Some thoughts from Dr. Norman Geisler's Systematic Theology, Volume 2, on the simplicity of God. I know there are assumptions underlying some statements, so it's paraphrased because I don't remember everything I've read verbatim. Really, I'm probably just rambling, but it makes sense to me!!
God is pure actuality. Actuality is defined as "that which is in act or that which is (existence)." Pure actuality is the state of existing with no possibility of not existing or being anything other than what it is. God has no potentiality (that which can be), so therefore he is pure actuality - He is existence. (Think about Exodus 3:14 where God gives Moses his own name - "I AM WHO I AM.")
There can be no potential for change without something making that potential (or another way, nothing can change without having a possibility of change). So, there must be something to make that potential exist. For potential to exist where before it did not exist, something would have to change. When there is no change, that potential cannot exist. Once, however, the potential does exist, there must be a cause for change to happen. The change cannot exist without a cause, and the cause cannot exist without the potential for the cause, and the potential cannot exist where it did not before without something changing.
At some point this circular reasoning has to stop with an original cause. This cause is God - he is pure cause, pure action, pure actuality.
There is much more to that train of thought, but I'm not going to type out the 30 something pages it takes to fully explain it all!
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Utmost for His Highest
Today's devo from My Utmost for His Highest was good, so I thought I'd share part of it. Posted from RBC's Devotional website.
If we lose "the heavenly vision" God has given us, we alone are responsible— not God. We lose the vision because of our own lack of spiritual growth. If we do not apply our beliefs about God to the issues of everyday life, the vision God has given us will never be fulfilled. The only way to be obedient to "the heavenly vision" is to give our utmost for His highest— our best for His glory. This can be accomplished only when we make a determination to continually remember God’s vision. But the acid test is obedience to the vision in the details of our everyday life— sixty seconds out of every minute, and sixty minutes out of every hour, not just during times of personal prayer or public meetings.
If we lose "the heavenly vision" God has given us, we alone are responsible— not God. We lose the vision because of our own lack of spiritual growth. If we do not apply our beliefs about God to the issues of everyday life, the vision God has given us will never be fulfilled. The only way to be obedient to "the heavenly vision" is to give our utmost for His highest— our best for His glory. This can be accomplished only when we make a determination to continually remember God’s vision. But the acid test is obedience to the vision in the details of our everyday life— sixty seconds out of every minute, and sixty minutes out of every hour, not just during times of personal prayer or public meetings.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Passage of Time
It's been a while since posting last, and many things have changed! I'm fighting writer's block, too - lots of stuff to write about but I'm rather lazy about it, I suppose.
I've got a woman now, and boy is she a doozy!! She has a faith that I rarely see. She's an incredibly hard worker...and...she's gorgeous! Oh yeah! We met at WGC and have fallen head over heels in the past...oh...3 1/2 months of being friends.
Crosstraining is approved! My class date is in May. Nothing else is known at this time.
This week is my last sortie. Touche. Actually...it is bringing on a nostalgia and..yes I admit it...sadness that I didn't expect at all. Through all the crap, that jet will always hold a special place in my heart. All four leaky engines and '70's era technology of her!
This week is also probably the last time that I will ever instruct, at least in this career field. I DO feel a little sadness at that. Being an "I" has been a trip, and I thoroughly enjoy helping the youngsters learn the ropes (sometimes I think I enjoy beating the youngsters, too).
Well, that's it for now. TTYL.
I've got a woman now, and boy is she a doozy!! She has a faith that I rarely see. She's an incredibly hard worker...and...she's gorgeous! Oh yeah! We met at WGC and have fallen head over heels in the past...oh...3 1/2 months of being friends.
Crosstraining is approved! My class date is in May. Nothing else is known at this time.
This week is my last sortie. Touche. Actually...it is bringing on a nostalgia and..yes I admit it...sadness that I didn't expect at all. Through all the crap, that jet will always hold a special place in my heart. All four leaky engines and '70's era technology of her!
This week is also probably the last time that I will ever instruct, at least in this career field. I DO feel a little sadness at that. Being an "I" has been a trip, and I thoroughly enjoy helping the youngsters learn the ropes (sometimes I think I enjoy beating the youngsters, too).
Well, that's it for now. TTYL.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Loved, to the End
Joh 13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
This verse and the verses following it has been written upon my heart the past couple of days.
Have I loved Christ to the end? Well of course the answer is no, since the end of my time on earth has not arrived yet. So that much is obvious.
