Showing posts with label knowledge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label knowledge. Show all posts

Thursday 11 May 2017

Ability (part 2)

English: Wikipedia: taste the fruit of knowled...
Wikipedia: taste the fruit of knowledge! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
We did receive the ability to live and to use our brains. The ability of the brain to research, investigate and then to form conclusions gives us the ability to form ideas and to take action or react to those findings we got.

The ability to use our brains and to make up our mind allows us to gain and/or retrieve knowledge which never shall be complete in our lifetime. At a certain moment in life we shall be able to do certain things at an other moment we shall not be able to do those things which we previously could or later will be able to do anew or again. Even our ability to speak what God has revealed is incomplete.

We should know that it is always a gift from God when we have the ability to use our full senses and that it is God Who gives some people wealth and possessions, the power to enjoy them, the ability to accept their lot in life, and the ability to rejoice in their own hard work.
“Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat of it, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.” (Ecclesiastes 5:19 WEBSTR)
We must know that every person in this universe has to learn things and grow up in a world surrounding him or her, giving many impulses and many temptations. We also received the ability to resist such temptations. Though there isn’t any temptation that we have experienced which is unusual for humans. God, who faithfully keeps His promises, will not allow us to be tempted beyond our power to resist. But when we are tempted, the Most High shall be on the look out, to see what we do with such temptation and how we use our own free will to react on it. If we want it is also that Most High God Who will also give us the ability to endure the temptation as our way of escape.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 WEBSTR)
We must accept that it is the Spirit, the set-apart Power of God, Who gives one person the ability to speak with wisdom and Who gives another person the ability to speak with knowledge.  We only can hope that this Gentle Spirit also gives courageous faith to us. Because it is an ability to have faith which is only possible when we are willing to allow the Force of God to enter our hearts and to enlighten us. Our knowledge is incomplete and our ability to speak what God has revealed is incomplete.
“For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another, the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another, faith by the same Spirit; to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;”(1 Corinthians 12:8–9 WEBSTR)
“For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.”(1 Corinthians 13:9 WEBSTR)
We have the ability to listen to people and as such can hear preachers tell a lot of the Word of God. The preacher's power lies very much in the ability of unfolding to the understanding and applying to the conscience the general principles involved in the passage of Scripture which he undertakes to expound. But we may not pin ourselves to it that those preachers would know everything and would always be right in their interpretation of the Holy Scriptures. Each of us received the ability to investigate himself. That gift of ability to search and investigate we should use.

By using our own ability to read and study the Holy Scriptures we shall have the ability to grow in our knowledge of those sacred writings. Our study of the Bible shall give us more insight which at its turn shall give us the ability for a growing faith, and with it we shall receive the ability to speak and to share our knowledge, our dedication, and our love for god and His creation.
“Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.” (2 Corinthians 8:7 WEBSTR)

The ability to be able to think, investigate, making conclusions, can make us to prevail or to overcome. Our ability to work at ourselves makes it possible to build up our character and to make ourselves strong. our knowledge of Scriptures shall give us the ability to understand how God has a Plan and how He follows humankind. It also shall give us insight how God will destroy anyone who secretly slanders his neighbour. Him not tolerating anyone with a conceited look or arrogant heart.
We should be convinced that Jehovah God His eyes will be watching the faithful people in the land   so that they may find life by Him willing to serve Him.

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Preceding: Ability 
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Thursday 10 July 2014

Looking for something or for the Truth and what it might be and self-awareness

What can be the truth and what do we understand under ‘the truth’? Are we speaking of man made sets of concepts and beliefs, or the accumulation of scientific knowledge, or mathematical certainties?

How can we find the truth and do we need to examine only all the NT writings or do we have to look at the OT writings also?

How can we get the full story of early Christianity and how much interest do we have to have for theological writings or to church letters and books written after the gospels and epistles?

Are you not curious what those Christians in the Old Times believed and how believes changed and churches found ways to grow? But those growing churches did they keep to the Truth? Did they not bring in teachings to become more popular and to have more people who could find their traditional events integrated in the church?

With education, we are able to discern between right and wrong, good and evil, and make what we might term moral choices. The human being is privileged that it has a brain which can be used to get such an insight. We as human beings can have a level of awareness and with it an ability to come to a natural expression of our physical organisation or being, and that it is an innate capacity or potential that we are uniquely born with.

