Ponderments

Why do people have to see the belief, faith, and trust in Jesus--the one way to get to heaven---as being a negative thing? I would think that having only one way and knowing it would be much easier than several different ones.

Why is Christian faith so hard of a concept to grasp, to understand, to follow, to believe? Do people not put faith in airplanes and tires, other drivers and other man-made things everyday. All of these are made by humans who make mistakes, who have faults, who err.

I don't understand how someone can see a newborn baby, see an awesome sunset, hear waves crash onto a beach, experience the different seasons, smell (put whatever nice aroma here) and still not believe in the God of Creation.

Being a Christian doesn't mean we become perfect. It means knowing we aren't and knowing that we cannot live life on our own. It means knowing that we don't know everything. That bad things are going to happen, sometimes for no good reason. That some things we may never understand. That some things are unexplainable. That we have Someone to serve and to talk with. That we have Someone to model our lives after. But when we do mess up, we are forgiven. For perfection will only come after our human self dies.
That Someone is Jesus Christ. God's Son, who humbled Himself in setting aside His authority and powers of God and heaven to become one with us. That Someone who suffered, who ached, who endured pain, who was abused and made fun of, rejected, tempted daily but stayed true to His Father (our Father). So He knows what we go through and put up with and endure for He experienced it while here on earth. The two things that require faith are the two miracles: His virgin birth and his resurrection.

Why do people have a hard time believing that God is more than just a God of love?

Wonder why people tell themselves that there is no afterlife of an eternity in heaven or hell?

Wonder why people want to ignore, disbelieve, construe, omit, or add to Scripture? It is what it is.

Wonder why people preach about people's rights and freedom but want to take those same rights and freedom away from Christians?

All the hate shown by Christians through the years, all the things done in Christ's Name, has really hurt and screwed up what unChristians believe Christianity to be. And all the Christians trying to create their own beliefs, their own twist, adding laws and putting a denominational stamp of godly approval on it hasn't helped either.

What Are We Really Doing Here Now?

What are we really doing here now? I wonder why we are forced to become slaves to businesses and government in order to survive. Where did this concept come from and why did it ever take off to where a handful of people could dominate the rest as chess pieces? And what is the point in making people suffer just to get by? The choices that have created this type of life for society are quite ignorant. To sit back, carelessly, and ignore the absurdity in how life is programmed for us here on earth by means of those given power down through the centuries of this country is hindering what could be. How is this democracy? Where is real freedom? Men and women give up their lives for it, for each of us, all so we can be told that we can not verbally utter God's Name in prayer in schools or the public sector; so we can be owned for 30+ years and miss out on real life and all the experiences that come with it.

It all boils down to money. Without it, you may be alive, but how do you get to really live?

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Greed continues to ruin society.

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Bigger isn't always better. New isn't always best. Technology isn't always smarter.

Pursue

What do you pursue? Is it a better retirement, a bigger savings account, a job that pays more, a bigger house, a "nicer" car? Where does a great majority of energy, time, and effort go most days? A vast majority of teachings in Scripture (i.e. Jesus, Paul) seem to point to our motives. This meaning, why do you want something? Why do you desire ? What MOTIVATES you? A lot of things that we desire aren't technically a bad thing. For example, I desire to do mainstream acting. But the older I get & the more I mature in my faith and relationship with Christ, I have found myself examining this desire, this pursuit. The idea of why I want to do mainstream acting isn't bad at all (to use it as a form of ministry, especially youth ministry in order to provide positive influence). However, I think it is time for me to admit that the desire/dream to do it hinders on taking priority over Christ a lot of the times. I get too infatuated with it. My yearning to act becomes annoying and I catch myself getting in the mental place that I would do anything to achieve this dream. Then I wonder, What would it be like to apply all of this mental energy, all of this time, all of this yearning for acting and replace acting with Christ? How amazing and awesome would that be? Think of the things Christ could teach me and ways He could use me. Oh the things He could accomplish.

The whole acting thing, when it takes center stage, can be a bit exhausting. Thus, I am sure it has and is a little overwhelming and annoying to anyone that has been or that comes around me when I have this drive. My prayer for myself and for all of you who have that one thing (or a handful of things) that easily overtakes your heart and mind and becomes a main pursuit in life, I pray that you will let go of it and let God's desire for you to overtake your human desire. Spend your time, energy, and effort chasing after Christ. Be motivated to serve Him whenever, wherever, and however. In doing so, Christ's desire for us will become our new desire. And think of all the things Christ will be able to accomplish on our behalf. Imagine the growth in your faith and in your relationship with Christ. How awesome and amazing that would be. That would be a true blessing.

Take time today to let God search your heart. Let Him have control. And in doing this, make that choice to pursue Him.