Seeking? Be a plain person.

"I yet write not for professional theologians but for plain persons whose hearts stir them up to seek after God Himself."

Preface, The Knowledge of the Holy - - AW Tozer

Is humanism Satanism

Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. “Get away from me, Satan!” he said. “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

Leaders who can't seem to lead (like Jesus)

Jesus understands show learners. Having struggle with leading followers who don't get it. Join the club that Jesus founded. But take heart. If this is the experience of the Son of God  went do you think you'll have it easier. And then consider that He hand picked his crew. Bet you dint have that privilege. Read and know that Jesus sympathises with you.

Mark 8:14-21 NLT

But the disciples had forgotten to bring any food. They had only one loaf of bread with them in the boat. As they were crossing the lake, Jesus warned them, “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.” At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread. Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don’t you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in?  ‘You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?’ Don’t you remember anything at all?  When I fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread, how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterward?” “Twelve,” they said. “And when I fed the 4,000 with seven loaves, how many large baskets of leftovers did you pick up?” “Seven,” they said. “Don’t you understand yet?” he asked them.

LOOK INSIDE, it's not pretty..... We need help don't we?

Mark 7:9, 20-23 NLT

Then he said, “You skillfully sidestep God’s law in order to hold on to your own tradition.  And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you.  For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder,  adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.  All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”

A kingdom not of this world

http://bible.com/116/JHN18.36 Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” Bible.com/app

Naked

We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can’t take our riches with us.

http://bible.com/116/ECC5.15 Bible.com/app

Natuurlijk, Hij is God!

http://bible.com/398/PSA115.2 Waarom zeggen de volken: ‘Waar is die God van hen?’ Onze God is in de hemel, hij doet wat hem behaagt. Bible.com/app

The truth as I see it....

The antidote to sadness is the truth. Tell yourself the truth. 
God is good. 
God loves me. 
God is in control. 
God the Father sent Jesus to rescue me. 
The Bible is full of truth. 
I am evil. If God doesn't save me from myself, I'll be a selfish God killer. 
The truth will set me free. 
I have hope and help in Jesus. 
God loves_________________ more than I ever could. 
God's plan is better than my plan. 
My hope is in the Lord. 
I have been given the mind of Christ. 
Jesus prayed for me. 
Faith is a gift from God. 
God has given me this gift. 
There is life after death. 
There is eternal death and judgement after death for those who refuse God's grace. 
God's grace is evident to all men. 
God's character can be seen in his creation. 
No one is has an excuse for not believing. 
God is patient. 
God is kind. 
God forgives freely. 
God is not shocked by my heart, or my children, or this situation. 
God knows what I need. 
I don't need what I think I need. 
God will supply all I need. 
God is more generous than anyone else. 
God is greater than all others. 
God deserves our praise. 
The first and most important command is to love God above all others and all else with all that I am. 
I continually break the most important command. 
God is worthy of worship. 
God is all powerful. 
God is all knowing. 
God is everywhere. 
God's plan is perfect. 
Nothing can thwart God's plan. 
The cross of Christ was plan "A", there is no plan "B". 
I must suffer. 
All who follow Jesus must suffer. 
If we go the way of Jesus, we must humble ourselves and serve our enemies. 
In the Bible I find the words of life. 
The Bible tells me about me, the world and most importantly, God. 
I live in a world full of spiritual battle. 
There are angels, demons and spiritual beings waging war around me. 
God's enemy the Devil is a liar. 
When I'm not following God, then I'm following the Devil. 
God is holy. 
God is pure. 
God is right in all he does. 
I'm selfish and I'd make a terrible God. 
I need God. 
I don't know what is the best in every situation. 
I need to be more concerned about God's reputation and feelings than mine or peoples. 
God's name is great. 
I should be jealous for the honor of God's name. 
Whatever process God used, God is creator of all. 
Jesus is in charge of everything. 
All human authorities are only there because God allows them. In fact God takes credit for using evil leaders to accomplish good. 
We can know God. 
We can know the truth. 
God had told us about himself. 
God is light. 
Jesus said he is the way, the truth and the light. No one can have a relationship with God unless the they come through Jesus. 
Jesus is the only way. 
Every single person chooses of their own free will to turn their back on God their maker. 
God through Christ graciously has forgiven all our evil thoughts and actions. 
The cross is a supreme example of God planning to use the evil intentions of evil men to make the ultimate rescue plan for mankind. 
.......

