Why I am a Christian or Why I love God

This started with a Pastors sermon.  This post may be more for my benefit than the good reader.  Why do I love God?  For starters I know God exist.  Sheer logic screams "Creator" because random events have created nothing!  Random events cannot maintain order either, anywhere! I mention this because you cannot love Someone who doesn't exist, can you?  I love God because He has given us a beautiful world to live in that is pleasurable and bountiful.   Before I go on I will mention a good apologetic to read called "I Don't Have Enough Faith To Be an Atheist" by Geisler and Turek. Some of the reasons I am a Christian include the clasic response that Christ died for my sins so I don't have to take the penality sin which is Hell.  Another reason  includes that Christ has promised that He "would never leave you (me included), nor forsake you" (me too!). Imagine the God of the Universe walking with you through your worst trial!   By the way, if you want Bible references to what I am talking about write me in the comment section.  Otherwise I am leave the Bible references out for two reasons:  1. To save time. and 2. To make you crack open a good Bible and read it yourself.  Another reason I am a Christian is the fact that Christ rose from the dead.  That fact alone is so powerful I could go on a long time extolling that "blessed hope"!   Christ ressurection means many things such as absolutely everything He said is true and will come to pass if it hasn't yet.  Do you you know anyone that is absolutey trust worthy?  God is because He is perfect!  Another reason I am a Christian is quite frankly no other religion offers such certain hope.  Tell me, what other belief takes away the sting, or fear of death?  That is another reason I am a Christian! When you are close to God's will then death becomes more of a curtain or a phase that we must pass through rather than something to be feared!  (Check out "The Last Words of Saints and Sinners" by Herbert Lockyer.).  By the way, part of my skull will be removed soon, I will keep you posted on that. I also enjoy the close fellowship, love and care I receive from fellow Christian unsolicitated!  Christ also promised that He is coming back to make this world right!  You know I have been writing for almost an hour and I could write even longer!  You see when you telling people about Christ, there are many good things to tell, and when you talk about the God of the Universe you can't stop after a few minutes!  No there many good things to tell!  The irony of it is that I have actually been brief!  Perhaps I might continue on another blog? 

Blessed are the rude for you can shut them up!

What does Hank Hanegraaft and Jay Sekulow have in common?  I'll give you a few hints:  It doesn't have to do with the fact that they both have big radio audiences in the Christian Community.  Nor does it have to do with the large amounts of money they take in through donations.  The common thread that I have noticed with both of those men is the fact that if caller disagrees with either men in what they say or believe then both of those men will cut the caller short before the caller finishes their sentence and then assert what they say in a authoritarian way. In a word, they are plain rude to the dissident caller(s). I have heard both men engage in such interupptions personally and I end up turning the radio off.  There is absolutely nothing in the Bible that justifies such behavior towards anyone.  The common retort is usually 'we have to keep calls short because the lines get full'.   Really?  Where is the love of God in such displays of rudeness?  I have tried contacting the Christian Research Institute in the past hoping to "call them to the carpet" for past actions.  (It had to do with the poor treatment of the Walter Martin family and questionable finances that involved Hanegraafts wife Kathy.).  I got nowhere fast!  In fact it has been my experience that if their is a Christian organization that you love and want to support but they are doing things that unbiblical, wrong, or questionable and you want to draw their attention to the problem; well don't expect a response!  In other words they sheild out anything that they pereceived as critical or negative.   I'll give you a real example of they sheild out criticism:  Focus on the Family often promotes and sells contemplative material.  I tried to call them in at their Colorado office and tell them that such material is occultic.  (think of the DVD "Be Still").  They were friendly, but they were only interested in my call if I needed counseling or wanted to buy something.  So there you have it:  Christian organizations that are structured in such a way that they become impervious even to constructive criticism!  And when you have any organization that is not open to correction or rebuke than it cannot grow.  Tell me, if a husband or wife did not make themselves open to correction to their spouses how long do you thing such a marriage would last? 

stuff you do not hear about

Here is an article that is from Autumn of 2007: ...


