I was channel surfing the other day, and came across "Christianity 101". The premise of the show is this; pastors team up to help young Christians as well as mature followers, find their way through complicated theology. Interested, I paused long enough to hear the word "Trinity". Wow, I thought, these pastors are taking on a heavy duty topic. Intrigued, I decided to watch, not expecting too much. After all, I've been a Christian for many years now, and even though I'm not theologian, I've got this Trinity thing down. Boy, was I wrong! I've heard the doctrine of the Trinity before, but not quite like this. It was explained in such a way that was easy to understand.
One of the principle doctrines of Christianity is that God exsists in three Persons; Father, Son, Holy Spirit (yep, just like the song says they are all Holy). They've always existed and are so united that they are all one God. That's pretty much a mind bender, isn't it. How can three people exist in one, and yet are separate from each other. This is were I would traditionally insert trite explanations like "God is like an apple... God the Holy Spirit is the skin, He leads us to the Son, the meat of the apple, who in turn leads us to the Father, the core of the apple. All are united ..." Yes, they are united, however, the guys on Christianity 101 brought up a good point... The skin, meat and core are just part of the apple, but not the whole! I can't say that I'm going to eat the entire apple, and just eat the meat! In order for me to eat an apple, I have to eat everything. Well, okay, okay maybe not the core! EWWWWWWE!
But that's beside the point. I was guilty of a version of "modalism", a heresy (even though I didn't know I was guilty of it at the time). Basically, modalist believe there is only one God who expressed Himself at different times. God the Father was expressed in the Old Testament, Christ was in the new until His resurrection, and then God was expressed in the Spirit after the resurrection. However, that cannot be true if thought out logically. So as not to take the text out of context, I'll tell you briefly what had transpired before hand. Jesus, knowing it was time to start His ministry, approaches his distant cousin John to be baptized. John looking at Him, testifies that he is not worth to baptize Him, because He is the Lamb of God. Jesus tells him it must be this way, and that John must continue with the ritual. He is baptize and look what follows in Luke 3:22;
22and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."
How can God "express" Himself at the same time? Yes, He is all powerful and eternal, however, He will not transgress His own natural law, the laws of physics. If we were to view He'd have to time travel from the past in the form of the Father, while simultaneously traveling from the future, to meet with Himself in the form of Jesus. I'm not saying that He couldn't do this, but look at the nature of God Himself. He is not one to disobey His own law (in this case the law of physics) because the law that He created would be open to, for lack of a better term, interpretation. What chaos would ensue!
Let's look at another passage. This time, I'll include the entire text chapter.
Psalm 51 For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts [a] ; you teach [b] me wisdom in the inmost place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.
14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifices of God are [c] a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
In verse 11, David ask God to not take "your Holy Spirit from me". First of all the term Holy in the bible is a term exclusively used to label God. If David had the Holy Spirit (God), how could he have obtained Him if He wasn't in existence at Old Testament times? If it were true that God expressed Himself at different times as Father, then Son, then Holy Spirit, than David himself would have to be eternal (existed before time began) to know and have a relationship with the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit wasn't expressed or present until the New Testament.
People in the modalist camp will say that these are just isolated verses. However there are over 100 verses in the Old and New Testaments that reference God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit coexisting. If you want research and read about the Trinity (and yes, I do know that the word isn't found in the Bible, but it's still a good and orthodox way of describing God), use http://www.biblegateway.com/ to look up the Holy Spirit. Also, CARM also has a good definition of modalism on there website (www.carm.org/modalism). I'm still learning about the Trinity, and I hope you will too.
God Bless!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Thanks for hanging in there with me
The job interview went better than expected. They actually called me back for a second interview. Very cool, but during the meeting I started to guess whether or not I was the right fit for the job. Basically, it's selling insurance. There is nothing wrong with this profession, it just seems rather unrealistic for me. I can't foresee myself selling with high pressure tactics.
As for my health; I still have vertigo, and got FMLA for it. I tried going back to work this week, and for a few hours, I was fine, but had to go home do to dizziness. I'll try again next week. One day at a time, as it were.
The story I'm working on is slowly going forward. Will publish it soon, I hope.
As for my health; I still have vertigo, and got FMLA for it. I tried going back to work this week, and for a few hours, I was fine, but had to go home do to dizziness. I'll try again next week. One day at a time, as it were.
