The Joshue Journey

Futurism attempting to disprove Preterism....

2017-02-12T11:40:00.000-05:00

Today I was presented an article, and the purpose of the article is to disprove Preterism. To find this article you can visit it here.

This article is bold to state the following:

"So lets begin with the basis for this view of prophecy.

Rev 1:9: “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation” "

Now this isn't true - this isn't the basis. To make an assumption like this is to err, but this verse could be used as a supporting argument. What is written in the Book of Revelation? The "tribulations to come". Would it not be soothing/comforting for one reading this letter/book to know that the writer is going to be going through those tribulations with you?

Also - would it not align with other biblical documentation?

John 21:22 Jesus saith unto him(Peter), If I will that he(John) tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

Jesus' words again aligning with old covenant laws. Telling Peter to not worry about what others have or receive. In simple terms - don't covet anything your neighbour has.

Back to the point - if John 21:22 did also mean that John would be alive when Christ returned this lines up with another Bible verse.

Matthew 16:27-28 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

²⁸Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Every time I ask someone who believes in a future coming of Christ where the people are from Matthew 16 are - I cannot get a simple answer.

You see - there are valid reasons why a Preterist or someone who believes in Fulfilled Eschatology doesn't believe in Futurism. Futurists can't answer simple questions based on the text.

Which leads us to other topics in the article and how I have a few main arguments to dismiss even those topics.

Things everyone needs to understand when trying to interpret prophecy to fit your view. Does everything you interpret line up with the remainder of Scripture? If it does line up then you're on the right track - if it doesn't line up, then it's not true or needs to be tested further.

2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

If a prophecy is not of any private/personal interpretation - this means that what the prophecy meant when it was written has to mean the exact same thing today.

So, the next argument that was used is the following:

Rev. 3:10 "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” The whole world will be involved in this trial not just secluded to Israel. This would be the Great Tribulation.

One thing I dislike about how they posted this was putting their opinion inline with the Biblical text. Where does it say the whole world will be involved in this trial?

The greek word here for World is:

οἰκουμένη oikouménē, oy-kou-men'-ay; feminine participle present passive of G3611 (as noun, by implication, of G1093); land, i.e. the (terrene part of the) globe; specially, the Roman empire:—earth, world.

Interesting - how the meaning of this word is clear to have in it's definition "specially, the Roman empire".

Know where else this word is used?

Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

Now - again this isn't twisting scripture - this is just what scripture says, and demonstrates how the meaning of the word supports that "World" is the Roman Empire.

So if this is the meaning of the word - than the article's argument for Revelation 3:10 - is false, and shouldn't be considered.

The Latter Days argument

1 Tim. 4:1: “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith.” These are the same latter days mentioned in Micah 4:1 “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established on the top of the mountains.” The difference is that 1 Tim. 4 precedes Micah 4.

Last days as used in the King James Version of the Bible appears here:

· Isaiah 2:2

· Micah 4:1

· Acts 2:17

· 2 Timothy 3:1

· Hebrews 1:2

· James 5:3

· 2 Peter 3:3

I'm not dismissing that the Bible talks about the last days. But the point is Acts 2:17 - Peter is bold to state that they are in the last days. The last days that Joel mentioned have started. Joel was written before Christ - but the timeframe is up for debate, being written as early as the 9th Century BC and as late as the 4th Century BC.

Here lies the question that nobody seems to ask or answer....

Why have the last days lasted longer than the time frame of when Joel was written through to Acts 2:17? We're now almost 2000 years in the last days, but it was prophesied at most 1000 years before they started.

So we're in the last days that have lasted almost 2000 years - or are we in the last days?

1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

What's interesting about this passage is the word time. A lot of Bible versions use the word Hour...

G5610

ὥρα hṓra, ho'-rah; apparently a primary word; an "hour" (literally or figuratively):—day, hour, instant, season

It's just interesting how the word here changes the context of time. We were in the last days - but now we're in the final day. Or we're in the final hour.

Again - amazing how they were in the last days which was perhaps 30 odd years and all of a sudden they're in the final day, or in the final hour. What's amazing is how that final day/hour has lasted longer than the other "days" combined.

Think about that..........

The infamous Peace Treaty

I knew it, I knew it. Everyone uses Daniel 9:27 to support their futurist view when it comes to supporting the Antichrist.

In order to understand Daniel 9:27 - you also need to understand Daniel 9:24-26. You also need to understand Daniel 8.

Daniel 8 gives a container of 2300 days. We know this is 2300 years because of the day for a year method. This can be confirmed in Numbers 14:34, Ezekiel 4:6.

When did Daniel 8 take place?

Daniel 8:1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.

So - when is the 3rd year of Belshazzar?

548 BC

So we now know that Daniel 8 needs to be completed by (548BC + 2300, there's no year 0) 1753AD.

Then - let's look at Daniel 9. Daniel 9 - is more detail to the prophecy mentioned of Daniel 8. Again - we know that Daniel 9 needs to be fulfilled by no later than 1753AD.

But WAIT - Daniel 9 gives a timeline. I'm going to use the Septuagint(LXX) version of the Old Testament, as it was translated from Hebrew to Greek and completed by 132BC.

Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks have been determined upon thy people, and upon the holy city, for sin to be ended, and to seal up transgressions, and to blot out the iniquities and to make atonement for iniquities, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal the vision and the prophet, and to anoint the Most Holy.

Daniel 9:25 And thou shalt know and understand, that from the going forth of the command for the answer and for the building of Jerusalem until Christ the prince there shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks: and then the time shall return, and the street shall be built, and the wall, and the times shall be exhausted.

Daniel 9:26 And after the sixty-two weeks, the anointed one shall be destroyed, and there is no judgment in him: and he shall destroy the city and the sanctuary with the prince that is coming: they shall be cut off with a flood, and to the end of the war which is rapidly completed he shall appoint the city to desolations.

Daniel 9:27 And one week shall establish the covenant with many: and in the midst of the week my sacrifice and drink-offering shall be taken away: and on the temple shall be the abomination of desolations; and at the end of the time an end shall be put to the desolation.

Now - re-read Daniel 9:24 - and determine purpose of the 70 weeks. How does verse 27 all of a sudden become about Antichrist?

Interesting how in the Septuagint it's written and seen in plain text that the verse is about God and Christ. It is not about an antichrist.

Who establishes a covenant with many? Christ did!

Luke 22:20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

Oh wait - I guess I forgot the timelines, right?

69 weeks from Decree to restore Jerusalem unto the coming of Christ the Prince

The decree was in 457BC. Add 483(69 weeks) and this will get you to 27AD When was Christ Baptised? in The 15th year of Tiberius Caesar aka 27AD. Then the 70th week simply follows suit.

This 27th verse of Daniel 9 when interpreted with the context of all verses and/or using the Septuagint disproves that this verse is about an Antichrist - and therefore dismisses much of the rest of this website's article.

There's no future Temple - because the Jewish daily Sacrifice has already stopped. The reason they need a Temple is because the Sacrifice needs to start again in order to stop again.

Again - most futurists don't understand Fulfilled eschatology because many of their current beliefs don't align. So the question is - do your beliefs align with God's word - or do your beliefs align with someone's interpretation of Scripture.

Remember this:

2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

How I'm treated because I believe Jesus already returned......

2017-01-11T18:41:00.000-05:00

I’m almost at a total loss. So many people talk about how Christians are so closed minded and I try and defend Christians on this argument – but the way I’ve been talked to in regards to my Christian beliefs – I can now understand where people are coming from.

Yes, I am a Christian, but I’m not a fundamental Christian – perhaps Conservative, BUT I don’t even think that fits the bill. We call ourselves believers of fulfilled eschatology, and eschatology is “the study of end times” if you will. In simple terms I believe the entire Bible has been fulfilled and therefore – there won’t be a future second coming of Jesus.

So as a result of this – I’ve been told many things: “You’re believing another gospel and Paul warned us about that”; “that doesn’t make any sense”; “your beliefs are false”; oh and let’s not forget “I’ll pray that God brings you back to repentance”.

I almost can’t believe what I’m being told. The main reason being – the people who say these things don’t even try and understand why I believe what I do. So instead of trying to understand my beliefs I guess it’s easier to say the things I mentioned above. How can you love me as your neighbor if you don't understand where I'm coming from?

Clearly – these people forget or disregard the part when I tell them “I used to believe what you do, BUT I had too many questions that nobody could answer, so after I praying one day, literally the next day I discovered this”. So to tell me to turn back to what you used to believe – means I have to go back to reading Bible verses from a certain perspective and again the questions I had before come back and nobody is able to answer them. Then they say “Well ask God about it” – and as you can see we come back right full circle.

I used to believe in a future Second coming of Jesus. I used to believe in a rapture and trust me, I studied it over and over. The thing is – I no longer believe in a future second coming of Jesus.

In simple terms here’s what I believe……Jesus spoke to his disciples and apostles around 30ad – saying he would return in the future and that His generation shouldn’t pass until he returned. So in 70AD – there was a destruction of the temple. Jerusalem was surrounded by armies(romans) and yes there was a war. So in 70AD(Future from 30AD) – I believe is when Jesus returned.

