tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79281919959140583132024-03-28T02:25:22.964-07:00Prudent Heretic... "I determined to know nothing among you but Jesus Christ and Him crucified" ... Prudent Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858730023857065941noreply@blogger.comBlogger2013125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928191995914058313.post-85511866734779131472024-03-28T02:24:00.000-07:002024-03-28T02:24:28.815-07:00Caries<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Originally, the labor that went into food
preparation went into making it edible: gathering, cleaning, preserving, and removing
inedible and spoiled portions from the food. Availability was limited, so people had to rely on less flavorful alternatives, which were often healthier . Now that all of these issues have been
taken care of, instead food preparation has morphed into enhancing flavor and
appearance. (For example, pickling and fermenting now have nothing to do with their original purpose of preservation, but only with taste.) Consequently food is too good, so we have to struggle with overeating and dental caries.</span></p><br /><p></p>Prudent Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858730023857065941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928191995914058313.post-14639379524828750312024-03-28T02:04:00.000-07:002024-03-28T02:04:51.012-07:00"We thrive on competition"<p> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">One corporation's advertising proudly asserts,
"We thrive on competition." Most "successful" businesses
would agree. Indeed, they are addicted to competition.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Competition in itself is not bad. It pushes us
to do better—it takes us beyond our perceived limits. We are running a
spiritual race, with Christ as the goal. But competition can also become an end
in itself. The attitude, “Winning isn’t everything—it’s the only thing” is as
pervasive in business as it is in sports.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We like to turn activities into games, and
competition is a way of doing that. But while we focus on sales figures, the rest
of the world is going down the tubes; and people's lives with it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">How can we imagine that we are "doing our
job", when there is such economic and educational disparity across the
world? How can we have a clean conscience when we continue playing silly games,
while lives are being wasted and nations are being trashed?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Competition leads to progress". Yes,
undoubtedly. But what is the nature of your "progress"?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Evolution is driven by 'survival of the
fittest'. But what is "fittest" depends on the environment.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In the modern urban environment, for
instance, rats and cockroaches are the 'fittest'. What are we fitting ourselves
for?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">On Monday nights, we watch football on T.V—two
teams of 12 men beating each other up to move a leather object down the field.
On Tuesday mornings we go back to work, beating each other up to move our </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">sales figures up on the charts.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Meaningless! Meaningless!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Let us thrive instead on the beauty (both inward
and outward, both spiritual and physical)</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">which God created for you to enjoy and enhance.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Churches esteem missionaries. Rather, churches
should esteem those who choose careers that create opportunities for people to
flourish—that love both in deed and in truth.</span></p>Prudent Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858730023857065941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928191995914058313.post-34012549316257615582024-03-28T02:03:00.000-07:002024-03-28T02:03:17.540-07:00The controversial parallel with Cain<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Jesus said that the Scriptures testify of Him.
If we read the Bible from this perspective, then we cannot but notice the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>parallel between<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>jealous Cain and the jealous Jewish religious
authorities who killed Jesus. Augustine made much of this—and subsequent
generations of Christian theologians and non-theologians have picked it up and
run with it in different directions. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Many have missed the point, and have interpreted
this as a curse on ethnic Jews. But this has nothing to do with ethnicity.
Those who follow the traditions of those jealous authorities (which have been
codified in the Mishnah) continue to offer wrong sacrifices, and continue as
spiritual wanderers and fugitives. They remain in the wilderness of Sinai.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">But most modern Jews are secular and have no
regard for the religious traditions, viewing them as antiquated. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Cain’s progeny was amazingly productive (as have
been the Jewish people).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have them to
thank for cattle herding, for music, and for metalworking. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Prudent Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858730023857065941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928191995914058313.post-16450438295552523392024-03-28T01:58:00.000-07:002024-03-28T02:01:28.141-07:00The meaning of sacrifice<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac turns the whole
notion of sacrifice upside down.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">The natural man thinks that sacrifice represents
my giving up something precious to compensate for my sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In effect, I am paying off God so that He
won’t punish me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">But Abraham demonstrates that this is entirely
backwards. The sacrifice is what God gives up, not man. He destroys His own
precious creation so that we do not destroy ourselves by our misdeeds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What we bring to the sacrifice is only a
childlike trust in Him to do what is right, even if we don’t see how things
will work out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Why did it take so long for God to show this?</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">In fact, He’d been showing this from the very
beginning. Adam and Eve made no sacrifice to atone for their sin. Instead, God
sacrificed His own precious animals to clothe them. Cain made no sacrifice for
his murder of Abel: Abel WAS the sacrifice for Cain’s sin. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">God merely exiled Cain to keep him from Seth.