The story I'm working on is slowly going forward. Will publish it soon, I hope.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Job interview
I have a job interview with an insurance company this week. Please pray for me (specifically for physical strength, knowing what to say when to say it, and speaking the truth in love). I also have another doctor's appointment tomorrow for a bout of vertigo that I've been having for the past 2 weeks or so, it's really very annoying to have another person escort me to appointments because I'm so dizzy it's hard to drive.
So... Please pray for me! Thanks,
P.S. I'll be posting another story soon!
So... Please pray for me! Thanks,
P.S. I'll be posting another story soon!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Here it is!
My new almost flash-fiction-but true short story. I hope you like it. Please tell me if it needs improvement, I'm open to constructive criticism. I don't know why, but it won't allow me to indent. Could someone tell me how to indent. I copy and pasted from a Word document. Thanks!
Yours in Christ!
The Garden
I see a garden, stretching for miles to infinity. Every vegetable plausible, rows of tomatoes, beans and a few unknown to me grace the earth. Peas, pumpkins reach with viny expectation across the expanse, skipping intertwining with each other. I reach out while walking, caressing leaves of corn, listening as they rub against their neighbors. Wind lifts my hair throwing it dancing, twirling just as it does the corn silk. Lifting my face to the sun, feeling love and warmth caress my face, sudden rain falls from a source unseen and the earth responds with this blessing with joy. A sense of peace plows deep within me and I know the God who cares for each plant cares for me as well.
Looking down at the ground again, I marvel at the at the frond-like carrot stems. Stooping closer, their softness caresses my hand; I’m remembering a happier time of innocence and trust long forgotten because of hurt and dreams lost. Something catches my eye as I examine wondrous creations God has made. Expecting to once again to feel the Lord’s incredible gift of joy of lovely times, I experience an unexpected pain. I’m compelled to pull out the unwanted plant, knowing this weed with spread its vileness throughout the garden. I cannot, will not let this happen. Grabbing the plant at its base with both hands I wrench as hard as possible, and yet it doesn’t move. My hand is now covered with penetrating cuts, blood and spasms of pain.
Tears of frustration stream from reddened eyes splash and water the ground. I try again and fail again, and the weeds multiply as if to mock my efforts. God’s graceful creation is tarnished by my inability to fulfill a simple task. Darkness begins to enclose the garden and my mind.
But through it all, a Voice slices through that darkness. I do not know how I know this, but with certainty I recognize this is the Voice of my Creator.
In a whisper, the Voice asks “What are you doing?”
I answer, “I’m trying to remove these weeds.”
A rumble of thunder peels across the garden, “Where did this weed come from?”
I reply ashamed, “You know, Lord.”
Silence, all encompassing silence follows as I run up the rows of vegetables, hoping to sprint out of the once beautiful garden. Fear and disgrace flood my heart as I reflect upon the answer to the question I know will be asked of me.
The wind stirs and blows, violently throws those precious leaves. “Where do these weeds come from?” the Voice demands again.
I must answer. It is time. “They come from me, Lord,” I weep “they come from me!”
The Voice, now very loud, ripping through my being, shouts, “What will you do about it?!”
Without hesitation, I grab the weed, determined to get rid of the ugliness. I pull and feel the pain in my hands, but also in my heart. I continue to pull, only glancing and the hole that appears in my chest. I pull until the only thing I feel is numbness. No more joy, just emptiness. I look at the garden around me and see the desolation caused by the evermore multiplying weeds. Tired of trying to do the impossible, I sink to the earth, hoping it would consume me. I feel abandoned and want to be left alone to die.
The Voice, now a whisper again, gently asks “Where do these weeds come from?”
Mustering up what little strength left, I reply “They… Are... My… Sins.”
Time passes. Perhaps, He really has given up on me, and left me to face my fate. I am now consumed by loneliness and lowliness of my state. But, in my despair, I hear the Voice again.
“You are not strong enough. I will do it for you.”
My strength completely ebbs, as my thoughts wander to the past. The hole in my chest, once deaden feels aflame. It is worse than the pain faced when pulling the weeds, so in desperation, I grab hold of the closest weed, hoping it will block the pain of my emptiness. It does for awhile, but the hole grows deeper and wider, more painful than before, but still I cling to the weed. Faces of people I have purposely hurt, lusts and greed I’ve felt, lies I have told long enough that I believe them flood to the deepest part of me, surrounding and crushing my soul. My sin has robbed me of my strength. Shame overtakes me and I hardly notice that the Voice, now made Man, walking toward me.
