Sunday, August 24, 2008

Very important.

We see from this video that the question is not: "Why does God let bad things happen to good people", but the very opposite.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Slow Mo Lightning

SL0W Motion Lightning

Job 28:26 When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:
27 Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out.
28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Response to the Lost 2

This is a recent letter I've written in response to one I recieved, the recieved is quoted in Red. Please pray for this person's salvation.
Thanks for your patience with me getting back to you. Life has been moving pretty fast and full for me lately. I’ll try taking your statements/questions bit by bit and responding. You said:
"Jon, thanks for replying. That the axiom that "everything that exists must have a creator" is common sense isn't a sound argument, as just as many people nowadays believe things can arise naturally without necessarily having been created and specifically designed by a conscious creator for a specific purpose. And common sense is quite fallible, as not so long ago it was common sense that the Earth was flat, that the sun rotated around the Earth, that our atmosphere is too big for humans actions to have a negative effect, etc."
It’s not just common sense that everything made has a maker, everything created has a creator, it’s logical and testable. Everything designed has a designer. Order demands an orderer. That is observable, testable, and scientific. Macro-evolution (ex. A fish becoming a mammal etc.) is not scientific, logical, historical, testable, or observable. Actually someone who believes evolution rather than in God our Creator, is in the camp of people believing the earth is flat, and the Sun rotates around the earth. The Bible stated way before people knew the earth was round that the earth is round in Isaiah 40:22.
You wrote:
""Sure God created all yet we are personally responsible for our actions."Yes, I'd say we are. But I'm not saying from a human standpoint, I'm saying from God's perspective, why would he give us free will then demand of us to choose one thing and punish us (in eternal hellfire no less) for choosing the other? Not a real choice if you ask me. Especially when he is the one who created Satan, created the mentality and persuasive abilities in Satan, just so we would be tempted and seduced. What need of God does this satisfy? For us to prove our love to him? So he can prove his great forgiving qualities to us? It's like a parent digging ditches in the backyard that they know a toddler will fall into, telling the toddler not to fall into it, then rescuing the toddler when it does, just to heighten the toddler's dependancy for the parent, when it is the parent who dug the ditch in the first place. That is no parent I would want to be associated with."
There is so many things that could be said in response to this. I’ll try to give you some of the essential.
Who are you to judge God? In fact if God does not exist there is no absolute morality, right and wrong, or basis of making a judgement of someone or God’s character. Without God there is no absolute authority for right and wrong, everything is just arbitrary. Someone may say it’s wrong to rape little children another may say it’s ok. One government may allow genocide another may say it’s wrong. You only have absolute morality when given from God. The fact that you have a sense of right and wrong testifies to the existence of God, and the judgement to come. The Bible says: "Acts 17: 29 -31Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." God has given you a conscience. You know right from wrong. Yet if your anything like me you have often chosen wrong. You know it’s wrong to lie, yet how many lies have you told in your life? Have you ever stolen? Jesus said that whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. Maybe you’ve done more than just think about it? In God’s eyes, if you hate someone you are a murderer (1 John 3:15). These things are written by God upon your heart. We know right from wrong no matter what our background. If there is a right and wrong, good and evil, etc. It stands to reason that God will judge the earth. And that’s why you need to repent (turn from your sin), and trust the Savior. We broke God’s law, not because the "devil made us do it" as your faulty portrayal of God asserts. We sin because we are evil. Just like many a criminal steals, because they are selfish. God didn’t dig the ditches you wrote of in your analogy. We dug them ourselves. I don’t tell you this to say that I am better than you in anyway. I’m am one criminal telling another criminal how to prepare for his court case. I love you and don’t want you to get the justice you and I deserve in Hell. You may not agree with the punishment, but that’s not up to you to decide. More than that God loves you and died and rose again in your place. We broke God’s law Jesus paid the fine. Your response should be to repent and trust in Him. God didn’t dig the ditches, we did. God didn’t have to offer salvation to us. If God were to cast someone like Hitler, Stalin, or you, and I into hell, He would be just in doing so. In fact He would be good in doing so. I’m gonna put some Bible verses about what we’re discussing on the bottom of this letter. They show clearly how the analogies you’ve made are not what the Bible teaches.
