There was once a man in history by the name of Jesus, who said that:
He was God, He would die, and would come back to life again.
Now this presents a decision that will forever change your life.
1) If this "Jesus" person, died and stayed dead, it is safe to say that He was never God in the first place and it means that the Christians are wrong and only believe in a lie. Your life can return back to normal.
BUT...
2) If indeed this "Jesus" who claimed to be God, died and came back to life three days later, this means that He was not just an ordinary human being but Jesus was and is God. Your life will never be the same again.
Lets make this simple for you:
1) JESUS BODY + TOMB (a.k.a casket) = He is dead
He is dead = He was never God
2) TOMB (a.k.a casket) - JESUS BODY = He is alive
He is alive = He is what He says He is = He is God
If you want to know the truth, please watch the following youtube videos:
(PART 1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9RDHHpfKJw&feature=related
(PART 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LFrocL3U8c&feature=related
The Case For Christ Documentary:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMvaSAwL7_k&feature=PlayList&p=A9B90FF7AA777956&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=7
If you have any comments and questions please feel free to email me at: full_throttle6@hotmail.com
please title your email "CHRIST"
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
The American Dream-- Modern Day Carrot-On-A-Stick
What is the pursuit of happiness?
We live in a society plagued with an obsession for the american dream and for the sake of brevity the american dream is this: a better, happier, and more prosperous life. The average rapper is one of the prominent advocate and the closest embodiment of this dream. He is the walking advertisement: Holding a high salaried career, abundant money, luxurious cars, mansions perched on the suburbs, and a supply of women for each day of the week.
This, the youth of society believes, is the focal point of life, in which one finds happiness and fulfillment in. The youth of today, are spoon-fed the mindset of get rich or die trying. This generation is as a horse chasing a carrot-stick, forever chasing after the dream until one day it runs of the edge and plummets to its death. Is this all life consists of? the highest achievement and the highlight of the human life is owning a measly amount of green paper, sculpted box of steel that moves, and a big roof to live under? To many, it sadly becomes their purpose in life, in which they hope will fulfill them.
In the bible there is a man who was at the very pinnacle and was the absolute embodiment of the american dream, his name was King Solomon. This was what he had to say about the lifestyle of this dream:
"I increased my achievements. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.
I made gardens and parks for myself and planted every kind of fruit tree in them. I constructed reservoirs of water for myself from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees. I acquired male and female servants and had employees who were born in my house. I also owned many herds of cattle and flocks, more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. I also amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered male and female singers for myself, and many concubines, the delights of men. Thus, I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; my wisdom also remained with me. All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them. I did not refuse myself any pleasure, for I took pleasure in all my struggles. This was my reward for all my struggles. When I considered all that I had accomplished and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun."
What a forlorn and miserable statement to say about the lifestyle, many so desperately expend their energy, efforts, and whole life on. Solomon had it all: the luxurious mansions, beautiful parks and gardens, his own hydro system which lowered his bills; he owned many slaves, or in modern times "employees"; he owned crops, herds of cattle and flocks, and land. Solomon goes on to say that he accumulated silver and gold for himself, amassed the treasures of kings and provinces, which is the equivalent of modern day a whole lotta "money", oh yes he could make it rain for years, non-stop. An accountant ran the numbers to find out how rich Solomon would be if he lived in today's world. He concluded that Solomon would have had twenty five billion dollars in his bank account and $174 million coming in every year.
He surpassed all the kings who lived before him. He had what the bible calls "wisdom", or in today's standards knowledge more than all Ph.D's, Masters, and Degrees combined. All that Solomon had ever desired, he says, he got. King Solomon had an estimate of 700 wives and 300 concubines, he could have a different woman in bed, everyday, for 3 consecutive years. He did not refuse any pleasure, if one were to look the word "hedonistic" in the dictionary, the face of Solomon would be enough to define it, he was the most hedonistic person you could ever meet.
In the end, Solomon had this to say: Everything he accomplished and everything he achieved was futile or in other words, useless. Solomon says that the pursuit of the american dream, or the pursuit of happiness is a pursuit of the wind.
