I Love Crowd Funding

I saw this post on The Big Picture and had to share.  As of last week I am personally aware of the real positive effects of Crowd Funding although not this specific group.  Thanks again to everyone who donated to help us bring Emme home.  Here are some interesting stats on this growing trend:

My Wife

My wife is so much better at blogging than I am.  Here is her Christmas Eve post.  I am so blessed to be married to such a wonderful women!  Thank you Lord!

More on Sovereignty

I have decided to post this in response to a comment on Jae's post by GHL.

I agree very much with GHL's conclusion.  Paul was correct when he said that "we know in part" (Cor 13:9).

I will, for the sake of discussion, attempt to construct the debate as I see it but please keep in mind that I have neither a degree in philosophy or theology (both very helpful in this instance).  I am still working through the details.  I dont expect to be finished anytime soon, if ever.

When approaching this topic it is very important to remember that the study of the Doctrine of God's Providence, Election, and Predestination, is a systematic study.  We cannot simply point to one or two verses to make our case (although one or two verses can be very helpful) we must instead look at scripture as a whole.  It seems to me that scholars on both sides (all of which are Men/Women of God and who are in love with Christ) have conducted the same systematic study and yet draw entirely different conclusions.  I sympathize with both parties, they both make a compelling case.  

The following is a summary of the debate (from the perspective of an Arminian) (click image to view larger):

All Encompassing Sovereignty

It is not unthinkable, at least for me, to believe that God sovereignly choose those whom he willed to save.  Jae clearly has a problem with this and I understand why.  Keep in mind that I said it is not "unthinkable", this does not mean that I am content or pleased with this idea.  Something does however resonate when I consider God exercising such sovereignty over creation.  He is in fact God right?  How can the Creator not be sovereign over everything?  This is not an obsession with His sovereignty by the way. Scripture seems to support this level of sovereignty:

• Ps. 115:3 But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.

• Ps. 135:6 Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, in heaven and in earth, in seas and in all deeps.

• Ps. 103:19 The Lord has established His throne in the heavens; and His sovereignty rules over all.

• 1 Sam. 2:6-7 The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. The Lord makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts.

• Heb. 2:8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under His feet. For in subjecting all things to Him, He left nothing that is not subject to Him.

• Eph. 4:6 One God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

• Pr. 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

These scriptures seem to clearly suggest that God is sovereign over all things including cast lots (tossed dice).  When the dice are rolled God determines the outcome.  This scripture tells us that even the most random of events are in fact ordained by God.

The problem here is that if God is truly sovereign over ALL things then he must be sovereign over things like rape, murder, the Holocaust, etc...  Is he passively sovereign (in that he doesn't act to prevent them) or actively sovereign in the sense that he intentionally plans and causes them to occur?  I am not willing to make the call here but I understand both views.

A Calvinist would say that while God caused these things he is not morally responsible.  An Arminian might argue that God has suspended his sovereignty and these acts are entirely of man.  Tough call here...  We must either embrace the idea of God causing (although not morally responsible for the evil) or we must admit that somehow God is not in control of the awful things that happen in this world.  Either way we have a dilemma. 

Sovereignty Over Out Hearts/Steps

There has been a bit of debate personally surrounding the sovereignty of God with respect to the human heart or path in life.  I have a hard time imagining God not being sovereign over all things including our hearts.  We imagine that we have a completely free will but I find little support for this in scripture and in fact find the opposite:

• Ps. 16:6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me

• Ps. 33:14,15 From His dwelling place He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understands all their works.

• Pr. 19:21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but the counsel of the Lord will be established.

• Pr. 16:9 The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.

• Pr. 20:24 Man's steps are ordained by the Lord; how then can man understand his way?

• Pr. 21:1 The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes.

• Deut. 2:30 For the Lord your God hardened his [the king’s] spirit and made his heart obstinate, in order to deliver him into your hand, as he is today.

• Isaiah 10:5-7 Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger and the staff in whose hands is My indignation. I send it against a godless nation....Yet it does not so intend nor does it plan so in its heart.

