Thursday, January 31, 2008

Devotion II: Are you a shrewd manager of what God has given you?

Scripture: Jn 16:1-16
“Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. I want you to be smart in the same way—but for what is right—using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you’ll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior.”

Observation: “Jesus told this Parable of the Unjust Manager to teach that His disciples must use their wealth for kingdom purposes. ”

Application: If our goal is to win the world with Jesus, we should be on the look out for creative ways to do so. Not malicious ways such as the shrewd manager, but ways that will grab people’s attention. Putting to use your talents, your interest, you material possessions, in order to get people onto the right path. God didn’t give us these things for us to sqander but for us to use to serve others and to point them to God.

Prayer: God let my hearts cry be that I could use my talents and abilities always for your kingdom. Also lead me in a path not of manipulation but love unlike the manager you told. Thank you YHWH for your gifts, let me use them well.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Devotion I: I do not get prophecy in the OT

Scripture:
Matthew 1-2
Observation:
I love the Geneology now that it makes more sense of the importance of it. I never knew without going to bible college the significance of the women, the names of Jesus' decendants, nor that each of the 14 lists represented the story of the bible from the covenant to the fall of israel to the salvation of God's people.

But that is not what I'm writing about. No; in fact, I'm more concerned verses 14-15 in the second chapter. (The reason I'm specifically writing about it is b/c I stopped on it during my read through of the gospels and acts for NTS survey)

'So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."'

The real question I'm dealing with here is the verse in quote from Hosea 11:1. Looking at that verse
"When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son."

you can see the context for this verse is not directed at Jesus but at Israel (and directly looking back into the past when God delivered them)

Now I get that Jesus is the true salvation of God's people, a final solution to the deliverance of his people from oppression (of sin). I can see how one can interpret that Egypt was God delivering Israel from oppression (of the egyptians) and how Jesus could be applied to this verse. But I don't get how Matthew would interpret this verse in Hosea to a messianic one. Is it really prophecy of the messiah, or just a history recap from the Lord's prophet.

I don't know. That is my conclusion. I'm not a devout Jew. I don't know how they would interpret scripture. All I know is Matthew wrote the correlation between the "prophecy" in Hosea in connection with the life of Jesus.

Application: Don't take the face value of scripture. I heard this alot while pondering this text over in my mind. Don't be afraid to question the scriptures declared Holy, for in question often times God will reveal more of his amazing complexity, a complexity that we cannot put into a box nor describe at times.

Prayer: Lord please shead some enlightenment on the prophets words so I can have a better understanding of your word.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Break V.S. Break up.

For all of you who read Brent's last post he was wrong.

I told him that I needed to re-connect with God, just me and God.
I happened to use the term "Break" to describe our relationship, even though I have every intention of still having one, not ending one.
I just need to figure out this God thing on my own.
So, my definition of break, is to spend time with God, instead of with Brent.
Not to break up with him.

So this one year, two month, eight day relationship has not come to an end.
Atleast not by my doing.
I'm sure that Brent will have the patience to let me get close to Jesus, and that we will both trust in the Lord to take care of us. Whether that be us seperatly while I figure things out, or seperatly forever (which I doubt..) or together once I'm in a position to love Brent, but to love Jesus more.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Two Conversation; one conflict, one celebration

The highlight of my previous day (Wednesday) is that of such a 10 hour sleep gave birth to this one making my morning good. Even though I needed not be at school till 9:10am I left my house in the comfort of 6:47am's rain and skipped towards the circus that is Surrey's transit system.

I arrived early like stated, realizing that my life of lying tries to surface in a place I've chosen to retain of purity. I love my school. I love my holy spirit classes. And my omen of Serena asking me the question "girl issues?" when commenting on the expression I gave her would spell out the worst part of my day.

Holy spirit was awesome until I learnt I had successfully failed my attempt to record the first half of class; and in hindsight, I am now left with half a class of audio and the other half without.

Like I stated, I was unaware of my love's plight of confession and admittance of guilt she had been holding onto, and how yesterday might have spelt out the end of relationship. No, such an occurance was saved for today, of all days, the day where nothing was going to bring me down. Not even a one year, two month and five day relationship coming to an end was going to dampen my spirits because God was on my side.

With that said. This calamity to most, actually was prophsized early by allusions and the sermon preached in chapel. With sad times comes God time, and indeed my sorrow left me in a moment to spend in recommitance to my Lord. And so I sit, on my laptop, fulfilling with what the Lord has asked me humbly to do. To thank him for this wonderful and stay commited to blogging every wednesday this year, even though the last two blogs I've posted were on thursdays.

The celebration part was talking with Derek Walter about evolution. I will post the conversation at the end of my blog.