So – things like the Apostles creed – Yeah I don’t believe parts of it because it says “he will come again to judge the living and the dead” – well I don’t believe that. So it’s even more difficult to try and find a church that doesn’t have these “futurist” type of beliefs and/or teachings.

So to understand my beliefs – you need to start with that. To disprove them – you have to show me from my paradigm why my beliefs are wrong. While reading the Bible from this paradigm – I haven’t had any questions that I can think of. By trying to disprove my beliefs based on questions you now have that you can no longer answer – doesn’t mean my belief isn’t true. It just means that your belief may not align with this paradigm.

So again – Christians judge me because I’m not open to their beliefs. Trust me – I’m open to hearing about it. The thing is – I already know everything about it. The question is – what do you know about my beliefs other than what you watched and/or read on the internet.

So people say my beliefs are a “new belief system” and I shouldn’t believe it because it’s “another gospel”.

SO let’s start here:

2 Peter 1:20 states: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

So – this would mean that what Jesus said 2000 years ago – would have to have the same meaning then as it does today. Right?

So – 2000 years ago Jesus said these things:

Matthew 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Luke 21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

Mark 8:12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, Why does this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

Mark 13:30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

Matthew 16:28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

What did “this generation” mean when Jesus said this to people 2000 years ago? It meant that generation of his time, right?

Interesting how Mark 8:12 answers this for us – with the help of the content from it’s former verse:

Mark 8:11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.

To which Jesus says: Why does this generation seek after a sign?

Somehow – futurists magically make Matthew 24:34 to be “that generation”.

Compound all of this with Matthew 16:28 – and BAM I don’t know any 2000 year old person standing on the earth – which means I guess the Son of man coming in his kingdom has already happened – OR this verse makes Jesus to be a liar.

Now – does it all line up with “his generation” – yes I’d say so.

So before condemning my beliefs – start answering these questions and perhaps you can lure me back to a Future second coming of Jesus:

How does “this generation” all of a sudden become a generation in the future – when in every other passage it’s referring to the generation of Jesus’ day.
Why isn’t there any 2000 year old people walking the earth? Didn’t Jesus also reference this in John? I don’t see apostle John walking the earth
Why don’t we have to live by the law anymore? See Matthew 5:17-18 for this

Keep in mind that 2 Peter 1:20 states: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. So – I don’t want to be reading ideas nor having “this is what was taught by the elders” – I’d like to read good sound biblical evidence.

So – with that said, if you want me to believe your beliefs you need to disprove my beliefs and not just simply discard them by saying they’re false and that I should repent.

Belief Equality..........

2015-07-22T12:29:00.002-04:00

This one is a tough one to try and write out and even reason with people. Especially when these people fight for equal rights, yet reject other people’s rights at the same time. These people who I’ve come to call liberals. Yes a liberal will fight for rights of others and rights for themselves even if it limits rights of a select few. So when I use the term liberals throughout the rest of this blog – I’m referring to this definition of a liberal and not what most people use it as.

You see – liberals are so very easy to call people who disagree with their beliefs “bigots” – yet they do not try and understand why a person has such a belief, nor asks what they believe. Simply because they disagree with them – they’re clearly deemed a “bigot”. Isn’t there a saying that goes it takes one to know one? Simply because one disagrees with your belief, and you’re not willing to hear them – does it not make you a “bigot” as well?

Or how about – you pointing the finger, yet three fingers are pointing right back at you.

Let’s talk about marriage equality for a moment. Or for that matter, let’s talk about marriage period. I’ve talked to some people I’d consider good friends over the years. Some of them gay/homosexual, some of them atheist, and some of them a mix of the two(gay/homosexual and atheist). What’s interesting about this – is the one thing I generally hear from them is “why would anyone want to get married? It’s a religious thing.”

Ok – so marriage is a religious thing they say. So – why are politics getting involved in a religious matter?

I’m a huge fan of separation of Church and State. So – yes, I’m a Christian. Why does one need to go to the state to get a license to get married? Well everyone – it’s pretty clear. It’s all about money. You have to pay to go get the license.

So the bigger question is this: If there was no recognition from the State that you are actually married, would you still want to go and get married? What benefit would it have?

You see, I don’t want to go to the State and ask for a marriage license. I simply want to go to a minister/pastor and ask him to simply marry me in an open area. I want this marriage to be accepted in the eyes of God. I could care less about whether the State approves or accepts this marriage.

So you see – if you eliminate the State from the subject of marriage, it solves a lot of problems that people always bring up.

People always point the finger at Christianity about marriage, saying they’re against same-sex marriage. The issue is, for a millennia and even longer – marriage has been defined as a union between a man and a woman. This isn’t only with Christianity, in fact Christianity is founded on Judaism, and this was a Jewish thing. Now Jews and Christians aren’t the only ones with this meaning – but even Muslims have this same belief.

See how it was worded – marriage has been defined as a UNION between a man and a woman.

If the separation of Church and State were to become 100% real – maybe the State could offer ceremonies called “Unions” – while the religious establishments can continue to do what they’ve always done and continue to marry people without the need to seek approval from the state.

This IMO(in my opinion) would provide everything everyone is looking to do. It would respect the religious establishments. Let’s keep in mind I never mentioned religions like Mormons or others where they accept polygamy.

Everyone is rooting and happy that the marriage equality thing has happened – but it still doesn’t accept polygamy. While many people may feel polygamy is a whole other situation – people have those beliefs. So, if a religious person is supposed to accept another one’s belief that it is acceptable to have same-sex marriages. Should the person who accepts same-sex marriages not accept that others have a belief that polygamy is accepted within marriages?

May sound like 2 very different things – but in the end it’s simply accepting one’s beliefs. So if we’re going to start accepting one’s beliefs – then we should be accepting everyone’s beliefs and not just one group of people’s beliefs – but all groups of people’s beliefs.

You see – I accept that everyone has different beliefs. I accept the fact that we do, while I may disagree with certain beliefs – I do my best that it doesn’t change how I act towards the person nor how I feel about them. I do my best to treat everyone with the same amount of respect as the next person. Love your neighbour as yourself, right?

If I have the right to believe something, another person has the right to believe something else. Now it’s great to debate this in a healthy discussion, but it should be done in a way to better understand the other person, rather than calling them a “bigot” – because little do you know how complex the reason or reasons are for why a person believes what they do.

This blog, is only beginning to scratch at the surface as for how I believe about marriage-equality, which we can then start to call belief-equality.

Cheers Uncle Wayne!

2015-07-17T15:00:00.002-04:00

Wow – who would’ve thought?!

Exactly one week ago – the real Tom Green aka my uncle Tom lost his battle with cancer. Here it is a week later, and my great uncle, my mom’s uncle Wayne lost his life after a double bypass that seemed to have worked for a short time, but in the end his heart was too weak to make it through a 24 hour period after surgery.

You know – it’s interesting, as many may or may not know – we’ve been doing many renovations at the cottage, and this isn’t the first renovation or redo at the cottage. When the cottage was initially bought back in the mid 80s, it wasn’t insulated among many other things. What’s interesting is while we were working on this renovation – we had asked Tommy who insulated the floor with him down in the tight crawl space – and much to our surprise it was Wayne.

So here we are with these two people gone from our lives here forever.

Now – anyone who knew Wayne will say he was a kind hearted soul. If he had a beer in his hand – you can be sure if you didn’t – he was definitely offering and more than willing to get one for you, and if you weren’t drinking beer he was getting you something else.

Uncle Wayne was never one for motorized vehicles or tools of any sort. While he may have never married or had kids of his own – I do know that at different times he looked after just about all his nephews and nieces. Whether it be buying gifts for them at Christmas, or giving them their first beer(they were all of age of course), or even more simple just playing a game of cards or watching a Sports game on TV – he treated them to the best that he knew and could.

After retiring from Ontario Hydro approximately 15 years ago, he moved back to Pembroke and lived with his brother David and his oldest sister Marie.

While neither David or Marie were his kids or nephews, etc. He did make a claim in the house. The claim was to be the cook of the house. Thus finally allowing Marie after years and years of cooking for her sisters, children, etc. was able to receive a break from cooking in the kitchen.

You know – the Bible does teach a few things, but not limited to:

1 – God will write his laws on people’s hearts (Jeremiah 31:33)

2 – To look after widows and orphans (James 1:27)

Whether these are 2 things uncle Wayne ever read or not – it clear that God held up to his promise in Jeremiah 31:33. Wayne looked after a widows, his oldest sister Marie after moving back home – and while his nephews or nieces may not have been orphans he definitely would look after them if needed.

While everyone may have their different memories of Wayne, we should simply be thankful to have been blessed to have had someone like Wayne in our lives.

For those of you who want Wayne’s Legend to carry on – if there’s one thing he did teach me – was he taught me how to mix Caesars(while I was of age of course).

Cheers uncle Wayne!

The Real Tom Green

2015-07-11T12:23:00.001-04:00

I'm not even sure where to start in how I write this out. This has been a difficult long start to a summer for me. I started off on a stress leave, which then about 3 weeks into it, my appendix decided that it wanted to get removed(no it didn't burst) - to then find out I have a benign cyst on my adrenal gland, which may be the root cause of a few health problems I have.

