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Getting somewhere requires effort, it takes
faith to push on, it's easy to screw up,
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Friday, April 22, 2011
Earth day instead of Good Friday? Google doodle screws-up! Google
designs special logos for special days.
These are known as Google Doodles and commemorate special occasions. Today
22 April 2011 commemorates Earth day. If you want to see it just go to Google today!
Christianity
has 2,000–2,200million followers according to Wikipedia and this is the biggest religion on Earth. Today is a major holiday world wide, and Google instead picks a doodle that commemorates
Earth day. Something founded by an USA senator in 1970 and which few people know about.
Isn’t
it interesting that political correctness now means that you can disrespect a majority of people based on a principle established
by a few?
Because the majority don’t like to complain or be seen as
being annoyed, the minority get to push them around and get their way!
In
USA, one of the biggest Christian countries in the world, I am amazed that Google doesn’t get a stream of complaints
on this latest doodle.
Not that I am a great supporter of the Good Friday movement (because I do understand that the churches have the day all wrong…) but
because it is so respected by so many people.
Ah well, at least if we
notice these things they have less influence right?
I believe in being
green more than most, but I do think this time it was poor taste to do what was done by Google. It would have been better
not to have setup a doodle for today.
So that’s my negative stand for the day.
Now I am going to enjoy the day with friends and family and try and be as green as I can while remembering
Jesus great sacrifice and victory over negativity on this Earth.
That’s what we as Christians celebrate today!
Have a wonderful Easter weekend! May God bless you!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Faith/belief what’s the difference? What does it mean to William and Kate?
The wedding
of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton will be available to watch on the Royal Channel Live Stream, accompanied by
a live multi-media blog put together by St. James's Palace.
Do you believe this wedding will occur? Do you have faith this wedding will
occur?
Which is it…believe…or
have faith…or is it both?
To believe is
to accept or credit something as real true and credible.
To
have faith is to have a belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence
and hints of loyalty and allegiance.
So, we will not be attending the wedding, but most of us
believe it will occur due to the focus of the media and the detail they have been feeding us from many different
sources over a period of time. (A short period of time by human standards).
If
we asked do we have faith or believe this is a couple who will influence the world at large in a positive manner, the choice
of word would be faith as we cannot know this fact with the certainty we believe the wedding will occur.
Faith is an extension of belief into the realm of the unknown.
Paul in Hebrews 6 describes faith as a basic simple teaching about Christ and describes this as “They taught us that we must have faith in God.”
Faith is precious and must be guarded!
Faith lost is more difficult to regain that faith never attained.
Paul explains
this as “What if some people fall away from the faith? It won't
be possible to bring them back. It is true that they have seen the light. They have tasted the heavenly gift. They have shared
in the Holy Spirit. They have tasted the good things of God's word. They have tasted the powers of the age to come. But they
have fallen away from the faith. So it won't be possible to bring them back. They won't be able to turn away from their sins.
They are losing everything. That's because they are nailing the Son of God to the cross all over again. They are bringing
shame on him in front of everyone. “
Friends,
lets guard our faith! It is precious!
How do we do this?
We need to increase
our belief! Now belief is in facts! Belief is in real know events and items!
To increase our belief we need
to read our bible, investigate the multiple truths and put that which we have yet to understand
into a “to be investigated” category.
Jesus is one person who really lived! This is a fact no one can
refute! Jesus teachings are some of the most powerful in the world. Powerful non-Christians such as Ghandi
have even admitted that!
The bible is the most carefully checked book in the world and
so it one of the most trustworthy. That’s a fact!
The bibles creation story (see my early
blogs) ties in with science in a way no other religions creations stories can imitate! That’s a fact! (Sorry
to those Christians who fail to see this).
These build up our beliefs and give us confidence
in our faith but the most confidence comes from our relationship with our God in quiet righteous faith.
This builds upon itself like a wave entering a shore. Our faith increases many times and we know it will be realised
when we finally get to the point of death where we transition to see Jesus!
Wow! That will be more amazing
that Kate and William saying “I do!”
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Turn away from doing things that lead to death… If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits
sin, he will die for it; because of the sin he has committed he will die.
-Ezekiel 18:26
An
ancient wise man said we should turn away from things that lead to death as a basic of Christian life.
Normally we think of lifestyles that are life threatening when we talk about turning away from death. We consider a life of drugs and alcohol, or of violence, or over-eating. We can think of many
other examples with some time and consideration but the point is made.
Certain things we do
are life threatening in the long term. Does that stop people doing them?
It only
stops some of us, not others!
How many people smoke
knowing it is likely to kill them in the long term or in the least decrease
old age life quality (even if it is only by burning the money in the pensioners pocket)? Many people right?
This
however is NOT what that ancient writer to the Hebrews was saying in chapter 6.
What he was saying refers back to the quote above from Ezekiel.
