Something struck me differently the other night as I was reading Romans 1. Paul is talking in his letter about the wrath of God and what man has done to bring it upon himself. I talk online a lot to evolutionists and atheists about God, creation, etc. One thing I always notice is that they fail to ever see any awe and wonder in the universe. They look at it with such scientific eyes, that they fail to see the things of a God that is capable of creating such a magnificent place.
Paul addresses this in Romans starting in verse 20 and continuing to verse 23. “For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” (vs. 20 NIV). The problem is that man was not satisfied with this. They were not satisfied with having a God in the picture and so, they started to devise ways of explaining everything.
Why would they do that? It is simple I suppose; with God in the picture, man is accountable for what he does, but without God around, we are only accountable to each other and that really does not bother a lot of people. Paul continues, “Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools” (vs. 22 NIV). Any body see where this is going? In all the discussions and debates I have with these people, first and foremost, they attack the intelligence of the Christian. Any disagreement with them will bring onslaughts of verbal pounding and abuse about the ignorance of people who believe in God and creation. They also have a lot to say about the intelligence that they think that they have. The big one is, that science is what it is all about and if your degree is not in Biology or Earth Science, well, you must be brainless. Evidently, you just cannot beat some facts and a theory.
The next verse is what struck me different as I read it, “and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.” (vs. 23 NIV) Now, I know that Paul is talking about carved idols that the people where worshipping, but when I read this, all I saw was the “Idols of Evolution”. This sang out to me that it is the same thing! These people worship the images (bones and fossils) that they find. What do they look for? They search high and low for “Ape-men” (anthroópou), birds (peteinoón), four-footed animals (tetrapódoon) and reptiles (herpetoón). I put the Greek words Paul used in parenthesis, just because they sound like names the paleontologists would use. These are the creatures of evolution and have become the idols of the “religions of Evolution and Atheism”.
Paul sums it up in verse 25, “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and [they] worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-who is forever praised. Amen.” (NIV) King Solomon said it best in Ecclesiastes 1:9, “there is nothing new under the sun.” (NIV). Man is still worshipping idols, some carved from stone and wood and some just dug up from the ground. Man will do anything rather than face the one true God while here on earth. The sad part is, everyone will face God one day and account for who or what they worshipped.
Pablito
Friday, April 4, 2008
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Internet Problems Continue!
Sorry, our Internet problems are continuing. Just when we think they are fixed, it goes down again. Sometimes it can take up to 5 minutes to load a page. To top it all off, I find out today that many of my e-mails I have been sending out never reached their intended victims, I meant recipients. I was starting to think some people were ignoring me, but that was only a few, the rest just didn't get the mail!
We hope that it is fixed completely soon. Meanwhile, it does make going to school online interesting!
We hope that it is fixed completely soon. Meanwhile, it does make going to school online interesting!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Internet Problems
Well, you would think when you have two different Internet services, you would have (hopefully) at least one working at all times. Such is NOT the case. We had a power outage down here that evidently fried something at the phone company, that in turn took out both Internet providers! I guess it still beats putting messages in a bottle and chucking them into the sea! We did manage to get back up and running earlier today, so it has been catch up time for school work.
The Internet outage came just as I was posting my quiz answers the other night. Thankfully the understanding professor reset everything and I was able to take the test again today.
On another note, there has been significant headway on the funding for the wind power project. I wish I could say that I had something to do with it, but I didn't. There is (supposedly) grant money from the government and a third world economic development bank that is interested in funding it. So, we press on with the particulars of the equipment, etc.
The Internet outage came just as I was posting my quiz answers the other night. Thankfully the understanding professor reset everything and I was able to take the test again today.
On another note, there has been significant headway on the funding for the wind power project. I wish I could say that I had something to do with it, but I didn't. There is (supposedly) grant money from the government and a third world economic development bank that is interested in funding it. So, we press on with the particulars of the equipment, etc.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Are We All Guilty of Thinking This Way?
I was reading in Acts tonight when I came upon a passage that I have read many times, but something in it never hit me until tonight. I always thought, "What caring friends Paul (the Apostle) had!
The Apostle Paul is concluding his third missionary journey and in Acts 20:22, Paul tells his companions (one of whom was Luke, the author) "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there...." (NIV) When they had reached Caesarea, they went to the house of Philip the evangelist. While they are there, a prophet prophesies over Paul in Acts 21:10-11 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, "The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'" (NIV)
This basically bums everybody out and here is where we pick up our key text in this discussion.
