In the video game starcraft. there are characters called "High templar". Two can fuse themselves together to create a Light Archon. A brilliant creation of light with enormous power. One cannot do this by itself.
Yes, I know what you are thinking. I am a nerd, and what does this have to do with Romans?
Well since you asked, everything.
In the book of Romans, Paul starts off by talking about the law and judgement. He talks about how under the law we are held accountable for our sins and there is nothing righteous. He then goes on to talk about Christ, and our sin forgiven.
We have law on the one hand, and grace in the other. Paul asks, Do we forsake law and continue to sin because of Grace? When we accept Christ and are baptized, we die to the world. Our sin is forgiven.
So does the law fall off by the wayside long forgotten? No, it becomes fused with Grace. They are two parts fused together to create our faith. We can not live simply by grace alone, because sin would overtake us eventually. Neither can we live by the law alone, because we still fall short. So we need both.
In summary, We can not live with out the sacrifice of Christ. Nor can we live with out the law. It shows a beautiful covenant. God gives us Grace, we follow the law.
The two fused together creates a brilliant light for the future of Jews and Gentiles alike.
Romans 5:20-21 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Lent
Lent
A lot of people do lent. The catholic church has a set of rules for lent.
This year i was going to do soda. I drink a lot (a LOT) of soda. I should quit it anyway, its a common sense thing. So i thought about something else. Something that is more meaningful to my life as a christian.
Music. Not all music, just the stuff i know better than to listen to.
Two good examples are Kid cudi, and modest mouse. A lot of kid cudi's music has vulger language. Modest mouse is an alternative rock band that 80% of the music they write is about death and the fact that there is no God.
Modest mouse is easy to give up. I know better than to listen to it.
Kid cudi is a little tougher, because its good music.
Which is why i should stop. We tend to make an excuse that "but its funny/good/not that bad" when we listen to or watch stuff that we shouldn't.
Entertainment is never a good payoff for sin.
Also what we surround ourselves with (including music) reflects on us.
A lot of people do lent. The catholic church has a set of rules for lent.
This year i was going to do soda. I drink a lot (a LOT) of soda. I should quit it anyway, its a common sense thing. So i thought about something else. Something that is more meaningful to my life as a christian.
Music. Not all music, just the stuff i know better than to listen to.
Two good examples are Kid cudi, and modest mouse. A lot of kid cudi's music has vulger language. Modest mouse is an alternative rock band that 80% of the music they write is about death and the fact that there is no God.
Modest mouse is easy to give up. I know better than to listen to it.
Kid cudi is a little tougher, because its good music.
Which is why i should stop. We tend to make an excuse that "but its funny/good/not that bad" when we listen to or watch stuff that we shouldn't.
Entertainment is never a good payoff for sin.
Also what we surround ourselves with (including music) reflects on us.
Winning! Duh!
No, charlie sheen is not winning.
He is a drug and sex addicted man who is in the process of trashing the rest of his life.
Unfortunatly, he is a reflection of a majority of people in the spot light.
They build their foundation in life on the money, the spotlight, the fame, the "good feeling".
Then the storm comes, and washes it all away. Then what are they left with nothing.
My message here is twofold.
First, Be in this world, not of it.
The music we listen to, movies we watch, and sites we visit should be censored. We should have the interal part of ourselves that sees/hears something and says "thats not right". We should avoid watching tv shows like two and a half men. It may seem harmless, but is it? Charlie sheens character drinks a lot, and sleeps with a large number of women. It may be hard to see watching the show as a bad thing. But should we ever invite sin into our lives? Because thats what is happening. We should censor content that we know better than to watch/listen to.
Second, watch where you are building your foundation.
The man builds his foundation on the sand (worldly things) then storm (bad times) comes and washes it all away. The man builds is foundation on the rock (Christ) and is able to weather the storm again and again.
He is a drug and sex addicted man who is in the process of trashing the rest of his life.
Unfortunatly, he is a reflection of a majority of people in the spot light.
They build their foundation in life on the money, the spotlight, the fame, the "good feeling".
Then the storm comes, and washes it all away. Then what are they left with nothing.
My message here is twofold.
First, Be in this world, not of it.
The music we listen to, movies we watch, and sites we visit should be censored. We should have the interal part of ourselves that sees/hears something and says "thats not right". We should avoid watching tv shows like two and a half men. It may seem harmless, but is it? Charlie sheens character drinks a lot, and sleeps with a large number of women. It may be hard to see watching the show as a bad thing. But should we ever invite sin into our lives? Because thats what is happening. We should censor content that we know better than to watch/listen to.
Second, watch where you are building your foundation.
The man builds his foundation on the sand (worldly things) then storm (bad times) comes and washes it all away. The man builds is foundation on the rock (Christ) and is able to weather the storm again and again.
