a way of escape?

When the Bible tells us that God will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear and with every temptation (which he does not give us) he will provide a way of avoiding that sin. Specifically what is that telling us that God will do? If you are lusting specifically what will God do to help you avoid sinning throw cold water on us? If you sinning by not helping someone who needs help specifically what will God do to help us avoid that sin? I believe many of the problems with Christians today, especially those of the Church of Christ ilk we don't think things through. We mouth prayers because it is time for a prayer and our primary purposes are to not be tool long and not be too short. We do not want to finish the service too early and never too late. When we pray we must, it is demanded, expect. Expecting is not that God can do something but that he will do something. James makes some negative comments about anyone who asks God for something and does not expect.  

 

That is enough for now.

 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com 
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

"IF 7UP hadn't decided on a name that was short and sweet we'd still be drinking Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda."

You can count on Jesus?

Recently one of my co-workers who admittedly is recovering by overuse of drugs and alcohol commented "Jesus is the only one we can count on." The context was others will fail us but Jesus will not. Specifically what does that mean? Try to avoid generalities and be specific. In what way can Jesus be depended on today where others fail us? To give you an idea of what this guy is thinking, he says he writes poetry that God gives him. When he writes he can feel God on his shoulder and knows that God is giving him the specific words to write. God is quite dependable because he provides the words for this guy to get the credit for writing.

 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com 
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

"IF 7UP hadn't decided on a name that was short and sweet we'd still be drinking Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda."

What does "We Pray for. . ." mean?

In my continuing investigation of prayer and what it is and is not an example recently appeared on the white board in the break room for the River Rampage where I work. The message said "Pray for Greg and Marie." I found that Greg is the husband of my boss and Marie is the wife of one of my co-workers. Marie has been diagnosed with cancer but I am not sure what is wrong with Greg except it is ongoing and serious. The message says "pray for. . ."  In the assembly someone "leads" the congregation in prayer and says "we pray for (insert someones name). Specifically what does that mean? Specifically what are we asking the Creator of everything to do? Is there Bible support for whatever it is we are expecting?

 

What makes us think the Creator of the universe will do anything? He did not save any of the apostles from being killed: he did not stop the persecution we read about in the NT: He did not heal Batselle Barrett Baxter, a renowned preacher in the Church of Christ, of cancer of his brain: he allowed a little girl to be beaten to death by her mother's boyfriend: did not stop slavery in the United States: permitted Christians to starve to death in Malawi several years ago:  I could go on but you get the picture. Can it possibly be that since God has provided a number of principals concerning how we should conduct our lives and therefore will not interject himself into our trifling lives? Could it be the natural laws, which are not laws but as Shawn has explained to me merely observations by scientists of processes found in nature that have been observed to be consistent, control the outcome as he apparently planned?

 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com 
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

"IF 7UP hadn't decided on a name that was short and sweet we'd still be drinking Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda."

How Close to Socialism Does the Church have to Get?

Realizing this is probably close to socialism, what if the story in Luke and the rich man building larger barns read something like this:

Luke 12:16-21

"The investments of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for my bank account exceeds the FDIC insured amount?' And he said, 'I will withdraw my money and invest in Mutual Funds. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample money laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."

We justify what we do by saying we can lay up treasure on earth AND be rich toward God but can we?

Paul told Timothy 1 Tim. 6:17-19 "As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life."

If we share can we still be rich? Can we keep for ourselves whatever amount it takes to be considered rich and still be rich toward God?

Concerning church funds the preacher is an example only because he is on the payroll. Can a group of Christians take money contributed to the work of the congregation and set it aside for the sole purpose of permitting the preacher to not have to work? Thus helping the preacher to set his hopes on the uncertainty of riches? Which as you see is contrary to what Paul told Timothy?

This occurred to me when a friend told me he sees a woman where he buys a paper every day who he believes is living in her car. Some of the people I work with at Dollywood live in a camp ground where a family of 4 is living. The parents sleep in a van and the children sleep in a tent and congregations of the church of Christ are setting aside money so their preacher will eventually not have to work or so the congregation can have a more comfortable building or so they can have a nice Christmas Party or so they can travel to a foreign country and teach VBS to those children. Has the church lost our focus? While the church universal is doing this so are the individual members setting aside money so we will not have to work; so we can set our hopes in the uncertainty of riches.