• Isaiah 63:17 Why, O Lord, dost Thou cause us to stray from Thy ways, and harden our heart from fearing Thee? Return for the sake of Thy servants, the tribes of Thy heritage.

• Acts 17:26-28 And He made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation...for in Him we live and move and are.

• Jer. 10:23 I know, O Lord, that a man's way is not in himself; Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.

Scripture seems to suggest that God guides our hearts and steps and most Christians would not disagree.  Many times I have heard the phrase 'The Lord led me", "God put it on my heart", "God called us to".   In what capacity does God move on our hearts?  Is he sovereign?  Compatible? Cooperative?  I am not certain but I understand the Calvinist position.  Do remember that this question is only concerning salvation itself, not Sanctification.

God's Election/Predestination

Perhaps the most emotional topic of all is that of predestination and election.  Does God elect those whom he will save or offer it to all and give it to those who do not reject it?  Is there evidence in scripture that God choose certain people?  Has God sovereignly chosen before in a manner that man might view as unfair?  Here is a look at scripture concerning this:

• Ex. 33:19 And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion

• Deut. 7:6 For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

• Neh. 9:7 Thou art the Lord God, who chose Abram and brought him out from Ur of the Chaldees, and gave him the name Abraham.

• Ps. 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.

• Ps. 75:7 But God is the Judge; He puts down one, and exalts another

• Jer. 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.

• Jer. 24:7 And I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the Lord; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.

It seems clear that God has sovereignly "chosen" some and not others in his history with mankind.  Given such a history it is not unthinkable that the same process may play out with regard to salvation.  Choosing the nation of Israel, choosing certain men to be prophets etc...  It is hard to argue that God has not sovereignly chosen people before.

So what about salvation through Christ?  What does scripture say about this?  Both Calvinists and Arminians would agree that man is totally depraved, meaning we cannot turn to him in our current state.  We require a mesure of grace from God.  Calvinists define that grace as being distributed according to God's secret will (to the elect) and it is irresistible  (meaning that those who are called will turn their hearts to God). Arminians reject this idea of grace and instead propose Prevenient Grace.  This grace is also a gift from God but is given to everyone.  This grace, like irresistible grace, awakens our spirit and allows us to seek God.  Unlike irresistible grace however prevenient grace may be rejected or ignored.  In experience I can say that God's grace felt irresistible.  I never understood and asked several times, why am I pursuing God?  Why dont others in my life pursue the same way?  What in me causes me to do this?  I felt irresistibly drawn.  I also however know people who seem to have been given every opportunity to turn their hearts and lives Christward but have instead chosen to remain as they are, in sin.

In scripture we find very thought provoking statements:

• Mt. 11:25-27 And no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him

• Mt. 13:11 To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been granted.

• Mt. 19:11 Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it has been given.

• Mt. 20:23 This is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.

• Mt. 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

• Mk. 13:20 But for the sake of the elect whom He chose, He shortened the days.

• Jn. 5:21 The Son also gives life to whom He wills.

• Jn. 6:37 All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me.

• Jn. 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.

• Jn. 6:65 For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.

• Jn. 13:18 I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen.

• You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain.

• Acts 13:48 And as many as had been appointed [ordained] to eternal life believed.

• Acts 15:7 In the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth [Peter’s] the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.

• Rom. 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren;

• Rom. 8:33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies.

• Rom. 9:16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.

• Rom. 9:18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.

• Rom. 9:23 In order that He might make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory...

• Rom. 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

• Cor. 4:7 For who regards you as superior? And what do you have that you did not receive?

• Cor. 12:11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

• Eph. 1:5-6 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace....

• Eph. 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.

• Eph. 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that [faith] not of yourselves, it is a gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast

• 2 Thess. 2:13 God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

• Peter 1:1 Peter...to those...who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father....

