marcus

The Doctrine of Perfection

2005-05-16T16:40:00.000-07:00

I've had the pleasure lately of hanging out with a good friend of mine and his wife and well some interesting things have come up in our discussions one I'd like to call the "Doctrine of Perfection."

What I mean by this is this, you've met those people who give you the attitude that if your a good christian you'd wear these kinds of clothes, listen to this type of music and act in this way. There were a group of people in Jesus day that taught the same things, they gave such teachings on obedience of the law that there was no freedom there was nothing they could do, they were no longer able to just be people. These people were the Pharisees, that's right I'm saying that people that preach the Doctrine of Perfection are our modern day Pharisees, but remember something when these people come to condemn you for the things you do and that is a simple bible passage out of Luke 7:36-50 it's when a "sinful" woman came in and annointed Jesus and washed his feet, Simon critized her for this but Jesus rebuked him for rebuking her because she had done such a beautiful thing. He on many occasions has critized the Pharisees harshly and called them hypocrits because of what they taught and then went out and did. Another example with this is in John 8:1-11 when a prostitute caught in the act was brought before Jesus and he said "let he who has not sinned throw the first stone" then later he says "woman where are they? has no one condemned you?" "no one sir," she said. "then neither do I condemn you, go now and leave your life of sin." How powerful this is!!! Jesus would not even condemn a prostitute yet people in our churches today condemn people for listening to music and wearing clothes that they have deemed "unacceptable". I do not believe that Jesus would stand there and condemn these people, he would sit with them and talk with them and heal them of their broken spirits. He hung out with the dirty, sinful and unclean the people who the higher order of the Jews had thrown away as unclean and he made them all clean. So whenever you encounter someone teaching the Doctrine of Perfection remember this "realize that it was a prostitute who annointed Jesus and washed his feet, not those doing the 'right' things."

Have a good one all.

Egypt's Plagues

2005-04-23T08:41:00.000-07:00

So yeah, another rare post but I thought I'd give you some thoughts on the ten plagues of Egypt that are covered in the book of Exodus.

I was thinking that God was sending these plagues so that his name would be known in all the world, but also God sent Moses to deliver the plagues because of the suffering of the Israelites by the Egyptians. Interesting thoughts when you put it all together. Have you ever been persecuted by someone for your faith or just for being you? It's quite miserable, it hurts and will leave emotional scars that will last for probably a life time. However think about this story of just before the Exodus. Pharoah was tormenting the Israelites in slave labour, slaying their first born and putting work loads on them that were unbearable and suddenly out of nowhere appears Moses that curses the land with God's plagues so that the power of God may be known to all the world. Yet I'm not sure it was just to show the unbelieving, but the believing as well. When Moses first came the Israelites doubted the validity of Moses being sent by "I am" or God. So the terror on their enemies would have been a faith booster to them as well, too bad as we know later in the Pentateuch (first five books of the bible) the Israelites continue to falter in their ways. Howevre back to the point I made at the beginning, have you ever been persecuted? Did you bless the person or curse them? I would hope that you blessed the person for it says in the bible that to bless your enemies is to heap more coals on their heads. You see, God is looking out for you, when people come and bad mouth you, make fun of you or hurt you I know for a fact from this story that God will look down at you and say "no no no, I don't think so do you not remember what I did to the Egyptians?" and I'm sure that that persons life will not be all that pleasant since that sin that brought them to hurt you is now evident in their lives. Sin leads to a great number of calamities, Pharoah's sin lead to the devastation of Egypt and other peoples sin against God's children has it's own reprecutions. But this also applies to us, if we start bashing other people and those in our churches God will be like "what the hey are you doing?" and will have no choice but to let us suffer the consequences of our own actions, thus it is possible for us to bring the plauges of Egypt down on ourselves as well. But all in all remember, God is looking out for you just as he did the Israelites in Egypt, so in your suffering rejoice because the almighty God of heaven is with you.

A shocking announcement

2005-04-20T20:21:00.000-07:00

After much consideration I've decided to make a change of pace in my life. I'm going to start searching out a new church. It's a big move I know, but something I feel that I need to do in order to move on as a christian. The church I'm attending now is stagnant, there hasn't been any movement no growth, nothing. In fact the congregation is dying. People are becoming complacent and I'm not getting the spiritual food out of this church that I need. For the last few months as far as attendance goes, yes I've been there, but that's it. Just been warming a pew, it's sad I know but that's way it's been. It's time I believe for me to move along. I may not leave totally but I need to find a place where I can fit in. I'll miss playing on the worship team and what not. But God will provide for what I need in whatever new church I decide to go to. I hope that you can all pray for me as I "church shop" and try to find a place to fit in. I'll hopefully talk to you all soon.

Nothin' too thought provoking today folks ...

2005-03-28T18:59:00.000-08:00

Okay, so it's Easter Sunday and for the service my pastor had set up a tomb in our parking lot to re-enact the empty tomb scene. Well we're all walking out to start and a good friend of mine *cough*collinwilson*cough,cough* says that I should run out, hide in the cave and when they say "he is not here, he has risen" for me to jump out of the tomb and shriek "surprise!!!" So of course when that part of the skit comes both us crack down laughing uncontrollably.

Well tonights blog is just going to merely consist of a prayer request. I've been rather confused as to what to do about a certain situation and all I can do it to call out to all my brothers and sisters out there for prayer and hopefully I'll get a picture as to what God wants. Here's the story thus far in this situation.

It's the middle of January and after a long day of doing nothing I'm laying in bed and I suddenly get a strong urge that a friend of mine in Edmonton had broken up with her boyfriend, I shunned it away as selfish hopeful thinking and went to sleep, very shortly afterwards I got another sense that I should call her. Again I thought, she's in Edmonton, this is stupid I can't call her then that same voice was like "no no, call her at home here in Ingersoll." I thought to myself that it wasn't possible and to just get on my way. Well in knawed at me and one day this girl was online and I talked to her and she told me that she had broken up with her boyfriend and that she was in Ingersoll for three weeks. I nearly fell off my chair and immediately started to pray about the situation. I asked some people at church what I should do and they all agreed that I should tell her and see what happens. So that's what I do I tell her that God had told me about the whole thing. I also said that I didn't know what God wanted and that hopefully we could both find that out. Well the months have passed now and I've talked to her whenever I could and I suddenly find myself falling for her. I'm in Ontario, she's in Alberta and here I am having a heartache for this girl. Confusing? I think so. I just don't know if this it what God wants me to do, to go down a path like this again (cuz it's happened before with very very dire outcomes, although this is also very very different in it's own right). This isn't the first time I've started have these sorts of feelings for her and I'm sitting here wondering if this is the right thing for me to do, what God is leading me to. I don't know and if you could all pray for me in this aspect that God would direct me where he'd have me go that'd be very greatly appreciated.

So nothing too profound today just a prayer request for you to pray for me about. Any feedback or advice would be greatly appreciated as well seeing as God does speak through the mouths of his people.

But I will leave you with a very incredibly powerful piece of scripture and it comes from Job 3:2 in the NIV translation, it says "He said:" so think about it .... yeah .... isn't that great stuff?

Hey again all!!!

2005-03-23T14:45:00.000-08:00

Wow, the last time I posted was February 27, that was like a month ago! Either I've been very busy or very very lazy, I chose the busy one, yeah that's right I'VE BEEN BUSY!!!

Anyway, I've kinda pushed some of my other reading aside for a bit as some new shipment of books came in, the biggest of those that came are the complete 7 volumes of the Sermons of Martin Luther (just a little bit of light reading, it's no problem....yeah right) and it opened up with a very intriguing thought. Luther uses the image of Christ coming into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey and then illustrates this of an aspect that it could have meant. He says that Christ didn't come riding in on a war horse looking triumphant because to have come waltzing into Jerusalem like that could have been interpreted as Christ's attempt to conquer us but instead he comes on on an ass, which in those times were beasts of burden they carried the load as you were able to walk free and without it. What a true statement about the person of Christ!!! He didn't come to conquer us but to set us free from our burdens and allow us to live a free life in him. I just thought this was interesting and thought to share it with all of you.

I know this is short but I havn't had my mind geared to deep theological thought for quite some time. I've just been dealing with some issues in my life that are keeping my busy and my mind occupied. I hope your all doing well and hope to talk to you all soon.

Intolerance? Tolerance? Or is it a matter of love?

2005-02-27T11:16:00.000-08:00

So I was sitting in church during worship and an interesting idea came to my head, a few of us should perform a study, you might get mad at me for suggesting this but here it goes to prove a point, one of us (probably me) get drunk and walk around a church/bible college/youth group and see what the reaction is of people, whether they shun/reject/run away/accept this person. I'm afraid to say I'm inclined to think that the person would be shunned and judged, how sad this really is, is this the attitude of Christ we were told to mimic?

