In Israel, I felt at home. But recently I have been thinking of social media and the stars thereon. Christ becomes smaller every day, and more and more ordinary. At least that’s what I think. But when I look for help, He is there. It takes faith to believe that.
This small man executed in some first century backwater. Armies have moved and every knee has bowed. Every tongue confesses day after day. God is alive despite statements to the contrary.
Finally got back to finishing two books tonight.
The first was from Joseph Prince on Psalm 119 called The Prayer of Protection: Living Fearlessly in Dangerous Times. It’s more than a verse-by-verse, offering anecdotes as well as comments on the Hebrew. It’s *not* a scholarly work by any means, but it was uplifting.
The other was Brain Energy: A Revolutionary Breakthrough in Understanding Mental Health–and Improving Treatment for Anxiety, Depression, OCD, PTSD, and More. Christopher Palmer advocates research on the cells’ mitochondrial factories as intensely involved in the metabolic processes. He suggests that along with contemporary treatments (drugs, therapy), metabolic regimens, diet, exercise, and social and personal changes should form a rounded-out set of treatments for everything from depression to manic depression to schizophrenia to substance abuse. He closes with a request for readers to take up arms to promote his findings and beliefs.
It’s easy to be cynical when reviewing books like this last one because there’s always someone trying to say they’ve found the true secret to mental health. But I commend him for making mention in the closing chapters that his discoveries are not to be taken in isolation, but as one among a group of tried and tested methods as well.
Lewis wrote in passing, in a few places, about evolution. He didn’t seem to see it as a problem when viewed against the biblical narrative.
In my nondenominational upbringing, being “spirit-filled” is a statement that one has experienced supernatural gifts in one’s life. We also believe the Bible to be inerrant and infallible.
So taken together, does the “spirit” require a 7-day / 7000-year creation?
I’m interested in the feeling or perception that the bible is literal in that way. Can you oppose the “spirit” and be wrong? Clearly, emotion can be misleading. There are various other questions that arise from this conundrum. Can we judge other churches that are not “in the spirit”? Can mere guidance in life be possible? Can we get guidance on things such as a certain political contest? Continue reading “Evolution and the Spirit”
There’s much to be said about what we have not done. Isn’t it that we repent every day and need grace to repent again. Day after day we realize how much we have not done. Aren’t we just hypocrites who must see more clearly our iniquities before we attain heaven?
Guilt is a heavy burden. Only what we do not see can help us with what we do not remember. We need to realize the farthest is East from West. Self is a killer.
The enemy reminds us only of what we have done and only what we were. That is all he has.
Luke 11:20 “But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.”
It’s already here with us. Of all the books in the New Testament, Revelation is dense and metaphorical. As a kid, I knew Hal Lindsey’s Late Great Planet Earth. It was on my grandparents’ shelf.
Reinterpreting the scripture is every generation’s, but the idea of the Kingdom of Heaven (and if I will conflate the two, the Kingdom of God) is a steady constant. We are destined for perfection in a perfect place of splendor and love.
Each preacher, pastor, evangelist may interpret–and spin–differently. Their individual ideas can provoke thought of differing types and degrees. We must keep our eyes on the prize.
This is not to say that every relater of the Revelation should be listened to. We must test the spirits.
But we should not fear. That is my struggle.
The pleasant streets we will walk on.
The pains of ours are gone.
The light will shine on and in.
The farthest from us is sin.
Here and there as one,
We are walking in the Son.
Prager says God is worshipped through moral conduct. Christians say by belief.
Prager says God brings people to his moral law. Christians say to Christ, who is the Law and the Prophets.
“Those who come to Him must believe He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Prager often says this. How does he know when he is approved is what I wanted to ask.
Went out with four of my prayer buddies today and an Indian man came in and started to debate incessantly. I was asking him questions to see where he was, but the guys cut it short. Turns out this was the same man who sat next to my mother once in church and just kept bringing up objections.
I later realized that my questions were pretty much pointless in this case.
Spiritual discernment can be difficult. Your worldview affects (mental illness affects even more). But the spiritual things are foolishness to the world. Questioning can add nothing if the hearer does not want faith.
Still thought I could have some positive effect. Am I being too much in the flesh?
You can also speak with knowledge, but be ignored if you don’t have confidence. Outer strength shows inner strength to the listener. Fake it til you make it.
Respect comes to the confident. Recognition to respect.
How many great minds and hearts are unrecognized because they doubt themselves? Perhaps in writing one can show confidence and be read. If you meet the author, sublime text can be lost on you.
OK, so the world can be unkind. So with my other thoughts on spirit versus flesh, the spirit can give you that confidence that you lack. You will have listeners, at least some. You can know when it’s pointless to argue (pearls to swine).
There are some Brits I know that don’t see a modern purpose for the monarchy. I just think it’s a wonderful thing. The faith aspects are tremendously uplifting. They couldn’t get away with not having other sects participating, but the Christian elements are marvelous.
Here’s to the fam and friends. Some fond memories here.
As Lewis points out, prehistoric man is only known to us by his gathering and hunting. But to him, the first civilizations that made artifacts seem superior. Our society, in turn, would look superior to the first civilizations because of the things we make. Lewis calls this the “idolatry of artifacts.”
