God Allow things to happen but He is not the source of cause.

Dictionary: Cause: to serve as a cause or occasion of : MAKE; to effect by command, authority, or force. Allow: To approve, to consent to expressly or formally. Direct: To regulate the activities or course of, to carry out the organizing, energizing, and supervising of, to dominate and determine the course. Scriptural Examples: Genesis 48:11 Israel said to Joseph, "I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too." Judges 2:23 The LORD had allowed those nations to remain; he did not drive them out at once by giving them into the hands of Joshua. Job 1:8-12 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face." The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Job 2:6 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life." Hebrews 6:3 And God permitting, we will do so. God's Sovereign: Job 37:15 Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash? Proverbs 20:24 A man's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way? Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. Jeremiah 10:23 [ Jeremiah's Prayer ] I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps. Ezekiel 7:5 "This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Disaster! An unheard-of disaster is coming. Revelation 16:9 They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him. God governs the world (Isa. 40:22-24), the nations (Isa. 40:15-17), and us (Proverbs 16:9). The Bible talks about that God give and take away. He allow the good and the bad to happen. Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains. There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. There is a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. Therefore, God do NOT cause however He does allow things to happen. God is in control.

God always unites and the devil always divides.

God always unites and the devil always divides. It should be easy to find our way around in this confused and confusing world but sin has brought confusion. Christians are divided on doctrine issues (teaching issues). This have been going on since the New Testament days (Read First Corinthians 9:11-17). Doctrines (teachings) that impacted many Christian lives and they are using doctrines more than they are using Holy Spirit to guide their Christian walk. Many doctrines are closely connected to legalism. Don't get me wrong, doctrines are important and Christians might argue for those issues. But, how far? What shall we unite with and from what shall we separate? Truth is, the Holy Spirit that can grasp our inner being only when we submit completely which will allow the Holy Spirit teach us, lead us mysterious and divine where we ought to go. "Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." — Psalm 86:11. The Holy Spirit that leads my thoughts and shapes my character. Our true moral and spiritual state is revealed by the Spirit through prayer and studying the Word. Eternally, we are "positional members" in the universal church of Jesus Christ, based solely on His merit and grace. If we are a Christ-follower, then we are already a member. This is eternal and unchanging (I Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 2:13-22; 4:3-6; Colossians 1:13-22). Everyone who is saved is a member of God's Kingdom. Christianity today is so entangled with "reasonings". Through the Word of God and prayer, Holy Spirit will communicate to us at the deepest levels of our hearts. There is head knowledge and a heart knowledge, in knowing God (not just about Him) the heart must be involved with the head. God has sent us the Holy Spirit (John 16:12-15). If we humble ourself to God, the Holy Spirit will reveal Jesus in us and teach us with revelations of spiritual truth (Matthew 11:25-27) from the Word of God (Bible). Our faith of actions should be our relationship with our Lord, our daily life, our worship reflect our concept of God.

Creation

The Word of God says He created in 6 days, so my faith is to follow what He said. Just as Jesus was resurrected on the third day, so my faith is to follow what the Word of God says. God's time is different than our time, the main point is that God said He created in 6 days so we should believe what HE SAID and not debate about it. While I believe in literal at the same time the Bible did mention that God's time is not the same as our time. All I do at this point is believe what He said whether it is literal or someone's interpration of God's time, God did it in 6 days now matter how you look at it. As God said:"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the LORD. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.' " Isaiah 55:8-9 Evolution make me wonder why people are following what Science says rather than what God says. I guess Evolution is winning since people are view the Bible is as nothing but a book.

