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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, June 17, 2011
Christians don’t whip anything do they?
“Love
well, whip well” Benjamin Franklin Which do you want? Should I come to you with a whip? Or should I come in love and with a gentle
spirit? 1 Cor 4:17 NIV
Christians don’t whip anything do they? Wrong!
Read this … “In
the temple courtyard he found people who were selling cattle, sheep and doves. Others were sitting at tables exchanging money.
So Jesus made a whip out of ropes. He chased all the sheep and cattle from the temple
area. He scattered the coins of the people exchanging money. And he turned over their tables. 16 He told those who were selling
doves, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!" John 2:14-16
NIRV
When the Holiness of God is at stake Christians get upset!
That’s
why I get upset when I hear Christians arguing in front of an unbeliever about the interpretation of a text that really is
not critically important.
Don’t we know a persons life is at stake?
An
unbeliever is hanging onto life with one hand, dangling over eternity while we sit and argue about inconsequential’s.
A
loving person runs to their aid and offers a helping hand whether they want to take it or not!
Do
we have that gentle loving spirit or are we simply too involved in ourselves to care? The holiness of God should be
evident in our lives, being activated by God’s grace and empowered by Holy Spirit, not suppressed by human will
and distorted by angry arguments.
So, sometimes I have to bring out this whip to enable us to see the reality
of our lives.
Jesus’ love must be at the center of our arguments and we should
not air these minor infractions in public at the cost of anothers life should we.
It is better
to compromise on an understanding we can different opinions.
That’s what I want to remember today! Sorry I
had to use the whip!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Simple Advice!
Don't follow any advice, no matter how good, until you feel as deeply in your spirit as you think in your mind
that the counsel is wise.
- Joan Rivers When a great person mentors another, they put thought into what they say don’t they?
If they have to write it down, do they perhaps add some extra effort? What about if they have
to convince someone to take the document to another over great distances and when dangers are involved? Is it likely those
words are important, crafted carefully and to be considered carefully by the reader.
Paul writing to a young man, Timothy, under these types of conditions says…
First, I want
all of you to pray for everyone. Ask God to bless them. Give thanks for them. Pray for kings. Pray for all who are in authority.
Pray that we will live peaceful and quiet lives. And pray that we will be godly and holy. That is good.
It pleases God our Savior. He wants everyone to be saved. He wants them to come to know the truth. There is only one God.
And there is only one go-between for God and human beings. He is the man Christ Jesus. He gave himself to pay for the sins
of everyone. That was a witness given by God at just the right time.
There are a lot of questions I have about this!
Firstly, why pray for everyone?
Surely he wanted prayer for himself, his friends, the lost?
Considering this as the group I realise that just about covers everyone right? So I guess we need to pray for ourselves, others,
those who know Jesus and those who don’t. Perhaps we should just be sensitive to Holy Spirits leading and pray as prompted.
Perhaps putting time away each day simply to pray is important as well!
I
understand Paul saying ask God to bless everyone, but give thanks for everyone?
What about those nasty individuals that hurt others? Give thanks
for them?
Yes! He says we
should be thankful for everyone!
I still have not got my head around this one completely yet! I know God loves everyone, we are to
love our enemies and I can get that, but give THANKS for them seems going a bit far. Thanks for Sadam or ben Laden? Thanks
for Gaddafi? I have difficulty with this!
But, because I have found everything God reveals to be true, I believe it!
However it’s
difficult for me to understand why.
Do you ever have these types of dilemma’s? When things don’t seem to make sense
and we take them as truth from the person we know speaks truth but really don’t get it? I hope so otherwise I am weird!
If anyone can advise me on this area where I lack understanding let me know your thoughts (author@kenXbriggs.com ) is where you get hold of me.
Okay,
so I simply have to accept that we need to be thankful for everyone!
Next,
Paul wants us to pray for those in authority!
Now THAT I do understand! They sure need to make
the right decisions and need God to help them out as knowing what to do is not easy to discern.
Praying for a peaceful life is good too!
I like that!
So, if I ever lack direction on what I should be praying about, Paul gives good advice here when he advises
Timothy on prayer!
However, more important
is the fact we need to pray through the right channel!
Prayer must
go through Jesus! That’s why Paul says “there is only one go-between for God
and human beings. He is the man Christ Jesus.”
So sorry folk, but if you pray to God through
anyone else, our bible says you got it wrong! Jesus left his Holy Spirit with us to take the mutterings we call prayer,
and bring them to heaven to offer to God in heaven where they are like incense “The smoke
of the incense together with the prayers of God's people rose up from the angel's hand. It went up in front of God.”
