Fruit of The Spirit

Tags

Christian life, Fruit of the Spirit, Religion

FRUIT OF THE SPIRT

While looking through my Olive Tree Bible App this morning, I was praying and considering what might be a good passage to attempt to expound upon here.  Fruit of the Spirit is something that many of us Christians take for granted that we know and have, but many of us could not list them by rote (including me), nor do our daily lives reflect that we enjoy the ALL the fruit of the Spirit.  The actual passage is at the bottom of this post. For the sake of brevity they are listed here:

• Love
• Joy
• Peace
• Patience
• Kindness
• Generosity
• Faithfulness
• Gentleness
• Self-Control

_____________________________________________

Let us talk about each briefly:

Love.  Is this not what Jesus preached to His Disciples and to the people on a very regular basis? We are also told:

Col 3:14    Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony

Matthew 22:34-40  When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. ’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it:  ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ’  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

These are but a few Scriptures that tell us to LOVE.  It binds us together in perfect harmony, and our Lord Jesus COMMANDS us to  love our neighbor as ourself.  The latter is a commandment that is difficult to obey at times, because our “neighbor” is not always lovable!  However, they are still our neighbor, and Jesus Himself commands us to love them so much that we love them as ourself.

I would imagine that we all love ourselves a good bit, or at least hopefully we do, so loving our neighbor THAT MUCH, is quite a commandment.  I find it difficult to follow at times, and I am confident that many others do as well.

Joy.  I would like to propose a question here that I am posing to myself as well:  If through Jesus, our risen Christ, we have obtained the promise of eternal life in heaven, is there some reason we should not be continuously joyful?  Come on Christian!   If others who are not Christians see you being moody and “ho-hum,” or negative, or anything else that defies joy, exactly why would they want to be a Christian Like You?  And yes, I am pointing that finger me as well.  I’m definitely not the most joyful person in the world.  Actually, I tend to be negative, judgmental, and I exhibit personality traits that are anything but joyful.  However, I AM working on it. I am praying about it.  And God as my Witness, one day I will wake up in the morning just like my wife does–happy to start living another day!

Peace This one can certainly be far from us at times.  However, there is no reason we cannot be peaceful in our own spirit.  We have the promise of eternal life do we not?  So why on earth do we worry so much about things in this life that “mess with” our peace?  

Matthew 6:28-34  

And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat? ’ or ‘What will we drink? ’ or ‘What will we wear? ’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today

Also:  2 Tim 1:7 —  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (KJV)

GOD did NOT give us a spirit of fear!  If then we are fearful, are we at peace?  NO!  Therefore let us remember that God gives us a spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind!  THAT is definitely a peaceful state as I see it.  If I feel powerful, loving, and of sound mind, then how could I possibly not be at peace within my soul?

Patience  Now here is a tough one for us to maintain!  We are supposed to be patient?  Oh my Lord help me in this!  I am lacking in this fruit to a degree at the least.  Being patient is extremely difficult!  

Let us say it is a week before payday, and we do not have the money to buy something we WANT (not that we need), and we are therefore impatient to receive that paycheck.  This are two things to be learned by this example:

1. Many of us are simply impatient, especially when it comes to money
2. Many of us seek instant gratification when instead we should be good stewards of our finances.. 

Patience takes a lot of work to achieve!  When I have totally achieved it, or better yet, when I am so full of the Spirit that there is room for nothing more, and it just bubbles out of me, I will definitely be the first to let you know!  

I intentionally have omitted further Scripture support on this particular fruit, but off the top of my head, I seem to recall a verse in “James” where we are told, “Be angry but sin not!”  And such a verse indicates to me that I must have patience, even when I am angry. That is precisely the time that most of us LOSE our patience!

Kindness:

This one should really be pretty easy, but it is not.  If we are “putting on Christ” as we are told to do in the Scripture, then we should certainly be kind to others, as was Jesus.  

Jesus did not turn people away for His own lack of kindness did he?  No, I think not. As a matter of fact, He was kind to a lot of people who were used to being shunned by the Jewish folks.  For example, the Samaritan woman at the well.  Or by eating with “Publicans and sinners.”  He was kind to these people when others were not.  As a result, such people were afforded the opportunity to learn from our Savior Himself, all due to kindness.  It is extremely kind in nature that WE are afforded the opportunity of the grace which is Salvation.  We are told:

John 3:16  that, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  

If God shows US that much KINDNESS, then should we not show kindness to others? The author of the Book of John (The Apostle John), did not qualify that verse’s promise with any other prerequisites.  We simply must believe in Jesus Christ.  It doesn’t matter who we are, we just have to believe!  I don’t know about you, but that seems like a whole truck load of kindness to me!

