It has been a couple of weeks again now since posting. This post could be my last post of the winter of 017.
This winter is an odd one. But it's no more strange than the posts I've been putting up on this blog lately.
By that I mean, when it comes to the weather, one day it's warm, almost 70° next day it's cold, below 32°.
When it comes to my posts, one day I sound like I'm for the church and the next day I "sound" like I'm anti church.
I'm obviously referring to my last post.
BTW , I say all that a day before we here in central PA are preparing for the biggest snow of the season.
I am always amused as to how we perceive these Nor'easters , as we call em.
People tend to underestimate nature.
BTW , I say all that a day before we here in central PA are preparing for the biggest snow of the season.
I am always amused as to how we perceive these Nor'easters , as we call em.
People tend to underestimate nature.
Lately I've been struggling in writing my thoughts.
I've heard of authors of books having something called writers block but what do we call it when a blogger can't write his thoughts?
The harshest reality anyone these days can face is when we realize that people generally don't care what you or I think. Not on Facebook or on blogs.
I don't have a Facebook account but when Facebook began over ten years ago I had one for a short time.
I don't have a Facebook account but when Facebook began over ten years ago I had one for a short time.
The same realization that I'm having now I had then.
One day as I was posting some pics , it dawned on me that no one cares where I am or what I'm doing.
The only one I truly cared sharing anything with was my wife. And maybe a few select friends and family. But each person I wanted to share with were unique and different which meant the things I wanted to share with one person was not necessarily the way I wanted to share with another.
But by "mass" grouping of my family/friends to send messages , we "thought" we were saving time (we weren't) and all we were doing is distancing ourselves from both , friends & family.
But by "mass" grouping of my family/friends to send messages , we "thought" we were saving time (we weren't) and all we were doing is distancing ourselves from both , friends & family.
So then why did I have a FB?
Something happens in our thinking every time we post something.
A part of our ugly human nature gets awakened at the prospect of being able to share every aspect of our lives on a public forum. That "something" is connected to our pride, I'm sure.
Something happens in our thinking every time we post something.
A part of our ugly human nature gets awakened at the prospect of being able to share every aspect of our lives on a public forum. That "something" is connected to our pride, I'm sure.
So I came to my senses and deleted my account.
Just a side note here :
I feel sorry for this Facebook generation.
The popularity of FB should have been the first sign of problems, for believers.
When a lost world and the Christian world like the same things, a flag should go up in our minds.
Unfortunately though, joining Christians with the world
When a lost world and the Christian world like the same things, a flag should go up in our minds.
Unfortunately though, joining Christians with the world
is s standard operating procedure these days.
Christians say things like "we're supposed to be in the world but not of it" which not only is a misuse of that but that only gets dragged out when Christians want to do what everyone else does.
Christians say things like "we're supposed to be in the world but not of it" which not only is a misuse of that but that only gets dragged out when Christians want to do what everyone else does.
The photos people take of themselves (while pretending not to look at the camera) is embarrassing.
They use their special smile reserved only for selfies. You know, that look with the rolled upward eyes and the pursed lips.
I tried making this point once , with someone, by counting the number of self pics on there account and it was equivalent to someone taking over three pics an hour for 24 hours a day, every day , non stop for four or five years.
Sometime , just for fun , count the number of pics of yourself on your FB. Take note of the same expression on every pic. Keep telling yourself "I just wanna keep my friends updated."
This fits the Greek fable of narcissus very well. You know, that guy who died looking at his own reflection.
this is from Wikipedia
In Greek mythology, Narcissus (/nɑːrˈsɪsəs/; Greek: Νάρκισσος, Nárkissos) was a hunter from Thespiae in Boeotia who was known for his beauty. He was the son of the river god Cephissus and nymph Liriope.[1] He was proud, in that he disdained those who loved him. Nemesis noticed this behavior and attracted Narcissus to a pool,
--->>> where he saw his own reflection in the water and fell in love with it, not realizing it was merely an image. Unable to leave the beauty of his reflection, Narcissus lost his will to live. He stared at his reflection until he died. <<<---
Narcissus is the origin of the term narcissism, a fixation with oneself and one's physical appearance and/or public perception
I love the way Christians talk about the things of this world. Like FB and so many other things. They think they have found another way to witness , by using fb.