Stil, mijn ziel

Opwekking 717 - Stil, mijn ziel, wees stil + teks…: http://youtu.be/tPPkNMEioaY

Frankly, I don't understand!

This is a difficult passage of the Bible to say the least. What does it mean? Why is it in here. Was it kept? Who would you give and have killed?

Don't turn your back on him!

Petra - Creed

Please go like my photo!

http://goo.gl/F7S4C8

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153955438510122&set=o.660966547300846&type=1&theater

It will help my citizenship class here!

spew a wretched stream of visceral offence

Just a thought, Every artist, comedian, musician, teacher, politician, activist, or preacher who ever got up to do anything wanted to get his/her point across, be heard and express themselves. For some the mere act of communication is an attempt to convert others. So for my personal faith I find that even the non stop bombardment of lying advertisements spew a wretched stream of visceral offence. They might be bright and cheery but they sell a lie of a better life when in fact the path they preach is a cesspit of pain. (I can't get a toothpaste advert out of my head that promised better family relationships and popularity after its use.) The things that deny, are offensive to, or mock my faith are far too often cloaked in sheep's clothing and the boldest affronts are actually of little consequence. We need to realise the current crusade to mock our Lord and hang him on a cross once again or even more deny that he needed to die, is coming, as it has always done, from "within."




Galation 5:11b If I were no longer preaching salvation through the cross of Christ, no one would be offended.




1 Corinthians 1:18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.


One of the most offence things Jesus did was to hang out with sinners! Matthew 9:9-13
Welcome the poor, don't stone the adulterous (but don't send her away without reminding her she is free to cease with her adultery), eat with the sinners, hangout with the drunken ones till people assume you are one too, talk about God's plan to make his son and his son followers suffer, remind people of a coming judgement so they can avoid it! Offensive Christianity 101 -- do what Jesus did.

Satan controls the weather?

Satan is called the "prince of the power of the air" in Ephesians 2:2. He is the "ruler of this world" in John 12:31.

I've recently started reading Job. It is said Job is the first book of the Bible to be written. Everything written by Moses covering the events of the world's creation, the flood, and all the patriarchs was written no less then 450 years after the fact and some far more than a thousand years later.

Don't you think that it is interesting that Satan is a prominent character in the first story about man in the garden and here again Satan is essentially character number two in the story of Job. Obviously God is character number one in every case.

And while I'm on this trend I'd like to point out that Jesus in the gospel of Matthew right after he is baptised, he is led by the Holy Spirit to an encounter with Satan. And Satan 'jets' Jesus around and Satan claims he has power.

So here we are in Job. God spurs Satan on to have a go at Job.

And what happens?

Thieves, raiders, 'the fire of God' from heaven and wind.

These came from Satan.

Then disease. That came from Satan too.

Can natural disasters come from Satan?

Obviously God is in control and he allowed Satan the power. But should we consider that big events, wars, and so called 'acts of God'  are actually acts of Satan, the prince and power of the air.

Something to think about.

The problem of language.

http://bible.com/r/12.6 I just finished day 6 of the @YouVersion plan "Reading God's Story: One-Year Chronological Plan". Check it out here:

Blessed by the inability to communicate.

How is it that God's mercy and grace are expressed in the  confusion of language?

Join me? Read through the Bible this year.

http://bible.com/r/12.4 I just finished day 4 of the @YouVersion plan "Reading God's Story: One-Year Chronological Plan". Check it out here:

Our old friend Isaiah

I'm quite moved by our old friend Isaiah. His hard hitting straight forward no holds barred right out of the box approach to rebuke is fresh nearly three thousand years later. Isaiah 1:27 NLT. I'd encourage you to read the whole chapter again. I love that verse three already insults us and says essentially we are dummer than a jackass. But by verse 27 we are given the hope that revival comes from repentance.

I believe that is a fair formula for God's child.

Want Revival? Repent of your stubborn pride. We're so often right (informed by the Lord and his word) that we forgot we are usually wrong (in and of ourselves).  We are not so clever. We are stupider than a jackass. We need to repent.

So there's your revival tip. Repent of pride. Look for God's leading in his word and obey.
Have faith He is in control.

Isaiah 1:3-6, 27 NLT

Even an ox knows its owner, and a donkey recognizes its master’s care— but Israel doesn’t know its master. My people don’t recognize my care for them.” Oh, what a sinful nation they are— loaded down with a burden of guilt. They are evil people, corrupt children who have rejected the Lord . They have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him. Why do you continue to invite punishment? Must you rebel forever? Your head is injured, and your heart is sick. You are battered from head to foot— covered with bruises, welts, and infected wounds— without any soothing ointments or bandages. Zion will be restored by justice; those who repent will be revived by righteousness.

