4/14/14

From Jim McGuiggan... THE HEART OF A POOR ROMANTIC


THE HEART OF A POOR ROMANTIC

Here's what J.M. Barrie said in his book The Little Minister, "Long ago a minister of Thrums was to be married, but something happened, and he remained a bachelor. Then, when he was old, he passed in our square the lady who was to have been his wife, and her hair was white, but she, too, was still unmarried. The meeting had only one witness, a weaver, and he said solemnly afterwards, 'They didna speak, but they just gave one another a look, and I saw the love-light in their eyes.' No more is remembered of these two, no being now living ever saw them, but the poetry that was in the soul of a battered weaver makes them human to us for ever."

"They didn't speak but I saw the love-light in their eyes."

Aren't people like that weaver medicine for the heart? No matter how tough their lives are they keep the romance in their souls and make the world brighter. They're able to see what the rest of us—those of us made hard and cynical by disappointment and loss—can no longer see. There may have been a time when our hearts raced at the sight of someone we held precious; there may have been a time when we were sensitive enough to notice the shy but warm glances that passed between people but for many of us those days are gone. The light has either gone out or grown dim and we resign ourselves to live in the twilight until along comes a "battered weaver" who defies the suffocating world and keeps his soul alive. Barrie doesn't say if his battered weaver was married or was in love with a particular someone or had ever been in love, but he makes it clear that the toil-worn weaver was a lover and love has eyes.

Later in his novel he tells how the preacher Gavin Dishart falls in love with Babbie the gypsy girl who at first has little interest in the preacher. But that was only at first—before he kissed her. "Until the moment when he kissed her she had only conceived him as a quaint fellow whose life was a string of Sundays, but behold what she saw in him now. Love, it is said, is blind, but love is not blind. It has deeper clearer vision, which shows us what is most worthy of regard. To see the best is to see most clearly, and it is the lover's privilege."

Mind you, love makes its home in the rich as well as the poor and this is a lovely thing—and it's only fair to keep that truth in mind. But while we don't deny that and we certainly don't begrudge the loveliness of love to the wealthy, somehow we're more pleased at such good fortune when we see it in the poorer people. Why is that do you suppose? The answer's obvious isn't it!

In any case, people like the over-worked weaver won't end up with a ton of money in the bank but they are able to uncover treasure that all the tycoons in creation can't buy. You have to have the heart, don't you see? They won't build grand skyscrapers or multi-national companies [and those can be things to be proud of and to rejoice in] but they build dreams and open to us the possibility of a life that's filled with the joy of hope and warmth even in the absence of many other comforts. Maybe you've met such people; the kind who aren't too sweet to be wholesome but who are cheerful and sensitive to the good and lovely that lies hidden just below the surface of an unpromising appearance.

So what's our response to be?     Bah! Humbug?


From Eric Lyons, M.Min. ... What Do You Know?






http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=3520

What Do You Know?

by  Eric Lyons, M.Min.

