This is a really interesting converstion that i had with some random person on the internet. I thought it was a real time of testing and growth for me. Hope it encourages you!
It started with this post
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
A Choice of Comfort Or Purpose
I'm not really quite sure what to do about this little dilema of mine.I'm currently working at the hyatt regency adelaide... and well.... at times it's hard to get through the night, but god has really started to open doors for me to evangelise more and more to my fellow co-workers. My boss has told me that she wants to have lunch and talk about this god of mine, two of my co-workers tonight asked me to explain christianity to them. It's been going really really good. Although at times i don't like working there, but i really see gods hand moving at the moment.On the other hand, there is a guy offering me a job to which i can choose my own hours and i get to work on my person to person skills. I'm not sure about it, the boss and his son seem like really good people. But my current feeling is, that it's not the right time. Perhaps soon, but not yet. What do ya'll think... I think you would probable be agreeing with me.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Why Is The World Full Of Suffering?
To Joisuschrist,
I hope you don't mind me quoting what you wrote.
"joisuschrist said...you are an absolute evangelical freako!!! get real! god is not talking to you! stop using it as an excuse to indulge in your self-obsessed trite! go show how much god is loving to the millions of people dying of aids and starving in africa....maybe ur f****** "dilemma" at the hyatt regency wont seem like such a challenge as you walk in the footsteps of your creator. f******!"
First of all, thanks for replying to one of my posts, since all the other replies that i usually get are from some random porn site. Strangly enough i'm not at all insulted by what you wrote... I am definitly an evangelical freako, I enjoy talking about Christ more than anything else. Perhaps i do seem a bit self-obsessed and trite, but the God i know cares about the little things i'm going through, He cares about the things your going through too. You do make a really good point (which i've made bold) of why am I not off in so far off country trying to help these people? But I think more of the underlying question is why does God all a world to be full of suffering~ So let me try to answer both of those questions and I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter.
1) Why am I not in africa?
Well first of, i'm only 21, fresh out of university and still studying and trying to get a full time job. I'm currently going to Bible college and also doing a certificate in real estate. Short term wise, i want to complete my studies, and generate enough income to purchase fixed assets that will be able to give me money so when i go into full time ministry (going help people, etc) i don't need to be funded by other people. I do however sponser a child on my meager income, and donate money to other organizations. However I believe that there is a lot of work that can be done in the community around us, without flying 20,000kms away. I'm sure you know of homeless people, abused, loney, people in your city that could use your love and care as much as anyone else. So i try to help where I can.
2) Why is the world full of suffering?
Now this is a much more interesting question. I'll try to put it into a logical progression of thought. If it's too long or boring at times, please try to bare with it a little.
The world is full of suffering because God gave us all free will and with this free will comes the possibility of them misusing that freedom, even if this means hurting other people. What is freedom to love, (lets say) or not love unless it is the freedom to make someones life better or to harm them. If we could only choose one path, or one action, or one outcome of any situation, it would no longer be considered free will.
For instance, if i gave my newphew five dollars to spend on anything he wants, yet I stepped in and stopped him everytime I thought he was spending it on something wrong (according to my judgement) would that five dollars really be his?
In the same way, you and me have a huge capacity to love, and a huge capacity to cause harm to those around us. The choice is ours, we can either build people up or tear them to pieces. You see by the choices people have made in this world, it has made life harder. For instance, if all the rich countries in the world donated 10% of their surplus, no one would be starving in the world. We, ourselves had the cure for the worlds problems yet we choose, because of reasons such as money, power, or politics not to help these people and as a result these people suffer.
joisuschrist I know it's not your real name, but if you want to, please reply with your thoughts.Anyway, take it easy.Ben~
And another post :D
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Pain and Suffering~
"jesusissexy said...ok....so you are telling people that natural disasters that kill millions of people are a result of our choice and free will?put it this way...you say;god is all powerful and all loving i say; since there is disaster and turmoil in the world, god is either not "all powerful" or he is not "all loving" tell the millions of people, including children that die every year because of natural disasters, that it is "their" fault, and they have a choice to die. it must be very easy for you to preach your wacked ideals from the comfort of ur own home... have you ever tried taking a more public forum...you twat.