I remember a few years ago at a youth group meeting in my own church a girl spoke up and said how proud she was of everyone there, we weren't out drinking and partying that we were all here being good people. I just about choked. First off at that point in my life I was a borderline alcoholic and some of my friends in the group were almost on that line as well. Her attitude showed no sign of Christs' love. In fact it was rather judgmental of her to say that people struggling with alcohol related problems were not welcome. Another time in my first bible college experience, myself being a diabetic, my blood sugar went low and I was literally walking around and acting like I was drunk, when I really wasn't, everyone in my dorm that year, went in their rooms and locked their doors to keep me out because they didn't want "the drunk" to be in their rooms. What hypocrisy!!! To think that these people are taught never ending about Christs' love and yet they lock out one of their own Christian brothers from getting help. Luckily the only guy that believed me that my bloodsugar was low was my RA Nelson and he helped me, Gods blessings on you brother. I don't think that Christ would have rejected a drunk if he encountered them, in fact I'm almost willing to bet he would have reached out his arms and hugged that person and comforted them saying there was a way out through him. How can locking a person away from you and judging them so quickly help that person? Seems to me like a Christian form of exile. I'm quickly reminded of a series of verses that Jesus spoke to a group of Jewish leaders, it's called the 7 woes. He condemned these people because they were judgmental setting standards that people couldn't reach, thinking themselves better than their brethren and refusing to help those who needed it, instead keeping everything that they had for themselves he says seven times "Woe to you Pharisees!!!" Yes, that's right, I'm suggesting that all you who are unwilling to help those who are in need and judge those who don't live an "up to par" lifestyle (*shudder* I hate to think that people are THAT judgmental), are no better than the Pharisees of when Jesus walked the earth. Yes alcohol is not a way out, yes being drunk is evident of a sinful lifestyle but Jesus calls us to love these people, not shut them out. At this same bible college in fact I did see once a reach of God's love in this subject. A drunk man stumbled onto the campus and some girls were greatly concerned about his because he was so out of his tree, so they took him into the school to some pay phones, called 911 and got him to detox, it took them a while to get there, but the girls helped this guy out until help arrived. If I could speak to these people again I would give them praise, it's too bad that people of that caliber in our churches are very very few in number. I hope that more of you can reach out to the hurting in this regard and not turn them away for what shameful things they may do.

So I got a whole 8 hours worth of work for myself this week, it's rather sad but hopefully I'll get more hours next week, if I don't I'll say something to my manager, cuz new recruits are getting more hours then me, which is against union rules. But I got a concert in London to look forward to that I'm rather hyped about. I can't wait. :D Take it easy all.

An early lesson in pride.

2005-02-25T18:49:00.000-08:00

Recently I ordered a "New Jerusalem Bible" and have started reading it as part of my devotions, it's a very interesting read the way they word certain phrases and the way the use Yahweh when talking about God. Something you don't find in other translations you just find THE LORD and I think the use of Yahweh makes it much more personal, but that's just my opinion.

Upon my reading of Genesis I came across an interesting passage about one of the descendants of Cain. It's quoted from Lamech it says "I killed a man for wounding me, a boy for striking me. Sevenfold vengeance for Cain, but seventy-sevenfold for Lamech." Genesis 4:23-24 this come from the seal of protection put on Cain by God in Genesis 4:15 "'Very well, then," Yahweh replied, 'whoever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold vengeance.' So Yahweh put a mark on Cain, so that no one coming across him would kill him." When I read this earlier today I was puzzled about what it meant, well actually I read the first verse quoted alone and was stumbled about it then I remembered the verse a couple of lines before it and thought about it some more. It makes sense to see the Lamech thought that he was as good as if not greater than Cain. It seems to be an issue of pride for Lamech. Lamech claims to have killed two people in vengeance and so in a way seems to look at himself as a step up from Cain. Is this not how sin works? You look at what you did and say to yourself "See what I have done, admire how great I am!!!" It's evident here of Lamech who doubled the crime of Cain wanted ten times the protection from God that Cain had. What an unfair balance, to award a sin as such, I can understand why Cain was protected, he was the only one of his line and he needed to prosper, Lamech on the other hand other other brothers and the line could continue there was no reason for him to think himself better than the father of his line. Pride however can do that you look at those before you and try to out do them. Copy cat crimes are an example of this, they try to repeat it and to make it better some psychopaths try to make themselves the "best" criminal in the world by getting their name in history books making them feel as though their immortal. Lamech seemed to have the same attitude about doing wrong, "I will be remembered forever, so vengeance on those who go against me." What a sad attitude to have towards sin it will only bring your destruction, a lesson he would have learned later in his life.

So I've got a lot more reading to do now seeing as I got two more books along with my new bible. To think that I'm not even done the theology books yet :S. Oh well, it'll give me a lot to do till the time that I need to start reading for school, I just need to stop procrastinating with it, lol. See you all later.

Some exciting news

2005-02-23T18:46:00.000-08:00

Well I was browsing some band websites seeing what the news was and low and behold I come across the Korn website to discover that Head, their lead guitarist has come to accept Jesus as his Lord and Saviour and has left the band to devote his talents to Christ.

This is very exciting news, the kingdom of God will benefit very greatly from his talents and it will be exciting to see what he puts out musically under a Christian label, I personally can't wait to see how God has changed him from the life that he lived in his former band. This is going to be super short but bear a powerful message I think, and that is that the love and grace of God is for everyone, including the guys from Korn. That would mean that it's sufficient enough for Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie and everyone else out there that produces what most Christians would call "questionable" music. Personally me being a metal head I like listening to this stuff but that's beside the point. God's love can reach everyone and it's so important to us all never to give up on anyone because you never know who's life you will change with your witness of God. Obviously one life has been changed in a dramatic way and it's so exciting, I couldn't believe it at first myself but when I read the website it was true and the first thing I did was give praise and glory to God for the wonders of his miracles. So never give up on loved ones and those you think are "unsaveable" you never know what will happen.

Thoughts from yesterday

2005-02-21T15:57:00.000-08:00

As you all know I am a very strong vocalist against false teaching in the church, it's an anger that burns so intently that it's hard for me at times to control my anger when such issues come up. Well I popped a related question to some panelists at an open panel at North Park last night and they handled it very well and I thought I'd address it here.

I asked.
Unity is essential. However, when working on the streets when confronted with someone who has been given a false dogmatic idea from a "christian" organization, how do you handle it?

My point in that question was how do you deal with falsehood from a church that should hold the same truths as the rest of the worldwide church. Believe it or not there are denominations out there that teach people things that are not true. The panelists thought for a few minutes before answering and they handled it very well saying that they would talk through the idea with that person and try to help them see truth through scripture. It was brilliant really, because that was the answer I was hoping to hear. It's a challenge for me however since I have a very strong passion against that stuff and would be hard for me to control myself in a said situation, and I know that those kind of things will happen in my chosen field of theology and I'm going to have to cool my temper. All you can really do in a situation like this is hope you can plant seeds of truth that will grow through that individual persons understanding of that truth.

Well, not sure what else to say, work is interesting yet boring at the same time and I'm continuing to meet new people all the time there and through my college and career group so I'm expanding my horizons and frankly ... I love it. :)

Sanctification, Justification and Regeneration

2005-02-17T11:43:00.000-08:00

I was talking to my old RA from Canadian Bible College the other day when suddenly out of the blue he told me I should teach in a seminary, after I conferred with my youth pastor he agreed and then asked me something that I was honoured to accept, to help him teach a youth seminar based on the topics in the title, however I knew very little about them from my time in Bible College and so poked around a bit until I found an answer.

Sanctification is basically making us holy unto God. Therefore the work of Christ in us makes us holy and able to stand before our Father and to come to Him in prayer. A big opposition to this however is that how can sin and holiness exist in one body? Even though the apostle Paul says that our sinful natures have been crucified with Christ, it is still obvious when Christ says that blaspheming the Holy Spirit is unforgivable, hence it is still possible for us to sin, even though we are no longer slaves to our sinful nature, until we have new bodies in heaven anyway. The third one Justification is simply that all our acts are justified through Jesus blood, we won't be sent to hell for them and God will forgive us for them. Problems arise with this as well when you think "then is it alright for me to do whatever I want? Can I go kill someone and God won't care because I'm justified?" This is a hot issue but there is a partial answer to it, in being that yes God will forgive you if you are genuinely repenting and are willing to change, but you still must face the consequences for it. Also if you were truly portraying a Christ like character you wouldn't be killing people anyway. The last one Regeneration is that Christ is doing a work in you to bring healing and purity into your life, he is constantly working in you to bring you to a point of complete change for the good of the kingdom. Like I said many groups oppose certain parts of these truths and will argue them or take them way out of context. A solution that came to mind was this. Jesus is the epitome of humanity, everything that humanity should be Christ was in the flesh. That being said the only flesh that every walked this earth that was completely sanctified, justified and regenerated was Christ, because he is God. In us however these three things are a continual work. They start at a starting point and are continually being worked in our lives. Because of this we may never know true full sanctification etc. etc. There's a certain point at which we can go no further due to our sinful natures. Yes we are holy before God, but there is still sin in our life that we must account for, yes we are forgiven, but you must reconcile that with God and the people you've wronged. And our healing of our spirits will not be complete until we go to heaven. So as you can see, the three need to be taken together and not accepted and rejected separately. They are a continuing work in us and although we already have them, we are still waiting for them at the same time. As a end times teacher would say "already but not yet."

