I really don't know what to say today. I know it might be a let down but I think this post is going to be short, just because to say anything at all would probably be redundant. Josh was a good friend of mine, and a good friend of many of us, and telling people about how good he was is something we've already done a lot.
The main thing I'll do in this post is say what Josh means to the rest of my life. I won't be posting again on days to remember Josh except for the year mark, and then from there remembering him will be something I do by myself, unless I feel God wants me to write again about him. If there is a 6 Month mark or whatever else there is, I won't be participating in it because I know my friend, and I believe he'd think there's too much attention going to him.
I hold Josh up as an example. As I make decisions in my life I set what I do next to what God lays down in the Bible, but I also think of Josh and how his attitude was on life. Work wasn't too hard where Josh couldn't have fun. Basically with him the pits of life didn't seem as bad as they should've been unless something was happening with his family. Certain jobs that we did together I would've probably not wanted to do as much if Josh wasn't right there doing it with me. His attitude about things that most people would complain about always surprised me and as I look back on it I think about how much I don't do this.
Anyway, I'm talking about how good Josh is again, we all know he was an amazing person. I've not yet fully mourned the fact that he's gone, I've not cried yet. I'm sure one day I will, but for now I will just remember him. God took him because he glorified God much more in death than he had the chance to in life. Praise God for His goodness, and let us not doubt His wisdom.
I sure am looking forward to Heaven...
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
"Before his downfall a man..."
Though the four month mark is coming up since Josh's death, I felt that I should write now as well as Tuesday. First of all, the last subject still doesn't make me feel as good having it up in the forefront, and I feel as if there's been to large space in between posts. So I'm going to post on something I think is important and can be found in the Proverbs.
"Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but before honor comes humility." Provebs 18:12
If you look at every sin ever invented, done, redone or thought of, all of it will link back to this one thing: pride. Basically we just say that we know better than God and can make a better decision than Him. When I decide steal something I decide that God isn't fulfilling my needs. He said He would, but we decide He isn't. Same with any sin, it all links back to pride. Which is interesting, but is kind of broad for this verse.
This verse talks more along the lines of testing the heart. If your attitude is to be proud a downfall is sure, simply because that's a law that God has set in place. You try to take God's place you will be a contender against the true God, and He's pretty good at games. Another verse that comes into mind when I hear this is: "A man sees right in everything he does, but God tests the heart." I don't know if that's word for word, but you get the general idea.
Jesus speaks many times in the gospels about being humble, but have you ever wondered why? The example He makes of Himself by taking the place of the least servant and washing the feet of His disciples, why is it such a big deal? I know that when I hear it the message kind of goes over my head, or the in-one-ear-out-the-other deal. It doesn't seem to me to be that big of a deal, but it is. All sin is founded in this one problem we each have, it's pride.
Think way back before Adam and Eve, back to where Lucifer was the biggest and baddest angel around, I mean, you just didn't even mess with this dude. He was the angel "that covered." He was the most beautiful of God's creations and because he was the best God appointed him as the angel that would cover God's glory. This sounds to me that God gave Lucifer a physical position that was higher than God, over God, covering God. By all practical standards God didn't have to more than flinch and Lucifer would be toast, but still Lucifer was allowed this position. It was a position that allowed for pride.
Do you think this was a mistake? Did God give Lucifer this position because He didn't think Lucifer would betray and make a rebellion in heaven? I doubt it. First of all, at any point God could just end everything. He's God who started this whole thing, He doesn't need to justify anything to anyone...move a finger and He could wipe the whole slate clean. There was war in heaven, and Satan was cast down with the third of the heavenly hosts. Mistake? God allowed it to happen just like He allowed us to be tempted. But that's getting off topic.
Think now about the figures in the Bible that we most often talk about: Noah, Abraham, David, Peter...and I can name more but lets just start here. Noah doesn't take too much visualization since we have the movie Evan Almighty, but take it a step further and imagine a whole bunch of people that don't mind killing someone just for the heck of it. No moral code whatsoever, anything goes. Noah was taking big steps trying to minister to these people as well as building an ark unmolested. God definitely did some stuff with him, and Noah was more than willing to listen to direction while risking his life for it.
Abraham, a humble, righteous man. Talk about moving out on a hunch. When we move from say Michigan to say Texas, it's like taking a stroll compared to what Abraham was going to do. He was basically moving a small kingdom and they were walking from Michigan to Texas, with Egypt and a whole lot of nastier things in between the two spots. God makes good on what He says He will, He just needs someone who doesn't think he knows better what God is talking about.
