As many of you know my mother is a strong survivor of breast cancer. As a support for her my family and I have started to join the walks and runs for breast cancer. In June the 16th annual Race for a Cure will be held in Detroit at Comerica Park. My team and I will be participating. There is a 2 mile walk, a 5k walk, and a 5k run. You can only have 15 members on a team and mine is close to full. If you can't make it down to volunteer, run, walk, or just check it out please make a donation. This is very important to me. Far more then anything else I have done before. My team goal is $2000. Please help us meet this.
God Bless
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Sunday, January 14, 2007
What's Heaven
When I was younger I was very confused on this subject. What will heaven be like, or look like. I thought for a small amount of time that it would be like in the movie Bill and Teds Excellent Adventure. All of our cloths would be white and cream colored, and the floor and walls were kind of glass and as you entered you walked up these big steps to the gates. Later my Aunt Rosie informed me that it was wrong, I would go to hell if I believed it and Jesus would cry. She said heaven would be where we lay ed at the feet of the Lord Almighty and listen to the choir of angles sing his praises for all eternity. Other angles would play golden harps and Jesus would like in a giant house with many rooms. Only special people could live there with him. Hearing this I became very upset. No talking, no color, no fun just listening and praising, what ever that meant.
After feeling very cheated, and frightened by dear Aunt Rosie I asked my dad if this could possibly be right, or if different churches have different heavens, and if so can I never go back to here's. After a long pause he asked if I remembered our trip to Disney. Of course I did and asked if heave was there and I didn't know it. Then he explained to me that heaven was much like that. Beautiful and nice, but there we would not meet a princess or a mouse, but Jesus and some other important people. The big castle is where Jesus would stay, but we could all stay with him there. And even though I thought it rather impossible he told me that there would be enough rooms for everyone who went to heaven. Being young, about 5 or 6, I asked about the rides and he said, "I'm sure if God wants them, they will be there."
I know that this might not be completely correct, but it's right in the ball park. Too many times we find ourselves telling people that they should long to go to heave and want to go to heave. But why. Most Christians make it out to be some boring place. All i know is what the bible says about heaven. Streets paved with gold and huge house for everyone to live in. And a city in it all. At the Journey today we talked about this topic. Now I'm sure it wont be exactly like Disney World in heaven, but isn't it a little close? I'm not trying to say Disney is like heaven on earth, but the concepts are similar. To the mind of a child it makes perfect sense. I don't know what awaits there in heaven. But I know that it has to be better then the world that we live in now. I am confident in making the bold statement that in the new Earth God will create for us that we wont need to worry about global warming and rapes and poverty. I look forward to that. And i don't think that I need to worry about sitting listening to choirs being bored out of my mind and having no colors. If God didn't like colors why did he make them. That's my opinion about it.
After feeling very cheated, and frightened by dear Aunt Rosie I asked my dad if this could possibly be right, or if different churches have different heavens, and if so can I never go back to here's. After a long pause he asked if I remembered our trip to Disney. Of course I did and asked if heave was there and I didn't know it. Then he explained to me that heaven was much like that. Beautiful and nice, but there we would not meet a princess or a mouse, but Jesus and some other important people. The big castle is where Jesus would stay, but we could all stay with him there. And even though I thought it rather impossible he told me that there would be enough rooms for everyone who went to heaven. Being young, about 5 or 6, I asked about the rides and he said, "I'm sure if God wants them, they will be there."
I know that this might not be completely correct, but it's right in the ball park. Too many times we find ourselves telling people that they should long to go to heave and want to go to heave. But why. Most Christians make it out to be some boring place. All i know is what the bible says about heaven. Streets paved with gold and huge house for everyone to live in. And a city in it all. At the Journey today we talked about this topic. Now I'm sure it wont be exactly like Disney World in heaven, but isn't it a little close? I'm not trying to say Disney is like heaven on earth, but the concepts are similar. To the mind of a child it makes perfect sense. I don't know what awaits there in heaven. But I know that it has to be better then the world that we live in now. I am confident in making the bold statement that in the new Earth God will create for us that we wont need to worry about global warming and rapes and poverty. I look forward to that. And i don't think that I need to worry about sitting listening to choirs being bored out of my mind and having no colors. If God didn't like colors why did he make them. That's my opinion about it.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
My conclusion on Calvinism and Arminianism
If you read my last blog I started my conversation about this topic….. Now let me continue.
If we look at the second point of Arminianism it says. “Man’s act of faith was seen as the condition for election to eternal life. Meaning God looked into the future, saw what we choose with our so called free will to choose his grace or not choose his grace, and that’s how we get into heaven.” When you look at Calvinism you see that God decided who would choose him and the Holy Spirit in accordance with HIS WILL for the world. Now let me look at out old friend the bible on this….