Hope you can continue to learn off here, whoever is reading this, as always I very earnestly welcome feedback as I would like to know all your thoughts on this as well. Hope your all keeping warm out there in these winter months, I'll ttyl.

I'm trading my sorrows, I'm trading my pain...

2005-02-14T17:25:00.000-08:00

Had an interesting thing happen to me on Sunday again, this was something I totally wasn't expecting but it happened anyway, it's evidence of a working of God in my life but it was a lesson I rather would not of had to learn. Nevertheless it was something that God deemed it necessary for me to learn and so it had to be done. I got into church Sunday morning totally not in the mood for anything, I had just got done working a midnight shift five hours before and I just wanted to sleep when low and behold the person that I hold the greatest amount of resentment towards comes walking into the doors of the church. I had gotten to know her in the churches youth group although I had known her from various years before. We had a falling away a few years ago and it resulted in some quite bitter animosity that was basically understood "you cross me again and we'll settle this in the fields of blood" type thing. It disgusted me to be in the same room as her, most of my friends kept me barricaded away from her keeping us apart as to not draw a conflict, for I could feel the hate brewing in my veins, like a dark power pulsing through the very blood of my flesh. I decided that it was better for me to leave and deal with this anger on my own than to risk a confrontation in front of my church family, I told my mom I was leaving and going home and she wasn't too impressed because she knew why. On my drive home two verses came to mind that Jesus had quoted the first being "not to let the sun go down while you are still angry" and "to forgive so that your heavenly father may forgive you." I had let the sun go down while I was angry on this issue to many times, the very fact that because of her I left the place that was my home, where I had grown up and developed friends, where my closest associates, brothers and sisters sat. This one person had forced me to leave all that and it disgusted me more, so I turned the car around and headed back to church. Once I got there I tried to stay out of sight of this girl but in the back of my mind I still hoped that she would talk to me, mainly so that I could get out my years of frustration, she didn't talk to me however, I talked to her, amazingly enough we had a good talk, found out how eachother were doing and what was going on in our lives at the moment. All the years of anger and hate were washed away in a moments notice, I can't explain it, all I know is that God is continuing to work in my life, bit by bit he's taking things away from me and telling me to leave them behind or to leave them at this feet causing me to trust him more and more. A small testimony of my own life that I hope can encourage you in your walk with the LORD.

Have a day off tomorrow and will be catching up on some much needed sleep, although my manager hinted that he may start giving me Sundays off which is good because then I can get back to the En-Route schedule which I've dearly missed. Hope your all having a good day and I'll see you later.

Interesting question time...

2005-02-10T18:27:00.000-08:00

Well yesterday was definitely interesting as I got to jam with another fellow 7-string guitarist and be able to drive a really good friend of mine home and be able to have a time of sharing testimonies and what not it was a really good time and I thank this person, he knows who he is.

At the same time though he asked me an interesting question and I'm going to give it to you and give you the answer that I gave him for you all to think about. We were listening to one of my various metal CD's and he asked "I'm just wondering how you can listen to music like this and still look at it as a good thing compared to the joys of worship music." He wasn't trying to be negative he was asking a curious question and I appreciated it cuz it got me thinking. My answer was this ... That as anger and sad sounding as this music is, it isn't an unbiblical thing to express anger and sorrow. My examples were of Christs own life on Earth. While in Jerusalem he marched in the temple and turned over the tables of money changers and traders and yelled "woe to you pharisees" (a very VERY bold thing to say back then). He was expressing a true anger at this world for what it had made of God's law and creation and I find that in Christian heavy music that it is expressed in a Godly way as well, in a sense that we're expressing ourselves and what we're felling just as Christ did in his time. As for the sorrow thing I explained that Christ too cried, the two notable times were at the death of Lazarus and in the Garden when he cried tears of blood that the Father would "take this cup from me." Expressing sorrow and anger is not an ungodly thing and for anyone to look at this type of music and scream that it's "devil" music I would challenge them immediately because their being close minded, as a side note people like that will commonly say as well that it's not right for you to be sad or angry period and that God doesn't like it and you hafta change. Other examples that I gave him were in the desert on the way to the promised land, God sent disease, snake even opened up a mouth in the earth to punish the Israelites for their disobedience are these not expressions of anger? Their done in a just way don't get me wrong but God was mad for what they were doing. Also the book of Lamentations and the prophets, those are far from happy or uplifting books, their rather sad and glum as God carries out his justice on the people of Israel, in the same way music that expresses these kinds of feelings isn't wrong, I think the issue is whether it's conveying a right type of message, which all music brings into question, from rap, hip hop, country, alternative and hard rock.

It's off to work nice and early tomorrow, but it's a rather short day so I'll be able to get home catch up on some sleep then stay up all night so I can be ready to go to work on midnights Saturday, oh well hopefully I'll have Sunday off and can go into London for Through the Roof (a college and career event at the University of Western Ontario). Well until my next blog, keep fit and have fun!!! .... yeah that was corny, I know ...

Unity

2005-02-09T07:40:00.000-08:00

I've decided that work sucks ... ya I know nothing new there, I should start playing the lottery and hopefully start making money that way, that way I can be lazy and not have to worry about bosses or customers ever again, then again I'd also be very bored...decisions decisions.

There have been some quite heated discussions in my household lately concerning doctrine of different churches. It was passed down to me that a sister of an old friend of mine had been baptized as an adult, she comes from a very strict traditionalist denomination that teaches infant baptism. I'm not going to get into the details of these arguments but there are many against it and it's biblical authenticity. The people in her church started to say that this girl was lost to God because she had joined a cult. My own grandmother is actually a person who subscribes to this doctrine and her only defense for it is "well that's what the church teaches" we challenged her once to show us where it says it in the bible and she didn't even know where to start looking. She just said once again "it's what the church teaches." My other point on this before I get to my lesson is that between the Christian and Missionary Alliance and Pentecostal denominations, there are a few issues between the churches but the main issue that separates them is the doctrine of speaking in tongues (who cares???). What is with all this division? Even Christ himself said that a house divided can not stand, it is no wonder that the church is starting to get put on the back burners of so many peoples lives. New denominations appear over night constantly preaching a different view and belief system that sometimes are right and sometimes wrong. It angers me to see that there are so many church denominations and we spend more time bickering between eachother than trying to spread the kingdom. In some communities there barriers are actually being broken down. In my hometown the local churches actually hold meetings with all the heads of their churches and discuss what to do in the coming months concerning the church and ministry, this is an important step forward, it's to bad that the churches at the highest levels can not do this type of thing. The most depressing thing is that it's not even biblical truths that are being argued over, it's traditional values, such as the infant baptism thing, there's no biblical evidence to support it, it's a tradition passed on from the times of the middle ages, but this issue is what is separating churches that support it from those that do not. It's time to start realizing what is biblical and what is not in all our churches and start to come together under one banner.

Well, need to head to work in an hour, time go make some money to go back to school with (and pay off school with). Have a good one folks and try not to do anything to dumb. :P

Going for the goal

2005-02-08T17:19:00.000-08:00

Today was my sisters b-day, so me and my family went and held a little get together for her. There were quite a few people there. I'm not a big one for big get togethers with people I don't know, which is weird but I feel outta place when there's lotsa people that I've never seen before, it was kinda uncomfortable, but she was happy and so I wish her a happy b-day and pray that God will give her many more.