FAITH

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1,2 James 1:3 For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 1 Peter 1:7 These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold--and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. Romans 5:2-4 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. My faith is not in my works. My faith is the generator of my works. Faith produces works. Works reveal faith or the lack of it. Being is expressed in doing. Quotes on Faith: God is still calling us to live by faith. (Ray C. Stedman, "What Faith Is") The great enemy of faith is a complacent spirit, an attitude of self-satisfaction with the status quo. (Ray C. Stedman, "What Faith Is") "Faith, for instance, is not positive thinking; that is something quite different. Faith is not a hunch that is followed. Faith is not hoping for the best, hoping that everything will turn out all right. Faith is not a feeling of optimism. Faith is none of these things, though all of them have been identified as faith." (Ray C. Stedman, "What Faith Is") Faith is believing there is another dimension to life other than those which can be touched, tasted, seen or felt. There is more to life than that. There is also the realm of the spirit, the invisible spiritual kingdom of God. All the ultimate answers of life lie in that kingdom. (Ray C. Stedman, "What Faith Is") Faith believes that God, in his grace, has stepped over the boundary into human history and told us some great and very valuable facts. (Ray C. Stedman, "What Faith Is") Faith believes them and adjusts its life to those facts and walks on that basis. (Ray C. Stedman, "What Faith Is") If faith is the gaze of the heart at God, and if this gaze is but the raising of the inward eyes to meet the all-seeing eyes of God, then it follows that it is one of the easiest things possible to do. A.W. Tozer It is a life of FAITH, not of intellect and reason, but a life of knowing Who makes us "go." Oswald Chambers- Quotes From "My Utmost For His Highest"(p 79) Many of us are loyal to our notions of Jesus Christ, but how many of us are loyal to Him?. . .Faith is not intelligent understanding, faith is deliberate commitment to a Person where I see no way. Oswald Chambers- Quotes From "My Utmost For His Highest" (p 88) After we have been perfectly related to God in sanctification, our faith has to be worked out in actualities. We shall be scattered, not into work, but into inner desolations and made to know what internal death to God's blessings means. Are we prepared for this? Oswald Chambers- Quotes From "My Utmost For His Highest" (p 95) "God wants us to lay our burdens on Him and rest in His love. It's His responsibility to work out the purpose and plan in our hardships. Only our refusal to trust Him....can hinder His purposes in our lives." Joni Eareckson Tad Faith recognizes the fact that God is in control of my life. Whether I believe it or not, it's a fact that God is in control of the world. If I don't believe it, I"m just robbing myself of the enjoyment of the fact. Paul Little "We are saved by faith alone. However, faith that saves is never alone...it is always accompanied by works." Martin Luther "Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible." Category: Faith Author: Ten, Boom, Corrie "Faith, if it be true faith, is a sure trust and confidence of the heart, and a firm consent whereby Christ is apprehended: so that Christ is the object of faith, yea, rather he is not the object, but, as it were, in the faith itself Christ is present." ------ Martin Luther "Faith...comes only when the outward fact penetrates to the inner heart of man and takes possession of him there -- and this is the work of the Spirit."------ George Hendry, *The Holy Spirit in Christian Theology*. "By faith we receive the saving grace of God that delivers us from guilt and sin. In love we participate in the victorious struggle of God against the principalities and powers of evil." ------ Gabriel Fackre, *A Christian Story*, p.203 Faith is believing He, the miracle worker, can turn my stone-cold indifference into a fire of love toward certain "unlovables". Pamela Reeve "In the Book of Acts, faith was for each believer a beginning, not an end; it was a journey, not a bed in which to lie while waiting for the day of our Lord's triumph. Believing was not a once-done act; it was more than an act, it was an attitude of heart and mind which inspired and enabled the believer to take up his cross and follow the Lamb whithersoever He went." Born After Midnight, 16. Faith (A.W. Tozer) "Faith never means gullibility. The man who believes everything is as far from God as the man who refuses to believe anything." The Root of the Righteous, 120. Faith (A.W. Tozer) '...Faith is not a once-done act, but a continuous gaze of the heart at the Triune God. Believing, then, is directing the hearts' attention to Jesus. It is lifting the mind to "behold the Lamb of God," and never ceasing that beholding for the rest of our lives.' The Pursuit of God, 90. Faith (A.W. Tozer) Faith as Paul saw it, was a living flaming thing leading to surrender and obedience to the commandments of Christ. Faith in our day often means no more than a meek assent to a doctrine. Paths to Power, 56-57. Faith (A.W. Tozer) I always admired atheists. I think it takes a lot of faith. Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider, Northern Exposure, Seoul Mates, 1991 If you think you can win, you can win. Faith is necessary to victory. William Hazlitt (1778 - 1830) Remember that faith is not a noble quality found only in superior men. It is not a virtue attainable by a limited few. It is not the ability to persuade ourselves that black is white or that something we desire will come to pass if we only wish hard enough. Faith is simply the bringing of our minds into accord with the truth. It is adjusting our expectations to the promises of God in complete assurance that the God of the whole earth cannot lie. A man looks at a mountain and affirms, "That is a mountain." There is no particular virtue in the affirmation. It is simply accepting the fact that stands before him and bringing his belief into accord with the fact. The man does not create the mountain by believing, nor could he annihilate it by denying. And so with the truth of God. The believing man accepts a promise of God as a fact as solid as a mountain and vastly more enduring. His faith changes nothing except his own personal relation to the word of promise. God's Word is true whether we believe it or not. Human unbelief cannot alter the character of God. Faith is subjective, but it is sound only when it corresponds with objective reality. The man's faith in the mountain is valid only because the mountain is there; otherwise it would be mere imagination and would need to be sharply corrected to rescue the man from harmful delusion. So God is what He is in Himself. He does not become what we believe. "I AM That I AM." We are on safe ground only when we know what kind of God He is and adjust our entire being to the holy concept. A.W. Tozer