Generosity

Jesus was certainly generous.  The MOST generous of ALL TIME!  He healed and forgave so very many different people that I do not dare attempt to list all the references.  If by chance you are here as a non-Christian, I would encourage you very strongly to just sit down with a New Testament, and read about Jesus in the first four books, called the Gospels, namely, “Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.”  Otherwise, for those here who are already Christian, you know very well the generosity of our Lord and Savior Jesus of Nazareth, our Risen Christ.

He gave his very life for us ALL, so that forever He stands as the Ultimate Sacrifice for OUR sins.  What could possibly be more generous than the Son of God giving his very life for us?   

Faithfulness

Hebrews 11:1-3

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. (NRSV)

The most well known translation of the definition of faith is found in the King James Bible (KJV), again, Hebrews 11:1-3

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report (KJV)

But wait!  It says faithfulNESS

We know what “Faith” is, but how do we approach defining “Faithfulness?”

According to Merriam-Webster, the closest definition found related to Christianity is for “Faithful”:

Noun:

Plural in construction:

Church members in full communion and good standing.  Used with the

It  logically follows that “Faithfulness” means the exhibition of the actions of one who is faithful…

In summation of defining “Faithfulness,” I conclude that the Gift of the Spirit that IS Faithfulness, is:   the character traits of one who is faithful, or who has faith.

Gentleness

This one should be pretty self-explanatory, in that it describes the character of one who is gentle.  

Jesus was gentle.  He was described as the “Lamb of God,” and I really can’t think of an example of something more gentle than a lamb.  Perhaps in reply to this post, someone else may wish to describe what they feel the meaning of Gentleness is, in the context of the Gifts of the Spirt.

Self-Control:

This one is readily apparent also:  “To control one’s self.”  Meaning to not let our thoughts, feelings, anger, or anything else cause us to lose control of ourselves.

IF I were pinned down to giving this my own definition, that definition would be:  “Grace Under Pressure.”   Much like being a soldier with honor and integrity, meaning that one does not let emotions control action.  For example, let us say a soldier (a new one), is in the field of battle, and is faced with the choice between killing the enemy, or being killed by the enemy.  MANY may very well argue with me on this, but if the soldier is exercising self-control, that soldier will not panic, and will follow his orders as to the correct response in such a situation.  The soldier has sworn loyalty to his country, to defend, to protect, and to serve, and therefore the soldier’s only choice is to fire before being fired upon.  

I can readily assure you that when faced with lethal force, the “fight or flight” mode of the mind kicks in (the lizard brain as one of my close friends calls it), and because the soldier can not outrun a bullet shot at him by the enemy, his only choice is to fire, and probably kill the enemy, thereby living to fight another day.

As it pertains to “self-control,” the soldier controls his urge to run, and does his duty successfully, in the face of adversity.

In my own eyes, we are to act the same way in our Christian life.  We are to exercise self-control over our emotions, and anything else that may prevent us from continuing to serve God, and to adhere to the teachings of Jesus in a faithful way.

Being a disciple, in the shortest definition I know, is to “believe in and adhere to the teachings of Jesus.”  To accomplish that, we MUST absolutely exercise self-control, because the “carnal man” certainly does NOT mesh up with the “Disciple Man.”

This is all I currently have to say on the Fruit of the Spirt.  Hope you found this useful, and I also hope that you find the time to comment on this particular post.

Thank you, and may the Peace and Blessings of God be Upon You Now and Forever!

So be it / Amen

~S~

_____THE ACTUAL QUOTE UPON WHICH THIS POST IS BASED____

Galatians 5:22   By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self- control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.

Regarding Separation of Church and State

Tags

Christian, Christian blogs, Christian Day, Christianity, Religion

I read today that President Obama has put three lesbian women on the Olympic Committee from the United States.

President Obama is essentially using this OC to make a political statement against the current Russian oppression of their LGBT people.

I emailed the author with a very long, rambling mail concerning my personal views regarding the entirety of our United States issues regarding “gay marriage” and a whole bunch of “other stuff” on the topic.  When reviewing that email later today, I determined that it was incoherent and failed to make my point concisely.

In my opinion, President Obama did this to make a political statement to Russia and to the world.

