What is Your Starting Point?

With all the debates that are going on these days, may i humbly submit this article for your consideration:

A well-known atheist in the USA was interviewing me in my office concerning the creation/evolution issue and the book of Genesis. The conversation went something like this: 

“So you admit that you start with the Bible?” she said to me.

“Yes, of course,” I replied.

“And you are not prepared to change anything the Bible states, are you?” she asked.

“No,” I said. “The Bible’s statements concerning creation, the Flood, and so on are not subject to change—God’s Word cannot be altered.”

“Ah,” she then responded, “that’s why creationists like you can never be real scientists. You see, real scientists like myself start with evidence... http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v5/n2/starting-point

It is written by Ken Ham, and is most excellent. He states that there are TWO starting points in every discussion: either the Bible, or man's ideas. Please read it...
As always, i welcome your comments below.


Be respectful.

Turn up the Heat

The book of Romans is amazing. Well, the whole Bible is amazing! In reading Romans lately, i am struck by chapter 1. We could start at the beginning, but i am going to share verse 16 here:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 

Let's define ashamed, compliments of dictionary.com:

• Ashamed - 1. feeling shame; distressed or embarrassed by feelings of guilt,foolishness, or disgrace. 2. unwilling or restrained because of fear of shame, ridicule, or disapproval.

This is loaded. Paul says he is NOT ASHAMED to preach the gospel! He is not embarrassed, nor unwilling to preach because of fear.  Why should he be? He himself knew the transforming power of the gospel in his own life, and his primary concern was that people HEAR the GOOD NEWS!

Paul did not molly-coddle his hearers. NO! He spoke with authority, and challenged the "wisdom" of his day. Not once did he apologize for what Christ had done to redeem us. Not once did he state that people can remain in open, or private, habitual sin and still maintain that they are Christ-one's. Yes, Paul acknowledges that we still sin, but the difference is that we are grieved over our sin and are moved to repentance. we do NOT remain in sin.  


Can we, in all honesty, say that we are NOT ashamed of the gospel of Christ? I wonder. Do we capitulate to our culture? Do we quiet down or water down the gospel to make it more palatable to people? Are we preaching a Christ-centered gospel, or a man-centered gospel?

The days of tip-toeing through the tulips have got to be OVER. The darkness is getting very dark indeed. People are calling evil good, and good evil, just as the Bible said they would in Isaiah 5:20-21 - "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!  Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!". If someone dare call evil, evil they are labeled a hater or intolerant. Guess what? Calling evil, evil is exactly what we must do! And we must hold out the offer of hope that is found in Jesus Christ alone. In order to hold out that hope, we must not be ashamed of preaching the gospel.

There are those out there that are polluting the Gospel. They add to or subtract from the Good News. we are saved by grace through faith alone. Why would you want to take away from the Good News? Why add to the cross of Christ (which you can't do in reality)?
Preach the gospel... without shame and with boldness! Do not be afraid of what others may say.

Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God".  


Galations 1:9  "as we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed."

Made to Crave Monday (M2C Monday)

179.1 on February 17

Here we are... i missed last week of blogging, as i had sick kids. Friday i took Jey to the doc, since he was complaining of an earache. Yep, ear infection. While there, i took the opportunity to weigh myself on the scale at my doctor's (upstairs from Pediatrics).

i had no expectations, as it had only been 17 days since i had last weighed-in.

coat and shoes off.

step on scale....

179.1!! WOW! i was down from 181.4 on January 31st.

so, so thankful for all the changes that God has wrought in my heart these past months. He is all to me. I am able to see food as fuel, and NOT as my comforter.

Blessed be the name of the Lord!

I did have an interesting moment a week ago...
i have been eating smaller portions since i have been listening to my body to see when i am satisfied. One evening, i served myself dinner, and was already planning seconds while my first portion was still on my plate. I didn't quite finish my 1st serving, when i realized i was more than satisfied.. i was  FULL! I couldn't have eaten another bite! There went my big plans for seconds :)  This was interesting to me because it seemed like in just one day my stomach shrank!!

i am grateful.