Unfortunately, his descendants maintained his violent ways, no doubt also influencing
the descendants of Seth. Sin always leads to death—sometimes the righteous
absorb the punishment, and sometimes God lets sin work itself out to its
natural conclusion, as in the case of Noah’s flood.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Even after so many demonstrations before and
after Jesus, people still offer sacrifices to mollify God.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I have read a few internet expositions of the
Jewish viewpoint on sacrifice (jewishvirtuallibrary.org, myjewishlearning.com,
Chabad.org). They point out that the word for “offering” in the Hebrew Bible
derives from a root</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">that means “to draw
near” But it seems they are embarrassed by and try to gloss over the fact that
most sacrifices involved killing something—and the word for animal sacrifice
specifically meant “to slaughter”.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Myjewishlearning</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">offers the possible explanation that sacrifice is symbolic, and shows
what would happen to the sinner apart from God’s mercy. Jewishvirtuallibrary
admits the substitutionary aspect. But at least in the expositions I’ve seen,
none recognize that the sacrifice is something that God supplies, not man. The
animal “belongs” to the ownerr only in a superficial sense. The owner only fed
and kept the animal, but God is the one who poured His artistry into creating
and sustaining it. The sacrifice cost God far more than it did the owner.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Death is an intrinsic part of the process of
separating order from chaos, light from darkness, information from entropy. To
offer sacrifice rightly means to be attuned to what God is doing, and to play a
conscious, active part in the process.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">In the end, we ourselves become the sacrifices, as we share in the
sufferings of Christ.</span></p>Prudent Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858730023857065941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928191995914058313.post-37307460577767573572024-03-14T05:20:00.000-07:002024-03-14T05:20:47.908-07:00Atheistic musings<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Live for pleasure. If your
life stops being pleasurable, then end it. Let your the desires of your heart
be your God—only do not associate<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>them
with any higher purpose. Your desires simply are what they are, as they have
been shaped by genetics and environment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">If your conscience interferes
with your pleasure, then ignore it. Follow reason instead of conscience.
Conscience is simply unconscious, irrational prejudice. For example, your
irrational aversion to certain sexual practices is just like the irrational aversion
some people have to snakes. Your conscience is just an artifact of the culture
you grew up in.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">No moral code is more
intrinsically</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"righteous" than
any other.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">You may change your morality
at will, when it becomes inconvenient.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Since it is arbitrary, you need have no qualms about changing it.
Rational morality is based on expediency. There is no need for “consistency” or
“integrity”, except for the impression that it makes on people. But only the
impression is important—if you can “get away with murder” with absolute
confidence, then why not?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">As a result of genetic and
environmental conditioning, doing good to others may make you feel good. But
this is completely arbitrary.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">If you
want to try reconditioning yourself to enjoy causing pain, then why not? It
would be an interesting challenge.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">If you want to be generous
and do good to others, go ahead—but only when doing so makes you happy. Don’t
over-exert yourself. And don't be concerned about results, because you can
never know all the effects of your actions. In the long run, who can tell whether
your actions have made people better or worse off?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">If you show love to others,
they in be moved to love you back. Love is pleasurable, as is being loved in
return. But love is simply a biochemical phenomenon, and in no way superior to
any other form of biochemically-induced pleasure, whether by sex, or drugs, or
winning, or sarcasm, or screwing someone who has previously screwed you. Select
the method that is most advantageous at the current moment—be here now.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">But don't get too attached to any one method,
for your preference may change.</span></p>Prudent Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858730023857065941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928191995914058313.post-83942812549397281992024-03-14T05:17:00.000-07:002024-03-14T05:20:08.929-07:00Better a neighbor close by<p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">For myself and my family, I long to have meaningful spiritual fellowship with the believers we live with on a
daily basis - that is neighbors, coworkers, and classmates who believe in
Christ.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Where are the church leaders that will set aside
their little kingdoms, stop building separate communities, and commit to breaking
down the spiritual isolation between believers from different churches who live
or work together? Don’t they realize that once- or twice-a-week fellowship
which they offer falls far short of the New Testament standard? We should be having
close spiritual fellowship with the believers we see daily. Better is a
neighbor that is near than a brother far off. (Proverbs 29:10). <o:p></o:p></span></p>Prudent Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858730023857065941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928191995914058313.post-18078742977813232472024-03-08T02:56:00.000-08:002024-03-08T02:56:49.587-08:00Family and calling<p> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"If you are a husband and father, then your
primary ministry is to your wife and children." This viewpoint is preached</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> in many churches,
especially those which are "family-friendly".</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">But is this a 'biblical' viewpoint? Abraham,
Joseph, Moses, and David were all married with children. Peter was married. Why
then does the Bible give virtually no space at all to their "primary
ministry", but focuses instead what our pastors tell us is
"secondary"?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Certainly a Christian man's ministry to his
family is indeed crucial. But this ministry is best fulfilled by his being
utterly faithful to his calling. If a man is faithful to his calling, then he
shall set the best possible example for his family members. They too will be
inspired and empowered to be faithful to their callings.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Placing "family well-being" above
one's God-given calling leads to spiritual distortion. It causes the family to become
ingrown, insular, self-centered. It becomes an excuse for lack of faith, so
that Jesus' words are ignored: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness, and ALL these things shall be added unto you."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God makes everything beautiful in its time.