*******FAST FORWARD TO TIME PRESENT…01/17/2014, 1651HRS EST*******

I have decided to blog a little bit regarding the LGBT community issue in relation to Christianity, Christians, and whatever other Religions to which they may belong.

HERE WE GO

It is my personal belief that the entirety of the LGBT lifestyle is not congruent with the Christian mode of living taught by Jesus.  HOWEVER, I do NOT believe it to be the least bit more wrong than anything else that is incongruent to the lifestyle of a Christian.

I therefore submit to you that we, the heterosexual Christians, err in sin just as much as anyone else does, regardless of their sexual activities, and by doing so, we prove to others, and should thereby prove to ourselves the true equality of a person in the sight of God.

Love everyone, and pray for everyone. Not for the sake of our own glory, but for the glory of God.

Further, it should be clear to every American that anyone who fits the LBGT description STILL should have the same rights afforded them by the Constitution of our great country.  It should be obvious that due to these equal rights, there should not be discrimination against any American due to their “difference” of lifestyle choices.  If that were “OK,” then we hetero-Christians could easily be subjected to the same sort of discrimination due to a whim of the government.

I believe it to be only fair to mention the “gay marriage” issue.

MARRIAGE IS A RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION.  THE GOVERNMENT AND RELIGION IS SUPPOSED TO BE SEPARATE.  THEREFORE, LEGALIZATION OF GAY MARRIAGE IS ACTUALLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL.  FOR THAT MATTER, ANY MARRIAGE IN A CHURCH THAT IS ONLY RECOGNIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT WHEN IT HAPPENS WITH A GOVERNMENT ISSUED MARRIAGE LICENSE, IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AS WELL.

So, let us simply have civil unions for EVERYONE who wishes to dedicate themselves to another, and live under the same roof.  Require a license for that, and that only.  THEN, if those people wish to marry, let them take it up with their church organization.

Civil unions for all, regarding legal rights as partners in life, and marriage for those who choose to go to church at all, and then let the church make its own decisions for whom they will perform a religious ceremony, such as marriage.

Would this not solve the problem?  Calling a religious institution such as marriage a legal issue is oxymoronic per our own Constitution.  Calling a legal institution such as a civil union a religious matter, is just as wrong.  They are two separate things!

So let us begin having ONLY civil unions to attain legal rights of couples who wish to share their legal rights with each other, regardless of anything else and without discrimination, and then let us begin having marriages as the religious ceremonial ritual that it is.

There are plenty of churches that marry people that are not heterosexual. There are plenty that do not.  Couples should choose the church that fits the life they live, and have them perform the Religious marriage ceremony, rather than trying to force religion on the government, or the government trying to force itself onto religion. There is absolutely supposed to be a SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE!  THAT is Constitutional to the letter, and should be readily acceptable to every American in the country as I see it.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great night!

Peace and Blessings be Unto You All.

The “Ideal” Christian’s Day VS. My Actual Day….

Tags

Christian, Christian Day

Here We Go:  My Perception of THE Ideal Christian Day vs. My ACTUAL Day

This is just an introspective look for me into my own daily habits and routine.  In this piece, I will attempt to communicate what I feel Jesus would expect ME to do on any given day versus what I ACTUALLY do on any given day, and then compare the two, and come up with some ideas of how I can better allot my time in line with what God would have me to do.

MY Perception of how an “ideal” Christian Day Would Go

• Rise and shine early, before the kids at the very least
• Take care of body needs & stuff, i.e., stretching, workout, shower, etc.
• When fully awake, take a fair measure of time prayerfully reading the Bible, using some sort of guided reading, devotional or the like.  (I actually have some reading plans in my Bible Software by Olive Tree …I recommend you check that link out if you haven’t already…
• PRAY!  Take as long as one needs to cover any prayer list from church, personal & family needs, etc., along with some silent time between each prayer to LISTEN within one’s self for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and stuff like that….