Which is now
-----------
Brent says:
hey
Brent says:
you there?
Derek W says:
yah, kinda
Derek W says:
im doing my reading for bio
Derek W says:
what can i do for yah?
Brent says:
I got this assignment for Science and the Bible at my school; and we need to ask these 9 questions to someone who knows something about evolution... or something like that, and your the smartest scientific person I know!
Brent says:
do you think you can answer 9 questions for me
Brent says:
It will probably take 5-10 minutes
Derek W says:
yah haha this is funny because that is what im reading right now
Brent says:
NICE!
Derek W says:
my biology course is gebetics, evolution, and ecology
Derek W says:
genetics*
Brent says:
I need to know for myself, do you believe in evolution
Derek W says:
yup
Brent says:
sweet
Brent says:
I'm biased growing up in a christian house believing in creation, but I got nothing against evolution as a theory... anyways
Brent says:
it could be right for all i know
Brent says:
ok question 1)
Derek W says:
haha and i have nothing against creationism haha
Brent says:
(BY the way I didn't make these questions up)
Derek W says:
ok haha
Brent says:
1. Do you believe in God? If so, briefly explain your view
Derek W says:
I'm boarderline agnostic haha so not enough to say yes
Brent says:
so could you explain what that means
Brent says:
like there might be a god?
Derek W says:
well it asks if i believe in god... and that is a problematic question, because i respect people believing that there is a god, or gods, but technically i don't so we'll just say 'no'
Derek W says:
to make life easier for everyone
Brent says:
ok
Brent says:
good enough for me!
Derek W says:
haha, don't hate me for my answers, im taking evolutionary biology and philosopy, you shopuld see how much they contradiuct each other haha
Brent says:
I love your answers
Brent says:
There giving me free marks
Brent says:
plus for all i know I could be completly wrong with my whole jesus thing
Brent says:
anyways
Brent says:
2. How do you think the universe began?
Derek W says:
you really want me to say Big Bang don't you?
Brent says:
no
Brent says:
I just want your honest opinion
Brent says:
i'm not trying to trick you
Derek W says:
that is my honest opinion, but i wish i could word it differently
Brent says:
well i don't know the specifics to the big bang
Derek W says:
oh well big bang theory is the technical term
Brent says:
ok but what is the big bang?
Derek W says:
a massive release of energy caused by matter and anti matter freely canceling its self out, the 'winner' of the back and forth being matter, which then expends to fill the known universe, and anti-matter to be shoved way off to the edges where we can't see it
Brent says:
wow
Brent says:
i have no clue what that means
Derek W says:
hahaha
Brent says:
but i can think of one word
Brent says:
bonus marks
Derek W says:
hahaha
Brent says:
oh wait
Brent says:
that was two
Derek W says:
well let me explain it a little simpler here
Derek W says:
i love talking about astro physics even though im not taking it
Derek W says:
so yah, you have matter, no actual molecules or atoms or anything, just tiny specs of real matter
Derek W says:
its floating around in a void, and it is there along with its opposite
Derek W says:
which is anti matter
Derek W says:
when a particle of one touches another, they eliminate each other and energy is released
Derek W says:
the big bang is just a massive scale reaction, that left more matter left over than anti matter
Derek W says:
(the theory is that there was always more matter to begin with)
Brent says:
sweet
Brent says:
thanks for the explain
Derek W says:
any time
Derek W says:
so yes, that is how i think the universe began
Brent says:
cool; see i'm not just getting free marks, i'm also learning
Brent says:
woops
Brent says:
*not just getting*
Brent says:
ah crud
Brent says:
that whole sentence sucked
Brent says:
anyways
Derek W says:
hahaha
Brent says:
3. How do you think life originated?
Derek W says:
now this is a great question since we just talked about it for an hour yesterday in bio
Brent says:
nice
Brent says:
did anyone bring up creation?
Brent says:
guess not...
Brent says:
lol
Derek W says:
no haha, that is what people talk about in arts courses
Derek W says:
which im also in
Derek W says:
but thats a different story
Brent says:
yup
Brent says:
sorry i got you off track... probably had a whole sentence already typed
Derek W says:
ok so from this stand point, life originated when non living molecules became attracted to one another, and formed the first RNA type molecules
Brent says:
sweet
Derek W says:
RNA is in our cells, and are the molecules that help our cells produce proteins, which is what all cells need to function
Derek W says:
now RNA eventually changed shapes and started picking up nutrients ect... and the RNA began to change
Derek W says:
once it started changing, it can technically be considered "alive"
Derek W says:
because it was adapting
Derek W says:
so, that is the very most simple origin of life
Brent says:
sweet
Brent says:
i like your use of adapting
Brent says:
another word for it; evolving...
Brent says:
right?
Derek W says:
technically yes
Derek W says:
but afdaptation adn evolution are technically different
Derek W says:
but it did both
Derek W says:
and sorry about my spelling haha
Brent says:
well is adaptation more of micro evolution and evolution is what scientist term as macro or am I way off?
Derek W says:
you are close, an adaptation would be within one generation, and evolution takes place over many generations
Brent says:
i see
Brent says:
ok ok
Brent says:
sorry
Brent says:
I'm not actually suppose to sway from teh questions until I finish the course and can actually throw what I learn in class into the discussion.
Derek W says:
hahaha
Brent says:
anyway 5. How old do you think the earth is and why?
Derek W says:
a bunch of billions of years old, because geology says so by using carbon dating, core samples, and also because of plaeontology (digging up prehistoric things)
Derek W says:
but carbon dating core samples from the Earth is a sure fire method
Brent says:
cool
Brent says:
6. Do you believe in life on other planets, aliens or UFO's?
Derek W says:
Yes, Yes, and Yes though for UFOs that depends... they would have to be some really advanced aliens to be able to make it out of their own solar system haha
Derek W says:
but i certainly do believe in them
Brent says:
ok
Brent says:
(someones been watching STargate SG-1 a little too much) oh look i broke the rule again
Brent says:
>_>
Derek W says:
hahaha meh
Derek W says:
rules are there to be bent and broken
Brent says:
yup
Brent says:
in my case
Brent says:
I believe that if GOd wanted to create them he could, and it even says in revelations we are to rule over something... not specified.. so maybe it's these aliens you speak of
Brent says:
haha
Brent says:
Ok ok...
Brent says:
7. Is evolution still happening, and if so, what do you think will be the end result?
Derek W says:
evolution will keep happening after humans are dead and gone, it is a constant process that can not be stopped until there is no more life. Every living thing evolves, and there isn't anything that can stop that except the end of a species
Derek W says:
the end result... well that is impossible to tell
Derek W says:
anything is possible really
Brent says:
do you think humans will further evolve?
Derek W says:
yes, but into what i can't say
Derek W says:
evolution isnt things like growing extra limbs, or getting a bigger brain
Derek W says:
that isnt it at all, most evolution happens at a microscopic evolution
Derek W says:
did you know that 5% of Earth's population is immune to HIV/ AIDS
Brent says:
nope
Derek W says:
lets say that 5% does better, and passes those genes along, eventually humans will be immune to HIV and AIDS
Derek W says:
that is natural selection
Derek W says:
and thus evolution
Derek W says:
scientists know those genes are transferable
Derek W says:
and so eventually in the future we might have humans who are immune to cancer, and to AIDS
Brent says:
nice..
Brent says:
8. do you believe in life after death? Explain
Derek W says:
hmmm.... not really no...
Derek W says:
as much as i wish it were true, i dont really see how its possible
Brent says:
ok
Brent says:
i'm not looking for the answers i would give anyway
Brent says:
this is the last question, but it's phrased really weird
Derek W says:
ok
Brent says:
9. How do your beliefs in origins and evolution affect your sense of purpose for your own life?
Derek W says:
hmmmm haha well i guess it makes me feel like my purpose is to pass on my own bit of genetic code to the next generation in hopes of helping create a brighter future
Brent says:
sweet
Brent says:
ok, thanks alot
Brent says:
i am so getting 100% on this one!
Derek W says:
no problem
Derek W says:
glad to have been helpful
-----
It was a great moment of evangelism, learning and bonus marks... I love bible college homework.