The kids just grow up so fast
Im back with the hinkleys, the people i lived with for about 7-8 months after i left my parents house, for spring break. Its been over a year since ive been baptized. In reflection, when i moved in with the hinkleys i still had a lot of maturing to do. They helped to move me in the right direction and to grow. I am very thankful this. At this point i am able to look back and see how far i have come.
Three weeks ago, i was in a foul mood. Not for any particular reason, i was just pissed off. It went counter to anything going on in my life. It was an excellent week with lots of good things. And at three points somebody went to far with something. All three times i wanted to say something. What i would have said would not have been nice. Then this little part of my brain kicks in and says "is it really what you want to do?"
In the past i would have said what was on my mind, and hurt somebodys feelings. Here i was able to exert self control. I left all three situations before i said anything. I went and spent time in prayer. That i wouldn't have the foul mood, and that i would have self control over my words. Because on all three situations if i had said it, i would have quite a few people mad at me.
God is good.
Three weeks ago, i was in a foul mood. Not for any particular reason, i was just pissed off. It went counter to anything going on in my life. It was an excellent week with lots of good things. And at three points somebody went to far with something. All three times i wanted to say something. What i would have said would not have been nice. Then this little part of my brain kicks in and says "is it really what you want to do?"
In the past i would have said what was on my mind, and hurt somebodys feelings. Here i was able to exert self control. I left all three situations before i said anything. I went and spent time in prayer. That i wouldn't have the foul mood, and that i would have self control over my words. Because on all three situations if i had said it, i would have quite a few people mad at me.
God is good.
Drum roll please
Adam mearse is the Youth minister at Naperville church of christ. He was my youth minister, and a good friend. He is a very wise person, who is very thoughtful. So what does this mean for you? Read his blog. http://wp.me/pMFdp-5y
Do it!
Thanks
Do it!
Thanks
Thursday, January 20, 2011
ch-ch-check it out!
i created a facebook page for my writing/photography profile. check it out, become a fan. That would be cool.
its called "sweet sounds of silence writing and photography"
now for my thought of the day,
God is good.
its called "sweet sounds of silence writing and photography"
now for my thought of the day,
God is good.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Stand up and Fight
Hate, anger, drugs, alcohol, violence, obscenity, pornography, lies, stealing, cheating, adultery, forgery, and many other things are the weapons of evil and Satan.
Those were pretty straightforward.
Then add T.V.s, Computers, the Internet, cell phones, strip clubs, fight clubs, dark alleys. These are just some of the breeding grounds for sin.
In essence, you cannot escape sin. we don't need to, because of the sacrifice that God has made for us.
But we still have to fight against it everyday.
When it comes down to fighting sin, that's where the battle becomes personal.
We need to publicly declare Christ, despite persecution. And to think about all that happens in America. People will do everything they can to try and prove you wrong and make you lose faith. They ridicule you for your beliefs. They will openly mock you. This scares me at times, to think that satan has taken hold of so many hearts and minds. Even so, There are many who are willing to listen, who desire to know God and Christ.
So i sit here with a choice, proclaim or hide my faith.
If i do not share my faith in Christ, how many opportunities to help others be saved will be missed?
Then you have countries where you are arrested for simply having a bible or attending church.
Do i proclaim or hide my faith?
I am tempted by Satan through others, Do i proclaim or hide my faith?
There are times in life when we feel afraid, impassive, angry, upset. Still we must shout his name to the world.
God has given us a great opportunity to share the knowledge of his son with the world, and to share his love.
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
N.I.V. Matthew 25:31-46
"but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven."
N.I.V. Matthew 10:33
I am afraid of hell, not that i will go there, But that those who i am close to everyday will and i didnt do anything about it.
Its time to fight.
Those were pretty straightforward.
Then add T.V.s, Computers, the Internet, cell phones, strip clubs, fight clubs, dark alleys. These are just some of the breeding grounds for sin.
In essence, you cannot escape sin. we don't need to, because of the sacrifice that God has made for us.
But we still have to fight against it everyday.
When it comes down to fighting sin, that's where the battle becomes personal.
We need to publicly declare Christ, despite persecution. And to think about all that happens in America. People will do everything they can to try and prove you wrong and make you lose faith. They ridicule you for your beliefs. They will openly mock you. This scares me at times, to think that satan has taken hold of so many hearts and minds. Even so, There are many who are willing to listen, who desire to know God and Christ.
So i sit here with a choice, proclaim or hide my faith.
If i do not share my faith in Christ, how many opportunities to help others be saved will be missed?
Then you have countries where you are arrested for simply having a bible or attending church.
Do i proclaim or hide my faith?
I am tempted by Satan through others, Do i proclaim or hide my faith?
There are times in life when we feel afraid, impassive, angry, upset. Still we must shout his name to the world.
God has given us a great opportunity to share the knowledge of his son with the world, and to share his love.
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
N.I.V. Matthew 25:31-46
"but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven."
N.I.V. Matthew 10:33
I am afraid of hell, not that i will go there, But that those who i am close to everyday will and i didnt do anything about it.
Its time to fight.
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