• 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

• 1 Peter 3:9 For you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing

Does God sovereignly choose us for salvation or does he offer it to all?  Some say that a view such as this (that God elects) impunes God's love.  While I do not espouse fully the view that God elects, I must say that I do not believe that it impunes Gods love.  One might argue that the Arminian view impunes Gods love.  In this instance God only loves and saves those who love him in return.  This is the opposite of Christ's message to "love your enemy".  Are we not "enemies of God"(Colossians 1:21).

The scriptures concerning election are overwhelming in number and often in clarity but again we are left with conflict.  As a Calvinist one might worry about the reprobate (the unelect).  What about the poor souls not chosen for salvation?  What chance do they have?  Similarly what chance do they deserve?  In the opposite we are faced with the concern of our unsaved brothers.  If our salvation is completely our decision then how can we pray for others salvation?  Can we rely on the Holy Spirit to move our friends to faith in Christ?  Would that be interference with their free will?  The mind bogles.

Summary

Obviously I have more questions than answers.  I struggle even now writing this post because I haven't said everything I wanted to say.  I haven't (and honestly couldn't) address all of the tangents of this topic.  I realize that my summary is likely incomplete and amateur.  Either way I want to post it to keep the dialogue going.  I have not made up my mind either way but I can say this:

I am confident that when I stand before God, if I am given the opportunity to understand fully, I will say "you are just, you are love, you are perfect".  As a sinful human I cannot possibly understand the ways of God.  In any event, I love him and will never stop pursing him.

We can likely debate and investigate this topic for the balance of our lives, and it is certainly a topic worth discussing, but even more important is our task of spreading the Gospel.  We are called to be the light of the world and to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth.  If you are a Calvinist, you are called to participate in the process of salvation and through the Gospel Call take the message of salvation to the elect (to those who have been given ears to hear).  If you are Arminian then you are compelled by the weight of each individual decision to ensure that as many people as possible hear the gospel and experience the life changing love of Christ.

Either way we have all been shown immeasurable grace through salvation and in light of that and regardless of His methods I can say:

"To God be the Kindgom, the Power, and the Glory forever."  Amen.

A lot of smart Christian guys say that God randomly chooses certain people for hell

A lot of smart Christian guys say that God randomly chooses certain people for hell...

And I literally had NO idea!

When this novel idea was tenderly explained to me for the first time in a systematic theology book I was reading , I soiled myself and blacked out for 15 minutes. When I regained consciousness, I ran to my PC and typed the word "Reprobate" into Google (reprobate meaning the unfortunate ones who are sailing in oblivion on a Carnival Cruise line irreversibly towards the nether-gloom). I was instantly buried by a deluge of propagators peddling their smear campaign against my Daddy. Yes, I refer to God as "my Daddy" sometimes, so deal with it.

It was a bizarre moment for me because I immediately realized that I was the equivalent of the guy who doesn't watch sports who finds himself in the middle of a testosterone dripping locker room convo about sports; I just kept saying "flea-flicker" over and over but I was completely lost. A bunch of jumbled scriptures popped into my head about God loving "the world" and "not wanting anyone to perish" but I was pretty crippled by these elites and their finely polished exegesis of certain scriptures, especially large chunks of Romans. That was the day that I decided not to rest until I knew what God had to say about it. I know that we can't know everything about God and I certainly have one particular friend who likes to remind of that fact just about every day. However, I was certain that God would speak up if I asked Him whether He died for ALL people or just the FEW (Elect). Did God love and die for Judas? How about Hitler? Hitchens? Did these men have an opportunity to surrender to God but rebelliously refused or did God choose them as objects of wrath before they were even born? Heavy questions, huh? My journey so far has been like waking up from a coma. I feel invigorated like this was exactly what I needed to arouse my passion again. The crux of everything I live for falls under the banner of knowing Jesus and showing Jesus, so it really matters to me when someone says "oh by the way, Jesus didn't die for the sins of the whole world." All of my favorite childhood Sunday school songs like "Jesus loves the little children" suddenly came rushing back to me with scary new monotone melodies sung by a baleful and overly blissful children's choir singing "Jesus loves the little elect children, some of the children of the world". Okay, I dramatically digress.

