Tag: It Seems to Me

The God-hole

by Bob Beanblossom

9 September 2017

It seems to me that people indeed have a God-hole deep in their beings, one that cries out to be filled one way or another. It is a driving need that can be suppressed, but only by substitution.

If we have not filled this need in the only rational and viable way possible–through accepting the salvation offered by Jesus Christ, then we invent gods to denigrate as we substitute ourselves as supreme beings: rational, wise, and adequate.

The gods we invent and hold up as the g…ods of others are small and petty, inadequate for the task. We, on the other hand, exercise only the purest and noblest rationality as we judge the world from our pedestal in the light of our superior wisdom.

In the end, in those dark quiet moments, the doubts and fears of our own inadequacies haunt us.

The answer is clear but not appealing even in our doubts: surrender our all to the God of Creation. The Apostle Paul even called himself a prisoner of his Lord. In our world that is against the demands of rationalistic Me-ism.

That same Apostle also wrote of one of the benefits of surrendering to God: it brings pease that passes all understanding. The fears of self-doubt are replaced with a deep inner peace that can’t be displaced even in the reality of an imperfect and sometimes devastating world.

The choice is clear: millions of individual Selfs as false centers of the universe (a logical impossibility), or the God who created and sustains everything by the word of His power, and who cares enough about you to provide a personal relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus.

Proof of Evolution

by Bob Beanblossom

12 September 2017

It seems to me that if the best of modern science is not able to create a viable lifeform (a being that can live, grow, and reproduce) from a handful of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen atoms (the components of all organic compounds) that we can draw two complementary conclusions:

1) evolution as creating life from those elements by chance, no matter how much time is allotted, simply is not a realistic option.

2) intelligent design is the only option, and the designer must be mo…re intelligent and better equipped than the best that humanity has to offer.

Since evolutionists promote their worldview as scientific fact, I simply ask for one bit of scientific evidence (not theory or computer simulations) that proves me wrong. Just one.

And, I will stipulate micro evolution that is actually variation, such as the constant adaptation of virus that makes them difficult to control. But even here, with the ongoing adaptation, a virus is still a virus.

Just one verifiable species to species change that is macro evolution. The kind that makes monkeys out of rational men

Science and Reason

by Bob Beanblossom

20 September 2017

It seems to me that my atheist friends who stand on science and reason alone might not have used logic on their own propositions.

Dismissing religion without discussion, they claim that they are totally grounded in fact and reason. No need for faith.

Yet they continually give merchants a piece of plastic believing that the merchant will accept it in lieu of currency, that a computerized financial system will process it as intended, and that by some means the transaction wil…l balance and all will be satisfied.

That’s not faith? What is it? It is not science–there can be no evidence of a future event. It is not reason, for the user does not have all of the details of the process to critically evaluate it.

It is an expectation based upon experience and incomplete knowledge. But, that is exactly what faith is.

The next question is, why would rational people want to deny faith. I can’t answer that one.

Republicans and Democrats

by Bob Beanblossom

20 September 2017

It seems to me that the success of the liberal Democratic party in the U.S. is a no-brainer. Here are some examples of why this is true. It is oversimplified, but only in an effort to accentuate the problem that conservatives have. For my purposes, consider Republicans and Conservatives as the same.

• Republicans struggle to find viable candidates willing to be destroyed by the opposition, the media, and their own party. Democrats have a full bench of sacrificial candidates….

• Republicans are continually feuding and bashing the few candidates/officeholders they do have. Democrats support their own.

• Republicans run as conservatives, but vote with Democrats. Democrats run and vote strong party line.

• Republicans react to every new hot distraction. Democrats create the distractions.

• Republicans exhibit a lack of purpose, direction, and leadership. Democrats herd the lambs as they move steadily onward.

• Republicans attack the media, the entertainment and sports industries and cry about the strong pushback. Democrats embrace and even program these as they control public opinion and the voter.

In other words the Democrats are united even as their candidates/officeholders come and go, while Republicans spin their wheels—all of this as career politicians and power mongers maintain firm control of the entire process. Their biggest threat is for voters to realize that outsiders can destroy them and return the country to the rule of law.

It seems to me that the reason you can’t tell any practical difference between Republican and Democratic politicians is that you can’t tell the difference between Republican and Democratic voters.

Both cry for ‘their’ candidate to make a new law ‘against’ whomever happens to be their enemy de jour.

Even the conservative states-rights limited government bunch. Set term limits, ban this one or that one from running, outlaw this or that in a special way even when it is already… against the law.