Rev 8:4 NIRV
So our prayers are here now,
but they are simultaneously with God in heaven.
So we CAN be in two places at once!
Today I want to exercise that exceptional ability! What about you?
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Reflect on this…because I don’t think I have done wrong doesn’t mean I didn’t! “If you judge people,
you have no time to love them.”
Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Running
down to the road a young child darts into the traffic and gets hit by a car. The driver ends up in court and with the courts
the way they are in Canada is found guilty.
Aaah! We say, justice!
But is it?
Reading
further we find out the car was going at 5km/hour and the child ran out from behind a pile of snow,
slipping at the last moment and literally falling in front of this slow moving car.
Unable to even see
the child, the driver doesn't stop and drives over the child’s wrist, breaking it because it lands directly in
front of the wheel. The driver is estimated to be doing about 5km/hr at the time. This all happens on the passenger side of
the car and the driver never sees the child until the scream of pain is heard. The driver is so devastated they are taken
to hospital in shock.
Justice? Yes! I think we all agree we must be careful in city streets
but let us also agree the child did wrong by running into the road.
The child when asked if they had done wrong said "No" and said they were playing and running away from
a friend. I don’t think we would agree the child did right by running into the street!
Just the
fact they don’t think they did wrong (the driver or the child), doesn’t make it true that they didn’t
do wrong does it. Just becuase the courts find in favour of the child doeesn't mean the child is faultless right?
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4 (NIRV)…
I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court. I
don't even judge myself. I don't feel I have done anything wrong. But that doesn't mean I'm not guilty. The Lord judges me.
So don't judge anything before the appointed time. Wait until the Lord returns. He will
bring to light what is hidden in the dark. He will show the real reasons why people do what they do. At that time each person
will receive praise from God.
God is our judge! He sees and evaluates everything!
We will be part of a great judgement one day, but let us try and be true to doing the right thing now and reject judging where
possible!
Sometimes we just don’t know enough to judge fairly.
I am going to try and put this into action today and not judge. What about you?
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
How do I enjoy my life? The story of the simpleton and the owl"The
rabbit's eye differs from that of the owl.”
- Greek proverb One day, walking down the road, a simpleton came across an owl on the way to market. The simpleton was wondering what he should do to help him enjoy the day and the owl seemed so content
resting up in the cool boughs of a great leafy tree.
“Good-day, Mr Owl”
he called out, hoping to get some response from the sleepy creature.
The owl
opened its eyes and focused them on the simpleton, but said nothing.
“You
seem so content! I was hoping you could teach me how to do the same?” the simpleton queried. "Can you teach me
how to enjoy my day?
"
For a short while the Owl said nothing, then with great deliberation
the owl replied, “Sleep through the day then catch and eat rats and mice raw at night!”
The simpleton looked confused. “That doesn’t sound so good!” he said. “Surely there is more
to life than that?”
“Then why ask me?” said the owl. “That’s
my purpose in life”.
The simpleton scratched his head and said. “I best be on
my way to market to do what I must do.”
“I see you understood
my answer...”, said the wise old bird, “... now all you need to understand is it’s source.”
Sometimes we behave a bit like that simpleton don’t we? We look for things to make us happy and wise! We think
we need to do strange things or think up fancy words to make a difference and fulfill ourselves. We think we need to impress
others to be happy! We fail to hear Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 2 (NIRV);
“Brothers
and sisters, when I came to you I didn't come with fancy words or great wisdom. I preached to you the truth about God's love.
I made up my mind to pay attention to only one thing while I was with you. That one thing was Jesus Christ and his death on
the cross.”
Indirectly Paul was telling us that everyone
has equal opportunity to gain wisdom and set there lives on the right path. It is not something we have to look for outside
of our own capabilities, because God sent Holy Spirit to this earth to be with each one of
us and guide each of us through each day.
To enjoy the day we don’t have
to search the lives of others, read the latest self-help books, visit psychologists, or chase dreams. We just have to live our lives relying on Holy Spirit's guidance.
The simpleton
in the story above simply missed the truth. He was already doing the right things! Wisdom
is not gained by chasing lifestyle changes, but by chasing after being submerged in God’s power and love.
Paul continues
to say…
When I came to you, I was weak and afraid and trembling all over. I didn't preach
my message with clever and compelling words. As I preached, the Holy Spirit showed his power. That was so you would believe
not because of human wisdom but because of God's power.