To Jesusisexy,I’m really sorry about the late reply. I have been intending to write back to you since you replied with your post. I had written a response, and then decided to rewrite it, mostly because I feel that you don’t really want an argument to prove which of us is more ‘smarter’ but rather a real answer that relates to the world around us, and a reason why there is so much pain, pain which we believe is completely undeserved.Suffering in the world is something that even I struggle with understanding. Being a Christian doesn’t stop bad things from happening to me either, I have seen those around me that I love and care about slowly succumb to cancer, people with no arms or legs having to beg for food, friends who have been raped or molested in their childhood. Suffering and pain, isn’t limited to third world people, but rather it is a universal stigma that affects us all.If indeed this life is the only thing that you, me and everyone else has and there is nothing more after we die, than all the suffering, tears and cries of those children and others go unanswered. Life is truly tragic and all we strive for is in vain. Everything we hope for, our longings, struggles, dreams, and desires come to nothing, absolutely nothing. “Life is a bitch then you die”. However I don’t believe that is so, I believe that we have a soul that will last for eternity and there is an “all powerful” and “all loving god” who also has perfect justice.Now in regard to all the natural disasters and pain and suffering in the world, I still believe that most of it is a result of evil people and not nature and that even the pain caused by natural disasters could definitly be minimized or eliminated if humans were as God created us to be. For example, famines, no one in the world would starve if people truly “loved his neighbor as himself”. The world has enough food to feed everyone but there are those that hord more than they need at the expense of others.
For example, America makes up 7% of the worlds population but consumes half of the worlds resources.There are a lot of “natural evils” in the world that could be prevented if their was no political wars, (for example; Cold War which resulted in wars such as Vietnam/ Korea which had side effects on the populations from Chemical weapons such as “Agent orange” which causes mutations) a balanced distribution of resources (a lot of south east asians eviromental problems are a result of exploitation from multinational corporations) or if people just didn’t have so much apathy towards the enviroment for example global warming which has resulted in huge climate changes causing extreme droughts and floods in different parts of the world. The world knows of this problem, yet there are countries that refuse to make changes such as America and Australia, who prefer profit and economic growth over safty.
Not always are disasters “natural evils” but rather the result of evil hearts.There are other disasters that are not caused by humans, and I would like to give you two reasons. Firstly we live in a fallen world. That might sound really stupid, but if what the bible says is true, then we live in a world that is tainted by sin (as a result of adam and eve eating the apple). If the world isn’t perfect anymore as it was ment to be, then natural disasters could be a reppercusion of sin. Which leads me to my next point.Saving your physical body from pain or disease would really acomplish nothing in the end. Gods goal is not for your physical body to be saved, but rather your soul. Jesus healed people as a demonstration of his power to make it clear to those who were watching that God could do anything. But the healings were not only to heal, but to save souls. It was about the soul not the body, all those people Jesus healed eventually died of one thing or another, and 2000 years later all that matters was that their souls were saved.
Which matters more to you 2000 years from now? Whether or not your cancer is cured or whether or not your soul made it into eternal life.I don’t know if I gave you the answer you wanted, but I know this for sure, that there are evil people in this world, and there is pain and suffering. We all eventually die, whether in the lap of luxury or in the gutter or on the battle field. All people die, even you and me. But what happens next is of greater importance than anything else in this life. This world is coming to an end, sooner or later the stars will stop shinning and the sun will run out of energy. But your soul will still exist.
I know God is all powerful and all loving and has perfect justice. I don’t understand why somethings happen, but I trust that God will make it right. I trust that God will judge all our actions, those done in public and those done in secret and that through Jesus’s sacrifice I will have eternal life with God.Please take care of yourself this Easter, and hope you can reply when you have time.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Finish Last
This is a really Cool Song by Stellar Kart called finish last, i really like it because it sings about how we should not be looking to finish first in the eyes of the world, but to be looking to finish first in the eyes of God
People change and plans get changed and
Everything changes but You
Everybody moves around and
Everything gets pushed around but You
You always stay the same, stay the same
I want to finish last
Last in the world's eyes
No matter what I do
I will be first in your eyes
I am running in this race and
I am pressing onwards towards the finish line
You have promised me a better life
Far beyond this world, far beyond this place and time
People change and plans get changed and
Everything changes but You
Everybody moves around and
Everything gets pushed around but You
You always stay the same, stay the same
I want to finish last
Last in the world's eyes
No matter what I do
I will be first in your eyes
I am running in this race and
I am pressing onwards towards the finish line
You have promised me a better life
Far beyond this world, far beyond this place and time
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Most Richly Blessed
I asked God for strength,
that I might achieve;
I was made weak,
that I might learn to humbly obey.
I asked for health,
that I might do greater things;
I was given infirmity,
that I might do better things.
I asked for riches,
that I might be happy;
I was given poverty,
that I might be wise.
I asked for power,
that I might have the praise of men;
I was given weakness,
that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things,
that I might enjoy life;
I was given life,
that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for,
But everything I had hoped for,
And almost despite myself,
My unspoken prayers were answered.