Christians think that if they add some of their beliefs to things of the world, this justifies it.
Todays Christian struggles in addressing the things of this world.
We do not know how to discuss things like war, abortion , gay marriage. We do not even know how to discuss movies.
People think that the opinions believers have concerning the Godless film the Shack are our own.
This happens for a number of reasons.
Its all in how we approach the Bible (what are we thinking every time we open it)
Then, on top of that , only select portions get read.
And people wonder why we are so screwed up?!
The only way to answer the questions the world has is to offend them with the truth of Gods Word. But believers go out of their way not to offend anyone.
Is it any wonder why we are so mixed up?
How I thank God , there are still men who preach and teach Gods Word correctly and do not even consider if its gonna offend me or not. These men already know it will offend me. And if it offends me as a Christian , it goes without saying the non Christian will hate it even more. To the point of violence.
And that is when we know Gods Word is working because the answer is in the offense of the cross and if we are not willing to go thru that , then the truth will never be revealed to you.
Does that offended feeling go away? Yes. That is called the peace of God that passes all understanding. But it takes time to get to that point. Years and decades sometimes. Endurance is the key here.
As I said, I struggle with my thoughts these days. Lately I can not find a lick of sense anywhere in this world. Not even in the way I think.
This is not confusion though.
When life is perceived from a standpoint of Gods story unfolding , rather than our own, clarity of mind occurs.
That story of Gods can only be seen as we read His Word in context. People may think this too be a small point but I can assure you - its the difference between buying shack tickets and not buying them.
I only use that movie as an example of something so obvious and so clear , and so many miss it. The truth lies in the language of those tolerating it. Pay close attention to what they say and how they say it. If you blink you could miss it.
I started this blog for a reason and I want to continue it but I may need to reconsider how to go about it.
For as long as I can remember , I sensed something amiss about Christianity.
I knew the problem wasn't with the Bible.
It took some time but I finally discovered the problem. And a big problem it was.
The problem was in Gods Word is handled.
This blog chronicles how this was revealed to me over time.
For so long I was deceived and the biggest problem of all was, I never checked on the things I was hearing. I just believed what the church was saying.
Big mistake.
I check everything now.
I credit my inability to communicate to my reading Gods Word in context.
People don't think this way anymore. People do not consider context. To anything. They access life's problems by current events. People generally just live in the moment. I know I used too.
But when we take any issue we are passionate about and do the slightest bit of research on it, things change.
The best advice I can give any believer in Jesus, who is tired of playing games , is too challenge them to ask one question over and over concerning the things they hear or read or watch.
And that question simply is : what does that mean?
When a believer discovers that most people have no idea why they believe what they believe, my hope is that they would go and research where most of the ideas we have these days came from.
It is time to end this post soon. This took two weeks to put up, many many deleted attempts.
Words , these days, have little meaning.
What counts is how we treat our fellow man. That is not a Christian point.
What counts for any true believer is obedience.
First , in that area is obedience to the Faith.
(please note: obedience to the Faith and obedience in the world , are not the same thing. Sadly though, we have a generation raised [mine] that preached that otherwise)
Then that will lead to obedience in the world, in our families and ultimately obedience to God.
People need to stop kidding themselves. Everyone knows the truth. We are born knowing it. When people take the knowledge they were born with and subject that to their own opinion which creates an opposing view, this is called suppressing the truth .
It is not wrong to question the knowledge we were born with. That is only natural. But if you come to a different conclusion other than what you already know (because you were born knowing) then where is the problem?
Is it in the knowledge given you? Is it in the questioning of this knowledge? Or is it in You?
The answer is , the problem is you and me.
If that offends you, good.
Not stop whining about it and go to Gods Word and tryreadNit!
I thought this was pretty good.
I tried making this point once , with someone, by counting the number of self pics on there account and it was equivalent to someone taking over three pics an hour for 24 hours a day, every day , non stop for four or five years.
Sometime , just for fun , count the number of pics of yourself on your FB. Take note of the same expression on every pic. Keep telling yourself "I just wanna keep my friends updated."