Fulfilling our calling His way shall also fulfill our families.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><br /></p>Prudent Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858730023857065941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928191995914058313.post-3531510512467822822024-03-08T02:54:00.000-08:002024-03-08T02:54:38.993-08:00No caffeine<p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The folloing should be read as a dialog.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Could I have a glass of ice water, please?</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Here you go.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><i>Thank you. Hey, that's a beautiful glass. But
... but you're pouring tea, not water.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">That's what we serve here.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><i>You can't give me water?<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">That's what tea is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Water -- with a tea bag in it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><i>But I can't have caffeine.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Sorry, that's all we got.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><i>Hmm, there's a water fountain right in front of
the rest rooms. I'll just<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>dump the tea,
and fill it with water instead.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hey
buddy, where do you think you're going with that glass?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><i>Oh, I'll bring it right back. I just want some
water. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">You can't do that. The glasses are for tea. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><i>Look, I don't mind paying<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for the tea. But I just can't drink it. If I
refill it with water, it won't cost you anything.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">If you pay for tea, you have to drink tea. Even
if you don't drink it, you'll have to pay for it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><i>Oh, I'll pay for it. But if you won't let me
refill it, I afraid I can't use it. You might as well take it away.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Do you understand the parable? We are created to
be vessels, that God wants to fill with His Spirit, clear and pure. Jesus
purchased us on the Cross, while we were yet filled with lust, selfishness, and
perversity. He purchased us so that He could empty us of sin, and fill us with
grace. When we present ourselves to Him, we must allow ourselves to be emptied
so that He can refill us. But if we absolutely refuse to be emptied, it's the
same as if we never presented ourselves to Him at all. He cannot use us, In the
end, He sends us away.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Prudent Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858730023857065941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928191995914058313.post-74161914404196697142024-03-08T02:50:00.000-08:002024-03-08T02:50:41.482-08:00Davidson<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">I waited nervously for the knock on the door.
There it was, right on time. I opened the door and he was standing right there
- a regular-looking guy, nice smile, seemed pleasant enough. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Hi, I'm Davidson. You advertised an
apartment share?"</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Yeah. Nice to meet you. Come on in and
have a look around."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">He entered and I showed him around. I was so
nervous that I was almost shaking. I badly needed a roommate. I was up to my
ears in debt, and I desperately needed someone to help out with the rent.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">As we went around, Davidson told me a little
about himself. He'd had many different roommates over the years, and in every
case got along very well (he gave me a long list of references). He was neat,
but not compulsively so. He didn't mind modifying his eating and sleeping
habits. He always checked with his roommate before inviting someone over. All
this left a very good impression. He sounded ideal.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Finally Davidson gave his own verdict:
"It's perfect!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The walls, the
layout, the floor, the windows are exactly what I want. I couldn't imagine a
better apartment. But there's just one thing."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"What's that?" I asked, my hopes
soaring. Surely we could work out the minor details. This sounded too good to
be true.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"It's the furniture. It's all falling
apart. There are vomit stains all over the couch. And those pictures on the
wall are sort of indecent. I would feel really uncomfortable staying with those
here."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">He continued.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Let me make a proposal. I'll pay the rent - all of it. If you owe
any back rent, I'll pay that off too. Only let me bring in some new furniture,
and some new pictures."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I was nonplussed. The words stuck in my throat.
Finally I was able to croak out, "I can't agree to that."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"I'll pay the movers to take this stuff
out.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">You won't have to pay a
nickel."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I finally found my voice. "You don't
understand. This apartment is ME. This is my personality. Changing it would be
changing who I am."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"We can go out and choose the new furniture
together. I'll pay for everything."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I waffled for a moment, considering the
prospects. New furniture; all my debts paid off; a nice roommate ... But at
what cost?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"I'm sorry," I said finally. "I
can't imagine changing my apartment. I can't imagine living any other
way."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"I don't want to do anything to the
apartment except replace the furniture."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"No. The furniture comes with the
apartment. That's definite."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Alright then, if that's your decision. But
if you change your mind, give me a call. The offer is still open - for today,
at least." He shook my hand and went out, closing the door quietly.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nice guy. Too bad he wasn't more flexible. It
really was kind of pushy of him, to ask me to change out all my furniture. Who
does he think he is - my landlord?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">This is a true story. It's happened not once,
but millions of times. Even the names have not been changed - much. Davidson
really is David's Son, the Messiah Jesus. The apartments He has visited are not
a physical residences, but spiritual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
