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Getting somewhere requires effort, it takes
faith to push on, it's easy to screw up,
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Friday, August 22, 2014
What is so great about mankind?What is so great
about mankind?
 “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.” ~ Dalai Lama XIV,
The Art of Happiness
We have an inflated opinion of human ability as the human race, don’t we?
The scientific
reality is depressing!
Why do I say that?
Isn’t it true that over the past few hundred years we have learned so much that we
somehow think we now know it all( or that we will soon)?
I hear so many arrogant comments about how science is the answer
to everything.
Really?
From
science perspective,
human kind is disposable on the universal scale of events.
Think about it!
We can be eradicated and the universe would
not even notice.
The universe is too vast
and too incredibly complex to have any allegiance to these tiny creatures (mankind) who crawl all over the face of an insignificant
planet(Earth) that is associated with a mediocre star(sun).
On the universal plane of events, we don’t feature!
At least that’s what SCIENCE communicates
to us!
Don’t get me wrong!
I totally
appreciate science and all the amazing discoveries. I just don’t believe we need to accept the implications of these discoveries as
many portray them.
I guess we know we are on one of many planets associated with the star we call our sun. That sun
is part of a galaxy, we call our milky way.
Consider that there is about 100 billion galaxies in
the known universe.
Guess how many people there on earth in 2014?
About 7 billion!
There are more galaxies in the universe than people on our
planet.
How important are we according to these facts?
Not very, right?
On this earth, we have been around as modern man for about 200 thousand years. At the
moment we are almost at the point of destroying this earth and our habitat, and that we have really got ino destroying earth in the last 200 years.
Think about it, if we are really so great we would be improving or maintaining
not destroying what we need for our life.
Selfishness is supreme and we are making selfishness an art form.
If this continues, we will soon obliterate our existence, right?
The earth will not cease to exist! It will change and survive, with or without us!
That’s what science tells us!
Take the dinosaurs...
how long did they manage to rule the earth?
Around 80 million years!
Right now we have managed a meager 200 thousand years
and are screwing everything up.
Which creature is better for the planet and universe, mankind or the dinosaurs?
I PAINTED A BLEAK PICTURE, BUT I DON’T BELIEVE IT!
I want us to realize science is not everything!
When we add God to mix, the picture changes! Our unimportance becomes important.
God chose mankind (which we contend he created [and will not here argue how]) to be a creature with ability
to live spiritually and connect with Him in a special way.
He established a very complex universe to enable us to exist, and built this specific planet that seems
to be very unique, and very carefully constructed it with very finely tuned scientific laws / forces to enable us to live
and connect with Him.
Jesus
as God, has stepped into our history to give us an opportunity to see that we are more than what science says we are, and
He specifically did things we call miracles to show us science is a service of God to mankind, not the other way around. Science
is not a tool with which to do spiritual things. Men have abilities that outweigh their scientific constitutions.
With wisdom of God, we can
see and acknowledge the greatness of this service and use it effectively, yet God is above this mental sway. God is external
to this universe (or string of universes depending on your belief).
God incorporates and upholds everything.
Before the Higgs |Boson was discovered, many
would have said something that made up and held everything together was far-fetched. Now we have a particle that underlies
everything.
God
directs that particle and others like them. These things are too small to see as matter, we only know of them by their influences, not because we
can see them.
As a
Christian I see God because of his influence on my life. He is as factually there as a Higgs particle to me. More so!
Unlike that Higgs particle,
he has personal spiritual interactions with me daily.
I “love” God, He “loves” me!
I don’t really even know what the Higgs Boson is and it has no affiliation
for me!
God’s love for us is the true miracle of this universe. It puts us in a very unique place!
What about the things we are doing wrong?
I trust God to sort them out. John says
My dear children, I write
this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the
Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the
sins of the whole world. 1
John 2
God died to fix things we screw up!
He not only fixes things that I screw up on, but all the selfish, ignorant and nasty things in the whole
world.
Incredible?
Not really! It’s the fact that he cares enough for 7 billion people
to create a universe of 100 billion galaxies and then come to one planet belonging to one star and as one insignificant creature,
just to have the other insignificant creatures annihilate him from that plane of existence.
Yet in so doing he found
a way to communicate his love for us, that is the incredible fact.
God loves you and me!
That’s why science is actually
amazing!
It just shows us how much God loves us!
Let’s give glory to God for this amazing fact today!
Fri, August 22, 2014 | link
Thursday, August 21, 2014
What does walking in darkness mean from a Christian standpoint?What does walking
in darkness mean from a Christian standpoint?
 “Darkness
cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” ~ Martin Luther
King Jr
Darkness is something many people consider sinister
since the time they were children.
Movies use darkness to create anxiety and fear, night when we cannot see as much creates hazards for us.