Reading Phillipians now I came across a passage in 3:12-16 titled "pressing towards to goal." This is a very good instruction to us from Paul to constantly be pursuing the things of Christ Jesus. What better thing could we really be pursuing for? Many of us spend our lives pursuing the "perfect" job and "perfect" partner and although these be righteous pursuits I find that the only sastisfying thing in life is to walk and fight for the things that God has taught us in his word. Many people in the world would find that this instruction is pointless because what kind of worldly good would we be getting ourselves? This is a very arrogant thought to be having. You see when I go to heaven I want God to look at me down from his throne and say to me "well done good and faithful servant." What better affirmation can you receive from God? I can think of nothing better. For as all of us know all things in this world pass away, in fact the only thing that is for certain in this world from a non-Christian standpoint is death. That's so depressing, but when we consider what God is in this world it's awesome to know that God is one of those things we are certain about. Therefore why waste our time on worldly treasures and goods? Sure having a bigger better guitar amp is nice and a faster computer is as well. Honestly though I would rather put these things aside in order that I can receive a crown from the hands of Jesus and be reigning with him at the end of time. That's an eternal thing, the worldly possession here and now are not. So to pursue Christ with all our hearts and to fulfill his commands is a very worthwhile thing for us to fight for, would you rather sit here in all the worldly wonder and splendor to get to heaven and be cast out because you did not pursue or acknowledge Christ here on this earth? Of course no one would. Which is why you have to wonder why we spend so much time worrying about the here and now, it says in the Bible not to worry about today or tomorrow for no one can add one day to their lives by worrying, so I find it's easier to let it go. God has been teaching me this valuable lesson in the last few months. Give it over to him and let him deal with it, just go for the goal of Christ Jesus and wait for heaven where rewards that are greater than anything that this world could give. It's in our nature to worry, even I'm willing to admit that, luckily though God can work through that if you let him and if you strive for what is right and pure than our lives will not be in vain and we will reign as kings and queens in heaven.

So, it's back to work tomorrow, had a day off today. Spent most of it sleeping however, lol. It's all good though, we all need our sleep. Sleep is a God given thing to us so for us to sit back and deny ourselves of it isn't a good thing. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.... Have a good one folks.

Azrael: "Yeah but I still want my Mode Four amp, that way I can have four different sounds at the click of a button."
Chemo: "lol, stage 1 - heavy, stage 2 - even heavier, stage 3 - you thought the last one was heavy? stage 4 - Christ starts stage diving...."

A touch of reality

2005-02-07T15:54:00.000-08:00

Well this has been quite a weekend, from ending up in a hospital getting stitches, to uncontrollable blood sugar lows and then being touched by God in a very powerful way, it was quite incredible.

So Sunday was there and as per tradition in our church on the first Sunday of every month they have a communion service and a time of prayer for healing. I went up as I usually do and my best friend Shaun, who is also the youth pastor of the church, as usual came up and prayed for me. What he spoke into my life was so powerful because it was so true, what he said I'm keeping between me, him and God, but the words were enough to cause me to cry and weep in what was undoubtedly the presence of God. It had one of the elders of our church asking me if there was anything else I needed prayer for, I just smiled through my tears and said "no, I'm ok." During the second service (I was playing on the worship team and thus had to sit through both services) during the one song in our slower part of our package one song we did the chorus goes "Come, Lord Jesus Come" I found myself on my knees with my guitar in my hands trying to sing to Him through even more tears. The presence of God was so real, all I could see when I closed my eyes was the great white throne in Revelation all I could see was Jesus, the feeling that God was in that place so overloaded me that I couldn't help but weep in his presence and just as I was down on my knees balling my eyes out, I could also feel his arms come around me and tell me it was ok. It was so amazing, even now just talking about it makes me want to cry again. I know this isn't my usual message on here, but it was an experience that I had to share with all you out there. I just hope and pray that all of you can have that kind of experience, that you can close your eyes and see nothing but Christ on his throne and that you can literally feel him put his arms around you. It really is amazing, I'm never going to forget this day.

So that's my weekend in short. Not much else to say except that my fingers hurt cuz of work ... grr oh well, that's what you get when you drop jars of jam and what not. Hope you all are having a splendid week now and remember to let Jesus hug you every now and then, you won't regret it.

So I haven't posted for a while...shoot me...actually...please don't...

2005-02-05T09:09:00.000-08:00

Yeah I know I haven't posted in a few days, after getting off work or music team the last couple days I just haven't felt like doing anything but sitting here and talking to people or else listening to music at increasingly deafening levels, but here I am again, to once again speak my mind on God's word.

Most "elite" Christians will know that the Old Testament rules were negated by the coming of Christ because he was the fulfillment of the covenant given to Moses and the Israelites on Sinai. Paul says in Romans 6:14 "For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace." Which means that there is no set "law" anymore that we must follow word for word for the grace of God is that which saves us and not some strict guidelines of what you can or can not do. A speaker friend of mine at North Park interpreted this to say that "I teach grace so I can do whatever the hell I want." Well I can't say I disagree with him, but he isn't totally correct either. I tend to think that there are other guidelines that God wants us to live by, in some ways they aren't as clear as a written code which could make them even more "strict" in a sense but at the same time they allow for a great deal of freedom because you can't put you finger down and say "it says tho shalt not...!!!" I turn to a couple of passages to find these guidelines the first is 1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." and Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." These aspects of our lives are very important in dealing with others, with how we live our lives. Showing these things in our lives is what will make our faith shine and more inviting to other people. These things I believe are the "Thou shalt" and "Thou shalt not" of the new convenant (testament). There is one thing in here though that I'd like to draw attention to and that is love. It is mentioned in both passages and in the 1 Corinthians 13:13 one is says that it is the most important so what kind of Godly love does he mean that we should be showing, that is also found in 1 Corinthians 13:1-12, it is quite long so I will invite you to read it for yourselves. However when you read these it echoes what is being said in the other passages. It says that the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians are a result of us showing love in our lives. It's amazing to see how everything comes full circle in all of these teachings. It's such a powerful testimony and command from Paul and one that he teaches is very important in a continuous theme in all his letters.

Anyway, work is going good, not hurting myself as much now. I'm starting to get the hang of it and my manager is telling me that I'm doing well. So I'm happy and I'm sure that things are going to go well. Hope you all have a good night, I will talk to you all hopefully tomorrow.

The Great White Throne

2005-02-02T20:31:00.000-08:00

Second day of work today and man what a boring day it was. Just sat there putting yogurt on the shelf and stocking up the milk. In the midst of it all I somehow got a blood blister and don't even remember how, oh well.

Anyway, didn't feel like putting a lot of thought into my blog today so I figured I'd ask you all a question. Do you ever find that when your praying or worshipping your mind drifts away to other things like the football game your missing or the cute girl sitting beside you? Yeah I tend to get that quite a bit too, it's a distraction by the enemy and is something we need to deal with before we take our attention off God. What I find I do to regain my attention is focus on the vivid and glorious passage given to us by John the prophet in Revelation 4. My bible titles this as The Throne In Heaven. I love this passage, it just gives such a powerful reminder of the glory of God. Personally I just close my eyes and imagine myself bowing with the 24 elders before the throne and worshiping God. I challenge you to read this vivid description of God's throne. It really is beautiful.

Anyway, short and sweet, I'm tired and don't feel like a lot of thought as I said before. So hope you find this nice and refreshing as throwing a cup of cold water on your head on a hot day, or however you choose to view it. Anyway, have a good one, I'll see you tomorrow.

What's with the unforgivable sin?

2005-02-01T13:34:00.000-08:00

Well day off today, which included a whole lot of nothing, intended on getting some reading done, then I decided for some reason to sleep instead. Another dumb move cuz I need to be up for 6am tomorrow to go to work. Don't ask me why I do things like this I dunno. I just like my sleep. Yeah, that's it.

I thought I'd continue on the thread from yesterday when I mentioned the unforgivable sin and I remember mentioning it awhile ago as well on another post. So I'll revisit that issue now in the regards of "what is it?" If you look up Matthew 12:30-32 it speaks about sinning against the Holy Spirit. Why is this sin unforgivable? What makes it so drastic? I think the answer to this is looked at in a different light. When cross-referencing this to the other gospels they refer to it as "blaspheming the holy spirit." The only time in history that God has pulled such drastic measures when faced with sin was before the flood and when Saul turned his back on God. It refers to these times that God was "grieved" therefore if God is going to deny his infinite forgiveness in our lives it has to be pretty bad. Yet that contradicts everything that we teach about forgiveness doesn't it? Not really, you see you can't be forgiven if you refuse to ask for forgiveness. I believe this sin is committed when those who have heard the good news of Christ willfully turn their backs on him and control their own lives. What I'm saying again is ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE HEARD THE GOSPEL (but not necessarily accepted it) can commit this sin. Those who have never heard the gospel are still living in a state of sin, so they will die in death, I'm not making an excuse for them, just that the forgiveness of God can not fall on those who turn their back on the Holy Spirit. I do believe however that if any time during your falling away you do turn back and say "I'm sorry" then you never actually committed the sin in the first place, for God does say he will not let you fall away unless you want to. It's a harsh judgment that God has passed down to those who have heard and refuse to believe, but that's why it is even more pressing for us to get the word out and live our lives so that they believe it.

