“I was a young man with uninformed ideas. I threw out queries, suggestions, wondering all the time over everything; and to my astonishment the ideas took like wildfire. People made a religion of them.”

“The mystery of the beginning of all things is insoluble by us; and I for one must be content to remain an agnostic.”

Know who it is yet? All three are Charles Darwin. So, in the first one, he says that even though he produced the theory of evolution, and gave many facts that are plausible, just as expected, he can’t explain everything. Next, he recants his life’s work, blaming it on the thought processes of youth, but too late, because the world already believes him. Lastly, he finally admits, that even he, a human, cannot explain how things in the beginning happened, and he admits that he believes that there is some force greater than us who created us, or at least has some kind of governing power over the universe.

I think it’s safe to say everybody knows the theory of evolution, but not many know the story of how the rest of Darwin’s life played out.

And to sum it all up:

“All the ills from which America suffers can be traced to the teaching of evolution.” ~William Jennings Bryan

(If he is calling me young, then evidently, he is old(er) and a seasoned spouse.)

That stung for a while, and I knew it to be true, but i just couldn’t get it out of my head. The next morning, I discovered Francesca Battistelli, or rather, her music. I often hear her on Klove and her songs are fun and catchy, and in the days before this, I had been trying to figure out how to get youtubes converted to mp3s. I got it and here it is if you need it. So I ripped the whole album and was just listening to it as I walked my dog that evening and I heard this song.

Here are the lyrics

Worth It by Francesca Battistelli

Love’s not a feeling
Love’s not convenient
But I know love will change your life
Love takes sacrifice
Love cuts like a knife
Sometimes love will make you cry
Love’s not easy
But it’s worth it

Love is a hunger
But love won’t leave you empty
See it’s the language of the heart
Love can steal your pride
But love won’t let you hide
It takes everything you’ve got
Love’s not easy
But it’s worth it

(Chorus)
What you gonna do when the bottom falls out
And you’re left with nothing but your fear and your doubt to hold to
Who will hold you?
Where you gonna run when it’s all on the line
And you’re looking for someone to save your life
To save your life

Love can hear you
Love can heal you
If you let it inside
Oh, remember now
Love’s not easy
But it’s worth it

Now I don’t know if she wrote this for some guy or for God, but either way, it stays relevant.

To sum up everything that this song and the last post says, love, with all its inconveniences, pain and sacrifices is ultimately, Worth It, especially when you’re loving God

But hey, Don’t ask me, ask someone married. (not divorced)

[divorce is my pet peeve]

(you realize, there’s a consistent love theme going on here, that’s on purpose, or just my fault, you decide)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” ~Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you.” ~Deuteronomy 31:6

Why wouldn’t someone want to believe a truth such as that in Deut. 31:6??  Our GOD –Savior –He promises to never leave us or forsake us.

Heartbroken can mean that you were forsaken…but remember that we aren’t forsaken by God..just by man.

I, personally, am actually grateful for those times when I was at my lowest point. Now, I don’t say that I enjoyed those times. No no no..not at all.But it was at those times that I sought God more and, after coming out of it, became closer to Him.

But in the midst of my low, I remember was pretty depressed, sometimes even pretty mad at people around me, so you have to be careful who you go to for advice when you are hurt or angry.

But the best person to go to for advice is Jesus. Stop, calm down, and pray.

“His [a believer's] God instructs him and teaches him the right way.” ~Isaiah 28:26

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” ~Romans 8:28

Even when you feel like your heart is being ripped into a million pieces, God knows the outcome. Even when you feel like you don’t know what to believe or think, God says that He will never leave you. When you feel like giving up and dropping everything, wait. Because God is there with you and he will make sure you get out okay.

“I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength.” ~Philippians 4:13

I found this NY times article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/opinion/sunday/biased-but-brilliant-science-embraces-pigheadedness.html?_r=1&src=tp

In the article the author says: “And yet a large body of psychological data supports Planck’s view: we humans quickly develop an irrational loyalty to our beliefs, and work hard to find evidence that supports those opinions and to discredit, discount or avoid information that does not.”

