Posts
This video is from the words of C.S. Lewis. It is coupled together with some clips of the Passion of the Christ. I enjoyed it and I hope you do as well. As we look to be humans who bear the image of God, we look to Jesus who is Lord and God.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
looking at life
"There is a way of looking at life, and those who discover it are able to live from the heart no matter what." John Eldredge
How true this is. This goes along perfectly well with learning to be human. How can we be human no matter what? How can we be a restored human among a fall humanity? How can we live from the heart? This is part of what John Eldredge discusses in his book Walking the Dead. I am by no means attemping to cover all of what John Eldredge wrote but I just want to begin this discussion.
When we work for the Lord it is not in vain. Our walk with Him isn't in vain. Our journey with God to be the person He wants us to be is not in vain. The struggles and trials we face on the journey isn't in vain. I hope you are getting the point. I also hope that you get how big this is. Everything we do will be affirmed. It isn't useless. It is for a purpose. Maybe the Apostle Paul could shed some light on the subject for us.
"Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain... But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep....then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death." (1 Corinthians 15:13,14,20,24-26)
There is so much in this passage some of which I have already blogged about but I wish to point out a few other things here. Our faith, our walk, our preaching, and our living from the heart, would all be in vain, if there was no resurrection of the dead. Jesus who was the first fruits and then we are to follow.
So what? What's the point? Allow the apostle to explain himself.
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord."
Yes! This is what we have been waiting to hear, "Our toil is not in vain." Everything we do is in preperation for the day when God restores all things including our physcial bodies. The way of looking at life is looking to the resurrection of Jesus and our own. Look and see what Christ has down for us. He died and rose again. We have died and and have been raised to new life. But this isn't just something that happens in the future. It has already begun for those of us who confess Jesus as Lord. What a glorious time when our bodies our transformed and we live in a transformed world. Lets prepare for that, remembering that our toil is not in vain.
How true this is. This goes along perfectly well with learning to be human. How can we be human no matter what? How can we be a restored human among a fall humanity? How can we live from the heart? This is part of what John Eldredge discusses in his book Walking the Dead. I am by no means attemping to cover all of what John Eldredge wrote but I just want to begin this discussion.
When we work for the Lord it is not in vain. Our walk with Him isn't in vain. Our journey with God to be the person He wants us to be is not in vain. The struggles and trials we face on the journey isn't in vain. I hope you are getting the point. I also hope that you get how big this is. Everything we do will be affirmed. It isn't useless. It is for a purpose. Maybe the Apostle Paul could shed some light on the subject for us.
"Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain... But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep....then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death." (1 Corinthians 15:13,14,20,24-26)
There is so much in this passage some of which I have already blogged about but I wish to point out a few other things here. Our faith, our walk, our preaching, and our living from the heart, would all be in vain, if there was no resurrection of the dead. Jesus who was the first fruits and then we are to follow.
So what? What's the point? Allow the apostle to explain himself.
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord."
Yes! This is what we have been waiting to hear, "Our toil is not in vain." Everything we do is in preperation for the day when God restores all things including our physcial bodies. The way of looking at life is looking to the resurrection of Jesus and our own. Look and see what Christ has down for us. He died and rose again. We have died and and have been raised to new life. But this isn't just something that happens in the future. It has already begun for those of us who confess Jesus as Lord. What a glorious time when our bodies our transformed and we live in a transformed world. Lets prepare for that, remembering that our toil is not in vain.
Evil and the Justice of God
I hope you have been enjoying these blogs. It has been fun to write them. It has helped me tremendously to process what God is doing in me. I wanted to write a quick blog and post this video. One of my faviorite books is Evil and the Justice of God by N.T. Wright. This book I highly recommend. Wright has helped me to see evil for what it is and how Jesus has dealt with it in His death and resurrection. Check this video out.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
What about heaven?
I gave my testimony at a small group this afternoon. One of the things I shared was how the more were walk with God, the more our knowledge of how big He is grows. Getting to know God is like hiking up a mountain. Our view of the world around us only gets bigger and bigger until we reach the top. God's plans and His ways are like that as well. God and His way only get bigger and bigger.
