O they tell me of a home far beyond the skies, O they tell me of a home far away;
O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise, O they tell me of an uncloudy day.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Coexist? - With who?

We have all seen the bumper sticker that says "Coexist" using symbols from 7 different worldviews. They are displayed most often by people who have no allegiance to any of the worldviews shown on it. And the recent Boston Marathon bombing story featured a car with one on it that the terrorists hijacked to flee in.

While the people who display this sticker lecture everyone to be tolerant of each other, they themselves are most guilty of being intolerant of all views based on principles.

The "tolerant" people tell us Christians that we are to "turn the other cheek" as Jesus said, yet they themselves do not follow their own advice when they hurl insults at those who hold conservative views. After all, it's easier to tell others to do something that you don't have to do yourself.

And they conveniently forget that Jesus said that in regards to abuse and persecution, Jesus did not say that in regards to tolerance of sin.

God has always insisted that those who are to please him are to be separated from sin. He drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden after they sinned, and he instructed Israel to drive out of the land those who served other Gods.
(Deuteronomy 7:1-4)
1 When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;
2 And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:
3 Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.
4 For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Sunday Devotional - Desires

In today's society we have so many choices to make that cover all aspects of our lives. We can choose where to live, what to eat, what hobbies to pursue, and often what type of vocation we will spend our life working at.

Some of our choices are simple and don't affect us one way or the other, like picking spaghetti or lasagna from a menu for dinner. Others may have an huge impact on our lives, like in choosing to drive 100 mph or deciding that robbing a bank would be a good idea.

God knows we have choices and desires, and he has encouraged us to choose good things instead of bad things.

Way back in the Old Testament God told the Israelites to trust in him first, and then after that he would give them the desires of their hearts.
(Psalm 37:3-5)
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
When Jesus preached, so many of the things he said were just repetitions of what God had told Israel in The Old Testament. Jesus told us also to seek God first, then the earthly needs we have would be provided for.
(Matthew 6:31-33)
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Golden Nugget #6

27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.


(John 20:27-29)