This is Luke, the author talking. (Acts 21:12-14) 12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." Nobody wants their companion, their buddy, their mentor and their teacher to go and get in trouble. Here is the part that struck me as we finish up in verse 14 "When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done." (NIV)
They heard a well known prophet, give a prophecy from the Holy Spirit and what do they do? They try to talk Paul out of going! Then we have that kicker line, "When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done." (NIV) When they couldn't talk Paul out of going, they finally gave in and said "OK, fine go ahead and do what the Lord wants then!"
Are we all guilty of thinking this way sometime? Do we try to talk others out of doing what the Lord wants them to do? Do we try to talk ourselves out of doing what the Lord wants us to do? Do we finally give in only in frustration and say OK, fine?
Many have tried to dodge what it is that God has for them to do, but believe me, if God wants you to do it or go through it, you eventually will! (Jonah comes to mind as an example!) The Apostle Paul should be our example of a disciple of Christ. In Acts 20:23 Paul says, "I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me." (NIV) He knew that bad things would await him at every turn in his ministry, yet he never shirked his duty. Paul always knew that whatever the cost, serving his Lord and God was worth it all! Shouldn't we do the same? Remember, God never promised us following Him would be easy.
Pablo (the other one)
The Apostle Paul is concluding his third missionary journey and in Acts 20:22, Paul tells his companions (one of whom was Luke, the author) "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there...." (NIV) When they had reached Caesarea, they went to the house of Philip the evangelist. While they are there, a prophet prophesies over Paul in Acts 21:10-11 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, "The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'" (NIV)
This basically bums everybody out and here is where we pick up our key text in this discussion.
This is Luke, the author talking. (Acts 21:12-14) 12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." Nobody wants their companion, their buddy, their mentor and their teacher to go and get in trouble. Here is the part that struck me as we finish up in verse 14 "When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done." (NIV)
They heard a well known prophet, give a prophecy from the Holy Spirit and what do they do? They try to talk Paul out of going! Then we have that kicker line, "When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done." (NIV) When they couldn't talk Paul out of going, they finally gave in and said "OK, fine go ahead and do what the Lord wants then!"
Are we all guilty of thinking this way sometime? Do we try to talk others out of doing what the Lord wants them to do? Do we try to talk ourselves out of doing what the Lord wants us to do? Do we finally give in only in frustration and say OK, fine?
Many have tried to dodge what it is that God has for them to do, but believe me, if God wants you to do it or go through it, you eventually will! (Jonah comes to mind as an example!) The Apostle Paul should be our example of a disciple of Christ. In Acts 20:23 Paul says, "I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me." (NIV) He knew that bad things would await him at every turn in his ministry, yet he never shirked his duty. Paul always knew that whatever the cost, serving his Lord and God was worth it all! Shouldn't we do the same? Remember, God never promised us following Him would be easy.
Pablo (the other one)
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
How Frustrating
I sit on this island with an almost constant 10-15mph breeze blowing and wonder why I am having so much trouble getting anyone in the "real world" interested in helping us get a wind generator system installed here. Everybody thinks it's a great idea, they just don't want any part of helping with it or financing it. What's $2 million between friends?
The benefits would be tremendous! Besides the savings that would be given back to the people who can barely afford the electricity anyway, there is the fact of saving the burning of some where around 200-250 thousand gallons of diesel fuel every year! Think how long that will run a Hummer! That in itself should be worth something! And the worst part is, it's not like any one is asking for a hand out, the company can pay the money back! They just don't have the money to lay out for it now. And don't even consider the banks down here. Their interest rates make credit card companies look like saints! So where are the people who need to step up to the plate?
I'm here, and waiting.
The benefits would be tremendous! Besides the savings that would be given back to the people who can barely afford the electricity anyway, there is the fact of saving the burning of some where around 200-250 thousand gallons of diesel fuel every year! Think how long that will run a Hummer! That in itself should be worth something! And the worst part is, it's not like any one is asking for a hand out, the company can pay the money back! They just don't have the money to lay out for it now. And don't even consider the banks down here. Their interest rates make credit card companies look like saints! So where are the people who need to step up to the plate?
