Thanks to Ray Comfort for the illustrations.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
The Bible
Written over 1600 years, over 60 generations, 40 plus authors, different walks of life, different occupations, different places, different times, different moods, written across 3 continents, in 3 different languages, writings on hundreds of controversial subjects
BUT,
absolute harmony from beginning to end.
The Bible is unique, there is no other book like it.
"Defend the Bible? I would as soon defend a lion!" Charles Spurgeon
BUT,
absolute harmony from beginning to end.
The Bible is unique, there is no other book like it.
"Defend the Bible? I would as soon defend a lion!" Charles Spurgeon
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Into the Kiln I go...
So, my last blog is coming true for me. God has broken me and placed me into the kiln. I'm not sure what he's making me into, but it brings me joy to know he's working on me.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Into the Kiln...
Jeremiah 18:1-6 (King James Version)
1The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
3Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
4And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
5Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
6O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
A lot of controversy has occurred with this past election. I'm not sure if you've noticed. Of course, you've noticed. Unless, perhaps you were under a very dark rock for the past uh... forever. Which i doubt, because rocks are heavy and if you were under one for forever, you would get hungry, which will cause you to get hungry and venture out into the world, therefore making it possible for you to hear something about the election or being introduced into the wonders of fast food.
At this point, you will most likely be thinking, "All right, Vasquez, what's your point?"
Well, I have two points depending where you stand (or sit) and i will now give them to you. I will abstain for using titles such as "liberal democrat" or "conservative republican" because like always, abstinence is the best policy.
Point 1: Due to Obama winning the election, the world is not coming to an end. (I know, call me crazy.)
Point 2: Due to Obama winning the election, the world is coming to an end. (Jk, thought i'd get some laughs with that one.)
Real Point 2: Due to Obama winning the election, things will change. (And change we want! or need. or whatever the slogan is nowadays.)
I recently read a mock letter from the Focus on the Family group titled "A letter from 2012 in Obama's America." (1) This letter portrayed a very dark and grim future, mostly due to Obama's extremely liberal record. A lot of people have said that this letter was just scare tactics and trying to win over people to McCain. That may be true, but it's message should be taken into consideration.
Now you might be thinking, "WHAT? Should i really consider what these legalistic, conservative, overbearing, hell-fire preaching loonies are saying?"
Yes, because like it or not, they've probably been reading the Bible longer than you've been alive (which for the record, starts at conception) and probably have a small idea about what they're talking about.
Go ahead and take a minute to let that sink in.
Good? Ok, let's move on.
Now the doomsday scenario may seem like it's blown out of proportion, but it could also not be. Since Christ left this world on the day of His Ascension, people have been saying He is coming back. The world will scoff at this and mock us for believing this. "It's been 2000 years and where is He?" They mock.
Understand the the Creator of all is not held accountable to time, something He created.
But the signs of the times are pushing us closer to the end, more than we think. The VERY night Obama was elected president, an Israeli city was hit by an air strike.(2) While everyone all over the world rejoiced over Obama being elected, Russia cursed America and said we had some answering to do.(3) According to Biblical prophecy, Russia will take a big role in ushering the end.
Obama has his work cut out for him.
And i say this sincerely, I hope he can handle it.
Like the scripture at the very beginning of this passage, we are about to be put into the Potter's kiln. God is about to do a work in America. I don't really know what way he is going to make us, but i am excited about it. These next four years could be bad or good, but we are not the ones in control. For conservative christians like myself, it could be really hard. But remember that in order for a vessel (or perhaps a "melting pot") to me remade, it has to be broken, melted down and reshaped. What God has done with Israel, He will do with us.
So here's my challenge for you:
No matter what these next four years bring us, do this:
Preach the Gospel. Bring the lost to Christ. Feed the poor and the hungry. Give shelter to those who need it. As the body of Christ, we all have different gifts. We don't all have to do everything ourselves, we can share our workload with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Live your life for your King. Collect crowns of glory so we can cast them at our Creator's feet.
To the church:
We don't have to change to be relevant, we just need to be real. Read God's Word and pray daily. It doesn't get much simpler than that. I promise you, do those things for a solid week and you will see change in your life.
