Life Is Empty Without a Transcendent Source
We realize that we cannot grab people by their intellectual lapels and argue them into accepting Jesus by (as Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it) pouncing on their weakness and insisting that they can only find fulfillment in him. A lot of them simply won't know what we are talking about. But with C. S. Lewis I affirm that every mature human person knows in his or her subconsciousness that life is empty without a transcendent source, foundation, and goal. While there may not be a "God-shaped empty place" in every human heart and while people may not be aware of being restless until they find rest in God, I believe everyone has an awareness of something lacking apart from connection with an eternal love.
—Roger E. Olson, Questions to All Your Answers: The Journey from Folk Religion to Examined Faith
Any comments or testimonies today?
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posted by Keith Finnegan @ 9:50 AM.
New King James 2 Timothy Chapter 3:
Perilous Times and Perilous Men
3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.
3:8 Paul gives a specific example of two men who resisted truth in Moses time. Jannes and Jambres are not named in the Old Testament, but according to Jewish tradition, they were two of the Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses (Ex. 7:11). Men of corrupt minds resist the truth because it unveils their shameful thinking and behavior.
1 John 3
The Imperative of Love
10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous.
13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
1 John 2
Do Not Love the World
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
One definition of the word righteous is: as one should be. Only Christ can make us righteous before God. Without Jesus we are not as we should be. Society paints its picture of what a person should be. Most people are keenly aware when they don't fit that picture in one way or another. Surely when a person looks at Jesus (the image of what we were intended to be) there is a sense that something doesn't fit? Isn't that what it all boils down to? The question we all must answer eventually? Is it us or Jesus who dosn't fit? As Jesus once asked Peter "Who do you say that I am?"
it is not so much in sharing the good news but living out goodness as news in itself to find its audience.of course, punctuating our ministry with words from the holy writtings is not left for choice,He commands it.
agree if you will that it is a turn off when someone lifeless offers you a source of enmergised living.this is exactly the case with many christians.they know abt God but do not know God.this makes for a dismal attempt to market the Lord.
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New King James
Isaiah 44
There is No Other God
6 "Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel,
And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
I am the First and I am the Last;
Besides Me there is no God.
7 And who can proclaim as I do?
Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me,
Since I appointed the ancient people.
And the things that are coming and shall come,
Let them show these to them.
8 Do not fear, nor be afraid;
Have I not told you from that time, and declared it?
You are My witnesses.
Is there a God besides Me?
Indeed there is no other Rock;
I know not one. "
God is the first and the last, “praise his holy name.” You are his witnesses, put the Ten Commandments back in the courthouses, put God back in the schoolhouse, and put God back in America. Make America a great nation like it once was. Don’t forget God, don’t be one of the ones who forget God and are cast down to the pit. Bless His holy name Amen.
2 Chronicles 7:14 says,
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Is abortion moral or immoral? Is it murder? Does abortion kill a human being? Is the unborn life in the mother's womb (the "fetus") a separate individual human being, or is it just part of the mother's body? Does it have a right to life? Should the decision to abort be decided simply by a woman and her doctor? Should a Christian be pro-life or pro-choice? What does the Bible teach?
In 1973, the United States Supreme Court legalized the abortion of unborn babies. Since then, more than 25 million have been legally aborted in this country. The fact an act is legal according to civil law, however, does not make it moral. Nazi law and Communist law allowed the killing of millions of adults. Was this moral? We must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).
Many passages teach us not to deliberately kill innocent human beings. Please read Exodus 23:7; Proverbs 6:16,17; Revelation 21:8; 22:15; Matthew 15:19,20; and Romans 13:8-10. In addition, please consider these specific passages.
Psa. 106:37,38 -- Israel was polluted with blood because the people shed the innocent blood of their "sons and daughters." But unborn babies are "sons and daughters." What then is the condition of our land when over 25 million "sons and daughters" have been legally killed?
Matthew 2:16 -- Herod is considered wicked because he slew the male children in Bethlehem. Luke 2:12,16 calls such children "babes." But Luke 1:41,44 also calls unborn children "babes," so how can it be acceptable to kill them?
Hosea 13:16; 2 Kings 8:12 -- When children or infants are dashed to pieces, it is a great tragedy to any nation. Yet unborn babies are children or infants, and in our nation they are dashed to pieces by the millions!
Acts 7:19; Ex. 1:16-18 -- Pharaoh commanded that Israelite "sons" or "men children" be killed as soon as they were born. But these same terms are used for unborn babies. Would it have been acceptable for Pharaoh to have had abortions performed to kill the babies? Is it any less wicked if people today do it?
Deuteronomy 27:25 -- "Cursed be he that taketh a bribe to slay an innocent person." What clearer description could be given for people who operate abortion clinics?
Look at our land today Nov. 10,2007 Atlanta Georgia is drying up and we are all most on the verge of world war 3 I think it is time for people to weak up and realize we are in the end times! Look around it's on ever coast. Turn on the news, it will tell you some thinks. Read Ezekiel ch. 38 & 39 and you will see it's time to take life her on earth more seriously. We as a nation need to come back to God. Stop looking the other way, and face the facts. God Bless America. Turn to God he is the only answer Amen
2 Chronicles 7:14 says,
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Timothy
3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
2:3 Three illustrations are given for faithfulness. The first is a soldier. The Christian walk is often presented as spiritual warfare. Effective service calls for singleness of purpose. The second illustration comes from athletics. The Greek games were important and demanded strenuous training (see 1 Cor. 9:25). No competitor could be crowned unless he competed in accordance with the rules. Here the reference is to a victor's wreath given in an athletic contest. Faithful believers will receive a victor's crown, not the royal crown which belongs to Jesus. Paul is saying that spiritual activity must be conducted within the directives of biblical faith and doctrine. To defect from true doctrine is to lose our reward (see 2 John 7, 8). The third illustration is that of a hardworking farmer. Conscientious, hard labor is necessary before a farmer can enjoy a bountiful harvest. Laziness cannot be a character trait of faithful Christians.
John 8:12 says
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
And Jesus Christ says Matthew 10:
38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
Luke 9 Jesus says to take up your cross daily
Luke 9
23 Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
We Must Follow Jesus
James 4:10
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
Ephesians 6:10 to 17
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
Our sword is the Bible. We should read and study the word of God daily. Amen
I do believe that as intelligent beings we need to have a faith in something. Whether that be Christanity or whatever I don't believe matters. Although I must admit I am jealous of Christians at times; to have such a strong faith is very fulfilling. Personally I am agnostic which can I admit can be depressing at times. I guess what I am trying to say is when you truely stand for nothing you really have no legs to stand upon. Or grounds upon which to stand for that matter. I am not saying I will run to the nearest Christian church, Jewish synagogue, or Buddhist temple for reasons being, it would be for selfish reasons. I do just believe the human conscious has the need and want to believe in something greater then ones self. Some Christians may not understand but I do imagine the life of an atheists is equally rewarding as their own based upon convictions of their beliefs.
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