Two privileges

Are you privileged?

Philippians 1:28-29 NLT

Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.

Bent u bevoorrecht?

Filippenzen 1:28-29 NBG51

zonder dat gij u in enig opzicht door de tegenstanders laat beangstigen. Hierin is voor hen een aanwijzing van hún verderf, doch van úw behoud, en dat van Godswege. Want aan u is de genade verleend, voor Christus, niet alleen in Hem te geloven, maar ook voor Hem te lijden,

......................
You thought one present was good but two is even better. Possibly the second is what you need now. Everyone at one time or another wants to be rescued. And when you are desperate you are likely to put your trust in the weakest of things. We sometimes say you are grasping at straws. Imagine you are falling. Now imagine that you are slipping down a steep cliff and you are clawing the stone wall looking for anything to grab. You reach out and you catch a hold of a small twig from a little tiny tree trying to grow in the crumbling rock face. At that moment you are not falling anymore and you are putting your trust in the small tiny tree to hold your weight and keep you from plunging to your death below.
Christ is a safe platform, a sure, stable and comfortable place to stand. You can be confident in him far far more than the tiny little tree we imagined earlier. Still it is a privilege to have a safe place to stand. The safe place needs to be protected because people above are hurling down stones. And others who are falling are grabbing at you to drag you down with them.

It's not easy to discuss the privilege of suffering. It isn't such an applauded position. People aren't fighting for the privilege. Suffering comes and you don't see the sigh of relief. A cheer doesn't go up and celebrations don't break out. Trust can be seen to be the natural response to need. And it isn't difficult to employ when the free fall of our tragic position becomes apparent.

But who considers suffering a privilege?

Jesus did. Paul writes hear that he did.

To be associated with Jesus even in suffering is better than a trouble free life.

We are to quick to pray suffering away. We struggle to see that this is God's way.

How might you suffer for Jesus?
Do you see suffering as a privilege equal to trust in Jesus?

.....................
Philippians 1:1-30 NLT

This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus. I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the elders and deacons. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ —for this will bring much glory and praise to God. And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear. It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance. For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me. Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.

Filippenzen 1:1-30 NBG51

Paulus en Timoteüs, dienstknechten van Christus Jezus, aan al de heiligen in Christus Jezus, die te Filippi zijn, tezamen met hun opzieners en diakenen; genade zij u en vrede van God, onze Vader, en van de Here Jezus Christus.  Ik dank mijn God, zo dikwijls ik uwer gedenk; immers, in al mijn gebeden bid ik telkens voor u allen met blijdschap, wegens uw deelhebben aan de prediking van het evangelie, van de eerste dag af tot nu toe. Hiervan toch ben ik ten volle overtuigd, dat Hij, die in u een goed werk is begonnen, dit ten einde toe zal voortzetten, tot de dag van Christus Jezus. Zó van u allen te denken spreekt voor mij dan ook vanzelf, omdat ik u op het hart draag, daar gij allen, zowel bij mijn gevangenschap als bij mijn verdediging en bevestiging van het evangelie, deelgenoten zijt van de mij verleende genade. God toch is mijn getuige, hoezeer ik met de ontferming van Christus Jezus naar u allen verlang.  En dit bid ik, dat uw liefde nog steeds meer overvloedig moge zijn in helder inzicht en alle fijngevoeligheid, om te onderscheiden, waarop het aankomt. Dan zult gij rein en onberispelijk zijn tegen de dag van Christus, vervuld van de vrucht van gerechtigheid, welke door Jezus Christus is, tot eer en prijs van God.  Ik wil, dat gij weet, broeders, dat hetgeen mij wedervaren is veeleer tot bevordering van de evangelieprediking heeft gestrekt. Daardoor toch is aan het gehele hof en aan al de overigen duidelijk geworden, dat ik in gevangenschap ben om Christus’ wil, en het merendeel der broeders in de Here heeft door mijn gevangenschap vertrouwen gekregen om met des te meer moed onbevreesd het woord Gods te spreken. Sommigen prediken de Christus wel uit nijd en twist, maar anderen doen het met goede bedoeling. Dezen verkondigen de Christus uit liefde, daar zij weten, dat ik tot verdediging van het evangelie gesteld ben, maar genen uit eigenbelang, met de onzuivere bedoeling, mij de gevangenschap zwaar te maken.  Wat doet het ertoe? In elk geval, hetzij met een bijoogmerk, hetzij in oprechtheid, wordt Christus verkondigd; en daarin verblijd ik mij, en zal ik mij ook verblijden. Want ik weet, dat dit mij tot behoud zal strekken door uw gebed en de bijstand des Geestes van Jezus Christus, naar mijn vurig verlangen en hopen, dat ik in geen enkel opzicht beschaamd zal staan, maar dat met alle vrijmoedigheid, zoals steeds, ook nú Christus zal worden grootgemaakt in mijn lichaam, hetzij door mijn leven, hetzij door mijn dood. Want het leven is mij Christus en het sterven gewin. Indien ik in het vlees blijf leven, betekent dat voor mij werken met vrucht, en wat ik moet kiezen, weet ik niet. Van beide zijden word ik gedrongen: ik verlang heen te gaan en met Christus te zijn, want dit is verreweg het beste; maar nog in het vlees te blijven is nodiger om uwentwil. En in deze overtuiging weet ik, dat ik zal blijven en voortdurend bij u allen zijn, opdat gij verder moogt komen en u in het geloof verblijden. Dan zult gij ruimschoots reden hebben om over mij te roemen in Christus Jezus, wanneer ik weder bij u kom.  Alleen, gedraagt u waardig het evangelie van Christus, opdat, hetzij ik kom en u zie, hetzij ik afwezig blijf, ik van u moge horen, dat gij vaststaat in één geest, één van ziel medestrijdende voor het geloof aan het evangelie, zonder dat gij u in enig opzicht door de tegenstanders laat beangstigen. Hierin is voor hen een aanwijzing van hún verderf, doch van úw behoud, en dat van Godswege. Want aan u is de genade verleend, voor Christus, niet alleen in Hem te geloven, maar ook voor Hem te lijden, in dezelfde strijd, die gij eens van mij hebt gezien en nu van mij hoort.