Next week, more from the book :)

Questions

How often do we go along our day, not even thinking about why we are doing the things we are doing? This happens to me most days. It seems that we go on auto-pilot and just "go with the flow" of our culture. Over the last few months, i have had to answer this question. A friend introduced me to artist Beckah Shae, who's album Destiny has made me think through some tough questions. One song in particular, called 'Show Me' (lyrics at the end of this post) has been consistently on my mind. It asks all the hard questions. Why are we doing what we are doing? Why are we listening to the things we are listening to? Basically, why do we, as Christ-one's,  look so much like the world, when we are called to be in the world, but not of the world? 

I could not rest until i had really prayed through and was able to answer these questions. It was am amazing process, and i pray that God continues to refine me as i walk out what i believe He has spoken through His Word. 

Often, i am "nice" and not wanting to rock any boats. i have rocked too many in the past, and had felt that i didn't want to really talk about the hard things in order to keep peace. I can no longer live my life this way. God has given me a voice, and i intend to use it to proclaim His Word (the Bible). The days are getting short, and we have no time to worry about being "culturally relevant" which isn't even in the Bible. We have to be examining our hearts through the Word, and live our lives according to what is written in those pages. 

God's people were always called a peculiar people. All throughout the Old Testament you see how Israel was to be set apart, kept separate from the cultures around them. When they deviated and became influenced by the culture around them, God's judgement came. He chastised them, which led to their repentance, and so they cycle went for centuries. Christ came, and He did not become like the culture of His day in order to minister to the people. Christians (first called that at Antioch in the book of Acts) have been a "peculiar people" all throughout the ages. We are called to be different, to stand out from the culture..... but do we? 

Following are the lyrics to the song that has kept me thinking....

no...I will not perish for lack of knowledge
I'ma go there, got no fear, I'm not scared no

Revelation come! I wanna know why I'm...

Watchin what I'm watchin

Hearin what I'm hearin,

Doin what I'm doin

Consuming what I'm consuming

All the fishies swimming in the same direction

All swallowin, followin, with no hesitation

Buyin what they're buyin

Wearin what they're wearin, lovin what they're lovin

Going where everyone's goin

Where are all the questions?

In a world of mystery

I'ma keep searchin, till you show me

With both eyes open I won't sleep

I'ma keep searchin till You show me

I can hear it on the stereo, see it on the telly

Oh, no, I won't be deceived!

Illuminate the truth to me

I'ma keep searching till You show me

They're everywhere, signs symbols

Open up your eyes, cause there ain't much time

Till we're gonna go home

So watch what you're watchin, hear what you're hearin

Do what your doin, and know what you're consuming

Ignorance ain't bliss when your standing in the fire

There's a way that seems okay

Don't die, by a liar

So don't buy what they're buyin

Care what they're wearin, love how they're livin

And don't go where everyone's goin

Where are all the questions?

You are life, so open up my eyes.

You are mine, Jesus, and I will seek until I find,

the whole truth. So you won't see me fallin, for nothing but You, cause You are the truth!

~Beckah Shae "Show Me"

M2C Monday

Okay.. i am totally late in this today, and am not even gonna get a nice post here... had a busy day!

I DID go to my doctor last Tuesday, and it was fantastic. Got some much needed info and had bloodwork done.  Turns out that my vitamin D is pretty low, and my cholesterol is elevated. We talked about some dietary changes, and i will be checking in with him in about a month.

NOW... HERE is my STARTING WEIGHT for this journey:   181.4 pounds. GOAL: 155 lbs.

God has given me the strength needed! i am so excited to be on this journey. i will not be weighing myself at home. just when i go to check in at the doctor.

:)

Fridays with Frances

Your weekly dose of Frances R. Havergal :-)

Perfect Peace

Like a river glorious

Is God's perfect peace, 

Over all victorious

In its bright increase. 

Perfect--yet it groweth

Deeper all the way.

chorus: Stayed upon Jehovah, 

Hearts are fully blest,

Finding, as He promised,

Perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow

Of His blessed hand, 

Never foe can follow,

Never traitor stand. 

Not a surge of worry,

Not a shade of care,

Not a  blast of hurry

Touch the spirit there.

chorus: Stayed upon Jehovah,

Hearts are fully blest,

Finding, as He promised,

Perfect peace and rest.

Every joy or trial

Falleth from above,

Traced upon our dial

By the Sun of Love.

We may trust Him solely

All for us to do;

They who trust Him wholly,

Find Him wholly true.

chorus: Stayed upon Jehovah,

Hearts are fully blest,

Finding, as He promised,

Perfect peace and rest.