Pondering

I thought I might share these thoughts with you. This is from an A.W. Tozer daily devotional that I work through. Given the events that recently transpired in our world these words become timely.

Trials and Pain: Moses' Prayer

So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. --Psalm 90:12

A few days after these words appear in print the old year of our Lord will have gone to join the long procession of years and centuries that move on into the shadows of a past that can come no more.

In the year just gone the world has been writing history, not with ink only but with blood and tears; not in the quiet of the study but in violence, terror and death in city streets and along the borders of nations; and other and milder but more significant history has been written by incredible feats of power in sending man-made objects out to circle the moon and the sun....

To each one fortunate enough to live out [this year], God will have given 365 days broken into 8,760 hours. Of these hours, 2,920 will have been spent in sleep, and about the same number at work. An equal number has been given us to spend in reverent preparation for the moment when days and years shall cease and time shall be no more. What prayer could be more spiritually appropriate than that of Moses, the man of God: "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12). The Warfare of the Spirit, pp. 145-147

Happy New Year.

Thankful

The day after. Presents are all unwrapped. Recycling is in waiting. Meals have been prepared, eaten and enjoyed. A few more days of rest and relaxation. Breaking in new slippers. Re-reading the story of the Incarnation and the birth of the Son. Sitting in my office and contemplating what the meaning of this year’s Christmas means and implies. Wading through all the theological language and meta-physical explanations I take some time to simply reflect. In my mind’s eye I am coming to the stable. The smell of animals and shepherds are beginning to become too much, yet I slowly continue towards the source. It is night yet there seems to be a strange glow surrounding us. It’s almost like the darkness is trying to invade, or crush, this small stable. Yet it cannot. Walking out of its cold and damp clutches I am aware of the simple warmth and quiet joy the light provides. As I draw closer to the place where the child lies I feel compelled to fall on my knees. It’s not like I don’t want to, it’s more that I can’t help myself from doing it. Everything is strangely quiet. Closing my eyes I can’t help but think about how great God is and how thankful I am for what he has done for me. Immanuel. God with us.

The day after. When the hype is fading away and people begin to look ahead at a new year, I want to look ahead and say, “God willing, I wish to do this and that”. The hype may be fading away but the meaning and purpose do not. In a few short months I will again find myself kneeling but that will be at the foot of the cross. And then, just like now, I will be reflecting upon how great God is and how thankful I am for what he has done for me. The bread of life. The light of the world. The good shepherd. The door. The gate. The way, the truth and the life. The resurrection and the life.

So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of the light.”… “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”

What is your viewpoint?

Baby; manger; gifts; angels; faith; peace; joy; hope. Culmination. Beginning.

He has passed through the heavens…

“Let us hold fast our confession” (Hebrews 4:14b) – amidst what? So called tolerance? Which if we’re honest is really a mask for belligerent intolerance. In this pluralistic and relativistic “West Coast” mindset there seems to be enough room for any and all religious and/or philosophical confessions. But mention your confession is of Christ and his life, death, resurrection; suddenly there is no room in the inn. Sound like a Bethlehem scenario? A miracle waiting to happen and people are too busy, too preoccupied and maybe too blind to the reality it brings. And before I sound too pretentious I probably would have responded the same way those townsfolk did, if it were not for the grace of God.

Christ empathizes and sympathizes with human weakness. Never excuses it or allows us to use it as a crutch. In fact, holds us accountable for it. But none the less totally understands our weaknesses and temptations. Don’t people seek out that kind of person for counseling? We want someone who understands and who will be empathetic and sympathetic. Maybe we want someone to excuse ourselves and our behavior because we are weak and frail. “Please give us more self-help steps towards earthly perfection!” Or at least some sort of balance. Of course we would never admit it. Maybe that’s why.

Baby, manger, gifts, faith, peace, joy, hope. All are safe. All are comforting. None hold us accountable. For me, one thing that stands out is the “beginning” aspect. The Son of God (the second person of the Eternal Trinity) coming to Earth to dawn human flesh. The Son coming to earth as the one who will become the one who stands before the throne of God and defends me. And it all had to start in a dirty manger surrounded by domesticated animals, dirty shepherds, fresh newlyweds and angels.

Narnia

We just finished watching Narnia with our eldest daughter. For us it's been our fourth time through the wardrobe and I have have to say - love it! Some of my favorite parts?

Aslan telling the white witch to stop reciting the old magic because Aslan was there when it was written.
Aslan roaring at the white witch's question about his intent on keeping his promise.
The scene that shows Aslan talking with Edmund after his rescue. What was Aslan saying to him?
The surrender and humiliation of Aslan before his death. So powerful.
The epic battle.

There's many more. One thing you might want to consider this Christmas season is to sit down with your family and watch Narnia. Soak it in. Let it permeate into your festive mood. Then contemplate about it's metaphor for your new life.

Merry Christmas

here's your option...

I said that I would leave you an alternate avenue to interact with these upcoming toics. so, if you are afraid to leave your comment on this blog here's an alternate email that you can use.

respondtoheaven@yahoo.ca

Are you looking at going to "The Golden Compass"? check out Al Mohler's response to this new big screen blockbuster.
Should Christians see this movie given the fact that the author of the trilogy, of which this movie is the first, is an atheist and claims that his books are designed to kill God?

Question: Why are atheists, who claim there is no God, work so hard at trying to convince us that there is no God? If they are correct - why spend so much time and energy on trying to convince others?

Why Be Moral?

Some of my research into the validity of the Bible and it's claims has lead me to some very interesting viewpoints. This one I share with you because it stirred me up. I know it will do the same for you. Here is the link and a short quote. Check it out for yourself and ask yourself how you might respond after reading it. Have fun.

http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/richard_carrier/moreland.html

"It should now be clear that the Christian theism that Moreland defends provides no better reasons to be moral than secular humanism, and on many of the very same points as well as others Moreland does not examine, humanism may actually provide more compelling arguments."

See, I told you.

Let's get started

So, you may notice that there's a small survey at your left. That's right I wold really like to hear what you have to say regarding the topics, Heaven & Hell. I will be asking several questions over the next 6-8 weeks to help formulate some of the content for my classes. Yes, you now have the opportunity to contribute to a dynamic and fundamental task of speaking about our final destinations. I will be posting an email site that you can access if you want to get more involved. I'm looking forward to the process and the journey that this will be. Hey, why don't you get into it? More later.

Help Me Out...

OK, I'm doing a series of classes on the topics of Heaven and Hell. Tell me one or two things that you might want to know about both locations. (assuming that you subscribe to them - if not tell me why) I am reading other resources but I also want to hear from you. Does anyone out there know how I can create and post a small survey? More on this later.