At this point, one has begun the day with some quality “God Time.”  I list the body needs “& stuff” first so that one would have time to “get ready” for that “God Time” so as to not be interrupted…

• Proceed to take care of normal daily tasks, whether it be going to work, or cooking breakfast for the rest of the family, the kids, etc., or beginning the household chores if one does not work at a “regular” job
  • Whilst one is proceeding to the tasks of the day, one should be mindful of each and every thing they do and whether or not it is something in line with what God would have one do….for instance, it wouldn’t be very Godly to go to work and straight off lie to one’s boss about why a given project is not yet completed, or to gossip with co-workers, etc.
  • If one stays at home during the day, then taking responsibility for one’s immediate surroundings’ needs is most likely the honorable and Christian thing to do, while praising God for blessing one with the domicile and the ability to do such things in the first place

Let’s say it is now lunch time:

• Did we bring a lunch or do we go out to lunch?
  • If we brought our lunch from home, then we are probably being better stewards of our money than if we go out and burn money on restaurant fare or worse, fast food
  • If we insist on going out to lunch, then what choices do we make in ordering? Are they healthy choices to nurture our body, the temple of the Holy Spirit? Are they the most expensive items on the menu, or do we act in a frugal manner and spend only what we must for proper nutrition?  This too is a stewardship issue.
  • Again, if we insist on going out, do we join co-workers while doing so?  If so, what sort of conversations do we participate in?  Are they “off color”, about politics, about money, or even about religion?  If so, then we probably need to rethink our conversational skills, and re-evaluate the level of class we show when in public.  It is not proper to talk about these things when out in public, or in a “friendly conversation.”
    • One may very well say, “I will talk about whatever I feel like talking about, and if that includes any of those things, then so be it!”  That’s fine, but it is totally lacking in etiquette.  I’m not talking about political correctness or anything so totally ridiculous as I feel P.C. may be at times.  I’m just saying that one should conduct themselves in a proper manner so as to maintain their own comfort and the comfort of others.  This is NOT the time to preach aloud to co-workers!
      • “Sure, but if I feel like talking about God, then I will and you can’t stop me!”  Fine, go for it.  And as quick as you do, you will come off as being self-righteous or judgmental or worse.  Speak with your actions, like bowing your head for silent prayer before you eat…try being nice and considerate and mindfully giving input on any going conversations instead of trying to hop up on the soap box and preach.  One catches more flies with honey than with a stick they say…
  • Back to work
    • Did we clock back in or show back up on time?  If not, why?  Do we think it is ok to break the rules or to cheat the company?  Do we feel we are special or entitled to do such things?  If people already know we are a Christian, they are watching our actions more than they listen to our mouthes (unless our mouth is spewing obscenities…)  Let us not give them a reason to erroneously judge ALL Christians by OUR poor example!
    • After we clock back in or show back up on time, what is next?  Do we go straight back to our tasks or do we “ho hum” around while we are doing them?  Are we giving a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay?
    • If we are at home, did we fix ourselves something good to eat so that we are taking care of our body properly?  Are we allotting our time so as to get things done in a proficient manner, or are we on our rump watching the TV?  Personally, when I’m on my rump watching TV, I am NOT focusing on taking care of household business…so I’m just speaking from personal experience. My wife works some during the week, and I am disabled, but still, I attempt to do what I can around the house.  That’s why right now, this very moment, I am suffering from chlorine inhalation after doing the kitchen chores and using a bit too much Clorox…
    • Do we work at/from home?  If so, are we putting in the proper amount of time that we should be devoting to our “work”?  Or are we taking TV and/or snack breaks and the like?  IMO, IF someone works from home, then they need to give their best to whomever they are working for, even if that person is theirself!

Time to clock out, or stop chores, and regroup at one’s house/apartment/wherever one lives….

• Afternoon, late afternoon, or early evening time is upon us.  Now what?
  • How about a nice FAMILY dinner (with a prayer beforehand hopefully)?
  • After dinner, what is next?  Well this is going to vary greatly depending on time of day, whether one is single, married, has kids or not, etc.  But regardless, it is post-dinner time let’s say.
    • How about a personal or couples or family devotional time?
    • Is it time to take the kid(s) to extracurriculars?  If so, do we break the law by speeding to get there on time?  If we do, then what sort of example are we setting for the kid(s)?  It’s sort of like speeding way over the limit to get to Church on time, ya know?  Think about that!  I’ve done it, and I bet if you go to Church you probably have as well.
    • During whatever one’s evening routine is, does one make some more time for prayer or Bible study, or a meeting at the Church, or a Church service or anything remotely resembling a bit more “God time?”  I’m not saying we should be through the church doors daily, just that we should probably consider giving as much time to God as is reasonably possible, given scheduled items.

Post-Evening Activities are Now Complete

• So what is next?
  • Everyone needs at least a LITTLE “me time,” so do we have a hobby?  Is that hobby congruent with Christian standards of living?
  • Are we taking out time to spend either with our spouse, a close friend, our kids, whoever is important in our lives?  Do we show such people that WE care?  Do we ensure that they know that God cares? (I know I said to not talk about religion in public)  In this instance, I’m talking about FAMILY or VERY close friends, or a significant other person with whom it is OK to talk about religion…typically, in my experience, our EXAMPLE speaks louder than words.

