I am thankful for one of my close friend's Mother and Father who fought to live a lifestyle like Francis explains here, a true life example. They were missionaries in France and raised a large family loving them with christlike love. They laid down their finances and lives for their own parents when they grew sick and accepted poverty and all types of hardships to press forward. We need more examples of families fighting for the glory of God like this and more bold young people who will go whether or not the example exists.
Young Man's Invitation
(ironic that this is on a blog-- but this is only an outlet for me to meditate on Jesus but not my end goal) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKF2zJFlrBI
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Also some humorz about GOING
Although I like some ridiculous laughs, don't let this steal the truths of this message out of your hearts.
I think a key to understanding this is thinking of either in terms of:
-Temporary significance-
or
-Eternal significance-
Is what you are RISKING for risking in serving for God's purposes for eternal significance or is this risk for temporary significance? This is an important way to view this. I just recently read an article where a newly wed couple were base jumping. The new bride's parachute did not work... and was crushed and disassembled on the earth floor. Her new husband didn't call the police right away out of absolute agony. He searched for her for some time and finally found her. By chance, I had accidentally came across the picture online (why it is SO important to be careful over the internet). I was absolutely scarred. Someone who was attempting to defame and attack the couple (who I suppose knew them) was attempting to spam parts of the internet with the horrifying scene. I was brought to tears as I was attempting to go to bed. Why was God allowing me to see this? It was one of the most horrifying sights I had ever laid eyes on. I was reminded of the grim reality of death and our decisions and how they effect death. I was reminded that Jesus was "crushed" for our sins, and it pleased the Lord to do so for his name's sake and for our sake. I was dumbfounded as the thought had finally hit me by the Holy Spirit's mercy (to really help me fall asleep and get this out of my head). Jesus was crushed far worse than this horrid situation from a earthly risk, no Jesus was crushed with a worse force than the universe sandwiching him from both sides--no he was crushed with the fiery wrath of the almighty creator of the universe. Ground to powder. This is why the image of the grape becoming wine and the wheat being ground by the millstone into bread is so relevant. When we take communion we are remembering that our savior was ground to powder for our sake and crushed like a popping and gushing grape for our sake. What a savior! But he wasn't RISKING as the world risks. No he was following the will of the Father for the sake of the elect. But for us who live by faith we must risk (making choices without knowing the future) and these choices should be dictated by following God's will also. We should risk only for the sake of Christ's purposes.
Two quick/short videos on the subject of our perspective:
Many people who are aware of Russian Culture after the fall of the Soviet Union have been aware of some of the wild behavior of the youth... one of the sub-cultures that have come out of this has been a culture of "daredevils." It has followed the french movement of Parkour and has upped it 1,000 fold.
The Russian slang word for daredevil is a pretty cool word--but it gives you an idea of just how insane people are there-- its literal translation is Rip Head... or ripping someone's head off.
Here are some videos of this sub-culture... there is an element of it that seems cool and interesting but when we reflect on the fact that this is actually real people doing this in real situations... it becomes gravely horrifying.
Now here is the question to ask with all of these videos...
Why do this?
For excitement, for joy?
Who's glory are they seeking? Their own temporary glory? Or that of Jesus?
Are they thinking about eternity or the temporary?
It should be obvious... they are looking only at the temporary and only for their own self-glory...
They neglect the cares of their loved ones and parents and selfishly risk their own lives as though it were of no potential value.
This is the type of risk that we want to have:
It reminds me of the warning in Revelation 21:8 and the inclusion of the word "cowardly." We could have done something, we had the ability, but we didn't risk. Jump across that holy cliff, come to the arms of Christ.
"The purpose of God in creating the universe is to display the greatness of the glory of his grace supremely in the suffering of his Son. That's yesterday; today the summons: Will you join the Son in displaying the supremesatisfaction of the glory of grace in joining him on the Calvary road of suffering? Because there is no other way the world is gonna see the supreme glory of Christ today except that we break free from the Disney Land of America; and begin to live lifestyles of missionary sacrifice, that looks to the world like our treasure is in heaven and not on the earth. Its the only way. The "prosperity gospel" will not make anybody praise Jesus. It will make people praise prosperity. Of course I'll have a Jesus who will give me a car! Who wouldn't want a Jesus who gives me health, a car, a fine marriage? I'll take your Jesus-- if the pay off is right! That's not the way that you are going to win your campuses. Dressin' the coolest Drivin' the coolest Typin' on the coolest Its not going to get any praise for the suffering Christ. ... He calls you to another way."
Suffering makes it so that you would not choose this lifestyle if it were not true. This way we see his glory in our lives in the fact that he can sustain us though we are not filled by the ongoing drone of temporary pleasures as the world around us is continually shoveling up.
