Paul decided to go into the local synagogue to preach the news that only one god had risen from the dead: Jesus the Christ. He reasoned with the Jews and Gentiles in the synagogue, explaining the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus and his life.

Some of the Grecian philosophers heard Paul, and asked him questions about what he was saying. They brought him to the Aeropagus (Mars Hill, which stands to this day) to explain further to all the people. The Aeropagus was like a town hall (like Drudge Report or Twitter) where people gathered to hear and report the latest news and gossip. Paul stood up among them, and said to them:

“Men, Athenians… listen: God, the One who created the world and everything in it, is Lord of heaven and of earth, and He doesn’t live in temples and altars made with human hands, nor is He served by the hands of people, as if he needs something. On the contrary, God made everything and needs nothing… so we should not be thinking that God is similar to gold or silver or stone, crafted by mankind’s imagination and skill. These times of such ignorance God overlooked– because God is now giving strict orders to all people everywhere to be repenting, because He set a day in which He is about to judge the world… giving us positive proof of this by raising Jesus from the dead.” Acts 17: 30

Some Athenians listened and believed, while others scorned what he said. Apparently, some were happy to honor all gods except the ones they didn’t create from their own imaginations…

Question: What does it means to “be repenting.” Repent of what? To repent just means “to change your mind and go in a different direction.” But change the mind about what, and go in what direction??

Apparently, some of the Athenians liked any kind of god (that is, all concepts of gods) that didn’t require any change of behavior. It’s pretty easy to pinch some incense or drop a few coins and then go along your merry way. Yet to the true and living God, that stuff is meaningless. What good is it if you eat a wafer or donate some old clothes yet still lash out in vicious anger, tell lies, or selfishly slander someone behind their back; what good is your religion?? How does one change??

Well, the New Testament has the answers. In a very, very basic nutshell:

Permanently stop doing wrong things, things like telling lies, pilfering (stealing, even the smallest things), lusting after the opposite sex, using people for your own pleasures, being greedy for stuff especially when others are in need, showing partiality and lavishing your attentions on people who are pretty or rich, stop using people for gain, stop being so selfish and nasty, stop the outbursts of wrath and the lies and dirty language…. Colossians 3: 5-10

This is called “putting to death the deeds of the body.” The New Testament is full of what this is and how to do it.

It doesn’t take long before you realize that… well, being perfect is IMPOSSIBLE. I mean, who is perfect???

I think everyone universally agrees that Love Your Neighbor As Yourself is a good rule (especially when you are “the neighbor”). But… who keeps it? Who possibly CAN keep it?

This is the basis of what Jesus did. HE did it, He kept that precept. Yep, He did it, without fault. How do we know? Well, not only is His life recorded by at least 4 guys, and was foretold in detail thousands of years before He was here, but He also happened to die and then rise from the dead. Hello, that would get my attention. Moreover, God says that WE are justified with Jesus. Justified, as in “just if I’d” never sinned. God forgave us all the nasty stuff of our past when Jesus made the decision to sacrifice Himself as payment for our failures. That’s KIND OF a big deal.

And not only that, but He gives us the means to CONTINUE doing it for the future– the proof of this is that He raised Christ from the dead. That’s a pretty monumental feat, and I haven’t seen or heard of it happening to anyone else. Yah, as great as Ghandi, Mary, Buddha, Mother Teresa, Mohammed, and all those guys were, none of them rose from the dead. They couldn’t do it even if they wanted to. And even if they could, they sure wouldn’t do it for me, or you, or Hitler or Stalin or Idi Amin. Only God is that forgiving.

But going back to HOW do you stop doing nasty things, and HOW do you go about repenting… Paul in the book of Romans called it “putting to death the deeds of the body.”

For if you live according to the flesh, you are about to die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. Romans 8: 13-14

…if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this one is not His. Romans 8:9

What that means is that you need to be born again, you need to live a totally new life. It’s not magic. It is something that God does deep in our hearts when we realize all that He did for us, and what we now need to do for Him. It’s a decision, a determination that you keep continually. In our own efforts, it’s impossible to do. But that’s where the Holy Spirit comes in– God is Spirit. He Himself is with us to help us refuse to do the nasty works and gives us energy to live a life of love.

If a person truly realizes the incredible thing that God did for us, and is truly grateful for it, repenting isn’t very difficult. Resisting temptation isn’t too difficult. It’s not like God is requiring us to bleed to death to prove anything (Hebrews 13: 3-4). Trials come, yes they can be so hard… but they do not have the power to overcome us.

So the idea that Paul was presenting is still being presented to us today: God isn’t something that humans created. On the contrary, He created everything, and, moreover, requires something of us– faith. Do we believe that He sent His Son so that we could have peace with God? If so, we prove it by changing the way we think and the way we live. He’ll give us what we need to do it. And we’ll be so happy, and be such a blessing to others, because we really will love others as we love yourselves. And best of all, after we die we will continue to live on in God’s love.

If you’re still wondering about some of the stuff I’ve mentioned here, feel free to leave a comment, and I’ll get back to you.