He kneels down, and I can feel His intense eyes on me. He reaches, and touches my shoulder. I cringe, not even daring to look at Him, for He is whole, and I am not.
“I must do it for you,” He says.
“I know,” and weep.
“Look at me,” He commands.
“I cannot.” I think to myself, You are whole, and I am… Not.
“You cannot look at Me because you are not whole. Look at My hands, child.”
I glance at His hands, then the ground, and then back to His hands again. They have scars deeper than the ones I bear. How can this be, since He is complete and has no holes? I look at my own hands, still bleeding and deep, but not as deep as His had been. I marvel at the mystery.
“My child, these scars you see now were there before the dawn of creation. I bear them now because I love you.”
What?! I think.
“I love you. I always have and always will.”
Speechless, I say to myself; but my sin... I clutch the weed harder and cringe at the pain.
“Your sin is nothing compared to Me. You must let go and never hold onto it again.”
Staring at my hand, slowly, I will my fingers to uncurl and they respond, save the last one. This finger will not comply.
“Help,” I whisper, “I cannot do this alone.”
He mercifully but firmly pulls my finger. I do not know why, but I resist.
“You must let go or you will die,” He says.
Yielding, sobbing, I let go and give the weed up to Him because I know it to be true.
“Watch,” He commands.
Trembling, I gaze as His strong hands seize the weed and rip it out from the ground. I feel a tough of pain from the hole in my chest and am about the cry to Him when He stops me.
“Wait,” He commands.
Pain is slowly replaced with a sensation never truly felt before. Peace! Enveloping, comforting peace, all because that weed is gone. The hole is filled with peace. But then, I stare at all the weeds to come, and a fear tries to steal it away.
The Lord, knowing his creature says, “Child, why do you fear?”
“Lord, I see all of these weeds. There are a lot of them and it scares me. What if You grow tired and leave me.”
“Whatever I start, I always complete,” He says, “I will not leave you to do something you will never be able to do if left by yourself. You are still incomplete, but not for long.”
How long will this take, I wonder? I ask myself.
“A lifetime,” He replies. “Look at My hands, and then look at your own.”
His hands are covered with cuts work confidently on the next weed. This one is stubborn, but soon gives way to His strength. Pain, than peace flood me again, but this time instead of looking at the rows of vegetables and weeds, I gaze at my hands. One by one, the once gapping cuts begin to heal.
Amazed, I look at Him, the Voice who became Man. He smiles broadly at me and touches my hand. I no longer feel my incompleteness, but His wholeness. I cry, not because of fear, but gratitude.
“It is because I took your wounds and made them my own that you can be healed.”
Unable, and not wanting to control myself, I reach over the row and hug Him, whispering “thank You.”
I can feel Him smile as He says “you are my child and you are certainly welcome!”
Letting go, I glimpse back what is left behind. “Never look back,” He says, “but keep your eyes on Me. Before you know, it the work will be done. You will be finished, completed work of beauty and art.”
Emboldened, I ask, “What will happen to the vegetables in my garden?”
“Others will come along and marvel at it. Some may even eat. They will know that it was tended by Me.”
“But, what will I eat, if not my vegetables?” I ask.
“Child, you will enjoy my Garden. It has always been complete and never needed weeding.”
Before long, I notice we have come to the very last weed, and my garden has come to an end. His scared hand lovingly grabs my healed hand and we walk into the Garden, my new home.
Yours in Christ!
The Garden
I see a garden, stretching for miles to infinity. Every vegetable plausible, rows of tomatoes, beans and a few unknown to me grace the earth. Peas, pumpkins reach with viny expectation across the expanse, skipping intertwining with each other. I reach out while walking, caressing leaves of corn, listening as they rub against their neighbors. Wind lifts my hair throwing it dancing, twirling just as it does the corn silk. Lifting my face to the sun, feeling love and warmth caress my face, sudden rain falls from a source unseen and the earth responds with this blessing with joy. A sense of peace plows deep within me and I know the God who cares for each plant cares for me as well.
Looking down at the ground again, I marvel at the at the frond-like carrot stems. Stooping closer, their softness caresses my hand; I’m remembering a happier time of innocence and trust long forgotten because of hurt and dreams lost. Something catches my eye as I examine wondrous creations God has made. Expecting to once again to feel the Lord’s incredible gift of joy of lovely times, I experience an unexpected pain. I’m compelled to pull out the unwanted plant, knowing this weed with spread its vileness throughout the garden. I cannot, will not let this happen. Grabbing the plant at its base with both hands I wrench as hard as possible, and yet it doesn’t move. My hand is now covered with penetrating cuts, blood and spasms of pain.