Now bed time is approaching…

• If we are part of an at home family situation, then we should consider our kids’ needs and get them to bed at a reasonable time, allowing some time before that for their hobbies IF and ONLY IF those are acceptably congruent with the Christian mode of living per the teachings of Jesus, just as OUR own hobbies should be.
• If perhaps we are single, this would be THE time to do the TV watching, and be careful while doing so that we do not put “junk” in our heads.  I’m not saying to watch solely religious programming, just that there are a lot of shows on cable/satellite that are not really all that proper for a Christian to watch.  Our conscience should be our guide in this.
  • Another thing a single person may consider doing is, well, umm, DATING around this time?  I don’t mean heading out to the local sports bar or honky-tonk, but rather already having made arrangements, this might be the time for a romantic outing…a walk, some shopping or something of the sort.  There is no shortage of good things to do if one uses their imagination a little to come up with “couple stuff” to do together…Of course this is where sexuality might come to bear.  I’m NOT about to “preach” regarding that.  Everyone’s sex life is their own business, and I am certainly no one to judge or to tell others what to do.  Just consider what God might think of your activities is all I can say on that.
• Of course for a married couple, with the kids in bed, it’s prime time for a late show on TV, or the same sort of romantic stuff I just mentioned for unmarried, or non-committed couples….and in this case, I totally believe frequency of intimacy is important, whether it is just cuddling in front of a fire, or watching a movie together, or whatever…romance needs to be maintained and nourished.

Ok, now it is ‘for real’ bedtime.

• Does one still say their prayers at night?   Perhaps a little Scripture reading or something of that nature.  I personally am hooked on a Bible Archaeology magazine subscription that my wife bought me for a Christmas gift.  Top notch stuff in these mags!
• Oh, almost forgot…did we ensure our children took a bit of time to say THEIR prayers?  Hopefully we have taught them from early childhood to do so, and it is just automatic. However, if we didn’t and it isn’t, then there is no time like the present!

One has done very well throughout the day at this point.  A good example has been set for others.  We have taken time for God, family & friends, perhaps a significant other, and it is time to sleep. How is one’s conscience at this point?  Does one think about the day and evaluated their behavior and how it may or may not be improved? Or does one just sack out till the alarm goes off the next morning and do it all again the next day?

_____________________________________________________

Now for MY Typical Day as of Late…

• Rise and shine between 0530 and 0730.
• Take care of body stuff like everyone else…
• Take meds & eat (I am diabetic and have other issues, even at the spry age of 44, so give me a break…I have to take them!)
• Maybe go to my parents’ house to check up on them and have some coffee, being that my dad has severe dementia and it isn’t very likely that he’ll make it too much longer as I see it
  • Still haven’t prayed or read the Bible
• If I didn’t go anywhere, I’ll either (a) See my wife off to work, OR (b) turn on the TV or this laptop and proceed to check e-mail and do webmaster and blog stuff…
  • There is the occasion that I do some housework or laundry (mine). Today I washed every dish in the kitchen, and cleaned every surface in the kitchen with bleach or a soapy rag, as determined by the surface material itself
• Today, I’ve been mulling about this exact blog post, as I read e-mail for my website, and both of my blogs, looking at and replying to posts, and also got my son to help me record a video for my main website.
  • The kitchen actually took up about half of my time thus far today, so I don’t feel guilty about not doing any additional housework.  However, typically I would not have done much of anything in the way of house keeping anyway, unless it were an emergency load of my own laundry.

Wife got home early from work, and that sort of spoiled the surprise factor of me shining the kitchen to a high gloss finish for when she would have otherwise gotten home about three hours later, but that was ok.

• My remaining time has been spent right here where I now sit, laptop on, well, my lap, doing web stuff.  I did reply to a post on a Google+ community link that I found somewhat concerning, but no need to go into detail about that here.
• I also found time to eat a bowl of soup beans with green onions and ketchup in them, along with a piece of toast and a glass of milk.  My wife and daughter have both been upstairs a lot of the evening, and I’ve been right here.  No problems with that on any of our parts though, so all is well!
• I did take a phone call from a close friend just a bit ago as well…
• It is 7:32p.m., and I’m working on finishing this post obviously.  I hope that some readers will find it of interest, or learn something from it, or be touched by it, or SOMETHING.  Further, I would very much like it if I got some followers for this blog! LOL

That was MY day thus far.  I do intend to get some Bible and prayer time in before bed, and during the day I absolutely did a lot of useful Christian article reading and stuff, but I didn’t pray or read Bible this morning, or eat with my family, or go anywhere at all….I’m a webmaster & blogger with his rump glued to the chair for today heh!  Tomorrow holds a lot of promise though.  Now that I have identified what I believe to be the “Ideal” day for a Christian, I will hopefully take the living of it more seriously in my day-to-day routine.