Righteousness has to do with righteous living!
I
asked a group of teens a while back what they considered righteousness
and they were not very clear in their answer. It is becoming a lifestyle that is not even understood today, never mind being
practiced!
It is that quality in life where we treat everything fairly and correctly! The Hebrew
sense of the word includes qualities like, integrity, equity, justice, straightness.
Life in
this way is what God wants for us. A clear conscience typifies a righteous man! Do we have a clear conscience?
Turning
our backs on righteousness will lead us into a living death and later if
we don’t come around to eternal death.
Living with a conscience that is not clean, one where lie
to ourselves that what we are doing is okay, is far more deadly to vital and exciting living than most people imagine.
Instead of having the joy of the new morning and happiness of knowing that while
things are tough, we are building a positive future for ourselves and those around us, we hide ourselves from others and the
world, pulling ourselves back into the darkness of lies and deceit!
This is why the writer
to the Hebrews points out it is death. It is a living death and turning
from righteousness means we chose it over life.
Today I choose life, I am excited for
today’s opportunities. I have taken my selfish, nasty and ignorant
actions and thoughts and handed them to god asking for forgiveness. Accepting this my life load has lifted and I can step
into today with a light heart, joy and happiness, curious to see what the new day brings as opportunities.
I need to be my own hero today, what about you?
Wed, April 20, 2011 | link
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Did God ever get scared? I think so! 
The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
NELSON MANDELA, Autobiography
Ever considered if God gets scared?
How does a God who knows everything and can do anything experience fear?
To experience
fear, there is a need to be in a situation where something is happening that you really do not want and like, that
will cause harm and which is very unpleasant.
Since God the Father is not afraid of anything,
this excludes him from ever being scared right?
Well, that is probably true, but God
is also Jesus, who gave up all his Godly abilities and qualities to become just like you and me. He because FULLY
human!
This weekend coming will be Easter, a time I like to think of memory of his rising
from the dead. Some people like to think of it as a memory of his being crucified. I am less macabre! I like to look to the
joy and happiness of the reconciliation with his human friends rather than that ancient electric chair!
So
today, this evening would be the time(if it were that first Easter) when Jesus would have his last supper and go into the
Garden of Gethsemane to prepare to be captured.
We have two accounts of that event. One in
Mark’s gospel and one in Matthew’s gospel.
In Matthew 26: 36 (NIV) it says… Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place
called Gethsemane. He said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him. He began to be sad and troubled.
Then he said to them, "My soul is very sad. I feel close to death. Stay here. Keep watch with me."
He
went a little farther. Then he fell with his face to the ground. He prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, take this
cup of suffering away from me. But let what you want be done, not what I want."
I don’t know about
you but it appears to me that that this account shows Jesus in a situation where something is happening that he really
do not want and like, that would cause harm and which was very unpleasant.
The second account in Mark
14:32 (NIV) says…. Jesus and his disciples went to a place called Gethsemane.
Jesus said to them, "Sit here while I pray."
He took Peter, James and John along with him. He began to be very
upset and troubled. "My soul is very sad. I feel close to death," he said to them. "Stay here. Keep watch."
He went a little farther. Then he fell to the ground.
He prayed that, if possible, the hour might pass by him. 36 ["Abba]," he said, "everything is possible for
you. Take this cup of suffering away from me. But let what you want be done, not what I want." Abba means Father.
Then he returned to his disciples and found them
sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Couldn't you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray.
Then you won't fall into sin when you are tempted. The spirit is willing. But the body is weak."
This seems
to back it up doesn’t it?
Luke has a slightly different account of the same event. Luke 22:39
describes it as … Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives. His disciples followed him. When they reached the place,
Jesus spoke. "Pray that you won't fall into sin when you are tempted," he said to them.
Then he went a short distance away from them. There he got down on
his knees and prayed. He said, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup of suffering away from me. But do what you
want, not what I want."
An angel from heaven appeared
to Jesus and gave him strength. Because he was very sad and troubled, he prayed even harder. His sweat was like drops of blood
falling to the ground.
This is a man under duress!
Fear
is pulling at his heart, but notice how he counters fear, is to pray and spend time with his Father! Connecting
with God when we are scared helps!
None of us have all the answers and knows the future!
Other than what the Father revealed to Jesus, Jesus didn't know the future either!
He didn’t know if his future would change based on his request at that time.
Jesus faced uncertainty like we do!
He
walked through that death and pain experiencing fear and uncertainty just like you and I do.
Doesn’t
that make you love him even more for what he did for us? I know I do! As I walk the days with him towards the time
when he gives up his life, to take it up again victoriously on Sunday, I can only thank him for being brave where I would
have failed, for facing his fears with the confidence of God alone!
Praise
your name Jesus!
Tue, April 19, 2011 | link
Monday, April 18, 2011
Birdcage!