Are we unwilling to place our future in God's hands? Who among us is living by faith? Can we be rich towards God?

Hezekiah and Prayer

Our neighbor is convinced God finds her a parking spot when she needs one. She is convinced that if she needs something God answers her prayer and she receives it. I am dubious to say the least.

God appears to be very selective in that he finds her a parking place but lets a 4 year old girl die from ruptured organs from being beaten by her mother's boyfriend. My observation is I am now aware of God answering anyone's prayers. As for Jesus' prayers how were they answered?

You are probably convinced otherwise but I believe the Christians were praying that Peter die quickly. At that time everyone knew no one escaped Caesar's jail. To me that explains their surprise. Not a lack of faith just joy mixed with surprise.

Dez and Wilma and Debbie have been sick a long time. Does God continue to provide our neighbor with parking places while leaving Wilma and Dez and Debbie as well as scores of others today and in the past in pain and other intolerable situations? I do not believe he does that.

When Jesus told his disciples how to pray none of what we pray for was included including the "in Jesus name" thing. If James is going to be the example for praying for the sick don't you wonder why Paul left Timothy sick when all he had to do was let an elder know and Timothy would have been healed? I have never recognized the effectiveness of a righteous man praying.

One time my sister called me to tell me our dad was dying. Dottie and I went to Ohio and sure enough dad looked almost dead. We left that night expecting to return the next day to make the funeral arrangements. When Dottie and I arrived at the nursing home the next morning my sisters were there and dad had eaten two breakfasts and the nurses were trying to get him to skip a third. I can guarantee to you none of the three of us were praying for him to get better. He hated where he lived and was more than ready to die.

I would not necessarily call it psychological illusion (Karl Marx calls says religion in general is an opiate of the people) but I do wonder why no one, other than me of course, questions the fact that the prayers of the masses go unanswered and no one asks why. Especially since James says we can pray wrongly.

That raises another question why do we think all prayers are answered? Hearing us does not suggest answering. Jesus was aware Stephen was being killed but did not intervene. Surely God was aware of all the Christians murdered or tortured all these thousands of years and did not intervene. How about those Christians in Malawi who starved to death? Why are we convinced Jesus will intervene on our behalf? I am not so convinced.

It seems evidence of God answering prayer is taken from the OT never the NT. As in many situations we believe what we want to believe. I for one am not ready to give anybody any reasons why we should expect any affirmative answers to any prayer. I realize that puts me in the minority but my experience has been such personally and observation wise that there is a major gap between what we believe, or say we believe, and what I observe. And I wonder why and I wonder why I am alone in my wondering.

When my sister had breast cancer she asked me if I thought God would heal her. I told her that Jesus did not heal everyone but all those he and the apostles did heal served his purpose. So I suggested she make healing her serve Jesus' purpose. She survived two cases of cancer. Did the doctors do it on their own? I have no idea. Did it take God two tries to heal her? I have no idea. Without being too sarcastic he usually heals sprained ankles in the first attempt. And my last wonder is why does God say yes to the simple requests like parking places and broken bones but says "no" or "wait" to the more serious cases? And why am I the only one who wonders?

Any time any person prays without a complete conviction that their prayer will be answered with resounding yes is doubting and James says some negative things about people who pray in such a manner. I wonder how anyone can pray for God to heal any illness without doubting or wondering. Not questioning if he can but if he will, especially since my observations are that he never says yes.

Is Satan Active Today?

James says: James 1:5-8 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

I believe that refers wisdom and not to parking spots, safety, health etc and James says God will answer.

James also says James 1:13-15 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

James does not say we sin because of Satan acting upon us. So no, I do not need Satan's help to sin. If you believe you do then you need to be able to explain who tempted Satan when he originally fell? The answer is he was lured by his own desire.

Matthew and Mark wrote Matthew 16:23 But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."

Jesus was talking to Peter but he called him Satan. I understand that to be telling us that Peter was advancing Satan's position so he was acting as Satan in that situation. Anyone who is not advancing God's positions is advancing Satan's.

In the garden Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?"

It does not say Satan but serpent. The serpent was advancing Satan's agenda so it is said Satan tempted Eve. Satan did via the intention of the crafty serpent.

