|
|
||
|
Saturday, September 30, 2006 God's lovingkindness towards mePsalm 13 verse 1 “How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?” Verse 3 is the response that we should have during the tough times, “Enlighten me!” Although this may have unexpected results. When God enlightened Job, it drove him to repentance. The situation of the Psalmist is obviously different and we don’t know the results of this enlightenment unless verses four and five be taken as that enlightenment, when the Psalmist expresses confidence based on God’s loving kindness. Do we really feel that God is kind to us? I’m afraid not. God is kind to me to give a wife with talent and great intuition. He has given me two wonderful kids to raise and enjoy. He has given me a fulfilling job, good credit, great health, godly heritage, opportunities to minister, a nice apartment, two drivable vehicles, interesting experiences, a decent education, modern gadgets that make my life easier, a quiet neighborhood, eternal salvation, forgiveness of sins, he has reconciled me to Himself, the Holy Spirit within me who has sealed my salvation forever, He has placed me into His body, He allows me to come before Him to worship and request, He has made me to sit in heavenly places with Him, He has called, justified, sanctified, and glorified me. Yes, the LORD is kind to us. These words don't really express my gratefulness nor do they express all that He has done for me. They are just my prayer of thanksgiving this morning. Friday, September 29, 2006 Political Views and TheologyHere is an interesting quote from the JollyBlogger. You can see the whole post at http://jollyblogger.typepad.com/jollyblogger/2006/09/sam_brownback_o.html "Somewhere in his book Beyond Culture Wars (sorry, I couldn't find the page number or the exact quote, but I am sure I am close in this), Michael Scott Horton says that in the average evangelical church today one is more likely to be ostracized for having a wrong view of abortion or homosexuality than he is to be ostracized for having a wrong view of the the deity of Christ, the Trinity, or justification. Yet, there is far more biblical data and far more biblical weight is given to the latter issues than to the former issues." With the mid-term elections a little over a month away, I smell a question of the week brewing here. Come back next Thursday to see the new question of the week. Meanwhile this week's question is still available to answer. Read yesterday's post and let me know what you think. Thursday, September 28, 2006 Response to Question of the WeekFrom R.B.
God does not allow suffering, we allow suffering. Everyone in every
aspect of life thinks they suffer, when in actuality we are as best as we can be since we are alive. God only created us, we create ourselves. Comment: Thanks R.B. for your response! Feel free to respond to his or my comments, even if you choose not to try to
answer the question.
I do have a couple of follow-up questions, R.B. If God does not allow suffering, then why doesn't he try to stop it?
If "...in actuality we are as best as we can be since we are alive", is suffering just a state of mind and not real? You certainly
do not allow humankind to cop out of his situation. What is the best way in which we can "...create ourselves?" Look forward
to hearing in more detail what you think. Robert Talley
Question of the Week - Suffering "Why does God allow suffering in this world?" Anytime during the next week, click on the email link:fourtalleys@verizon.net and send your answer. The answers will be published to the blog on a first come, first serve basis. Your email address
will not be shared and will only be used to communicate with you at your request or to ask your permission for a communication.
Since this is our first week, a free booklet will be sent to the first sixty who send a publishable answer. "I don't
know" may be a good answer but it doesn't get you published. If you want the book, I will need an address or drop off point
of some type or if you prefer you can drop by the church. Just let me know when you are coming. Wednesday, September 27, 2006 Castleton State CollegeToday we are having a booktable at Castleton State and will be advertising this blog and a question of the week for the
college students (and others who wish to) to respond to. Tomorrow's question is, "Why does God allow suffering?" I'll post
the question and a short comment and we'll see what happens.
Also, the Men's Bible Study at noon begins a six week series today on "Learning to Control our Thoughts, Desires, and
Passions". Desparately needed nowadays. We men certainly get bombarded enough. Thanks to Larry McKenna for showing me the
material.
To comment on this post, email me at fourtalleys@verizon.net.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006 Hitting the Ground Running with Daniel 9's Seventy WeeksHere is the handout for tomorrow night's Bible study. We have a good time of discussion. I assume you can guess from the questions what my eschatological position is but take the time to answer the questions from the text and not from your or my theological position. I will tell you that I am teaching the book of Daniel on the premise that it was written to encourage the Jews living during the time of the Persian Empire. They needed to know that ultimately only God was in control of the world empires. That should encourage us also, especially in an election year when your choices at the ballot box are bad. I've been voting 25 years and I almost always vote against someone rather than for someone. Exploring The Tribulation (Daniel Chapter 9) 1. When did we last meet Darius the Mede and what was Daniel doing then that he also does in this chapter (verses 1-3)? How do you think Daniel came across Jeremiah’s book when the last place we find Jeremiah, he is being taken to Egypt against his will? 2. What is significant about Daniel’s confession of sins (verses 4-19)? 3. Did Daniel pray for something that God had already promised He would do according to Jeremiah 25:11-12 and 29:10 (compare verse 2 with verses 4-19)? 4. How quickly and in what manner did God answer Daniel’s prayer (verses 20-23)? 5. What purpose do the seventy weeks serve (verse 24)? 6. What two events are described in verse 25 and what is their significance? 7. What two events come between week 69 and week 70 (verse 26)? 8. What three events are connected with week 70 (verse 27)? |
||
|
|
|