What about inside circumstances? Today's journal from Oswald Chambers talked about listening to God "in the shadow of his hand," (Isaiah 49:2), so that I may learn to hear him. I must confess...I am the worst and most stubborn sinner known to man, and there are times I resolutely REFUSE to listen to God's word. My rebellion is scarlet and stains the cross with it's betrayal. Inside those circumstances, I have not loved Him. I have not been His friend. (Lord...even now, please forgive me!)
I'm typing and thinking it over at the same time. Until my physical death comes, loving "until the end" is doubtful at best...there will probably not be a challenge in my life that is utterly and completely removed to the extent that it will never affect me again. Circumstances change...what hurt me (sifted me rather) may have no effect the next time; so it becomes the same challenge with a twist. Or I have failed at some point in the past and God has brought me to it again for the sake of passing that particular test. Either way it is not the end.
Perhaps there is a change of heart that needs to happen. Loving Him AT the end doesn't necessarily mean I love him TO the end, but I certainly would like to offer the record of my thoughts and deeds as worship then as well as now, to hear "Well done, good and faithfull servant...."
You know, I usually skip over the parables from Jesus and the warnings from Paul about the second coming of Christ. I'm not really sure why, to be honest. It's possible that by the time I get there I feel as though I've read to much really pay attention, or (more likely) I believe they just don't apply to me. How stupid is that! Who am I to say or even think something along those lines?!?
They are starting to make sense now...I should live and love as if it WERE the end and I could see the King of Glory rising to come take me home, for as much as I know, it is "the end."
Just some thoughts.
This verse and the verses following it has been written upon my heart the past couple of days.
Have I loved Christ to the end? Well of course the answer is no, since the end of my time on earth has not arrived yet. So that much is obvious.
What about inside circumstances? Today's journal from Oswald Chambers talked about listening to God "in the shadow of his hand," (Isaiah 49:2), so that I may learn to hear him. I must confess...I am the worst and most stubborn sinner known to man, and there are times I resolutely REFUSE to listen to God's word. My rebellion is scarlet and stains the cross with it's betrayal. Inside those circumstances, I have not loved Him. I have not been His friend. (Lord...even now, please forgive me!)
I'm typing and thinking it over at the same time. Until my physical death comes, loving "until the end" is doubtful at best...there will probably not be a challenge in my life that is utterly and completely removed to the extent that it will never affect me again. Circumstances change...what hurt me (sifted me rather) may have no effect the next time; so it becomes the same challenge with a twist. Or I have failed at some point in the past and God has brought me to it again for the sake of passing that particular test. Either way it is not the end.
Perhaps there is a change of heart that needs to happen. Loving Him AT the end doesn't necessarily mean I love him TO the end, but I certainly would like to offer the record of my thoughts and deeds as worship then as well as now, to hear "Well done, good and faithfull servant...."
You know, I usually skip over the parables from Jesus and the warnings from Paul about the second coming of Christ. I'm not really sure why, to be honest. It's possible that by the time I get there I feel as though I've read to much really pay attention, or (more likely) I believe they just don't apply to me. How stupid is that! Who am I to say or even think something along those lines?!?
They are starting to make sense now...I should live and love as if it WERE the end and I could see the King of Glory rising to come take me home, for as much as I know, it is "the end."
Just some thoughts.
Monday, February 12, 2007
He loved them until the end.
Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
(Joh 13:1)
This amazes me. Jesus...loved...them...until the end. Being able to read, being raised in America and being a Christian, I know to "whatever end" He loved me till. Yes, He loved ME...YOU...until the end.
Perhaps this verse captures my heart because there is really no such thing as an 'end' until God declares, "It is finished." This was just prior to that end. "The End...", in the cartoons we all know that the end is really only until next Saturday, or if we're lucky until tomorrow and the next episode comes on. It does have a certain finality to it coming from the Word. The. End.
Maybe this verse captures my attention because of what it precedes. This is a preface to one of the last acts of love (and probably the most powerful) he could do for the disciples before his crucifixion. True to his nature, not only does he perform a miracle (maybe it's just me...but God Himself washing feet is as much miracle as a healing), He also uses that love to teach the disciples one last time.
I can almost hear his voice; now pleading, now commanding, chuckling at Peter's response to washing his feet until the infamous prophecy of rejection. What it must have been to see the King of Kings washing his servant's (and friends) feet...would I have caught on to it? Nope, no more than they did.
I think I see Jesus's humanity more in these verses than I do anywhere else, even in the Garden. (Isn't it interesting how the Fall of Man happened in the Garden and now the Redeemer of Men is now betrayed in a garden?) Reading the next couple of chapters is like hearing a last effort at teaching them...like an old soldier sending his son off to war...like a lover departing his new bride for unknown and dangerous lands...like a King issuing final commands before riding into a battle that he knows will end his life.