would call them "souls," or the inner hearts of men and women. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dear friend, Jesus died for you - He didn't die
for your 'furniture'. He loves you, but He hates your 'furniture' - at least, a
good portion of it.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">By 'furniture' I
mean your habits, thought-patterns, prejudices, preoccupations, ambitions, and
selfish desires.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is a sad and solemn truth that many, many
refuse His invitation, insisting that "The furniture comes with the
apartment." There are many who bolt their pictures to the walls and their
tables to the floors. What can the Lord do in such cases? He has no choice but
to say, with infinite sorrow, "I cannot stay with you on those
terms."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Many people mistakenly believe that Jesus died
for their furnishings. Don't make the same mistake!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sometimes we say, "Yes Lord, you can take
out the furniture," while we continue to sit on it! But the Lord won't
remove it unless we acquiesce wholeheartedly!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We'd better check ourselves frequently, to make sure that we aren't</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">doing this. We should frequently remember
David's prayer in Psalm 139, which in this context may be paraphrased as
follows:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Search my apartment, Lord,
every corner of every room. Look over everything, try out everything. See if
there's any bad furniture - and help me remove it from the premises."</span></p>Prudent Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858730023857065941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928191995914058313.post-54303806276087090432024-03-08T02:45:00.000-08:002024-03-08T02:45:07.521-08:00Holy and Most Holy<p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Hebrews 9:1-5</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><i>Then truly the first tabernacle had also
ordinances of divine service and an earthly sanctuary. For the first tabernacle
was prepared, in which was both the lampstand, and the table, and the setting
out of the loaves, which is called the Holy Place. And after the second veil
was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, having a golden altar of
incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid all around with gold, in which
was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets
of the covenant. And over it were the cherubs of glory overshadowing the
mercy-seat (Hebrews 9:1-5)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Consider the objects in the sanctuary described above. These all correspond to different aspects of Jesus' life and
work:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">* The
lampstand represents Jesus the light of the world. (John 1:9)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>* The
bread of the presence shows Jesus the bread of life, who gave up His body to
give life to the world (John 6:35).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>* The
altar of incense shows Jesus our intercessor, for the fragrance of incense
represents prayer which rises before God (Hebrews 7:25).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>* The
pot of manna is Jesus as the bread of heaven (John 6:32-33).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>* The
rod which budded is Jesus' authority, which He received from the Father when He
rose from the dead (Phil. 2:8-11).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>* The
tablets of stone represent Jesus the Word of God (John 1:1).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>* The
atonement cover ('mercy seat') speaks of Jesus as the one who covers us,
clothes us in His righteousness, and takes away our guilt before God. (Romans
3:25)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Why are some of these things INSIDE the Holy of
Holies, and some things OUTSIDE? To understand this, we may look from a
different perspective. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Notice that the things in the Holy Place
represent what man offers to God. The priests are the ones who supplied the oil
for the lampstand, who brought and lit the incense, who supplied the bread of
the presence. On the other hand, the things in the Most Holy Place represent
what God does for us.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">He supplies manna
from heaven, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">His Word which nourishes
our hearts; He gives authority to bring the dead to life; He writes His Law on
our hearts,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jesus' death ripped open of curtain of
separation (Hebrews 10:20), and gained </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">us entrance into the Holy of Holies (Hebrews
10:19). Only through knowing Jesus may we enter into the Most Holy Place. Only
through Him may enter the presence of the Father, with full assurance and
without fear (1 John 5:14-15). Apart from Jesus, are separated from God by a
thick curtain—He is to us an unknown God (Acts 17:23). Through Jesus we receive
daily bread from heaven, which</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">sustains
our hearts (Matthew 6:11).</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Only by
knowing Jesus may we speak and act with the authority of Christ (John 15:16). Only
by knowing Jesus does His Word become engraved on our hearts (Luke 24:32,
Hebrews 4:12-13), and not just impressed on our minds.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">But even without Jesus’ death, we already
have access to the Holy Place. Indeed, there are many "good" people
who do not know Christ (Luke 7:3-5, Acts 10:1-2), including those who follow
other religions as well as atheists. They do good works from a heart of love.
Some even lay down their lives to serve others. Although these good people have
not known Christ, the grace of God has worked in them and through them (Isaiah
45:4-6). </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Their works are holy, and bless
God.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">They only lack access to the Most Holy Place.</span></p>Prudent Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858730023857065941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928191995914058313.post-3883997719460262822024-03-08T02:23:00.000-08:002024-03-08T02:23:55.845-08:00Prophecy and probability<p> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Consider the issue of whether Biblical
prophecies of Jesus could have been fulfilled "by chance".</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">There are three ensembles involved:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">The ensemble of Biblical statements that are candidate
prophecies</span></li><li><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">The ensemble of possible interpretations of these
statements.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">The ensemble of subsequent events (candidate fulfillments)</span></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">The ensemble of interpretations is usually overlooked.