David...ah David. Now you could argue he was not a humble man, but I still think he was, he just isn't perfect. That's okay, not many of us are. But he was an extremely bloody King. When God told him to attack David did, then he sat back and played the harp and wrote a poem about it. It doesn't sound to me like it was that big of a deal to him, but he didn't make war without consulting God. It wasn't like he was looking around like, "That land over there looks good, take it for me Gamlealebaba (or whatever the officers were called) and bring me back the head of the leader by nightfall." It wasn't anything like that, although his faith in God's ability to give them the battle was just about the same. Mustering men together and sending them somewhere is a huge order, especially in those days with the amount of men that they sent. You'd think some of the people would balk at the amount of sacrifice they would have to make for it all. David couldn't have done all that he did without the direct help of God, and David took no credit for what he did. Read the Psalms any day and you'll find a lot of talking about how God delivered, and God was amazing...etc.
And finally Peter. It was always amazing to me to hear how Jesus called Simon to become Peter. With such subtle work he transforms a fisherman into a legend of Christianity. Peter was the one who denied Jesus three times, he was a zealot who was ready to destroy the Roman forces. Up until a certain point his heart was set on himself and the victories he was going to accomplish with Jesus. Only after Jesus' crucification do you see a change in Peter to where he really starts to get wall this humility stuff. There is a noted change, and from there Peter is basically the leader of the movement like Jesus was the start of it.
Power is in humility because God is the holder of power. Those who want to be like God won't be getting any help from God, He doesn't need another contender. If you think you're good enough to take on the world you obviously don't need my help. But in humility you will find amazing things happen. People naturally want to be better than you, but when you step below them and make them feel as if they are better than you. You'll find in the end, after everything is done, they will be the ones feeling regret, not you.
I think we can all agree we had an amazing example of this in Josh.
"Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but before honor comes humility." Provebs 18:12
If you look at every sin ever invented, done, redone or thought of, all of it will link back to this one thing: pride. Basically we just say that we know better than God and can make a better decision than Him. When I decide steal something I decide that God isn't fulfilling my needs. He said He would, but we decide He isn't. Same with any sin, it all links back to pride. Which is interesting, but is kind of broad for this verse.
This verse talks more along the lines of testing the heart. If your attitude is to be proud a downfall is sure, simply because that's a law that God has set in place. You try to take God's place you will be a contender against the true God, and He's pretty good at games. Another verse that comes into mind when I hear this is: "A man sees right in everything he does, but God tests the heart." I don't know if that's word for word, but you get the general idea.
Jesus speaks many times in the gospels about being humble, but have you ever wondered why? The example He makes of Himself by taking the place of the least servant and washing the feet of His disciples, why is it such a big deal? I know that when I hear it the message kind of goes over my head, or the in-one-ear-out-the-other deal. It doesn't seem to me to be that big of a deal, but it is. All sin is founded in this one problem we each have, it's pride.
Think way back before Adam and Eve, back to where Lucifer was the biggest and baddest angel around, I mean, you just didn't even mess with this dude. He was the angel "that covered." He was the most beautiful of God's creations and because he was the best God appointed him as the angel that would cover God's glory. This sounds to me that God gave Lucifer a physical position that was higher than God, over God, covering God. By all practical standards God didn't have to more than flinch and Lucifer would be toast, but still Lucifer was allowed this position. It was a position that allowed for pride.
Do you think this was a mistake? Did God give Lucifer this position because He didn't think Lucifer would betray and make a rebellion in heaven? I doubt it. First of all, at any point God could just end everything. He's God who started this whole thing, He doesn't need to justify anything to anyone...move a finger and He could wipe the whole slate clean. There was war in heaven, and Satan was cast down with the third of the heavenly hosts. Mistake? God allowed it to happen just like He allowed us to be tempted. But that's getting off topic.
Think now about the figures in the Bible that we most often talk about: Noah, Abraham, David, Peter...and I can name more but lets just start here. Noah doesn't take too much visualization since we have the movie Evan Almighty, but take it a step further and imagine a whole bunch of people that don't mind killing someone just for the heck of it. No moral code whatsoever, anything goes. Noah was taking big steps trying to minister to these people as well as building an ark unmolested. God definitely did some stuff with him, and Noah was more than willing to listen to direction while risking his life for it.