This fits the Greek fable of narcissus very well. You know, that guy who died looking at his own reflection.
this is from Wikipedia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
_edited.jpg)
--->>> where he saw his own reflection in the water and fell in love with it, not realizing it was merely an image. Unable to leave the beauty of his reflection, Narcissus lost his will to live. He stared at his reflection until he died. <<<---
Narcissus is the origin of the term narcissism, a fixation with oneself and one's physical appearance and/or public perception
I love the way Christians talk about the things of this world. Like FB and so many other things. They think they have found another way to witness , by using fb.
Christians think that if they add some of their beliefs to things of the world, this justifies it.
Todays Christian struggles in addressing the things of this world.
We do not know how to discuss things like war, abortion , gay marriage. We do not even know how to discuss movies.
People think that the opinions believers have concerning the Godless film the Shack are our own.
This happens for a number of reasons.
Its all in how we approach the Bible (what are we thinking every time we open it)
Then, on top of that , only select portions get read.
And people wonder why we are so screwed up?!
The only way to answer the questions the world has is to offend them with the truth of Gods Word. But believers go out of their way not to offend anyone.
Is it any wonder why we are so mixed up?
How I thank God , there are still men who preach and teach Gods Word correctly and do not even consider if its gonna offend me or not. These men already know it will offend me. And if it offends me as a Christian , it goes without saying the non Christian will hate it even more. To the point of violence.
And that is when we know Gods Word is working because the answer is in the offense of the cross and if we are not willing to go thru that , then the truth will never be revealed to you.
Does that offended feeling go away? Yes. That is called the peace of God that passes all understanding. But it takes time to get to that point. Years and decades sometimes. Endurance is the key here.
As I said, I struggle with my thoughts these days. Lately I can not find a lick of sense anywhere in this world. Not even in the way I think.
This is not confusion though.
When life is perceived from a standpoint of Gods story unfolding , rather than our own, clarity of mind occurs.
That story of Gods can only be seen as we read His Word in context. People may think this too be a small point but I can assure you - its the difference between buying shack tickets and not buying them.
I only use that movie as an example of something so obvious and so clear , and so many miss it. The truth lies in the language of those tolerating it. Pay close attention to what they say and how they say it. If you blink you could miss it.
I started this blog for a reason and I want to continue it but I may need to reconsider how to go about it.
For as long as I can remember , I sensed something amiss about Christianity.
I knew the problem wasn't with the Bible.
It took some time but I finally discovered the problem. And a big problem it was.
The problem was in Gods Word is handled.
This blog chronicles how this was revealed to me over time.
For so long I was deceived and the biggest problem of all was, I never checked on the things I was hearing. I just believed what the church was saying.
Big mistake.
I check everything now.
I credit my inability to communicate to my reading Gods Word in context.
People don't think this way anymore. People do not consider context. To anything. They access life's problems by current events. People generally just live in the moment. I know I used too.
But when we take any issue we are passionate about and do the slightest bit of research on it, things change.
The best advice I can give any believer in Jesus, who is tired of playing games , is too challenge them to ask one question over and over concerning the things they hear or read or watch.
And that question simply is : what does that mean?
When a believer discovers that most people have no idea why they believe what they believe, my hope is that they would go and research where most of the ideas we have these days came from.
It is time to end this post soon. This took two weeks to put up, many many deleted attempts.
Words , these days, have little meaning.
What counts is how we treat our fellow man. That is not a Christian point.
What counts for any true believer is obedience.
First , in that area is obedience to the Faith.
(please note: obedience to the Faith and obedience in the world , are not the same thing. Sadly though, we have a generation raised [mine] that preached that otherwise)
Then that will lead to obedience in the world, in our families and ultimately obedience to God.
People need to stop kidding themselves. Everyone knows the truth. We are born knowing it. When people take the knowledge they were born with and subject that to their own opinion which creates an opposing view, this is called suppressing the truth .
It is not wrong to question the knowledge we were born with. That is only natural. But if you come to a different conclusion other than what you already know (because you were born knowing) then where is the problem?
Is it in the knowledge given you? Is it in the questioning of this knowledge? Or is it in You?
The answer is , the problem is you and me.
If that offends you, good.
Not stop whining about it and go to Gods Word and tryreadNit!
I thought this was pretty good.
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