The 21st century has brought us to an age of increasing complexity and sophistication, which is being driven by scientific advancements on a scale never seen before. These advancements are coupled in a strange way with a veneer of rationality that is difficult to reconcile with the advances in science. As science seeks to explain and explore every detail of the material world, the media and entertainment industries bombard us with increasingly puerile levels of information, often delivered in oversimplified sound-bites backed by expertly crafted graphic imagery for easy acceptance. The outcome is a society which has generally lost the ability to think and reason critically on the deeper questions of life.
On the net you shall be able to find a new website which shall look at the way how we can look and interpret the Bible. There are numerous teachings in the Bible, but it can be good to now and then just to look at some basic elements which are not so hidden in that book that it would be to difficult to find.

In any case are there 5 teachings in the Bible which stand out and upon which all the others are based. Each of these are intimately connected, and none stands fully alone or independent. Other important teachings such as Law, sin, righteousness, faith, grace and salvation are all connected to these central themes and in some measure they are built upon them. These core teachings stand therefore in some measure as a foundation, and upon them and around them can be built a fuller understanding of the ways of God.

At the new website you may find core concepts for your investigation.

  1. God’s revealed purpose with both mankind and with the earth: God's Plan
  2. The revealed Creator of heaven and earth: the Elohim Allah God: Jehovah
  3. God His Revelation – God has spoken and revealed Himself and His ways. This is in His Word, in the book we commonly call the Bible.
  4. Human being, animals and plants, the elements in the universe.
  5. Jesus Christ – God’s son, whom God raised up to be a saviour. He is the completion of God’s purpose, the very image of the invisible God.  The Nazarene man whom was called Jeshua, but of whom people changed his name in Jesus 'Hail Zeus' and made him a god of a threesome.
  6. Self-Awareness – and the Choices this Awareness Brings?
 Most of us don’t really seek for answers but are somewhat satisfied by the consensus of opinions advanced by the experts and thought leaders we follow, whether consciously or subconsciously. The added complexity to the question of existence is the self-evident fact that total objectivity is rarely possible, since every one of us has prejudices that colour our reasoning and conclusions. This often works in ways that we are not even aware of. This is a peculiar quirk of the human condition. Our ability to be totally objective is often challenged by our education, culture, peer group or simply our preferred group’s prejudices. Most of us have an innate bias or need to conform to the consensus position of the particular group that we most closely identify with. This causes most people to rely upon the conclusions of those they respect and identify with, and who are often experts at articulating their positions. We rationalise, that if they cannot get it right and tell us the answers, who really can? 
Many may be looking for a long time in their life for true knowledge and wisdom. Do you have any idea where you or others can find it?
Where is the source of true meaning? Is it found in the world; in its philosophy, science, education, religions, or worldly wisdom?

While all of these fields are capable of helping us in our day to day struggles, they are not able to give us an answer to the larger question of purpose. They certainly may be treasured, but they are not that which really counts, which is more valuable than the sum total of all else. The Bible informs us many times that this treasure can only come from above, i.e. from God.  
 


Find more about it in:

  1. Chapter 1 - General Introduction to the Blog Basic Bible Teaching: The Core Teachings of the Bible.
  2. 1.The Core Teachings of the Bible 1.      TheCore Teachings of the Bible
  3. The Core Teachings of the Bible Chapter 2 - Self-Awareness – and the Choices this Awareness Brings?
  4. The Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth
  5. The Core Teachings of the Bible Chapter 2 - The Common Human Experience: 1.      The Common Human Experience
  6. Is There a Greater Purpose to Life?
  7. Yes – Purpose and Wisdom can be found.

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Friday 9 November 2012

Words in the world

The world is revolving all the time and we are just a small part in it.

For thousands of years humans had to find themselves a rightful space to live adequately and looked for different ways to make their life as enjoyable as possible. Men thought a lot about the reasons why we live and what we have to do, where we going to and what happens as we die.

There have always been more questions in a human life than answers. Many humans used their brains to find answers and solutions and where willing to share their thoughts with others.

In previous times some people wanted to present the world as a tree bringing knowledge tradition, extending between earth and heaven, being a vital connection between the world of the unknown, possible heavenly creatures or spirits, gods and the world of man.
Today people are more rational and think of a black hole and a big bang followed by an evolution to come back to an end by a big explosion.

Many ideas, many scientific explanations. Lots of writings, lots of discussions.

In between all those books and words of human beings, you can find people who consider it more worthwhile to listen to the words written in some very old books. They believe those ancient writings are timeless, and do bring us the history of the people of God and show us the way to come to a better life. We can believe it or not, we can take it or leave it.