I want to warn you that there is a photo of Lady Gaga that is less than lady like on that page!
...


www.nypost.com/p/news/.../item_oOs6YT36w63DSEnAMPsNgL
 
It got my attention for a couple of reasons:  It points out the reality of gay-on-gay crimes that you just don't hear about. You will also see a double standard that some people operate by. What motivated me to share this is due to the fact is that I have a low tolerance for political correctness, especially when truth is often sacraficed on it's altar.  I hope I find more stuff that smashes preconceptions and prejudices.  That is all I can think of right now folks.

Random thoughts

At one point I thought this blog was more like a journal- just a avenue of self expression.  With so many web sites out there I was thinking, 'What could I really add that hasn't been heard'?  But my faith in Christ is very real, and very important to me and keeping my faith to myself is shallow and selfish.  Couple that with the reality that both the US and California are out of money brings home the sobering idea that money doesn't guarentee security, but knowing Jesus as He is meant to be know brings peace with God.  If you are a Christian reading this then leave comment as to how God impacted your life for the better.  If you are a non-believing skeptic reading this then bring your strongest objection to Christianity in a question form.  It has been said that Jesus is answer, and I believe that to be true in a very disarming way.  Another thought for the skeptic reader:  Did it ever occur to you that the reason you might be annoyed or angry when a Christian shares the Gospel of Christ with you is because it makes you feel like a sinner? Gee, isn't that an uncomfortable thought?  Wouldn't the reasonable thing to do would be to investigate your feelings about the Bible, and then investigate the Bible itself in open way?  However too often I have seen skeptics claim that they are more enlighten than Christians and yet that claim is nothing more than emotional grand-standing.   
  To close, I suggest read the entire book of IJohn.  It is a wonderful letter/epistle.

Biography...sort ot

Since I have been sick and went to see the Doctor, I thought about being a little personal. When I was young I came down with Pneumonia. My Mom decided to take me to a seance to heal me. Just to let you know something: My Mom was a strong follower of New Age ideals. Some of the Books included in her collection included "Jonathon Livingston Seagull", some stuff by Shirley McLaine, Carlos Casandra stuff, some writings of a women possessed by the spirit 'Seth'. I know the lack of details here does not give me credibility, but rather than get hung up on a tangent just stay with me and you will get the real point of this post. Well to continue: The seance did not heal me, but the direction of a standard Doctor did. Before I became a Christian I was very eager to please my Mom. However being a devout New Age practitioner involves lots of personal introspection with less regard for other family members. In other words, my Mom was very involved in New Age thought or practices to the point where I thought I was raising myself. (My Dad died when I was a young teenager. and I was a brand new Christian, and a real sucker!). During that time, I asked many, many questions about her beliefs in the New Age. (After all they looked very attractive to me.). Some of the common replies included "not now", "I'm tired", and many looks of annoyances. So one day I thought it fair to ask my Mom evidence that the New Age was true and it work. She got mad and very exasperated at me acting like I was asking the impossible! Needless to say I gradually came to the conclusion that the New Age appeals to feelings and has little to do with God, reality, or the Universe. Here is the moral of the story folks: Children will want to follow your beliefs to at least to please you. Don't squander the time you have your kids. Don't let selfish interest keep you from giving your kids what they need the most: YOU! I almost swallowed the New Age philosophy hook, line, and sinker because of the high regard I had for my Mom. Her dour responses galvanized me towards Christianity and to seriously examine the New Age faith for what it really is- a false hope that can even tear the fabric of families apart.

hum

I have posted for March already but is still stuck on a certain date in Feb.. So this is sort of a test to see where this posting goes wants it published.

just a note

I got another series of dots and dashes for commentary. I can't use it or understand it so I scraped it. What is making it hard to post is this cough and the fact I will be getting head surgery in a few weeks. Yup! You heard right, head surgery! No I have a hard time believing it myself and I kind of wish it is nothing more than a mistake. I was going to share this as the time got closer. I guess what I'll share will be based at least partly on the feedback. Some of the content might be hard to stomach for some individuals. We'll see OK? By the way, no swine flu yet, (honest!).