The carrot-on-a-stick dream will never satisfy the soul's insatiable hunger to be fulfilled and happy, it is incapable of filling the emptiness within. Solomon showed that one could live the american dream: have the best career, all the money, women, cars, employees, mansions by the world's most beautiful beaches, PH D's, Masters, Degrees, a healthy family, lifetime of vacations, anything one can think of, but at the end of the day, one would still feel empty, unfulfilled, and unhappy. Solomon came at the end of his life and found no trace of satisfaction in his soul.
The heart of the matter now becomes: how does one avoid the pitfalls of the empty and the fleeting? how should one expend their efforts, devotion, and life? how does the human heart and soul become fulfilled and happy, no matter where one is in the navigation of life? Then tune in for the next article ; )
- Lem
We live in a society plagued with an obsession for the american dream and for the sake of brevity the american dream is this: a better, happier, and more prosperous life. The average rapper is one of the prominent advocate and the closest embodiment of this dream. He is the walking advertisement: Holding a high salaried career, abundant money, luxurious cars, mansions perched on the suburbs, and a supply of women for each day of the week.
This, the youth of society believes, is the focal point of life, in which one finds happiness and fulfillment in. The youth of today, are spoon-fed the mindset of get rich or die trying. This generation is as a horse chasing a carrot-stick, forever chasing after the dream until one day it runs of the edge and plummets to its death. Is this all life consists of? the highest achievement and the highlight of the human life is owning a measly amount of green paper, sculpted box of steel that moves, and a big roof to live under? To many, it sadly becomes their purpose in life, in which they hope will fulfill them.
In the bible there is a man who was at the very pinnacle and was the absolute embodiment of the american dream, his name was King Solomon. This was what he had to say about the lifestyle of this dream:
"I increased my achievements. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself.
I made gardens and parks for myself and planted every kind of fruit tree in them. I constructed reservoirs of water for myself from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees. I acquired male and female servants and had employees who were born in my house. I also owned many herds of cattle and flocks, more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. I also amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered male and female singers for myself, and many concubines, the delights of men. Thus, I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; my wisdom also remained with me. All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them. I did not refuse myself any pleasure, for I took pleasure in all my struggles. This was my reward for all my struggles. When I considered all that I had accomplished and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun."
What a forlorn and miserable statement to say about the lifestyle, many so desperately expend their energy, efforts, and whole life on. Solomon had it all: the luxurious mansions, beautiful parks and gardens, his own hydro system which lowered his bills; he owned many slaves, or in modern times "employees"; he owned crops, herds of cattle and flocks, and land. Solomon goes on to say that he accumulated silver and gold for himself, amassed the treasures of kings and provinces, which is the equivalent of modern day a whole lotta "money", oh yes he could make it rain for years, non-stop. An accountant ran the numbers to find out how rich Solomon would be if he lived in today's world. He concluded that Solomon would have had twenty five billion dollars in his bank account and $174 million coming in every year.
He surpassed all the kings who lived before him. He had what the bible calls "wisdom", or in today's standards knowledge more than all Ph.D's, Masters, and Degrees combined. All that Solomon had ever desired, he says, he got. King Solomon had an estimate of 700 wives and 300 concubines, he could have a different woman in bed, everyday, for 3 consecutive years. He did not refuse any pleasure, if one were to look the word "hedonistic" in the dictionary, the face of Solomon would be enough to define it, he was the most hedonistic person you could ever meet.
In the end, Solomon had this to say: Everything he accomplished and everything he achieved was futile or in other words, useless. Solomon says that the pursuit of the american dream, or the pursuit of happiness is a pursuit of the wind.
The carrot-on-a-stick dream will never satisfy the soul's insatiable hunger to be fulfilled and happy, it is incapable of filling the emptiness within. Solomon showed that one could live the american dream: have the best career, all the money, women, cars, employees, mansions by the world's most beautiful beaches, PH D's, Masters, Degrees, a healthy family, lifetime of vacations, anything one can think of, but at the end of the day, one would still feel empty, unfulfilled, and unhappy. Solomon came at the end of his life and found no trace of satisfaction in his soul.