However, what does the bible use darkness
to describe? What does
the light describe?
Right
in the beginning of the bible Genesis 1:2 says Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of
the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
This darkness is perhaps the same darkness we call night, but even here the word can be seen to have
a different meaning as well. Darkness can perhaps be considered evil and is contrasted by the Spirit of God which is
good. yet we must be careful...
This consideration of darkness representing evil is symbolism used throughout a lot
of the bible. However not everywhere.
When the Exodus is occurring from Egypt as God enabled His people to escape from
Egypt and was leading them we read Exodus 20:21The people remained at a distance, while Moses
approached the thick darkness where God was.
It is clear sometimes darkness means a dark place. A place that we cannot see in
but God knows what is happening and can move through it with ease.
Even when the Ten Commandments were written darkness is mentioned by Moses, but
not as evil…Deuteronomy 5:22 These are the commandments the Lord proclaimed in a loud voice to your whole assembly there
on the mountain from out of the fire, the cloud and the deep darkness; and he added nothing more. Then he
wrote them on two stone tablets and gave them to me.
Yet Samuel talks as God as a lamp 2 Samuel 22:29 You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light.
Perhaps the best description of darkness and
man’s fears are in psalm 82 where God explains that god’s (us men) reside in darkness. He starts the psalm by saying God
presides in the great assembly;he renders judgment among the “gods”:
then continues to say
“How
long will you defend the unjust
and show partiality to the wicked?
3 Defend
the weak and the fatherless;
uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
4 Rescue
the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
5 “The ‘gods’
know nothing, they understand nothing.
They walk about in darkness;
all
the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 “I said, ‘You are “gods”;
you are
all sons of the Most High.’
7 But you will die like mere mortals;
you
will fall like every other ruler.”
8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth,
for all the nations are your
inheritance
It is
strange to see God referring to us men and our rulers as “gods” but he does. Yet, notice he says we walk in darkness.
We
cannot see what God sees and as a result we shake the foundations of the Earth.
That is true today isn’t it? We are damaging the very
foundation of our existence due to our evil and lack of knowledge. Ignorance and selfishness is destroying our earth.
I guess the key to this all
is written in 1 John 1 where John says
God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have
fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in
the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all
sin.
The light
that John is describing is purity of truth, knowledge and wisdom. It is the opposite of selfish, ignorance, nastiness or sin.
We cannot walk
in sin and yet claim to have friendship with light.
Is there a selfish, nasty ignorant part of us that we cultivate quietly hoping
nobody notices?
God
knows about this.
This
will keep us from the light of God. It will take us away from God’s people’s friendship and joy. Not because they
withdraw, but because the evil in us cannot exist in light and they are in light.
Let’s not lie to our self (If
we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie) lets rather live out truth.
Asking forgiveness, allowing Holy
Spirit to wash over us cleaning the sin from our life enables us to joyfully join in with the Christian group living in power and have great joy
and fellowship. We are never alone and lost, but comforted, accepted and able to live fully.
How about we move from darkness to light and
live fully today?
Thu, August 21, 2014 | link
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
The sensory experience of Jesus The sensory
experience of Jesus
 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our
hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. – 1 John 1 NIV
People sometimes suggest Jesus
was a mystical person, made up and ethereal. Not real!
Yet this is
not what the bible teaches in any way. John was a person who walked around with Jesus. He makes it abundantly
clear he believes Jesus was totally real and even he is painted by some as believing in a gnostic Jesus.
I have written a paper about this and it is
in the “heavy stuff” on our blog, but today I want to point out that John convinces us in 1 john 1 that Jesus
is real and yet God at the same time.
“That which was from the beginning” is a reference to another of the explanations about Jesus in his gospel where he
says:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He
was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been
made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in
the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Jesus was there before anything existed, before the big bang if that
is considered the start of time. He was God and was with God. (That’s complex to understand, and I am not sure we can until God reveals to us exactly
how the Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit are one and the same yet different).
This part makes us realize Jesus is definitely God. This though naturally moves us away from
understanding he was also fully human. Just like us! Yet he was!
That’s why John says… which we have heard(Sense Hearing), which we have seen (Sense sight)with our eyes, which we have
looked at(sight) and our hands have touched(Sense of touch)—this we proclaim (sense of sound) concerning
the Word of life.
He is making use to use every sense (accept smell, and I don’t think he wanted to say Jesus also farted) to ensure we know Jesus was
physically right here on this Earth.
Flesh and blood walking around, talking touching and living with us.
Jesus is amazing! God and man.
He knows how you and I feel daily. He knows
our struggles and what we should be able to overcome and what is hard. He can help us, guide us but he also knows when we
are not doing our bit to move forward. He knows when selfish, nasty and ignorant things we do get in the way.