What do you think would bridge the gap between the rights and the lefts?

Religious freedom means the freedom to have any religion you want, or to have no religion at all. Any attempt to influence the American federal government and American Citizens along with Christianity would force unbelievers and believers more divided than ever. Spreading the Gospel will be lost because Christianity rules rather than preaches. I don't think that is what Jesus would want. Our form of government offers people the ability to exercise their faith freely and without interference from the government. To be fair to all faiths, our government is set up to not establish a state religion. This includes promoting one religion over another. Faith is something that individuals must accept or reject. People either take the leap and believe or they do not. It is not something that can be forced. God will take over the earthly Governments whenever he is ready. God's main mission is spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That's the main job for Christians to do until Christ's return. We do not need holy wars nor we need creating hardship for the non-believers. We need to let them know about Christ personally rather than having Government telling them who to believe and why we have God's laws. What is the primary purpose of Christians need to do? Gospel or government ? The Gospel--the good news--is that each person, through Jesus Christ, can be forgiven of sin, brought back into fellowship with God, and filled with God’s Spirit for newness of life. Salvation is the bundle of benefits received by the person who believes the Gospel and entrusts his or her life to Christ. Even Jesus submitted to Roman's government without over-throwing it. Remember Jesus' main mission is to spread the Gospel. Government and Church "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence" (John 18:36) In this explanation Jesus makes it clear that there is a definite separation between His kingdom and the kingdoms of this world. The fact that Jesus had not allowed His disciples to defend Him was evidence enough of this fact. Christ's kingdom is heavenly and seeks the reconciliation of the sinner to God, but civil and world governments are of this earth and seek for power and supremacy. The separation of church and state is also taught in 2 Corinthians 5:20 where the Christian is referred to as an ambassador - "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ." An ambassador is one who represents one country to another. He does not become involved in the government of the other country but seeks the welfare of his own. Likewise, the Christian does not become involved in the affairs of earthly governments but represents the heavenly kingdom to them. He is in this world but is not of this world (John 17:16). His work is spiritual, not political. His responsibility is to help the people of this world to give their allegiance to the heavenly kingdom of Christ.

Keeping up with the Jones (in Materialism)

Proverbs 13:7 means when you keep up with the Joneses, your family gets their debt as well!

What does "poor in spirit" mean?