The heart of the matter now becomes: how does one avoid the pitfalls of the empty and the fleeting? how should one expend their efforts, devotion, and life? how does the human heart and soul become fulfilled and happy, no matter where one is in the navigation of life? Then tune in for the next article ; )
- Lem
Monday, September 21, 2009
Mountains
Many times in the biblical narratives, mountains were places where man met God.
Moses would climb Mt.Sinai where a visible inferno of flame can be seen at the top.
Peter, James, John would never look at Jesus the same after their Master brought them into a mountain where they experienced Jesus transformation into His divine nature.
Jesus, Himself, before He started His day would retreat into the mountains from the ruckus of the crowd, for isolation and a time to talk with God.
It is no doubt then that in the bible mountaintops were places where man met God, but all too often many people don't make it to the top.
The Israelites did not climb up Mt. Sinai with Moses because they did not want to encounter the living God, whose thundering voice struck fear in their hearts when He spoke and whose appearance is like that of a consuming fire.
It is then a matter of one's decision whether or not one meets God.
There will be Mount Pain, Mount Heartache, Mount Loneliness, Mount Disappointment, Mount Uncertainty, Mount Hopeless that we will all climb sometime in our lives. Do not be reluctant to take that first step up the mountain. That first step is one step closer God, and that's our comfort isn't it? the comfort that God will meet us.
It's in those moments up there that we will see a side of Him we've never seen before, completely changed like the disciples. God will make a transfiguration in our lives and it's guaranteed that when we encounter the living God in our personal Mt.Sinai's, we will never be the same again.
Moses would climb Mt.Sinai where a visible inferno of flame can be seen at the top.
Peter, James, John would never look at Jesus the same after their Master brought them into a mountain where they experienced Jesus transformation into His divine nature.
Jesus, Himself, before He started His day would retreat into the mountains from the ruckus of the crowd, for isolation and a time to talk with God.
It is no doubt then that in the bible mountaintops were places where man met God, but all too often many people don't make it to the top.
The Israelites did not climb up Mt. Sinai with Moses because they did not want to encounter the living God, whose thundering voice struck fear in their hearts when He spoke and whose appearance is like that of a consuming fire.
It is then a matter of one's decision whether or not one meets God.
There will be Mount Pain, Mount Heartache, Mount Loneliness, Mount Disappointment, Mount Uncertainty, Mount Hopeless that we will all climb sometime in our lives. Do not be reluctant to take that first step up the mountain. That first step is one step closer God, and that's our comfort isn't it? the comfort that God will meet us.
It's in those moments up there that we will see a side of Him we've never seen before, completely changed like the disciples. God will make a transfiguration in our lives and it's guaranteed that when we encounter the living God in our personal Mt.Sinai's, we will never be the same again.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
True Colors
Everybody knows John 3:16 by heart: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
It's very flattering but there is the following verse that many tend to overlook and that is "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
The implication of this verse is truly phenomenal. It speaks of God coming into the human world not to annihilate and usher in the apocalypse but rather to save the whole world. This verse probably was a shock value to many since up until then (in Jesus' times) and even now there was and is a pre-conceived notion that God is always angry. A God who gets angry the moment you succumb to your human weaknesses and has His fist poised, ready to send you to hell at any given moment. Who painted this picture? If you think of God like this, then that is a different one than the biblical God we worship. That's the problem and that's the obstacle for society is that they are conditioned to think that He is just that sort of God. Easy to get angry and hard to please.
If you know your greek mythology then you know that
every now and then the "gods" would get angry. Rather than taking a deep breath, having a heart-felt conversation with their psychiatrist or trying to solve their problems using constructive methods, the gods all too often unleashed terrible punishments on those unlucky humans who got in their way. Maybe that's why society closes it's ears when we talk about God, they picture Him along with the greek gods.
Yet John 3:17 paints a totally different picture, it speaks of a God who did not condemn the moment He entered this sinful world but it speaks rather of a God who came to save. Jesus demolished the very idea that God got violent and had tantrums quickly. Jesus then portrayed the true side of God. The God who is patient with us when we are ignorant and act out of our own selfishness. The God who loves us even when we submit to our human weaknesses and vices. The God who has an eternal love for us. That's the God we serve. Our part then is to emulate Jesus and with our life: peel the paint off the canvas and show it's true colors.
That is the obstacle that keeps people from coming to
It's very flattering but there is the following verse that many tend to overlook and that is "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
The implication of this verse is truly phenomenal. It speaks of God coming into the human world not to annihilate and usher in the apocalypse but rather to save the whole world. This verse probably was a shock value to many since up until then (in Jesus' times) and even now there was and is a pre-conceived notion that God is always angry. A God who gets angry the moment you succumb to your human weaknesses and has His fist poised, ready to send you to hell at any given moment. Who painted this picture? If you think of God like this, then that is a different one than the biblical God we worship. That's the problem and that's the obstacle for society is that they are conditioned to think that He is just that sort of God. Easy to get angry and hard to please.
If you know your greek mythology then you know that
every now and then the "gods" would get angry. Rather than taking a deep breath, having a heart-felt conversation with their psychiatrist or trying to solve their problems using constructive methods, the gods all too often unleashed terrible punishments on those unlucky humans who got in their way. Maybe that's why society closes it's ears when we talk about God, they picture Him along with the greek gods.
Yet John 3:17 paints a totally different picture, it speaks of a God who did not condemn the moment He entered this sinful world but it speaks rather of a God who came to save. Jesus demolished the very idea that God got violent and had tantrums quickly. Jesus then portrayed the true side of God. The God who is patient with us when we are ignorant and act out of our own selfishness. The God who loves us even when we submit to our human weaknesses and vices. The God who has an eternal love for us. That's the God we serve. Our part then is to emulate Jesus and with our life: peel the paint off the canvas and show it's true colors.
That is the obstacle that keeps people from coming to
Sunday, August 23, 2009
God of proximity
The most intriguing aspect of the Christ story is the very nature of incarnation itself. Jesus models that it is possible to be both God and human at the same time. This is for us, certainly, the most terrifying thought. Throughout history the church has retreated into deifying Jesus so thoroughly that the human Christ can't be seen. If indeed Jesus is too human (or barely human at all), he calls from us a worrying response. To this otherworldly, super-spiritual Jesus I simply have to offer my devotion, my worship, my adoration. By the grubby, human, peasant Christ we are challenged that maybe it is possible to be human and Godlike after all.
How distressing to us that Jesus could be the Messiah, the human incarnation of God for thirty years and NO ONE AT HOME NOTICED! No one in Nazareth smiles knowingly and says, "I always suspected there was something strange about that kid." Instead they wonder where he got all this messianic stuff. Somehow Jesus could be fully God and blend into Galilean society - hardly the most pious or sophisticated culture - without creating a ripple. What does this mean for us? It invites us to follow Christ in all His ordinariness as well as his righteousness. The incarnation demands that we neither retreat into a holier-than-thou Christian ghetto nor give ourselves over to the values of secular culture.
Take a look into the life which Jesus modeled for us. His life calls us to be godly, but we are expected to live it out in the midst of others, not just in the confines of church. It tells us that we should be able to hang out with sinners yet we do not compromise on our obedience to God. What Jesus did was right. He was involved in the lives of sinners and showed them the love of God, but He wouldn't have been able to impact others lives the way He had done if He retreated into a "holier-than-thou" attitude. Rather He closed the gap and was in close proximity with sinners. He was eye to eye with them, and treated them as equals, they were friends. What does this say about God? Jesus shows that God is a God who is interested in every detail of your life and has involved Himself in every aspect of it. That He is a personal and close God, not a distant and indifferent one.
I challenge you to do the same: to live a godly life in the midst of sinners yet maintain your faithfulness. Show others the personal God you know.
How distressing to us that Jesus could be the Messiah, the human incarnation of God for thirty years and NO ONE AT HOME NOTICED! No one in Nazareth smiles knowingly and says, "I always suspected there was something strange about that kid." Instead they wonder where he got all this messianic stuff. Somehow Jesus could be fully God and blend into Galilean society - hardly the most pious or sophisticated culture - without creating a ripple. What does this mean for us? It invites us to follow Christ in all His ordinariness as well as his righteousness. The incarnation demands that we neither retreat into a holier-than-thou Christian ghetto nor give ourselves over to the values of secular culture.
Take a look into the life which Jesus modeled for us. His life calls us to be godly, but we are expected to live it out in the midst of others, not just in the confines of church. It tells us that we should be able to hang out with sinners yet we do not compromise on our obedience to God. What Jesus did was right. He was involved in the lives of sinners and showed them the love of God, but He wouldn't have been able to impact others lives the way He had done if He retreated into a "holier-than-thou" attitude. Rather He closed the gap and was in close proximity with sinners. He was eye to eye with them, and treated them as equals, they were friends. What does this say about God? Jesus shows that God is a God who is interested in every detail of your life and has involved Himself in every aspect of it. That He is a personal and close God, not a distant and indifferent one.
I challenge you to do the same: to live a godly life in the midst of sinners yet maintain your faithfulness. Show others the personal God you know.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Count the number of times the letter F appears in the following paragraph.
FINISHED FILES ARE THE RESULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY COMBINED WITH
THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS... [answer at the bottom of the page]
Theres a lesson that God wants you to learn, that "F" in the sentence of your life which you just seem to miss.
There comes a time in our life that we have questions, questions that pain us.
You're wondering why there is no break through in your prayers, why you're in the situation you are in now, why you don't have a job, why everything is going wrong for you, why everyone around you seems to be doing better, and the list is endless.
We all have experienced our share of pain and struggles in life. The secret is that: behind every difficulty and obstacle in life there is a lesson learned. Unless you learn the lesson that God is trying to teach you, those painful "whys?" will never have answers and you will find yourself repeating the same lecture until you finally get it.
God is so good that He desires that you become the best you are, because when you are at your best you are most like Him.
Each and everyone of us is a working progress and God propels us towards perfection by giving us our lessons in the forms of problems we have in life, pain, confusion, and unanswered questions. The lessons are merely God's chisels, used to sculpt us to look and be more like Him.
Reflect this week on what it is God's trying to say to you, what He wants you to learn through your time of difficulty. Review your life, your situation, and circumstance. Try to find the missing "F", go letter by letter, read it again and again. Chances are there is something that needs improvement on you behalf. Maybe the reason you're not having break throughs in your prayers is because you're not doing your part. Maybe the reason you're in the situation you're in is because of the poor choices you're making. Maybe the reason everyone seems to be doing better than you is because you simply choose to remain as you are.
Don't fret if you are experiencing pain, just know that class is in session. The sooner you learn the lesson the faster you progress. Learn your lesson, don't repeat the grade.
[ANSWER 6]
FINISHED FILES ARE THE RESULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY COMBINED WITH
THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS... [answer at the bottom of the page]
Theres a lesson that God wants you to learn, that "F" in the sentence of your life which you just seem to miss.
There comes a time in our life that we have questions, questions that pain us.
You're wondering why there is no break through in your prayers, why you're in the situation you are in now, why you don't have a job, why everything is going wrong for you, why everyone around you seems to be doing better, and the list is endless.
We all have experienced our share of pain and struggles in life. The secret is that: behind every difficulty and obstacle in life there is a lesson learned. Unless you learn the lesson that God is trying to teach you, those painful "whys?" will never have answers and you will find yourself repeating the same lecture until you finally get it.
God is so good that He desires that you become the best you are, because when you are at your best you are most like Him.
Each and everyone of us is a working progress and God propels us towards perfection by giving us our lessons in the forms of problems we have in life, pain, confusion, and unanswered questions. The lessons are merely God's chisels, used to sculpt us to look and be more like Him.
Reflect this week on what it is God's trying to say to you, what He wants you to learn through your time of difficulty. Review your life, your situation, and circumstance. Try to find the missing "F", go letter by letter, read it again and again. Chances are there is something that needs improvement on you behalf. Maybe the reason you're not having break throughs in your prayers is because you're not doing your part. Maybe the reason you're in the situation you're in is because of the poor choices you're making. Maybe the reason everyone seems to be doing better than you is because you simply choose to remain as you are.
Don't fret if you are experiencing pain, just know that class is in session. The sooner you learn the lesson the faster you progress. Learn your lesson, don't repeat the grade.
[ANSWER 6]
Friday, May 29, 2009
Happiness
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds." - James 1:2
We live in a culture where the criteria for having a good life is defined as merely possessing a high paying career, a big house, an appealing car, and a family. No wonder why many are left feeling under-achieved, unhappy, and completely distraught when they compare their life to society's blueprint for happiness. If we're not careful, we could buy into the delusion that: in order for one to be happy, their life must be full of good circumstances. Otherwise if you're living a life completely contradictory to society's ideal good life, then your life is considered by culture's standards, to be mediocre. This could not be any further from the truth, happiness does not depend on good circumstances, Solomon's life proved this.
Solomon was a king who embodied the "good life" culture says we must strive for.
An accountant ran the numbers to find out how rich Solomon would be if he lived in today's world. He concluded that Solomon would have had twenty five billion dollars in his bank account and $174 million coming in every year. Solomon was very wealthy.
To add insult to injury, King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. The Bible says he was the wisest man to have ever lived on earth, but with that many women in his life, I don't think that call was very wise. To close the argument, Solomon was at peace with all the nations and Israel never had to go to war under his reign. It is not a debate that King Solomon had it all: riches, women, wisdom, and favor. He embodied the good life society says you'll find fulfillment and happiness in. Yet throughout the book of Ecclesiastes we find a dissatisfied Solomon saying that "Everything is meaningless!"
He was UTTERLY DEPRESSED! So unhappy that he questioned if life was really worth living. What was the reason for his grief? Doesn't society say that if you have what he had, you would be HAPPY? Yet the man himself says otherwise.
The reason for his sorrow was because he looked back on his life, much of which was lived APART FROM GOD! Solomon realized that you could have everything but if you do not have a realtionship with God in your life, you will never have fulfillment and happiness. Solomon felt the emptiness gnaw at his soul. What advice does the wisest man who had it at all have for anyone who might listen?
He encouraged all to: not forget their Creator and God, honor Him, and live life WITH God. He concludes ecclesiastes by saying
"Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man."
Through Solomon's life and example, we are now able to understand that a "good life" apart from God is, never was, and never will be a good life. The only way you will find true fulfillment and happiness in your life is in God.
Next Article: How not to waste your life
We live in a culture where the criteria for having a good life is defined as merely possessing a high paying career, a big house, an appealing car, and a family. No wonder why many are left feeling under-achieved, unhappy, and completely distraught when they compare their life to society's blueprint for happiness. If we're not careful, we could buy into the delusion that: in order for one to be happy, their life must be full of good circumstances. Otherwise if you're living a life completely contradictory to society's ideal good life, then your life is considered by culture's standards, to be mediocre. This could not be any further from the truth, happiness does not depend on good circumstances, Solomon's life proved this.
Solomon was a king who embodied the "good life" culture says we must strive for.
An accountant ran the numbers to find out how rich Solomon would be if he lived in today's world. He concluded that Solomon would have had twenty five billion dollars in his bank account and $174 million coming in every year. Solomon was very wealthy.
To add insult to injury, King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. The Bible says he was the wisest man to have ever lived on earth, but with that many women in his life, I don't think that call was very wise. To close the argument, Solomon was at peace with all the nations and Israel never had to go to war under his reign. It is not a debate that King Solomon had it all: riches, women, wisdom, and favor. He embodied the good life society says you'll find fulfillment and happiness in. Yet throughout the book of Ecclesiastes we find a dissatisfied Solomon saying that "Everything is meaningless!"
He was UTTERLY DEPRESSED! So unhappy that he questioned if life was really worth living. What was the reason for his grief? Doesn't society say that if you have what he had, you would be HAPPY? Yet the man himself says otherwise.
The reason for his sorrow was because he looked back on his life, much of which was lived APART FROM GOD! Solomon realized that you could have everything but if you do not have a realtionship with God in your life, you will never have fulfillment and happiness. Solomon felt the emptiness gnaw at his soul. What advice does the wisest man who had it at all have for anyone who might listen?
He encouraged all to: not forget their Creator and God, honor Him, and live life WITH God. He concludes ecclesiastes by saying
"Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man."
Through Solomon's life and example, we are now able to understand that a "good life" apart from God is, never was, and never will be a good life. The only way you will find true fulfillment and happiness in your life is in God.
Next Article: How not to waste your life
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Today
TODAY!
By Lemuel Reyes
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. – James 4:14
The word of God sends a chilling truth down the spinal cords of those who have forgotten the short span of their life. It’s an alarm clock to those deceived into thinking they have a handful of time to live for Christ, to enjoy their loved ones, to do what they know they should. They have long forgotten the imminence of death.
Life is described as a mist that appears but shortly after fades away. The truth is life is fleeting and its how we utilize our time, energy, and effort that determines whether we cry or smile in heaven.
Everything you do in this life echoes, echoes, echoes into the halls of eternity. It is up to you then, whether you orchestrate a symphony masterpiece, with God as the conductor and you as the musician, or whether you sing a sorrowful song as a solo. It’s your decision which eternal encore will play forever.
But by God’s grace, the fat lady hasn’t sung yet.
This is an opportunity for renewal. So I challenge you to give your life to Christ today if you haven’t already and if you are a Christian, rededicate your life. Live for God starting today! Then no matter when your life ends, you will have no regrets for you have fulfilled God’s plan for you.
Life is like a taxi. The meter just keeps ticking whether you’re getting somewhere or just standing still. – Lou Erickson
Death is a beautiful thing
Death, the one thing that befalls upon all of us. What comes to our mind when we hear the word death? Grief. Tears. Sorrow. Funerals. Unfortunate. The word "death" is too vulgar to the ordinary human ears so we replace it with the words "passing-away"
It is often paralleled with: hurt, loss of life, disaster, extinction, destruction, and bloodshed. Rather grotesque subjects to be compared to. Humans perceive death as ugly, so cartoonists created the grim reaper: A skeleton infested with worms, rotting away in a grim robe.
But let me offer you a proposition, an alternate view of death. What if I were to tell you that death is in fact a beautiful thing? You would not hesitate to think I'm a cross-breed of an emo and a psycho.
Death is depicted as the moment when life finally ceases to exist-- is it? or is it rather the stepping stone into a different realm? Into a reality where one transcends into beauty.
If you are aware it is now fall, it is the season in which trees begin to - that's right - DIE. The fall season my friends, is the perfect depiction of a beautiful-death. A little bit of bright yellow, red, orange, a combination of colors that change the atmosphere and complexion of nature itself.
It is truly a spectacular sight to behold, when at the final moments of death, they manage to look admirable in the process. Then comes winter, the season in which the trees are lifeless, but are now clothed in fluorescent and vivid Christmas lights. After a few months into the new year, the utmost display of grandeur happens, a beautiful rebirth called spring.
I always wondered why they called this season spring and now I know. The dictionary defines spring as: to come into being by growth. In other words LIFE! Fall - like death - was just a preparation for an awesome rebirth (spring).
A season where the cherry trees blossom forth pink-roses that fall as dancing petals; growth occurs; green vibrant plants; fruits are produced. All these things shout out LIFE. Death is indeed a beautiful thing and beyond its borders are life and rebirth.
How then does this apply to us? The Bible calls us to crucify our flesh in order that our Spirits may live. In layman's terms crucifying the flesh means we are to kill our selfishness, wrong motives, malice, tendency to lie, ability to hurt, self-corruption, and all vices.
And as we die daily to our immoral conducts, it tends to hurt since it is often difficult to let go of our consistent moral faults..but in totality it is truly an incredible experience and an admirable sight.
In order that change may take place in our lives, we need to go out of our comfort zones and do the very thing we all hate: die.
While we shed the leaves of our former selves and undergo the process of death, something incredible takes place: our personal SPRING. Our rebirth as a new person. We develop love for others, have a higher sense of morality; our patience grows, we become sensible and considerate, we self-sacrifice and seek others well-being. Its as if we see things under a different light, we're optimistic, our outlook in life dramatically changes.
But dying is an arduous task and takes a painfully deal of devotion and sacrifice. One must consistently and daily kill themselves. But the fruits of the labor is truly satisfying.
Love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, kindness, self-control.
It is like a see-saw: in order to raise one up, one end must go down. Crucify the flesh and we are able to walk in Spirit. I encourage you to live more like the cycle seasons, and when you begin to do so that is when the epiphany of transformation kicks in. Only then you will realize...death is a beautiful thing.
It is often paralleled with: hurt, loss of life, disaster, extinction, destruction, and bloodshed. Rather grotesque subjects to be compared to. Humans perceive death as ugly, so cartoonists created the grim reaper: A skeleton infested with worms, rotting away in a grim robe.
But let me offer you a proposition, an alternate view of death. What if I were to tell you that death is in fact a beautiful thing? You would not hesitate to think I'm a cross-breed of an emo and a psycho.
Death is depicted as the moment when life finally ceases to exist-- is it? or is it rather the stepping stone into a different realm? Into a reality where one transcends into beauty.
If you are aware it is now fall, it is the season in which trees begin to - that's right - DIE. The fall season my friends, is the perfect depiction of a beautiful-death. A little bit of bright yellow, red, orange, a combination of colors that change the atmosphere and complexion of nature itself.
It is truly a spectacular sight to behold, when at the final moments of death, they manage to look admirable in the process. Then comes winter, the season in which the trees are lifeless, but are now clothed in fluorescent and vivid Christmas lights. After a few months into the new year, the utmost display of grandeur happens, a beautiful rebirth called spring.
I always wondered why they called this season spring and now I know. The dictionary defines spring as: to come into being by growth. In other words LIFE! Fall - like death - was just a preparation for an awesome rebirth (spring).
A season where the cherry trees blossom forth pink-roses that fall as dancing petals; growth occurs; green vibrant plants; fruits are produced. All these things shout out LIFE. Death is indeed a beautiful thing and beyond its borders are life and rebirth.
How then does this apply to us? The Bible calls us to crucify our flesh in order that our Spirits may live. In layman's terms crucifying the flesh means we are to kill our selfishness, wrong motives, malice, tendency to lie, ability to hurt, self-corruption, and all vices.
And as we die daily to our immoral conducts, it tends to hurt since it is often difficult to let go of our consistent moral faults..but in totality it is truly an incredible experience and an admirable sight.
In order that change may take place in our lives, we need to go out of our comfort zones and do the very thing we all hate: die.
While we shed the leaves of our former selves and undergo the process of death, something incredible takes place: our personal SPRING. Our rebirth as a new person. We develop love for others, have a higher sense of morality; our patience grows, we become sensible and considerate, we self-sacrifice and seek others well-being. Its as if we see things under a different light, we're optimistic, our outlook in life dramatically changes.
But dying is an arduous task and takes a painfully deal of devotion and sacrifice. One must consistently and daily kill themselves. But the fruits of the labor is truly satisfying.
Love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, kindness, self-control.
It is like a see-saw: in order to raise one up, one end must go down. Crucify the flesh and we are able to walk in Spirit. I encourage you to live more like the cycle seasons, and when you begin to do so that is when the epiphany of transformation kicks in. Only then you will realize...death is a beautiful thing.
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