Abraham, a humble, righteous man. Talk about moving out on a hunch. When we move from say Michigan to say Texas, it's like taking a stroll compared to what Abraham was going to do. He was basically moving a small kingdom and they were walking from Michigan to Texas, with Egypt and a whole lot of nastier things in between the two spots. God makes good on what He says He will, He just needs someone who doesn't think he knows better what God is talking about.
David...ah David. Now you could argue he was not a humble man, but I still think he was, he just isn't perfect. That's okay, not many of us are. But he was an extremely bloody King. When God told him to attack David did, then he sat back and played the harp and wrote a poem about it. It doesn't sound to me like it was that big of a deal to him, but he didn't make war without consulting God. It wasn't like he was looking around like, "That land over there looks good, take it for me Gamlealebaba (or whatever the officers were called) and bring me back the head of the leader by nightfall." It wasn't anything like that, although his faith in God's ability to give them the battle was just about the same. Mustering men together and sending them somewhere is a huge order, especially in those days with the amount of men that they sent. You'd think some of the people would balk at the amount of sacrifice they would have to make for it all. David couldn't have done all that he did without the direct help of God, and David took no credit for what he did. Read the Psalms any day and you'll find a lot of talking about how God delivered, and God was amazing...etc.
And finally Peter. It was always amazing to me to hear how Jesus called Simon to become Peter. With such subtle work he transforms a fisherman into a legend of Christianity. Peter was the one who denied Jesus three times, he was a zealot who was ready to destroy the Roman forces. Up until a certain point his heart was set on himself and the victories he was going to accomplish with Jesus. Only after Jesus' crucification do you see a change in Peter to where he really starts to get wall this humility stuff. There is a noted change, and from there Peter is basically the leader of the movement like Jesus was the start of it.
Power is in humility because God is the holder of power. Those who want to be like God won't be getting any help from God, He doesn't need another contender. If you think you're good enough to take on the world you obviously don't need my help. But in humility you will find amazing things happen. People naturally want to be better than you, but when you step below them and make them feel as if they are better than you. You'll find in the end, after everything is done, they will be the ones feeling regret, not you.
I think we can all agree we had an amazing example of this in Josh.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Are ghosts real?
I had an interesting conversation with a friend of mine at work last night. She talked about how she and her sister see ghosts all the time in her home, which she quickly denoted as crazy and most people don't believe it. I came back and said I did believe what she said because I do know that ghosts are real, but are in no way as great or fantastical or unbelievable as we try to make them out to be.
I posted a lot more about this earlier, but God directly spoke to me and said I did not have what it took to make this move. Apparently speaking on this subject is much larger than I had first thought it was. Then just understand as I do that the spiritual realm exists and it is nothing to take lightly.
I posted a lot more about this earlier, but God directly spoke to me and said I did not have what it took to make this move. Apparently speaking on this subject is much larger than I had first thought it was. Then just understand as I do that the spiritual realm exists and it is nothing to take lightly.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Remember to Follow, but always lead
At this point I've been going through a time where I've needed to think about stepping outside my comfort zone and embrace life. Real life as a man though doesn't mean to continue as a child and live at home. As Paul said, "When I became a man I put childish things behind me." In this way he became a leader and did not follow examples of other people. I've decided that it is best to embrace this new venture as necessary even though I at first may not have wanted it.
In life itself we are broken down by peers to follow example and do what is being done, the only time something new can be acceptable is when you happen to be "cool." The way to becoming cool is as fragile as sunshine on a cloudy day. We are taught in most cases to remain on the wayside while others that are more "qualified" act as a lightning rod for us simple minded.
If I were talking about everyday happenings I wouldn't have as much of a problem with it. I don't trust some "professionals" like others do, but on the whole I do trust those who have a few more years on me. In religion though the matter is different.
The apostle Paul understood how it was to lead in life, he didn't knuckle under anyone because he was not trying to impress anyone other than the Father. It is so easy though for us to step aside and forget that we are only supposed to be following God, and at that we are to follow nothing else. In the Commandments the God gives us in Deuteronomy it says to "Respect your father and mother" even "obey," but it does not say anything about giving your heart to them. It speaks of obedience and respect as an obligatory thing. A relationship with your parents is in fact a very good thing, and it is something that God does not discourage, but there is only One entity that God does tell us to follow wholeheartedly above all else, and that is Him.
