I just finished reading "Is God Past His Sell-by Date?" by John Blanchard. There were a lot of perspectives I had never considered before. It made me want to quickly read "Meet the real Jesus", another one of Blanchard's books.
In the past, I had resisted reading books supporting rational proof for believing in God as I sought to rely on a child-like faith. I think I may have been afraid that the scientific evidence would contradict a faith in God. But instead - the more I read about evidence for my faith, the more my faith is supported.
How could I have thought differently? I think it's just that, as an engineer - the bulk of the science I have been exposed to has been devoid of any mention of God. Come to think of it, the bulk of the theology I have been exposed to has been devoid of science. In the words of Jim Collins in "Good to Great"; it's time to "confront the brutal reality". I need to apply that thinking in all areas.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
God is faithful
From todays' sermon;
1 Corinthians 1:9
God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
Faithful. He keeps His promises. His love will never fail. He will never leave me, nor forsake me. I can count on Him.
God is bigger than my problems. It's time to dig the ditches, and act on my belief.
1 Corinthians 1:9
God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
Faithful. He keeps His promises. His love will never fail. He will never leave me, nor forsake me. I can count on Him.
God is bigger than my problems. It's time to dig the ditches, and act on my belief.
What will you do with that freedom?
This posting made me want to see Braveheart again. J and I just finished watching.
Orrin quoted this;
"I am William Wallace, and I see a whole army of my countrymen, here in defiance of tyranny. You've come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What will you do with that freedom? Will you fight?
Aye, fight and you may die, run and you'll live. At least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom."
Our fight is against tyranny, but not a tyranny that threatens to kill us physically. Instead, and much worse; one that is after our very souls.
Orrin quoted this;
"I am William Wallace, and I see a whole army of my countrymen, here in defiance of tyranny. You've come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What will you do with that freedom? Will you fight?
Aye, fight and you may die, run and you'll live. At least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom."
Our fight is against tyranny, but not a tyranny that threatens to kill us physically. Instead, and much worse; one that is after our very souls.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Attitude
I didn't watch the video yet, but I was impressed by these quotes;
Attitude is reframing the thinking about the events in your life to empower you towards victory, instead of disempowering you towards defeat. – Orrin Woodward
If you don't get everything you want, think of the things you don't get that you don't want. - Oscar Wilde
(reminds me of the Newsboys song - "real good thing")
Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same. - Francesca Reigler
Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples, don't count on harvesting Golden Delicious. - Bill Meyer
Whenever you fall, pick something up. - Oswald Avery
Attitude is reframing the thinking about the events in your life to empower you towards victory, instead of disempowering you towards defeat. – Orrin Woodward
If you don't get everything you want, think of the things you don't get that you don't want. - Oscar Wilde
(reminds me of the Newsboys song - "real good thing")
Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same. - Francesca Reigler
Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples, don't count on harvesting Golden Delicious. - Bill Meyer
Whenever you fall, pick something up. - Oswald Avery
Monday, December 17, 2007
Jesus Arrested
Matthew 26
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.
48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him."
49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him.
50 Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for." Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
51 With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
52 "Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.
53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?"
55 At that time Jesus said to the crowd, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me.
56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
It struck me; what does "arrested" mean? To arrest also means "to cause to stop". This is not what happened. Jesus could have stopped all of it (I'm sure 12 legions of angels would have been able to 'arrest' the situation). But Jesus was willing to do His Father's will.
The writings of the prophets would be fulfilled. Thank you Jesus!
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.
48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him."
49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him.
50 Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for." Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
51 With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
52 "Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.
53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?"
55 At that time Jesus said to the crowd, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me.
56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
It struck me; what does "arrested" mean? To arrest also means "to cause to stop". This is not what happened. Jesus could have stopped all of it (I'm sure 12 legions of angels would have been able to 'arrest' the situation). But Jesus was willing to do His Father's will.
The writings of the prophets would be fulfilled. Thank you Jesus!
The Ant and the Elephant
I just finished reading this book by Vince Poscente, (the ant and the ELEPHANT).
For me, it was a powerful analogy for how my conscious and sub-conscious is designed. It's definitely time to harness the power of my own elephant.
This was another book recommended to me by the leadership development program I am a part of.
Ask yourself - if it takes years to realize my purpose, is it worth it?
I think so.
For me, it was a powerful analogy for how my conscious and sub-conscious is designed. It's definitely time to harness the power of my own elephant.
This was another book recommended to me by the leadership development program I am a part of.
Ask yourself - if it takes years to realize my purpose, is it worth it?
I think so.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Gethsemane
Matthew 26
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
38 Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter.
41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.
44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
I'm still amazed how Jesus knew exactly what was happening, and still kept going. There were no surprises. He didn't want it to happen, but He accepted His Fathers' will.
No one stood with Him, no one prayed and watched with Him. No one else understood what was happening.
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
38 Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter.
41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.
44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
I'm still amazed how Jesus knew exactly what was happening, and still kept going. There were no surprises. He didn't want it to happen, but He accepted His Fathers' will.
No one stood with Him, no one prayed and watched with Him. No one else understood what was happening.
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