He’s always with me
I am, among all men, most richly, blessed.
Unknown author
that I might achieve;
I was made weak,
that I might learn to humbly obey.
I asked for health,
that I might do greater things;
I was given infirmity,
that I might do better things.
I asked for riches,
that I might be happy;
I was given poverty,
that I might be wise.
I asked for power,
that I might have the praise of men;
I was given weakness,
that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things,
that I might enjoy life;
I was given life,
that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for,
But everything I had hoped for,
And almost despite myself,
My unspoken prayers were answered.
He’s always with me
I am, among all men, most richly, blessed.
Unknown author
Thursday, March 6, 2008
"The man we need to be and the man we want to find"
Hey guys and gals.
It's been a pretty intense and fantasic last couple of weeks in youth. We have been studying from the word of God, what are the characteristics of a 'man we need to be and the man we want to find'.
I hope all of you have enjoyed this short 3 part series, as we now come into finding out about 'the women we need to be and the women we want to find'!!!!
Sounds interesting :D
As follows is just my own notes, and your more than welcome to post questions or comments!
Hope to see you all in Youth! God bless!!!
Titus 2:1-8 (NKJV)
"But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:
That the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience:
The older women likewise, that they be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things-
That they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
To be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober minded,
In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptability, sound speech taht cannot be condemned that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you"
1st, The points that follow will be impossible to carry out if you don't have a relationship with God, through Jesus Christ. Yes, you may be able to do some of these things for a time, but in the end, you will fail to do them, and you will end up frustrated. What follows are characteristics of a man of God, that can only come through spending time, and letting God do His work in you, through the grace of Jesus.
a) the first thing that the passage says is to be Sober minded, which is also another way to be self controlled.
In todays society we see a great lack of control from people, whether it be with their money, their spair time, their sexual habits.
Guys, we need to be men, who can control ourselves. It is from lack of self control, that we fall into a lot of sin, and compromise our morals.
Self control goes into all areas of our lives; our money, time (what do i do with my time, am i playing games, am i watching excessive amounts of t.v), what we spend our money on, emotions (such as anger; Girls be very careful of a man that cannot control his emotions), how we treat others, over habitual sin (what do you do when no one is watching?), small things... such as speeding... etc.
b) 'a pattern of good works'
When we look at this part of the scripture, it is talking about having a pattern in your life that shows through good works. What do we mean by pattern??? we mean time....
THE TIME PRINCIPLE
Girls, and guys, if you are interested in anyone at church, you need to observe them for some time. People can fake it for a little while, but over time, you will see what type of person they truely are. If you meet someone you like, go ask around and see what people say of him, does he show a pattern of good works. If NOT, stay AWAY from him... if no-one knows him, STAY AWAY!!!!
c) 'Good works' = servanthood!!!
Finding someone who has a servant heart, will be someone that is willing to put others first, someone who is willing to put YOU (girls) first, and not himself!
Someone who is servent hearted, looks to help people, ESPECIALLY those that cannot be any benifit to them!
Look for this kind of man/women!
d) 'Integrity' SUPER IMPORTANT
Integrity is like character... but even more important. A good way of thinking of integrity is this "what would he/she be like, if no one else was watching, and no one would ever find out"
This goes to impact in future, how much you can trust them in marriage, can you trust them to be faithful to you, can you trust them to do the right thing??
other verses to look at about intergrity are 1 Samuel 16:7 and ecclesiastes 7:1
e) Reverence
Proverbs 1:7 "Beginning of all wisdom is the fear of God"
Does the person you like respect and fear God?
Does the person actively look to do what is right by God?
Does the person submit to authority?
A person who fears God, will always have the heart (doesn't mean their perfect) to do what is right by God. We want to find that type of person, and we want to be that type of person!
f) Incorruptibility/ purity
Mattew 5:8 says "the pure in heart shall see God"
If you have habitual sin (something that you know is sin, and you keep doing it) it will greatly diminish how much God can use you.
This includes stuff like.... pornography, watching R rated movies and above, doing things that you know God has told YOU specifically not to do (for me it's playing computer games), perhaps even spending time with guys/girls that you know have a bad influence on your spiritual life. All these things will greatly hinder how much God can use YOU
and we want God to use us, because cool things happen, and we will get the most out of life, and we will be happy!!
g) Sound speach!
praise the lord, we are almost to the end... this is the most i've ever typed for a blog.
Mattew 12:34-35 'For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasures of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.'