But what we consider virtue becomes only what science terms the “herd instinct” of man, wherein we watch after our brother. Prehistoric man sins only against society. But the traditional concept of sin became that which is only against God.
God gave man a new consciousness wherein we became rational and aware of things like time passing and were first like Christ. But man became proud when he set himself as separate, falling when he turned from God to man and became a “spoiled species.” Today the fact we are “vermin” (Lewis) is legal fiction.
It’s easy to place our time as above the past, but sin in its essence has not changed since man gained consciousness. All the agendas in error today look on the past as inferior. This in itself is sin. We try to set ourselves apart as something more pure. Pride changes in its details, but not in its essence.
The problem is how to express adherence to the goodness of God in spite of our prideful rebellion.
There are international, human values that can enable a tower of Babel today. But a new language of science wants to unite under its banner without the core values.
One’s philosophies and beliefs manifest the trajectory of one’s life, and human language is a necessity. If our previous, foundational values varied too broadly, a new language would not be possible.
Focus should be on base communication, in my opinion. A lack of proper education has created individuals more separate from core critical skills. We do not need more skilled professionals who cannot function separately from technology.
A new Babel would only successfully build on core skills.
Working…
Tyson says we are part of this universe, we are one with it, but that more important than either of those two statements is his belief that the universe is in us.
I won’t say this is New Age, but it is interesting that a lauded scientist makes an almost spiritual statement about a material universe. He does say that though he doesn’t like labels, he would be most close to an agnostic.
In his two short books “Letters from an Astrophysicist” and “Astrophysics for People in a Hurry” he contends that we have a duty to our fellow man. As good as that sounds, I don’t know from where he draws that idea. But it sounds religious to me.
Tyson is a darling of secularists and in some ways, rightly so. He’s bright, seems personable, and brings a lightheartedness to a dense topic. I’d love to have a couple of beers with him and learn.
Let them come in.
Not hippies, not communists, not yesterday’s heroes.
But surprise materialists and seekers of digital fame, digital refugees, searching.
This generation.
The door is open.
Internet must die. They must live.
It’s irksome, the idea that destiny is written. It’s a great thing if you have faith enough. He promised the work would be completed. It is written.
Yet, if we sin and fall into judgment, is that written?
So that is a known problem.
I aspire. I hope. Let that not die.
But is the history of ideas written, ideas that can contradict Him? We open our mouths, and we contradict.
It becomes difficult to function if you think too much. And I know my thinking. To be free of that kind of thinking.
Let go. Let go my soul.
“Bring him my ring and coat.” Let me glorify your name.
Cathedrals exalt the believer through a transcendent atmosphere. One must look up when there.
Meanwhile, parishioners can be adorned in worship. Continue reading “Protestant Cathedral”
The disapproval of God for the grain sacrifice versus meat is another difficult passage. I know there are some explanations, but it’s one of those where you wonder: why the meat and why does God like the pleasant smell of the meat?
Why the human sacrifice of Christ for that matter?
After the beauty of Christ, doesn’t it seem almost blasphemous?
They do not impress the secular man. Life lived is without that kind of worry.
The average man being unconcerned about such things. Golden streets? I need it right now, he says. Wipe away tears? Wipe them away now.
I was partaker of a conversation regarding television shows like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The companion near me asked, why can’t we give the money for that one house to a number of people instead?
I had one of the moments when a truth was said.
I don’t have an answer to that. At the time, my ex said my companion did not understand. She was a non-profit fundraiser.
Was the purpose of the show was to create a culture of goodness? Was it to sell the TV commercial products? That second one seemed more obvious.
One certainty is that many recipients of the makeover cannot keep the house after the giveaway.
Why would something that did not succeed in the long run be funded?
There is much waste of resources and human power in the business of television and movies. The making of money being the answer.
The spirit is incompatible with the flesh. New wine in old wine skins.
It came upon me when I prayed that day some 30 years ago, something from above, something that could not be uttered. Its tingling sensation combined with a shiver. Voluntary versus involuntary. I had no control.
I can’t understand that feeling that fell on me, part flesh, part mind. Not graspable. Something heavenly, something strange and awesome.
The Milky Way rumbles.
Can’t remember exactly what I was thinking when I wrote this one down:
From illusion to understanding. From ignorance to knowledge.
These are obviously about progression.
We can live under illusion or progress to understanding. Touching a real life. From thinking we know to actually knowing is progressing as well, but knowledge is not the end; Wisdom is, the application of knowledge.
December and last month I read Proverbs, asking God to show me the wisdom everyone says Proverbs has. It is a lot of warnings about an adulterous woman. But I underlined the parts about it where man was being warned about his inclinations.
Now, I am on to the 12.
And the biggest realization from this event was:
I am not my sin.
I am too hard on myself on some things. I met so many guys who prayed for me and gave me advice. The event was such a blessing and eye-opening. I’ve made some numerous friends at Awaken Balboa, where I have been on the sidelines too long. Something was moving me to challenge myself and what a blessing it was. I won’t look back.
It seems rather obvious to some that Christ is our peacemaker, but when He calmed the waves, He created peace for the men with Him. And He rebuked the storm, not just with a regular volume.
We have to remember also these men had Christ with them and still doubted. We are frail.