Now - generally I write things out about things I've found and noticed, perhaps a life experience for me - but today I'm dedicating this to my uncle: the real Tom Green.

When someone passes on - it's a period of mourning for those that are left behind. When the mourners feel that their loved one has passed on prematurely - we generally start asking a whole bunch of questions. When a loved one passes on prematurely due to cancer it's even more so.

Now - Tommy never really had an easy life. He lost his dad at a young age, and this in itself would've been difficult. Now - from that moment, yes he had good moments, but it always seemed that just when he was about to get the next lucky break in his life - BAM - something would go wrong.

All throughout this - he'd move on. Yes he was blessed to have had a supporting cast around him along the way, and yes this supporting cast did help him move on, and yes the supporting cast does also deserve a round of applause. The key thing here though is he did move on; he continued on and definitely an applause is also in order for Tom Green.

Perhaps there was something helping Tommy - perhaps he had a passion within him...

Anyone who knew Tommy - knew he was passionate about certain things - to the point that if you didn't believe those things you'd say he sounds crazy or "whacked in the head" - just to throw a few examples: his talk about aliens or other "conspiracy theories", his talk about natural nutrition, alternative medicine or how the pharmaceutical companies are ripping you off because they want customers and not people to get better; how Big Brother is watching us, etc.

Yes - Tom Green - the Real Tom Green was passionate. Some will also say compassionate - which while this is true with one of his favourite expressions being "warm hands means a warm heart" - but the purpose here is to also allow everyone to learn something through the word passion.

Everyone has clearly heard of "The Passion of Christ" - whether it be the movie or just the Passion that Jesus had in generally period. For anyone who's seen the movie - you see the passion in the sense that Jesus is whipped, basically even died before making it to the cross that everyone is so familiar with.

Whether you believe or not - just to understand the psyche behind, Jesus did all that to save His people from the sin that was written in the law. A sin could only be atoned for through a sacrifice and Jesus became that sacrifice. All that suffering and pain. He did it for us

Why do I bring that up? Well passion - is derived from a greek word: pathos. The meaning of pathos is: suffering, emotion, depraved passion.

In today's day - most people hear the word passion and think a deep love for someone, or a deep love for something. While this may be true - when you look at the deeper meaning of it all, there is suffering.

The reality that we're getting back to is Tom Green was passionate. Yes he had a deep love for people, he had a deep love for certain things. While he did have this, his life did have suffering.

Now, while Tommy did have suffering in his life - yes we can get stuck in feeling how we feel bad for him because we wouldn't want such a thing. This just shows the strength a person can have, and if we can't handle such a thing - shows how strong Tommy was.

Yes - we can feel bad about Tommy having gone through much suffering - even in his last few weeks after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, there was much pain. He continued on. Finally in the early hours of July 10th, he lost his fight with cancer.

As much suffering that Tommy had, I believe that you should now rejoice. Yes we can say he's no longer in pain, he's no longer suffering - but I see something far more beautiful than that.

If Jesus is the King of kings in heaven - I'm going to ask you to just think about Tommy while reading this Bible verse:

I Peter 4:13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

What is love?

2015-04-02T15:24:00.004-04:00

I've been seeing a common theme lately coming up. The theme is pertaining to one word: love.

What is love?

· Unconditional
· Baby don’t hurt me
· Patient, kind, doesn’t envy, doesn’t boast, is not proud, doesn’t dishonor others, not self-seeking, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs(aka forgives), doesn’t delight in evil, rejoices in truth, protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres.
· Choice
· Passion
· Dedication

First off – lets analyze this. Studies have shown over time that a majority of people hate their jobs – that’s right hate, they don’t love them. So if you’re one of those “majority of people” – question for you… Are you passionate about your job? The answer is most likely “no”. Are you dedicated to your job? You most likely are but also because of other reasons. You’re dedicated because of an image you want to maintain. You’re dedicated because you need that paycheck to pay your rent next month, you’re dedicated because you want to buy that TV after you get your next paycheck.

So right off the bat – I can say that in a relationship, passion is more important than dedication. If you’re passionate within the relationship, you will be dedicated; but the opposite is not true. If you’re dedicated it does not mean you will be passionate.

From that – I can also tell CEO’s, shareholders, company owners, you want more out of your employees – provide them a work environment that they enjoy. Provide them a way that they will love their job. Being passionate will lead to dedication and this dedication is not simply I’m doing this to pay bills – it’s I’m doing this because I want to.

But what is dedication? What does it look like in a relationship? Within a relationship – love walks and talks. Ever hear the actions speak louder than words expression? This is it, this is what they’re talking about. This is dedication. Dedication when love is involved looks like this:

Patient, kind, doesn’t envy, doesn’t boast, is not proud, doesn’t dishonor others, not self-seeking, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs(aka forgives), doesn’t delight in evil, rejoices in truth, protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres.

Baby Don’t hurt me – a song brought to us by Haddaway. While yes it is accurate to say “baby don’t hurt me, no more” – again, what’re signs of this? Again – keep in mind, nobody wants to get hurt. Nobody wants to be told certain things. I think the big one though is the ultimate “what is love” question.

Love is a choice. Love is a choice you make and basically you’re saying I love you as much as I love myself. If you love yourself more than the other person – then I’d have to say you don’t love the person. You may think you love them. You may enjoy their company. This person though is your cherry on top – rather than your everything. If you’re thinking about entering a relationship with someone remember this. Because trust me – if the person is solely your cherry on top – someone is going to get hurt real bad. Somebody. That somebody may not only be the other person but will also be you.

While this love is a choice – this choice is an unconditional choice. You choose to love this person not because anything they have to offer you. You choose to love this person for the purpose of you wanting someone to feel loved the way you want to feel loved. That my friends is not conditional as we all want to be loved and that is truly unconditional. If you love that person unconditionally - the "baby don't hurt me" portion will disappear.

To be or not to be, that is the question – but there is a even a greater question. To Love – or not to Love, that is the question, that is the choice.

My Journey of Faith - Part V

2015-02-10T23:21:00.001-05:00

Hey kids....did I ever tell you the story about the one year we renovated the cottage? Oh, I know....we were in the midst of talking about the resurrection and death and stuff but, we needed to somewhat take a brief break from that.

While I may have started writing this blog after the renovations had begun - it doesn't mean the renovations are over yet...

Anyways - renovations....taking out the old and broken and bringing in the new and improved? Sound familiar at all?

Well - this is still about Preterism and it still is about Jesus and so on, and as for the resurrection and death of Adam and so on - don't worry we'll get to that later.

I Corinthians 15:52-54

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

While many believe this to mean that one day we will all rise up from our dead bodies and be transformed into these new beautiful physical bodies I don't believe this to be the case. I believe it goes deeper than that - more spiritual if you will.

We're taught that God is spiritual and those who worship Him, will worship Him how? In spirit and in truth. ;) Kids - really? You aren't reading your Bibles yet........so anyways, that's another talk we'll have another time...

So - worship God in truth - the Bible talks about Sin, how Sin is to be rid of and all these things. Does this twinkling of an eye refer to our new physical bodies will be sinless or is it our mind, heart and soul that must become sinless?

Why did I mention the cottage? ok ok......

Well the cottage, it was built probably back in the 1950's or 1960's. Back in a time when it was deemed if you're building a cottage, it doesn't need to be built to the same standards as a house, this has all since changed, but you're with me so far?

So, I remember one year they put a new paint job on, a few years later they put siding on - but why didn't the floor stop bouncing? Why were there electrical issue, why were their plumbing issues, etc?

Just because it had a new "physical outside" didn't mean the rest was taken care of. The floor joists still weren't to code, the ceiling joists didn't meet code, and there were band-aids put over broken bones all over. What can you do?

Well tear everything out, and put something new in it. Yes kids - it has been a timely project. Ripping out 3 layers of flooring, ripping out all the old floor joists, ripping out walls, ripping off the drywall, the list goes on.

BUT after this was done - we can now start to change the core of the building. We're putting in new joists that will more than meet code. Once done - we're going to properly insulate the floor, put the flooring overtop, build new walls, put in new beams and it goes on and on.

Once we're all done this, people will look at the place and won't notice much of a difference. The same siding will be there, the same windows, the same everything for the most part minus a few layout changes inside here and there....The difference is, the floor won't bounce anymore, electrical issues will be fixed, plumbing issues will be fixed and simplified.

People may say not much has changed - but I tell you in the twinkling of an eye the building will be transformed.

This is the change that Paul is discussing in I Corinthians. Does it not line up with what the prophet said?

Ezekiel 11:19-20
19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

While your outside may not have changed after God's work has been to transform who you are, but I can tell you that in the twinkling of the eye, everything about you has changed. Everything you stand for, your beliefs, etc.

You see kids - it's not all about us dying and getting new bodies - it's about our old heart dying and getting a new one.....

Oh wait - I said I wasn't going to get to that yet........ok - brief spoilers!