Genesis also says Genesis 3:14-15

The Lord God said to the serpent,

"Because you have done this,

cursed are you above all livestock

and above all beasts of the field;

on your belly you shall go,

and dust you shall eat

all the days of your life.

I will put enmity between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and her offspring;

he shall bruise your head,

and you shall bruise his heel."

Why punish the serpent if it was Satan working through her (serpent must have been a woman)?

In Job it says a storm or something killed Job's children. Satan used nature to get to Job. I do not believe he is behind the storms today. Unless of course he is targeting someone but we have no evidence he is allowed to do that ort of stuff today

So No, I do not believe Satan is active in the world other than people advancing his positions versus advancing God's positions.

Does God Ever Say "Yes"?

My experience has been one that God does not answer prayers. Always saying "No!" leads me to believe he is not active in the world today. Where does the bible refute such a statement? What supports the Christian's wish that God is active?

One of the reasons for my doubts is the number of public prayers that go unanswered and no one questions. That suggests no one expects anything. James has some negative things to say about praying without expecting. But how can we expect when we have never experienced? God apparently has no problems with finding parking spaces and healing sprained ankles but more serious situations appear to be out of his sphere of influence.

When Jesus told his disciples how to pray he did not pray anything like we pray today. We pray about and for things for which we have no Bible support and no one questions. Lacking of questioning gives credibility to Karl Marx's comment about religion being opiate of the people.

Has it Occurred

Have you considered when Christians look to government, laws, court decisions to enforce moral issues they are allowing the government laws and courts to decide how to apply? If the government can exclude abortion it can include it. If government can exclude divorce for any reason it can include it. Same with gay marriage. Christians need to stop looking to government, laws and the courts and get back to evangelism.

Gay Marriage or No Gay Marriage, that is the question.

Watching the demonstrations in California and Georgia of the "For Gay Marriage" and the "Against Gay Marriage" groups it occurs to me why is it that Government is involved?

Have you ever wondered why government has such an interest in "marriage?" And why is it that a person who "performs" or "officiates" the "ceremony" has to be licensed by the state? During Colonial times "license" meant permission to do something considered not legal? Not legal does not mean illegal it means something not permitted. People could not do something King George did not allow so they got a "license" to serve beer, open a print shop etc.

Some five hundred or so years ago a "Marriage Ordinance" was created requiring "state registration" and "church consecration." This means that prior to that time government was not in the business of recognizing marriage. The early Christians did not require Rome's permission for them to commit to each other and build families. Neither should we be so required.

God created the concept of the family but man inserted government involvement. God did not identify how two become one just that they do. I do not believe Mary and Joseph asked Rome's permission to become one. With government involvement comes government's allowing for the "putting asunder."

Sex apparently is part of the reason, for otherwise uninvolved individuals, to want government to become involved in personal business because the lack of "consummation" is often used as a valid reason to void the agreement. Maybe the whole business is about sex? If you want to read more see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage

On the subject of Gay Marriage we have two sides attempting to force their opinions on the country. Christians want the world to believe what they believe without their same background. The world wants everyone to be allowed to do anything they want, with anyone/anything they want, whenever they want, wherever they are.

As ignorant as most Christians are of the Bible they are even more ignorant of the Constitution. Marriage is NOT a Constitutional issue. The newest Supreme Court Justice agrees with that statement. Public opinion is never a valid measurement due to how often it changes and how often it is wrong. Lest we forget how popular opinion led to the extinction of some and destruction of most of the tribes of Native Americans, dehumanizing of the remaining Native Americans, slavery of men, women and children, segregation of the races, the murders of gay men, abortion, current divorce laws, are just a few that come to mind.

In business it is often easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission. Our governments, federal, state, and local often operate on that beliefl. They do what they like and see if the populace objects. For examples remember how Abraham Lincoln violated the Constitution, how George Bush 43 violated the Constitution and how our current leader Barrack Obama violates the Constitution and the people remain quiet and ignorant.

What we need is for governments to eliminate all perks for the married. Whose business is it if two people want to commit to each other whatever their gender? Whose business is it if they decide they no longer want to commit to each other. It is certainly not government business. Allowing that moral issues are involved they are best addressed by Jesus and we should let him. Of course that will require that Christians do something other than protest.