Thought 23: Matthew 11:12 "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence and violent people have been raiding it." (TNIV)
I read this Scripture and it immediately confused me. How could heaven be affected by violence and be raided? I though and prayed about how to interpret this and this is what came up.
Jesus must have been talking about the kingdom of heaven on earth. If heaven is to be a paradise, a place where no suffering or pain take place then there cannot be violence there which causes both suffering and pain. The only way violence could take place in heaven is the kingdom of heaven on earth. As believers we are to bring the Kingdom to earth and so this kingdom we are trying to build is being subjected to violence and raided. This interpretation is further shown because Jesus says "from the days of John the Baptist until now." John guided the way for Jesus who brought the kingdom of heaven to earth. Thus only from John the Baptists arrival on the scene was heaven able to be subjected to such violence because it was not on earth nor capable of coming to earth, where such violence could occur, until Jesus brought it down.
See Bible interpretation can be fun and make you sound smart.
Thought 24: I'm currently in Rwanda on Christmas eve and have been here a couple of weeks and Rwanda is an amazingly beautiful country. It is super green with breathtaking hills and colourful flowers everywhere. It is really the most beautiful place I've seen. And yet the Rwandans walk by it everyday like its nothing. They are far more interested in your pasty white skin than the blue skies and singing birds. We are the same way in British Columbia. Many people say that we have the most beautiful place on earth but since we see it everyday we ignore it and think its not that great. There are moments when I stop and look up at a hill in Kelowna where no buidings are and or up at the sky during a sunset unblocked by power lines and just am amazed at the beauty of creation. We really need more moments like these to fully be in wonder of God's power.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Full Mind and New Status
And after a seven month hiatus we are back!
Thought 21:
Psalm 10:4 "In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God"
Youth Pastor Joel brought up this passage today and it struck me. He said how our minds are so full of thoughts of other things that there is no room for God. We are not thinking of God and so we become empty and don't feel him anymore. This made me think of how during the winter months so many have a "spiritual depression" of sorts and feel far from God. Perhaps its because our mind is so full of the stresses of the winter. We need to winterize our vehicles, shovel our driveways, and not to mention the biggest stress of all: Christmas. We have to buy presents which puts us under financial stress, we have to prepare the house for all the festivities, whether it be decorating or preparing the Christmas turkey or ham dinner, maybe we are even travelling (such as myself) to visit family and that comes with its own stresses. The state of our Christmas is one of stress and materialism and this occupies our minds from the true reason we celebrate Christmas: the celebration of God intervening into our lives so we can have a personal relationship with Him. Our thoughts are occupied by all these other Christmas stresses that we don't take time to be still and allow God to fully occupy our mind and fill us up with his spirit.
Thought 22: Well the biggest difference in my life over these last seven months has been the change in relationship status as now being an engaged man. I have found however that the characteristics of my relationship with my fiancee have not changed since that day however. Perhaps it is because the wedding is a little while off that none of the stresses of planning have begun nor really the continual thoughts of "oh my gosh I am going to be married soon." I believe it hasn't changed because we've felt like we've been at this milestone of our relationship for awhile now. We really felt like we were engaged to be married before we officially got engage we just didn't have the hardware for it to be official. I think that is another reason why we got engaged and are waiting awhile to get married. We could have stayed unengaged until closer to a time when we could get married in the financial sense but we would feel trapped in a title that didn't really suit us. It is amazing that a title such as "fiance(e)" could be so liberating emotionally from the title "boyfriend/girlfriend" because they are just words. However I like the sound of fiancee better than girlfriend. Maybe it makes me feel more mature.