My Journey of Faith - Part IV

2015-02-04T16:43:00.001-05:00

Hey kids, you know, I’ve been saying so much and I’m sure you have questions, but don’t worry, I’m getting to them…..It was the summer of 2013 I believe, and I remember camping out at our cottage for the annual Horse shoe tournament, yes camping it out on my tent, and I saw a friend of mine post a video or two from a man named Don K Preston.

Well, let me tell you, that a lot of the stuff I’ve learned – a lot of the weird and hard questions has probably come from a Video or something that Don has spoken of.

So – the question comes that starts to come forward when we start understanding fulfilled or Covenant eschatology is: what happens when we die?

Now – I think before we get to that, we need to understand what the resurrection is, but also need to understand what death is. Don said it so clearly in his tapes too.

What is death? The resurrection is to bring us to life from death, right?

So here’s something to consider.

Genesis 2:16-17 says:

And the Lord God gave a charge to Adam, saying, Of every tree which is in the garden you may freely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil-of it you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die.

Interesting what’s said here. God told Adam that if he eats of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, that he will surely die – that same day.

Now – we know that they didn’t die that day because God kicked them out of Eden and here they went on to live and Adam went on to live to be over 900 years old. Now, I know Adam isn’t a Time-Lord and his name isn’t “Doctor” – but something doesn’t make sense here.

Did they die that day or not? God said they would. If they didn’t die – then clearly, God lied. Now the old serpent, the most crafty of the “beasts” that roamed the earth told Eve that they wouldn’t die. Surely they didn’t die – so it would seem that the Serpent was telling the truth. Yes?

Romans 5:12 says:

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Romans 6:23 says:

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

So – we know that sin leads to death. Sin is disobedience to God, or disobedience to God’s law.

Isaiah 59:2 says:

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

James 2:26 says:

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Clearly it is revealed to us in Isaiah and confirmed in James that death is a separation from God and humans.

Notice now, how I’ve now come to see that the death that Adam died on that very day wasn’t a physical death – but on that same day he ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, he was separated from God and thus died.

This is the death that would endure throughout all of time. This was the death that Jesus came to save us from. Now if Jesus is the resurrection – where does that leave us?

I’ll continue answering the questions as I continue through this journey I’ve been on – but if you’re really waiting and interested in knowing more. Here’s the first segment of Don Preston’s video series about the Resurrection:

My Journey of Faith - Part III

2015-02-03T12:29:00.000-05:00

Well kids, it was the summer of 2011 when I had a big shake up in my beliefs, this lead to the long journey that’s led us here. While there have been questions upon questions I continued seeking answers to those questions….

Now I already told you about Jesus returning in 70 A.D. – now weren't we at a question about this making Jesus a liar because this would be the sign of the “End of the world”?

First off, we need to understand there are several references to the End of the World within the Bible

Matthew 24:3 ¶And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Matthew 13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

There are many more references – but here are a few key ones. The KJV of the Bible while generally my preferred reading version states “world” – some other versions depending on the verse use the word “age”.

All 3 of these passages use the greek word “aion” which translates to the word “age”. So there is definitely a difference between the end of the world and the end of the age.

What age? Is this a astrology type of age? Well if this is coming from the Bible and the Bible teaches against astrology, astronomy or some of those things – we need to understand what age, and what the context of the Old Covenant and the New Covenant is.

So – again not all Bible versions are worded accurately – so it’s important to study and identify different versions. The LXX of the Old Testament has something worded that is totally fantastic and highlights a prophecy that was to be fulfilled.

Daniel 9:27 And one week shall establish the covenant with many. And in the midst of the week my sacrifice and drink offering shall be taken away: and on the temple shall be the abomination of desolations; and at the end of the time an end shall be put to the desolation.

So – God’s sacrifice and drink would be taken away. What was the sacrifice? It was going to the Temple and there were many different sacrifices, Bulls, Lambs, specific birds, etc.

These sacrifices would come to an end. When did these sacrifices stop? When the temple was destroyed(70 A.D.). Jewish people haven’t been able to fulfill that part of their Law since the destruction of the Temple. Due to this, how can their sins be atoned for? How can they be forgiven?

You can say “oh but God will forgive them” – but the thing is, they deny Jesus. In doing so, they deny their salvation and thus are guilty of not following their laws to become right with God. These are things mentioned in the Old Testament, but Paul does a good job at explaining this in Galatians within the new Testament. If you want to follow those laws – follow them, but if you miss just one – you’re guilty.

The end of the age is not the end of the World. The end of the age is the end of the Sacrifice, which was what defined the Jewish religion and thus the end of the age was the end of the Jewish Age.

Was Jesus there until the end of the age? Did Jesus return at the end of the age? This we can truly sit back and say yes He was or yes He did. You see – Jesus didn’t lie – we just need to see Him through a different paradigm.

Again – this goes back to my belief, Fulfilled Eschatology, which some also refer to Covenant Eschatology.

The Covenant was with the Jewish people and only the Jewish people. That age(Covenant) came to an end and I believe was extended to the Gentiles, but extended under new laws, new rules.

Under this new Age there would be no more death for those who are seeking God. Now, granted this meaning of death I just used is not physical death, but rather: no more separation from God and His people.

Now - definitely I'm sure questions will be flowing - I know, but at least we have the start of the foundation ground of understanding this under way - we can now move on to next things....

My Journey of Faith - Part II

2015-02-02T11:21:00.001-05:00

Well Kids, you know it was that time when I was trying to continue to understand my beliefs. Here I was somewhat new to Fulfilled Eschatology and I was still trying to find a balance while also still trying to understand what I was learning.

So here I was continuing on in my reading and came across another interesting verse. Jesus himself said as written in Matthew 16:27-28:

²⁷For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

²⁸Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Now - for those that still believe in a future return of Jesus. Can you answer me what Jesus meant in Matthew 16:28? How can some people standing there not taste of death until his return in his Kingdom?

Last I checked I don't know of anyone that's about 2000 years old. But Jesus himself said that they wouldn't taste of death until His return and if He hasn't returned in His Kingdom, and all the people standing there died - well this would mean that Jesus is a liar. So - the Jesus you believe in - the Son of God who is faithful, lied?

Again - these were questions I had while believing in a future coming of Jesus, and just couldn't be answered unless you go down a rabbit hole stating "well death is separation from God" - and people wouldn't go through that separation until His return.

Now - while that could be an interpretation - I do not believe that's what was implied. I believe that some people standing there would not physically die until His return.

Ok then. surely some questions are perhaps being asked. Perhaps you want to understand when Jesus returned if all has been fulfilled/completed. Right?

Let's see what Jesus said about his return - well perhaps let's see what his disciples asked him.

Matthew 24:1-3

1And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

So - we have a reference now - on the time of Jesus' return. The time is at the Destruction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. So - we see why so many people who believe in a future return of Jesus are in support of having a Temple rebuilt in Jerusalem, and it's so that it can then later be destroyed so that Jesus may return. Trust me, I lived this. I looked forward to this.

Now if Jesus was saying these things around 30AD. He was telling everyone He would return in the future, and some would not taste of death until His return. It's clear there was a Temple that existed in Jesus' day. We know it's not there today (again, not one stone left standing upon another). So - did Jesus say that "not one stone left of a future temple to be built won't have its stones left one upon another" or "not one stone left" of the current temple of His day?

Jesus never once said anything in His prophecies about a future Temple to be built. He did mention the Temple of His day. He did mention it would be destroyed. He also mentioned that the Destruction of the Temple would be the sign of His return.

So - the question now becomes when was the destruction of the Temple? Well, we live in a world of technology where we have tons and tons of information which we can seek out on the Internet and we can quickly use google to look up this information and will find that such a date goes back to 70 A.D.

So - let's go back a bit. Jesus said that some people standing there would not taste of death until His return. His disciples asked when the temple would be destroyed and his return and the end of the world?

Now - if 70 A.D. was the year of the destruction of the Temple - is it possible that some people standing there at that time, would not taste of death for about 40 years? Totally - and absolutely.

So - then this leaves us with how can we still be here if it wasn't the end of the World? That means Jesus lied, doesn't it? No it doesn't - you're just looking at this from a paradigm where Jesus will return in the future. You're looking at it from a paradigm where these events were all supposed to be for us. Furthermore - if that's your argument to everything stated so far, can you start answering all the questions I've brought up about Jesus - because the Jesus you currently believe in from my perspective is a liar.

It's good to have questions. The Bible even teaches to examine ourselves, test everything. Like if this is all true - what about the judgement, what about Hell, where are we now?

While these are all valid questions - there are more important questions. If this is true, how does this change how the world is run? How does this change how we live our lives?

Again - this is where we end today, and will continue on next time.

My Journey of Faith - Part I

2015-01-29T18:59:00.000-05:00

The Joshue journey....what would it be without explaining my journey, what I've gone through, or what I'm going through learning? In all honesty, I haven't written a blog in quite some time now - but I think it might be a good thing to get back into it.

You see kids, this is the story about how...........naw - someone's already done that, besides I can do that - but perhaps having some reference material along the way can help tell that story too.

