I was thinking about something the other day as I passed by a cornfield. I thought about how a farmer can plow his field, plant seed in that field and fertilize and cultivate...but when it is all said and done, that same farmer is completely dependent on forces outside of himself. That farmer cannot make a corn seed germinate. He can't produce rain or sunshine.
For that farmer to be able to make harvest, he depends on certain things that only God can give. But the farmer knows that unless he diligently pursues his responsibilities to plow, plant, fertilize and cultivate, there will be no harvest at the end of the season. In a weird sense, the farmer and God are partners. The farmer cannot benefit anything if he has not followed through with his responsibilities.
Farming is a joint venture between God and the farmer. The farmer cannot do what God must do, and God will not do what the farmer should do.
And for me to be holy or righteous it is equally a joint venture between me and God. No one can attain any degree of holiness without God working in his or her life, but just as surely no one will attain it without effort on his own part. God has made it possible for us to be a holy people, to walk in holiness...and he has given to us the responsibility of doing the walking. He does not do that for us.
I bought a GPS device not too long ago for my vehicle. It is extremely cool. It gives me turn by turn directions in a comforting feminine voice (I named mine "Elayne"...that's my wife's middle name).
One of the other features of the new gadget is that it also alerts me when I am speeding. It will give two loud beeps when I have exceeded the speed limit. But it won't constantly beep...the indicator will stay red until I have gone back under the speed limit.
That has been pretty eye-opening, frankly. I speed a lot. I never realized how much I speed. Now I have this device that serves as a gentle reminder in my life to obey the law.
We all need that from time to time. That is what the Holy Spirit's role is in the life of the Christian. He is there to gently remind us and convict us of sin in our life. He will not harass...just like "Elayne's" two beeps. The Holy Spirit will not force you to do good and be holy, He will only remind you of God's call on your life.
I can ignore "Elayne" though. I can just turn up my radio and not even hear the beeping and speed to my heart's content. Some people do that with their lives. They live in such a way that they can't even hear God speaking to them. In fact, some people are just the opposite they buy fuzz busters or radar detectors so that they can intentionally speed and not get caught doing it.
"Elayne's" purpose is a lot like the Holy Spirit's role in making me a holy person. There isn't a heavy hand being imposed on me forcing me to live a certain way...it is a subtle and gentle reminder that I am expected to abide by the law.
How have you been living lately? With a fuzz buster or with a GPS?
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Politics…you gotta love it!
The following was from another blog I read periodically...
What's in your wallet?
What's a paltry one million dollars to a member of Congress?
Well, apparently not enough to know if an organization about to receive that big block of cash actually exists.
Republican Rep. Jeff Flake of Arizona, the fiscal crusader who's never met an earmark he likes, questioned Democratic Rep. Peter J. Visclosky of Indiana on the House floor Tuesday about whether the Center for Instrumented Critical Infrastructure actually exists - since, hey, it's getting like a million bucks or something.
Visclosky, who chairs the spending subcommittee responsible for the project, had to admit that, well, he didn't have a clue.
After a lengthy back-and-forth, Flake, complaining that his staff couldn't find a website for the center, asked Visclosky, "Does the center currently exist?"
"At this time, I do not know," the Indiana Democrat replied. "But if it does not exist, the monies could not go to it."
And who could possibly be the sponsor of such an earmark? Yes, you guessed it, the man Republicans love to hate, Pennsylvania Democrat John P. Murtha.
Despite the money's uncertain destination, the House rejected Flake's measure to strike the funds, 326-98. And the Visclosky bill also sailed through, 312-112.
As I said, what's one million dollars to a member of Congress?
UPDATE: I failed to report last night that a certificate filed with the requested funds says the money is actually earmarked to Concurrent Technologies Corporation, a nonprofit technological consulting firm. A brief search of campaign finance records shows CTC President and CEO Daniel R. DeVos, of alternately Central City and Johnstown, Pa. has contributed $7,000 to Murtha's reelection campaign since April 2002.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
There Really Is Only One Way
You've probably heard people say through the years that there may be surface level distinctions between various world religions but if you strip them down to their essentials, all religions fundamentally teach the same thing and so it doesn't matter which one you follow.
In other words, all spiritual paths lead up the same mountain. Because all religions basically teach the brotherhood and sisterhood of men and women and the universal fatherhood of god.
I will admit that there is some common ground that is shared by many of the world's religion's, especially when you look at the level of basic values and statements and beliefs about morality.
And that is a good starting point when we have a dialogue of respect between people who respect different faith systems. But at the same time there are significant differences between the world religions that cannot be ignored.
In fact, with this one outlandish assertion by Jesus (that He is the only way to heaven - John 14:6), Jesus put Christianity in a separate class by itself. Because if the path to God is through Jesus then Christianity cannot be reconciled with any other religion.
