Questioning and Mockery

So, I recently finished reading a book entitled The Secret History of the World, by Mark Booth. It's about what the early Mystery schools and modern-day secret societies (such as Freemasons and Rosicrucians) believe in regard to the creation and evolution of mankind, and on what is coming in the future. Booth initially makes the disclaimer that what he talks about in the book will seem very far-fetched and pretty crazy, and he's right about that. I have to say, I disagree with almost every single thing in the book.
There are two points, however, that I do agree with. One is in the very first chapter, and one is in the very last chapter.
First off, before there was time, there was no matter. For this reason, the creation of the universe could not have initially been a physical event. It had to have been something like a mental event. They call it a mind-before-matter universe. The great "cosmic mind" thought the universe into existence. Another way to say this..."In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters" (Genesis 1:1-2).
The other thing I agree with was a statement made by Booth in the closing chapter. Booth says "Beware, too, of teaching that doesn't invite questioning or tolerate mockery. It is telling you, in effect, that God wants you to be stupid." This statement doesn't have anything to do with theology, but any honest, humble Christian teacher would greatly encourage his students not to "check their brains at the door" and to question what they're taught. As Christ-followers, we should always be willing to ask questions about what our preachers and teachers tell us so that we can grow in our own faith and work out our salvation.
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him" (James 1:5).

Spring Break

So, this past week was my spring break. Well, it was Greenville County School District's spring break, so since I was student teaching, I got the week off (from teaching, anyway). For the first couple of days, I was getting a few bigger projects taken care of at the church. The last couple of days, however, I haven't had anything to do. As much as I don't like working for 16 hours a day, I don't like having nothing to do either. I guess the grass is always greener on the other side.

I look forward to the day when, for the rest of eternity, all I'll ever want to do will be exactly what I'll be doing...worshiping my God forever.

Appreciation

Thanks to Ashleigh and Brooke Miller for helping me paint Patrice's house today. Y'all did a great job.

Painting

Have I mentioned that I don't like to paint? Well, in case I haven't, here it is: I don't like to paint. What a shame it is that that is what I am doing for the next few days. Woohoo!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter, Everyone. Or, to be a little bit more precise, Happy Day-of-the-Resurrection-of-Jesus-Christ-So-That-Whosever-Will-
Can-Know-God-and-Have-Eternal-Life-Day! I hope you have a good one.

Header

For those of you who didn't notice, I changed my header. Here's a shameless plug for POV-Raytracer, a free, high-quality program for creating three-dimensional graphics.



WARNING: POV-Ray is not a modeler...it's all text!

Half Way There

As of today, I am 30 days in to my student teaching at Mauldin High School. That means I'm halfway! Woohoo!!! Only 30 more school days to go. Of course, then I have to take two more math classes, find out if I passed my Praxis tests, and then find a job.
I guess that's why they say
Woah, we're halfway there
Woah, livin' on a prayer.

SOnTheM 41

"When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law." Matthew 7:28-29

Matthew closes his record of the Sermon on the Mount by stating that the people were amazed at Jesus' words. Most of the rabbis in Jesus' day didn't come up with anything new to say. Mainly, they just regurgitated what they were taught. They might have done so in a charismatic way, but it was just transferring information...without authority. Jesus spoke, and it was obvious that He knew what He was talking about. Of course He did...He not only was able to correctly interpret the Law and the Prophets, but He was the one who inspired the words in the first place. Of course He had authority in teaching about those words, and in reflecting on how to live the life God truly calls us to...He is the ultimate model of that.

Does Christ have authority in your life? This is not as asking if you've accepted Him as your savior. This is not the same as saying that you're a Christian. Does He have authority? If He says "jump," do you say 'how high?" and "when should I land?" If you have truly acknowledged Christ as the authority of your life, then no matter what the Spirit tells you to do, do it.

Thank you for journeying with me through the Sermon on the Mount. Now back to your regularly scheduled blog.

SOnTheM 40

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." Matthew 7:24-27

The wise man built his house upon the rock
The wise man built his house upon the rock
The wise man built his house upon the rock
And the rain came tumbling down.

The rains came down and the floods went up
The rains came down and the floods went up
The rains came down and the floods went up
And the house on the rock stood firm.

Would you build a house on sand? Yes, of course, it is possible to do using posts which go deep into the ground, but that's a lot of work, and it defeats the principle of the story.
Sand is moved around by just about anything. Why would you want the foundation of your home to be so malleable? Wouldn't you want a firm substance? I know I would.

May you go today and put Jesus' words into action, and be like the wise man.

SOnTheM 39

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' " Matthew 7:21-23

It's easy to go with the flow when you're around "church-folk" and act like a Christ-follower. It's even easy to do some type of "mission work" when you're with other people who have a true relationship with Christ. It's something totally different to have that relationship with Christ, though. Jesus' goal in coming to earth, living a sinless life, and dying on a cross, though He did not deserve it, was not so that He could fill all of the empty space in heaven. He did those things so that you and I could live alongside Him, in relationship.

If you don't know Christ, then it doesn't matter who else you do know. It makes no difference what you've done or how you've acted...if Jesus won't be able to say that He knows you, then all is vanity.

May you know Christ, and make Him known.

SOnTheM 38

"Watch our for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." Matthew 7:15-20

First off, know this: not all prophets are true prophets. There were false prophets in Jesus' time, and there are false prophets now. The devil masquerades as an angel of light. It would be great if the good guys looked pretty and the bad guys looked ugly, but most of the time they look the same to our physical eyes. So how do we tell them apart?
By their fruit. By all that one says and does. However, this isn't as easy as is sounds. Anyone is capable of bearing "good fruit" for a season or "bad fruit" for a season. Determining whether a prophet (in using prophet, I don't mean an Old Testament prophet type of person, but anyone who claims to know God) is true or false is by watching their life.
Do not put your faith in men, but in Christ, and let His words determine whether you should walk alongside others in your followship.

May the Spirit in you help you determine whether your prophets are true or false. If they are false, may you deal with them in a manner which honors Christ. If they are true, may you walk alongside them, seeking life in Christ.

O'Charley's

Sad day. O'Charley's of Greenville is not open any more :-(. Sarah and I drove over there last night to get a couple of steaks (my favorite is the Louisiana Sirloin) and some DELICIOUS rolls. Sad, sad day. Come back, O'Charley's!