Just be aware that Paul, the person we consider
so great today, was not doing anything major when he walked into Corinth. Paul was weak, afraid and trembling!
Ever felt that way?
That’s a day when you are about to do great things if
you simply allow Holy Spirit to guide you into and through your day! Power
erupts in our lives and around us we see God at work. We know we are the instrument, but he is the worker.
That’s
when we enjoy life! When we see God taking our smallest fumblings and turning out golden moments!
That’s
my expectation for today! What’s yours?
Monday, June 13, 2011
Unity, not division, is Godly! AFRICAN
PROVERB
"When arguing with a stone an egg is always wrong"
My friends, I ask all of you to agree with one another. I make
my appeal in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then you won't take sides. You will be in complete agreement in all that you
think.
My friends, some people who are in the churches have told
me you are arguing with each other. Here is what I mean. One
of you says, "I follow 6 x 24 hours physical days of creation theory." Another
says, "I follow creation over a long time starting with the big bang." Another says, "I
follow biologos." And still another says, "I follow Christ."
Does Christ take sides?
We so often fail to hear what the bible says don’t we? That first paragraph that I wrote is not really mine! It is a paraphrase of Romans 10 to 13
in the New International Reader's Version(NIRV) to modernise the thinking which actually says…
“Brothers
and sisters, I ask all of you to agree with one another. I make my appeal in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then you won't
take sides. You will be in complete agreement in all that you think. My brothers and sisters, some people who live in Chloe's house have told me you are
arguing with each other. Here is what I mean. One of you says, ‘I follow Paul.’ Another says, ‘I follow
Apollos." Another says, ‘I follow Peter.’ And still another says, ‘I follow Christ.’
Does Christ take sides?”
This is how Paul concludes we should clear up these age old arguments!
“Brothers
and sisters, think of what you were when God chose you. Not many of you were considered wise by human standards. Not many
of you were powerful. Not many of you belonged to important families.
But
God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. He chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God
chose the things of this world that are common and looked down on. He chose what is not considered to be important to do away
with what is considered to be important. So no one can brag to God.
Because
of what God has done, you belong to Christ Jesus. He has become God's wisdom for us. He makes us right with God. He makes
us holy and sets us free. It is written, "The one who brags should brag about what the Lord has done."—(Jeremiah
9:24)”
So what has this conclusion to do with the first subject, that of creation, we may say? Perhaps we just don’t get it!
Consider
that before we accept Jesus and get Holy Spirit in our lives we do not have exposure to the powers of the spiritual world! In fact, those of us that seem spiritual may seem foolish! The wiser a non-believing person
believes they are, the more foolish it seems to them to have any faith in spiritual things!
Rather
like a person who cannot swim on a hot summers day avoids going into the water of a deep swimming pool where they could enjoy the coolness, the delightful caress of the water and hydrate
their thirsty bodies, similarly a non-believer shrinks back from spiritual understanding fearing that very thing that would
make them improve.
Now, once we have God’s Holy Spirit within us, we start to get the mind of God. This is the “wisdom” that Paul talks of and it isn’t the common “fight
for survival and to win at all costs” type of wisdom either!
In fact
we are told by God to “love” our enemies and those who hate us!
So what about this arguing
about creation that we do(often as Christian against Christian)?
Paul would advise us to stop it and
focus on Jesus, because Jesus saves us, not one theory over the other.
We can allow others their own opinions within the words of the bible love them anyhow! This is so true today as younger people
join our society and bring with them new and sometimes conflicting ideas of those same biblical words! Time changes meaning.
Old testament words have different meanings when applied in the new testament world. Ancient meanings, middle age meanings
and modern meansing differ but God's word is consistent! Interpretation isn't!
The great
strength of this diversity within the Christians of thsi world is that if we have the mind of Christ and love each other,
this builds us up and doesn’t break us down!
If we love each other! that is what people look for and has effect on them. Not the outcome of the argument.
No sane person would cares much about how this earth came into being if they are not loved but the people arguing. That same
person would respond warmily to love no matter what the argument position the person takes. Love counts! Spiritual love counts
most!
So today I want to be sure
to have the mind of Christ and perhaps tolerate those who also love God but think my specific approach is biblical, but perhaps
not exactly their flavour.
We are all going to be in heaven together and will sort these controversal things
out then.
Until then, I decide to love those around me with the love of Christ, even if they don’t agree
with me or return it!
What about you?
Mon, June 13, 2011 | link
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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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May you be blessed today!
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