What happened to personal responsibility and initiative? Vote out the crowed you don’t like, don’t expect someone else to do it for you. Don’t support politicians or businesses who violate your principles. Find and promote candidates compatible with your worldview–or run for office yourself.

One phrase in President Trump’s UN speech this week (September 2017) stood out: paraphrased, he said: “I was not elected to get power. I was elected to give power”—power to We the People. This is diametrically opposed to the establishment, who states, “We are going to fundamentally change America (and destroy the Constitution and the rule of law in the process).”

Hurting

30 May 2017

By Andrew Murray

Adapted by Bob Beanblossom

It seems to me that God, in His infinite wisdom, lets us share in the relationship He has with another now and then. He shows us that we are not alone.

Are you confused and hurting? Have you suffered a great loss? Here are some words from Andrew Murray, a missionary to South Africa in the 1800s.

Consider, he says:

“First, He brought me here, it is by His will I am in this strait place (I am suffering this trial, this pain–Bob): in that fact I will rest.

“Next, He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace to behave as His child.

“Then, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow.

“Last, in His good time He can bring me out again–how and when (only) He knows.

Let me say I am here,

(1) By God’s appointment,

(2) In His keeping,

(3) Under His training,

(4) For His time.”

In another place, Murray added a fitting conclusion:

“Give yourself time to be silent and quiet before Him, waiting to receive, through the Spirit, the assurance of His presence with you, His working in you. Take time to read His word as in His presence . . . .”

We are still and always human. Grief, sorrow, pain–all are real and poignant, slow to dissipate, never to fully leave.

Murray speaks of a draining of self that is replaced by the filling of God the Holy Spirit. He spoke not from theory but experience. His experience–individual and unique to each of us–repeated countless times daily by those who can follow him in submission to our God. Perhaps “submerge” would be a better word for that action. He says, “Lo, I am with you always (Matthew 28:20a); also, Look for Me first ((Matthew 6:33). My grace (and His alone) is sufficient for you–for all of your confusion, hurting, and sense of loss. Completely sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9).

 

 

 

 

Chained Down

by Bob Beanblossom

24 April 2017

 

It seems to me that sometimes we get chained down in a position that we can’t support, trapped before we even know it.  This happens when we start following men (or women) instead of God: we hang our religion on partially or wholly unsubstantiated doctrine or dogma; it often sounds good, and makes sense, but . .

There are great ongoing debates about all sorts of issues within the Christian faith–often dividing those who should not be divided. The Scripture is not as clear about some issues as we would like. This leads legitimately to differing opinions. We often hear that “we stand together on the main issues, but agree to disagree on others;” all the while standing separate, divided, sometimes to the point of declaring that “our” way is the only way: “then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another” (Matthew 24:10). While we are busy “not” arguing among ourselves, lost souls are dying: “How can ye believe, which receive honor one from another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only? (John 5:44). Satan has succeeded in distracting us from our Great Commission, and enticed us to offend some needlessly. Paul taught, “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some (1 Corinthians 9:22b). Paul held fast the essentials while not getting hung up in the unknowns or in non-essential issues.

Different–conflicting–understandings are not new. The Epistles, those letters to various workers and churches in the first century, were mostly about actively divisive issues–those Christians were no more perfect (nor less so) than we are. The inspired men who wrote the New Testament always wrote to heal, to bring together under the Word, and not to further divide: “This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent” (John 6:29).  All issues are not clear. We might prefer a rule book, another set of Commandments chiseled in stone. The problem is, that approach didn’t work. Man could not (and cannot) live up to God’s standards.

He has given us given a new approach , an era of living within and under God’s grace: that amazing, unmerited gift of salvation made possible only and completely through the sacrificial and atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on the cross: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: is its the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8). That same grace sustains us in our Christian walk–to the extent that we allow. There is no limit to His grace, the limit is wholly within us when we fail to act by faith in concert with His will: “for whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Rom 14:23). We fail when we substitute me-me-me for the great I AM.

Now, back to those differences: either Scripture is the primary authority, or whatever exists is simply not Christianity. Some things, such as the doctrines of sin and salvation, are pretty easy to understand, even if not to accept. Others are much more difficult, with the scripture itself making understanding difficult. Here we must remember that we, in our finite beings, cannot fully understand an infinite God: faith is the word given to our submitting our understanding to Him. Given His authorship, these difficulties are no reason for division, for following paths of opinion rather than Scripture. This is in no way intended to discount the value–even necessity–of doctrine derived from the theological study of Scripture by prayerful, God-loving Christians. These will humbly admit and note their shortcomings and questions as they attempt to clarify and organize the Word that we may find it more understandable and applicable to our lives.