I have been reading a book called "Suprised by Hope" by N.T. Wright. I am sure your not "suprised" that I am reading a book by N.T. Wright. God's plans really are bigger than we can imagine. This book has been a breath of fresh air for me. Things that I didn't think possible are now possible. I have posted a video that I strongly encourage you to watch. It helps to understand this blog a lot better. I also want to say that I am by know means trying to give a full and complete teaching on this subject. My hope is that this would be a jump start into a direction that I believe God has us all going.
God will restore all things. I am sure you have heard me say that a few times, while I have been blogging. God will fully restore humanity, when he raises the dead in Christ. The apostle Paul says, "For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in His own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:20-23) In Romans 8 we also read how the creation longs for the redemption of the childern of God. Creation as well is waiting to be redeemed and restored. Right now we live in a time between the resurrection and the coming of Christ. It is a time where God has begun his new age and creation but it is yet to reach it's completion until his coming. Revelation 3:12;21:2 talks about God completing his work of restoration. The new Jerusalem will come down from out of heaven forever bringing heaven and earth together. The old age and the old earth will pass away in that since.
So what does this all mean? Heaven is not our final destination. God will restore all of us by transforming our bodies through our resurrection and God will restore His longing creation as well. Then we wont go up to heaven but heaven will come down to us. The new Jerusalem will come down and the one who sits on the throne will say, "Behold, I make all things new." Wow! A restored people on a restored earth! What I thought impossible is possible. Even now! If God was going to "rapture" all Christians and then destory the earth along with all the rest of evil humanity, then what would be the point of caring for the earth now. I am not saying that people will not be judged but that according to the Bible, God has wanted to restore His people and His creation. There is very little evidence for God wiping out His creation and rapturing His people from that.
I know this is a lot to swallow. Search the scripture and study for yourself and watch the video. I am continuing to study and read the scripture to understand this more fully. It is clear that God is in the business of restoring and remaking. How can we do that even now?
Thanks for reading,
Marcelino
I have been reading a book called "Suprised by Hope" by N.T. Wright. I am sure your not "suprised" that I am reading a book by N.T. Wright. God's plans really are bigger than we can imagine. This book has been a breath of fresh air for me. Things that I didn't think possible are now possible. I have posted a video that I strongly encourage you to watch. It helps to understand this blog a lot better. I also want to say that I am by know means trying to give a full and complete teaching on this subject. My hope is that this would be a jump start into a direction that I believe God has us all going.
God will restore all things. I am sure you have heard me say that a few times, while I have been blogging. God will fully restore humanity, when he raises the dead in Christ. The apostle Paul says, "For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in His own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:20-23) In Romans 8 we also read how the creation longs for the redemption of the childern of God. Creation as well is waiting to be redeemed and restored. Right now we live in a time between the resurrection and the coming of Christ. It is a time where God has begun his new age and creation but it is yet to reach it's completion until his coming. Revelation 3:12;21:2 talks about God completing his work of restoration. The new Jerusalem will come down from out of heaven forever bringing heaven and earth together. The old age and the old earth will pass away in that since.
So what does this all mean? Heaven is not our final destination. God will restore all of us by transforming our bodies through our resurrection and God will restore His longing creation as well. Then we wont go up to heaven but heaven will come down to us. The new Jerusalem will come down and the one who sits on the throne will say, "Behold, I make all things new." Wow! A restored people on a restored earth! What I thought impossible is possible. Even now! If God was going to "rapture" all Christians and then destory the earth along with all the rest of evil humanity, then what would be the point of caring for the earth now. I am not saying that people will not be judged but that according to the Bible, God has wanted to restore His people and His creation. There is very little evidence for God wiping out His creation and rapturing His people from that.
I know this is a lot to swallow. Search the scripture and study for yourself and watch the video. I am continuing to study and read the scripture to understand this more fully. It is clear that God is in the business of restoring and remaking. How can we do that even now?
