its too late…to do apologetic….(or is it?)

My dearest brothers/sisters in Christ and all those still seeking the truth,

 

Some of you have questioned..wat is apologetics?

 

Google once again provide us the answers:

 

The term apologetics comes from the Greek apologia, which means “defense” or “answer.” Apologetics is the task of defending a particular idea or belief system and answering its critics. The origin of the concept of apologetics lies in the beginnings of Christianity. …

 

I believe that Apologetics is a very important part of the CHristian Life and an essential component of the church that is OFTEN overlooked.

 

God says to those “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart”. Jesus allows us to go and seek the TRUTH, He knows that as earthlings/humans, we are prone to doubt. JESUS actually ENCOURAGE Christians to TEST His claims. He wants us to believe and love with not just all of our heart, I believe He wants all of our minds as well.

 

Question the things that you have been taught. It is healthy. Yes, some things you can accept by faith alone and I respect that. However, Id rather you guys go out and find solid support or evidence which support your beliefs so that your faith is not built on sand, let it be build on a rock so that when the storms come, it does not shake.

 

Jesus also says to provide a ready answer/defence to non-believers. How can you justify your experience to those who have not experienced God? You must arouse an interest in Him or give them sufficient information/justifications to question the things our education system teaches us about creation and God.

 

To test your knowledge about what you believe…Pretend I am a non-believing skeptic..answer for me

 

1) Why is there suffering?

2) Do you support the views of evolution and that the earth/universe is billions of years old? Do you believe in literal 7 day creation?

3) How many people witnessed the ressurection of Christ? Is there sufficient proof historically that Jesus did die on the cross and was seen risen after His death?

4) How reliable are the NT and the OT in the bible?

5) How does a merciful God allow the killings of “children” by Elijah and many other people in the Old Testament (ie Egyptians)? Is it not a sin?

 

How would you react…if someone who does not believe in God asks you those questions? If you cannot answer any of those questions with absolute certainty, I believe you should do more work to find out and research. However, do not feel that I am pushing this upon you, I am merely trying to help as I feel very strongly about this area. I might not even answer all of these questions…

 

If you need more resources on this area, please ask me I can give you DVDs, books, CDs, mp3s. anything that you would like..to increase your knowledge and let you see both sides of the debate. I am sure Joseph will as well. We can provide you with access to Professors and organise events where they come and speak to us on this area. (courtesy of Creation Ministries International).

Forever grateful you have taken the time to read this,

 

Love in Christ,

 

shaun

Inspirational song~ For You are my King (have a listen)

my views on Godly dating (as at 13 may 2008)

this is not advice but strictly my own views towards dating…my opinions are subject to change over time and in no way indicative of how i feel about dating in the future. please comment/flame as you please.

after reading through I kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris…I am not completely satisfied by the model of Godly dating that he provides. Sure, the guiding principles are great, there are a world of helpful info that provide good guidelines to Christians seeking to please God with their relationship.

I do not, however, believe that everyone will be called by God to date, or court, like Josh does. He emphasises the views of courtship and strictly no dating till he is ready to marry. He also stresses that the family, church, community is very important in forming a decision. While I do agree with him mostly, I dont think everyone has access to the same tight-knit Christian community, not everyone has spiritually compatible parents, there will be different experiences for different ppl.

For me, dating is not wrong. I believe as long as you sincerely put the other person first, you can serve rather than receive. You seek to honour God before all else and love God and love your neighbours and keeping a balance in your life, in commitments to family, church and society. You should set defined boundaries in dating, and keeping physically pure and free from sexual intimacy. 2Cor 6.14 Yoking also comes to mind. Finding someone with the same spiritual maturity and willingness to grow in Christ and putting God above everything else.

I think..even tho, sometimes dating may not work out, you might experience break-ups…you still take away a lot from it and learn from those mistakes that you have made. I dont believe its healthy to oversimplify dating and put a strict set path on it. I believe there is a bit of flexibility as long as God is in the centre of the relationship and you seek God first. Things may not work out..and it may not be your fault. But have faith that God will provide the best for the ones that love Him.

Dating didnt exist in biblical times. Neither did the internet or Maccas..it doesnt mean that they are evil or bad. It just means we should be cautious with how we use them. We should not let them disrupt our Christian walks and not let us be overwhelmed by them or become obsessed.

Good luck to all those waiting on God and all those in healthy biblical relationships. May God bless your lives.

ablaze notes fri 2/5/08

It was not nails that kept Jesus on the cross, it was His love for us.

 

Our sins are never to great to be forgiven

 

Haggai 2:1-9

 

Haggai 2:1-3

Press Forward to Build

 

520BC 29t Aug Haggai 1 prophecy

520BC 21^st Sept started rebuilding temple again

520BC 17^th Oct Haggai 2 prophecy

Haggai 2

The Promised Glory of the New House

 1 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: 2 “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them, 3 ‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? 4 But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,’ declares the LORD. ‘Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the LORD, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the LORD Almighty. 5 ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’

 6 “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD Almighty. 8 ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty. 9 ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the LORD Almighty.”

1. Press forward for greater glory (v9)

 

Later on, temple were renovated

 

Proton -> Porche

 

Hope to all

Hope to the lost (1 tim 4:10)

Hope nurtured (Rom 15:13)

Hope spread abroad

 

Church = place of love, find self-worth, God’s authority, miracles, mentored to reach full potential.

 

1 tim 4:10

10(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

 

 

Roman 15:13

13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Televised services, stages, café, lounge, disco, lights, PA systems. (Possibilities)

 

2 Press forward in your heart (v1-4a)

 

• Rise up with faith (v1-3)

 

Word of God stirred up the heart of men. Faith comes from hearing and hearing the message of Christ. Hear – Greek word rhema = spoken word

 

• Rom 5:17 NASB

 

17For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

 

• From beginning, this is a faith project. It must continue in faith!
• Matt 9:29-30

 

29Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you”; 30and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.”

·        Rise up with persistence (v4a)

·        Heb 10:35-36

·        Obstacle up, our faith must go up, our persistence must go up.

Luke 18:1-5. Widow persist until the judge give in.

·        3 Press forward together (v4b)

·        Multiplication of the effect of our faith.

·        Lev 26:8

·        Regardless of capacity.