Men has been intrigued from the beginning about his position in the world. Many also wondered about gods or higher spiritual beings. Christadelphians are no different. They also questioned the existence of man. They too are concerned with earth, the plants and the animals, and the human beings who can make or destroy a lot of things in the universe.

We also wonder about the world and face the stories about creation, myths and doctrines. We too are confronted with different opinions and religions. Myth and mythology have fostered for many years many thinkers. There have come a lot of fields in existence were scholarship took time and effort to study the importance of the world and the human being.
Buddhism, Christianity,Hinduism, Judaism, Taoism and so many more forms of thinking religious or mythical gave the world lots of books and many words which turn around our ears to bring us either in confusion or to bring us along several paths in this world.

In the Christadelphian World humble pacifist people would like to share their love with others all over the world. Here you will be able to find thoughts from a specific angle. Christadelphians, could be seen as people who live in the phila delphia or in christadelphia as brothers in the city of Christ. As brothers and sisters we want to share our time and knowledge, to educate each other and to grow in Christ. The Jewish teacher who lived about two thousand years ago, and wanted the world to show the works of his Father, the Only One God in heaven. Yes that is the only thing we should take as a sort of dogma. For all the rest we do not need any dogma. Everything is explained in the Words of that One God, who is One.

That is the only facet which requires full faith without a clear proof. Christadelphian people believe in that One God, who is a spirit and not something physical touchable. This Spirit who is One God of gods has created everything around us. It may be a ghost but we do not have to be afraid of him, who also has a Name of which we should not be afraid. He is the Most High in which we should have faith and confidence.
We have the Creator of heaven and earth and everything around יהוה who exists and has given His Word which is inspired and infallible. In a special way He took care that the world could be saved by man who was willing to give his life for many. This Jewish man, Jeshua from Nazareth, better known as Jesus Christ is the long awaited Messiah. Jesus tried to show the world what it had to believe and what would happen to it. God had put His hope in him and also we should put our hope in this humble man who could preach like none. In him we got a better future.

This man's words were written down by his disciples, who also wrote down the history of the first followers of Jesus. By his teachings and according the way the first followers of Christ wanted to build up their community we also like to build up a community according the teachings of Christ and his apostles and according the Will of God so that we can get a life with God. Christadelphians want to nurture a close relationship with God the Creator.

Many people should better get a Fear of God as reason to return to Holy Scriptures, and get to read the Bestseller of all times, The book of books, the Bible.

Thursday 13 October 2011

Stepping toes

Stepping toes =
step on toes According the Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary:step on someone's toes and tread on someone's toes
1. Lit. to step down onto someone's toes, causing pain. Please don't step on my toes as you walk by.
2. Fig. to offend or insult someone, as if causing physical pain. You're sure I won't be stepping on her toes if I talk directly to her supervisor? I didn't mean to tread on your toes.step/tread on somebody's toes
to say or do something which upsets someone, especially by becoming involved in something which is their responsibility I'd like to make some changes to the working procedures, but I don't want to tread on anyone's toes.
See keep on toes
See also: step, toe
Cambridge Idioms Dictionary, 2nd ed. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006. Reproduced with permission.

step on (somebody's) toes
to upset someone, esp. by getting involved in something that is their responsibility It's hard to make changes in the department without stepping on a lot of toes. He's willing to step on toes to get things done.
See also: step, toe
Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2003. Reproduced with permission.

The figuratively speaking to say or do something, which possibly can upsets someone is what the Christadelphians on Xanga wants to do. They would like to dare question certain things people do believe. The website wants to get people involved in something which is their responsibility, though often they do not think of such a matter easily.

Often people are accustomed to certain beliefs, attitudes, traditions and feel themselves at ease not to think about it or to change anything about it. But the Christadelphians at Xanga wants to make them awake and to get them thinking, questioning either our beliefs or their beliefs.

The aim of the Christadelphians on Xanga is to make some changes to what people assume could be the truth. By questioning certain sayings it could be that they tread on anyone's toes, but they do want to do it lovingly, with a little bit of twisting the feet out of embarrassment, as a small child wants to question things. (Do you notice it in the photograph)

In case you do not agree with a certain point of belief, that is the place to question it. In such an instance they are willing to go out from your idea. Than they would say: "If it is like you say than this or that would be like  so and so."  They would not mind to compare several versions of belief-points to compare them with the saying in the Bible.

They ask you not to mind that they use the Bible to look at your and their saying, because that is according to them the Book that can bring the solution. According to Christadelphians in there we can all find the answers to our questions. (In a certain way we even do not need other persons to give the answers, because God has provided them in His Word: the Book of Books the Bible, the Bestseller of all times.)