We may not all understand the technical, philosophical terminology that philosophers use to dissect and describe things that we can and cannot know, but most rational people understand that there are some things we can know and some things we cannot. We can know that we exist. We can know that 1 + 1 = 2. We can know that yesterday is in the past and tomorrow is yet to be seen and full of the unknown. What is mind boggling are those things that atheistic evolutionists say Christians cannot know, while at the same time assuring the world of the many things they know regarding the origins of man and the Universe.
  • Atheists contend that Christians cannot know that there is a Creator, and that in fact, they know there is no Creator. Yet, they will affirm that they know that the Universe is the result of a infinitesimal ball of matter that exploded about 14 billion years ago. After explaining that the Universe came into existence billions of years ago from “nothing” in a black hole, world renowned, atheistic cosmologist Stephen Hawking said: “That is exactly what happened at the start of the Universe” (“Curiosity…,” 2011, emp. added). Really? He knows “exactly what happened” 14 billion years ago?
  • Atheists contend that Christians cannot know that Christ lived, died, and arose from the dead 2,000 years ago (Acharya, 1999), yet they claim to know “exactly what happened” at the beginning of time, supposedly 14,000,000,000 years ago. Seriously?
  • Atheists contend that Christians cannot know that life was created by a supernatural Creator a few thousand years ago. Even though biogenesis has repeatedly proven itself true—that in nature life comes only from life and that of its own kind—atheistic evolutionists claim to know the very opposite to be true: in nature life evolved from non-life billions of years ago.
  • Atheists contend that Christians cannot know that a Creator created sea creatures and land animals, but they affirm with all confidence that fish flopped out of water and evolved into amphibians and reptiles, while fox-like, land animals drifted out into water and evolved fins, flukes, and blow holes on their way to becoming whales (“The Evolution of Whales,” 2012).
  • Atheists contend that Christians cannot know that human life was specially created differently from all other creation (Genesis 1:26-28), but they know that humans evolved from ape-like creatures. As was emphatically stated in one widely used middle school textbook, “There is no doubt among scientists…that humans evolved from common ancestors they share with other living primates. Scientists also know that the human species evolved in Africa and then spread around the Earth” (Evolution…, 1994, p. 78, emp. added). [Of course, to be consistent, if humans evolved from animals, and were not created in the image of God, then butchering babies could be considered no more evil than butchering baboons, bugs, bull frogs, or buffalo.]  
  • Atheists contend that Christians cannot know that the Bible is from God, but they can know that their man-made, assumption-based, often-contradictory dating techniques prove that various rocks on Earth are billions of years old.
This list could go on and on. Atheistic evolutionists continually contend with all assurance that they “know” what happened millions and billions of years ago. They “know” that purely naturalistic evolution is “a fundamental fact…as real as hunger and as unavoidable as death” (Hayden, 2002, 133[4]:43). Creation-believing Christians, who refuse to accept the alleged “fact” of evolution, are, as world-renowned atheist Richard Dawkins put it, “ignorant, stupid, or insane” (1989, p. 3, emp. added). Why? Because we believe that the Universe is an effect of a cause much greater than the explosion of a tiny ball of matter. Because we believe that Mind, not matter, is eternal. Because we believe that design demands a Designer, and not a random explosion. Because nature (i.e., the Law of Biogenesis) demands a supernatural explanation for the origin of life. Because a human life is more precious than a bug’s. Because we choose to believe the answers that the Creator provided for us in His inspired, ever-enduring, never-changing revelation (see Butt, 2007), rather than in the ever-changing, constantly revised fable of evolution.
We can know that God exists because He is “clearly seen” by His Creation (Romans 1:20); the heavens declare His glory (Psalm 19:1). We can know that the Bible is His will for mankind because of its amazing predictive prophecy, scientific foreknowledge, historical accuracy, and perfect unity. We can know the Truth (John 8:32).
The world, through what is falsely called “wisdom,” does not know God (1 Corinthians 1:21). They believe that Christ and His Creation are “foolishness” (1 Corinthians 1:23). As Christians, we “boast in the Lord” (Psalm 34:2, emp. added). We know of His existence. We trust in His Word. Stephen Hawking and other atheists claim they can know “exactly what happened at the start of the Universe,” even though, allegedly, no conscious being was around 14 billion years ago to witness it. Christians, on the other hand, choose to believe in the answers of the One Who was at Creation and did the creating. Rather than accept the “wisdom” of the world, we seek the wisdom of the One Who created the world. Ultimately, only He can provide the details to the origin of the Universe and everything in it.
“Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?... Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding” (Job 38:2,4).
“[T]he foolishness of God is wiser than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25).