Let’s ask God to forgive us. We have
no right to do so other than Jesus as God gave us permission to do just that. Jesus is a free gift of life from God to us.
A real free gift.
Let’s
accept him and move in power today!
Wed, August 20, 2014 | link
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
I am not selfish, ignorant or nasty…really?I am not selfish, ignorant or nasty…really?
 So many vices, habits. Mine of course, bad chicks. My response to any advice on what is the essentials of life. I'm just rebellious,
not selfish. Guess we all share different definitions of what wealth is. ~ Nas
Living in denial is something many of us do. We can be heard making statements like:
·
I didn’t do the wrong thing…,
· I was not to blame…,
· It’s the other persons fault for…,
·
I am great! Why don't you admit it…,
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I need that, you don’t…,
·
I don’t make that type of mistake…
·
I only had a few drinks…
·
I didn’t think she /he would find
out…
· It was only a little money I borrowed…
· It’s your fault I…
Heard
any of these?
Unfortunately as Christians
God says we are sinful. No matter what we say to the contrary.
1 John 1 says “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive
ourselves and the truth is not in us”
Sin
is that selfish, ignorant and nasty tendency that
lives within us and directs us to
do things other than what God would want us to do.
The first step to overcoming it is to admit it. Unlike the guy in the quote at the start of the blog, we need to understand rebelliousness is also sin and leads
us away from God.
John goes on to
say…”If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will
forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and
his word is not in us.”
Talking to God and telling Him we are sorry, that we struggle to do the right thing, asking for help to overcome our own inadequacies, trying to
do right, even when we fail and have to try again. Asking forgiveness! Asking Holy Spirit to purify us and give us strength to overcome.
That’s the way to true life, joy and peace.
We cannot be peaceful
with turmoil inside us and selfish,
ignorant and nasty things stink in our hearts and that generates turmoil in our lives. Let’s get rid of the stench,
let God disinfect our souls and clear our minds and give our hearts peace.
Let’s remember that our decisions need to go from the top down.
It starts at the head. We
think about things with our mind and decide for God. We listen to God and read his words, seeing the truth. We ask forgiveness with our mouths and do what we can to make things right
with our hands and actions. Our hearts align with what we know
and have done and God gives us peace. Only after that can we
walk and do things the way God wants.
Today let’s go about our life in that top down
way. Head, heart, walk…
Have a good one!
Tue, August 19, 2014 | link
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If you want to see a short blog describing a perspective on what I believe click here
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Rift in Evil
By Ken
X Briggs - Published: September, 2010
- Format: Perfect Bound Softcover(B/W)
- Pages: 208
Size:
6x9 - ISBN: 9781450250894
Available from Barnes and Noble, Amazon, iUniverse. |
Credit cards are acceptable on sites having Ken's books: 
:)
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Click
on XML Click here =>  to be told of new blogs
| Ken's book covers are displayed below. . . | |  This
suspense thriller centers on Kiara, a beautiful young woman pursued by a murderous group of people, who relentlessly and ruthlessly
hunt her and her sisters. Kiara has no idea why she is being targeted! When Kiara and her family turn to the law for help,
this fails. Her pursuers’ powers reach deeply into the political and law enforcement world. Family support for her dwindles
when they too have to flee her pursuers. Can Kiara escape the clutches of both the law and dishonest big business? With the
media broadcasting that Kiara and friends are dangerous and subversive, can Kiara clear her name and bring her pursuers to
justice?
| | | | | To purchase Kiara's Pursuer ebook
@ $1.99 kindle version click here, To contact the author contact Author@KenXBriggs.com | | | | | | | | The town of Zinaville is dropped into a spiral of evil causing a young man and a beautiful but abused woman
to launch into an investigation that unveils an evil conspiracy. A horrific mining accident results in Joshua
Robyn's father being killed. Joshua struggles both with himself and his townsfolk as he tries to make sense of an incomprehensible
situation. Is it an accident or a murder? Why is there a seeming link to evil? Why is his work environment suddenly threatening?
What is the conspiracy about and what are they trying to do? As action moves dramatically from exotic African grasslands to
the heart of North America's cities, the plot unfolds and the pace quickens. Will there be time? Why is a beautiful abused
young woman in the center of this plot? Evil tendrils tighten on their lives and the interplay between the visible
and invisible world shows opposing forces at work. Will there be a rift in evil? Will they be able to stop the
evil in time? | | - Published: September, 2010
- Format: Perfect
Bound Softcover(B/W)
- Pages: 208
Size: 6x9 - ISBN: 9781450250894
Available
from Barnes and Noble, Amazon, iUniverse. Chapters | | | | |
| Frugal Eating Advice |
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| Good advice for students living on limited $'s. Click on the image! |
May you be blessed today!
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