faith and actual action (James 2:14-26)

Works are the evidence of what I believe, It’s the clear full knowledge in action. A concept or theory like “relativity” remains just a thought until proven in the physical world. Words are just thoughts unless proved by action. It’s not enough that you just have “faith” in God. That doesn’t make you holy. It’s a life style change. It’s a life concept change. God does grab our hearts for His purposes. The way I see it, the only way we could be new for in God is in our mental state. That’s only thing that held us the strongest. Even that is weak, in “the Fall” it was easier for non-thinking matter (gen. 3:17-19) to be changed (thorns, sickness, all those things that came through “the Fall”) ,but for our minds, we have a fighting chance. Yes, we still “sin naturally,” we naturally are born with a pre-set mind to lie, this is an example of sin (which is why a little child will tell his/her “first lie”) but we have a fighting chance and more so now, God knows the one place that the destruction of sin isn’t as strong, our ability to have faith that something will happen Don’t get me wrong, even that was damaged, we could have had it stronger before. Our faith in Christ holds us from hell. Faith takes the greater portion of weight. We still need to try, but if we faulter and come back to our senses to what is right, God forgives us, and our faith holds what we couldn’t. Like if you say “ I have faith the mail man will bring the mail today” you believe on faith. You faulter by going to the post office and trying to get it yourself. But if you went down to the post office and came back, then sat down on your coach and thought, “why did I do that? of course the mail man will come!” God forgives us. We sin , come to our senses and ask for forgiveness, God forgives us. But we need to at least try to follow through with action. Our belief is not enough, it’s our heart change and predisposition to want to do more. It’s like naturally wanting to steal vs. naturally wanting to buy. Accepting Christ is like changing our natural urge to do wrong. Instead with Christ, we naturally want to do good.

Father, this is so amazing . Our minds must have had amazing strength before. I think it's that strength that hurt us. Eve's pure intention to be wise for You (Gen. 3:5), but in doing so, she didn't have faith in you're good intention that You had a good reason for why not to eat from the tree. Anyways, I love You Father, I believe in Your intentions for my life.

-matthew

Justice,Love, and Truth

KEY:

Justice=The follow through action of a truth stated

Love=Design so perfect, that it is an absolute of forgiveness,willingness to give everything and is based on the reality of truth and justice.

Truth=Reality that is

You know this debate all through the Christian community about Rob Bell and his book "Love Wins." I read an entire article in "Time" magazine . I've been thinking about this alot, alot, alot. If hell has been destroyed or will be someday, if it doesn't matter if you accept Christ or not, then there is no purpose for Christ to be set here. I can see why this would stir up controversy. Jesus when praying says, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, nevertheless , not as I will, but as You will"-Matthew 26:39. That means , that if He didn't need to die for our sins, for us to go to heaven , He wouldn't die. But He did die. His real love is demonstrated through justice. Justice makes life function, that's what it is, the basis of true reality (the truth that paper can't pass through a table, is the truth of reality. Justice is that or the follow through with this true statement is ,paper can't pass through it). If God allows a lie (God not being life), to continue on, there is not justice. His forgiveness is based in justice that needs to be done. Everything God is and stands for is ruined. God forgives us because the punishment for pain,suffering and sin was paid for through Christ's perfect sacrifice on the cross for us. Love and truth (what is) can not be without each other. I wish that this would be understood by us.