"You're right that evolution falls into the same category of "current anti-religious ideology" - you could even cynically call it a "fancy", something isolated in time and place, more relevant to our passing circumstances than anything concrete and "true." And I've wrestled with that notion - that in my separation from Christianity I didn't just jump into the latest anti-Christian trend. But I took the time and let the idea of evolution sink in, and read books and reflected on nature and it really does make more sense to me than this great struggle for souls and epic battles between good an evil mentality of the Bible where nature is scorned and our bodies are born into sin. That is a very unpleasant mentality to have."
The fact that you don’t find God pleasant, or like Him, is kind of like a drug dealer not finding the police pleasant or liking them. It is because he is guilty.
You wrote:
"But in regards to my question, you answered by saying you knew the legitimacy of your God because of an elation you felt in your heart. (paraphrasing, obviously - but I think that was the jest of it, correct me if I'm wrong). But do you think the elation you felt was any more than the elation other people feel towards their religion? Do you think the Hindu in India don't feel great personal satisfaction in their religion that has lasted thousands of years? Or Buddhists about the Buddhist way? Or Jews about the Old Testament God or Muslims about this same Old Testament God of Abraham except through their prophet Mohammed? If you say yours is true and theirs is not, I will say that is fairly naive and selfish of you, and if you say theirs is real and they really have found the true God only under a different name then I will say you are a truly progressive Christian, and would be both surprised and impressed."
I’ll correct you as asked. I did not use some "elation" "felt in my heart" as reasoning of God’s legitimacy as you put it. I said: " I became a Christian because (let me change this to the word: when)God did a supernatural work in me giving me a new heart with new desires, giving me repentance and faith in His Son, and therefore forgiveness of sins. I was "born again". So radical is God’s working that the sin I once loved I now hate. God revealed Himself to me (John 15:8a Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you..). (see also John 14:21)"
More importantly Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (see John 14:6) Religion is garbage. When I say religion I must define this. Religion is bad people trying to justify themselves, excuse themselves, or lie to themselves, and make themselves feel good. We broke God’s law. Religion (including atheism) is often a response to that guilt. People try to make up for there sins by "living a good life", or keeping religious rituals hoping it will make up for there sins. Almost as if they could bribe God. Should a murderer be able to boast of his works of charity and therefor go unpunished? Of course not. No good works or religion can make up for sin. Only the perfect, holy, sinless, Lamb of God (Jesus Christ the Righteous) can pay the penalty due us for our breaking of God’s law. Either Jesus does or we will. If we pay it, we’ll get justice in the lake of fire. Some people, including false religions (some in the name of Christianity) and atheism included, choose to ignore the issue of the coming judgement and their guilt before God. They’re like someone standing in a freeway not believing in trucks. Their belief doesn’t change reality. The reality is: "...all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23) And God has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness. I’m pleading with you to flee from the wrath that is to come. God is love, and God is righteous, holy, and good, the just Judge of the earth. Please think about your sins, and think about the Saviour who died (in love) in your place, then repent, and put your trust in Him. Then read the Bible daily and follow it’s instructions. I’m praying for you. John 14:21 (Jesus said:) He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Here are the afore mentioned verses:
James 1:13 ¶ Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Romans 1:1 ¶ Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
.
16 ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 ¶ Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Romans 2:1 ¶ Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
Romans 9:1 ¶ I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
6 ¶ Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.
10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
14 ¶ What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
25 ¶ As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.
27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:
28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.
30 ¶ What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Ps 14:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Ps 53:1 To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Thank you for your patience in reading this letter.
Love,
Jonathan DeSeno 1 John 2:1-2

Flooding in RO
















Pray for the Marianciuc family in Siret. They are Godly servants of the Lord, and have had some serious flooding recently. We have an invitation to come visit them again to go and share the gospel in the Ukraine. Lord willing I hope it works out.