This is either an attack on God's very character or I need to systemically reconstruct my relationship with Him. You might be thinking right now that this issue is "trivial" and doesn't warrant such an exasperated response. Okay, what If you found out that your father happened upon a burning school bus full of kids and he was able to bravely pull out 10 kids. You would say he's a hero. Now, what if you found out that the bus had 20 kids in it and your father had plenty of time to save the other 10 kids but he chose not to? Still a hero? Maybe, but you would definitely want to know why he chose not to save the other 10 kids. Now, what if you found out that your father actually determined that the bus would crash and catch on fire in the first place? Bigger questions? At this point you would be asking yourself "do I really know my father at all?". How do I relate to him now that I know he acts this way? I know we are talking about God who is perfect and children who are totally depraved sinners but my point still stands. If God is truly operating in this way then it forever changes the way I relate to Him. Is raw power without virtue worthy of worship? I guess I should feel lucky to be elect, if in fact I am elect, but in reality it makes me afraid of God and sad for the non-elect who never had a chance to surrender. If God doesn't operate in this way then there is a major attack on His character taking place right in front of us. Playing the middle ground by saying that there is adequate scripture to support both views on an accusation of this magnitude is absolutely benign to me. The gravity of the indictment itself requires that a conclusion be drawn from the Word straight away.

{Deep breathe Jae}

Either God loves the whole world in a way that reaches and surpasses our very highest ideal of love or God does not love the whole world and we need to redefine our depraved human ideal of what love truly is. Jesus Christ through His life on earth resolutely embodied the answer to this question. He begs for the forgiveness of His own murderers. Please! What kind of love is this!?

I would love to start a Q&A dialogue on this subject. If you're interested, and your intention is to seek truth rather than divide, please jump in.

Atheists Wishful Thinking

Atheists often accuse their counterparts (believers) of wishful thinking and compare the likes of religion, specifically Christianity, to that of a "crutch".  Atheists argue that "we theists" prefer to believe in an imaginary God because it makes us feel better about ourselves and the world and comforts us from the fears and uncertainty of death.  I have always had problems with this for more than the obvious reasons.
I will however concede that belief in God does give me comfort and hope in death.  It does not follow however that because I am comforted I have imagined it or invented the idea.

An atheist friend recently posted this on Facebook:

Good Minus God: The Moral Atheist - NYTimes.com

opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com

Atheists do not lose morality by giving up God. Instead, they must find it where it lives: in the natural world.

This article was authored by Louise M Antony of University of Massachusetts.  As it turns out atheists have a crutch and are guilty of wishful thinking themselves!  Antony argues that without God objective morality would remain intact and atheists should not fear loosing morality if God does not in fact exist.  I disagree completely.  So does the famous atheist Nietzsche by the way!!  This emergence of quasi-atheists is just sad.  If you are going to ignore the vast evidence (scientific, experienced, and historical) for the existence of God and proclaim his death then have the guts to consider all implications and extrapolate your conclusion to its ultimate end.  Without God (His existence) objective morality cannot exist.

I really wanted to construct here on my blog an articulate argument as to why an attempt to retain objective morality separate from God would end in failure but Dr. William Lane Craig beat me to the punch, and punched hard than I ever could have.  Read his overview here:

Can we Good without God?

Atheists today are wishfully thinking.  I find it deeply concerning that they are willing to promote their views without fully considering the logical implication.

Bad Gifts

Yes, I am aware how cliche it is to blog about how Christmas just isn't Christmas anymore but I stumbled across a video that I wanted to share.  Jimmy Kimmel recently asked parents to give their kids early Christmas presents with the humorous twists that they give them something awful and video their reaction.  The video is admittedly funny but at the same time disturbing.  Watch these kids reaction to their "bad" gifts.  One kiddo receives a half eaten sandwich and complains.  I met a few kids in Ethiopia last month that would have been ecstatic and appreciative for a sandwich, even a half eaten one.

How do we shake this?  How do we as parents convey to our children that they are unbelievably blessed?  All I can come up with is to get them on the missions field young and show them what the rest of the world looks like.