Don’t be mistaken, I love Jesus and know the Holy Spirit dwells in me without doubt. But I realize that I need to take more time to get in touch with all of that, and possibly do more Christian type writing than the webmaster stuff on my actual website, which isn’t about Christianity at all.   And oh, I missed church this past Sunday. I’ll make it this coming Sunday though I promise.

You see, I have sleeping issues.  Nightmare issues actually.  PTSD from my military injury causes the nightmares (mostly the injury anyway), so my sleep time(s) vary more than a little at times. That is why my wake times vary by 2 or more hours, and why I sometimes just can not get out of bed and go to Church on a given Sunday. Regardless, when I am up, I want to be more in touch with my God.

I leave you with the following Bible quote, which my wife told me was her favorite, and then it became one of MY favorites.  Oh if I could simply do what it says and nothing else!

Micah 6:8 (NRSV)

He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?

IF YOU WISH TO CONTACT ME:

Name

Email(required)

Website

Comment(required)

Submit

Δ

 

 

Perseverance…

Tags

Christian blogs, Christianity, Religion

Perseverance….

This is a very good blog article..obviously about (human) perseverance.  I liked it.  Perhaps you will as well.  Enjoy.

What’s it Take to Get to Heaven Anyway?

Is it one thing?  Many things?  Where is the list YOU use?

HERE IS WHAT I THINK:

According to the Bible::

Ephesians 4: 25-32   So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil. Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up (also called “edifying”), as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.

To me, it follows that when we are “saved” or whatever you want to call it, i.e., “confirmed”, “accept Jesus as our personal Savior,” etc., that being the moment we realize that God’s Salvation and eternal life are a gift to us, and because we are thankful, we put our own selves into subjection to God, we are “sealed unto the day of redemption” by the Holy Spirit.

Now, again, TO ME, that means that when we are “saved” (as described above), that we are filled (in our spirits/souls) with the Holy Spirit — the Comforter promised to us by Jesus and given to us, filling us we are thereby made God’s “unto the day of Redemption.”

So what or when is “the day of Redemption?”

It is my own belief that “the day of Redemption” is when Jesus of Nazareth comes BACK to us ALL in the Eastern sky, and the “dead in Christ” rise, and the rest of us who are God’s, are “raptured” (or taken up) to Heaven.

This is a sticking point with some people, and with some Christian denominations.  But I personally believe what I believe, and that is that for ME.

If any of you want to explain how it is different, and support that difference with the Bible, then I will gladly listen and possibly believe your version.  Until that time, I simply believe as I do.

Some may ask, “What is the ONE key to heaven?”  That is a fair question to which my only response is “Faith in Jesus as Savior.”

Let me talk about Faith with two references:

1.  (KJV) Hebrews 11:1 (I recommend committing this passage or at least reference, to memory!)

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen

Let us dissect that verse a bit.  “The SUBSTANCE of things hoped for, the EVIDENCE of things not seen.”

Substance?  Faith is an abstract term, but we are told here that faith is the SUBSTANCE (a tangible thing from the abstract definition) of things HOPED FOR…

What is it then that is hoped for?  Eternal Life of course!

Knowing that when our bodies die, our souls live on, in Heaven, with God/Jesus/The Holy Spirit, as well as the others who are the children of God who, without having had opportunity to accept Christ, are in heaven because of innocence.  How else would God treat people who never heard of or were afforded the explanation of how to, or the opportunity to, accept Jesus as Savior of their lives?

More than a few people would say that the statement I just made is heretical. Well, then so be it.  Call it as you will, I just do not think that my God, OUR Father in Heaven, OUR Creator, and Jesus our Lord, would send innocent people, who had no opportunity to know Jesus in this life, to HELL.  I mean really, how would that be different than God sending an innocent BABY to Hell just because that baby had never accepted Christ, due to lack of ability/opportunity?

