In the garden of Eden, satan tempted both Adam and Eve by using selfish tactics. He claimed they would be better off if they went against God's will to stay away from the forbidden fruit... They believed satan, and it has forever changed history.
In the desert somewhere in the middle east, sometime around 2000 years ago, satan tempted Jesus (the second Adam so says Romans) using selfish tactics. Satan claimed He would be better off if He went against God the Father's will to embrace the way of the cross to enter His Kingdom... Jesus was the tempted One. Yet Jesus was the faithful One seeing through the trickery of the devil, better yet, being so infused with the will of God that anything other than it was unmistakably a lie, twisted, and not for Him! Jesus was, is, and always will be the saving One as He stayed obedient to the task that we couldn't, He became the flawless sacrifice for all the fallen children descending from Adam (yes you and I!) so that we could be in right relationship with God.
I am in gratitude in this moment I think of your story of victory Jesus, for it can be our story as well. What hope we truly have in you!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
What would be just?
On my way home from work today I was listening to Adler on CJOB 68, and he had an interesting conversation brewing.
Apparently, not too long ago, there were a group of thieves aged 13-15 in Camrose, Alberta who broke into a home a couple of times, and then proceeded to steal things and then... something really quite awful; they took the house cat and put it in a microwave oven until it died.
Now Adler asked an interesting question (interesting to me because it was the first thing on his mind, and the first thing on the minds everyone that hears the story), he asked his listeners "if you could decided the punishment for these kids, what would it be?" People were sending comments in that ranged from years in prison (or something like it) to comments like "I think they should get their faces smashed in!" Apparently there have been death threats for these kids... Apparently when these kids serve their "time" (and they will get out soon, whatever the sentencing is) there are people ready to drive them out.
What would you say to this question "what should the punishment be?" Is that even the right question to be asking?
Apparently, not too long ago, there were a group of thieves aged 13-15 in Camrose, Alberta who broke into a home a couple of times, and then proceeded to steal things and then... something really quite awful; they took the house cat and put it in a microwave oven until it died.
Now Adler asked an interesting question (interesting to me because it was the first thing on his mind, and the first thing on the minds everyone that hears the story), he asked his listeners "if you could decided the punishment for these kids, what would it be?" People were sending comments in that ranged from years in prison (or something like it) to comments like "I think they should get their faces smashed in!" Apparently there have been death threats for these kids... Apparently when these kids serve their "time" (and they will get out soon, whatever the sentencing is) there are people ready to drive them out.
What would you say to this question "what should the punishment be?" Is that even the right question to be asking?
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Acts
I am taking an class on the book of Acts. I have to read through the book 6 times, each time in one day. This is an excerpt from an assignment I have to do each time I read the book...
This was my first read-through of Acts. What I noticed in this reading was the urgency to spread the gospel as far as possible. There was a clear understanding by the apostles and all those that called themselves Christians of the importance of making Jesus known. Christianity was exciting; the newly forming community of faith was exciting. People were drawn to Jesus; lives were being changed, really changed. This reading showed me Christianity actually being lived out. The people in acts understood what it meant to be the extension of Jesus’ ministry here on earth; they grasped through humility the power extended to them by the Holy Spirit. What a fantastic picture of abundant life. I had a moment I where I really questioned what was going when I read the story of Annanias and Sapphira. I could not understand how what they did was deserving of death. The condemnation that I perceived as I quickly read through it was hard to take. Perhaps more light would be shed on the situation when I take more time to look into all the ins and outs of what was going on.
This was my first read-through of Acts. What I noticed in this reading was the urgency to spread the gospel as far as possible. There was a clear understanding by the apostles and all those that called themselves Christians of the importance of making Jesus known. Christianity was exciting; the newly forming community of faith was exciting. People were drawn to Jesus; lives were being changed, really changed. This reading showed me Christianity actually being lived out. The people in acts understood what it meant to be the extension of Jesus’ ministry here on earth; they grasped through humility the power extended to them by the Holy Spirit. What a fantastic picture of abundant life. I had a moment I where I really questioned what was going when I read the story of Annanias and Sapphira. I could not understand how what they did was deserving of death. The condemnation that I perceived as I quickly read through it was hard to take. Perhaps more light would be shed on the situation when I take more time to look into all the ins and outs of what was going on.
Friday, December 28, 2007
tricked
The phenomenon about North America, to me, is not the fact that we are crazy about getting gifts before Christmas but rather the fact that we are crazier to get more stuff after Christmas... when we already have got tonnes stashed under the tree. People that go out shopping on boxing day don't bother me so much, but it's the waiting in line since noon on Christmas day and all through the night at some electronics outlet store so you can save $300 on a 52 inch plasma, which you are still paying almost $1000 for when it's all said and done.
Boxing day is clear evidence to me that we are a little bit tricked of what is really important. I am not free of being tricked either. I am taking this class on Acts and one of the assignments is to read through acts 6 times, each time being in one day. I started yesterday, and was amazed at how these apostles lived.
These guys really understood what mattered. Rather than waiting in line all night for a 52 inch plasma t.v. they were waiting all night in a jail for the Lord to do something. And guess what He did. And this stuff He did, recorded in the book of acts is more enticing than any entertainment system I could get at Visions half off. Pretty awesome stuff.
Boxing day is clear evidence to me that we are a little bit tricked of what is really important. I am not free of being tricked either. I am taking this class on Acts and one of the assignments is to read through acts 6 times, each time being in one day. I started yesterday, and was amazed at how these apostles lived.
These guys really understood what mattered. Rather than waiting in line all night for a 52 inch plasma t.v. they were waiting all night in a jail for the Lord to do something. And guess what He did. And this stuff He did, recorded in the book of acts is more enticing than any entertainment system I could get at Visions half off. Pretty awesome stuff.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Mafia runs our city.
So this dude came into Starbucks today, clearly a little out of his mind, claiming that all these people we see in the news have all these crazy conspiracy stories behind them. For example, Gary Filmon is a billionaire apparently... But he mentioned that he was brilliant, that he can read people, that he needs to know the truth on things, which is why he knows so much about all our politicians, and their "real" stories. He looked me straight in the eye and said "you're smart like me, I can see it...you've got an I.Q. of over 300, mine is 450." I almost lost it at this point.
But it made me wonder, what if this dude was the dude, what if all these things he was saying were in fact true... what if Gary Filmon was a billionaire, and Sam Katz was part of the mafia! He also said half of Winnipeg is run by the mafia, which I kind of believe.
By the way, he said he met Stephen Harper, and he said that he never steals money from anyone...he's a straight shooter and a good prime minister.
Interesting huh?
But it made me wonder, what if this dude was the dude, what if all these things he was saying were in fact true... what if Gary Filmon was a billionaire, and Sam Katz was part of the mafia! He also said half of Winnipeg is run by the mafia, which I kind of believe.
By the way, he said he met Stephen Harper, and he said that he never steals money from anyone...he's a straight shooter and a good prime minister.
Interesting huh?
Saturday, December 8, 2007
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