In life we are commanded to follow God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. Follow God, not the crowd, not what your grandma thinks is best for you. God and only God. In life we are to lead in this aspect. In all ways follow God, but also in all ways lead others towards Him.
This stage in my life where I expect to be embracing what adults call the "real world," I pray I will set the trend that when my heavenly Father gives me a commandment, that I will follow Him. That I would put away pride and the fear of embarrassment and simply follow as I should. I think the quickest way to becoming cool is when you stand up for what is right and no one else can step on you because of it. Make no mistake, that is also the quickest way to persecution, but after awhile, those people do come around when you seem to have this joy in you that no one else around seems to have.
In life always follow God no matter the cost, remember that people die for Him every day while we worry if we're going to miss our favorite show. In life also always remember that we should set the example and lead the crowd, not follow it. The crowd won't go to God on its own.
In life itself we are broken down by peers to follow example and do what is being done, the only time something new can be acceptable is when you happen to be "cool." The way to becoming cool is as fragile as sunshine on a cloudy day. We are taught in most cases to remain on the wayside while others that are more "qualified" act as a lightning rod for us simple minded.
If I were talking about everyday happenings I wouldn't have as much of a problem with it. I don't trust some "professionals" like others do, but on the whole I do trust those who have a few more years on me. In religion though the matter is different.
The apostle Paul understood how it was to lead in life, he didn't knuckle under anyone because he was not trying to impress anyone other than the Father. It is so easy though for us to step aside and forget that we are only supposed to be following God, and at that we are to follow nothing else. In the Commandments the God gives us in Deuteronomy it says to "Respect your father and mother" even "obey," but it does not say anything about giving your heart to them. It speaks of obedience and respect as an obligatory thing. A relationship with your parents is in fact a very good thing, and it is something that God does not discourage, but there is only One entity that God does tell us to follow wholeheartedly above all else, and that is Him.
In life we are commanded to follow God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. Follow God, not the crowd, not what your grandma thinks is best for you. God and only God. In life we are to lead in this aspect. In all ways follow God, but also in all ways lead others towards Him.
This stage in my life where I expect to be embracing what adults call the "real world," I pray I will set the trend that when my heavenly Father gives me a commandment, that I will follow Him. That I would put away pride and the fear of embarrassment and simply follow as I should. I think the quickest way to becoming cool is when you stand up for what is right and no one else can step on you because of it. Make no mistake, that is also the quickest way to persecution, but after awhile, those people do come around when you seem to have this joy in you that no one else around seems to have.
In life always follow God no matter the cost, remember that people die for Him every day while we worry if we're going to miss our favorite show. In life also always remember that we should set the example and lead the crowd, not follow it. The crowd won't go to God on its own.
Friday, January 11, 2008
What is Right?
Do you ever wonder why it is that an Atheistic government is still seeking after a "Utopian" state? When denying all reference to God it seems to me that any acknowledgment of a moral standing is to actually do the exact opposite. Why should I do anything "good"? Why shouldn't I kill? Why shouldn't I steal? Honestly, why do we seek to do what is right?
For the sake of discussion I'm going to become an atheist, from this point I no longer believe in any kind of God, and now I want to know why I should listen to rules.
Why do we color inside the lines? Why do we drive on the right side of the road? Why do we listen to the authority which tells us we can't do these things? Why do they feel as if their job is something they have to do? Why don't we simply steal what we need rather than earn it through labor? Wouldn't true Utopia forgo the need to work? Why do I care what you think of me? Why do any of us care?
I'm back to believing in God now. But why are all these questions unanswered in the general public? I have questioned the existence of God. I've sat back and looked at it and said, "This is just too weird that any being could be in control of this." I've taken the time to block out any belief in God and see what it feels like. The questions then came to me, why does society follow the rules they are given?
God cursed man and said, "You will work the ground for your food, and it will produce thistle's..." That makes sense, even in a Utopian state the government still has people work.
God set down rules in the garden and said, "You may eat of each tree in the garden, but from the one in the center you may not eat of it's fruit or you shall surely die..." Makes sense again, in a Utopian state there are rules to which the breaking of said rules brings severe punishment. Even though not all punishments will be death, the basic reaction to the breaking of a rule still remains. Human nature still follows that pattern God created within us.