I expect argument on the previous paragraph, and that is ok.  People are certainly afforded their right to believe as they will in this country, and I am certainly not a person with the authority to deny them their beliefs or rights.  I respect the beliefs of others, and although mine are open for discussion, many people are so dogmatic about things that they can not have a discussion about anything at all, especially that which has been told to them by a preacher rather than them having read it in the Bible for themselves.  (There’s no shortage of people that think a preacher’s sermons are totally out of the Bible, and that his phrases used in preaching are actual Bible references.  I.e., I grew up hearing that when WE forgive, we are supposed to throw the forgiven offense into a sea of forgetfulness, as God does with ours.  That is nowhere in the Bible.  I’ve personally verified that it is not)  Many, and they are the people who have tainted Christianity in the eye of the American public by being judgmental and self-righteous, will argue this theological hypothesis of mine “unto the day of redemption” itself LOL.  No problem.  Argue away!  That is why this blog is here–discussion.  That said, I’d personally appreciate it if people who want to post, or do post differing opinions, simply be nice about it.  I give respect, but I also command and expect respect from others.

2.  Here is a reference regarding faith that is a bit longer:

Romans 10:13-17 (KJV)

Because, Whoever will give worship to the name of the Lord will get salvation. But how will they give worship to him in whom they have no faith? and how will they have faith in him of whom they have not had news? and how will they have news without a preacher? And how will there be preachers if they are not sent? As it is said, How beautiful are the feet of those who give the glad news of good things. But they have not all given ear to the good news. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has had faith in our word? So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ

One thing I want to state right off the bat about that last verse….I do not like the use of the word “Christ” in place of the name “Jesus“.  I am not saying that the Bible reference should be rewritten, but this is just a personal pet peeve of mine.   Christ is a description whereas Jesus is a being.  Therefore, I would rather hear someone tell me to “believe in Jesus” than to tell me “believe in Christ.”

Jesus IS the Christ.  “Christ” is not his name…it is what He IS.  His actual name was/is “Yeshua….” in Aramaic I believe.  I am not sure and would have to look it up, but I “get it.”  I just do not agree with that use of the word “Christ” as a synonym for Jesus is all. However, as long as I know who/what someone is speaking of in a conversation, then ok, fine.  If I am speaking with a fellow Christian, then I know right away what they “mean” by the use of the word “Christ,” but I personally use the Name of Jesus instead of referring to him as “Christ.”  Whatever…it is simply my personal logic and pet peeve, and to me it makes sense.

Please comment and tell me what YOU feel is required to cross into those pearly gates!  I welcome any and all questions and comments.  Feel free to disagree and dicuuss.  That’s the entire point of thslls

I spend a LOT of time on the computer, so you will likely hear back from me in 24-48 hour on the outside…feel free to (nicely) speak your mind in such mail…Else I will have no choice to just delete/archive the Mail.  No sense in you wasting your time!

The Apostle’s Creed: Agree or Disagree?

Tags

Apostle's Creed, Christian, Christian Tradition, Christian Website, Christianity

Okies, here is the “Ecumenical Version” of the Apostle’s Creed that we read at MY church.

Is it different that the one your church uses?

Does your church read one at all?  (My mother’s evangelical type “Assemblies of God” doesn’t recite this at all that I’m aware of….)

********************************************************************

So here it is:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended into hell.  On the third day he rose again;  he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,the forgiveness of sins,  the resurrection of the body,and the life everlasting. Amen.

********************************************************************

A couple of things I personally would like to point out that may be a source of disagreement with some people:

:…he will come to judge the living and the dead…”

The Bible uses the phrase in places that says:  “…the quick and the dead….”, so there are probably some people out there who will disagree with the phrasing here.  That’s absolutely fine of course, it’s the intent and content of belief in what we say that matters.

“…I believe in the Holy Spirit…”

Some will insist that it should say “Holy Ghost” instead.  Whatever. To me they are the exact same thing.  The use of Spirit vs. Ghost is an issue of semantics in my opinion, and has no meaning to me.  I simply believe in the Holy Spirit.  i also believe in the Holy Ghost, but I further believe that those two terms are the EXACT SAME THING.  Say it however it suits you, if you say this Creed at all!

Finally, “…the Holy ‘catholic’ church….”

NO, This DOES NOT mean the entity that is called “The Catholic Church,” i.e., the one led by the Pope.

In this case, please note that the “c” is lowercase, indicating that the word is an adjective and NOT the religion, as would be stated with a capital “C.”  LOL, this really confuses some people, so I wanted to make it clear to you what it actually means, and what “we at my church” mean when we say “catholic (little ‘c’).”