You can always tell what someone is like, if you spend time with them and listen to what they say. If you are madly in love with them, get someone elses opinion... and if all your friends say 'i don't trust this guy/girl' STAY AWAY
Anyway guys and girls, God bless, and see you at YOUTH
p.s If you like someone, ask the pastor or youth leader, what type of person they are, because your leaders generally know what people are like, as they have seen them over a period of time, and know information about them. Trust their advice, as they care deeply for you!
KEEP PRAYING AND READ YOUR BIBLE!!!!
It's been a pretty intense and fantasic last couple of weeks in youth. We have been studying from the word of God, what are the characteristics of a 'man we need to be and the man we want to find'.
I hope all of you have enjoyed this short 3 part series, as we now come into finding out about 'the women we need to be and the women we want to find'!!!!
Sounds interesting :D
As follows is just my own notes, and your more than welcome to post questions or comments!
Hope to see you all in Youth! God bless!!!
Titus 2:1-8 (NKJV)
"But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:
That the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience:
The older women likewise, that they be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things-
That they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
To be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober minded,
In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptability, sound speech taht cannot be condemned that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you"
1st, The points that follow will be impossible to carry out if you don't have a relationship with God, through Jesus Christ. Yes, you may be able to do some of these things for a time, but in the end, you will fail to do them, and you will end up frustrated. What follows are characteristics of a man of God, that can only come through spending time, and letting God do His work in you, through the grace of Jesus.
a) the first thing that the passage says is to be Sober minded, which is also another way to be self controlled.
In todays society we see a great lack of control from people, whether it be with their money, their spair time, their sexual habits.
Guys, we need to be men, who can control ourselves. It is from lack of self control, that we fall into a lot of sin, and compromise our morals.
Self control goes into all areas of our lives; our money, time (what do i do with my time, am i playing games, am i watching excessive amounts of t.v), what we spend our money on, emotions (such as anger; Girls be very careful of a man that cannot control his emotions), how we treat others, over habitual sin (what do you do when no one is watching?), small things... such as speeding... etc.
b) 'a pattern of good works'
When we look at this part of the scripture, it is talking about having a pattern in your life that shows through good works. What do we mean by pattern??? we mean time....
THE TIME PRINCIPLE
Girls, and guys, if you are interested in anyone at church, you need to observe them for some time. People can fake it for a little while, but over time, you will see what type of person they truely are. If you meet someone you like, go ask around and see what people say of him, does he show a pattern of good works. If NOT, stay AWAY from him... if no-one knows him, STAY AWAY!!!!
c) 'Good works' = servanthood!!!
Finding someone who has a servant heart, will be someone that is willing to put others first, someone who is willing to put YOU (girls) first, and not himself!
Someone who is servent hearted, looks to help people, ESPECIALLY those that cannot be any benifit to them!
Look for this kind of man/women!
d) 'Integrity' SUPER IMPORTANT
Integrity is like character... but even more important. A good way of thinking of integrity is this "what would he/she be like, if no one else was watching, and no one would ever find out"
This goes to impact in future, how much you can trust them in marriage, can you trust them to be faithful to you, can you trust them to do the right thing??
other verses to look at about intergrity are 1 Samuel 16:7 and ecclesiastes 7:1
e) Reverence
Proverbs 1:7 "Beginning of all wisdom is the fear of God"
Does the person you like respect and fear God?
Does the person actively look to do what is right by God?
Does the person submit to authority?
A person who fears God, will always have the heart (doesn't mean their perfect) to do what is right by God. We want to find that type of person, and we want to be that type of person!
f) Incorruptibility/ purity
Mattew 5:8 says "the pure in heart shall see God"
If you have habitual sin (something that you know is sin, and you keep doing it) it will greatly diminish how much God can use you.
This includes stuff like.... pornography, watching R rated movies and above, doing things that you know God has told YOU specifically not to do (for me it's playing computer games), perhaps even spending time with guys/girls that you know have a bad influence on your spiritual life. All these things will greatly hinder how much God can use YOU
and we want God to use us, because cool things happen, and we will get the most out of life, and we will be happy!!
g) Sound speach!
praise the lord, we are almost to the end... this is the most i've ever typed for a blog.
Mattew 12:34-35 'For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasures of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.'
You can always tell what someone is like, if you spend time with them and listen to what they say. If you are madly in love with them, get someone elses opinion... and if all your friends say 'i don't trust this guy/girl' STAY AWAY
Anyway guys and girls, God bless, and see you at YOUTH
p.s If you like someone, ask the pastor or youth leader, what type of person they are, because your leaders generally know what people are like, as they have seen them over a period of time, and know information about them. Trust their advice, as they care deeply for you!
KEEP PRAYING AND READ YOUR BIBLE!!!!
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