Thought 21:
Psalm 10:4 "In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God"
Youth Pastor Joel brought up this passage today and it struck me. He said how our minds are so full of thoughts of other things that there is no room for God. We are not thinking of God and so we become empty and don't feel him anymore. This made me think of how during the winter months so many have a "spiritual depression" of sorts and feel far from God. Perhaps its because our mind is so full of the stresses of the winter. We need to winterize our vehicles, shovel our driveways, and not to mention the biggest stress of all: Christmas. We have to buy presents which puts us under financial stress, we have to prepare the house for all the festivities, whether it be decorating or preparing the Christmas turkey or ham dinner, maybe we are even travelling (such as myself) to visit family and that comes with its own stresses. The state of our Christmas is one of stress and materialism and this occupies our minds from the true reason we celebrate Christmas: the celebration of God intervening into our lives so we can have a personal relationship with Him. Our thoughts are occupied by all these other Christmas stresses that we don't take time to be still and allow God to fully occupy our mind and fill us up with his spirit.
Thought 22: Well the biggest difference in my life over these last seven months has been the change in relationship status as now being an engaged man. I have found however that the characteristics of my relationship with my fiancee have not changed since that day however. Perhaps it is because the wedding is a little while off that none of the stresses of planning have begun nor really the continual thoughts of "oh my gosh I am going to be married soon." I believe it hasn't changed because we've felt like we've been at this milestone of our relationship for awhile now. We really felt like we were engaged to be married before we officially got engage we just didn't have the hardware for it to be official. I think that is another reason why we got engaged and are waiting awhile to get married. We could have stayed unengaged until closer to a time when we could get married in the financial sense but we would feel trapped in a title that didn't really suit us. It is amazing that a title such as "fiance(e)" could be so liberating emotionally from the title "boyfriend/girlfriend" because they are just words. However I like the sound of fiancee better than girlfriend. Maybe it makes me feel more mature.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Bus ads and Necessity of the Spirit
Thought 19: So just recently it has been revealed to my attention that there are ads upon buses that say "There is probably no God so enjoy life." This revelation now made sense of why the Catholic church I pass everyday on Benvoulin said "There probably is a God so enjoy life." Now from what I have heard churches have made no big deal about this, rather than Willow Park mentioning it in the service briefly, which is for the best. These ads are not going to hurt the cause of God at all. It's like a video that has been circulating around the Willow Park community that says "trying to prove God is like defending a lion. It doesn't need your help. Just unlock the cage." Our God is not so weak that a simple ad will weaken him. The only way that damage would come about is if the church makes a big deal about it and attacks it. An attack like that would come from anger which would not be a fair representation of Christ and will harm his cause more that help it. This ad will fade but God's glory is forever.
Thought 20: If you weren't at GENnet on Monday then you really missed out on an amazing teaching by Joel Fedderson. At GENnet we are going through the topic of sharing the Gospel and this is definitely Joel's passion. To summarize what he said was that prayer is the most important and most powerful weapon we have. Without prayer we might as well just stop doing everything we are because no fruit will come from it. This is because without the Spirit God cannot be discerned. If there is no one praying for a person then the Spirit will never be with them and they will not understand anything of God. The Spirit is necessary for God to move on earth and we need to pray to bring the Spirit to those around us whom we love.
Thought 20: If you weren't at GENnet on Monday then you really missed out on an amazing teaching by Joel Fedderson. At GENnet we are going through the topic of sharing the Gospel and this is definitely Joel's passion. To summarize what he said was that prayer is the most important and most powerful weapon we have. Without prayer we might as well just stop doing everything we are because no fruit will come from it. This is because without the Spirit God cannot be discerned. If there is no one praying for a person then the Spirit will never be with them and they will not understand anything of God. The Spirit is necessary for God to move on earth and we need to pray to bring the Spirit to those around us whom we love.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Doors and Trials
Back to the Thoughts rather than the events.
Today's thoughts come courtesy of the Willow Park Church staff retreat last week. We went to Gardom Lake for 24 hours to be able to take time away to rest and meditate on God (Mark 6:31).We were meditating on Revelation 2 and 3 which are the letters to the churches and so these two thoughts come from there.
Thought 17: Revelation 2:7 (NIV) "...What He opens no one can shut and what He shuts no on can open."
