Everything you have heard is backwards!
Turn all that you know around!
For our God is a God of mercy for all
He is a lover of the diseased
His Kingdom is filled with people you would not expect to see
His people are ugly in our enlightened eyes
The lame dance in his streets,
While the pious look on in disgust
The undesirable sit at His right hand,
And the religious cannot understand this settlement of sinners through grace
Financial offerings mean nothing to Him
Social status makes no matter
For His justice is for the poor
His favor is for the needy
God over all of our “gods”
Nothing compares to Him.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
WOW!
It seems that we have a lot of opinions on just war. I would have posted it on the Hot Tub, but I forgot the password. I have to make another hot tub. Here are a couple of interesting sides that I found on Just War:
When I think of a soldier fulfilling his office by punishing the wicked, killing teh wicked, and creating so much misery, it seems an un-christian work completely contrary to Christian Love. But when I think of how it protects the good and keeps and perserves wife and child, house and farm, property, and honor and peace, then I see how precious and godly this work is; and I observe that it amputates a leg or a hand, so that the whole body may not perish. For if the sword were not on guard to preserve peace, everything in the world would be ruined because of lack of peace. Therefore, such a war is only a brief lack of peace that prevents an everlasting and immeasureable lack of peace, a small misfortunce that prevents a great misfortune.
-Martin Luther
and on the other side:
The scriptures teach that there are two opposing princes and two opposing kingdoms: the one is teh Prince of peace; the other the prince of strife. Each of these princes has his paricular kingdom and as the prince is so is also the kingdom. The Prince of peace is Christ Jesus; His kingdom is the kindom of peace, which is His church; His messengers are the messengers of peace; His Word is the word of Peace; His children are the seed of peace; and His inheritance and reward are the inheritance and reward of peace. In short, with this King, and His Kingdom and reign, it is notheing but peace. Everything that is seen, heard, and done is peace.
-Menno Simons
I have to admit, Luther's thoughts begin to make sense to my humanity, but my spirituality is moved by Menno Simons. I feel that we are called as christians to be protectors of peace, but through violence is - like kurt said - like deep fried health food; it doesn't make sense. When Jesus was seized, Peter drew his sword and cut off an ear but Jesus stopped him and healed the soldier's ear. It was almost a reconciliation to keep peace.
what are your thoughts?
When I think of a soldier fulfilling his office by punishing the wicked, killing teh wicked, and creating so much misery, it seems an un-christian work completely contrary to Christian Love. But when I think of how it protects the good and keeps and perserves wife and child, house and farm, property, and honor and peace, then I see how precious and godly this work is; and I observe that it amputates a leg or a hand, so that the whole body may not perish. For if the sword were not on guard to preserve peace, everything in the world would be ruined because of lack of peace. Therefore, such a war is only a brief lack of peace that prevents an everlasting and immeasureable lack of peace, a small misfortunce that prevents a great misfortune.
-Martin Luther
and on the other side:
The scriptures teach that there are two opposing princes and two opposing kingdoms: the one is teh Prince of peace; the other the prince of strife. Each of these princes has his paricular kingdom and as the prince is so is also the kingdom. The Prince of peace is Christ Jesus; His kingdom is the kindom of peace, which is His church; His messengers are the messengers of peace; His Word is the word of Peace; His children are the seed of peace; and His inheritance and reward are the inheritance and reward of peace. In short, with this King, and His Kingdom and reign, it is notheing but peace. Everything that is seen, heard, and done is peace.
-Menno Simons
I have to admit, Luther's thoughts begin to make sense to my humanity, but my spirituality is moved by Menno Simons. I feel that we are called as christians to be protectors of peace, but through violence is - like kurt said - like deep fried health food; it doesn't make sense. When Jesus was seized, Peter drew his sword and cut off an ear but Jesus stopped him and healed the soldier's ear. It was almost a reconciliation to keep peace.
what are your thoughts?
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Peace
I was talking with a friend of mine this past weekend about peace and how it fits into our Christian faith. I brought up the usual "Turn the other cheek" arguement, but he began asking if peace could come from peace, or do we need to physically fight for it? It was an interesting discussion to say the least, but I was wondering what you guys think about peace.
1. Can it (peace) be achieved without violence?
2. Biblically and theoretically, what is your position?
3. Right now, what is your position on this topic? Are we so sheltered from the rest of the world that it is so easy for us in the west to do nothing and so we just protest?
I want to know what you are thinking.
ron
1. Can it (peace) be achieved without violence?
2. Biblically and theoretically, what is your position?
3. Right now, what is your position on this topic? Are we so sheltered from the rest of the world that it is so easy for us in the west to do nothing and so we just protest?
I want to know what you are thinking.
ron
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Slow Down
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters"
-Psalm 23: 1-2 (NIV)
"Slow down everyone you're moving too fast
Frames can't hit you when you're moving like that..."
-Jack Johnson "Brushfire Fairytales"
I've come to the conclusion that I am on the go too much. I hate this time of school because I am so rushed with papers and finals. I am sick right now (I think due to school, church work,and hanging out with kids), and even though I am sick I am still working. In the Psalm, I found it interesting that it says "He makes me lie down in green pastures". It is the thought of forcing you to slow down, much like a shepherd would for his flock in the middle of the day. It's finding rejuvenation in a quiet,tranquil and serene place. I found this video of a beach just a walk up the way from my favorite beach in the world, Kailua Beach.
As we are entering into one of the most busiest times of Church work, Easter, we need to take ten minutes out of the day and just relax. Watch this video and just escape for a little time. rejuvenate.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters"
-Psalm 23: 1-2 (NIV)
"Slow down everyone you're moving too fast
Frames can't hit you when you're moving like that..."
-Jack Johnson "Brushfire Fairytales"
I've come to the conclusion that I am on the go too much. I hate this time of school because I am so rushed with papers and finals. I am sick right now (I think due to school, church work,and hanging out with kids), and even though I am sick I am still working. In the Psalm, I found it interesting that it says "He makes me lie down in green pastures". It is the thought of forcing you to slow down, much like a shepherd would for his flock in the middle of the day. It's finding rejuvenation in a quiet,tranquil and serene place. I found this video of a beach just a walk up the way from my favorite beach in the world, Kailua Beach.
As we are entering into one of the most busiest times of Church work, Easter, we need to take ten minutes out of the day and just relax. Watch this video and just escape for a little time. rejuvenate.
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