“You know they
have failed you in the past and will fail you again?”
“Some will and some won’t”
This is my paraphrase from memory of the words from the birdcage video by the skitguys.com
The weekend I found a video snippet of few minutes that I really liked and enjoyed.
It is called “birdcage” and found at http://www.creativebiblestudy.com/inspirational-videos.html
It is one of those rare communications where the simplicity, contrasts and body
language communicate far better than any words alone can do.
The video
snippet starts with two guys meeting each other in the street. ( I do recommend seeing it rather than just reading
this blog, but I will try to explain a few of the facets of this multifaceted gem).
One guy
is carrying a birdcage and as he passes the other in the street the second
guy asks him about the birds. “They’re wild bird’s” is volunteered. “Where’d you get them”
is asked and we find out they come from a field in town.
Naturally, we all want to know why
he has wild birds in a cage. We find out he like to stir things up by prodding
into the cage with sticks and turning it upside down and shaking it. When asked what he does after that, the owner explains
he feeds them to his cat who likes wild birds.
The second guy is obviously concerned and points out he likes wild birds
and will pay to have them for himself. $5 is asked for as the rather incredulous
owner explains they are wild birds, can’t do tricks or anything and will likely fly away if the cage door is opened.
As the bank notes are exposed in the wallet, the birdcage owner gets greedy and demands $10. The purchaser smiles at the audacity and agrees. Then the birdcage owner demands twenty dollars,
all the purchaser has in his wallet. Sad, but determined to get the birds, the purchaser gives him the $20
and gets the birds.
He puts the cage down, and after the original owner leaves, opens the cage door
and releases the birds.
As the purchaser stands back and looks at the cage, now empty, another person
enters the scene. From the dialogue that follows we surmise it is Satan, and they talk about
humans in the cage.
Humans are found in a garden and put themselves in a cage, the dialogue
explains. The purchaser who from the dialogue we get to know is Jesus says
he wants to purchase the humans. Satan say he wants tears, his blood and his life in return for the humans. Jesus says he
will give what it takes.
Then Satan, obviously thinking Jesus is a fool, points out…
“You know they have failed you in the past and will fail you again?”
Jesus
answers “Some will and some won’t”.
Poignant moment!
We realize how limitless God’s love is!
We realize
a bit of what it took! We realize we are nothing compared to the power of God and Satan. We realize but for the grace of God,
we would be cursed to eternal pain and suffering.
Isn’t it wonderful that instead we have the life of God flowing through
us, that he paid for us and we are his?
A great thought to start this week!
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If you want to see a short blog describing a perspective on what I believe click here
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Rift in Evil
By Ken
X Briggs - Published: September, 2010
- Format: Perfect Bound Softcover(B/W)
- Pages: 208
Size:
6x9 - ISBN: 9781450250894
Available from Barnes and Noble, Amazon, iUniverse. |
Credit cards are acceptable on sites having Ken's books: 
:)
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| Ken's book covers are displayed below. . . | |  This
suspense thriller centers on Kiara, a beautiful young woman pursued by a murderous group of people, who relentlessly and ruthlessly
hunt her and her sisters. Kiara has no idea why she is being targeted! When Kiara and her family turn to the law for help,
this fails. Her pursuers’ powers reach deeply into the political and law enforcement world. Family support for her dwindles
when they too have to flee her pursuers. Can Kiara escape the clutches of both the law and dishonest big business? With the
media broadcasting that Kiara and friends are dangerous and subversive, can Kiara clear her name and bring her pursuers to
justice?
| | | | | To purchase Kiara's Pursuer ebook
@ $1.99 kindle version click here, To contact the author contact Author@KenXBriggs.com | | | | | | | | The town of Zinaville is dropped into a spiral of evil causing a young man and a beautiful but abused woman
to launch into an investigation that unveils an evil conspiracy. A horrific mining accident results in Joshua
Robyn's father being killed. Joshua struggles both with himself and his townsfolk as he tries to make sense of an incomprehensible
situation. Is it an accident or a murder? Why is there a seeming link to evil? Why is his work environment suddenly threatening?
What is the conspiracy about and what are they trying to do? As action moves dramatically from exotic African grasslands to
the heart of North America's cities, the plot unfolds and the pace quickens. Will there be time? Why is a beautiful abused
young woman in the center of this plot? Evil tendrils tighten on their lives and the interplay between the visible
and invisible world shows opposing forces at work. Will there be a rift in evil? Will they be able to stop the
evil in time? | | - Published: September, 2010
- Format: Perfect
Bound Softcover(B/W)
- Pages: 208
Size: 6x9 - ISBN: 9781450250894
Available
from Barnes and Noble, Amazon, iUniverse. Chapters | | | | |
| Frugal Eating Advice |
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| Good advice for students living on limited $'s. Click on the image! |
May you be blessed today!
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