Romans 8:28-29 “We know that all things worked together for the good to them that love of God, to them who are called according to HIS purpose, for whom HE FOREKNEW, He also did PREDESTINATE to be conformed to the image of his Son; that he might be firstborn among many brethren, moreover whom he did predestinate, them He also called: and whom he called, them He also Justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
Romans 9:11 “ For the children being not yet born, neither having done either good or evil, that the purpose pf God might stand according to election, not or works, but of Him that calleth- it is written, ‘Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated’”
Roman’s 9:11 points out that 1) God hatred was of Esau the man
And
2) This hatred did not come from the sins Esau committed
This shows us that God loves or hates us not because of what we do, but because he just does. And if he hates us then he wouldn’t let us be moved by the Holy Spirit. This is also present is Timothy 1:9. Also look at John 15:16 where Jesus says, “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you!” That’s right from the mouth of the Lord!
Now let’s take a look at the third point. Calvinism believes in limited atonement, where as Arminianism supports the idea of universal atonement. This just basically debates if Jesus died for everyone or just a few selected by God. I’m not going to say much about this, because if Jesus did die for everyone and then not everyone choose him, that would make his death pointless, and his promise to save us with his great sacrifice a lie. Jesus did not lie, and his death on that cross did have a point. So… yeah. But if you don’t believe me read John 3:16. It surely doesn’t say that Jesus died for all the people that “chose not to love him because of free will blah blah blah.” BULL SHIT. Jesus died for those who believe in him. That’s all I’m gonna say about it!
Irresistible Grace vs. Constructible Grace comes next. As a Calvinist you believe that when the Holy Spirit comes to you, you can not deny it. That the powers of God are so awesome and his will is so strong so pre determined that once it is meant to happen it does, you can’t say no. But Arminianism likes to say we have a stronger will then God so it is based on our choices not God’s. With God being infallible and totally omnipotent you see the error in this. IF we had more power then God in any area, then he wouldn’t be God, now would he? 2Timothy 1:9 supports this also Galatians 5:17. John 5:21 too. I mean let’s be realistic. We can’t “save ourselves” Only God has the power to grant redemption, if God presented a person with Redemption, of course they would take it. Who’s going to say, “No thanks Jesus, I think I’ll sit over there with the others who would rather burn in hell then except your holy love and grace. But thanks. Oh have my sister send me a post card while you’re up in heaven, and maybe some water for my tongue. Bye” COME ON! I know I must sound like a jerk right now, but in all honesty how can you say that God lacks the power and we hold it. That’s just blasphemy! If God wanted us, he would have us. That’s why he’s God and we are just the pitiful creation.
This one just makes me giggle. Perseverance of the Saints verse Falling from Grace. Aminian’s conclude that because they choose their own fait by accepting God by their own free will that they can just simply chose to let it go and change their minds. Wake up and decide to give up grace. They also believe that because grace is influenced by works of good that a work of sin will cause you to loose your redemption and have to re-seek Gods grace and forgiveness. So, you will see them sin, get “saved”, sin once more, then have to be “resaved.” So you will see an Arminianist go threw this cycle and repeating steps over and over again, till a relationship with God is just a meaningless thing with sin pray baptism, sin pray baptism. So on and so forth. The Calvianists believe that salvation is the work of God, people, being his creation. Once the God “lives in us” he never leaves us, apart from the good or bad of our actions. God promises that he will finish the good works that he started with us, and that is “perseverance of the saints”.
Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”
Ecclesiastes 3:14 “ I know that whatever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.”
So my conclusion on everything I have read is Arminianism does not give God his total glory and will send you to hell in the long run of it. I did my best to explain all of this but if I didn’t, then research it yourself. Don’t let me tell you how to love God and what you should or should not believe.
Amen and Peace be with you!
If we look at the second point of Arminianism it says. “Man’s act of faith was seen as the condition for election to eternal life. Meaning God looked into the future, saw what we choose with our so called free will to choose his grace or not choose his grace, and that’s how we get into heaven.” When you look at Calvinism you see that God decided who would choose him and the Holy Spirit in accordance with HIS WILL for the world. Now let me look at out old friend the bible on this….
Romans 8:28-29 “We know that all things worked together for the good to them that love of God, to them who are called according to HIS purpose, for whom HE FOREKNEW, He also did PREDESTINATE to be conformed to the image of his Son; that he might be firstborn among many brethren, moreover whom he did predestinate, them He also called: and whom he called, them He also Justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
Romans 9:11 “ For the children being not yet born, neither having done either good or evil, that the purpose pf God might stand according to election, not or works, but of Him that calleth- it is written, ‘Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated’”
Roman’s 9:11 points out that 1) God hatred was of Esau the man
And
2) This hatred did not come from the sins Esau committed
This shows us that God loves or hates us not because of what we do, but because he just does. And if he hates us then he wouldn’t let us be moved by the Holy Spirit. This is also present is Timothy 1:9. Also look at John 15:16 where Jesus says, “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you!” That’s right from the mouth of the Lord!
Now let’s take a look at the third point. Calvinism believes in limited atonement, where as Arminianism supports the idea of universal atonement. This just basically debates if Jesus died for everyone or just a few selected by God. I’m not going to say much about this, because if Jesus did die for everyone and then not everyone choose him, that would make his death pointless, and his promise to save us with his great sacrifice a lie. Jesus did not lie, and his death on that cross did have a point. So… yeah. But if you don’t believe me read John 3:16. It surely doesn’t say that Jesus died for all the people that “chose not to love him because of free will blah blah blah.” BULL SHIT. Jesus died for those who believe in him. That’s all I’m gonna say about it!