Tears of frustration stream from reddened eyes splash and water the ground. I try again and fail again, and the weeds multiply as if to mock my efforts. God’s graceful creation is tarnished by my inability to fulfill a simple task. Darkness begins to enclose the garden and my mind.
But through it all, a Voice slices through that darkness. I do not know how I know this, but with certainty I recognize this is the Voice of my Creator.
In a whisper, the Voice asks “What are you doing?”
I answer, “I’m trying to remove these weeds.”
A rumble of thunder peels across the garden, “Where did this weed come from?”
I reply ashamed, “You know, Lord.”
Silence, all encompassing silence follows as I run up the rows of vegetables, hoping to sprint out of the once beautiful garden. Fear and disgrace flood my heart as I reflect upon the answer to the question I know will be asked of me.
The wind stirs and blows, violently throws those precious leaves. “Where do these weeds come from?” the Voice demands again.
I must answer. It is time. “They come from me, Lord,” I weep “they come from me!”
The Voice, now very loud, ripping through my being, shouts, “What will you do about it?!”
Without hesitation, I grab the weed, determined to get rid of the ugliness. I pull and feel the pain in my hands, but also in my heart. I continue to pull, only glancing and the hole that appears in my chest. I pull until the only thing I feel is numbness. No more joy, just emptiness. I look at the garden around me and see the desolation caused by the evermore multiplying weeds. Tired of trying to do the impossible, I sink to the earth, hoping it would consume me. I feel abandoned and want to be left alone to die.
The Voice, now a whisper again, gently asks “Where do these weeds come from?”
Mustering up what little strength left, I reply “They… Are... My… Sins.”
Time passes. Perhaps, He really has given up on me, and left me to face my fate. I am now consumed by loneliness and lowliness of my state. But, in my despair, I hear the Voice again.
“You are not strong enough. I will do it for you.”
My strength completely ebbs, as my thoughts wander to the past. The hole in my chest, once deaden feels aflame. It is worse than the pain faced when pulling the weeds, so in desperation, I grab hold of the closest weed, hoping it will block the pain of my emptiness. It does for awhile, but the hole grows deeper and wider, more painful than before, but still I cling to the weed. Faces of people I have purposely hurt, lusts and greed I’ve felt, lies I have told long enough that I believe them flood to the deepest part of me, surrounding and crushing my soul. My sin has robbed me of my strength. Shame overtakes me and I hardly notice that the Voice, now made Man, walking toward me.
He kneels down, and I can feel His intense eyes on me. He reaches, and touches my shoulder. I cringe, not even daring to look at Him, for He is whole, and I am not.
“I must do it for you,” He says.
“I know,” and weep.
“Look at me,” He commands.
“I cannot.” I think to myself, You are whole, and I am… Not.
“You cannot look at Me because you are not whole. Look at My hands, child.”
I glance at His hands, then the ground, and then back to His hands again. They have scars deeper than the ones I bear. How can this be, since He is complete and has no holes? I look at my own hands, still bleeding and deep, but not as deep as His had been. I marvel at the mystery.
“My child, these scars you see now were there before the dawn of creation. I bear them now because I love you.”
What?! I think.
“I love you. I always have and always will.”
Speechless, I say to myself; but my sin... I clutch the weed harder and cringe at the pain.
“Your sin is nothing compared to Me. You must let go and never hold onto it again.”
Staring at my hand, slowly, I will my fingers to uncurl and they respond, save the last one. This finger will not comply.
“Help,” I whisper, “I cannot do this alone.”
He mercifully but firmly pulls my finger. I do not know why, but I resist.
“You must let go or you will die,” He says.
Yielding, sobbing, I let go and give the weed up to Him because I know it to be true.
“Watch,” He commands.
Trembling, I gaze as His strong hands seize the weed and rip it out from the ground. I feel a tough of pain from the hole in my chest and am about the cry to Him when He stops me.
“Wait,” He commands.
Pain is slowly replaced with a sensation never truly felt before. Peace! Enveloping, comforting peace, all because that weed is gone. The hole is filled with peace. But then, I stare at all the weeds to come, and a fear tries to steal it away.
The Lord, knowing his creature says, “Child, why do you fear?”
