I hear if you say "just" a lot when you pray it makes God do what you want.... In all seriousness, when my kiddo with a rare syndrome and dodgy heart was a baby in ICU I had well meaning Christians tell me so many people were praying for me God would be "forced" to heal her. I love prayer and the mystery of it but I don't know that I want a deity that can be forced by popular vote. I needed the God of Job and Revelation that hates sin and all brought about by sin, loves me and is bigger than all of it with a master plan. It was in his plan that Kaylee survived. If it had simply been that she survived because I rallied enough votes, I would have felt guilty every time she has another surgery or a hard time at therapy. As it is I know God is in control, he has an eternal perspective and the pain and heartache here - he is bigger than that AND he is right there with us through all of it. I'm not a theologian, I'm a Mum in Australia who loves sarcasm and wine and inappropriate movies with swears and superheroes. I am not fit to make the decisions that God does and I am glad He is in control. I'm also glad He listens when I talk to him about it.
God won't be forced to do anything if it's not with his will but I highly suggest you repent for your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior he is the way the truth and the life nobody goes to the father except through him
Thank you for that lesson. :) I know I haven’t received physical death for my faith but it’s been close as far as lasting pain and suffering goes. My passion has always been in music and I was on my way to being the biggest female pop singer in the world > twice. I had two major record contracts. Unfortunately, I was expected to sell my body just like many of the most popular singers you’ve seen today. I was dropped both times for being too conservative and speaking truth about Jesus. At my first record company I was replaced by an artist named Willa Ford and then at the second one, I was replaced with Katy Perry and then she launched her first single with my prior team. It has been hard to watch someone promote evil and yet be embraced by so many and have financial blessings and me live in a life of financial struggle, house cleaning and daycare worker, an abusive ex husband, suffer from depression and anxiety, and have no one listening or caring about my God given gift of singing anymore. I can only have faith that the Lord still has plans for my voice somehow. I have songs I’ve written since then that I feel could really bless people. His plans for my life is all that matters- not what the world had for me...which was making lots of popular music, world fame and money but also eternal death to my soul.
One way or another we will all die physically, the best thing a person can do is to die for the faith than to die with no hope at all. Our physical death is inevitable, die of murder or gun or old age, death is death 💀, what matters is the eternal life after death through Jesus Christ our Lord. Lord strengthen us to always choose you over all even to a point of death.
I think often times western Christians have a light view of Christianity. bc we are "pampered"over here in America. we truly don't know what it means to "count the cost". I think some do get it. but not many do. we, as Christians, really do need to grasp this bc there may be a time soon we will be faced with that kind if situation. also, thinking about James..what does this tell us about him?he had an encounter with Jesus.. and nothing was going to change his mind. not even death! I pray we have such an encounter that we too,would never be shaken and hold fast to our faith. very good second piece!
Whenever I hear the question "why did God allow x" I want to ask "why should God have prevented x". I think that when people ask why, they can convince themselves pretty easily that it is because of a reason within their control. But if they look at why not, they may be able to see how x could promote God's plan. Sure, James was a great guy, but I bet his death crystallized many Christians faith. Something that his life may not have been able to do. Also I found the timing of this interesting. Blimey Cow (a great youtube channel) just released a video on monday talking about how christians like the fun stuff of Christianity, but don't always want to do the hard things that Jesus said we should do. It seemed to go along with this video and thought that you may like it. But I should warn you, the video is super sarcastic. If you don't watch it with that in mind, you may think that there serious. ruclips.net/video/KWRAoMAaUcE/видео.html
nice link. Matt's more my type (in a heterosexual, "bro" kinda way), than the teenage guy but I'm sure my kids would like him a lot and I appreciate what he's doing. I was recently reminded I'm old when my son said his new teacher was an "old guy with a beard". Picturing Santa Claus, I was shocked to meet an approximately 35 year old with a goatee. We see things a bit differently.
I think it is worth noting that not only did Peter die for his faith later down the line, according to the gospel of John, Jesus had already prophesied this by this point.
It's been a great trip to Nicaragua. My friends and I came down to do some scouting on a possible project will be working on over the next 7 years with a group of local pastors. I'm excited to get back home and think it through some more with my church.
He lost me when he inferred that Luke wrote the book of Acts like he was a novelist. The Bible has a lot of writers but only one author. And it is written as God intended. Not as a dramatic production.