Thank you, Lord.
(Joh 13:1)
This amazes me. Jesus...loved...them...until the end. Being able to read, being raised in America and being a Christian, I know to "whatever end" He loved me till. Yes, He loved ME...YOU...until the end.
Perhaps this verse captures my heart because there is really no such thing as an 'end' until God declares, "It is finished." This was just prior to that end. "The End...", in the cartoons we all know that the end is really only until next Saturday, or if we're lucky until tomorrow and the next episode comes on. It does have a certain finality to it coming from the Word. The. End.
Maybe this verse captures my attention because of what it precedes. This is a preface to one of the last acts of love (and probably the most powerful) he could do for the disciples before his crucifixion. True to his nature, not only does he perform a miracle (maybe it's just me...but God Himself washing feet is as much miracle as a healing), He also uses that love to teach the disciples one last time.
I can almost hear his voice; now pleading, now commanding, chuckling at Peter's response to washing his feet until the infamous prophecy of rejection. What it must have been to see the King of Kings washing his servant's (and friends) feet...would I have caught on to it? Nope, no more than they did.
I think I see Jesus's humanity more in these verses than I do anywhere else, even in the Garden. (Isn't it interesting how the Fall of Man happened in the Garden and now the Redeemer of Men is now betrayed in a garden?) Reading the next couple of chapters is like hearing a last effort at teaching them...like an old soldier sending his son off to war...like a lover departing his new bride for unknown and dangerous lands...like a King issuing final commands before riding into a battle that he knows will end his life.
Thank you, Lord.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Psalm 100
G'day!
This is a psalm a friend sent to me via text message and one I studied in my quiet time yesterday. I use E-sword, and it comes with Matthew Henry's and Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible. I don't always agree with what I read in the commentaries (and half the time it's above my head anyway), but there is a lot of stuff in this little bitty psalm, so I figured I'd share it. :)
Psalm 100:1 A Psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
The KJV records Psalm 100:1a as "A Psalm of praise."
Praise is defined as the following:
H8426
תּודה
tôdâh
to-daw'
From H3034; properly an extension of the hand, that is, (by implication) avowal, or (usually) adoration; specifically a choir of worshippers: - confession, (sacrifice of) praise, thanks (-giving, offering).
I really don't know much if anything about the Hebrew language (except that it's complicated!), but it does interest me that "praise" seems to be defined in the context of an action. I don't know why, you'd think that would be like saying a circle is round...but, it does.
Psalm 100:2 Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
Something I find VERY interesting in this verse is the word "presence." Apparently this word presence is a PLURAL word that is always used as SINGULAR...I've heard of this type of thing before but didn't know I'd be able to find it. If I'm not mistaken, this is the ancients use of Hebrew to describe a three-person Godhood as one personal being. A plural word used in the singular fashion. Fascinating!
Serve the Lord with gladness! Be happy that we are made worthy of service. Oftentimes I find myself angry with people that tell me to "serve the Lord with gladness" because I think, "If you knew what I was going through, you wouldn't say something like that. How can I be happy during a time like this?"
From Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible:
"Psalm 100:2 -
Serve the Lord with gladness - It is your privilege and duty to be happy in your religious worship. The religion of the true God is intended to remove human misery, and to make mankind happy. He whom the religion of Christ has not made happy does not understand that religion, or does not make a proper use of it."
Does not make proper use of it - I think that's the key here, at least for me. Regardless of my circumstances, there is always cause to serve the Lord. Why? Look at the next verse:
Psalm 100:3 Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
The Lord is God. He made us. We are his. We are his people, we are the sheep of his pasture. Amen to that!
Of course this was written to the Hebrews, but I don't believe I'm taking it out of context to apply it to Christians as well. After all, the Lord made us, we belong to Him and we are his people. Thank you, Lord!
Psalm 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
As I read this, I can't help but wonder what it would have been like to enter into the Temple to worship the Lord. I wonder what it would have been like to search for my family's passover lamb...to take it to the Temple, worship there, and watch it die. I wonder what it would have been like to be there when it happened. The Lord knows that I'm not the type to get up early, so I'm sure that by the time my turn in line came, the altar, the ground around it, the priests and the very walls and curtains would have been soaked in blood. I wonder what it would be then to have seen that and hear the words "His blood is atonement for our sins...". I think that experience would add a visceral meaning to the words that is utterly lost to most people in our culture, including me.