-Brent Out

Saturday, January 05, 2008

Well, today is my official blogging day I decided to take, so I'm blogging.

So I have this really bad habit of planning things by day of the week, instead of day of the month and it got me into trouble yet again today.

Also, I've just been an idiot for about the past 48 hours. So, I'm sorry.

This blog sucks.
So did this morning. (- the breakfast I had.)

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Thanks Brent.

I do have some knowledge of spelling and grammer, I just choose to ignore it because it makes life, and typing easier.

Now, since I have a blogging day for the war college blog too (which you all should read, even though I haven't been posting since before kettles..) and that day is Saturday, I will make my day to blog on this blog saturday as well.
You have no say in this matter Brent.

It's another year after

Happy New year bloggers, if any of you actually still read blogs that is.

---
Tangent
---
Speaking of which I've noticed; and I'm not one to talk, that the blogging community has died off this last year. Checking all my friends posts or reading their comments has pretty much ended for me not because I don't have time to check; but because like me, they seem to have decided to move onto better things. Namely... facebook.

Tangent aside; people stay commited with something; eventually something will come along to replace facebook (even though, years earlier "myspace" was around that did pretty much exactly the same thing)
---
Tangent End
---

I'm making a note to blog more; or at least post once a week. I set apart Wednesdays as my day, and then I noticed today was thursday and my coversation with myself went as follows:

Brent- It's Wednesday time to blog!
Brent- *checks date* CRAP! It's thursday!

Anyhoo, If you haven't noticed my better half has joined my blogging center of inane idiotcracy and both of us decided to not proofread anything we post. Which is good, cause I seldom do it with my time restraints and efforts I push towards each post, and the fact that Jessica has no grammer nor spelling knowledge and I'm only openly declaring this so you won't notice her giant mistakes in proportion to mine.

YAY!

Fuzzy stickers are fun.
That is all
-Brent Out