Paul, correcting the Corinthian church, admonished: “you saith, I am of Paul; and I am of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? (I Corinthians 1:12-13):  insert your own favorite religious authority here. We must be ever cautious that we are following Christ and the clear word of Scripture, not unsupported doctrinal statements of a church or individual. Some things we just won’t be able understand until our “faith is made sight,” that is, until we see Jesus face-to-face. That’s ok. He wrote the Book. He made us. He understands our weaknesses. In turn, we did not write the Book and cannot fill in the blanks; we did not create Him and should not attempt to explain what He did not; and lastly, the weakness is within us, not Him. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4).

Time Change

It seems to me that setting our clocks ahead tonight is a reminder of what Jesus does in the hearts of those who accept Him as their personal Savior.

At the very instant that we accept His as our Lord and Savior, we are transported forward to a completely new life in Him. A life in His eternal time zone.

The spiritual curse (but not the reality of living in a sin-cursed world) of Adam is removed. Gone. Covered by His great sacrifice on the cross.

Gone also are our personal sins. Our hearts are not reworked, or rebuilt, or remanufactured–we are re-born, completely new in His sight.

Among the miracles and mysteries of Salvation is why He would do that for us knowing that the free will he gave a failed Adam is alive and kicking in us. We continue to fail our admonition to “go and sin no more.”

But in His wisdom, while giving us Salvation–that instantaneous act of re-birth–it is also the beginning of a personal relationship with our Creator.

He has given us His Word as our guide, the indwelling Holy Spirit to direct and intercede between us and God the Father on our behalf, and prayer to seek His ongoing forgiveness and blessings as we serve Him.

So, as you set your clocks ahead and grumble about the system, take just a moment and thank God that He, in an act of pure love, set your clock ahead and took you out of the hell-bent rut of your time and transformed you to His eternal timeframe.

How Big Am I

by Bob Beanblossom

5 March 2017

It seems to me that many of the problems we have are the result of elevating ourselves above where we should be.

Martyrs are not persecuted and killed for who they are, but for whom they represent–the One whom they believe in and serve with all of their being.

It is not who I am, but who God is that raises the ire of the world.

The Apostle Paul often described himself as a servant, slave, and prisoner of his Lord and Savior. As time passed, he also wrote of his increasing understanding of how unworthy and base he actually was, relative to the God he served–in spite of his best intentions.

It is not who I am, but who God is, and what Jesus, His Son, has done for me, that makes me acceptable in His sight.

The Word says that each Christian is to be a witness–actively, not just passively–for our Savior. That requires us to tell others about our unique and personal experience of salvation through the grace of our Savior and of our ongoing and deepening relationship with Him.

It is not what I have done, but what He has done through me.

So, if you are a Christian, it is never about you, but always about our God.

If you are not a Christian, then you are the only thing you have to offer. Deep inside you know all too well how inadequate that is. Make the best of it–or better yet, turn to the God of Creation, the God of your salvation.

Priorities

By Bob Beanblossom

5 February 2017

It seems to me that sometimes we get our priorities a bit confused in all the hustle and bustle of life. The older folks used to say that we couldn’t see the forest for the trees. Sometimes the opposite is true. Either way, we are still off-track.

Remember the story in Mark 10:38-42 about Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet, taking in all He said? Her sister, who was busy fixing a meal for her Lord, complained to Him about her sister’s inattention to the important work at hand–the real work so that the fellowship could begin.

It seems to me that Jesus said (broadly paraphrased) something to this effect: Martha, time with Jesus (or, reading His Word prayerfully, for us) is far more important than a meal and associated fellowship with good friends. To tighten the thought up a bit, a Bible study is preferred by Jesus to a fellowship activity.

Success

By Bob Beanblossom
18 February 2017

It seems to me that success in this life requires, first, that we recognize success when we see it, and to achieve it, we get and keep our priorities straight.

We don’t achieve success through careers, education, possessions, accolades, or things we accumulate.

We do achieve success through our relentless, untiring, consistent pursuit of God.

Success comes from going where God leads, not expecting Him to keep up with us–and bail us out when our plan fails. Again.

Success, then, is getting as close to Him through prayerful pursuit of His will for us by immersing ourselves in His word and (here it comes) submitting ourselves to what we learn as we discover it. There is no end to the process on this side of the grave. But, this path is truly the only path to success: Eternal success as a child of the King of kings and Lord of lords.