This uniqueness of Christianity is rooted in the uniqueness of Jesus himself. For instance, other religious leaders say, "Follow me and I will show you how to find the truth." But Jesus says, "I am the truth."
Other religious leaders say, "Follow me and I will show you the way to salvation." But Jesus says, "I am the way to eternal life."
Other religious leaders say, "Follow me and I will show you how you can become enlightened." But Jesus says, "I am the Light of the world."
Other religious leaders say, "Follow me and I will show you many doors that lead to God." But Jesus says, "I am the door."
For a long time people have tried to harmonize the various religions of the world but there are drastic and irreconcilable differences between Christianity and all other belief systems. Every other religion I have ever studied is based on people doing something through their struggling and through their striving to somehow earn good favor with God.
So they use a Tibetan Prayer Wheel or they have to go on pilgrimages or they have to give alms to the poor or they have to avoid eating certain foods or they have to perform a certain number of unspecified good deeds or they have to pray in a certain way or they have to go through a cycle of reincarnation or they have to pray over a beaded crucifix.
They are attempts by people to reach out to God. But Jesus Christ is God reaching out to us. Jesus taught the opposite of what those other faiths teach.
He said nobody can do anything to merit heaven and so you might as well stop trying. We are all guilty of wrongdoing.
That is consistent with human nature. We know that not a single person would claim to be perfect. Jesus also said that this wrongdoing separates us from God because our God is holy and perfect.
And when we accept his sacrifice on our behalf, we become reunited with God.
All other religions are spelled: DO. Because they teach that people must do a bunch of religious rituals to somehow work their way to God. But Christianity is spelled: DONE.
Because Jesus Christ has done what needed to be done on the cross. We just need to receive it.
R.C. Sproul said this, "Moses could mediate on the law, Mohamed could brandish a sword, Buddha could give personal counsel, Confucius could offer wise sayings, but none of these men were qualified to offer an atonement for the sins of the world."
Jesus alone is qualified. And you have to think through the question of various world religions on a purely logical level. Would it not be the height of irrationality for God to go to one side of the word and to whisper into the ears of people: "This is who I am, this is what I am like, this is what is necessary for you to become reconciled with me."
And then for God to go to another part of the world and say to another group of people: "I know I told them this, but actually I am very different from what I told them."
That would make no sense and be utterly illogical. God would have to be schizophrenic in order to tell people contradictory ways to reach him.
So it does matter what "path" you follow in your spiritual journey. The only thing that is true about all religions leading to the same place is that all of them but following Jesus Christ will lead you straight to hell. Jesus Christ really is the only way to God!
In other words, all spiritual paths lead up the same mountain. Because all religions basically teach the brotherhood and sisterhood of men and women and the universal fatherhood of god.
I will admit that there is some common ground that is shared by many of the world's religion's, especially when you look at the level of basic values and statements and beliefs about morality.
And that is a good starting point when we have a dialogue of respect between people who respect different faith systems. But at the same time there are significant differences between the world religions that cannot be ignored.
In fact, with this one outlandish assertion by Jesus (that He is the only way to heaven - John 14:6), Jesus put Christianity in a separate class by itself. Because if the path to God is through Jesus then Christianity cannot be reconciled with any other religion.
This uniqueness of Christianity is rooted in the uniqueness of Jesus himself. For instance, other religious leaders say, "Follow me and I will show you how to find the truth." But Jesus says, "I am the truth."
Other religious leaders say, "Follow me and I will show you the way to salvation." But Jesus says, "I am the way to eternal life."
Other religious leaders say, "Follow me and I will show you how you can become enlightened." But Jesus says, "I am the Light of the world."
Other religious leaders say, "Follow me and I will show you many doors that lead to God." But Jesus says, "I am the door."
For a long time people have tried to harmonize the various religions of the world but there are drastic and irreconcilable differences between Christianity and all other belief systems. Every other religion I have ever studied is based on people doing something through their struggling and through their striving to somehow earn good favor with God.
So they use a Tibetan Prayer Wheel or they have to go on pilgrimages or they have to give alms to the poor or they have to avoid eating certain foods or they have to perform a certain number of unspecified good deeds or they have to pray in a certain way or they have to go through a cycle of reincarnation or they have to pray over a beaded crucifix.
They are attempts by people to reach out to God. But Jesus Christ is God reaching out to us. Jesus taught the opposite of what those other faiths teach.
He said nobody can do anything to merit heaven and so you might as well stop trying. We are all guilty of wrongdoing.
That is consistent with human nature. We know that not a single person would claim to be perfect. Jesus also said that this wrongdoing separates us from God because our God is holy and perfect.