One last note, I have celebrated Christmas for 25 years now but it has never meant as much to me as it does this year.  As I have grown in my understanding of the person of Jesus and fallen in love with Him, I find Christmas meaning so much more.  Remember this Christmas that we are celebrating the long awaited arrival of God on earth.  Christmas is the celebration of God's stepping out of Heaven to give the world hope through Truth and to bridge the gap between man and God by paying man's debt.  He put on flesh, told us the Truth of where we came from, who we are, for what purpose we were created, and then laid down his life and took our debt on himself.  This is literally the most important event in human history and is the greatest gift we could ever receive!  Christmas is so much better when we reflect and remember what we are really celebrating! 

God, give us perspective this year.  Help us to realize the vastness of our blessing and provision and move our hearts to care for and provide for those with less!

Hitchens

I was sad to learn late this week that Christopher Hitchens passed away.  His battle with Esophageal cancer ended on December 15th.  My wife read a Tweet about his passing and informed me as I was getting dressed for work.  I am sad to report that this was the first time I was emotionally moved by the passing of someone who chose not to accept Christ's offer of salvation.  I realize that this admission is rather telling of my character as a Christian but I think its important to share things like this.

Christopher is well known for his scathing critiques of the Abrahamic religions authoring such books as "God is not Great" and condemning Christian figures like Mother Teresa in "The Missionary Position".  Christopher was named along side the likes of Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, and Richard Dawkins as one of the Four Horsemen of Atheism.

Despite his life long efforts to blaspheme the name of God (my Father who I love deeply) I feel a real sadness for him.  A friend at lunch this week described God's reaching his hands towards Christopher through out his life offering forgiveness and salvation over and over again.  This must of course be true, Christopher heard more arguments for existence and goodness of God than almost anyone through his debates with Christians.

I am reminded today of a passage from Ezekiel 18:













God finds no pleasure in the death of the wicked but is pleased when they repent and turn.  God wept today for Christopher and the decision he ultimately made wishing he could be reconciled to him.  The stakes are so high people!

To his credit he was certainly the toughest atheist to debate.  He did not make science his god or claim it to be more than it was like Dawkins, or whine incessantly about the world like Harris, he simply promoted the idea that God, if he did exist, was bad and gave a list of examples albeit out of context, lacking spiritual discernment, and without a hint of reverence for the holiness of God.

Christopher passed on an opportunity to know the vastness of God's love and to be forgiven.  This didn't have to happen.  Why couldn't he understand the truth?  Why couldn't he see the goodness and love of God?

I thought I would conclude by posting my favorite Hitchens debate.  Hosted at Biola University in California Christopher is seen here debating Dr. William Lane Craig.  I highly recommend watching this debate.  Dr. Craig constructs the most organized and compelling argument for the existence of God and leaves Hitchens with little response.  Enjoy!

Profound Love

Over the last few weeks I have had an overwhelming sense of gratitude for God's love and more specifically his adoption of me as a son.  Let me elaborate:

For those of you who do not know, my wife and I are in the final weeks of an international adoption.  The Lord called us over a year and a half ago to adopt from Ethiopia.  By this time next month we should have our 4 year old (give or take a 1/2 year because we dont really know her age) daughter home and in our arms.  Her name is Emme, short for Emerson (I know, I dont understand that either - you will have to ask my wife), and she will be joining our family of four.  God has used this process of adoption to accomplish many things.  First and foremost he has redeemed the life of a little girl.  Second he has stretched our faith and taught us more about himself and his UNBELIEVABLE love!