Interesting.

You will see the irrational beliefs in every major place and especially places that have a lot of emotion associated with them.  Some good examples are some of the “social-political things”.  Because our beliefs are “with respect to” something outside of ourselves they are quite often based on things we may have experienced in childhood or people that were just major annoyances over the years. We all “think” we know truth but what is truth?

Truth. Another blog brewing there. Coming soon!

As  a Christian that has thought about this, I believe that a lot of people that shy away from the Christian faith do so because of extreme, self-righteous, graceless, and preconceived views of  Christianity …. quite often theses views are labeled in politics, rightly or wrongly, as conservative.  And of course, radio and TV talk show hosts (as well as CNN and Fox News especially during the presidential election) make money differentiating the sides even further and widening the gap between the sides. Often, peoples’ beliefs in life  are “with respect to” what they don’t want to be…. a self righteous pharisee like person in politics. I see this even in my circle of friends.

I think its time for a change in how the world sees themselves “with respect to” a Christian faith. Its time to differentiate todays “religion” from the Gospel message Jesus Christ. Churches and Christians will  have an opportunity in the next years, with any luck, to show real faith, real obedience, and real personal change or to be a self-righteous, Christ-less church.  We can either take advantage and gain some ground and be people that are on forward-moving journey of change and growth…. or we can lose ground and be engaging in the self-righteous, Christ-less religion that many people see us, the Church, as today.  A church that only creates people in the image of the political, religious pharisees of Jesus’ day. Yes the pharisees were a religious sect but they were also a political sect 2000 years ago.

So basically, we either start now, or we forget indefinitely (again) that to start a change, we must start with ourselves and ask God to grant us greater things in our lives.

Wow. That took a long time

And that was the first time I managed to keep away from the Bible for those who strongly dislike heavy readings

The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is

“‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

“‘Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.’

Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.”” ~Acts 4:1-29

I know it’s a lot of reading, but it has a purpose

“Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”

At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.

When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.

Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.

The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”

Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.” ~Acts 5:17-42

Now go back and read the last line from Acts 4 again.

Get it? maybe not

So here, the apostles have just been filled by the Holy Spirit and they are preaching the news about Jesus’ resurrection and doing miraculous things among the people. The Sanhedrin, the Jewish authority, which is in cahoots with the Pharisees and Sadducees, is very powerful and they just arrested Peter and John and held them for a while, hoping to mellow their attitudes about being so outspoken in their faith. But no, instead of going to hide after they are released from prison, they pray for boldness.

Now go back and read the last lines of chapter 5

They have just been flogged, which is horribly painful and many people have died from it, and they are REJOICING because they have suffered for Jesus.

Anyone else getting this??? They prayed for BOLDNESS. They have just been imprisoned, warned, beaten, flogged, and humiliated, and they are asking for BOLDNESS. Us here in the U.S., we don’t have to worry about being persecuted for our faith, I mean, sure, we’ll lose some friends and maybe our coolness… That’s all??

Think about China, where if one were to come out publicly as a Christian, he would be executed. Much of Africa is the same. All the Communist countries as well. And what do they do there? They start underground churches to avoid the authorities with full knowledge of what awaits them if they are caught. They risk their lives everyday to just go to church, have bible studies, or just carrying a bible around.

Back to the United States. We have our freedom to do whatever we want, mostly, and in return, people have whatever opinions they want and do not get discriminated against, persecuted, or killed. We have the ‘right to religion’ and the freedom to proclaim it as we wish, and here we are afraid to come out as a Christian because we are afraid to lose our status and some friends. But if we think about it, if our friends aren’t willing to accept us for our opinions and let us believe what we want, then are they really friends?

What we should be praying for everyday, instead of our friends’ colds, their traveling safety, or college admissions, is boldness. The boldness to proclaim the good news as it should be and not be afraid of the consequences.