Thanks for reading,
Marcelino
Monday, August 11, 2008
Learning to be human in worship and art
I am constantly blown away by God's new creation. God will renew all things. What does this look like for the church today? Because God will raise us from the dead and because God will restore His creation, we are compelled to live in that reality today. N.T. Wright discusses how this plays out in art and music. Amazing stuff! God says welcome to my new creation. Now go and do it! Go and be human!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Learning to be truly human in worship
N.T. Wright is an amazing man of God, who has along with a few others inspired me to truly be human. One thing is clear is that, we were meant to worship the Lord. Believe it or not, when we worship, this is where heaven and earth meet! More on that in a later blog. This video briefly discusses the need and hungry for worship and how to enter into it.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
One God, One People, A Reflection of Family Camp Last Summer
I was at a small group tonight and the topic came up about what we should look for in a church. This has inspired me to blog about what is really essential in finding a church but also more importantly what the Church is suppose to be.
I have blogged about about my family camp experience in the past on myspace but I want to bring up some things that I believe I learned about God and His people through this experience.
I have been "Pentecostal" for almost all of my Christian life but going to this family camp opened my eyes and showed me what God was doing, which was far bigger than anything I could imagine. I saw Christians from all denominations wanting the same thing, that is, wanting to be God's restored family. When God's people are truly desiring to be restored, it really doesn't matter what your denominational background is.
God is the one who will restore us into a truly united people. So why not start now? Hasn't the new age begun already? The Apostle Paul dealt with a situation in the 1st century, where the Jews used cirumcision to identify the people of God. The Apostle Paul said that now becuase of the death and resurrection of Jesus, the people of God will be identified by faith. "Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is He not the God of the Gentiles also? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since God is one. He will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith" (Romans 3:30-31). I feel like even today Christians have put boundary markers or have made badges as a way to identify Christians. God clearly states through the Apostle Paul that the people of God are now to be identified by faith.
So what does all this mean? How does this apply? God wants us to be a restored people. We need to go to a church that above all desires for it's people to become truly human. Nothing else matters. This has completely blown away everything that I use to think. But what about if I don't like the worship that much? What If the teaching isn't that great? What if the service is too long or too short? The question we should ask is, "Does the pastor along with the church truly desire to be God's restored family?" Do you see fruit from this desire?
Another thing I wanted to bring up is the "life after life after death" theme I discussed in my previous blog. We will be fully restored, when this time comes. God, who is one, will have a people who is restored and one. We will be unitied and restored. Do you think that our badges or boundary markers that we make to identify God's people will matter much, when this occurs?? Probably not. So since the new age has already begun in the death and resurrection of Jesus, why not begin now?
This has been a great challenge for me. God has broken down walls in my life that I didn't know needed to be broken down. For me now, when I look for a church, I am looking for a church that truly desired to be human. I am completely open to any church of Jesus Christ that desires this. God will use and equip any Christian, who desires for humanity to be truly human.
Thanks for reading,
Marc
I have blogged about about my family camp experience in the past on myspace but I want to bring up some things that I believe I learned about God and His people through this experience.
I have been "Pentecostal" for almost all of my Christian life but going to this family camp opened my eyes and showed me what God was doing, which was far bigger than anything I could imagine. I saw Christians from all denominations wanting the same thing, that is, wanting to be God's restored family. When God's people are truly desiring to be restored, it really doesn't matter what your denominational background is.
God is the one who will restore us into a truly united people. So why not start now? Hasn't the new age begun already? The Apostle Paul dealt with a situation in the 1st century, where the Jews used cirumcision to identify the people of God. The Apostle Paul said that now becuase of the death and resurrection of Jesus, the people of God will be identified by faith. "Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is He not the God of the Gentiles also? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since God is one. He will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith" (Romans 3:30-31). I feel like even today Christians have put boundary markers or have made badges as a way to identify Christians. God clearly states through the Apostle Paul that the people of God are now to be identified by faith.