I'm here, and waiting.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
The Population of the Millenium
In follow-up to the post from yesterday that had to do with the rapture, there has come up an interesting question. I have always held to a Post-Trib belief. I have studied it a lot and I just can't get around 2 Thessalonians 2:1, "Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him....for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction." (NIV) To me, this verse speaks of two events, but only one day. Now, I have read and I know all the arguments that Pre-Trib has about this verse, but until we disappear or go through the Trib period, it's an educated guess on every ones part.
Anyway, the question that has come up that I never heard before is this (all you post-trib Th.D's out there can help), If the rapture happens at the end of the Tribulation at at the same time as the Return of Christ, who is going to populate the Millennial Kingdom here on earth? Non-believers? Instantaneous converts that missed the rapture? I don't know right now, but will be trying to figure it out. This question came up as I was reading Charles C. Ryrie's "Basic Theology" book.
ONE LAST THING: While the last days are good to study and to discuss, they are not worth getting our undies in a knot over. God has His plan and it will be fulfilled to perfection. We all need to be ready and need to be carrying out our commission until He returns, we leave or we pass away!
God Bless!
Anyway, the question that has come up that I never heard before is this (all you post-trib Th.D's out there can help), If the rapture happens at the end of the Tribulation at at the same time as the Return of Christ, who is going to populate the Millennial Kingdom here on earth? Non-believers? Instantaneous converts that missed the rapture? I don't know right now, but will be trying to figure it out. This question came up as I was reading Charles C. Ryrie's "Basic Theology" book.
ONE LAST THING: While the last days are good to study and to discuss, they are not worth getting our undies in a knot over. God has His plan and it will be fulfilled to perfection. We all need to be ready and need to be carrying out our commission until He returns, we leave or we pass away!
God Bless!
Monday, March 24, 2008
An Interesting Comment
So, I get an interesting comment today from an old friend who has visited my blog.
He tells me I should have a fifth choice in my rapture question. Which do you believe about the rapture? Pre-Trib, Mid-Trib, Post-Trib or Don't Know. His addition is Pre-Wrath! What is pre-wrath? Well, the short, short that doesn't do the position a bit of good, but gives an idea of when it is in the scheme of things is, after mid-trib, yet before post-trib.
The concept is that we would go through the first 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation, the relatively peaceful part and even after the mid-trib sufferings start, we would still be here. The church would remain until God gets ready to pour out His wrath on the earth. That comes between the breaking of the sixth and seventh seal. Anyway, I'm still getting in to studying this so I'll just stop here before I destroy any of it's credibility. You can pursue more info on this at http://www.prewrathministries.org . We should always be open to ideas that may be a little different than our own.
My final thoughts on the rapture/second coming of the Lord are these. No matter what you believe, you should be ready at anytime in case the Lord returns and at the same time, we should never get so complacent in our beliefs that we ignore that we may have to endure some or all of the Tribulation and therefore we should be aware of what is going on around us in the world. One thing I know beyond a shadow of a doubt is this: Every day we are closer to whatever event is going to take place! We are closer to the return of the Lord or to the Tribulation (actually no matter what, we are closer to both!). Our hearts and minds should be ready.
He tells me I should have a fifth choice in my rapture question. Which do you believe about the rapture? Pre-Trib, Mid-Trib, Post-Trib or Don't Know. His addition is Pre-Wrath! What is pre-wrath? Well, the short, short that doesn't do the position a bit of good, but gives an idea of when it is in the scheme of things is, after mid-trib, yet before post-trib.
The concept is that we would go through the first 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation, the relatively peaceful part and even after the mid-trib sufferings start, we would still be here. The church would remain until God gets ready to pour out His wrath on the earth. That comes between the breaking of the sixth and seventh seal. Anyway, I'm still getting in to studying this so I'll just stop here before I destroy any of it's credibility. You can pursue more info on this at http://www.prewrathministries.org . We should always be open to ideas that may be a little different than our own.
My final thoughts on the rapture/second coming of the Lord are these. No matter what you believe, you should be ready at anytime in case the Lord returns and at the same time, we should never get so complacent in our beliefs that we ignore that we may have to endure some or all of the Tribulation and therefore we should be aware of what is going on around us in the world. One thing I know beyond a shadow of a doubt is this: Every day we are closer to whatever event is going to take place! We are closer to the return of the Lord or to the Tribulation (actually no matter what, we are closer to both!). Our hearts and minds should be ready.
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