Frank Sinatra sung: "Everybody knows you're stepping on my toes And stepping on my heart-strings too, With an idle kiss, you grabbed a moment's bliss, That left me with a heart that's true." (Read more: FRANK SINATRA - YOU'RE STEPPING ON MY TOES LYRICS http://www.metrolyrics.com/youre-stepping-on-my-toes-lyrics-frank-sinatra.html#ixzz1af0KQEWl  -Copied from MetroLyrics.com )

Love may be a game for many, but for the Christadelphians it is something very important. For them every person on this earth should become our brother or our sister, and together we should share the love Christ Jesus had for this world.

The Xanga Christadelphians do not want to "Keep the big business picture to themselves"! they do not only want to share small portions of what’s expected on the job and keep the big stuff.
the do not want to keep to the rule: "If something changes, don’t tell anyone!"
    • Knowledge is power, and if you’re the only one who knows what’s going on, then it follows that you have all the power.
They do not mind that somebody has the power on this earth, because this situation is just temporarily. For them Jesus has the power to judge, but all power belongs to his and our Father, the Only One God.

Some might think: "If something changes, and you must tell someone, only tell half the people involved on the job." or "Sometimes it’s good to share knowledge and power, that way if something gets screwed up, you’re not the only one to blame! "

The problem with them is that they can not keep still on their chair. They do want to tell. They do want to tell so much, perhaps it can frighten some. And the problem is they do not mind telling what they can find in that mysterious "old fashioned Book". Because for them it looks as the cave of Ali Baba, full of treasures. But they are so precious they do not dare to keep them only for themselves. Plus, there are to many stones ...

So why not share them?

Go and have a look at "Stepping Stones." I meant "Stepping Toes"

>> Update: Stepping Toes WordPress site 


About Stepping toes
Aim of Steppingtoes site

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2016 January update

Saturday 28 August 2010

Know by trying





"you will never know what you can do until you try.
However the sad truth is
that most people never try anything until they know they can do it."

- Bob Proctor

Those who doubt most, and yet strive to overcome their doubts,
turn out to be some of Christ's strongest disciples.

- Selwyn Hughes


"I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another."
(Ro 15:14 NIV)

"He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?" (Lu 24:38 NIV)

Always try to do good to each other, indeed, to everyone.
1 Thessalonians 5:15b

Do not try to trick people
1 Thessalonians 2: 3b

God, let us dare
to undertake some steps.
  Take care there for that if we
try certain things
we'll try
nobody to bring over to
go
till deviation
or
to bring until dishonesty or deception,
but give us the power
to step in Jesus footsteps
 and
to do the right acts. 

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Weet door proberen 

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2016 linkupdate

Tuesday 5 January 2010

A Bible Falling Apart Belongs to Someone who isn't


"A Bible Falling Apart Belongs to Someone who isn't".
- Unknown

"The Bible shows how the world goes forward.
It begins with a garden and ends with a Holy City."
- Phillips Brooks

God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone,
but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars.
- Martin Luther


If we get our information from the biblical material
there is no doubt
that the Christian life is a dancing, leaping, daring life.
- Eugene Peterson

"One can study because the brain is hungry for knowledge,
even Bible knowledge.
But we pray as the soul yearns for God."
- Leonard Ravenhill

"… that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures,
which are able to make you wise for salvation
through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete,
thoroughly equipped for every good work."
2 Timothy 3:15, 16, 17

Jehovah, I ask you for my mind to grow.
that I may get more wisdom out of Your Word.
Let Your Words inspire me and transform me
to a full and good Christian man.

Monday 4 January 2010

The Days Review

THE DAYS REVIEW

Let no slumber close my eyes,

Ere I have recollected thrice

The train of actions through the day;

Where have my feet marked out their way?

What have a learnt, where’er I’ve been,

From all I’ve heard, from all I’ve seen?

What know I more that’s worth the knowing?

What have I done that’s worth the doing?

What have I sought that I should shun?

What duties have I left undone?

These self-enquiries are the road

That lead to virtue and to God.