Well that's my thoughts on that issue, another controversial one I'm sure, but that's what I live for, answering the difficult questions that people will usually say "there is no answer for." Because remember, I do believe there is an answer for everything, in no way are these answers perfect, but I hope they set you on a straight path of understanding for yourself. Peace out people.

3-in-1??? What the deuce?

2005-01-31T16:07:00.000-08:00

Ok so maybe I shoulda told my new employers that it's not a wise idea to be giving me sharp objects, but unfortunately it's part of my job description for opening boxes, I think I left part of my finger somewhere....not sure where tho....just kidding, I'm cut up, but everything is where it should be...pretty much.

So yeah continuing my reading of Systematic Theology it says that we can know God by looking at the perfect God like parts of ourselves and multiplying it by an infinite degree. That's pretty huge and I have to find that I agree with that. So why not use it to try and explain the concept of the Trinity. In Acts 1:4-8 "On one occasion, while he (Jesus) was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at the time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authourity. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all the Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Ok all that to make a point that the Holy Spirit is out there along with the Father and the Son, Jesus Christ. For years the church has been teaching that these three people are actually all in one person God, just different persons of God, many people have tried to understand this to no avail, maybe this is a new way of looking at it that many have never considered. Myself for the longest time could never explain the concept though I understood it fully well, then it dawned on me. I'm made of three persons, so is God. You see, when you look at me, you see my physical self, but I also have mental self that thinks and feels along with a spiritual self that deals with the things of a spiritual nature (duh). Even though all three are distinctly unique, they all work together to form one me. If I cut myself open (as in many times today) even though it's physical self, it's my mental self that screams "CRIPES THAT HURT!!!" My evidence of this is clear, if you have a physical cold, your mental self breaks down and you feel crappy, but if you go to a psychiatrist cuz you feel crappy, it's not going to make the problem go away, you have to fix the physical problem first, same with mental disorders, although it's a mental thing, it can still have effects on your physical body, and spiritual (or demonic) problems can wreak havoc on all parts of your self. They are all interconnected although they all can be affected in different ways, and once one is affected the whole of you can go down. Now God doesn't suffer in any way what we suffer physically, but if we grieve the Holy Spirit (the unforgivable sin), then all of God, Father and Son, will feel it as well. I hope that this can help shed some light on the subject. Some people have compared the Trinity to the likes of a table, but this is not correct. You see if you take a leg away from a table, it's easy enough to take the other three legs away and still be able to use the flat surface of the table. That is not possible with us or God, if you take one of our three parts away, we has humans will DIE and God can not be God without one of his persons.

Well I hope I spread some understanding on this subject for you. I know it was a troubling topic for me for a very long time until I learned to look at the God-like parts of myself to learn about God and it is proper to do this since we are made God's image, which means there ARE parts of him in us. I hope you all are staying nice and comfy warm out there, it is getting warmer out which is nice, but summer is still far off (grrrr). Play fair and play safe....don't ask me where that came from cuz I honestly don't know....

Just a simple life lesson from God

2005-01-30T19:05:00.000-08:00

I start working tomorrow!!! Yay, my dream job of being a grocery boy is finally coming true...pfffft, yeah riiiiiight.

But honestly, I was just trying to think on what to write on and I seriously have nothing. Just been sitting here reading my theology book all day then going to c&c tonight. Now that I think of everything, God's provision is definitely something to speak on. God has provided me with a job and thankfully it's something that I will probably enjoy doing for now as I make my way back trough school, it's perfect enough for it that only God really could have provided something like this. It does say in his word that he will provide for all our needs and he certainly is at the moment, now it's just a matter of filling out the college application and getting all my transcripts together to make it possible to go. It's this provision that actually brought me a lot of comfort while I was sitting through tonights service, at time I do seriously feel very alone, most of my family (including my extended) are now starting to settle down and I'm here still living like a wild child I guess and I seriously was sitting there tonight wondering how and who would make this change. Then it came that God has provided this far and he will continue to provide, so I walked out of the masses of beautiful people around me and got back in my car content in the fact that God has something in mind. May that be encouragement to all of you. Just a few weeks ago I was suffering from stress induced panic attacks about a job and my future and now viola God has provided showing me that in the light times and dark always trust on him to provide for you. That's just a life lesson I've learned and been reaffirmed of in the last few weeks.

Up and early it'll be for me tomorrow as I start at 8:30 in the morning, could be worse though, I could need to be up at like 4 am to be somewhere absurd like I used to have to when I worked out near Kitchener. Anyway, have a good one folks, hoping to talk to you all soon. Later.

Proof of Existence

2005-01-29T17:49:00.000-08:00

So yeah, as of Monday I will be a working man. Yup got a job now which means my hopes for bible college will be coming just that much sooner, thank you to all who were remembering me in your prayers, I thank you.

I've been reading a systematic theology book over the last few weeks and came across a very interesting chapter. It's called theism and explaining the existence of God. Anyone who is a believer would just pick up a bible and say "this is our proof of God." What about those who don't believe or have doubts? I have longed searched for rational proof that God existed and this book helped give an answer. After reading this chapter it made it clear that evolution could not be, even to a unbeliever. If evolution were possible it would mean that when we as humans are in our mothers stomachs, the process of evolution would begin at the second of conception. Evolutionists believe that the evolutionary process began when life first sprung up. So your life began as soon as you were conceived. If evolution were to hold true it would mean that there would be no reason for you to grow arms or legs, what would you need them for? Your just floating there in happiness. You would not need to develop a mouth, all your food is already provided through the umbilical chord. You can't see anything, so there would be no need for eyes, or ears to hear with. Yet when we are born we come out with all these things active and working. Yet we had no need of them until we emerged, so why did the evolutionary process give them to us? The answer is simple, another divine intelligence had to tell the body that it needed to develop these organs. The other argument is that everything we have here today was created, it just didn't appear out of nowhere, such as art and cars, neither could the earth have appeared out of nowhere, someone had to be behind it. I found this very interesting to read because it made intellectual sense, once I read that I found that my faith in God became even more solid. It really is quite amazing, I'm still baffled when I think about it.

Well, it's the middle of the weekend then it's Sunday and ONE WEEK TILL SUPERBOWL!!! So I hope that you all make the best of your weekend and are able to get out and enjoy it. Take it easy and don't kill too many braincells in whatever it is that your doing.

We Are Not Alone...

2005-01-28T20:03:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone, well today wasn't the most exciting day ... except that I got an interview!!! That's right, if all goes well I may be able to afford my way into bible college in September afterall, it's made me pretty happy all day today, so be praying for me tomorrow as I go in.

So you hear all the time on the tv about conspiracy theorists saying we are not alone and that the government is doing an alien coverup and what not. I mean I'm a sci-fi freak but honestly, let's not get into outer space as of yet people, if you really wanna do stuff like that, try joining NASA. Or else if your like me you can realize that we are truly not alone in this world. Yes the obvious answer is that God is here with us, guiding us, directing us, intercessing for our needs and comforting us. However there is something else here, they would be what is translated from the Hebrew word to be messengers, that's right, angels. But not only angels, also their dark brethern the demonic. There's been a saying that's been around for a very long time, that being that "the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn't exist." Sadly many people believe this lie, even people in our churches. How they can believe that is beyond me, devout Christian's that I know deny the existence of evil in our world even though the Scriptures they swear by give accounts of their presence in almost all the books. The theme tonight is simple, victory is ours even against our unseen foe. Luke 9:1-2, Luke 10:17-20 and James 4:7 are a good read on this subject I suggest you look at them before I proceed. In the first two passages Jesus gives us the authourity to drive out evil spirits they even profess "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." This is what theologians and councilors refer to Spiritual Warfare. This is a subject that is a much sought after topic in a lot of circles, people want to know about the war between the spiritual because people, even in their fallen states, are becoming much more aware of the spiritual in today's society. Even in churches it's a topic that is widely spoken of and not really understood, most people however understand the rudimentary "in Jesus name I cast you out." This does work but there is another whole level to it that many people do not realize. I'm not going to get into it here because blogger.com might get mad at me for taking all their memory size if I do but my encouragement to you is this. When interested in topics like this, seek them out, find the answers. It took me a long time but I found this a very rich and exciting thing to discover, there are many pitfalls and dangers but nonetheless is something that I enjoy, mainly because I love seeing the devil thwarted. So take those verses up there and claim them for yourself, Christ sent you out against the evil in the world, so learn about it and study it. Know what authourity you have through Jesus name. Anyone interested more in this subject I will gladly refer you to some helpful resources. However be reaffirmed in the simple truth that you have authourity over the darkness, Christ himself gave it to you, don't be afraid of the world then.