So - one of my last posts on Facebook(if the link doesn't work - scroll to the bottom to read what I wrote) was about some things I wanted people to understand about me when reading a something I'd post on Facebook. One of the things mentioned was myself being a Preterist or someone following the fulfilled eschatology position of the Bible. In simple terms for those who don't understand - I believe in the fulfilled eschatology(end times) position of the Bible.

What does this mean? Well I'm sure that everyone has a core belief of a "end of the world". When this is mentioned, different people will turn to the Bible to read things Jesus wrote in the Olivet discourse, some people will go and read Revelations, and some will even go and read of many plagues and curses mentioned in the Old Testament.

So - if I believe in the fulfilled end times position - that essentially means that everything from Genesis 1 through to Revelation 22 has been completed or fulfilled.

Now - to take on that belief isn't as simple as making the decision at that moment. There were a lot of influences. A lot of questions that couldn't be answered. I still remember reading Jesus' sermon on the mount and just after the Beatitudes already having a question......now perhaps before getting to the question, I should explain what my beliefs and views were.

I grew up in family that did attend church - but I'll be honest when I say what I knew of Jesus or God was very little, in fact so minute, in fact I still don't know much, but I know tons more than I did back then if that says anything. So one day I remember being at work, and someone introduced me to this doctrine of the Rapture. I didn't know anything about this and I definitely didn't this was possible. So this my friends brought me into the world of pre-millenialism, which is a belief that Jesus will return in the future at a unknown time, but those who believe in Him will be taken out of the world prior to the 7 year tribulation, prior to the great and terrible day of the Lord. So I believed this, I knew just about every piece of biblical evidence to support this.

Now - to the question.......now this wasn't my only question - but this question was a key factor because it was something that Jesus himself said.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:17-18

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

¹⁸For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Now - what did he mean by this? I'll be honest - I had no idea how to answer this. I asked different people what Jesus meant by that - and I'd get the common answers like "well Jesus spoke in parables for a reason" and stuff like that, which I thought was complete crap. How can nobody answer this question for me? Yes Jesus spoke in parables for a reason

Matthew 13:10-13 says:

And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

¹¹He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

¹²For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

¹³Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

So it would seem that the people I were asking - themselves didn't understand.

So while I believed in Jesus and that He was the Son of God, and all those other Titles He has - I thought - How can I truly believe someone, or believe in someone I don't fully understand.

I remember the day like it was yesterday. I was kneeling by my bedside praying - "God, I don't care whether the rapture is true, or whether it isn't - I just want to know the truth, I want to know you" - I remember praying this, and going to bed. I was working overnights at the time and had a Facebook buddy who also worked overnights. He sent me this link and asked what I thought about it. So - I started reading......and while some of the stuff of what I was reading made sense, I was at a total loss of words. I didn't know what to say. Everything I believed was being ripped away from me. I was like "what about the 1000 year reign with Christ?" - "what about going to heaven?" - "what about the judgement day?", and the list went on and on.

I don't think I read the Bible or did anything "religious" for a month or so. I remember going back and at some point and started reading the Bible again, and for the first time ever got to Matthew 5:17-18 and it actually made sense. Maybe because my faith in believing in an event had been shaken from me and taught me to seek God for who he is and not for what I would benefit out of it. Now granted I did have some help with understanding this and it was taught to me like this....

Josh - do you believe we live under the Old Covenant or the New Covenant? To which I answered the New. He continued to state, well how can we live under the New if all isn't fulfilled until Heaven and Earth pass?

DING DING DING! Bells going off for me here.

There is a mention of Heaven and Earth passing away and John seeing a New Heaven and a New Earth - but you almost need to be in Revelation 19-20-21 to get to that part. So, unless all of that has happened - we're still under the old Covenant, which means we need to follow the old Covenant laws, and perform the sacrifices, and all that stuff....Stuff that as Christians we believe we don't have to do because we're in the New Covenant but somehow our New Covenant teaching includes a future return of Jesus and all of Revelation will only happen like 7 years prior to Jesus' return which is just OMG!

So - I know that taking this on, leads to other questions - trust me I've been there, and I'm still searching some of the questions. Like what about Heaven and Hell? What about the Antichrist? What about all those things we believe if Jesus is returning in the future? Exactly - as I said, my faith was shaken. With that said, my faith was made stronger and I don't think there's much that could shake it at this point.

With all this said - I'm going to bring this message to an end - but be sure to know, I'll continue this journey and share some of the other questions that were answered through a fulfilled Eschatology viewpoint.

Martha, Jesus and Lazarus Part III - an exegesis...

2013-12-22T15:18:00.000-05:00

Hello all,

I hope you're recovered from the last message – and really examining yourself to see if you are in the faith.

My last message I was posting as to when I believe Jesus was returning in His Kingdom. Now – back to the main point.

“Great blog but I'm afraid I disagree. Here is why? there are verses that don't match up with your beliefs.”

Here are a few of those verses and I'll do a break down for each:

i - 2 Peter 3:10 -But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

-----

I love this verse – when people help support it for a future coming of Jesus. Yet in the next breath – they will talk about how we are to be refined like gold through a fire/furnace?

Zechariah 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

We know that the passage of Zechariah is a figurative explanation – as we won't go through physical fire but rather we will be refined by Fire(The Holy Spirit) through the Word of God. Why doesn't this same figurative explanation apply to 2 Peter 3:10?

The elements will be destroyed with intense heat – and the earth and its works will be burned up. All those works will be done away with – just not in the physical sense. Again – this is in a figurative sense. God is not a physical God – God is Spirit – and those who worship him shall worship him in truth and in spirit(see John 4).

ii - Thessalonians 4:16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God.
Jeremiah 25:30 The Lord shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout.
Psalm 50:3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: ... and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
note: "Tempestuous" means "turbulent and stormy." The second coming of Jesus will clearly be noisy beyond description. There will be nothing secret about it!

-----

Yes – the LORD himself did descend from heaven with a shout. This isn't a secret and I believe it wasn't a secret when the Temple was destroyed and Jerusalem essentially blown off the map by the Romans. Ask the internet when The Temple was destroyed and Jerusalem was left desolate.

iii - Matthew 24:30. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him.

Note: This is too clear to misunderstand. Every person alive, wicked or righteous, will see Jesus return to earth. A secret gathering, or "rapture," of God's people is not described in the Bible.

-----

Matthew 24:30 – such a lovely verse. Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven; and then shall all the TRIBES of the earth mourn,

It's interesting that the Bible talks about the tribes. The tribes the Bibles makes reference too are the 12 tribes of Israel. Jesus himself says that all the tribes would see him return.

One thing missing from Revelation 1:7 – is who would see His return. If we leave that part out – we're missing out on WHO would see His return

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen

They who pierced him would see him. Those who pierced him have been dead for nearly 2 millenia. How can they see him if they are already dead?

Now – to better understand what Jesus is saying in Matthew 24:30 in regards to “they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” - let's examine this a little bit more.

Matthew 26:64-65

Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. 65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.

Now – I always wondered and asked myself – why did the high priest(Caiaphas) tear his clothes? Something was said here that a Pharisee would know. Something was said to be in such rage.

For this – I recommend reading Psalm 18. Read Psalm 18 in it's fullness. This is a Psalm about David pleading for his life – begging for God to save him from his Enemies. How can God do such a thing without judgement? Essentially God does come in Judgement – but look closely at verse 9:

He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.

Now – did God actually come down? Again – this is a metaphor, figurative language – just like many Bible verses are. This is how Jesus said he would return. No wonder Caiaphas was angry that he tore his clothes. Caiaphas knew that Jesus was making a reference to coming in Judgement and delivering the innocent from his enemies. Jesus was pointing out at who was guilty here – and the High Priest didn't like it.

Now – perhaps my views are different from yours – does it make them not Biblical? Absolutely not. As said before – I just see the verses from a different perspective than you.

There will be more to come on this – God bless.

Martha, Jesus and Lazarus Part II - Has Jesus already returned?

2013-12-22T14:32:00.001-05:00

Hello Again,

So based on some of the comments I received on my last blog post – I thought it would be a good idea to write another blog based on the Martha, Jesus and Lazarus one.

One comment I received started with this:
Great blog but I'm afraid I disagree. Here is why? there are verses that don't match up with your beliefs.

Now (before I go through those verses) – how does one identify what my beliefs are – when one simply disagrees with my views because there are verses that don't match up with this view – or do they?

This is where the paradigm shift and hermeneutics come into play.

Example: I didn't say she stole my money.

Depending on which word you stress – this simple sentence has 7 different meanings.

What does this mean? I'm looking at Bible verses from a certain point of view – while others look at it from another point of view.

Either one of these things can be considered to be flawed – and why do I say this? Simply because each one of these views can do things – interpret the Bible in such a way to fit their Viewpoint.

Example: If Jesus returned at His second coming(Parousia) in 70 A.D. - then the Bible would have to point to all of this. If Jesus has a yet future return – then the Bible would have to point to all of this.

So – let's look at a few Bible verses:

Matthew 16:27-28

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. 28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Now – I've asked people this question: If this is true – if there were some people standing there, as Jesus spoke these words, that they would not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom – why aren't there people walking the earth approximately 2000 years old?