This is something beautiful. To me, anyway.

It’s an old Bible. It was the Mecomber family Bible, way back in 1884. It’s a remarkable book, it contains some exquisite lithographs as well as Josephus’ Antiquities of the Jews, a dictionary, concordance, and more. It also has several pages of genealogy information, including the 1884 marriage certificate of my great-great-great grandparents! It’s one of my most cherished treasures.

But best of all, the Bible has the scriptures. I absolutely love reading the Bible.

The Lord finds great pleasure in His people. He will beautify the humble with salvation. Psalm 149:4

See more beautiful stuff at Renee’s link party. :D

Your testimonies are wonderful;
Therefore my soul keeps them.
The entrance of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.
I opened my mouth and panted,
For I longed for Your commandments.
Look upon me and be merciful to me,
As Your custom is toward those who love Your name.
Direct my steps by Your word,
And let no iniquity have dominion over me.
Redeem me from the oppression of man,
That I may keep Your precepts.
Make Your face shine upon Your servant,
And teach me Your statutes.
Rivers of water run down from my eyes,
Because men do not keep Your law. Psalm 119:129-136

Yes, I’ve been looking at the news headlines again. :cwy: What a mess this world is. I don’t like this “dog eat dog” world we have. So many people blame God for it, but truly it is the fault of mankind. The glorious thing about it, though, is that there is a way out. There exists something else besides the dog-eat-dog world in which we live. Thank God!!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. John 1:1-5

Then spoke Jesus again unto them, saying, “I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12

And… Jesus said unto him, “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. John 3: 15-21

:wubs:
For more of The Word For Wednesday posts and participants, see Yeah, Right!

We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed… Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 16-18

That section of the Bible was my stalwart in a very tempestuous time of my life; it was my rock when everything else was reeling. So it’s very dear to my heart. :D

When I was a very young Christian, I heard a sermon that compared people to toothpaste tubes. The toothpaste is the “stuff” inside of us, the “unseen” things that come out of us. When you are “hard-pressed” or under pressure from without, what comes out? Is it frustrations and sin, or is it the word of God and faith? These unseen things are eternal. Think about it– it’s not poverty or lack of education that causes wars or thefts, it’s peoples’ hearts and the “unseen stuff” that comes out of their hearts that cause wars and thefts. Those unseen things are eternal, whether they are good or evil. So when you are being squeezed, what comes out? Know that what comes out of your heart has eternal repercussions.

I once heard a remarkable story about a man who had survived a violent plane crash. He had been traveling on a large passenger jet, one of many on a major airlines flight. The jet suddenly had engine trouble, and a fire started in the engine. Without warning, the jet exploded, ripping the body of the plane apart. The man recalled seeing, in a split-second’s time, an enormous fireball rolling toward him and the other passengers. The terrified passengers screamed obscenities and unintelligible cries as they were engulfed in the flames, but this man immediately turned to God and began praying aloud. He said he felt a strange sensation come over his body as the flames seared over him and passed by. The broken jet plummeted to the earth with a jolt. Next thing the man knew, he was running from the burning wreckage, toward the flashing sirens and ambulances on the tarmac. He was the only one who survived the crash. He later said it was God’s miraculous protection and his confession of that faith in God through that horrible tragedy, that saved him.

So when you are squeezed, what will come out? Know that what you put IN will come OUT.

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man… Matthew 15:18-20

For more of The Word For Wednesday posts and participants, see Yeah, Right!

My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. (Proverbs 4:20)

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. (Proverbs 27:1-2)

Or, as Benjamin Franklin repeated: He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals. Haha!

He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destruction. (Proverbs 13:20)

As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a lovely woman who lacks good sense. (Proverbs 11:22)

He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live. (Proverbs 15:27)

He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just– both of them are an abomination to the Lord. (Proverbs 17:15)

When the righteous become great, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan. (Proverbs 29:2)

For more of The Word For Wednesday posts and participants, see Yeah, Right!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil.
It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.
–Proverbs 3:5-6

In so saying, this does not mean that people do not get sick, that people do not get weak, and that people do not get into tribulations and travails. And it also doesn’t mean we can be stupid, cast off restraint concerning our health– eat junk, smoke, live immorally– and God will reward us with good health. Quite the contrary! He gave us wisdom to know how to take care of ourselves, that’s for sure. And God said that He would provide the way of healing, strengthening, and protecting. Bad things do happen– that’s part of life, the life we live in. But it won’t always be this way:

For the earnest expectation of the creation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
–Romans 8:19-21

I think sometimes we look for “magic,” cures too, which leads us to disappointment. Sometimes we just don’t get that quick fix. But like the marvelous Kathryn Kuhlman used to say, “I believe in miracles, because I believe in God.”

I know that there have been volumes upon volumes of books and theses written about “IF” God can heal, “IF” He does heal, or “IF” He will heal. People make things so complex sometimes. All I know is that– at face value– God has said He heals. That’s how I want to take things, simply at face value.

God is good. :wubs:

For more of The Word For Wednesday posts and participants, see Yeah, Right!

