As most people have heard (everybody practically) Southern Ca is experiencing tons of fires. Interestingly enough I live in the very center of it, all around my city there is plenty of smoke, indicating fire. If that weren't enough we have to cope with the high winds, that if you ask me are a lot worse, especially cause they are the reason why the fires aren't being put out. Many are staying home, but pretty much every school district isn't giving kids the day off. Today my school though didn't have after school activities and sports, which is probaly because our facilities are being used for Red Cross. I'm not sure how the fires are going, but if anyone wants to check it out heres a goood place to go...http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/poomacha-fire-grows_23.html
thats for the fire near Palomar but if you check out the other links you could find out about the rest of the fires.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Revelations Chapter one
A few weeks ago I started reading Revelations chapter by chapter and investigating and noting what I've been reading. So I'll be posting these here on my blog, there probaly wont be another for awhile but anyways heres the first chapter...
Chapter 1
Theme
Introduction of John and instruction to him from God,
"The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. " (1:1-2)
"I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea." (1:9-12)
"Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later." ( 1:19-20)
Here we see who John is, where he was when he was called by God and we see that God wanted him to write to the seven churches.
The seven churches
The sevent churches...Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. Did you know that every single one of them are located today(and in the past) in Turkey! Imagine my surprise when I found that out, because If I were John I would wonder why they went to one country, and why was that Turkey? Why not some in Israel, Greece, Rome etc? I would have thought that because of that nobody would have the scriptures, but we know that isn't true because we have them. Something to think about.
Notes on This chapter
"Look, he is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him..."
I find it interesting that God is coming down or on clouds, and one of my favorite scriptures Nahum 1:3 reminds me of this...
"...His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,
and clouds are the dust of his feet."
"I am the Living One; I was dead and behold I am alive for ever and ever!"
(rev. 1:18) -Jesus was dead and then he came back to life!
Chapter 1
Theme
Introduction of John and instruction to him from God,
"The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. " (1:1-2)
"I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea." (1:9-12)
"Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later." ( 1:19-20)
Here we see who John is, where he was when he was called by God and we see that God wanted him to write to the seven churches.
The seven churches
The sevent churches...Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. Did you know that every single one of them are located today(and in the past) in Turkey! Imagine my surprise when I found that out, because If I were John I would wonder why they went to one country, and why was that Turkey? Why not some in Israel, Greece, Rome etc? I would have thought that because of that nobody would have the scriptures, but we know that isn't true because we have them. Something to think about.
Notes on This chapter
"Look, he is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him..."
I find it interesting that God is coming down or on clouds, and one of my favorite scriptures Nahum 1:3 reminds me of this...
"...His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,
and clouds are the dust of his feet."
"I am the Living One; I was dead and behold I am alive for ever and ever!"
(rev. 1:18) -Jesus was dead and then he came back to life!
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
A surprising Confrontation
Yesterday God dropped in my lap something very unusual, something I had never really had to deal with before but something that I knew he was with me the entire time. He placed three new friends of mine who are not Christians in front of me asking questions like, why is Jesus so special? Why is it that if Jesus is Gods son and so are we his children, why is Jesus more important to us? They also were asking me how come people in hell do not get second chances, they only have one and then they're done and in hell forever.
Believe me I was not ready for this, never before had I ever had a time where people started asking me real questions about my faith and beliefs in such a way that I almost for a moment wanted to cease all conversation or just stop talking. But then I realized that this could be a good opportunity to share with these non-believers and help them to understand God.
As best as I could I tried to explain to them what I knew and believed, the first question I struggled, not because I don't believe he isn’t special but because to someone who has been brought up Christian all her life that seems easy to me. I remember telling them something along the lines of him dieing for our sins but I'm not sure. For the second question they asked I just told them that in a way were (once were saved) are adopted into Gods family, Jesus is part of God as well as his son. For the next question I wasn't very sure what to say, I sort of stumbled over my words. I did tell them something but I don't remember exactly what I said.
Another thing they started talking about was people being gay, and if gayness is genetic (which scientists have been speculating about) then God created them that way. Leading them to believe that if God created them that way then it isn't bad. I tried to tell them that weren’t true but they all started to gang up on me and tell me I was wrong. Since that was a delicate subject and I didn't know much about what they were saying it was let go.
When it was time to go I told them that If they didn't like what I was saying to tell me and then I would stop, because nothings worse than a Christian pushing their views on people who don't want to hear them. Better to have given them the basic idea of what were talking about and still be their friends so that maybe that could come up later, then them blowing us off and never speaking to us again. One of my friends said it was getting pretty hot, -especially were he was sitting, I hope that means that maybe he understood some of what I was saying but didn't want to admit it, even to himself.
This encounter showed me that I need to be more prepared in prayer and reading the scriptures, so that if it happens again I wont look like I don't know what I believe. Although I know that God was with me every step of the way and was softening their hearts and letting what came out of my mouth be the right thing to say.
Please comment and if there is something I should have added or something that answers one of these questiosn please let me know!
Believe me I was not ready for this, never before had I ever had a time where people started asking me real questions about my faith and beliefs in such a way that I almost for a moment wanted to cease all conversation or just stop talking. But then I realized that this could be a good opportunity to share with these non-believers and help them to understand God.
As best as I could I tried to explain to them what I knew and believed, the first question I struggled, not because I don't believe he isn’t special but because to someone who has been brought up Christian all her life that seems easy to me. I remember telling them something along the lines of him dieing for our sins but I'm not sure. For the second question they asked I just told them that in a way were (once were saved) are adopted into Gods family, Jesus is part of God as well as his son. For the next question I wasn't very sure what to say, I sort of stumbled over my words. I did tell them something but I don't remember exactly what I said.
Another thing they started talking about was people being gay, and if gayness is genetic (which scientists have been speculating about) then God created them that way. Leading them to believe that if God created them that way then it isn't bad. I tried to tell them that weren’t true but they all started to gang up on me and tell me I was wrong. Since that was a delicate subject and I didn't know much about what they were saying it was let go.
When it was time to go I told them that If they didn't like what I was saying to tell me and then I would stop, because nothings worse than a Christian pushing their views on people who don't want to hear them. Better to have given them the basic idea of what were talking about and still be their friends so that maybe that could come up later, then them blowing us off and never speaking to us again. One of my friends said it was getting pretty hot, -especially were he was sitting, I hope that means that maybe he understood some of what I was saying but didn't want to admit it, even to himself.
This encounter showed me that I need to be more prepared in prayer and reading the scriptures, so that if it happens again I wont look like I don't know what I believe. Although I know that God was with me every step of the way and was softening their hearts and letting what came out of my mouth be the right thing to say.
Please comment and if there is something I should have added or something that answers one of these questiosn please let me know!
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