******************************************************************

Merriam-Webster defines the word as follows:

cath·o·lic

adjective \ˈkath-lik, ˈka-thə-\

Catholic : of or relating to the Roman Catholic Church

            : including many different things

Full Definition of CATHOLIC

1     a often capitalized :  of, relating to, or forming the church universal

       b often capitalized :  of, relating to, or forming the ancient undivided                  Christian church or a church claiming historical continuity from it

c capitalized :  roman catholic

2:  comprehensive, universal; especially :  broad in sympathies, tastes, or interests <a catholic taste in music>

— ca·thol·i·cal·ly adverb

— ca·thol·i·cize verb

Examples of CATHOLIC

1. She is a novelist who is catholic in her interests.
2. <a museum director with catholic tastes in art>

Origin of CATHOLIC

Middle English catholik, from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French catholique, from Late Latin catholicus, from Greek katholikos universal, general, from katholou in general, from kata by + holos whole — more at cata-, safe

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to CATHOLIC

Synonyms

all-around (also all-round), all-purpose, general, general-purpose, unlimited, unqualified, unrestricted,unspecialized

Antonyms

limited, restricted, specialized, technical

Related Words

mixed-use, multipurpose; broad, wide; nonspecific,unspecified, vague

Near Antonyms

bounded, circumscribed, confined, definite, demarcated,determinate, finite, qualified; dedicated, selective

Cath·o·lic

noun \ˈkath-lik, ˈka-thə-\

: a person who is a member of the Roman Catholic Church

Full Definition of CATHOLIC

1:  a person who belongs to the universal Christian church

2:  a member of a Catholic church; especially :  roman catholi

First Known Use of CATHOLIC

15th century

 ***********************************************************

Again I ask:  Does your church recite this in unison on occasion?  Do you have any problems with others doing so?  Do you believe what it says?

ff so, why or why not (as it may apply)?

Take care & God Bless

~S~

                                                          Webmaster:  Gun Rights, Dayton, Ohio

Google+ Profile Name:  achristiansmusings

eMail:  achristiansmusings@gmail.com

Blog Intro – January 13, 2014 @ 1143HRS

Tags

blog, Christian, Christian blogs, Christianity, Jesus, Religion

My name is Sean 

This is my most recent selfie: 

Wouldn’t you imagine that someone with such a huge noggin would be very thoughtful? LOL

 

Hello and thanks for stopping by.  ALL are welcome here, and posts will be moderated only as they apply to spam or foul, or possibly offensive language.  Otherwise, post away!  I’ll be glad to hear from some other Christians regarding their thoughts on the topics posted here.

I will most likely post between 1-3 per day or as few as 1/week.  Depends on time constraints and some personal scheduling issues.  I am retired and have a good bit of free time, but I also tend to have frequent appointments to attend….no, not because I’m “old” lol, just because I am disabled and have to see doctors for stuff.

ABOUT ME:

• 44 Years Old
• Married to beautiful wife of almost 25 years, and the father of 2 wonderful children
• Hobbies:  You are looking at one of them now! Web stuff!  LOL.  I enjoy about anything to do with “tech,” especially gadgets like my iPhone 5S, iPad Mini 32GB Retina, etc.  
• I do a good bit of reading ON THE NET about topics that interest me, ranging from medical stuff on WebMD, Christian research, Legislative actions/Politics, and of course, more tech stuff–I like to spec out and price custom computer configurations sometimes (Egghead, I know)
• I am definitely pro-2nd Amendment, and consider myself an activist for the citizens of America to maintain their right to “Keep and Bear.”  This is mostly resultant of a lifetime of shooting and hunting…but PLEASE don’t mistake me for a “gun nut!”  I’m just another citizen who is using his voice on the ‘net for a cause I feel is just…
• Okies, now, since the “last shall be first,”  I am putting this bullet last— I am, first and foremost, a Christian.  I may disclose my “denomination” at some point, but currently I do not think it matters.  As far as “doctrine” goes, MY doctrine starts in Genesis and ends on the last page of Revelation.  (Note I didn’t mistakenly call it “Revelations”…as do many people…it is ONE revelation to John, not multiple revelations, hence the name of the book, as you hopefully already know <grin>)

That’s it for the intro. Will post something that will hopefully be more interesting for you here in a bit.

Thanks for visiting my blog!

IF you want to see my actual website, which focuses on gun laws, the URL is:

http://www.gunrightsdaytonohio.org  It is also a blogging type site…