So yeah, hopefully the interview goes well tomorrow and I can start to be speaking to you as a working man instead of a lazy bum (but it's sooo much fun). Hopefully your all keeping warm out there wherever you are. Take it easy!!!

Profound Book ... Profound Words

2005-01-27T19:44:00.000-08:00

So yeah, went to my church's worship team tonight. Ended up just sitting out because there was WAY to much noise going on, it was nearly impossible to make sense of what you were playing because it was so hard to hear yourself, but I know I am attempted to turn my amp up I would've been yelled at for being so loud, so I just went and played spider solitaire on the power point, so the entire worship team could see me playing cards, it was rather enjoyable.

I've started reading the Epistle of Hebrews in my devotions, this has got to be one of my favourite books of the bible. It starts out with such powerful and majestic statements about Christ and continues those on continuously until it starts to define our faith and what that means. It's such a powerful letter that I can't help but read it all the time it really is amazing in what it says. The one part of it that stuck out to me was Hebrews 4:14-16 "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." What a powerful few verses to contemplate in our minds. There is nothing that we can not bring before Christ, because in all ways he was tempted and suffered everything and more than we have suffered. I remember being told a story once where at the great white judgment several people all gathered together and spoke in what to say to God. Some were like "when was he tortured in German camps? or whipped like we were?" others were like "and when was he starving like I have been?" So they turned to God and asked him these questions. In response God said "when I cam to earth in the form of my son" and suddenly a great cross appeared in their midst and they all understood that there was nothing that God our Father did not know or couldn't sympathize with. Many of us say that God can not understand what it's like for us, when really he can. It's us that can't understand what he went through for us. In some small way we can understand WHY he had to do it, but we could never understand the cost of his sacrifice. We can never imagine being whipped to a bloody pulp, being hung on a cross, being humiliated in front of all the people we love (not the way he was) and being rejected by every single person around us. It's something he had to do and I can't say that I would have had the courage to do what he did. However because he did it, all of us can bring before him all our hurts and pains, and in return he will gently come down to us, reach those arms of love around us and as we cry on his shoulder will whisper to us "it's ok, just let it go". It's enough to get me emotional enough right now, seriously when thinking of Christ hugging me and letting me cry on his shoulder, I'm getting a little teary eyed right now (I know I know all you that know me very well personally are probably laughing right now). Honestly this is just a message that I need to be hearing in a time of pain myself.

So this is quite a time of trial for me right now as I continue to trust in God that all things will work out as confusing as my life is right now. I've been seriously questioning whether I've made a right decision to tell someone something, my Christian friends assure me that I have, all I can do I guess is bring it before God. I will be coveting any of your prayers however in this matter. Take it easy brothers and sisters.

The Still Small Voice

2005-01-26T19:09:00.000-08:00

So yeah today...what to say about today...yup I guess my day was just THAT interesting....yeah ok, I'll keep telling myself that.

Anyway, wasn't sure what I should write on today so I thought I'd just write a bit about the voice of God. Lately God has been speaking to me and it's one of those things that has left me wondering what exactly is going on and what God has in mind. He's spoken to me about a friend of mine and about my future and it still leaves me asking questions as to what where and how. Anyway, some advice my best friend Shaun gave to me once in hearing the voice of God was simply this, to pray for three days and then ask your question again. Ask it of God, ask it of your peers and then ask it of the scriptures. It was some of the most brilliant advice I've been given on the subject so that's what I've been doing. Honestly it's hard to say what God has in mind for any or all of us. I just live each day reconvincing myself every morning that God knows what he's doing even when I can't make sense out of it. If your like me however and someone that likes to be in control of every detail of their life then you can understand how hard it is to just give it up to someone else. It's a lesson I'm sure God is trying to teach me to just give it over to him and things will work out. So that's my bit of spiritual advice for the night, I know I know there are no scripture references here which is weird for even me, so regard this post as you will. Just remember that it's important that you test whatever it is that you think may be the voice of God, it's ok to do this, the 1 John passage I quoted yesterday even says to test the spirits, hence why Shaun also told me to pray for three days then ask whatever question that it is you may have. Besides, the devil does masquerade as an angel of light and will most likely fool any one of us into believing his voice is God's when it really isn't, so be sure who is speaking to you before you proceed with anything you feel you may have been told.

Alright, so that wasn't that long, it's been kind of a uneventful day and my mind is far from thinking of anything profound. Maybe it's just the kind of break that I need right now as I try to figure things out. May the LORD bless you and keep you, may he cause his face to shine upon you all the days of your life.

Peace brothers and sisters.

Overcoming the Lie

2005-01-25T21:38:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I deleted my original post for today cuz I started to have convictions about it and didn't agree with it. So I took it down. I'm not going to restate what it said but will address a fairly important issue that comes out of it that I want to speak on.

Quite simply it is LIES. Lies that are going through the congregations of the church and are leading many of Christs sheep astray (us). The idea I originally posted was fairly pantheistic in origin. Pantheism takes on a few forms. The first is that there are many gods or that all gods exist, Hinduism and ancient Greek beliefs were pantheistic. The second form is that nature is god. The last being that nature is a manifestation of god. My thoughts suggested the latter of all these and I realized this is fairly New Age philosophies, so I asked God to forgive me for such a lie and to respeak truth into my life. Then I deleted the blog and many hours later am now writing this one. So to all who managed to read the one labelled "what is God like?" my apologies for a misleading blog.

I chose instead to write on the lies that are going through the church as I stated above. My scripture references in this are 1 John 4:1-6 and Matthew 24:4-14,26-28. Yeah I know it's a lot of scripture, the basic point of all of it is this, beware of those who come in Christs name and do not speak a message that matches up with biblical truths. I have found that quite often they will use one of two, or both, philosophies that I am actually reading about in Systematic Theology by Charles Hodge. The first is rationalism. Rationalism is based of the thought that "if it is reasonable it must be true." Thus if you saw an apple fall to the ground it would be reasonable to believe that some force caused that apple to fall. However the flaw in rationalism is that if you can not understand an idea then it must not be true. In the above description of the apple it's reasonable to believe said force exists but if you don't understand the concept of gravity then gravity doesn't exist and there must be a different answer. I have encounted before people that do not understand a biblical truth and so they reject it saying that they don't understand it and so do not accept it and come up with the lamest excuses for it. Instead of finding an answer they blindly reject it out of their own pride. The second thought is that of mysticism. That thought is that the discovery of truth is based on what feels right and what you sense and think is correct. Again a flawed reasoning for obvious reasons. It's obvious that you can feel something is true and then have it blantantly refuted by the scriptures, but some people feel that that is the truth and so refute the scriptures instead. These are common roots of heresy in todays church and will spawn many false ideas. The most common symptom of both of these problems is that these people will have absolutely no or very very little scriptural references to back their claim. The most common thing to come out of their mouths in defence of their ideas are "I" think or "I" feel. Quiet you agents of the enemy!!! If you can't tell false teaching is one of my hot buttons and I do not stand for it in any regard, hence why I took down my own post and admitted my wrongcomings. Hope you all have the courage to do the same in your own lives and to challege the false prophets of our day. Most people interpret those scriptures I gave above to represent the future, although that be true, it is most obviously happening today and happened back in the ancient days.

Well, here I am sitting as God continues to guide and direct me, I'm still rather confused about what is all going on in my life. Those of you who are in my inner circle of friends know about the details as for the rest of you I would seriously covet your prayers right now in that God will continue to show me what to do and that I can make sense of his will for my life. Take it easy everyone.

Are we the only ones that suffer (with new thoughts)?

2005-01-23T22:05:00.000-08:00

Ok so this is gonna seem like a double blog for today but I'm going to use this one for Monday, even though technically it is 1:05 am Monday morning, it's still Sunday in my books.

Anyway, I was at the North Park College and Career service tonight (otherwise known as en-route, awesome ministry, and I applaud Lori who runs it so well) and we had a guest speaker that was speaking for World Vision and what their doing in the world. I rather enjoyed the presentation until one point when a young man who had been a Christian for only about two weeks stood up and asked the speaker why God allowed suffering like the tsunami. The guest speaker then proceeded to say that there wasn't really an answer to that and darted around the issue saying that it's something that we have to take advantage of to show God's love, which I do not disagree with, but the statement "I don't think there's an answer to that" infuriated me. There are answers to EVERYTHING it's just whether we understand or know them. Some we will never know until we ask God face to face. Others we must search for in order to find them and ask for God's wisdom. It would have been more professional for him to say, "I don't know the answer to that."

I went and talked to this young guy afterwards offering an answer, it is not a perfect answer, but it's an answer for those who are searching and unfortunately as I see it, it's not really an easy answer to accept but here it is. Warning, this one is quite long as I've added some other thoughts to the idea.