Destinations

Love, faith, grace and the gift of life in context. What do you see?

2TH 1:3-12 NLT

Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you. And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him. So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.

2 Tessalonicenzen 1:3-12 NBG51

Wij behoren God te allen tijde om u te danken, broeders, zoals gepast is, omdat uw geloof zeer toeneemt en uw aller liefde jegens elkander sterker wordt, zodat wij zelf over u roemen bij de gemeenten Gods, vanwege uw volharding en uw geloof onder al uw vervolgingen en de verdrukkingen, die gij doorstaat: een bewijs van het rechtvaardige oordeel Gods, dat gij het Koninkrijk Gods waardig geacht zijt, voor hetwelk gij ook lijdt, indien het inderdaad recht is bij God, aan uw verdrukkers verdrukking te vergelden, en aan u, die verdrukt wordt, verkwikking tezamen met ons, bij de openbaring van de Here Jezus van de hemel met de engelen zijner kracht, in vlammend vuur, als Hij straf oefent over hen, die God niet kennen en het evangelie van onze Here Jezus niet gehoorzamen. Dezen zullen boeten met een eeuwig verderf, ver van het aangezicht des Heren en van de heerlijkheid zijner sterkte, wanneer Hij komt, om op die dag verheerlijkt te worden in zijn heiligen en met verbazing aanschouwd te worden in allen, die tot geloof gekomen zijn; want ons getuigenis heeft geloof gevonden bij u.  Hiertoe bidden wij ook te allen tijde voor u, dat onze God u de roeping waardig achte en met kracht alle welgevallen in het goede en het werk des geloofs volmake, opdat de naam van onze Here Jezus in u verheerlijkt worde, en gij in Hem, naar de genade van onze God en van de Here Jezus Christus.

Choices. God accepted Abel's sacrifice but rejected Cain's. God chose Noah and destroyed the world and all others in it. God chose Isaac but did not choose Ishmael. God chose Jacob and the Bible says he rejected Esau. Joseph is chosen to save his family. Moses is chosen to lead his people, but Pharaoh is chosen to have a hard heart. Moses is not allowed to enter the land. Fail is chosen as king but then David is chosen and Saul is rejected. But David is not allowed to build the temple. The people of the land are chosen for destruction; Israel is ordered to kill every man woman and child in most cities.

Will you choose Jesus or will you choose destruction? You are faced with a choice.

Will you choose justice? Or salvation and forgiveness?

Will you choose today to love your creator or will you choose to love yourself?

Choose you this day whom you will serve.