REFERENCES

Acharya, S. (1999), The Christ Conspiracy: The Greatest Story Ever Sold (Kempton, IL: Adventures Unlimited Press).
Butt, Kyle (2007), Behold! The Word of God (Montgomery, AL: Apologetics Press).
“Curiosity: Did God Create the Universe?” (2011), Discovery Channel, August 7.
Dawkins, Richard (1989), “Book Review” (of Donald Johanson and Maitland Edey’s Blueprint), The New York Times, section 7, April 9.
Evolution: Change Over Time (1994), (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall).
“The Evolution of Whales” (2012), Understanding Evolution, University of California Museum of Paleontology, http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/evograms_03.
Hayden, Thomas (2002), “A Theory Evolves,” U.S. News & World Report, 133[4]:42-50, July 29.

From Mark Copeland... How To End Wars (James 4:1-12)

                     "THE EPISTLE OF JAMES"

                         How To End Wars (4:1-12)
                                 
INTRODUCTION

1. Have you ever heard of:
   a. "The War of the Whiskers?"
   b. "The War of the Oaken Bucket?"
   c. "The War of Jenkin's Ear?"
   -- These were actual wars fought between nations, and you can read
      about them in many history books

2. War is too often a fact of life in spite of treaties, world peace
   organizations, and even the threat of nuclear weapons
   a. Not only wars between nations
   b. But there are wars of one kind or another on almost every level of
      life - even "gas wars" between gas stations!

3. In our text, we find James discussing this important theme of "War"
   a. He describes three types of wars going on in the world
   b. He also tells how these wars can be stopped

[For example, there is...]

I. WAR WITH EACH OTHER (1, 11-12)

   A. EVEN AMONG CHRISTIANS! (1)
      1. Surely "brethren" ought to live together in love and harmony
         - cf. Ps 133:1
      2. Yet often they do not
         a. Lot quarreled with Abraham
         b. Absalom created a war with his father David
         c. The disciples of Jesus argued over who would be greatest
         d. Paul and Barnabas had great contention over John Mark 
      3.Even churches in the New Testament often had problems...
         a. At CORINTH
            1) Brethren were suing each other
            2) They were competing in the public assemblies
         b. In GALATIA - brethren were "biting and devouring" one 
            another
         c. Even at PHILIPPI - two women were having trouble getting
            along with each other

   B. IN HIS EPISTLE, JAMES IMPLIES SEVERAL DIFFERENT KINDS OF POTENTIAL
      CONFLICTS AMONG BRETHREN:
      1. Class wars - 2:1-9
      2. Employment wars - 5:1-6
      3. Church fights - 1:19-20; 3:13-18
      4. Personal wars
         a. Notice 4:11-12
         b. Where we are admonished not to speak evil of one another,
            nor to judge (condemn) one another

[And so, we can easily be at war with one another.  WHY?  James begins
to answer this question by explaining a second war that is going on...]

II. WAR WITHIN OURSELVES (1-3)

   A. THIS IS THE REASON WE WAR WITH ONE ANOTHER! (1)
      1. It is the "war in the heart" that causes the wars in the church
         and elsewhere!
      2. Our desire for things to satisfy our pleasures (like power,
         possessions, etc.) is what makes us fight with others
      3. Putting it simply, the key problem is "SELFISHNESS"

   B. SUCH SELFISH DESIRES LEAD TO...
      1. Wrong Actions (2)
         a. "you murder...you fight and war"
         b. Perhaps not literally, but certainly so in God's sight - cf.
            1Jn 3:15
      2. Wrong Praying (3)
         a. The kind of praying that goes unanswered
         b. Because the prayers are for selfish motives

[This is why people are often at war with one another.  Every war or
angry disagreement has people who are first at war within themselves!

Why is this so?  Why are people at war within themselves?  Once again,
James gives us the answer when he describes another war that is going
on...]

III. WAR WITH GOD (4-10)

   A. HERE IS THE "ROOT CAUSE" OF EVERY WAR, INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL
      1. Rebellion against God!
      2. In some way...
         a. ...those at war with others...
         b. ...are also at war within themselves...
         c. ...because they are first at war with God!