1. I serve a risen Savior
   He’s in the world today.
   I know that He is living,
   Whatever men may say.
   I see His hand of mercy;
   I hear His voice of cheer;
   And just the time I need Him
   He’s always near.

So to you, my dear, I will miss you so much, I don’t think I can handle it, but I know all I have to do is imagine that you’re right here with me and all the missing, the longing, will go away.

:)

Recently, I came upon this passage by a friend who posted it on facebook, and I didn’t understand it, so I cross referenced it. I was still in the dark so I looked in up on Google. It said that, part of the Modern Christian Doctrine, we believe that Peter was killed in the search for early Christians by being crucified upside-down, because he did not think himself worthy enough to die the same way Jesus did. So in the verse, Jesus foretells Peter’s death.

“The Sovereign LORD has given me a well-instructed tongue,
to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.” ~Isaiah 50:4

“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” ~Matthew 11:27-29

Well our topic for this Friday night is the grace of God and how it gives us strength to live a new day. I know people, non-Christians who go through each day like zombies because they’re so tired, but they just can’t sleep. I would say it’s because they’re trying to do it all by themselves.

Hold that thought

I recently finished reading the new testament in six months, and after I finished, I haven’t been reading very regularly, and as a result, my sleep has been very uneasy and easily disturbed. During school, I slept a mere six hours a day, how did I do that? I read my bible every night before I went to sleep. Even if it was 12:30 by the time I finished, I said, “God, I could’ve gotten an extra fifteen minutes of sleep, but I used it by reading your word, so please give me the strength I need to get through tomorrow without getting tired.”

And He did.

Now, I haven’t been reading, or praying, as much as I used to and as a result, have trouble sleeping and get tired by 2pm.

“Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.” ~Isaiah 40:28-31

I think I should start reading again..

So he says “The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them.” ~(Ezekiel 34:4) To analogize this and say that people are sheep isn’t too far off. He says that we have not adequately cared for those around us. The people, likely younger ones, with lesser faith, wandered away, and we did not go to find them and bring them back to the straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life, but left them on the wide, broad road to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). We did not snatch them from destruction like we should have (Jude 1:22-23, Proverbs 24:11-12), but we did our own things and wallowed in our own sin, without fellowship, confession, repentance, or prayer.

“”Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.
Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.”"~John 10:1-16 (NKJV)

Next Jesus says that shepherds lay down their lives for the sheep. And if sheep are people again, we make sacrifices to keep the sheep from harm. We make an effort to preserve the purity of the younger ones. “The good shepherd (say, a mentor, or good friend) lays down his life for the sheep (brothers in Christ). The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf (problems) coming, He abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. (Undoing a lot of work that the friend did, and making it a whole lot harder to get them back to where they were before.

“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” ~John 21:15-19 (NIV)

Now I come to the main point of this post. Peter had denied Jesus three times, possibly one of the worst sins he could have done, seeing as how Jesus said, “But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” ~Matthew 10:33. Peter, at this time was feeling pretty bad about it, and out of the twelve disciples, he was for sure the one with the worst sin, so why is it that Jesus makes him the foundation of the church? (Matthew 16:18) Is it because Jesus favored him? No, because God does not show favoritism (Romans 2:11). Was it because God wanted to confound the sinless? ( 1 Corinthians 1:27) It was because Peter, having sinned as he did, was able to relate and empathize with those who also sinned. The whole point of this passage is that the perfect and pure cannot care for the sinners, because they do not know how it feels. Only those who have also sinned and been turned away from by God, then have repented, can know what it feels like and how to get out of sin’s cycle and repent.

Basically, to take it out of bible-speak, our past defines us as who we are in the present, and because of what we have gone through, and all of us have experienced different events, we are able to help those who are going through the same things, maybe not word-for-word, but in principle. In a way, God puts us all through challenging circumstances so that one, we learn how to trust in and rely on God, and two, we are better able to help others in the future. Because, think about it,

If someone was perfect, how would he be able to help those who were not?