In most cases, the interpretations are chosen in hindsight. For example, it is
not explicitly stated in Isaiah that the Messiah would be born of a virgin—this
is an interpretation. Given this interpretation, naturally the fulfillment in
any one individual is of course extremely small. But the interpretation itself is offered in
hindsight.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">It follows that all attempts to prove that Jesus
is Messiah using probability are fatally flawed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Prophetic Scriptures are not meant to be
interpreted probabilistically. Prophecies make a spiritual connection—they are spiritual
communications between spiritual entities. The prophet is spiritually inspired;
the interpreter also must be spiritual inspired, so that there is a “resonance”.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Prophecies should also give spiritual insight. In
this respect the “virgin with child” prophecy in Isaiah 7 is quite perplexing,
because the rest of the prophecy has no apparent relation to Jesus—it talks
about the child eating butter and honey, the destruction of Samaria and Syria,
and the coming of the Assyrians. I would
be tempted to say that Matthew missed this one. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Indeed, Isaiah 7 is confusing enough by itself,
apart from Messianic considerations. We never hear anything else about the
child Immanuel. But in the next chapter we read that Isaiah’s wife conceived a
son named Mahershalalhashbaz, which means “quick to the spoil”, not “God with
us”. This new child fulfills the same prophetic conditions, namely that Samaria
and Syria will be destroyed before the child can speak. Is this the same child
by a different name, or was there a completely different child? And what was
remarkable about the birth of Immanuel, which made him a sign? Young women give birth all the time. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Clearly I’m missing something here (not for the first time).</span></p>
<br />Prudent Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858730023857065941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928191995914058313.post-33570042596833906882024-03-08T02:11:00.000-08:002024-03-08T02:11:43.176-08:00The Yuppieatttitudes<p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">And lifting up his second martini, the
yuppie said, Blessed are you poor, because our charitable contributions are
tax deductible.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Blessed are you who hunger now, because we </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">run canned food drives for you every Christmas
(but secretly we wonder how you can stand eating that stuff.)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Blessed are you who weep now. If things get bad
enough, your story may make the news as human interest. And even if not, there’s
probably some government program you can get in on.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Blessed are you when men shall hate you, and
when they shall reproach you and shall cast out your name as evil. Rejoice in
that day and leap for joy. They're probably just jealous of your success—look
at Elon Musk and Donald Trump.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sometimes
you justhave to run over people to get ahead.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">But woe to you who are rich! For you have
received your consolation</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">—</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">plus, the taxes are murder.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hire a financial advisor to make it appear
like you're much poorer than you really are.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Woe to you who are full! For you shall have to
skip breakfast to keep to your diet. Woe to you who laugh now! Back in '88 they
laughed at Dell, but if they'd bought stock then they'd be gazillionaires.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Woe to you when all men shall speak well of you—you
filthy brown-noser!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies (to
their face, while stabbing them in the back). Do good to those who
hate you—then sock it to them when they least expect it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bless those who curse you, and sue them for
defamation of character. Pray for those who despitefully use you—people will think you're magnanimous, and what does it cost you?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">And to him who strikes you on the one cheek,
also offer the other. Then get a good personal injury lawyer, and collect
double damages. And to him who takes away your garment, do not forbid your
tunic also.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who needs a tunic, anyway?
Let him take it, then go and buy something decent to fill that empty space in
your clothes closet.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Give to everyone who asks of you—just use caller ID to screen out phone solicitors, and keep your car windows rolled up, so the panhandlers never have opportunity to ask<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From him who takes away your goods, do not
ask for them back. Just make sure your Mercedes has vehicle tracking, your
house has a tight security system, and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>everything is insured.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">As you desire that men should do to you, you do
also to them likewise.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Since you work 80
hours a week, expect everyone else in the office to do the same.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">For if you love those who love you, what credit
is it to you?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Realistically, it’s not
going to do anything to boost your credit rating. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">And if you do good to those who do good to you,
what credit do you have?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">A much better
option is to get a second mortgage.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">And if you lend to those of whom you hope to
receive, what reward do you have? In fact, why lend at all? Put your money in
real estate instead.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">But love your enemies, and do good, and lend,
hoping for nothing in return.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Because if
you're naive enough to do those things, that's exactly what you'll get—nothing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is
merciful.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">If you've got to screw someone,
find a lawyer to do it for you.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">That way
you don't have to get personally involved.</span></p>Prudent Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858730023857065941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928191995914058313.post-11431737324307228462024-03-04T22:44:00.000-08:002024-03-04T22:44:17.185-08:00Does God care what job we work at?<p> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is the height of folly to suppose that God
doesn't care what we produce in our secular work (as long as we tithe). God
most certainly does care! He cares that we make products that genuinely improve
people's lives. He cares that our products aid the afflicted and disadvantaged,
rather than amuse the rich and comfortable. He cares that our products beautify
the environment that He created and gave us stewardship over, which instead we
have polluted and descrated. He cares that our products promote a peaceful,
reflective, caring way of life rather than a frantic, pressured, so-called
"successful" lifestyle.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Prudent Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858730023857065941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928191995914058313.post-59993586847359980202024-03-04T22:42:00.000-08:002024-03-04T22:42:46.422-08:00The church in the community?<p> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Many modern churches are very conscious of the
need to bring the church back into homes where people live. So they start home
groups: Vineyard churches forms Vineyard small groups; Bible churches form
Bible church small groups; independent fellowships form independent fellowship
small groups. At one time there were at least three small groups meeting on my
street. Apart from the hosts, nobody who came to any of the small groups was
from the neighborhood. So the small groups might as well been at their churches!
They’ve just switched one drive-to location with another.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">So these small groups fail to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>address the problem of church-daily life
disconnect. That disconnect is rooted in the churches’ basic social structure.
If people in the church are not connected by daily-life activities, then any
effort to bring people together is artificial, and increases the distance
between believers and other believers they live and work with.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">American churches are more like fast-food
restaurants than families.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
difference between small local churches and large denominations is the same as
that between independent restaurants and chains—they are both still spiritual
restaurants.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Christians within any community are called
to form a sub-community within the community. They are essentially a community
of expatriates (Peter actually calls us 'strangers and aliens'). Like
diplomats, they have been tasked with promoting the interests of their true
country (which is the Kingdom of God)</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">within the community they temporarily reside in.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">The same principle holds true for workplaces.