God opens doors for us that no force but Himself can shut. We can, however, stop ourselves from walking through those doors. We need to recognize opportunities God is giving us and walk into them. We also need to recognize areas God is closing and not to keep trying to knock on those doors. If we keep banging on the doors that cannot be open we could miss the door that leads to Him and His will.
Thought 18: Revelation 2:10 (Message) "...The Devil is about to throw you in jail for a time of testing - ten days. It won't last forever."
Whenever I read something that makes me stop and think I have a tendency to look up and into the distance. After I read "It won't last forever" I looked up and outside the window snow started to fall off the trees and then it stopped. Later I read it again and when I looked up again snow began to drop off the trees again. It lead me to write this poem. It hasn't been edited this is purely what I wrote in the moment:
Though the winter nights are long
and it's days are grey
It doesn't last forever.
The green pushes through
and the blue comes out
It doesn't last forever.
Though chains bind limbs
and rope cuts into flesh
It doesn't last forever
Chains rust and break
rope frays and snaps
It doesn't last forever
Through Eyes that are dry
We can truly see
This lasts forever
That upon a tree he died
melted death and broke chains
So we last forever
Today's thoughts come courtesy of the Willow Park Church staff retreat last week. We went to Gardom Lake for 24 hours to be able to take time away to rest and meditate on God (Mark 6:31).We were meditating on Revelation 2 and 3 which are the letters to the churches and so these two thoughts come from there.
Thought 17: Revelation 2:7 (NIV) "...What He opens no one can shut and what He shuts no on can open."
God opens doors for us that no force but Himself can shut. We can, however, stop ourselves from walking through those doors. We need to recognize opportunities God is giving us and walk into them. We also need to recognize areas God is closing and not to keep trying to knock on those doors. If we keep banging on the doors that cannot be open we could miss the door that leads to Him and His will.
Thought 18: Revelation 2:10 (Message) "...The Devil is about to throw you in jail for a time of testing - ten days. It won't last forever."
Whenever I read something that makes me stop and think I have a tendency to look up and into the distance. After I read "It won't last forever" I looked up and outside the window snow started to fall off the trees and then it stopped. Later I read it again and when I looked up again snow began to drop off the trees again. It lead me to write this poem. It hasn't been edited this is purely what I wrote in the moment:
Though the winter nights are long
and it's days are grey
It doesn't last forever.
The green pushes through
and the blue comes out
It doesn't last forever.
Though chains bind limbs
and rope cuts into flesh
It doesn't last forever
Chains rust and break
rope frays and snaps
It doesn't last forever
Through Eyes that are dry
We can truly see
This lasts forever
That upon a tree he died
melted death and broke chains
So we last forever
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Mexico Day 7: Zitch Dog + Mexico Day 8: Coming Home...Delayed
Just going to finish up the Mexico Stuff now
Day 7:
The Ryder boys walked to Bucerias in the morning for some time away from the little boys. They've been following us everywhere and we needed a break by then. The first time we went to Bucerias on the Monday there was the carnival. Today the carnival was gone and it returned to a slum. There was one block of a flea market with more high pressure salesmen. Once back we played an hour of shuffleboard before lunch and then a few more hours of shuffleboard and table tennis. After all that time in the sun we had to get out of it so we returned to the room to read until dinner at the Thai restaurant. The show was a rock and roll show featuring dance numbers from footloose and Grease and finished with some 70s/80s rock that I recognized but couldn't name the songs. It was a good show
Day 8:
Our last day consisted of more table tennis. A.J and I also played beach volleyball with a nice family from the Sunshine Coast. Our shuttle left for the airport at 6 for the airport and upon arriving we found out our flight was delayed for an hour. We finally got off the ground at 11:30 and were on our way home
Day 7:
The Ryder boys walked to Bucerias in the morning for some time away from the little boys. They've been following us everywhere and we needed a break by then. The first time we went to Bucerias on the Monday there was the carnival. Today the carnival was gone and it returned to a slum. There was one block of a flea market with more high pressure salesmen. Once back we played an hour of shuffleboard before lunch and then a few more hours of shuffleboard and table tennis. After all that time in the sun we had to get out of it so we returned to the room to read until dinner at the Thai restaurant. The show was a rock and roll show featuring dance numbers from footloose and Grease and finished with some 70s/80s rock that I recognized but couldn't name the songs. It was a good show
Day 8:
Our last day consisted of more table tennis. A.J and I also played beach volleyball with a nice family from the Sunshine Coast. Our shuttle left for the airport at 6 for the airport and upon arriving we found out our flight was delayed for an hour. We finally got off the ground at 11:30 and were on our way home
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Mexico Day 6: You know your in Mexico when...