Irresistible Grace vs. Constructible Grace comes next. As a Calvinist you believe that when the Holy Spirit comes to you, you can not deny it. That the powers of God are so awesome and his will is so strong so pre determined that once it is meant to happen it does, you can’t say no. But Arminianism likes to say we have a stronger will then God so it is based on our choices not God’s. With God being infallible and totally omnipotent you see the error in this. IF we had more power then God in any area, then he wouldn’t be God, now would he? 2Timothy 1:9 supports this also Galatians 5:17. John 5:21 too. I mean let’s be realistic. We can’t “save ourselves” Only God has the power to grant redemption, if God presented a person with Redemption, of course they would take it. Who’s going to say, “No thanks Jesus, I think I’ll sit over there with the others who would rather burn in hell then except your holy love and grace. But thanks. Oh have my sister send me a post card while you’re up in heaven, and maybe some water for my tongue. Bye” COME ON! I know I must sound like a jerk right now, but in all honesty how can you say that God lacks the power and we hold it. That’s just blasphemy! If God wanted us, he would have us. That’s why he’s God and we are just the pitiful creation.
This one just makes me giggle. Perseverance of the Saints verse Falling from Grace. Aminian’s conclude that because they choose their own fait by accepting God by their own free will that they can just simply chose to let it go and change their minds. Wake up and decide to give up grace. They also believe that because grace is influenced by works of good that a work of sin will cause you to loose your redemption and have to re-seek Gods grace and forgiveness. So, you will see them sin, get “saved”, sin once more, then have to be “resaved.” So you will see an Arminianist go threw this cycle and repeating steps over and over again, till a relationship with God is just a meaningless thing with sin pray baptism, sin pray baptism. So on and so forth. The Calvianists believe that salvation is the work of God, people, being his creation. Once the God “lives in us” he never leaves us, apart from the good or bad of our actions. God promises that he will finish the good works that he started with us, and that is “perseverance of the saints”.
Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”
Ecclesiastes 3:14 “ I know that whatever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.”
So my conclusion on everything I have read is Arminianism does not give God his total glory and will send you to hell in the long run of it. I did my best to explain all of this but if I didn’t, then research it yourself. Don’t let me tell you how to love God and what you should or should not believe.
Amen and Peace be with you!
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Day by Day
So, day by day I start to realize that being a person on this earth is hard, and continues to get harder and harder by the second! I need God to hold me up. I need God to make complete me. It’s hard because I try to be so independent and strong, but every day I have to remind myself that I am just one single pieces of junk along with the other millions of pieces of junk that Jesus had to die for (Romans 5:7-8). If I was okay and any where close to perfect he wouldn’t of had to pay such a high cost for me. I can’t make a choice on my own. I have to do it by him. To it all in his time and by his will. I can try to fight it as much as I want, but I can’t. But thank God that he loves me enough to forgive that!!!!
I struggle with the very worldly situation of trying to plan my life out for myself. I want to know right now when will everything will happen, and what to always do. I want to know his timing and his plan and everything else about my life that only God knows! It’s not my place to know these things (Psalm 31:14-15). In the book of Acts, chapter 1, the disciples seems to have the same issue but the Lord answers them by saying, “4Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.”
NOW to update everyone on my leanings of Calvinism vs. Arminianism, (sorry this might upset some people) by reading over the five points of both, and comparing the two, Arminianism will lead you to sinning and hell. I know that’s kind of a bold statement, but let me explain.
By believing the first point of arminianism you say we have free will, and that there is enough good in man for us to choose God in our lives. We choose our own salvation. This however, according to the bible is not true. If we read Ephesians 1:4-7 it clearly states that God has chosen us according to his will. We must also look at Acts 15:18 “known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the age.”
That’s just one thing about it. I have learned a lot more that I will more then likely talk about in another blog.
God Bless and Peace be with you!
I struggle with the very worldly situation of trying to plan my life out for myself. I want to know right now when will everything will happen, and what to always do. I want to know his timing and his plan and everything else about my life that only God knows! It’s not my place to know these things (Psalm 31:14-15). In the book of Acts, chapter 1, the disciples seems to have the same issue but the Lord answers them by saying, “4Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.”
NOW to update everyone on my leanings of Calvinism vs. Arminianism, (sorry this might upset some people) by reading over the five points of both, and comparing the two, Arminianism will lead you to sinning and hell. I know that’s kind of a bold statement, but let me explain.
By believing the first point of arminianism you say we have free will, and that there is enough good in man for us to choose God in our lives. We choose our own salvation. This however, according to the bible is not true. If we read Ephesians 1:4-7 it clearly states that God has chosen us according to his will. We must also look at Acts 15:18 “known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the age.”
That’s just one thing about it. I have learned a lot more that I will more then likely talk about in another blog.
God Bless and Peace be with you!
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