John 10:25-27 25Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father's name, these testify of Me. 26"But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. 27"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
"If this were written today by some of the most popular preachers alive, it would be totally and completely the opposite. It says 'you do not believe because you are not my sheep' and they would rewrite it as 'you are not my sheep because you do not believe.' There is a major difference in these two things." -Paul Washer
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardlyappear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness.28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
James 5:15-16
New International Version (NIV)
15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Proverbs 28:13-14
English Standard Version (ESV)
13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. 14 Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
Looking like a crocodile from donkey kong crossed with a ghost... the icefish has a caiman like head and a smooth lionfish/perch like body and fanned dorsal fin. If I were currently doing a graduate level thesis for zoology-- which was a path that I had almost taken-- I would probably study the blood of the Icefish. The icefish has no scales, and bleeds clear blood. The blood lacks hemoglobin which is the protein in blood cells that makes them red and helps them carry oxygen. This is why blood darkens as it is exposed to the air, it begins to hold more oxygen upon its hemoglobin. If blood cells lack oxygen then they would be blue by default-- the icefish, though transparent, is neither color. Did I mention that they live in the Antarctic? Normally fish that live in cold regions of the world have simply less blood so as to circulate more easily through their bodies. But the icefish has much blood. Most fish if you cut behind their eyes you will see tightly bound and organized capillaries, but for the icefish they are mixed up and thick like a bowl of spaghetti rather than well compacted honeycombs. In other words they have a lot of capillaries, volume, and usage of blood. But they even lack red blood cells. How is this all possible? Scientists don't even know.
Essentially how we think it works is that oxygen gets dissolved in the fish's plasma which carries only 10% of what it would normally carry, though oxygen is more soluble in the cold temperatures. The temperature gets so cold that the blood actually has antifreeze glycoproteins to keep it from hardening into ice. The fish makes up for the difference by having larger hearts and more blood. But questions still remain, how does oxygen exchange work, are there other factors in play?
If you cut them open they actually would ooze colorless, inviso-blood.
Lets glorify God in his ability to sustain life no matter where-- I always found it ridiculous when people studied the possibility of lifeforms in other areas of the universe. If God wanted to sustain life, then he can do it! How ridiculous we are to find animals who produce chemosynthesis in the vents of the bottom of the ocean, then to find bacteria with arsenic DNA which is regularly poisonous and then for us to claim that certain structures are necessary for life. We must realize that God can make the transfer of energy occur in any way that he sees suitable. We always doubt the possibility of life somewhere, but could God not make lifeforms in the universe specifically made for surviving on comet dust? Of course he could if he so pleased. We look at these animals with bizarre micro-level exchanges and yet.. he is doing far more under the surface than we will ever realize. Both on a microscopic level in our bodies and animal bodies but also in our lives and the intricate connections and events that are happening like chain reactions around the entire world only they are not maverick cells... there is no maverick cell... as RC Sproul once said,
“If there is one single molecule in this universe running around loose, totally free of God’s sovereignty, then we have no guarantee that a single promise of God will ever be fulfilled.”
Lets glorify him in his immense creativity! and also his immense control and power. We are able to explore the universe with an infinite wonder and sense of discovery because of the working of Jesus and how imaginative and wonderful and even adventurous he is. Praise to him for such amazing creative power.
He prospers us to live abundantly in joy, in growing to know the fullness of Him--not necessarily in health, wealth, or the miraculous. No, he hasn't come to fill our fleshly desires. But instead he offers us higher things to desire! Eternal glory, eternal joy, eternal life. A relationship with the greatest of all beings. We should not be discouraged by this message but turn to love and trust that he will take care of us but the aspect of us that needs support more deeply than being kept from being scratched. If you are cut by a knife the issue is not the cutting from the knife-- the issue lies in our pain, and our doubt. Now we live for a purpose and passion that is far more meaningful and all tears will be wiped away, all pains will be wiped away by Jesus to us who believe as though they had never happened! But we will be glorified with him undeservingly so because everything we've done even after being saved was ordained and gifted by God and him working through us-- so he does the work and then glorifies us in it; but he will do so. He is always the giver. He is the great giver. No one can give to God out of nothing. But he does for us. If we give it is out of what he has given us That breath you just took? Stolen from his lungs. He is the great giver. Let that sink in, all about him is worthy of genuine praise. Let us not be beaten down through these difficult teachings. They are only difficult because we do not trust Jesus' character and we do not see how sufficient he is in all things. May he show us and bring peace to us-- but also help us mourn and celebrate those who have fought to good fight before us. Or even today--suffer with Christ. But let us be thankful that Psalm 147 affirms that God is close to the broken hearted and let us be comforted in Jesus' great SOVEREIGNTY. He is in control, and all powerful. We are in His hands.