-Matthew

(I don't currently have the book yet, I can't make a proper judgement of the assertion of the TIME article, I'm currently buying the book. I'll confirm this or deny this when I get it)

Out of Camp (Hebrews 13)

Isn't it strange, the Israelites went outside the camp to burn the sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 13:12) I'm personally drawn away to be alone with God, outside the comfortable places. Sometimes for me (not everyone), in the comfortable places, I just don't get as much done and it's easier to sin. Could "going outside the camp" be some sort of symbol of "apart?" Like you become apart from God and the whole of unity that God always intended for humanity? Now that I think of it, it probably is. God has this way of making alot that He commanded the Israelites to do, to be symbols. Just think about it, did sacrificing animals ever really take away sins? No, it was all just foretelling what needs to happen, we're all a bit "thick."Either way, isn't it just more proper to mess with stuff that just grosses you out, to do outside the area you're living in? We are being cleansed, washed and coming back in. A good point is made, Christ was "outside the camp" when He was crucified. It was a filthy thing to do, but God really must love us. Think of someone you truly love, what would you do for him/her? What do we do outside the camp? Well, (forgive this) we poop, discard of radio activity, dump our garbage, and we do things in secret. Funny how they're all proper to do out-side the focus of our daily lives. Life is not meant to be lived in sin. Christ makes us clean and walks us back in.

-matthew

forgiveness

I came to this realization. Jesus loves us so much that His love is greater than our amount of sinning and continuing trip over the same old stumbling block of sin. That is great love beyond what I can imagine. If someone said sorry to me and later kept doing it, I wouldn’t really forgive them. I would say it on the outside but to protect myself, I wouldn't really believe it.

Lament of an Older Son

I was giving my lament to God tonight. I had a bad day. I don't know why exactly I need to work so hard and have long tired days. I don't feel like I get any reward for my work! About that time I was reminded of "the prodigal son" story. You know how everyone wants to be the younger son because the party at the end is about him? Well, I'm not that, I'm the older son. I was always a bit hyper and risky, but I'm also very responsible. It's a strange mix, yes. I feel like I have it bad,and others, not as dedicated for as long a time as I have,(prepare for the "pity party") been able to hear God better. Maybe what I'm hearing is God (I've thought He would be more clear though). What the heck do I have to complain about then? I'm pretty sure He speaks to me, just not the way I assumed. I just need to refine my ears. I guess I am at fault then! About this time I read Luke 15:25-32 "son you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found." God will give me what I need when I ask. He has everything. I have faith and am believing. God will provide for me to get through school. I need my car. Lord, you will provide all things. I need the ability to finish my assignment (and hey You just did,hence the reason I have time to type this up). You will provide.I love You Lord.

Your older son,

Matthew

(success update....I got the money to use my car! The army finally paid me!)

thoughts....

When I woke up from my coma, this was surprisingly the thing I was thinking and it brought me to a renewed passion for God. Not that I didn't know it, but I just never saw the boldness of this truth. So obvious, why didn't the reality of this hit me before?

"There is no law that disorder comes to order...The second law of thermodynamics says that entropy naturally increases,NOT the opposite...

How exactly, can order come from disorder? If i you found a computer in the desert, would you say it just came together over millions of years?No,but the organic brain is a thousand times more complicated ( i don't know factually how many times more complicated,but i think it's safe to say "alot"). Can anyone really stake their life on a contradiction?

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entropy

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_law_of_thermodynamics"

....I don't know how relevant the evolution/creationism debates are these days, but I think the 2nd law puts it to rest. Regardless, I've found that as a true witness, we can have is love, and service. People don't really take notice if confronted with fact, at least I become very sensitive of that as of late. Or it's to hard to process at that time. They will either think of some thing else or use a made up excuse to divorce the idea. We all do that though.

Aggressive Mercy

I learned today something I never really knew the meaning of. Do you know what "grace" really is? It's aggressive mercy. It's forgiving, going the extra mile and helping to heal the issue in their life. It's what God freely gives. He gave us forgiveness, then invites us to live with Him in His royal kingdom. That's what I love about my Father and I totally don't deserve what He gives. It's like if someone stole my car then they were caught and the police said, "here's 1000 bucks and you can go on your way." It's grace, it's aggressive love that pays for all, even the persons the persons own wrong choices. This concept can change peoples lives. It's so amazing. For so long it's been portrayed itself as just "mercy" by itself, to me. I love You so much Lord.

-Matthew

homework: watch "Les Misérables" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oni72Fl7xaw