Consider how we decide to break rules. What do we feel when we decide we're going to break a rule? I personally get a nervous feeling, or when I decide to bend a rule that doesn't lend itself to being destructive I get a kind of rush. Both of these are because we don't want someone to know or to find out. After the act is done we have to act as if it never happened. In the garden of Eden something similar happened. When Adam and Eve sinned they wanted to cover it up, first with leaves and then with accusations.
Even if we decide that God does not exist the signs of His designs permeate our bodies. Think of feelings that are in us and how we react to certain things. God made these things, and every pattern of a Utopian state still cannot escape the fact that they are still acting under the guise of God's design and man's rebellion against God.
The very idea of a Utopian state is an idea founded in Satan's camp. It's a setting aside of a people from the rest of the world to be better than the rest of the world. To create a "perfect" race and segment of society. That is why no government has ever been able to create a Utopian state and every story that has depicted it has shown it to be rightly problematic.
God alone can have the label of perfection. There is no man, or man created thing, that can take that label because no matter what we do or create we still conform to the physical and spiritual rules already in place. We react, we can do no else.
The purpose of this post is to give to you the questions of asked for a long time. It is also to perhaps enlighten someone else and give a point against Atheism. The belief in no God at all is simply an admission to cowardice. Sit and watch society for awhile. I've found that working at Meijer has given me this unique view into a portion of it. A portion that wishes to go on unbelieving and unchallenged simply because they think their current existence will last for good. The purpose of this post is to get you to ask the question to yourself:
What is right? And why do we want to do it?
A Christian shouldn't have too hard a time answering that question. To God be given all praise.
For the sake of discussion I'm going to become an atheist, from this point I no longer believe in any kind of God, and now I want to know why I should listen to rules.
Why do we color inside the lines? Why do we drive on the right side of the road? Why do we listen to the authority which tells us we can't do these things? Why do they feel as if their job is something they have to do? Why don't we simply steal what we need rather than earn it through labor? Wouldn't true Utopia forgo the need to work? Why do I care what you think of me? Why do any of us care?
I'm back to believing in God now. But why are all these questions unanswered in the general public? I have questioned the existence of God. I've sat back and looked at it and said, "This is just too weird that any being could be in control of this." I've taken the time to block out any belief in God and see what it feels like. The questions then came to me, why does society follow the rules they are given?
God cursed man and said, "You will work the ground for your food, and it will produce thistle's..." That makes sense, even in a Utopian state the government still has people work.
God set down rules in the garden and said, "You may eat of each tree in the garden, but from the one in the center you may not eat of it's fruit or you shall surely die..." Makes sense again, in a Utopian state there are rules to which the breaking of said rules brings severe punishment. Even though not all punishments will be death, the basic reaction to the breaking of a rule still remains. Human nature still follows that pattern God created within us.
Consider how we decide to break rules. What do we feel when we decide we're going to break a rule? I personally get a nervous feeling, or when I decide to bend a rule that doesn't lend itself to being destructive I get a kind of rush. Both of these are because we don't want someone to know or to find out. After the act is done we have to act as if it never happened. In the garden of Eden something similar happened. When Adam and Eve sinned they wanted to cover it up, first with leaves and then with accusations.
Even if we decide that God does not exist the signs of His designs permeate our bodies. Think of feelings that are in us and how we react to certain things. God made these things, and every pattern of a Utopian state still cannot escape the fact that they are still acting under the guise of God's design and man's rebellion against God.
The very idea of a Utopian state is an idea founded in Satan's camp. It's a setting aside of a people from the rest of the world to be better than the rest of the world. To create a "perfect" race and segment of society. That is why no government has ever been able to create a Utopian state and every story that has depicted it has shown it to be rightly problematic.
God alone can have the label of perfection. There is no man, or man created thing, that can take that label because no matter what we do or create we still conform to the physical and spiritual rules already in place. We react, we can do no else.
The purpose of this post is to give to you the questions of asked for a long time. It is also to perhaps enlighten someone else and give a point against Atheism. The belief in no God at all is simply an admission to cowardice. Sit and watch society for awhile. I've found that working at Meijer has given me this unique view into a portion of it. A portion that wishes to go on unbelieving and unchallenged simply because they think their current existence will last for good. The purpose of this post is to get you to ask the question to yourself:
What is right? And why do we want to do it?
A Christian shouldn't have too hard a time answering that question. To God be given all praise.
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