   B. HOW DOES A BELIEVER DECLARE WAR AGAINST GOD?
      1. By being friendly with God's enemies!
      2. James mentions three enemies we must not fraternize with if we
         want to be at peace with God:
         a. The World (4)
            1) That is, human society that is contrary to God
               a) Any conduct, belief, thought...
               b) ...which is anti-God, anti-Christ
            2) To be a friend of such...
               a) Makes one an enemy of God!
               b) Makes one a spiritual adulterer or adulteress!
         b. The Flesh (1,5)
            1) The unlawful desires that would lead us away from God
            2) These desires wage war within us, but we must not give
               in to them - cf. 1Pe 2:11
            3) Such desires are in direct conflict to what the Spirit of
               God would have us to be and do - cf. 4:5; Ga 5:16-26
            4) To submit to these unlawful desires (works) of the flesh
               sets one contrary to God and His Spirit!
         c. The Devil (6-7)
            1) Pride is Satan's greatest temptation
            2) When we give into pride, we become friends of the devil
               and enemies of God - 4:6

   C. HOW TO ENJOY PEACE WITH GOD
      1. Submit To God (7)
         a. Literally, "get into your proper rank"
         b. When a buck private acts like the general, there is going
            to be trouble!
         c. Unconditional surrender to God is the only way to victory!
         d. Submission is saying: "Not my will, but Thine be done"
      2. Resist The Devil (7)
         a. He is behind every war that we have
         b. But if we just resist, then he will flee!
      3. Draw Near To God (8)
         a. And He will draw near to us!
         b. How do we do this?
            1) "Cleanse your hands" - Get your sins forgiven!
            2) "Purify your hearts" - Be single-minded in your devotion
               to God! (not double-minded, like a spiritual adulterer)
      4. Humble Yourselves In The Sight Of God (9-10)
         a. It's possible to submit outwardly and not be humble inwardly
         b. True mourning for our sins (cf. 4:9) is how we can humble
            ourselves before God
         c. The end result of such humility?  God will lift you up!
            - 4:10

CONCLUSION

1. If we obey these four instructions, then God will draw near to us,
   cleanse us, and forgive us!

2. ONLY THEN WILL THE "WARS" CEASE!
   a. For we will not be at war with God
   b. So we will not be at war within ourselves
   c. And we will not be at war with others!

3. As Solomon wrote in the Book of Proverbs:

   When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be
   at peace with him. (Proverbs 16:7)

Are we diligent in making sure our ways are pleasing to the Lord?

Note:  Much of the material for this outline was adapted heavily
from The Bible Exposition Commentary, Volume 2, by Warren W. Wiersbe,
pages 366-370.

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Gary... What kind of shape are you in (to)?

My Great Aunt Elizabeth used to say: "You either eat to live or live to eat".  Almost all of my life I have lived to eat, but should have lived according to the first part of her motto.  I wonder; Is it really possible to do both at once?  Honestly, since I have been on weight-watchers, the answer is a qualified "YES"!!! And the rub in all this is I can take SOME of the things that I love (but not too much) while at the same time eating what is necessary for health.  As long as I keep things in perspective... I do just fine.  In general, living ones life is like being on weight-watchers: first do the things God wants you to do and ask God for the things you want. Why? Because life only makes sense to me if God is the master of my life and I am NOT ruled by WHAT I WANT TO DO...

Matthew, Chapter 6
 24  “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon.   25  Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing?   26  See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they? 

  27  “Which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan?   28  Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin,   29  yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these.   30  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of little faith? 

  31  “Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’   32  For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.   33  But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.

Like the choice of how we shape our eating (see the graphic above), how we live our lives is a reflection of choices as well. If you decide to go your own way, do your own thing- that is fine with me. However, if you are looking for something better out of life, then this Bible passage will take on new meaning for you. Choose wisely.  And don't examine the graphic too closely; if you decide to anyway- then notice that they added some extra "goodies" to the pyramid portion of the hat. I can loose the soda and the booze, but just looking at that ice-cream makes me drool.  Today would have to be weigh-in, wouldn't it?