Putting no confidence in the flesh

One of the gifts of the Spirit is seeing things as they really are, the truth in other words.  It really is central to the faith and a yardstick of true faith.  If one is caught up in something that is not permanent, of the world, like sports for example, they have a sight problem.  They don't see things as they really are therefore they have not grown in the knowledge of the Spirit.  I'm not saying in and of itself sports is evil, it's just the preoccupation with it, the mixing of it's competitive ideals with scripture that is a problem.

As we enter this season of sport and it's distractions from reality remember the poor instead of the champions, the meek rather than the proud, the quiet rather than the raucous.  Also remember the human body will not be present in heaven, it will have been destroyed along with all the memory of it.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 

(1 John 2:16)

Kimjongilia

Dark North Korea

I often find myself in these depressed economic times worrying about my family's and friends futures.  I got that from my mother I think, she was a consummate worrier.  The reality is we really are in perilous times, the whole world is increasingly in upheaval.  Some fantastic things along with the terrifying are in the headlines continually it seems.  I remember growing up in the Cold War, how permanent it all seemed.  Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined the world we have today with an open Russia, a unified Europe and a crippled United States.  And China, a communist country outpacing the west in capitalism?  What?

Well, like the old adage says "If you think you've got it bad....", I just watched Kimjongilia on Netflix.
If your like me and have even a cursory knowledge of North Korea you know all about the oppression, hunger and pain of the people there.  But when things are out of mind because of all the other noise of daily life around us, we forget.  Next news headlines that shake the world will be from North Korea.

"It was the best of times.. it was the worst of times."

NetFlix
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Kimjongilia/70113934?trkid=438403

YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6JOMvOwECo

Watch House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee Hearing on Human Rights in North Korea

from 9/20/11!  Things are moving.

 

Our Narcissistic Society

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
(Ecclesiastes 1:2)

Those timeless words from the wisest son of old that include the farthest reaches of the universe and all of it's histories, still only vain in comparison to the limitless power and majesty of it's Creator.

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

(2 Timothy 3:1-7)

Almost like reading the headlines.  We live in a vain time.  Social media largely serving egos of those with a full head of self-esteem.  It's infected the Gospel in even our traditionally orthodox denominations.  Teaching we're so valuable that even God will overlook our sin to win our hearts to Him.  Slightly twisted theology is all it takes to change the original message.  Somehow, repentance has become a dirty word along with sin.  We've gotten away from the Apostle's words: "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: " (1 John 1:6).  The only value we have in His eyes is that which was given by justification by faith.  No reason to feel proud at all, no room for self-esteem in other words.  "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. " (Romans 3:27)

Romans 3 is a good read for the self-esteem crowd in our churches.  "Walking in darkness."  Make sure your not.

Some relevant resources on this subject:

Don Matzat - The Intrusion of Psychology into Christian Theology

The Human Experience

"Even in the deepest suffering there is significance, there is a meaningful process of positive possibilities."

"I think the suffering in the earth is only understandable in some kind of context of a cosmic spiritual conflict."

"The crucifixion was the culmination of the drama of suffering.... and the drama of love.  Death and love... brought together at the crux point of all history."

Dr William B. Hurlbut
The Human Experience

Watch The Human Experience on NetFlix

The Grand Design

Or rather better named The Grand Delusion.....  Steve cranks out another "science is the answer for everything" book (September 2010) which tries to lead you down a road to nowhere in quantum land.

  The Grand Design has some merits while trying to persuade you that "all this obvious design" can't be "normal" for universes, it then stands you on your head and claims because of the law of gravity the universe couldn't help but "self create".

 ::hit myself on the forehead::

Steve is a "Multiverse" advocate that believes out of some 10 to the 500th power universes we're just "lucky" to be in one that actually works for life.  According to Steve, "if" there is a god, he has a grand casino in the sky and amazed himself with the luck of the spin of creation.  Sometimes I think Steve is just playing with us with these outlandish statements.  But then I truly think he's serious, sadly.

There is no evidence of any other universes.  Theoretically it's been shown no information could be shared between universes even if they existed.  The "Multiverse" theory is the last gasp of Darwinian/Atheistic/Materialistic philosophy (I use that 'p' word that Steve hates) to avoid the obvious conclusion that there is a Creator.   Although to complicate things,  Frank Tipler in his book The Physics of Christianity embraces the multiverse and tries to smoke biblical concepts out of it being a Christian himself, albeit a strange character indeed.   Sorry Steve, the Bible still has you beat, your not even close to convincing us there's no need for God.  Quantum physics doesn't have the corner on truth.

Amit Goswami I believe has a better handle on the significance of quantum physics from a spiritual point of view, although definitely non-Christian.  I did get the creepy feeling Amit is introducing an End-time religion, that "strong delusion" that even Christians will be tempted by, so be careful.

There is a treasure trove of "Biblical" insight to be found in the hard science of quantum physics though.  It is verifying much of what we Christians have believed and experienced.  Hence it's prime candid-ency for strong delusional material.  In my opinion of course....

Some links to relevant articles:

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/02/mf_gleick_qa/all/1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx9T1WaOv8k