In Genesis 1:28-31, God gives us stewardship over the earth and the creatures and plants. He basically says "It is yours to do with as you please, whatever choices you make to rule this world, are yours" This being said, God can not contradict himself and intervene by retaking control, in doing so it would contradict God's nature and thus all we believe would be thrown into question. So the point is this foremost. If we are the rulers of the earth then is it not our responsibility to make sure that suffering is ended? Did you know that someone who works a minimum wage job, the money they make in one month can feed a small African village for 6 months to a year? That's a lotta cake to them. So in the face of all this starvation and disease when people point their fingers at God and ask "why don't you do something..." I think it's a matter of looking in the mirror and saying "he did do something he made us responsible for it." In otherwords it's our earth let's change things. The next part of this question is, "what about the natural disasters that occur that we can not control?" That answer is actually fairly simple as well, you see it's the same as above. Everything that we suffer in this world is a result of someone along our long history making a bad choice that results in consequences that result today. God forewarned us of the hardship in Genesis 3:16-19, it doesn't say everything that was a result of the fall but rather a foretaste. A better idea in what I'm saying is God saying "ok you've opened a box you can never close and now you and the rest of mankind have to live with the consequences of your choice" he promises us help though in the first prediction of the coming of Christ in Genesis 3:15. As I described it to this young man, imagine a bottle of all the bad things ever possible locked away in there, and the cork on that bottle is the fruit Adam and Eve ate, once it was removed, we sealed our suffering as absolute. Again God isn't going to change this because it was our CHOICE and to intervene with control would contradict his nature. Now the human race has suffered ever since. As for suffering that comes from other people, that is simply those people making bad choices and that is why Christ calls us to forgive as our Father in Heaven forgives.

But another thought came to me after talking to a friend of mine about the events of the night. Are we the only ones that suffer? Imagine for a moment someone that you love so dearly you would give your life to save them, you would do everything you could to talk them out of bad decisions but they don't listen to you. There's nothing you can do because it's their choice ... wouldn't you be grieved? Now put God in your place in that scenario and us in the loved ones place ... wait a minute ... Genesis 6:6 "The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain." 1 Samuel 15:11 "I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.' Samuel was troubled, and he cried out to the LORD all that night." These two verses are some of the most controversial verses in the Bible. People will ask how God can be grieved if he knows the future, if he was going to be grieved why did he make man in the first place. My answer is this, look at the scenario at the beginning of this section. God knew it was going to happen and he knew that in order to keep his perfection intact he had to let things play out, he would throw us aides and help us but essentially we were the ones who had to straighten out. He wouldn't change it and make it all right or else risk damaging his perfection which he can't do, since he is God and knew this he had to sit back as a parent watching a child throwing his life away, God had to watch this in pain, knowing that he had to let us learn ourselves. Seeing as we are in the image of God, small pieces of God's personality to reflect in us (not at all we are by any means a god of any sort, thankfully) it's fair to look at it this way. God knew there was nothing he was able to do in order to keep his perfect nature intact, all he could do was cry for us and promise us the coming Messiah (yay Jesus!).

I'm expecting quite a bit of flack about this but I'm just reaching for answers where none are available, hoping to expand my horizons. Please comment to me on this, I would really like to know if I'm on a right track with this. As for everything else, take it easy in the new week and be sure to talk to God whenever you can, after all don't you love it when people you love stop and say hi?

Your God Given Uniqueness

2005-01-23T10:42:00.000-08:00

Ok, so when you hafta sit through two services cuz your on the worship team it's kind of in our nature to talk when your bored, so yeah, a couple of us have decided that we need a sound proof sound booth after the stares that said "quiet, or I'm going to kill you..."

Today is about our uniqueness it's actually just going to paste in a conversation I had with a good friend of mine from Canadian Bible College. To get the full grasp of the conversation I suggest you go to his blog and read the Canard Part Deux and 3/4 at http://worldswhitestninja.blogspot.com/ if you decide to read that it'll make a little more sense, but here's the point in our conversation.

(for reference purposes, I am Azrael)

Azrael says:
hey just read your newest blog, I can relate to that
Mitch - Guitar stuff for sale says:
yeah
Azrael says:
I wouldn't say your emotionally detached, just God gave you certain emotional points and not others. Like I'd say it's a very strong thing to be able to see your great grandmother die and say to yourself "Life goes on" cuz it does and you can't sit there balling your eyes out for the rest of your life about it
Mitch - Guitar stuff for sale says:
true enough
Azrael says:
your very passionate about music and sound so when something comes up that disturbs you, you get flamed up right?
Mitch - Guitar stuff for sale says:
yeah
Azrael says:
but if some hot chick that you've never seen before walks up to you and says "I hate your stinkin' guts" it wouldn't bother you right?
Mitch - Guitar stuff for sale says:
lol not so much it's like "whatever"
Azrael says:
exactly, see, God gave you certain passions along with myself, some ppl having someone they've never met before say they hate them would bother them to no end, while they'd look at sound stuff and be like "what's the big deal?" it's just a matter of God given passions that I believe determines our emotional on and off buttons
Mitch - Guitar stuff for sale says:
makes sense i guess
Azrael says:
yeah, obviously death doesn't bother you, it's just a phase in life in your view, am I semi-right?
Mitch - Guitar stuff for sale says:
yeah... it's the inevitable end of everyone
Mitch - Guitar stuff for sale says:
well special circumstances pending
Azrael says:
see and you know that and have accepted that, plus it's God's reassurance that we are going to see them again, so I think it's one of those things implanted in your mind that you say "bye for now, see ya again soon"
Mitch - Guitar stuff for sale says:
yeah
Azrael says:
so I wouldn't worry about ppl saying your emotionally detached, you just have different passions and insights than they do, as a result you express things in different ways as well
Mitch - Guitar stuff for sale says:
yeah

My basis for these comments comes from Psalm 139, more specifically verses 13-14. What they are saying is that God MADE YOU THE WAY YOU ARE. He knit you together in a certain unique way. So you don't cry at funerals, it doesn't mean that you're emotionally detached, it just means that God has given you different passions and thus your emotions come out differently. I hope this conversation is refreshing for you as it was for me at the time. As my friend Chemo said (Mitch) "when you gonna get your doctorate? just want to know when I can call you doctor..."

Thanx buddy.

Theology ... how important is it?

2005-01-22T10:35:00.000-08:00

So yeah, I get up this afternoon (yes, I'm a late sleeper) to find that my mom's studio is absolutely crammed full of older ladies. So here I am, looking like something that came from Tales of the Crypt and I need to make my way across the studio if I want to get into the kitchen to feed myself ... wonderful ...

Anyway, I thought I'd revisit an old book that we read in the freshmen year (my only year) at Canadian Bible College. It's called "Who Needs Theology?" some of you who read this blog will recognize it, others won't, it's actually an interesting read and I suggest you read it. Anyway in the book it lists 5 different type of theologians I'm going to tell you what these are before I get to my point in all this. The first is the Folk Theologian this is described as: Unreflective believing based on blind faith in a tradition of some kind. I relate this to those who believe their Christians because they go to church on Christmas and Easter or else a minority in the Dutch CRC who believe they are God's gift to the world (and yes there a number like that in that denomination). The next kind is Lay Theology: appears when you dig deeply into the resources of your faith, putting mind and heart together in a serious attempt to understand that faith. I think it would be fair to assume that most of your small group and unvocational leaders are involved at this level. The third is Ministerial Theology: reflective faith practiced by trained ministers (need I say more?). The forth is Professional Theology: Someone who understands the tools and instructs Ministers and Lay people in their use. The final is Academic theology: a type of theology that doesn't apply anything relevant to Christian living. So what's the point in all this??? Honestly ... I don't know. Now for me to be saying this, someone who has a big love for theology, someone who buys theology books from Christian bookstore, someone who is going to go for his Bachelor of Theology, probably his Masters and maybe even his Doctorate, for me to be saying that I don't see what the big deal in all these "levels" are is phenomenal. You see, I just see it this was because this is maybe one of the biggest statements of faith that has ever been made (to see a definition of faith look up Hebrews 11:1) and it was made by Jesus himself. It was made when the little children came to be with Jesus and the disciples tried to turn them away (Luke 18:15-17). Jesus says in verse 17 "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." What does that mean? If you as a kid ever believed in Santa Claus you will maybe understand what I have to say. Kids don't know where the presents come from, they don't understand unless you tell them, so they will honestly believe Santa brought them, also if you were to tell a small child that wind is caused by angels flapping it's wings, they WILL believe it. Why? Because they have so much FAITH in what your telling them it becomes their reality. So that's the kind of theology that Christ said it was important to have. Yes it's important for us to understand at some level the fullness of Christs humanity when John 11:35 says "Jesus Wept" but I think it's more important for us to see it as "this is what the Bible says, so it's true" and stop trying to answer complicated questions (as fun as they are, even I'll admit) that are not really relevant. Theology is an important thing but I think the point Christ is trying to make is this. "Just believe it as a child, that's all you really need."