Being poor (humble) in spirit is a fundamental characteristic of a Christian. No one will enter Christ's kingdom on the basis of pride--the doorway into the kingdom is very low and must be crawled through. Poor means spiritual poverty. Spiritually man is empty, poor, and helpless. "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up" (James 4:10).

Gambling

As a Christian, I do admit that I have played lottery and been part of the football and basketball pool. I do this for fun rather than greed. My motive have to be determined why I am playing (gambling). I like to have fun so I do put in a few bucks in football or basketball pools and lottery once in awhile. Gambling is a tricky word because many of us put our funds in stocks for investment and that is considered alittle bit gambling. The key is "how you are using God's money?" Its not just the Baptists have a problem with gambling. There are many denominations similar to Baptist's beliefs have a problem with gambling. The Bible does not specifically forbid gambling, but there are several biblical principles that should make MOST Christians hesitate to participate: 1. God presents work as the normal way to get the money we need (Eph 4:28; II Thess. 3:12; Prov. 31). When a person cannot work, the second choice is prayer (Phil. 4:6, 19). 2. All my income belongs to God, not me (Psa. 24:1), and I am not free to use it as I wish. I am a steward, who should use it for God's purposes. Christians are called on to meet the needs of their family (I Tim. 5:8), and share with others, particularly Christians who have needs (2 Cor 8-9; Gal. 6:6-10; 3 John). Ask: Does God want me to use His money to buy a lottery ticket? 3 God uses money to accomplish important purposes in my life: a. Meet basic needs (Matt. 6:11; I Tim. 6:8). b. Build character (Phil 4:10-13) c. Give direction, by providing or withholding resources. d. Helping others through me. e. Show His power by providing miraculously. Ask: Does gambling accomplish these results? Am I looking to God or to the lottery for my needs? 4 Greed and covetousness are sin (Ex. 20:18; I Tim. 6:9; Heb 13:5), and these are motives in most gambling. 5 Proverbs warns of disaster for people who want to get rich quickly (28:20,22). 6 Wealth that comes easily goes just as easily (Prov. 13:11). 7 Wealth gained the wrong way breaks up families (Prov. 15:27). 8 Gambling can be addictive, and even if you don't fall prey to it as a compulsive habit, your example may cause others to be enslaved by it (I Cor. 8:9, 13).

Two Symbols of Christianity: The cross

Catholics and Protestants is that many Catholic crosses have an image of Jesus hanging on them, while Protestant crosses are empty. (The cross with Christ on it is a crucifix.) One minor reason that Protestants use an empty cross is that some early Protestant reformers were very cautious about images of Christ. Crosses are frequent in places of worship, but these reformers believed that using images of God in worship was a violation of the second commandment. More important is that the cross and the crucifix represent two very different understandings of Christ's atonement for sin. Both Catholics and evangelical Protestants believe that Christ died to pay the penalty for sin. The difference is that Protestants believe that Christ's work was finished on the cross, and Catholics believe it continues. For Catholics, the appearance of Christ on the crucifix represents the fact that Christ's atoning work is still going on. For Protestants, the empty cross demonstrates that Christ's sacrificial work is completed, and there is no more sacrifice for sin.