Psalm 100:5 For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
The Lord is good, and because he is good, his love and faithfulness endures forever. Truthfully, I feel convicted nearly every time I say the word "good." I think this word is highly overused and misunderstood in our mega-church society. To me...good, is, well, GOOD. It either is or it isn't, if there is compromise in 'goodness,' then it isn't good, it's evil. Because there can be no compromise it is everlasting. True, deep, lasting Goodness is so completely alien to me that it nears the term "holy," though I hesitate to use holy because that implies other meanings. I suppose in reference to the Lord, it is appropriate. God is good, but he isn't good because good describes Him; he is good because when you come right down to it, He is the very definition of the word good. There is no other worth counting in my book. God is Good!!!
Here are a couple of ancient renditions of the Hundreth Psalm the Adam Clarke's Commentary mentions:
The Anglo-Saxon Hundredth Psalm
Rhyme ye the Lord all earth, serve the Lord in bliss;
Infare in sight his in blithness;
Wit ye, for that Lord he is God, he did us & not self we;
Folk his & sheep leeseway his; fare into gates his in confession, into courts is in hymns confess him.
Praise name his, for that winsom is; Lord thro’ eternity mildheartedness his, & unto on kindred & kindred sothfastnes his
Anglo-Scottish Version of the Hundredth Psalm
1. Joyes to God al the erth; serves to Lord in gladnes.
2. Enters in his sight with joying.
3. Wittes for Lorde he is God; he made us and noght we;
4. Folke of hym, and schepe of his pasture; enters the gates of hym in schrift; hys Halles in ympnys; schryves to hym.
5. Loues his name, for soft is Lorde; withouten end in his mercy; and in generation and generation the sothfastnes of hym.
This is a psalm a friend sent to me via text message and one I studied in my quiet time yesterday. I use E-sword, and it comes with Matthew Henry's and Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible. I don't always agree with what I read in the commentaries (and half the time it's above my head anyway), but there is a lot of stuff in this little bitty psalm, so I figured I'd share it. :)
Psalm 100:1 A Psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
The KJV records Psalm 100:1a as "A Psalm of praise."
Praise is defined as the following:
H8426
תּודה
tôdâh
to-daw'
From H3034; properly an extension of the hand, that is, (by implication) avowal, or (usually) adoration; specifically a choir of worshippers: - confession, (sacrifice of) praise, thanks (-giving, offering).
I really don't know much if anything about the Hebrew language (except that it's complicated!), but it does interest me that "praise" seems to be defined in the context of an action. I don't know why, you'd think that would be like saying a circle is round...but, it does.
Psalm 100:2 Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
Something I find VERY interesting in this verse is the word "presence." Apparently this word presence is a PLURAL word that is always used as SINGULAR...I've heard of this type of thing before but didn't know I'd be able to find it. If I'm not mistaken, this is the ancients use of Hebrew to describe a three-person Godhood as one personal being. A plural word used in the singular fashion. Fascinating!
Serve the Lord with gladness! Be happy that we are made worthy of service. Oftentimes I find myself angry with people that tell me to "serve the Lord with gladness" because I think, "If you knew what I was going through, you wouldn't say something like that. How can I be happy during a time like this?"
From Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible:
"Psalm 100:2 -
Serve the Lord with gladness - It is your privilege and duty to be happy in your religious worship. The religion of the true God is intended to remove human misery, and to make mankind happy. He whom the religion of Christ has not made happy does not understand that religion, or does not make a proper use of it."
Does not make proper use of it - I think that's the key here, at least for me. Regardless of my circumstances, there is always cause to serve the Lord. Why? Look at the next verse:
Psalm 100:3 Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
The Lord is God. He made us. We are his. We are his people, we are the sheep of his pasture. Amen to that!
Of course this was written to the Hebrews, but I don't believe I'm taking it out of context to apply it to Christians as well. After all, the Lord made us, we belong to Him and we are his people. Thank you, Lord!
Psalm 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
As I read this, I can't help but wonder what it would have been like to enter into the Temple to worship the Lord. I wonder what it would have been like to search for my family's passover lamb...to take it to the Temple, worship there, and watch it die. I wonder what it would have been like to be there when it happened. The Lord knows that I'm not the type to get up early, so I'm sure that by the time my turn in line came, the altar, the ground around it, the priests and the very walls and curtains would have been soaked in blood. I wonder what it would be then to have seen that and hear the words "His blood is atonement for our sins...". I think that experience would add a visceral meaning to the words that is utterly lost to most people in our culture, including me.