So, with prayer the answer is sometimes yes and sometimes no. Hey, that's completely indistinguishable from prayer not working at all and things happening one way or the other in reality, plus it renders the concept completely unfalsifiable. You've acquired 10 immunity shields against criticism. Regarding James, you said the option of renouncing his beliefs was open to him. But we don't know that. First, many other events/points of conflict may have led to his being arrested, unrelated to a particular belief in a post-crucifixion Jesus. In the case of Joseph Smith, for example, the accounts of the founder's death and what led up to his death by believers is very different from other accounts (what if only the account of Smith's followers had survived?). Second, we don't know if James was even given the option to recant and, even if he had been, whether that would have made a difference (Haile Selassie denied being divine, but that didn't stop his followers from believing he was). Third, if he had been lying (like Joseph Smith), he may e.g. have started believing it himself (like Joseph Smith?), or e.g. have decided not to reveal this fact to anyone because he lived in an honour culture and wanted to guarantee that his family standing among his peers would not be blemished. Fourth, he may have believed it sincerely, but his beliefs and the events he was part of may have been very different from what we see recounted in the New Testament (à la Joseph Smith's life). All infinitely more likely than a tale of magic.
I'm vaguely tempted to cast some questions and comments to you but have come to the point of viewing it as worthless. I think I view God differently than you and that would be no surprise to you I'm sure. I'm currently a firm believer, I think, in John G. Lakes view of God who, obviously being the creator and sustainer of all life with Jesus being our redeemer, bless God what a redeemer, but healer and deliverer as well.
I think it is worth noting that not only did Peter die for his faith later down the line, according to the gospel of John, Jesus had already prophesied this by this point.
James knew when he died he had it made . We put too much value on this life . It's in death that we begin to live .
I don't think that's the point
I hear if you say "just" a lot when you pray it makes God do what you want.... In all seriousness, when my kiddo with a rare syndrome and dodgy heart was a baby in ICU I had well meaning Christians tell me so many people were praying for me God would be "forced" to heal her. I love prayer and the mystery of it but I don't know that I want a deity that can be forced by popular vote. I needed the God of Job and Revelation that hates sin and all brought about by sin, loves me and is bigger than all of it with a master plan. It was in his plan that Kaylee survived. If it had simply been that she survived because I rallied enough votes, I would have felt guilty every time she has another surgery or a hard time at therapy. As it is I know God is in control, he has an eternal perspective and the pain and heartache here - he is bigger than that AND he is right there with us through all of it. I'm not a theologian, I'm a Mum in Australia who loves sarcasm and wine and inappropriate movies with swears and superheroes. I am not fit to make the decisions that God does and I am glad He is in control. I'm also glad He listens when I talk to him about it.
God won't be forced to do anything if it's not with his will but I highly suggest you repent for your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior he is the way the truth and the life nobody goes to the father except through him
good suggestion
Thank you for that lesson. :) I know I haven’t received physical death for my faith but it’s been close as far as lasting pain and suffering goes. My passion has always been in music and I was on my way to being the biggest female pop singer in the world > twice. I had two major record contracts. Unfortunately, I was expected to sell my body just like many of the most popular singers you’ve seen today. I was dropped both times for being too conservative and speaking truth about Jesus. At my first record company I was replaced by an artist named Willa Ford and then at the second one, I was replaced with Katy Perry and then she launched her first single with my prior team. It has been hard to watch someone promote evil and yet be embraced by so many and have financial blessings and me live in a life of financial struggle, house cleaning and daycare worker, an abusive ex husband, suffer from depression and anxiety, and have no one listening or caring about my God given gift of singing anymore. I can only have faith that the Lord still has plans for my voice somehow. I have songs I’ve written since then that I feel could really bless people. His plans for my life is all that matters- not what the world had for me...which was making lots of popular music, world fame and money but also eternal death to my soul.
Thank you very much !!!
That was very encouraging. 😉👍🏾
Bless you, Matt 🙏🏾
This was so good. You answered questions I never thought to ask.
Thankyou.
One way or another we will all die physically, the best thing a person can do is to die for the faith than to die with no hope at all. Our physical death is inevitable, die of murder or gun or old age, death is death 💀, what matters is the eternal life after death through Jesus Christ our Lord. Lord strengthen us to always choose you over all even to a point of death.