Suffering as part of God's Glory

The Lord has placed us in an environment with a certain supply of the gifts of His grace, and we didn't earn any of them. Everything we have, and everything we are able to obtain, comes as a result of the Grace of God; we have deserved nothing. Christians suffer for many reasons, sometimes through no fault of their own. A Christian will experience a normal amount of suffering as part of human existence. But if a believer stays in fellowship with God and grows in Christ consistently. The following is a list of reasons why believers in fellowship suffer undeservedly in order to bring blessing to themselves or others. 1. Suffering for the glory of God: Book of Job; Isa. 48:9-11 2. Suffering to comfort others: 2 Cor. 1:3-6 3. Suffering to demonstrate the power of God, the provisions of grace: 2 Cor. 12:8-10 4. Suffering from spiritual growing pains; the testing that strengthens faith: Deut. 8:1-10; James 1:1-6; 1 Pet. 1:7,8; Rom. 5:3 Faster growth means more frequent testing; there is a refining process: Job. 23:10; Isa. 1:18-27; 1 Pet. 1:7 5. Suffering to keep down pride: 2 Cor. 12:6,7; Matt. 26:31-75 (the scattering of the disciples) 6. Suffering to illustrate doctrine (for advanced believers): Book of Hosea 7. Suffering by association occurs when we have some relationship with someone who is suffering: Rom. 14:7; 1 Cor. 12:26; 1 Chron. 21 8. Suffering to show the fruit of the Spirit and the results of edification: 2 Cor. 4:6-11 9. Suffering to learn the value of doctrine: Psalm 119:65-72 10. Suffering as a witness to Christ: 2 Tim. 2:8-12; John 15:18-21; Acts 5:40-42; 1 Cor. 4:9-16 11. Suffering as a result of exercising a spiritual gift; illustrated by the life of the Apostle Paul 12. Suffering from involvement in spiritual battles, the angelic conflict: Eph. 3:8-13 PROMISES TO BELIEVERS WHO SUFFER Psalm 34:19,20; Isa.43:2; 2 Cor. 4:17 and 12:9; 1 Peter 5:10 God allows us to go through these difficult things because He wants us to be more like Him, and He is with us each step of the way. I Peter 2:20-21 - If you are beaten for doing wrong, there is no reason to praise you for being patient in your punishment. But if you suffer for doing good, and you are patient, then God is pleased. This is what you were called to do, because Christ suffered for you and gave you an example to follow. So you should do as He did. I Peter 3:14 - But even if you suffer for doing right, you are blessed. "Don't be afraid of what they fear; do not dread those things." I Peter 5:10 - And after you suffer for a short time, God, who gives all grace, will make everything right. He will make you strong and support you and keep you from falling. He called you to share in His glory in Christ, a glory that will continue forever. Suffering has five main themes to it: 1. Our God is good. Our pain allows us to identify with our Lord, who suffered for our sin in our place, being without fault and undeserving of the suffering. So, why should we expect better? It draws us closer to and more intimate with Him. God will actually enter into the pain with us. So if there is no healing, He is just working harder in us! 2. God will use our suffering for the greater good that is His purpose. Consider it fertilizer to the garden of life. Giving our burden to God through prayer, as Paul did, will allow us to grow in greater depth spiritually. 3. Remember, God is working even when we do not feel it! The chief purpose of God's Will for us is to grow us closer to Him! It is not about money, or power, or our bodies, or work, or anything else! The focus on Christ and His character will perfect our character to be more Christ like and be in His will. 4. Suffering is not being a martyr; rather, it is valuable for our living as we learn to surrender everything to Him. Never force suffering on yourself for attention, as this does not glorify God, only yourself! 5. When we are filled with joy, even in the mist of suffering, we mirror to the world the character of Christ. The main theme of suffering is not how we answer the ways and whys, but how we live our lives so to still give God the glory! How do we allow Him to use us, and then share our experiences for the benefit of others, such as people like Joni Erickson Tada? Suffering is a choice, not of will we go though it or not, but how will we deal and learn from it. That is what is important! When we trust in Him, He will not forsake us, leave us, or abandon us. He is always there. Remember, Jesus Himself suffered the most on our behalf--the Person, the God who cares for us! He took our place of suffering and bore our sins so we could have meaning, purpose, and a place in Heaven. We need to take to heart that when life is at its darkest, God is there. He understands, and loves and carries us though it. We need to accept the fact that God is in control, even if we do not understand. It is by faith we can endure it. We can place such faith in Him because of the assurance we have through His Word, even when we do not understand. Our true home and purpose is not here; it is still to come. We are not made for this world, we are just here to learn all we can, and with what Christ has given to us, make the best and most of the situations in which we find ourselves. Then, one day, we will be called to our true home in eternity, in Heaven. So, let us cling to the hope we have, not the things we experience!