My eye felt much better allowing me to be outside the room. After breakfast we played a good hour and a half of table tennis until music trivia started. It was a lot of the same questions as before so I destroyed everyone at it. I won and the prize was a bottle of tequila. You know your in Mexico when prizes are tequila. People go crazy for it. It seems that as soon as a tourist lands in Mexico all they want is to harvest tequila.
After lunch we went to try our hand at tennis, legit tennis not table tennis. When we got there it wasn't open yet but we found 4 large iguanas and a baby iguana. After many pictures the tennis court was open and we played some very bad tennis.
When we returned to the pool there was a football game going on where you tried to guess how many times they would catch the ball while diving into the pool out of ten throws. I guessed 8 and they only caught 3. After that was soccer tennis which A.J. and I finally signed up for. We one the first game 11-8 putting us in the finals (there were only 4 teams) against the staff which we lost 15-9.
Our dinner reservation was a late one so we grabbed a snack and I read until dinner at the Italian restaurant. All the rowdies seem to have arrived today. Two people at the restaurant were so drunk that one spilt his wine, rubbed stranger's heads, and pretty much shouted as he talked. The ladies at the table were so embarrassed they left. As the men went to leave the second guy knocked over a glass shattering it all over the floor. When a server told him not to worry about it he couldn't responded and wavered on his feet. After dinner we tried to go to sleep but people kept yelling outside of our door until late into the night.
After lunch we went to try our hand at tennis, legit tennis not table tennis. When we got there it wasn't open yet but we found 4 large iguanas and a baby iguana. After many pictures the tennis court was open and we played some very bad tennis.
When we returned to the pool there was a football game going on where you tried to guess how many times they would catch the ball while diving into the pool out of ten throws. I guessed 8 and they only caught 3. After that was soccer tennis which A.J. and I finally signed up for. We one the first game 11-8 putting us in the finals (there were only 4 teams) against the staff which we lost 15-9.
Our dinner reservation was a late one so we grabbed a snack and I read until dinner at the Italian restaurant. All the rowdies seem to have arrived today. Two people at the restaurant were so drunk that one spilt his wine, rubbed stranger's heads, and pretty much shouted as he talked. The ladies at the table were so embarrassed they left. As the men went to leave the second guy knocked over a glass shattering it all over the floor. When a server told him not to worry about it he couldn't responded and wavered on his feet. After dinner we tried to go to sleep but people kept yelling outside of our door until late into the night.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Mexico Day 5: What do you think Vodka is?
I was sidelined today with an eye infection. My eye would start to water and couldn't open when in bright light so I was stuck inside except for the meals. It made me miss out on the ping-pong tourney which A.J. took second place in. They all went to Bucerias after while Sean and I stayed back. They brought me some anti-bacterial eye cream (a weird experience putting on) which made my eye feel much better allowing me to leave the confines of my room. At pharmacies here you can buy prescription drugs right off the counter. I was free to move about after dinner and there was a Mexican festival. There was a mariachi band playing and games where you could win fake pesos to use at an action afterwards. We didn't win anything at the auction unfortunately. A.J and the boys went to see the ballet show but came back soon after. A.J. had a little too much to drink that night and made a mess of our bathroom.
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