So yeah, this night isn't going to be very interesting. Have to play in church tomorrow which will call for an early morning and thus an early night for myself. I hope the rest of you have good nights. I'll see you all tomorrow.

The 7 Eyed Guardian Lamb

2005-01-21T10:22:00.000-08:00

Ok let's go in to the mind of a cat for a second. "Hey look a box ... hmm the box is closed ... I don't care I'm going to get in that box ... there I'm in the box, I'm so proud of myself, there's nothing in the box but hey, I don't care ... Hey you!!! Look at me!!!! I'm in my box!!! Look at me in the eyes, aren't you proud of me??? I'm just gonna sit here till everyone in this house sees me in my box..." Cats are so weird, but awesome at the same time.

The continuing prophesies of Isaiah are turning more cheery, what I mean is that instead of the coming wrath of God, God starts to promise provision, comfort and protection from all of Israel's enemies. Most scholars would look at this from eschatological sense (that being the end times) and say it speaks of the final days. I'm not disputing that fact but I prefer to look at the word of God as something that I can affect in my own life today and not who knows how long into our future. God promises protection from Israel's enemies, do we however realize that in our lives today what kind of enemies we are being protected against? Look up 2 Kings 19:35 and Isaiah 37:36 in both these passages an angel from the LORD comes down and slays 185,000 Assyrian soldiers without even breaking a sweat (if human attributes can be given to angels, but probably not)!!! Ok so these are angels ... what's the big deal? Simply this, demons are angels too, before the angelic rebellion recorded in Isaiah and Revelation all angels were holy and served the LORD, however 1/3 of them revolted and were cast out of heaven to be what we know call demons. My point is this, demons have the same destructive power as an angel. That means that one demon is capable of slaying 185,000 people pretty effortlessly. By those numbers it would take 17 angels to destroy the population of Toronto, 163 angels to wipe out the population of New York, and evil creatures with these same powers are running around in the world right now??? Scary thought, or is it... You see God promised us that he would protect us and his personal guaratee is that the dancing 7 eyed lamb (Jesus Christ, refer to Revelation 5:1-7 if you don't get it) is living inside of our hearts protecting us everyday from the schemes of the evil one. That doesn't mean however that the evil schemes are always follied, because sometimes we allow them to work in our lives. God's providence however promises us deliverance from these schemes even if we are to fall victim to them. The best part of it though, is the peace of mind that God gives us concerning all this "don't worry about it" he says "I'm dealing with it, you just live life" and it's such a relief. The schemes and power of the evil one can not harm me, this big demon thing could appear before me right now but because of Jesus Christ inside of me, that demons sword is not allowed to touch even a hair on my head. God is truly amazing.

So yeah, on the personal note, I'm looking forward to the weekend, playing in church on Sunday and then North Park sunday night, and not to forget the Eagles stomping out the Falcons in the playoffs Sunday as well (GO EAGLES!!!). Take it easy out there people. Feel free to comment as well, I enjoy hearing your ideas and viewpoints on spiritual things.

"Dude, did Jesus just do a stage dive? ... Dude, Jesus is cool..."

Are you a Hezekiah?

2005-01-20T10:22:00.000-08:00

Another day another blog, seeing as I just got up and did my devotions there really isn't a lot for my personal life to say at the moment, except that I have worship team tonight to practice for Sunday, other than that I can't really see a whole lot happening throughout the rest of the day, hence I'll get straight to my thoughts.

Continuing in the book of Isaiah I got to a kind of am intermission in the prophecies to show a story of Hezekiah. Hezekiah was the first in a long list of kings in Judah that was righteous before the eyes of the LORD. I think it's fair to assume at this point that the covenant with God had pretty much been forgotten by a majority of the people. It is refreshing to see that truth will always come out on top no matter what distorted sense of lies tends to infiltrate our lives. However there is a different thought that I wanted to consider in the story of Hezekiah. The first sign of Hezekiah is actually seen in the 2 Kings 18. It says that he tore down the idols high places, Asherah poles and smashed the Bronze Serpent Moses had made because they were worshiping it. The story of the Bronze Snake comes from Numbers 21:4-9. In that story the Israelites who were travelling nomadically towards the promised land of Canaan rebelled once more against the LORD. So as a judgement he sent poisonous snakes to bite the people, they pleaded to Moses who then prayed to God and God told him to make a bronze serpent and raise it up so that whoever was bitten could look at the snake and live. However we see that in Hezekiah's time that snake was being worshipped as a god. It's interesting to see that an icon of that people's deliverance was now being seen as a god. This is an interesting idea in our own lives today. How many times has something good happened in our lives and we start to pay more attention to it than anything else, especially the LORD. How many times has a good samaritan (see Luke 10:25-37) come into our lives and we started seeing that person as our own person hero or saviour? As scary as it is this happens in our lives more often than not, even in my own. But my challenge to you is...can you be a Hezekiah? Can you smash the things in your life that are causing a form of idolatry? Now I'm not saying to go beat the hero in your life to a bloody pulp or to smash your tv (how would I ever watch Family Guy then?) or car. My thought is can you smash your idolized beliefs about that person or thing? Can you speak truth in the face of deception or lies? This happens many times even in my own life and I have been doing such to a youth leader at a college and career group that I attend. I'm not going to point out the keys in this arguement but just the simple fact is, can you be a Hezekiah and strike down falsehood and speak and believe in truth? I know you can, so let's see it happen.

Ok, so that was definitely extremely long, there are many other things and thoughts you could get out of Hezekiah and the bronze serpent alone and the good samaritan stories alone that aren't so unhappy, and maybe I'll revisit those thoughts at a later time. As for the rest of my day I hope that it becomes somewhat interesting, but it'll probably be the same old same old thing, but there's always hope...isn't there??

Have a good one people, don't work to hard, you still need your brain to have fun...sometimes....

Quiet Reflections

2005-01-19T23:26:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm going to try this again, this whole blogspot thing, I tried this before and it didn't work to well but I'll try and maintain it as much as possible. If your new here or don't know me that well, my name is Marcus, Azrael, Anthony or Aj, whatever you feel like calling me, I respond to all those names.

I've been reading through the book of Isaiah lately and the poetry is definitely something that draws me to it, as depressing and depraved as it is. Nevertheless it is God's word to us and I take it as it says, the surprising thing is what I find I'm discovering is that what God saw in ancient Israel isn't much different than todays world when you look at it from outside the box. Isaiah prophesied about sexual immorality, idolatry and disobediance, something that resonates even in todays world on a (surprise, surprise) world-wide scale. Even though God is now living in the entire world is as accesible as this computer (even more so infact) people keep falling deeper and deeper into depravity because they honestly have nothing else, this is starting to sound like a sermon, but in all honesty it really is surprising that books that were written eons ago are still reflecting what's going on in todays society, old issues that are constantly re-emerging again and again and again. Progress I'm afraid is a bit slow in coming. Luckily the uplifting thing in all this remorse and despair is God's promise to Isaiah (and Jeremiah when you read through that) is that God vows to protect his messengers from the world if they will go out and speak truth to the Israelites. Seeing as God is the same yesterday, today and forever, that is still a promise we can cling onto in our lives. Jeremiah 5:14 "Therefore the LORD God Almighty (Yahweh El Shaddai) says: 'Because the people have spoken these words, I will make my words in your mouth a fire and these people the wood it consumes.'" What a promise that is from God that those who speak out against the truth that we speak will be consumed by the fire of the TRUTH of God's word.

God for sure is awesome and I have to keep reminding myself of that fact each and everyday. Even though I sit here unemployed and without a relationship I need to keep reaffirming myself that God is all I need and he will provide for my needs. Luckily I'm back on my feet now though, for those of you who were unaware the last week has been particularily rough, Monday I was having panic attacks one after the other, it was quite stressful. But thankfully it's over and I can continue with my regular day of doing a whole lot of nothing. Thankfully I have good friends that I can talk to online that amuse me, even though for the most part I generally make fun of them, lol, they do the same to me however.

Anyway, as I said I hope to be able to keep this updated and going everyday hopefully coming here will be a blessing to you as it possibly will be for me. At times I'll explain what I've discovered in the Bible or in life and other times it will just be rambles about life, whichever it is I hope you can find it refreshing.

May the sun always be shining even in the darkest of days.

Can you hear it in heaven when the angels are moshing?

Have a good one.