Why haven't we heard of these miracles yet? How many would come to Jesus immediately if there were people walking the earth that are 2000 years old – because that would be considered impossible.

The thing is – there aren't people that are 2000 years old walking the earth. Yet, Jesus said some people standing there would not taste of death, till they saw the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

So – this leaves us with 2 scenarios. 1 – Jesus lied. 2 – Jesus has already returned in his kingdom.

Now, there is the 3rd scenario that doesn't fit into what Jesus said here – and that is Jesus would have a future Second Coming(Parousia).

I hold very strongly to the Words that Jesus said within the Bible. If I were to recommend someone to start reading the Bible. I'd ask them to start reading the 4 Gospels. From there, I'd probably have them re-read the 4 Gospels again – just so that they can soak in what Jesus is saying. From there, go back to the Old Testament, read one Book at a Time and then go back through the 4 Gospels and repeat until the Old Testament in Complete. Once the old Testament is complete – I'd have them move forward and read the rest of the New Testament – no need to read the 4 Gospels between each Book of the New Testament – but definitely is an option.

One would be soaked up in the words of Jesus, that I believe the Bible would be seen in such a different way. Our method for wanting to understand what Jesus is trying to say would be laid out before us.

Example:

Matthew 19:3-8 ¶The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

Now – ask yourself one question. If we know Jesus is God(John 1:1-3) and he's speaking to the Pharisees about one of the laws – what's going on through Jesus' mind when he's saying this passage?

Jesus shows just how much God loves us in this passage. God has a bond between Israel and Himself - and that the law of divorcement was for the hardness of our hearts. I'm sure God didn't want such a law – but because of His love for us gave us this law that we could potentially live in peace. Now to better understand this passage – yes the Old Testament is required – BUT – this also has an impact with Jesus and the Church. How can Jesus be married to His Bride(the church, or the New Jerusalem) – if God is already married to Israel?

The point I'm trying to get at – is the question we should be asking ourselves when reading scripture is what is God trying to teach me – rather than what does this mean for me or what do I get out of it?

Many people – even believers – have this thought that God owes us all these things because we believe in Jesus. Because of this – we go reading the Bible with this sense of – what Blessing am I entitled to now, rather than what is the Bible going to teach me today?

So – let's return to the one main question. Do you believe that one of the disciples who was standing in the presence of Jesus is still alive today? If you're answer is no – then clearly Jesus has returned in his kingdom. If you're answer is yes – I'd like to hear your Biblical explanation on this.

So – to get back to the paradigm and hermeneutics of the Bible – if I hold to what Jesus said in Matthew 16:27-28 – I go with the fact that Jesus has already returned in his kingdom. If he has – then the question becomes – when did Jesus return?

Martha, Jesus and Lazarus....

2013-12-22T01:42:00.005-05:00

Wow – how the Lord leads us down paths we don't always expect.

A friend of mine today asked me to read John 11:1-26 – essentially to find out if I believed what Jesus said in those verses, along with everything else in this passage. Yes I do, believe what Jesus said – so my friend then asked me:

“So, how would you explain that Martha said she knew Lazarus would be raised on the last day and when Jesus explained to the disciples that Lazarus is asleep which means death. If he was heaven he would have been upset to be taken out.”

So a little bit of insight on this – I do believe in a Second Coming(Parousia) of Jesus. I just believe this event happened in 70 A.D. at the destruction of the Jewish Temple which is when Jesus said He would return(see Matthew 24) and not in a Future coming. Now – to try and understand, this would mean to stop asking Biblical questions based on a Future return – but ask the Biblical questions based on if He has already returned.

So – Martha said she knew Lazarus would be raised on the last day. Well – when is the last day? The New Testament makes note of the “last days” as people refer to it and Simon Peter makes note at Pentecost that they were in the “last days” fulfilling the prophecy from Joel(see Acts 2:17).

So – we know those were the last days - BUT what is the LAST DAY that Martha was referring to? This last day was the referral of the coming judgment onto the Nation of Israel – this is also known as the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord (see Joel Chapter 2 for more info).

Now – Martha knew this, and it's nice to see Jesus didn't correct her on this teaching – but rather pointed out something else.

I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Jesus clearly states – that whoever believes in him – even though they are dead – they shall live again. I think this clearly points out that Lazarus was not in Heaven.

Why wouldn't Lazarus have been in Heaven? Well what's something Jesus also teaches?

John 14:1-4 1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, thereye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Jesus had to die – in order to be able to go and prepare a place for them. I think for one to really understand this – they need to understand the 2 deaths that Revelation makes mention of to know what happens.

Now – I'd just like to mention something. Even if Lazarus was in Heaven – why would he have been upset to have left, if he was in the presence of the Holy of Holies Himself – Jesus?

I believe that in itself would've been a blessing. Why be upset with God's plan? Aren't we to submit to God and appreciate His will? If Lazarus was indeed in Heaven – would he not better understand what Jesus taught when He taught us to pray?

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Now – Jesus does say that Lazarus was asleep to his disciples – and later has to explain it as Lazarus was dead. Could it be Jesus understood what asleep meant but we couldn't understand such a Heavenly concept that Jesus had to explain it in SIMPLE terms and say “look – he's dead ok?” I believe Lazarus was asleep in the sense that his spirit was resting and was asleep – waiting for the Resurrection – which is on the LAST DAY.

I don't believe thousands or millions of souls are waiting for the last day to be raised up that we who remain shall be raised up with them. I believe that those souls are in heaven and with Jesus. Those of us who remain, upon physical death – if we are believers shall be raised up with them.

This is it for now – if I get more questions based on these topics – I'll definitely do a part II.

The Gospel according to TRON: Legacy

2013-02-11T01:35:00.002-05:00

So, tonight was the first movie night at our apartment. All I can say - is it was a great success. The movie of subject was – TRON – Legacy.

SPOILER WARNING!!!!!!

Now - overall, the movie was a very good movie. I found myself deeply fascinated with it. Now, we could perhaps compare it to the Matrix Trilogy, or other movies, yet this was unique in it's own way.

The part of the story that really lured me in, was the father and son relationship. In the beginning of the movie, the father, Kevin Flynn, told his son, Sam Flynn, that he had to go to work, but the next day he would take Sam to the arcade to give him an opportunity to beat his old man's record on the Arcade game, TRON.

Well, what happens next is bizarre. Kevin goes “missing”. How Sam would deal with this –- who knows?!

Sam, in a sense, because much like the son from the story of the “Prodigal Son”. He goes his own way, and is somewhat of a Rebel.

Well, eventually time catches up with Sam –- and an overnight stay at the Police Station, brings a visit from someone who was like a second father to him, Alan Bradley. Alan tells Sam he received a page from his father, Kevin. He suggests Sam to go to the old Arcade and have a look for his pop.

Relunctantly, Sam finally goes. Walks into the Arcade, powers on the breakers and all the Arcade machines start-up. Sam, walks up to the TRON machine and figures he'll take a crack at the game. He puts his quarter into the machine and out it pops – after a look on the floor, he notices a crack in the floor. He pulls out the TRON machine, to find a trap door behind the machine. Following his path – he finds a hidden office, with some really nice equipment, and a computer from the 80's with a touch screen. WOAH!

Anyways - after checking out a few things, and running a few LINUX commands - before you know it, Sam is now walking in a VIRTUAL Reality. He comes across characters that he actually had as action figures from his dad. Next thing you know, Sam is fighting these characters, before the enemy “Clu” stops the fighting and gives Sam another game to play. Unfortunately, this too is a game geared to bring his destruction/death.

Before you know it–- some car shows up and the driver tells Sam to jump in, this girl being Quorra - who is now bringing Sam to meet his father. WHAT?!?!?!

So, Sam reunites with his father after a 15-20 year absence, and now the catch up commences.

Sam's father actually created this TRON world, and also created “Clu” and the character “Tron”. Kevin continues to explain to Sam, that Clu's purpose was to help Kevin create a perfect world. The problem was the perfect world was as he saw fit at that time, and Clu disagreed with Kevin on different aspects which was essentially causing a war.

What brings us to this part of the journey -–is the prodigal son is now reunited with his dad.

Sam wants to get his dad back out of the TRON World, but Clu is in the way, and Kevin wants to stay to help maintain peace in the world.

This now leads to a series of events which brings us to the FINAL Battle!

Kevin, Sam, and Quorra are now at the portal to bring them back to the “real world” or in other words to bring them back to the promised land, and Clu is there to stop this from happening, and of course Clu wants to go to the promised land and bring his army he's been forming.

Kevin -–the creator of the TRON world, is now weaker in his old age, and uses the last amount of his energy to stop Clu and his army, and to allow Sam and Quorra to return to the promised land to bring a new hope.

The summary of this, leaves us with a simple story of the Gospel of Jesus that many would see throughout the Bible. I definitely saw this throughout the movie, and am thankful for that. Whether that was Disney's intent when doing this movie or not -–I'm not sure, but it was clearly visible throughout the Movie.

The NHL Lockout vs the NHLPA refusal....