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest to them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man… Romans 1:18-23

It irks me to no end that so-called atheists arrogantly demand “proof” of God’s existence yet refuse to determine it for themselves. It’s everywhere! A little bit of study– or even standing on the shoulders of giants– lends sufficient proof of God. In all my years as an adult, I have found that while these people demand “evidence,” they are more like concrete in their own atheistical belief (mixed-up and well-set)– because there is no such thing as proving a negative, which is what atheism claims to do. And yet these atheists desire to come off as logical, rational, realistic thinkers who are so much better than the rest of us. And what’s worse, Christians feel intimidated, and pander to such atheistic ridiculousness, as if atheism and atheists have equal intellectual footing. Balderdash!

I am not intimidated at all. I am plerophoria, fully assured, that God exists, that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, and that He sent His Son into the world to save you and I from our sins- was crucified, died, and rose again. Evidence abounds. But atheists and agnostics sit back in their easy chairs, demanding that we do hoops and hurdles to “prove” to them (such worthy beings that they are) that God exists. Do it yourself, you lazy bum. And if you have any sense at all, you’ll go about it like a real investigator goes about it– by looking at the alternative side (not just trying to beef up your opinionated side) of the story. That’s how truth is realized. Here, I’ll even help ya– check out these books, if you can’t handle the Bible: The Evidence Demands a Verdict, by Josh McDowell; The Case For Christ, by Lee Stroebel; Why I Believe, by Dr. D. James Kennedy; The Reasonableness of Christianity, by John Locke. Christians should read these, too, if they have any doubts or adhere to that “as long as a person has faith in something, it’s OK” thinking.

And for those who desire to know the real reason why most hard-headed atheists embrace Darwinism (besides the self-important power it gives them)– Well, read the rest of Romans 1. Or, you can take it from the Grand Poobah atheistic kook, Julian Huxley, himself, who confessed, “The reason we leapt at the origin of the species was that the idea of God interfered with our sexual morays.”

Maybe you think I’m being too hard and not being “loving” enough. Well, this is being loving– revealing the hard facts and dismissing fairy tales of Darwinism (for which there is NO proof, and I actually looked for it, too) and standing up against for the constant stream of hate and spite toward Christians and Christianity. Christians, take back your brains.

Read more Word for Wednesday at Yeah, Right!!

I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” 1 Corinthians 5:9-13

I despise the “Culture War” mentality among the Christian community. Christians were not commissioned to make the world a more moral place, not even to make the world a better place. We were commissioned to go into all the world and make disciples.

The Culture War tries to enforce a morality on worldly people, without really giving them reason to change their hearts first. Now, I am not saying that I am against laws, morals, or standards for society. On the contrary, I think the Ten Commandments (which has been the basis for all good law for all societies) should continue to be the basis for all law for society; these standards keep societies orderly and keep people alive so that they can find God. I am not talking about that; I refer to something slightly different when I say the Culture War.

This passage in Corinthians makes it clear that our mission as Christians isn’t to moral-ify the culture. Instead, we are to “give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope” that is within us… “having a good conscience.” (1 Peter 3)

It seems like the Christian community has turned everything upside down. Nowadays, Christians are just as worldy as the world– the divorce rates, humanistic worldview, promiscuity rates for the church are the same as for the world. And yet, when Christians sin, their evil behavior is excused as “bad judgment” or “a mistake.” And all the while, Christians are expending incredible energies in anti-gay-marriage parades. It’s totally opposite what the scriptures tell us to do. Our mission isn’t to banish gay marriage or abortion from the world. Our mission is to give people a REASON for the HOPE that is in us. This change is something to be worked out from the heart. We are supposed to be salt and light, but we are also supposed to be judging those on the inside, not the outside.

And God will judge those who refuse to repent and choose to remain on the outside.

It’s just like that.

Read more Word for Wednesday at Mohawk Valley Christians!

But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the righthand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before:

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,” says the Lord: I will put My law into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them.”

then, He adds,

“Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

That’s Hebrews 10:12-22. I love it! It spells out the new covenant perfectly.

Read more Word for Wednesday at Mohawk Valley Christians!

When somebody loved me
Everything was beautiful
Every hour we spent together
Lives within my heart

Here’s a video I found of the song. It’s just so lovely.

The great thing is that God’s love is forever, not temporal, like the love of so many people.

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:32-39

People complain that because God “allows” suffering in the world, then He is an ogre, or that this is somehow proof that there is no God. (Yet if God got rid of free will and decided to control people like puppets, these same people would complain that because God was such a control freak, this proved He was an ogre or didn’t exist). But I think that because there IS love in the world, this proves there is a God and that He is real. Sufferings are done by the hand of people, and honestly, is to be expected. The amazing thing to me is that love exists among us yet. I’m not speaking from a charmed life, either. I’ve been through a lot, so I know what suffering is. Corrie ten Boom once said (she was quoting her sister who died in a Nazi concentration camp): No pit is so deep that God is not deeper still.

The very fact that love exists is proof that God exists. But of course, there is much more proof than that besides.

And when I remember that He loves me– even me– everything is beautiful.