Psalm 100:5 For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
The Lord is good, and because he is good, his love and faithfulness endures forever. Truthfully, I feel convicted nearly every time I say the word "good." I think this word is highly overused and misunderstood in our mega-church society. To me...good, is, well, GOOD. It either is or it isn't, if there is compromise in 'goodness,' then it isn't good, it's evil. Because there can be no compromise it is everlasting. True, deep, lasting Goodness is so completely alien to me that it nears the term "holy," though I hesitate to use holy because that implies other meanings. I suppose in reference to the Lord, it is appropriate. God is good, but he isn't good because good describes Him; he is good because when you come right down to it, He is the very definition of the word good. There is no other worth counting in my book. God is Good!!!
Here are a couple of ancient renditions of the Hundreth Psalm the Adam Clarke's Commentary mentions:
The Anglo-Saxon Hundredth Psalm
Rhyme ye the Lord all earth, serve the Lord in bliss;
Infare in sight his in blithness;
Wit ye, for that Lord he is God, he did us & not self we;
Folk his & sheep leeseway his; fare into gates his in confession, into courts is in hymns confess him.
Praise name his, for that winsom is; Lord thro’ eternity mildheartedness his, & unto on kindred & kindred sothfastnes his
Anglo-Scottish Version of the Hundredth Psalm
1. Joyes to God al the erth; serves to Lord in gladnes.
2. Enters in his sight with joying.
3. Wittes for Lorde he is God; he made us and noght we;
4. Folke of hym, and schepe of his pasture; enters the gates of hym in schrift; hys Halles in ympnys; schryves to hym.
5. Loues his name, for soft is Lorde; withouten end in his mercy; and in generation and generation the sothfastnes of hym.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Pet Peeves
More pet peeves:
So what if I wear a hunter orange shirt to church and haven't shaved since Friday? What's your point? Am I not good enough to hear the Gospel because of it? I hate it when people are turned away or ignored in a church building because of their physical appearance. It's usually older people that are the offenders, too. I guess we all get stuck in our ways sometimes.
Fish Wars. Please, if you're going to put one of those stupid fish thingys on your car, don't drive like you should be sporting a Darwin fish instead of the Jesus fish. It's offensive to everybody.
Drive-by evangelism. I know a guy that has Bible verses in large letters all over the windows of his vehicle. Yes...that's a GREAT way to witness to people. That way, you stay safe away from ridicule, openess and actually caring about everyone you talk with. Way to go!
Using the Biblical language to explain other-than-Biblical things. Otherwise known as Christainese. I don't care if the civil authorities were called "magistrates" in the KJV, over here in America they are Senators, Governors, Representatives or whatever. The list goes on and on.
Tracts. Another great way to not get invovled in a person's life and still pretend to care. My favorite is putting a tract in a tip jar or using it as a tip.
Time for me to go.
So what if I wear a hunter orange shirt to church and haven't shaved since Friday? What's your point? Am I not good enough to hear the Gospel because of it? I hate it when people are turned away or ignored in a church building because of their physical appearance. It's usually older people that are the offenders, too. I guess we all get stuck in our ways sometimes.
Fish Wars. Please, if you're going to put one of those stupid fish thingys on your car, don't drive like you should be sporting a Darwin fish instead of the Jesus fish. It's offensive to everybody.
Drive-by evangelism. I know a guy that has Bible verses in large letters all over the windows of his vehicle. Yes...that's a GREAT way to witness to people. That way, you stay safe away from ridicule, openess and actually caring about everyone you talk with. Way to go!
Using the Biblical language to explain other-than-Biblical things. Otherwise known as Christainese. I don't care if the civil authorities were called "magistrates" in the KJV, over here in America they are Senators, Governors, Representatives or whatever. The list goes on and on.
Tracts. Another great way to not get invovled in a person's life and still pretend to care. My favorite is putting a tract in a tip jar or using it as a tip.
Time for me to go.
Iron Sharpens Iron
I've made a new friend over the past few days. Her name is Sonya.
She's a fellow Wholly Grounds Coffee junkie but is still pretty new to the shop. The two of us ended up weathering the last set of storms at WGC along with the employees, and we had a blast! Ha.
She's a really neat girl! Every day she hits me with some observation or some bit of wisdom and completely floors me. I'm continually suprised by the wisdom that comes from her heart. God has used the two of us to encourage one another over the past few days and I'm thankful that we met.
Adios!
She's a fellow Wholly Grounds Coffee junkie but is still pretty new to the shop. The two of us ended up weathering the last set of storms at WGC along with the employees, and we had a blast! Ha.
She's a really neat girl! Every day she hits me with some observation or some bit of wisdom and completely floors me. I'm continually suprised by the wisdom that comes from her heart. God has used the two of us to encourage one another over the past few days and I'm thankful that we met.
Adios!
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