Christians who work at a company should form a sub-company within the
company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A secular company must above
all make a profit—otherwise, the company will cease to exist. On the other
hand, the Christian sub-company must above all promote the Kingdom of God. Ideally
these two purposes should reinforce each other, though at times they may
conflict.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, if the company’s
products explicitly promote fleshly habits, attitudes, and values, then
conflict is inevitable. Christians really have no business working at such
companies (e.g. no Christian porn vendors). It is the responsibility of the
Christian sub-company to influence the larger company towards a more godly
direction—which may include product choices. If the Christians within a company
do not concern themselves with this, then who will? And they should do this
cooperatively, seeking the mind of Christ together, rather than individually in
isolation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">What company can possibly succeed in its
purposes, if it never holds business meetings? So how can we believers in Jesus
possibly expect to succeed in promoting the Kingdom of God within neighborhoods
or companies, when we never meet together?<o:p></o:p></span></p>Prudent Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858730023857065941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928191995914058313.post-38754075429346037482024-03-02T06:20:00.000-08:002024-03-02T06:20:52.507-08:00Paul's two "I"'s<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">According to Paul, in every person there are two
distinct “I”’s. This is so basic to his thinking, and so essential to his
arguments, that it’s astonishing that so many seem to fail to recognize this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Paul’s two “I”’s are referred to as old man
(carnal nature, flesh) and new man (spiritual man, Christ in me). Both “I”’s
have access to the same thoughts and memories—but they represent two separate personalities.
We are like hybrid cars, with two power sources.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">The old man is doomed to die—in believer and
unbeliever alike. The old man cannot be redeemed or sanctified!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">To believe in Jesus means to declare the old man
dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He still flaps around and makes a
lot of noise, but his desires and directives have become invalidated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The believer puts on the new man, and identifies
fully with “Christ in me”. The old man is still there, like a crazy old uncle
whom you can’t throw out of the house. But the uncle doesn’t get to call the
shots—he is obliged to obey the house rules.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">To be sure, the believer may still be deceived
by the old man and obey his suggestions. But this is not due to lack of
holiness or insufficient spiritual power—It is due to immaturity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must grow in grace and knowledge; we must
have our senses trained to discern good and evil.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Many if not most evangelicals would deny that
the unbeliever has a “new man”. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">The “spiritual man” of the unbeliever can be
identified with conscience, which is engaged in a tug-of-war with the flesh. Unbelievers
tend to rationalize away sin—they love psychological studies that justify various
addictions, neuroses, and perversities, These provide ammunition to fight off
pangs of conscience.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Some unbelievers are simply wonderful people.
Thanks to their upbringing, they <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>live by
their consciences, and behave just as kindly, and fairly and lovingly as
believers. They are very good at suppressing and controlling the flesh. What do
they lack? Certainly they have shortcomings, but shouldn’t one focus on the
positive?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">It is clear from Romans 8 that through trusting
in Christ, Paul gained power over sin. But those who are not bothered by sin
have no motivation to trust in Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">The other motivation for conversion is
emptiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rich young ruler sensed
the emptiness and futility of his life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Those who have not been fully infused with
Christ fail to hear the music, and cannot fully join into the dance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Prudent Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858730023857065941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928191995914058313.post-85195269722316260522024-03-02T05:53:00.000-08:002024-03-02T05:53:20.755-08:00Corporate worship<p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The purpose of corporate worship is to bless
God. We may compare children performing for the pleasure of their parents. The
parent rejoices to see the child developing</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">abilities and expressiveness.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">We can be sure that our worship is blessing God
if we ourselves are blessed spiritually. If God is blessed, His Spirit within
us is also blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">But how do we know if we are being blessed
spiritually?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not so easy. It is
quite possible to excite the flesh under the guise of “worship”—as the
Israelites did with Aaron’s golden calf. Non-charismatics accuse charismatics
of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>this, with their worship services
that resemble rock conferences.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">On the other hand, traditional worship can (and
often does) become worship of tradition, rather than worship of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">How to solve the problem of differing
preferences? For one person, a Bach cantata lifts her into raptures; for
another, it takes a sound-and-light show at massive volume. By taking the pulse
of the Spirit. The Spirit can unify: this is the miracle of the Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">One often sees videos of stadium concerts with
thousands of people raising their hands to Jesus. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are receiving blessing from Him: an
inspiration, a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>healing, an
encouragement. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">But how about a concert with thousands of people
raising their hands and shouting, “Jesus, send me to die!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>Prudent Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858730023857065941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928191995914058313.post-20300173376003340822024-03-02T05:50:00.000-08:002024-03-02T05:50:28.355-08:00Countering oppression<p> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What should our response be to the oppressive
rule of self-serving hypocrites?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jesus called out and exposed the hypocrisy of
the religious rulers of His day, who were oppressing the people with their
rules and traditions.. But in the end, He did not overturn the system—instead,
the system eliminated Him. However, the effect of Jesus’ death was to start an unstoppable
exodus, and even more to initiate a liberation movement</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">outside of the control of the authorities.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">How do we relate this to the current situation
in many countries, where nepotistic rulers preside over corrupt and incompetent
bureaucracies that mismanage funds and resources for their own gain? Do we
follow Jesus’ example and call them out, then allow ourselves to be crucified? Sometimes
it seems that political martyrdom is the only way forward. Lincoln, Gandhi,
Kennedy, Martin Luther King arguably did more by becoming idealized martyrs,
than they would have had they continued to live.</span></p>Prudent Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858730023857065941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928191995914058313.post-38480456122540412712024-03-02T05:39:00.000-08:002024-03-02T05:39:43.929-08:00Boring worship<p><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will