2012-11-16T19:59:00.001-05:00

Oh boy – talk about the ongoing NHL lockout. Well I'd just like the NHL and the NHLPA to know that they are bound to lose many more of its fans.

Prior to the 2004-2005 lockout – I was a vivid hockey fan, maybe I didn't watch every single game out there, but I'd be sure to watch games from time to time(Yes – TV airing which means revenue for the League and Teams). Since the lockout, you can probably count on one hand the number of games I've watched – and furthermore I haven't been to a hockey game for quite a few years(again more lost revenue).

So the fact that post lockout I was finished school and now working – I was able to afford to go to some games, but the desire I once had for the sport had long been lost due to the fact that it came down to money.

Yes – money would seem is always the bottom line. And what more is money?
I Timothy Chapter 6 [10] For the love of money is the root of all evil:

Players within the NHLPA say they play the game for the love of the game. They also say it's the best league in the world. Yet – rather than try and work out a deal with their owners a lot of super talent players have gone overseas and are playing there. Now that causes other problems. There are players who play in those countries because a) they prefer to play in their home countries or b) they're not “good enough” to make the NHL cut. So now these NHL players are taking jobs from other people in other countries. What does this show to me? Players are selfish! Oh wait – yet somehow players are different from the “selfish” owners who only want to bring players salaries to 50% of revenue.

It's a good thing that NHL players have owners who decide their wages. I know many families who would love to go to an NHL game, but they just can't afford to go to a game, and will never be able to afford to go to a game. The hard working middle class people – who pay the NHLPA and the NHL's salaries. The NHL and NHLPA need to realize that they're both at fault in this. Players are so quick to point the finger to the owners – yet the most “diplomatic” of both parties seems to be the owners.

Let's think about this under current CBA where the players get a 57% of revenue while owners get 43%. So everyone says the owners are greedy, right? Ok – who pays for the teams travel when going on out of town games? The Owners. Who pays for the the players hotels? The Owners. Who provides meal allowances for these away games? The Owners. Who provides equipment to the players? The Owners. Who pays for the coaching staff? The Owners. Who pays for the management of the team? The Owners. Who pays the referees salaries? The Owners. Who pays for the Buildings that players play in? The Owners. Who pays for the.....

It would seem obvious that although the players on the team make up for 57% of revenue under current CBA – it would seem logical that these “greedy” owners – aren't really all that greedy. They're just trying to run a business. Perhaps the players have forgotten that.

My main point in this – is I think the NHL was too generous in offering 50% and then further adding the “make whole” - I think there should've been a serious cutback in salaries – now of course for guys who just signed big time money – that would suck, but what makes more sense – to have a team like Columbus in the league, or have a team like Columbus fold and then have approx 25 players out of a job? What makes more sense NHLPA?

See what love of money does – it causes problems. It causes people to lose their jobs. It's obvious that most players in the league who speak up have very little education – because they can't logically think things through for themselves and hence need a union to step up and do things for them.

So – if the NHL is going to keep this offer of 50% revenue for the players along with the “make whole” agreement – I think the players should take it and run.

Why? Who pays your salaries NHLPA? Oh yeah – your fans do. Your TV viewers do. All these people who will probably only ever dream of making in a life time what you make in one year – yet somehow players need to make a lot of money because they have short careers. That's a bunch of phony baloney if you ask me. If a player can make $1M in one year – and a person making $50,000 /year – it would take that person 20 years to make that same $1M that an NHL player made in one year. So – let's assume for a moment that in year one of that contract – the player has a career ending injury. You're telling me that with the salary he made he can't afford to go to school, get an education and earn a living like anyone else?

NHLPA – again take the offer from the NHL. If it were up to the fans to decide your salaries – I'm sure you'd be making 1% of revenues – and or NHL – if it were really up to fans to decide – average ticket cost for a game anywhere in the league would be $15/ticket – yes I said it AVERAGE – meaning some tickets could be like $5 or even $10 while others could be more expensive, but the average would be $15. Coming from someone in a city like Ottawa where it seems like ticket prices at cheapest were like $50 – this is just plain ridiculous – oh and I haven't even talked about how the ticket prices skyrocket for playoffs – but anyways average ticket cost would be $15. Then – we could allow the fans to determine who gets what percentage of revenue.

Enough said – NHL & NHLPA – if you want a league that's going to thrive – you better put brains in your heads and work out a plan. The NFL managed to do it – why are your groups incapable of doing such a thing?

Story of God - Part VII

2012-03-29T15:42:00.003-04:00

Last night - almost seemed like a weird night for our Story of God. We were down 4 people and that limited our group as far as some discussion could come about. Nonetheless, it was still a great night.

We went through the story regarding the Sacrifices, some of the Festivals and what it was to become right with God - in a Mosaic Covenant context of course.

Nonetheless, one topic that came up was the fact that God has been changing over time. Changing his ways with people and how he interacts with human beings.

Ultimately there was one aspect where God changes. Then there was the other aspect where God doesn't change. This of course depending on the context in how we were reading this and how we were seeing it.

One aspect saw God as a scientist, testing with his creation and testing with what needed to be done to get people to be right with God. This ultimately would change as people change.

The other aspect saw God as a Father figure, handling his children, teaching his children along the way. The revelation I had in that context was the fact that had God given the Mosaic law to Adam and Eve to follow in the garden, Adam and Eve would have had no idea what certain things were. Examples of this include Murder, adultery and other things - keep in mind that the first murder only happened when Cain killed Abel. Keep in mind that other than Adam and Eve, there were no other men or women(at that time) - so would adultery be a thing that was in their mind?

So from there the questions continued piling on and discussion was as good as any other night.

Nonetheless, my question for you would become - does God change, or is God always consistent and the same?

Birthday Gift for Mom

2012-03-27T11:16:00.000-04:00

This past Saturday was my mom's birthday. Now she lives two hours away and due to the fact I was working this weekend I didn't have an opportunity to visit her. I also hadn't yet bought her a birthday gift. Now, I have a busy week this week prior to leaving for vacation on Friday, but last night I took the time to go out and purchase a gift for my mom.

It started off with me asking for advice from some friends on what to get. The basic questions came about as "What does your mom like?" - so responses like "tea", "things that smell vanilla-like" and, "picture-frames" all came up.

One of my friends suggested stopping by a mall at the "Bath & Body Works" store. Now - I initially thought perhaps I'd stop by a Wal-Mart and pick up a picture frame or something and get a nice picture enlarged for the frame.

Anyways, I took my friend's advice. I went to the mall I stopped at the Bath & Body Works - but I must say, I didn't find anything I was looking for. I went through 5 other stores and still found nothing.

Finally - I went into the Carlton Cards store - I guess to at least buy a Birthday Card.

Even then, I couldn't find a card that was quite write. All these cards in the world I find to be so much about "there's nothing like a mother's love". Don't get me wrong, I know my mom loves me - but after reading through 1 John this morning - I must say that I know there is nothing like a Father's love - for God is love.

Anyways, just as I was about to walk out of the Carlton Card store - feeling all disappointed, out of the corner of my eye I found the gift - somewhat of a picture to hang on the wall and what caught me was reading "You Can do all things through Christ".

I continued searching through the gifts and actually bought two of them.

Where I really felt bad is as I moved the demo model to grab a box - the glass piece in it had fallen and smashed to the floor. I felt so bad for this. The women in the store - had such a peace about her and told me not to worry, she'd just continue to use it as a demo/display model.

All I can say, is God revealed his grace in that moment.

In final thoughts, I hope my mom enjoys the gifts and inspires her as she looks at them.

My Beloved Son...

2012-03-24T12:14:00.002-04:00

My Friday started like just about every other day - well other than the fact that it was my day off and I didn't have to go anywhere. I took it easy for much of the day, spoke to a few friends in the USA on Skype before I finally went to one of our "Missional Community" meetings.

We were blessed to have a guest speaker with us, Seth Trimmer.

We simply went through Mark 1 - and were amazed to see what the Holy Spirit did in that time, and the questions quickly became what do churches today do different than what Jesus did back then? Or even what do churches do differently today than what the early church did nearly 2000 years ago?

We went on through our discussion and it was very encouraging to see what was going on, and as great as I thought this was - this wasn't the highlight of the night.

I must add that we do see in Mark the following verse:
Mark 1:11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Now - no, the roof didn't rip off the place and God didn't come down and say to me "this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased."

But - I must say we did something that was different and I will most likely remember for a long time.

We divided into smaller groups. We prayed for one another - not asking for requests, but rather just let the Holy Spirit guide us through our prayers. All I can say is I was stunned to hear some of the things that people were praying over me. Some things so beautiful that I was astonished, and other things very convicting and to have people not know personal details of my life and be able to pin point my strengths and my weaknesses, it had to truly be led by the Holy Spirit.

Yes - I too prayed for others, and there were times when I'd have visions and truly the Spirit was just guiding us throughout this prayer time.

Although I may have strengths and weaknesses, the fact that during this prayer time - I felt the Spirit talking to me, I truly felt as though God the Father was shouting through Heaven - This is my beloved son, who I am preparing to make my own.

