir, I have not.’

‘Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?’

‘No, sir, I’m afraid I haven’t.’
‘Yet you still believe in him?’
‘Yes.’

‘According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn’t exist. What do you say to that, son?’

‘Nothing,’ the student replies. ‘I only have my faith.’
‘Yes, faith,’ the professor repeats. ‘And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.’

At the back of the room another student stands quietly for a moment before asking a question of His own. ‘Professor, is there such thing as heat?’

‘Yes,’ the professor replies. ‘There’s heat.’

‘And is there such a thing as cold?’
‘Yes, son, there’s cold too.’
‘No sir, there isn’t.’

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. ‘You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don’t have anything called ‘cold’. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can’t go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go cold er than the lowest -458 degrees.’

‘Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.’

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

‘What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?’

‘Yes,’ the professor replies without hesitation. ‘What is night if it isn’t darkness?’

‘You’re wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it’s called darkness, isn’t it? That’s the meaning we use to define the word.’

‘In reality, darkness isn’t. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn’t you?’

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. ‘So what point are you making, young man?’

‘Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.’

The professor’s face cannot hide his surprise this time. ‘Flawed? Can you explain how?’

‘You are working on the premise of duality,’ the student explains. ‘You argue that there is life and then there’s death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can’t even explain a thought.’

‘It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.’

‘Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?’

‘If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do.’

‘Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?’

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

‘Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?’

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.

‘To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.’

The student looks around the room. ‘Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor’s brain?’ The class breaks out into laughter.

‘Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor’s brain, felt the professor’s brain, touched or smelt the professor’s brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir.’

‘So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?’

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.

Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. ‘I guess you’ll have to take them on faith.’

‘Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,’ the student continues. ‘Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?’

Now uncertain, the professor responds, ‘Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man’s inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.’

To this the student replied, ‘Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God’s love present in his heart. It’s like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.’

The professor sat down.

However, two of her guests commented that homosexuality is a gift from God. I must take issue with this.

If the meaning of a “gift from God” is a trial, temptation or situation that is given to one that they might overcome, endure and persevere triumpantly in faith, then I would agree.

However, if the meaning is one that is only about enduring the public suffering of being openly and happily homosexual, then I do not agree.

I have no doubt that the toxic world we have created has in some part, been responsible for the genetic predisposition to homosexuality. As with all genetic problems, however, we want to help them by embracing and helping the person to overcome the condition.

Alcoholism runs in my family. Many of us have struggled with it and overcome it. Not once did it enter our minds to embrace the unhealthy actions of drinking whenever you want because you were born with it and therefore you can’t help yourself. That’s garbage.

Homosexuality, especially in men, is a dangerous life style. Why aren’t we teaching the struggles and diseases that will invade and torment these men later in life if this lifestyle is continued?

Tom Usher has written an excellent article describing the conditions and diseases that are running rampant among homosexuals, so rather than repeat them, I encourage you to read it for yourself.

He also very clearly explains our view as Christians, and why we should hold firm to these views, especially if we love homosexuals.

“HOMOSEXUALS: WHAT THEY IGNORE.”

Many atheists and pagans have decided that the story of Jesus is just a retelling of the mythical Horus.

I believe that the stories of Horus and other mythological saviors (there were many with similar stories) just proves that humanity has always been expecting and waiting on the arrival of a savior.

We know from the writings of the historian Josephus that Jesus did indeed exist. Some of us know it in our hearts, by faith, but others who might consider themselves superior intellectually, will choose not to have this faith, believing it to be a myth that the masses of the religious perpetuate out of ignorance.

There is nothing to fear from these intellectualists. Christians must not remain closed-minded to scientific proof.  God himself, created the science. It will not disprove Him.

The Shroud of Turin remains a key item in the scientific “proof” of the Resurrection and of Jesus. Scientists agree that they have absolutely no idea how this image could have been absorbed by the shroud. 3D rendering shows an actual 3d impression of a body which has been crucified. They no of no way, even today, that such an imprint could be made. Ray Rogers, one of the scientists who examined the Shroud when they determined it was not old enough to be an imprint of Jesus, realized after further testing that the corner of the Shroud which they tested had been rewoven and therefore, the tests were not accurate.  The Shroud itself is no longer testable because of the way it is protected. The carbon dating would not be accurate. Since the passing of Ray Rogers in 2005,  one of his colleagues has been seeking permission to access remnants from the Shroud which were removed due to fire to get an accurate carbon dating test. So the mystery continues – for scientists.

Many recent archaeological discoveries and scientific experiments are proving that the Bible may have been scientifically correct, especially regarding the ten plagues of Egypt and the separation of the Red Sea.

Science has even determined that it is not scientifically impossible, although it is improbable, for a girl to have a virgin birth. Some will say that this possibility deters from the divinity of Jesus, but I believe it is just God’s way of staying within the boundaries of the laws of nature, which He set.

Now scientists say that the birth of Jesus would have been in June, not December. That’s ok. We can continue to celebrate His birth in December.

What child is this?

Jesus, Immanuel, God himself who left a throne to experience humanity in all its weakness and suffering, because He loved us enough to redeem His creation and show us the way home.

Have a blessed Christmas!

The parable of the mustard seed is taught in Sunday Schools everywhere. At first glance, it has a simple meaning, but if you look closer, you can find 3 very interesting lessons from this parable.

1. The first lesson that I was taught – said that you only had to have a tiny bit of faith and you could move a mountain with it.
2. As years went by, that changed somewhat into – if you have faith as tiny as a mustard seed, it will grow into a faith that can move a mountain.
3. More recently, many Bible scholars have said that the mustard plant of Jesus’ day was considered to be a weed that could multiply without being sown, and could become a threat to other crops wherever it sprung up. The hardy mustard seed would continue to come up for up to 60 years.

Lately, mostly online, I have seen people upset about the “weed” thing.

They don’t see that the good news about the mustard seed is that it cannot be destroyed!

You can pull it out of the ground or mow it down, but the seed remains and another mustard plant will grow in the spring.

That’s GOOD NEWS!

The kingdom of God will not be defeated. You can silence the Christians with laws, you can persecute them, you can even kill them, but they will keep springing up all over the place.

So which meaning did Jesus want us to understand?

Well, since Jesus was also God, and since he actually created ALL varieties of the mustard plant and knew everything there was to know about it, and since he also understood that many different cultures over many centuries would hear this story…

I believe he meant it to be understood and interpreted in every way possible.

The important thing to remember is that even when something appears at first glance to have a negative connotation, it can actually have a good interpretation too.

What’s good about weeds?

They keep on keeping on!

The Parable of the Mustard Seed is a parable that according to the Gospels of Luke (Luke 13:18-19), Mark (Mark 4:30-32), Matthew (Matthew 13:31-32), and the non-canonical Thomas (Thomas 20) was told by Jesus. Possible Hebrew Bible parallels are Daniel 4:10-12, 4:20-22 and Ezekiel 17:22-23, 31:1-9.

Image by bass_nroll via Flickr

I found this over at LingzSpot.blogspot.com and wanted to make sure I could re-read it whenever I need to, so I posted it here…

Believe… God is there for you.

I could tell because they were always behind a few bars and couldn’t find the right key.

He he he. That one is courtesy of my pastor. I love it!

Hope it gave you a good laugh too.

All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.
Proverbs 15:15 NIV

Have a great spirit-filled week!