"God is the highest good of the reasonable creature. The enjoyment of him is our proper; and is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Better than fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of any, or all earthly friends. These are but shadows; but the enjoyment of God is the substance. These are but scattered beams; but God is the sun. These are but streams; but God is the fountain. These are but drops, but God is the ocean.” - Jonathan Edwards
2 Peter 1:3
English Standard Version (ESV)
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
Revelation 2:10
English Standard Version (ESV)
10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
2 Corinthians 6
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.3 We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love;7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true;9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed;10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
Lets address the large number of presumptions and assumptions....
He said in the video, "its all based on Carbon-14" -- oh nice! so then we know that you are wrong if we can disprove this and also the sources that helped substantiate the original claim... check it out! There is a lot of information out there.
Alrighty... lets get started you big pile of doubters!! Here is a quick and easy to understand video of the issues with Carbon Dating: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rlRLrGQo7s
Billy Nye after this contends that the wood example was speaking of plates layering each other; Ham then explains that it was contained inside the basalt!
This is humbling, yes we need to not trust conventions and structures and especially not trust studies are human reasoning, we need to lean on the Spirit... but we still must, while being Spirit lead, study and seek God for the message that he wants to give. We should not frivolously talk but with carefulness that has sought God.
Meditate on truth my friends! Not because of duty, but from a motivation of love for Jesus-- doesn't the gospel just overwhelm you with joy? If not, run to him til it does.
"Unless we're very intentional about meditating on these truths [that show God's love], they slip from our thoughts like misty dreams that evaporate in the morning light. That's why Luther said we must "take heed then, to embrace...the love and kindness of God...[and to] daily exercise [our] faith therein, entertain no doubt of God's love and kindness." (Because He Loves Me, 36 )
"entertain no doubt of God's love and kindness" reminds me of
2 Timothy 2:16
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
"But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness,"
Taking out time to meditate truth is good and a needed and to press falsehood from our midst. Give it no entertainment.
12 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.
First we should remember the context here which is the reason as to why Paul "must go on" with his boasting. He is pointing out his apostleship and reacting to false teachers who have snuck into the Corinthian church. Also, scholars about all agree on the fact that this is Paul speaking about himself in the third person in order to speak of himself humbly.
So Paul was long ago before this boy taken to experience what John also experienced and what Stephen saw, which was the heavenly realm or of paradise to see things he was not to speak of.
And no, this is not the third level of heaven that mormons speak of... sadly they do not have any other texts to draw from for evidence but it is plainly not what this means. How do I know this? Context, and historical understanding of the word. Historically the understanding of "the heavens," I'm sure you've heard of the sky or above us being called heavens, was first level: sky or the earthly atmosphere, the second level: space and beyond, the night sky and stars, and thirdly was the great beyond meaning a heavenly abode.This helps explain: http://carm.org/what-does-it-mean-when-bible-refers-third-heaven
We must be very careful to not add or take from God's word with experience as the old heresy of Gnosticism does. Gnosticism in broad terms is the idea of ones experience trumping any other idea of truth. I experienced some dream and therefore this is more true to reality than anything else. Paul warned us to test and examine all spirits, not even to trust angels if they speak a contrary message, not even Paul himself if he came back with a new message.
Revelation 22:18-19
English Standard Version (ESV)
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book,19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
Hebrews 9:27
English Standard Version (ESV)
27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
Now we know that there were people who have died and have been raised from the dead through faith and prayer. Though not common, Jesus, the apostles and some of the prophets have raised people from the dead to living. But did these people experience heaven or hell? These deaths were not resurrections the way Jesus came from the dead. The point of the verse above is not that people haven't died and have been raised back to life, if they have been raised again then they were not determined to be permanently gone from this world. But we shouldn't forget that John, Stephen, and Paul experienced visions. None of them were dead. Not only were they not dead, but those who are dead have never said to have experienced heaven. What can we conclude from all of this? People do not go back and forth through heaven and this current world. It is appointed for a man to die once. Not meaning that they do not die bodily on this earth and return in rare instances, but rather to finish on this earth once. We also much know that people have actual visions sometimes. Sometimes from God, and sometimes from demonic influence, and sometimes just from ourselves. God provided for John to have a glimpse into what heaven would be like--but it still was not a full glimpse but something that God purposed for writing down. Even Paul who had a heavenly experience did not, though if anyone were trust-able to do so it would have been paul, he did not share nor feel God was allowing him to share. Paul did believe God to be calling him to allow us to know such things, if Paul, who was deeply closer to God than this young boy had such a calling--then why should we expect this to change? Why would God want us to know now? Yet God would see this boy more fit to give earthly revelation of heaven? No, God has told us the revelation that he intends through his word. Is it possible for God to share what heaven would be like as he did when he gave Stephen a vision before his death? Yes, and I believe God sometimes does this for people... But it does not make sense to say that Stephen also went there before his death.