Author unknown

Quit griping about your church


"Quit griping about your church;
if it was perfect, you couldn't belong …"
- Unknown

The modern church rejects the outcasts of society
where as these very outcasts were the very ones who were drawn to Jesus.
- Philip Yancey

"For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect;
but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away."
1 Corinthians 13:9-10

"God let it grow. It is not for those who plant and watered it, but only God who gives the increase. The planter and the one watering are working for the same end and or on an equal footing, each will receive pay for their own work and effort. They will have their separate rewards in the measure of their work. For we are God's co-workers, you are God's field or cultivated farm, God's building.
According to the grace given me by God, I have, as a wise master builder, laid the foundation on which another builds. But let everyone watch as or consider how he builds on that foundation. Because no one can lay a foundation other than what already is laid, namely Yeshua, Jesus Christ, the Messiah. "
1 Corinthians 3:6-11

“Join him, the Living Stone
rejected by men but chosen and precious in the sight of God. "
1 Peter 2:4

Help me, Lord, to remember that religion is not to be confined to the church...
nor exercised only in prayer and meditation,
but that every where I am in Thy Presence.
- Susanna Wesley

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Stop met zeuren over uw kerk

Monday 21 December 2009

Not all will inherit the Kingdom


(1 Corinthians 6:9-11) 9 What! Do YOU not know that unrighteous persons will not inherit God's kingdom? Do not be misled. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men, 10 nor thieves, nor greedy persons, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit God's kingdom. 11 And yet that is what some of YOU were. But YOU have been washed clean, but YOU have been sanctified, but YOU have been declared righteous in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the spirit of our God.

Jesus said that we must, first of all,  take in knowledge of both "the only true God" and the one that he sent forth:
(John 17:3) 3 This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.
Therefore we do have to work, because taking in knowledge does not go from itself. First we have to get to know Jehovah, the Elohim and we have to believe fully in Him. We also do have to believe in God's Plan for sending His promised Saviour, the Messiah Jesus Christ, the Nazarene whom  Jehovah provided as our ransom sacrifice:

(John 3:16) 16 "For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.
In case we want to be called Christians, we do have to follow Jesus, which mean that we should do that what he said that we must do. He gave several tasks to his disciples, and when we want to be a disciple of Christ, it means those wishes of Christ are also fro us. Also did he urge to do  the will of his Father who was in heaven:
(Matthew 7:21) 21 "Not everyone saying to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will.

Jesus here gives a hint that perhaps many may call themselves disciples of him, but would not be recognised as such by him. Namely those who not imitate Christ, obey not his commands, and shall not enter the Kingdom. Only those who follow the commandments (=do that work) and live by his teachings shall be saved and be able to enter God's Kingdom. What Jesus put first in the model prayer was that we should pray for the Father's name to be sanctified, and our attitude of, and reverence for that name is of paramount importance. so we do have to work on that attitude.


(Malachi 3:16-18) 16 At that time those in fear of Jehovah spoke with one another, each one with his companion, and Jehovah kept paying attention and listening. And a book of remembrance began to be written up before him for those in fear of Jehovah and for those thinking upon his name. 17 "And they will certainly become mine," Jehovah of armies has said, "at the day when I am producing a special property. And I will show compassion upon them, just as a man shows compassion upon his son who is serving him. 18 And YOU people will again certainly see [the distinction] between a righteous one and a wicked one, between one serving God and one who has not served him."
(Romans 9:17) 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "For this very cause I have let you remain, that in connection with you I may show my power, and that my name may be declared in all the earth."
(Romans 10:13) 13 For "everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved."
This latter verse is a quote from Joel 2:32:
(Joel 2:32) 32 And it must occur that everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will get away safe; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will prove to be the escaped ones, just as Jehovah has said, and in among the survivors, whom Jehovah is calling."

We need to associate with God's people, as Christians in the first century did, however Jesus said that along with the "wheat" there would also be mixed in with them the "weeds". So we have to examine the beliefs of those we consider to associate with to see if these are in harmony with the Bible.

We need to obey the Christ. He gave all true Christians a commission, as recorded at Matthew 28:19,20, and that is what Christians do. Another example of a command that we obey is found at Acts 15:28. We should use God's name, preach to our neighbours about God's Kingdom, teach interested ones free of charge about what God requires of us, and practice what the bible teaches everyday in such things as the sanctity of blood and the right way of living.


Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Niet allen zullen het Koninkrijk beërven

Wednesday 9 September 2009

Keep your heart on the right path

Benjamin Franklin 1767
Benjamin Franklin 1767 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

"Great beauty, great strength, and  great riches are really and truly of no great use; a right heart exceeds all."
- Benjamin Franklin

"Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path."
Proverbs 23:19

“Keep your heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.”
Proverbs 4:23

God, let my mind focus on the right things.
Let me enter the path of knowledge and give that I also can show others the right way.
Dutch version > Houdt uw hart op de goede weg

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2015 August update: