We are created in God's image. Physical image? Mental image? Consciousness? If the latter, where did all this doubt, fear, anger and uncertainty come from?
Jesus showed emotion-anquish in the garden and anger. Father God showed anger in the Old Testament. The Holy Spirit can be grieved. If God showed these emotions and we're created in God's image, can we do any less? So if/when I attempt to solve a problem "on my own", am I truly (1)"on my own" since God will never leave or forsake me, (2) doing my own thing as in without God or (3) exercising my God given abilities and talents and being a co-creator with The Creator? And am I wrong if I display anger while solving this problem.
What part do our emotions play in our development as spiritual beings. Can we ever be angry with God? Why not? He certainly got angry with us many times.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Did you ever...?
When you were a child, did you ever wonder about the things you heard in church, Sunday School, vacation Bible school? Did you ever dare question any grownup about anything that went against the grain of the organized church that you belonged to?
I remember asking why schools taught that we evolved from monkeys but the Bible said we were created in the image of God? Of course, no one was saying God was a monkey!!! Could not get an answer to my question. Still can't. Now my question is, if we evolved from monkeys, why have we stopped evolving? Everything that science says evolved from something else seems to have "stopped evolving". In all these millions of years that the earth has been around and creatures have been around, shouldn't we be at another place by now? In some cases, it seems that nature has gone backwards. Did elephants evolve from mammoths? If so, why are elephants so much smaller than mammoths?
Welcome your comments, thoughts.
I remember asking why schools taught that we evolved from monkeys but the Bible said we were created in the image of God? Of course, no one was saying God was a monkey!!! Could not get an answer to my question. Still can't. Now my question is, if we evolved from monkeys, why have we stopped evolving? Everything that science says evolved from something else seems to have "stopped evolving". In all these millions of years that the earth has been around and creatures have been around, shouldn't we be at another place by now? In some cases, it seems that nature has gone backwards. Did elephants evolve from mammoths? If so, why are elephants so much smaller than mammoths?
Welcome your comments, thoughts.
Leaving Church
Reading a new book: "Leaving Church, A Memoir of Faith" by Barbara Brown Taylor, an Episcopal priest who loses faith with the church but not with God. Sounds like me.
When people ask me where I worship, I tell them that I am on the backside of the desert like Moses and like Moses, I hear from God, perhaps even better than when I was a church member.
If you have read this, tell me your thoughts. Also leave a comment about The Shack. Definitely want to hear your thoughts on that one.
When people ask me where I worship, I tell them that I am on the backside of the desert like Moses and like Moses, I hear from God, perhaps even better than when I was a church member.
If you have read this, tell me your thoughts. Also leave a comment about The Shack. Definitely want to hear your thoughts on that one.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
The Crucifixion
The Bible tells us that Jesus' legs WERE NOT broken as was the custom when someone was crucified. This was done, so I've read, to prolong the agony of a slow death because the person could not brace themselves up to breathe. Even with one's legs broken, it could take days for the person to actually die. (Talk about man's inhumanity to man! WOW. Who thinks up these terrible things to do to each other - sometimes in the name of God?)
In Jesus' case, he was crucified and hung on the cross for only a few hours. His legs were never broken and He was removed from the cross that same day. Anyone ever wonder why the procedure was changed? Is there any other account of a man who was only crucified for a few hours, left intact and taken down the same day?
Of course, as a believer, this is an important aspect of your theology. But shouldn't the resurrection weigh more heavily than the crucifixion? The crucifixion is recounted in detail in the Bible and in most churches on Easter Sunday. We have the whole story from the entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, the betrayal, arrest and trial to the buriel in great detail. In the book of Luke, this covers chapters 18 through 23. The resurrection is all in chapter 24. In John, the "sufferings and the glory" are from chapters 18 through 19. The resurrection appearances are verses 1-19 in chapter 20.
Have we put the emphasis on the wrong part of the story of Jesus?
SELAH
In Jesus' case, he was crucified and hung on the cross for only a few hours. His legs were never broken and He was removed from the cross that same day. Anyone ever wonder why the procedure was changed? Is there any other account of a man who was only crucified for a few hours, left intact and taken down the same day?
Of course, as a believer, this is an important aspect of your theology. But shouldn't the resurrection weigh more heavily than the crucifixion? The crucifixion is recounted in detail in the Bible and in most churches on Easter Sunday. We have the whole story from the entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, the betrayal, arrest and trial to the buriel in great detail. In the book of Luke, this covers chapters 18 through 23. The resurrection is all in chapter 24. In John, the "sufferings and the glory" are from chapters 18 through 19. The resurrection appearances are verses 1-19 in chapter 20.
Have we put the emphasis on the wrong part of the story of Jesus?
SELAH
The Question of Angels
Has anyone ever encountered angels? Not evil spirits, demons, etc. Unfortunately, many born again believers can recount stories of encounters with demons but how many have encountered angels. Makes you wonder who has the most power in their lives.
Just finished reading a book from 1997 that featured stories of people who experienced assistance by angels and was wondering if anyone had the same or similar experiences. One story described a very large black dog that kept a man from freezing to death in a blizzard by lying down on the man. (Thomas Hobbes said "For it is not the shape, but their use, that makes them angels.") My daughter told me she would see angels as pillars of light all the time at the church we attended several years ago.
Just curious. Give me a shout back.
Just finished reading a book from 1997 that featured stories of people who experienced assistance by angels and was wondering if anyone had the same or similar experiences. One story described a very large black dog that kept a man from freezing to death in a blizzard by lying down on the man. (Thomas Hobbes said "For it is not the shape, but their use, that makes them angels.") My daughter told me she would see angels as pillars of light all the time at the church we attended several years ago.
Just curious. Give me a shout back.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
What is the question?
This question was asked by someone in one of the writing groups I belong to: if love is the answer, what is the question?
Friday, April 10, 2009
Good Friday/Easter
Happy Easter. Happy Resurrection Day. Happy Passover, Happy Good Friday.
I have a problem that I hope someone can address. First, let me say that I am a believer. You may not think so, reading some of the posts on this blog. Whatever. My problem is that The Church teaches that Jesus was crucified on Friday (Good Friday) and arose 3 days later. I don't know about you but Friday to Sunday IS NOT 3 DAYS!!! No way, No how. So am I missing something? I spent the last few hours checking other blogs dealing with Easter, the resurrection, etc., but NO ONE tackled this math issue. Just need some clarity.
I have a problem that I hope someone can address. First, let me say that I am a believer. You may not think so, reading some of the posts on this blog. Whatever. My problem is that The Church teaches that Jesus was crucified on Friday (Good Friday) and arose 3 days later. I don't know about you but Friday to Sunday IS NOT 3 DAYS!!! No way, No how. So am I missing something? I spent the last few hours checking other blogs dealing with Easter, the resurrection, etc., but NO ONE tackled this math issue. Just need some clarity.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)