Adoption is a wonderful experience and is the very heart of God.  I knew going into this that God had adopted me but I couldn't understand then everything that entailed.  Adoption is more than a legal process and a new child living in your home.  When adopting children you are faced with the daunting task of loving them as yours.  Emme will be my daughter.  She will be my daughter no different than Parker and Beckham are my sons.  She will get an equal share of my time, love, affection, money, discipline etc...  I will dedicate my life and all of my resources to her the same as my sons.  This of course means less for my sons.  She will become an equal heir with my boys receiving an equal share of any inheritance.  We will never forsake her or view her as separate.  We are grafting her in!!  This little girl, although not of my flesh, is of my heart.  This cannot be broken.  She is my REAL daughter!  Here is a video of our Court Trip where we met her:

And why?  Why should a family in Midland, TX bother to travel to the other side of the world twice, endure Home Studies, relinquish privacy about their finances and personal experiences, pay out serious money, expose their family to difficult situations, divide up the love/time/inheritance of their biological children, and deal with a multitude of complications of adoption for the sake of a child whom they have never met and are not responsible for?


1 John 4 reminds us:

I find myself asking this question of God.  Why would God bother to adopt me?  Why would he bother to adopt us?  God's adoption process was FAR MORE COSTLY and TIME INTENSIVE.  To reconcile his children to himself and adopt them he would spend thousands of years planning and preparing a way.  He would then instruct his only begotten Son to step out of Heaven and then assign him the task of taking on the sins of the world (God, in keeping with his just character, knew that sins could not go unpunished).  So many times we think of Christ has having done something easy (he was God right?).  How hard could it have been?  We forget that he "put on flesh" and became Man.  He was man like us (although still fully God - see systematic theology)!  God then turned all of his righteous anger and judgement on a sinless Son!.  All of the anger, all of the wrath, all of the judgement, and all of the isolation landed painfully on the head of Christ with God ultimately forsaking him.  We deserved this, not Christ.  When Christ was found praying in the Garden, blood dripping from his temples where his veins had burst from stress, he was not anguishing over the Roman flogging or the crucifixion awaiting him.  He feared this physical pain very little.  He instead knew what incredible and unfathomable pain awaited him in taking on the sins of the world.  When Christ proclaimed "it is finished" and lowered his head we became free!  We can now be reconciled to God.  But thats not all!!!  God didn't just save us to return us safely to the Garden.  There's more!!!

I found that through Christ's death we could not only be forgiven but JUSTIFIED!!!  Not only does God wipe away our sins, Jesus having paid for them, he then imputes Christ's righteousness on us!  We do not stand before God as sinners forgiven with a blank slate.  When God reads the ledger of our hearts he does not see a blank slate but Christ's righteousness.  He declares us righteous like Christ.  He looks at us and see's us like he see Christ!


The best analogy I can think of is this:


Have you ever watched those televised trials of murderers?  The most viewed and climactic part is the redering of a verdict and sentencing.  I always wonder what is going through that persons head.  They have committed an atrocious crime, they are an enemy of the public, their peers have heard the case and will now judge them, and a judge will decide their fate.  I have to believe that the person awaiting judgement cannot stop thinking "why I am here", "how did this happen", "why can't I be someone else", "I wish I hadn't done this".  I really can't imagine a worse situation than to be in their shoes.


Salvation through Christ is something like this (this is a loose analogy):


a. "We the jury find you guilty of a heinous crime, one fitting of death"

b. "There is however an exception, this young five year old child, the judge's only son, has decided to assume your punishment and will instead be executed in your place"


c. "You will be exonerated of your crime and will be free to go"


d. "In addition to your exoneration the judge would like to make you a member of his family, and love you as he loves his 5 year old son.  You may go and live with the judge and become an heir to all that belongs to him.


e. "Lastly, you will be seen from this point forward and forever as a hero and righteous man.


Sounds crazy doesn't it?  This is the love of our Father.  Not only does he send his only Son to die and receive punishment for our sins, not only does he wipe away our debts, but he crowns us with righteousness and makes us his children!!!!  This is the glory of God!  This is true love! 


I am in awe of God and understand why we will worship him for eternity.  He saw it fit out of his love and mercy to reach down from heaven and pull me from death and sin.  He taught me truth and told me who I really am.  He has made me a son and given me an inheritance.  I will praise and love him forever!!!


Thank you Lord for the opportunity to adopt!  Thank you for allowing me to share in this redemption.  Thank you for loving me more than I can comprehend!!

Commence Blogging

I have made the decision to begin blogging.  Now you know...