Alright church, let's blow this popsicle stand.
Endnotes:
1. http://focusfamaction.edgeboss.net/download/focusfamaction/pdfs/10-22-08_2012letter.pdf (read it, it's good.)
2. http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/11/05/israel.palestinians.rocket/index.html
3. http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/11/05/russia.missiles/index.html#cnnSTCText
1The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
3Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
4And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
5Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
6O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
A lot of controversy has occurred with this past election. I'm not sure if you've noticed. Of course, you've noticed. Unless, perhaps you were under a very dark rock for the past uh... forever. Which i doubt, because rocks are heavy and if you were under one for forever, you would get hungry, which will cause you to get hungry and venture out into the world, therefore making it possible for you to hear something about the election or being introduced into the wonders of fast food.
At this point, you will most likely be thinking, "All right, Vasquez, what's your point?"
Well, I have two points depending where you stand (or sit) and i will now give them to you. I will abstain for using titles such as "liberal democrat" or "conservative republican" because like always, abstinence is the best policy.
Point 1: Due to Obama winning the election, the world is not coming to an end. (I know, call me crazy.)
Point 2: Due to Obama winning the election, the world is coming to an end. (Jk, thought i'd get some laughs with that one.)
Real Point 2: Due to Obama winning the election, things will change. (And change we want! or need. or whatever the slogan is nowadays.)
I recently read a mock letter from the Focus on the Family group titled "A letter from 2012 in Obama's America." (1) This letter portrayed a very dark and grim future, mostly due to Obama's extremely liberal record. A lot of people have said that this letter was just scare tactics and trying to win over people to McCain. That may be true, but it's message should be taken into consideration.
Now you might be thinking, "WHAT? Should i really consider what these legalistic, conservative, overbearing, hell-fire preaching loonies are saying?"
Yes, because like it or not, they've probably been reading the Bible longer than you've been alive (which for the record, starts at conception) and probably have a small idea about what they're talking about.
Go ahead and take a minute to let that sink in.
Good? Ok, let's move on.
Now the doomsday scenario may seem like it's blown out of proportion, but it could also not be. Since Christ left this world on the day of His Ascension, people have been saying He is coming back. The world will scoff at this and mock us for believing this. "It's been 2000 years and where is He?" They mock.
Understand the the Creator of all is not held accountable to time, something He created.
But the signs of the times are pushing us closer to the end, more than we think. The VERY night Obama was elected president, an Israeli city was hit by an air strike.(2) While everyone all over the world rejoiced over Obama being elected, Russia cursed America and said we had some answering to do.(3) According to Biblical prophecy, Russia will take a big role in ushering the end.
Obama has his work cut out for him.
And i say this sincerely, I hope he can handle it.
Like the scripture at the very beginning of this passage, we are about to be put into the Potter's kiln. God is about to do a work in America. I don't really know what way he is going to make us, but i am excited about it. These next four years could be bad or good, but we are not the ones in control. For conservative christians like myself, it could be really hard. But remember that in order for a vessel (or perhaps a "melting pot") to me remade, it has to be broken, melted down and reshaped. What God has done with Israel, He will do with us.
So here's my challenge for you:
No matter what these next four years bring us, do this:
Preach the Gospel. Bring the lost to Christ. Feed the poor and the hungry. Give shelter to those who need it. As the body of Christ, we all have different gifts. We don't all have to do everything ourselves, we can share our workload with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Live your life for your King. Collect crowns of glory so we can cast them at our Creator's feet.
To the church:
We don't have to change to be relevant, we just need to be real. Read God's Word and pray daily. It doesn't get much simpler than that. I promise you, do those things for a solid week and you will see change in your life.
Alright church, let's blow this popsicle stand.
Endnotes:
1. http://focusfamaction.edgeboss.net/download/focusfamaction/pdfs/10-22-08_2012letter.pdf (read it, it's good.)
2. http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/11/05/israel.palestinians.rocket/index.html
3. http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/11/05/russia.missiles/index.html#cnnSTCText
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