And when we accept his sacrifice on our behalf, we become reunited with God.
All other religions are spelled: DO. Because they teach that people must do a bunch of religious rituals to somehow work their way to God. But Christianity is spelled: DONE.
Because Jesus Christ has done what needed to be done on the cross. We just need to receive it.
R.C. Sproul said this, "Moses could mediate on the law, Mohamed could brandish a sword, Buddha could give personal counsel, Confucius could offer wise sayings, but none of these men were qualified to offer an atonement for the sins of the world."
Jesus alone is qualified. And you have to think through the question of various world religions on a purely logical level. Would it not be the height of irrationality for God to go to one side of the word and to whisper into the ears of people: "This is who I am, this is what I am like, this is what is necessary for you to become reconciled with me."
And then for God to go to another part of the world and say to another group of people: "I know I told them this, but actually I am very different from what I told them."
That would make no sense and be utterly illogical. God would have to be schizophrenic in order to tell people contradictory ways to reach him.
So it does matter what "path" you follow in your spiritual journey. The only thing that is true about all religions leading to the same place is that all of them but following Jesus Christ will lead you straight to hell. Jesus Christ really is the only way to God!
Monday, July 2, 2007
I don't get it...Yo no lo consigo.
We are a couple of days out from July 4th and I was struck with a thought today. I was in a store parking lot and I saw a Mexican family get out of a vehicle that had a Mexican flag emblazoned on the back of the car. That just got me to thinking.
Why do they proudly display their flag in this country? I am not trying to be an antagonist or a racist with the question, it is truly something that stumps me.
They flee that country by the millions to get into this country. And then they actually have the gall to display their pride in that nation. That doesn't make sense to me.
If there was true Mexican pride, then Mexicans would stay in their country and make it a better place.
For me, it is like the alcoholic who beats his wife and then pleads with her later that he is sorry and that he really does love her. Here's a new thought...if you love your wife - don't beat her. AND, if you love your country, don't run from it.
The fact is, Mexico is a mess. I heard former congressman Bob McEwen speak about his son-in-law getting a new job at the border of Mexico and Texas right after he had graduated from college. On his first week, he had to cross the border for work into Mexico for business. On his way back into America, Mexican police stopped him and demanded $600.00 in cash. He was a newly graduated college kid on his first job. He didn't have any money.
They took his car for a little drive and then when they brought it back everything of value in the car had been stolen...his laptop, palm pilot, even the change in his change tray! Mexico is a corrupt, broken nation.
Mexican people are not bad...but the nation is a disgrace. I do not understand any display of the Mexican flag in this nation.
Now, an American flag flying down in Mexico. That I understand. That is something that can be done with pride. No matter where you are on this planet. But especially in Mexico. We are Mexico's only saving grace.
I think July 4th should become a national holiday for Mexico as well. They owe this country much, they most certainly have stolen from it much.
Don't misinterpret what I am saying. This isn't intended to be a segment to bash Mexicans. Mexican people aren't any different than American people. They are created children of God in need of a Savior. It is just Mexico that I have issues with.
I just can't understand flying a Mexican flag in this great nation.
Why do they proudly display their flag in this country? I am not trying to be an antagonist or a racist with the question, it is truly something that stumps me.
They flee that country by the millions to get into this country. And then they actually have the gall to display their pride in that nation. That doesn't make sense to me.
If there was true Mexican pride, then Mexicans would stay in their country and make it a better place.
For me, it is like the alcoholic who beats his wife and then pleads with her later that he is sorry and that he really does love her. Here's a new thought...if you love your wife - don't beat her. AND, if you love your country, don't run from it.
The fact is, Mexico is a mess. I heard former congressman Bob McEwen speak about his son-in-law getting a new job at the border of Mexico and Texas right after he had graduated from college. On his first week, he had to cross the border for work into Mexico for business. On his way back into America, Mexican police stopped him and demanded $600.00 in cash. He was a newly graduated college kid on his first job. He didn't have any money.
They took his car for a little drive and then when they brought it back everything of value in the car had been stolen...his laptop, palm pilot, even the change in his change tray! Mexico is a corrupt, broken nation.
Mexican people are not bad...but the nation is a disgrace. I do not understand any display of the Mexican flag in this nation.
Now, an American flag flying down in Mexico. That I understand. That is something that can be done with pride. No matter where you are on this planet. But especially in Mexico. We are Mexico's only saving grace.
I think July 4th should become a national holiday for Mexico as well. They owe this country much, they most certainly have stolen from it much.
Don't misinterpret what I am saying. This isn't intended to be a segment to bash Mexicans. Mexican people aren't any different than American people. They are created children of God in need of a Savior. It is just Mexico that I have issues with.
I just can't understand flying a Mexican flag in this great nation.
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