not smell in your solemn assemblies. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Though
ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them:
neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. Take thou away
from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">But let judgment run down as waters, and
righteousness as a mighty stream. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Have
ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O
house of Israel? </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">But ye have borne the
tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye
made to yourselves. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Therefore will I
cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith the LORD, whose name is
The God of hosts.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">(Amos 5)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">If God is enjoying worship, then we will feel it
in our spirits.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">All too often I have been bored by repetitive
worship which is the same week after week. Is this my fault, or the church's, or both?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Is the weekly song service really something that
God requires? Or are churches just doing this to keep up appearances?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">If the words and/or melodies stick with you throughout
the week and sustain your spirit, this means that the worship has blessed God,
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">What would it have been like to worship in Bach's church?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">When God is not blessed by worship, it is a sign
of idolatry—that is, something other than God has become the main focus. The
idol may be tradition, or any other kind of distraction.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Prudent Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858730023857065941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928191995914058313.post-28701573375652467622024-02-27T00:22:00.000-08:002024-02-27T00:22:23.285-08:00Good people<p> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">There are “good people” who lead “good lives”
who seem to need no salvation. (They are most likely living off a moral legacy
of God-believers.) They are thoughtful; they are compassionate; they exhibit
the qualities of love. Certainly God’s grace is already in their lives.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Unquestionably they have sinful impulses as well,
but they just don’t seem to show up. They are not competitive or jealous; they
are not greedy or given to anger. They are easygoing, and don’t get
frustrated.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">All of these characteristics
are blessings from God. It seems that God has already shed His love abroad in
their hearts.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Pharisees were hypocrites. Are these people
hidden hypocrites? I don’t think so.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jesus came to save sinners. If someone is not a
“sinner”, then does he need to be saved?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Certainly these people lack the perspective of
the Cross. They have no sense of future glory, so they would not be inclined or
willing to endure suffering for goals they do not see.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Their lives are focused on the short term. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">But they are playing a positive part in God’s
drama—they are not villains. They are like Cornelius.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God may come into their lives when they have
an extreme need.</span></p>Prudent Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858730023857065941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928191995914058313.post-81809376268045648912024-02-27T00:18:00.000-08:002024-02-27T00:18:49.362-08:00Belief in practice<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">I believe in God. Let me explain to you what
this means in practice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">My life has a purpose. I am a dancer in a
ballet. I am a musician in an orchestra. I am a player on a football team. I am
contributing towards the emergence of something wonderful, beautiful, glorious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">God gives me beautiful inspirations as a
gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He does not give them so they will
go to waste. I am steward of these inspirations. I am to use them to contribute
towards the revealing of the ultimate masterpiece. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not have to establish priority, or rush to
be first to publish. My primary concern is to share these inspirations with others,
so that they too can taste the wonder and glory.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">I am part of a flying circus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My trapezehas reached the end of its
trajectory, and I don’t see the other trapeze. But it’s there! I don’t have to
force it to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have to <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to make
it happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have to throw a
tantrum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just need to be following the
conductor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">I used to get so frustrated that I had such beautiful
mathematical ideas, but no way to bring them to fruition. I couldn’t explain to
collaborators, so I would work on them myself at a snail’s pace, knowing that I
would never finish.<br />
This is simply lack of faith. If the inspiration is from Him, the fruition will
also be from Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the inspiration is
not from Him, I should let it go.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Prudent Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858730023857065941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928191995914058313.post-50530690259687799342024-02-27T00:16:00.000-08:002024-02-27T00:19:07.393-08:00 Some consequences of believing in God, and in Jesus.<p><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">“God is love” means that God defines love. (1
Corinthians 13 is a description, not a definition.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since Jesus is the perfect representation of
God, Jesus’ actions are perfectly loving. His death on the Cross is the
ultimate demonstration of love.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Love is simple, our perceptions are complicated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Loving is not just some heroic and somewhat
arbitrary task that I set myself. It is taking my appointed place as a player
in God’s orchestra.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Distraction and anxiety in life come entirely
from losing focus on loving.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Loving does not mean neglect of self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The body is a necessary vehicle for love.
Body, soul, and spirit all play a part. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Prudent Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858730023857065941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928191995914058313.post-65018489124000389692024-02-24T18:35:00.000-08:002024-02-24T18:35:02.900-08:00Recliner chair<p> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I just bought a canvas recliner chair.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">How do you adjust the back angle? Do you have
to pull something out? Do you have to force something just a little bit? One
could fiddle with this for hours.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I want to change the battery in my computer.
What do you slide/pull/unscrew to unhook the ribbon cable from your battery?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do you? Everything depends on this one
small thing.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">You can’t go on until you
pass this step. There is one right way of doing it. You can’t force an
alternative</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Life situations like this are not uncommon.
