a time to sow…and a time to tear

What is the demarcation between orthodoxy and heresy? Or that, when believers disagree about various dogma and doctrine at what point does one claim “heresy” and discontinue fellowship? Before answering this question, it must be stated that the idea of dis-fellowship should only be applied to believers. If this standard was applied to unbelievers or people who have no consistent and reliable information about Jesus and the Bible, why would we suppose them to be anything less then heretics? Further, if there was no fellowship with such people, how would they learn and know the truth? Thus, if a unbeliever holds to an errant view of Jesus it should not be faulted on that person, but rather, with meekness and fear correct the view.

happiness

For me its been a rough couple of weeks. In the last month two friends of mine were killed hiking, my brother was in the hospital several times,  my cousin fell down dead of “natural causes,” my girlfriend moved 1,200 miles away, and there are other issues I am not at liberty to discuss. But I tell you this, I have never been so happy in all of my life. Of course I would have to be a sadist to claim that these events made me happy, but herein lies the key.

Rantings about Government part 2

I am still completely and utterly agitated at the wall street and banking bailout. Do you not know that the our founding fathers revolted because of such acts from the government? That Jefferson wrote that God instituted human government and that it derives its “…just powers from the consent of the governed.”

Rantings about government

Why will no one say it? Obama is Bush in foreign policy! In fact Obama seems to take it as a challenge to “out-Bush Bush.” Obama now has increased the troops by 50,000 (including the troops he already added)!! Where is the president of peace everyone voted for? Why are democrats compliant and republicans outraged? When two years ago the roles were reversed. Wake up people, American is still a two party system but the parties are no longer democrat/republican, but rather globalist and non-globalist. If you are a republican or a democrat YOU ARE A GLOBALIST!

Thanksgiving

Do you think you are a thankful person? How thankful are you when you give thanks and pray over a meal? Trying giving thanks for  meal after fasting for 3 days and you will come to realize that your thanks will be much different. How many Christians out there have not only never fasted, do not know to fast, or have never partaken in an extended fast? I would be shocked if more then 1% of all believers (in North America) could satisfy all three of these criteria. Most Christians know what fasting is, but do not understand its function, purpose, or power. Then there are the people who know about fasting and its importance yet do not recall the one rule Jesus had about fasting, people do not know you are fasting. How do I know people are breaking this rule? Because they tell me they are fasting. Then there is the rare group of people that know how to fast, partake in it, but only do small 12 hr or 24 hr fasts. Don’t get me wrong, when you have never fasted before 24 hours is quite daunting, but if one has become comfortable and accustomed with such a fast she should challenge herself to something longer and more difficult. If you want to know more about fasting, go to my audio page and listen to my sermon on it. If you truly want to be thankful during this holiday season, spend some time fasting!

true service

I usually don’t like to talk about myself and I especially do not like to talk about my accolades via a blog, but here goes. We need to have the capacity to be servants! It is a great notion and fun to think about when Jesus said things like, “Let the first be last and the last first,” and other similar charges, but how often do we act on notions like this? I often get down on myself for selfishness and wish I was a greater servant. But today as I was driving to Starbucks to get some studying done a truck stalled out and became stuck in the road. Without thinking I pulled over got out in the rain and started pushing the truck. I pushed him to the near gas station and then without a word got back into my jeep and continued on my way.  Helping the man was nothing of a huge effort and is really not what is crucial to such a story.

Christ the Rock

In the mist of my morning studies as I was reading a book concerning the resurrection of Christ I realized how Christian view of Christ (and more importantly Christ himself) has not waivered for 2,000 years. The early followers of the resurrected Christ were put to death and tortured because they would not cry “Caesar is LORD” but rather maintain, “Jesus is LORD.” For the initial 250 years of Christianity two things were certain, the Christians would not think of Christ as anything else other then God, and they were willing to die for this belief.
Some early disputes arose concerning the deity of Christ and the bodily resurrection of Him among early believers but they were quickly refuted by eye witness accounts. As latter disputes arose, once the eye witnesses were dead, the apostolic fathers (the disciples of the disciples) were likewise easily able to refute claims that Jesus was not God.

Godly dependence

For the longest time I had considered myself in a way that was not biblical. It wasn’t an overt or intentional evil, but rather pride mistaken for strength.  If you’ve ever seen the movie About a Boy, you know that protagonist is playboy with Peter pan syndrome who is not only incorrigible but believes himself to be a pillar of strength and independence. When questioned about the futility of trusting in himself he claims, “Some men are Islands, I am a bloody island!” But throughout the course of the movie he comes to realize his need for others, and eventually learns to love and trust.

Discussions on Government and Libertarianism

While attending graduate school i was fortunate to have three of the most brilliant roomates one could imagine. Each are masters it their own fields, Andrew, Philosophy (metaphysics- free will) Brian, Literature (writing), Tim, Law. As for myself, I contributed with Theology. While many discussions and friendly (and not so friendly) arguments arose between us, the one main issue that separated me from them was their view concerning government. At that time I was clinging to the traditional Christian/republican view but their influence lead me down a completely different path. Here is the recent and continual correspondance with Andrew on the subject.

I found this online and it made me laugh