“Lord, I see all of these weeds. There are a lot of them and it scares me. What if You grow tired and leave me.”
“Whatever I start, I always complete,” He says, “I will not leave you to do something you will never be able to do if left by yourself. You are still incomplete, but not for long.”
How long will this take, I wonder? I ask myself.
“A lifetime,” He replies. “Look at My hands, and then look at your own.”
His hands are covered with cuts work confidently on the next weed. This one is stubborn, but soon gives way to His strength. Pain, than peace flood me again, but this time instead of looking at the rows of vegetables and weeds, I gaze at my hands. One by one, the once gapping cuts begin to heal.
Amazed, I look at Him, the Voice who became Man. He smiles broadly at me and touches my hand. I no longer feel my incompleteness, but His wholeness. I cry, not because of fear, but gratitude.
“It is because I took your wounds and made them my own that you can be healed.”
Unable, and not wanting to control myself, I reach over the row and hug Him, whispering “thank You.”
I can feel Him smile as He says “you are my child and you are certainly welcome!”
Letting go, I glimpse back what is left behind. “Never look back,” He says, “but keep your eyes on Me. Before you know, it the work will be done. You will be finished, completed work of beauty and art.”
Emboldened, I ask, “What will happen to the vegetables in my garden?”
“Others will come along and marvel at it. Some may even eat. They will know that it was tended by Me.”
“But, what will I eat, if not my vegetables?” I ask.
“Child, you will enjoy my Garden. It has always been complete and never needed weeding.”
Before long, I notice we have come to the very last weed, and my garden has come to an end. His scared hand lovingly grabs my healed hand and we walk into the Garden, my new home.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Hi sorry it's been so long
It's been a few weeks since my last blog and I am afraid this will be a relatively short communication. Just a quick overview of what's been going on.
- I'm writing a story about biblical mercy
- Possibly looking for a new job
- Contending with health issues
- Writing a short story which I may post here
I might be off work for a few weeks... so working on the story during that time will help with the boredom. Looking for a new job in this economy is hard, but with the Lord's help it is possible. The health issues, well I'm still healing from the celiac's, but the Lord is helping me overcome that as well. Still praying for courage to post the short story here, it's almost finished and it may help others. Please pray for me, I need courage, health, and procrastination problems big time.
Blessings until next time!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Just a note to say hi to ya'll! Was surging the web as usual and came across this website. Seemed very interesting and thought others might like it as well. http://www.apologeticsindex.org/.
Still yours in Christ!
Still yours in Christ!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Mercy 2 Me
Hi all,
Sorry it's been so long since my last post. I hope this post finds you well. Been kind of busy the last few days, and this post, regrettably, is going to be short.
The company that I work for is increasing production time. It means more money of course, and that's all ways a plus, especially since I've had cause to use a few sick days. Nothing too serious, just my celiac's acting up again. My bosses have been very understanding and have done a remarkable job reassigning me due to certain health limitations. I especially thank my co-workers who have helped me by taking on extra duties. I guess, in this way, they've shown a special type of mercy towards me; they've reserved judgment. It sort of reminds me of James 2:13, "For judgment is without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy: mercy glories against judgment." What does this verse have to do with my co-workers being kind? Well, they could justifiably say that they have too much to do at work to be bothered, and that I should do my work, even if it could hurt my health. Instead, they try to emphathize with my condition and try to keep me safe. Thanks guys, I hope to some day do the same for you.
God Bless you all, and have a safe and happy weekend. Happy 4th of July!
Sorry it's been so long since my last post. I hope this post finds you well. Been kind of busy the last few days, and this post, regrettably, is going to be short.
The company that I work for is increasing production time. It means more money of course, and that's all ways a plus, especially since I've had cause to use a few sick days. Nothing too serious, just my celiac's acting up again. My bosses have been very understanding and have done a remarkable job reassigning me due to certain health limitations. I especially thank my co-workers who have helped me by taking on extra duties. I guess, in this way, they've shown a special type of mercy towards me; they've reserved judgment. It sort of reminds me of James 2:13, "For judgment is without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy: mercy glories against judgment." What does this verse have to do with my co-workers being kind? Well, they could justifiably say that they have too much to do at work to be bothered, and that I should do my work, even if it could hurt my health. Instead, they try to emphathize with my condition and try to keep me safe. Thanks guys, I hope to some day do the same for you.
God Bless you all, and have a safe and happy weekend. Happy 4th of July!
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