I have not read the boy's description of heaven or the book, so it is possible that he, like Don Piper's 90 minutes in heaven, does not describe a Biblical idea of heaven in the first place. This is something that we also should be discerning upon. We should also consider that a little boy experiencing a vision that were so life like that it seemed real as Paul was confused to whether he was in the body or not in his experience with the lord, or others like Peter who needed to come to his sense after an angel lead him out of prison. The boy very well could have had a lifelike experience from God and could have misinterpreted it as a real life experience. While this could have been also an experience from Satan, and why wouldn't Satan want people to believe in a gnostic God of experience? Of course Satan would want people to believe that you can experience God and trust and love him based on your own defining and not that of scriptures. But it is also possible that the boy truly did experience a vision or dream. If he did, then this would be amazing. But they claim that he died, went to heaven, and came back.
There is only ONE who has died, went to heaven, and came back. That is the God-man Jesus Christ.
I hope God truly does use this story and movie for His glory. That it inspires people to believe in Jesus and the possibility of the reality of heaven. But I hope it is not an unbelieving idea of what heaven would look like. Many who hear this story are not drawn to Jesus but to the idea of their own personal heaven. I am not excited about the gospel of heaven, I am excited about the gospel of Jesus.
You will not enjoy heaven if Jesus is not there. How would you enjoy heaven for ETERNITY without the one you love? Where was the devil when he fell? Heaven is not some safe haven, JESUS IS.A quote from John Piper’s book God is the Gospelasks:
The critical question for our generation—and for every generation—is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever say, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?
Now does God care about you being able to enjoy people? Yes, why would he create or allow relationship? Does God get glorified also in food? Yes, but food should never come before God, right? God is the gospel! Jesus is the focus. Our marriages are images for the relationship between Jesus and man as Ephesians points out. It is a symbolic performance (though nothing fake about it) raw with meaning. Understand, if there is anything you love about your spouse, it is because Jesus made it, if there is anything you love about food, Jesus made that, if there is anything you love about anything at all, HE MADE IT. Your affection should land upon Him and your hopes on Him for eternity. Nonetheless this does not take away from the ordained gifts that God gives to us today that are created to have joy in and glory Jesus ultimately through. But if they distract us from really giving glory to Jesus then what is their use? Joy is meaningless without Christ. The idea of marriage, having a dog, eating ice cream all have their beauty and purpose and significance hidden in the bosom of Jesus. He planned to gift you these things that you have, how much more in his deep understanding of you make Him worthy of love? He purposely gave you those things. But ultimately heaven is not where our eyes are to be set, but it is to be bodily with Jesus for eternity. He lives in you now, how glorious is that?
Here is Joel Osteen's best seller book. He is quite famous and his church has grown quickly.
Understand...
his church has nearly 50,000 people who go to it.
This should frighten you.
He teaches blatantly false doctrine, even the not so discerning can often tell that he is teaching falsehood. It is man centered and denies God his glory. Yet God's glory is the very purpose of our existence, we should be jealous for the truth here.
He teaches a prosperity gospel and focuses on our earthly prosperity. You know there is an issue when Oprah and celebrities are coming to your church and praising your words. Its obvious that he is against the true gospel of Jesus our Lord.
Pray for him and people in his church, or in touch with his book. My own parents owned his book, a friend of mine's sister appreciate's his teachings--at the moment we know enough to know that he is a wolf--I don't know how he will be judged in the end, maybe on his last days he will repent... but for now we know he is a wolf in sheep's clothing gobbling up many.
No, our BEST LIFE is later. Not now :) But we are growing to know Christ, and he is working everything out for our good... even what goes poorly, all will be wiped away from our recollection (for those who are saved) and all of it is working for us to be made into Christ's image and to know God more.
Proverbs 4:18
English Standard Version (ESV)
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
Ephesians 2:1-10
English Standard Version (ESV)
2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.4 ButGod, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Matthew 23:27-28
English Standard Version (ESV)
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness.28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Romans 3:10-18
English Standard Version (ESV)
10 as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” 13 “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” 14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 in their paths are ruin and misery, 17 and the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Romans 5:6
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
More to look at:
Ezekiel 37:1-14, Acts 9:1-20, Romans 6:23, John 15:5, John 6:44, Romans 8:3-7, 1 Cor. 2:14, Titus 3:5, John 3:16, 36, 17:3