Story of God - Part VI

2012-03-22T11:30:00.001-04:00

As we continue through our series called "Story of God", all I can say is that last night was probably one of my favourite sessions thus far. Last night we went through the Laws and Commandments. The discussion was good, at times almost heated, but overall I thought it was a great discussion.

Topics that came up were things like "what is a Covenant?" - which led us to opening up a Webster Dictionary, and also using Smart-phones to find out the Biblical meaning of Covenant.

From there we went through the 10 Commandments -
1 - I am your God who rescued you from slavery in Egypt.
2 - Put me above everything else. Do not worship other things.
3 - Do not misuse or disrespect my name.
4 - Remember to set aside a day each week to rest and worship me.
5 - Honor your parents.
6 - Don’t murder
7 - Don't steal
8 - Don't lie.
9 - Don't bear false witness
10 - Do not sleep with anyone but your husband or wife–be faithful. Don’t lust after what others have–be satisfied with what I give you.

Now - from these commandments different topics and subjects came up...
- These laws are too black and white - there's no gray area. E.G. You need to steal a loaf of bread or someone will die.
- Our culture doesn't necessarily allow for one to be able to obey all these commandments. E.G. Our lives are so complicated it's almost impossible to follow/obey these commandments.

Now - from all these topics and subjects, I always ended up at two questions that seemed impossible for anyone to answer. So again, I'll ask those questions here.

In the situation of the man stealing the loaf of bread or someone(perhaps children or family) would die. How did his life get so bad that he needed to go and steal the loaf of bread? Was he putting something or someone else first before God? Hence, breaking the second commandment?

My other question in regards to the complications we get into in life, it just seems that life is complicated in general. Now - is it possible that simply obeying these commandments would allow our lives to be much more simple?

I'm not denying the fact that there is much "gray area" in the world. Jesus himself said:
Matthew 7:13 ¶Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Now, if wide is the gate - is this the "wide gray area" that everyone wants in life?

So another question - what do you think the world would be like if everyone obeyed the 10 commandments?

Am I like Moses?

2012-03-21T12:48:00.000-04:00

Last night I had the opportunity to watch the movie The Ten Commandments featuring Dougray Scott as Moses. The way my evening started off, I didn't think I would do much of anything. Then I thought to myself that last week in our Story of God series, we read through Moses and the Passover - and this week we're going to be going through the Law - I thought what better opportunity than this to watch the movie where it was all done and made.

At first I thought I would go through it in hopes to be enlightened to help continue through our Story of God series - BUT - as I went through it, I saw something different.

I saw Moses kill a man, yet God's redemption plan in place. I saw a man who doubted God and God's plan as being God's chosen one, be transformed and believe in God more than most people in today's day believe in the same God.

A few thousand years ago, there was a man named Moses. His God is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The question would become what has changed between then and now?

Am I not a man? Is my God not the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?

If the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the creator of the heavens and the earth, the God who parted the Red Sea, the God who sent many plagues to Pharaoh; if our God is the same God who did all these powerful things - why do we doubt that this same God can change the world we live in?

Why do we believe that we can go and do things ourselves?

Moses went up Mount Sinai to be with God as God gave him the 10 Commandments. While Moses was gone, the Israelites thought they could build a golden calf to worship their "gods".

Is this what God wanted, or is this what the people wanted?

God wants us to live in peace. God sent us his only Son, Jesus Christ, that we may live in that peace, yet why don't we have it?

So the question becomes, are you doing as Moses did and are simply doing the will of God or are you doing the things that you want to do?

St Patty's Day...

2012-03-19T13:20:00.001-04:00

This past weekend - was the weekend that most would call "St Patty's Day" weekend. A weekend or generally March 17 - the day - where people go out and drink themselves silly.

Don't get me wrong - I know what St Patty's Day is about. I was there once. I used to be one of the people who would be drinking like everyone else.

Now I have to sit back and think....how can it be that there is a day devoted to a Saint - yet that is the one night of the year devoted to do things that are not "saintly".

The Bible teaches not to hang out with drunkards - in many places. Yet on this day, many people forget about this and go and become drunkards themselves.

This year, I must say for the first time in a long time, I really didn't do anything. Well ok, I did something but I didn't do what the majority of people were doing. I stayed in, wrote a Sunday Sermon out and watched a few Episodes of Smallville.

For years I saw Saint Patty's day as a day to party - but this year in particular, I realized it's called Saint Patrick's Day, and this of course helped me bring up the question, what is a Saint?

Most people will generally say that a Saint is someone who is "holier" than everyone else.

Now - I think the question would be is what is the purpose of Saint Patrick's Day?

It's a day that perhaps is used to reflect on what Saint Patrick did, but the real and deeper question would be, is that what you're doing on Saint Patrick's Day?

Afraid of a gift...

2012-03-17T13:21:00.002-04:00

Today, I'm sitting here at home – again thinking back to last night. Last night I was blessed to get a ride home from work. From there, I got home, talked with a few people and then had to rush out to the store. After my brief shopping stint, I stopped by Tim Hortons'(for those not in Canada, it's essentially a coffee /donut shop).

While I was in Tim Horton's, after paying for my Hot Chocolate, a woman walked in behind me, as I was waiting to receive my drink I offered her two dollars to pay for her beverage. What I couldn't believe is the fact that she refused this offer.

I wasn't looking to have coffee with her, I wasn't looking to even know her name or get her phone number, I was just wanting to do something genuinely nice for someone.

This makes me think of something Jesus taught Peter.

John 13:8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

In other translations – this can be understood as, if you do not let me wash your feet, you cannot wash someone else's feet. Ponder on that for a moment.

I look back at this woman, she refused the money. She said “put it in the donation box instead”. What she missed is that she could've accepted the money I gave her to buy her coffee, and she could've put the two dollars in the donation box.

This causes me to bring up another question – why are people afraid to accept a gift that is free?

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Why someone would not want to accept the free gift of grace through faith, I don't know. I can't say I don't understand it, because I do understand it, but the why? I don't know.

People generally don't accept anything through faith, simply because we live in a world that teaches one another not to trust anyone, which instills doubt, and from doubt we get fear.

So the question would now become to many – why are you afraid to accept a free gift from someone?

Story of God - Part V

2012-03-15T12:34:00.003-04:00

Last night - we continued on through part 5 of our series "Story of God". Last night was a different experience for myself as I was the one actually moderating the evening.

I found being moderator was a different challenge then just going and partaking in conversation. There were times throughout the night where I just wanted to go on a rant and say everything I wanted to say - but instead and trying to have an opportunity to hear others ideas - I would try and propose my ideas in a form of a question.

Am I correct in doing such a thing?

When I think about this - I actually like the idea of placing it in a form of a question. As you will then get to hear the person's thoughts on what they think of this - rather than you just stating what your thoughts are and hearing people agree/disagree on them.

Now - when it comes to the stories we went through - Moses & the Passover - isn't this just what God does?

God gives people a choice.

God gave Pharaoh a choice to let the Israelites leave or he would start the plagues. After each one Moses returning to Pharaoh saying let us go - or God will cast his next plague out on you.

Now - some will say - God is evil because of the plagues, but if you think about it, did God not simply give Pharaoh an opportunity to let the Israelites go or he would then punish them?

Think about it - do you punish a your kids for something they haven't done? Furthermore - do you punish an innocent man for something he hasn't done?

Definitely not! And well it would seem obvious that God would do the same thing. God wouldn't punish someone who hasn't done anything wrong...or does he? This question - will come to another story that we haven't yet arrived at.

So - my last thoughts from last night - we as people have a choice - we can do what God would like us to do, or we can do what we would like to do. Now - what would you like to do?

Walk in someone else's shoes...

2012-03-14T11:59:00.002-04:00

Last night - after I finished work, I was on my way to meet up with a friend for a coffee. Oh - I guess I should now state I don't drink coffee, never have - but it's the easiest way to say you went to a coffee shop for whatever it is - whether it be a coffee, a tea, a hot chocolate, an espresso, a latte, etc.

So, as I was on my way there, I got to a point where I saw a homeless person on the sidewalk with a cap out on the ground looking for any change that anyone was willing to give him.

Now - if this was the person who I once used to be, I would've probably walked right on by and ignored him figuring he's probably just looking for money for cigarettes, drugs and/or alcohol.

Now - who am I to judge?

Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

Now - I must say - I just love how this passage ties into what has become known as the "Golden Rule"

Leviticus 19:18 ¶Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself:.

So - here I was, approaching this man - seeing people walk by as if he was a "nobody". I stopped about 15-20 feet away from this man, reached in my pocket for all the change I had. I took everything I could grab - probably about 8-10 dollars worth. Ok - don't ask why I had so much change - it just piles up after a few days.

Now - right there I know there are some people thinking, why did you give all that money to that person? Well - just like that person, one day I may become unemployed, without a home, and end up on the streets. I would simply want someone to have faith in me that I would use the money for food, or for simply some clothes.

So anyways - I gave the money to this man, and the tone and crackling in his voice explained it all. Hearing "you've just made my night" too brought tears to my eyes - and all I was thinking throughout that was "thank you Lord."

So - one thing to think about - anytime you see a homeless person on the street asking for money - do you ever think what it would be like if you were in that person's shoes?