God Loves YOU...
Respecter of persons come to mind, naturally.
I think often times western Christians have a light view of Christianity. bc we are "pampered"over here in America. we truly don't know what it means to "count the cost". I think some do get it. but not many do. we, as Christians, really do need to grasp this bc there may be a time soon we will be faced with that kind if situation. also, thinking about James..what does this tell us about him?he had an encounter with Jesus.. and nothing was going to change his mind. not even death! I pray we have such an encounter that we too,would never be shaken and hold fast to our faith. very good second piece!
Whenever I hear the question "why did God allow x" I want to ask "why should God have prevented x". I think that when people ask why, they can convince themselves pretty easily that it is because of a reason within their control. But if they look at why not, they may be able to see how x could promote God's plan. Sure, James was a great guy, but I bet his death crystallized many Christians faith. Something that his life may not have been able to do.
Also I found the timing of this interesting. Blimey Cow (a great youtube channel) just released a video on monday talking about how christians like the fun stuff of Christianity, but don't always want to do the hard things that Jesus said we should do. It seemed to go along with this video and thought that you may like it.
But I should warn you, the video is super sarcastic. If you don't watch it with that in mind, you may think that there serious.
ruclips.net/video/KWRAoMAaUcE/видео.html
nice link. Matt's more my type (in a heterosexual, "bro" kinda way), than the teenage guy but I'm sure my kids would like him a lot and I appreciate what he's doing. I was recently reminded I'm old when my son said his new teacher was an "old guy with a beard". Picturing Santa Claus, I was shocked to meet an approximately 35 year old with a goatee. We see things a bit differently.
I relate to, celebrate, and endorse this comment.
Did James die before the mystery of the church/body was revealed? Before he could know about Paul’s books?
Thanks for sharing?
All Glory to God
I think it is worth noting that not only did Peter die for his faith later down the line, according to the gospel of John, Jesus had already prophesied this by this point.
“ Cause chicks dig it” Lmfaoooooooo
I want to see a whole episode with the beginning inflection lolol
Oh it worked, much more interesting
I think you are spot on regarding prayer. Amen brother. Hope things went well in Nicaragua
It's been a great trip to Nicaragua. My friends and I came down to do some scouting on a possible project will be working on over the next 7 years with a group of local pastors. I'm excited to get back home and think it through some more with my church.
Your maen guys That you let him die :( I was scared 💔😭😭😭
😭💔💔💔🙏
He lost me when he inferred that Luke wrote the book of Acts like he was a novelist. The Bible has a lot of writers but only one author. And it is written as God intended. Not as a dramatic production.
So, with prayer the answer is sometimes yes and sometimes no. Hey, that's completely indistinguishable from prayer not working at all and things happening one way or the other in reality, plus it renders the concept completely unfalsifiable. You've acquired 10 immunity shields against criticism. Regarding James, you said the option of renouncing his beliefs was open to him. But we don't know that. First, many other events/points of conflict may have led to his being arrested, unrelated to a particular belief in a post-crucifixion Jesus. In the case of Joseph Smith, for example, the accounts of the founder's death and what led up to his death by believers is very different from other accounts (what if only the account of Smith's followers had survived?). Second, we don't know if James was even given the option to recant and, even if he had been, whether that would have made a difference (Haile Selassie denied being divine, but that didn't stop his followers from believing he was). Third, if he had been lying (like Joseph Smith), he may e.g. have started believing it himself (like Joseph Smith?), or e.g. have decided not to reveal this fact to anyone because he lived in an honour culture and wanted to guarantee that his family standing among his peers would not be blemished. Fourth, he may have believed it sincerely, but his beliefs and the events he was part of may have been very different from what we see recounted in the New Testament (à la Joseph Smith's life). All infinitely more likely than a tale of magic.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV
I'm vaguely tempted to cast some questions and comments to you but have come to the point of viewing it as worthless. I think I view God differently than you and that would be no surprise to you I'm sure. I'm currently a firm believer, I think, in John G. Lakes view of God who, obviously being the creator and sustainer of all life with Jesus being our redeemer, bless God what a redeemer, but healer and deliverer as well.
Man you lie He Don t let him die Well look he was trying to get everyone nice and he die and in he turn to him
I think it is worth noting that not only did Peter die for his faith later down the line, according to the gospel of John, Jesus had already prophesied this by this point.