So what does all this mean? How does this apply? God wants us to be a restored people. We need to go to a church that above all desires for it's people to become truly human. Nothing else matters. This has completely blown away everything that I use to think. But what about if I don't like the worship that much? What If the teaching isn't that great? What if the service is too long or too short? The question we should ask is, "Does the pastor along with the church truly desire to be God's restored family?" Do you see fruit from this desire?
Another thing I wanted to bring up is the "life after life after death" theme I discussed in my previous blog. We will be fully restored, when this time comes. God, who is one, will have a people who is restored and one. We will be unitied and restored. Do you think that our badges or boundary markers that we make to identify God's people will matter much, when this occurs?? Probably not. So since the new age has already begun in the death and resurrection of Jesus, why not begin now?
This has been a great challenge for me. God has broken down walls in my life that I didn't know needed to be broken down. For me now, when I look for a church, I am looking for a church that truly desired to be human. I am completely open to any church of Jesus Christ that desires this. God will use and equip any Christian, who desires for humanity to be truly human.
Thanks for reading,
Marc
Saturday, August 2, 2008
A New Creation?? Our Eternal Purpose
How many times have you heard that you are a new creation in Christ? This is straight from 2 Corinthians 5:17. Or How many times have you heard that God will make a new heaven and a new earth? This is straight from Revelation 21. Or have we heard that the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God.. that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay?(Romans 8) Then of course there is the famous John 3:16 passage. We have eternal life in Jesus. This is what I am talking about when I say God's plans are far bigger than we can even imagine. This goes far beyond what Christians at times make Christianity, that is merely a personal religious experience. The question that I am attempting to ask is what happens when we die? Or what is our eternal purpose?
I am by now means trying to fully answer this question and I am only scratching the surface of this misunderstood topic. But I hope that it at least gets all of us thinking far bigger than we ever have. For along time I thought that eternal life meant being with Jesus forever and worshipping Him forever. There will be a period where we will be with the Lord Jesus in heaven but as N.T. Wright says our emphasis should be on "life after life after death." This I am afraid is missing for our message to a world that disperately needs it. Will we just be sitting on a cloud playing our harps to Jesus? Or is there something bigger? Something so amazing that God has planned from the beginning of time?
The answer is yes! God will not obliterate his creation. He is going to remake and restore it! Creation along with humanity will be set free! God will make all things new (Revelation 21:9). It is in scripture in Isaiah 65, Revelation 21, Romans 8, and so on. God will make renew all things. The "life after life after death" is the life we live when we are raised from the dead and Jesus reigns and restores creation. This is our message to a world that is hurting and decaying. God has not only begun this in Jesus' death and resurrection but He will bring all these things to fruition at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is in the process of ridding the world of evil and death. Our "life after life after death" is a world where Jesus fully reigns and where evil and death no longer reign. And in this world we can truly be what God has always intended us to be, that is truly human.
I am by now means trying to fully answer this question and I am only scratching the surface of this misunderstood topic. But I hope that it at least gets all of us thinking far bigger than we ever have. For along time I thought that eternal life meant being with Jesus forever and worshipping Him forever. There will be a period where we will be with the Lord Jesus in heaven but as N.T. Wright says our emphasis should be on "life after life after death." This I am afraid is missing for our message to a world that disperately needs it. Will we just be sitting on a cloud playing our harps to Jesus? Or is there something bigger? Something so amazing that God has planned from the beginning of time?
The answer is yes! God will not obliterate his creation. He is going to remake and restore it! Creation along with humanity will be set free! God will make all things new (Revelation 21:9). It is in scripture in Isaiah 65, Revelation 21, Romans 8, and so on. God will make renew all things. The "life after life after death" is the life we live when we are raised from the dead and Jesus reigns and restores creation. This is our message to a world that is hurting and decaying. God has not only begun this in Jesus' death and resurrection but He will bring all these things to fruition at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is in the process of ridding the world of evil and death. Our "life after life after death" is a world where Jesus fully reigns and where evil and death no longer reign. And in this world we can truly be what God has always intended us to be, that is truly human.
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