Often, instead of a hook or latch, the critical component is a person:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">a boss, a spouse, a son or daughter. This one
person may stand squarely opposed to the accomplishment of some envisioned
project or goal. The way forward is blocked.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In practice, believing in God means that if your
project is valid (i.e. it’s a part of His project), then there is a right way
of removing the blockage. Frustration and anger are invalid responses. Threats,
violence, or subterfuge are counterproductive. What is necessary is </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">wisdom to perform the right action, and that
wisdom comes from above.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Prudent Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858730023857065941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928191995914058313.post-81572609761495085472024-02-24T18:33:00.000-08:002024-02-24T18:33:35.611-08:00Lost cord<p> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I have with me a cord for charging my phone. One
end is usb, and plugs into the charger; the other end is miniUSB, and plugs
into the phone.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without the
cord, I can’t recharge my phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without
phone, I can’t access the internet.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Usually I have a fixed place where I keep the
cord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the other day I went out and
put the cord ‘somewhere’ in my backpack. When I got home I looked “everywhere” through
the backpack, multiple times, and still couldn’t find it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In the U.S., this would be no big deal—just go
get another cord. But in Africa, it’s a show-stopper.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do I do? I could try to reason things
out.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">But I can reason up one side of the
mountain and down the other side, and still not come to a resolution.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Here is where perspective becomes critical. I am
not living life solo. I am part of an orchestra.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I have a Conductor. We are making music
together purposefully, I’m not just making up a tune as I go along.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The solution is to look to the Conductor. What
is happening does fit into the development of the piece, I only need to see how.
So anxiety, regret, self-recrimination, spinning and respinning thoughts are
all unnecessary. They are replaced with wisdom from above, which is pure,
peaceable, gentle, flexible, full of mercy and good fruits</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">How do you tell that a though or inspiration is
from the conductor?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">By the character of
the thought. Also, the Conductor will always direct you to express love.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Prudent Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858730023857065941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928191995914058313.post-57957088572302968152024-02-24T18:28:00.000-08:002024-02-24T18:28:21.034-08:00Life and Copernicus<p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Copernican picture of the planets is so
clear.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The entire picture may be grasped
at once. But the picture was not obvious to begin with—the visible motion of
the planets in the sky is very complicated.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Similarly, life is <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>easy when you look at it the right way. The
realization of the simplicity of life may come through suffering. Job suffered,
and saw God clearly as a result. This is the blessing of suffering.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Here is what I got from my recent bout with
pneumonia.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">God gives me inspirations on how to show love. My
job is to act on these inspirations. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">These inspirations are not fragmentary or
unrelated--they are directives from the symphony conductor, who has an overall
piece of music in mind.</span></p>Prudent Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858730023857065941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928191995914058313.post-61837614664960795362024-02-18T03:02:00.000-08:002024-02-18T03:02:05.857-08:00union with Brahman / God<p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Brahman of the Upanishads may be identified with
YHWH of the Bible. YHWH is I AM; Brahman simply IS. YHWH is love; Brahman is
love.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">How to achieve union (reconciliation) with Brahman/God?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The path of Bhakti yoga strives to achieve union
with Brahman through love of a personal deity (Who is a manifestation of
Brahman). This seems identical with the Christian’s devotion to Jesus. But is
it?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The path </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">of karma yoga union strives to attain union with
God through good works such as charity, compassion, and so on. We find that
Jesus commands the same. So isn’t this just Christianity in Indian dress?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Both paths can be seen as forms of sacrifice. In
karma yoga, good works count as sacrifices offered to God. In bhakti yoga, the
worshipper offers him or herself as a devotional sacrifice.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">So here lies the critical difference. The Hindu
path to God (and for that matter, the Jewish and Muslim paths as well) are
sacrifice-based. Our sacrifice is required to bridge the gap, to make the
connection, to attain union.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Abraham takes his son up the mountain.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">He has heard God tell him that he must
sacrifice his son Isaac to keep fellowship with Him.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">He binds his son, blindfolds, takes the knife,
prepares to strike—and his hand is stayed.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“ABRAHAM, IS NOT YOUR SACRIFICE THAT I REQUIRE.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I MYSELF HAVE MADE THE SACRIFICE. I HAVE BRIDGED
THE GAP. YOU DO NOT NEED TO PERFORM.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">YOU
DO NOT NEED TO STRIVE. ONLY ACCEPT THE SACRIFICE THAT I HAVE MADE FOR YOU.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Abraham only had to undo his own work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had to unbound his son. He had to go and
catch hold of the ram that God provided, and kill it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">For the follower of Jesus, Jesus made the
sacrifice-no further sacrifice is required.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What does God require of the Jesus-follower? That
we walk in the power of the Spirit of Jesus, and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">put to death all deeds of the flesh.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The good works of the Jesus-follower are not an
attempt to bridge the gap to God, but the fruit of reconciliation with Him. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">All kinds of religious perversions have resulted
from the idea that we need to climb up to God. There is
reincarnation, for instance. Because of the holiness and purity of God, oneness
with God through self-perfection requires effort that cannot be achieved in a
single lifetime. Reincarnation is a natural logical consequence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">If God never intended us to think that He
required our sacrifice, then why did He take so long to bring Jesus into the world?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The unfolding of God’s glory over time is
gradual. He took billions of years to create life; then millions to create
humans; and so on. As we are part of this unfolding process, we have partial
knowledge and misimpressions (the same can be seen in the history of physics).
These misimpressions are successively identified and corrected. This very
unfolding is part of the gloriousness of God.</span></p>Prudent Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01858730023857065941noreply@blogger.com0