With so much going wrong in this world, and recently so many religious wars, lots of people say the world would be better of without religion and without any god.
Lots of people do have lots of questions. The politicians nor the teachers are providing all the answers. Is it not because we do have so many questions that we do need faith in something or some one? Is it not we
need faith when the way ahead seems unclear or intimidating, when
answers are hard to find?
Faith is trusting in someone who has the
answers we lack. Faith is trusting in what is there but which we can not see, cannot feel, cannot touch. Many things in this world may be hidden but come into light one day. Time revealed a lot of things to humankind. Though still a lot of things we do not know nor do we understand. We believe there might be such and such thing happened in the past or happening in the future. We may believe thta something works this way or an other, but often we do not know exactly how it functions.
In this world we are tested many times, and that is where faith comes in and shall proof its importance.
A lot of things may be not clear for us, but we do believe we can trust what is written in the Holy Scriptures. We do not keep our ears shut nor our eyes closed. We want to see what the blind cannot see. We do believe the Word of the Almighty God is the Word of Truth, explaining everything what we should have to know at the moment. Those things which are not clear for us (yet), shall perhaps clearer at the time when God thinks we shall be ready for it. Until then we shall have to wait.
Those who think the Christian faith is a blind faith are mistaken. When we do not want to see what is really in God's Word, we shall not be able to see it. The Christian faith is not a blind faith but has to be a seeing faith. In His Word we should find God. In our heart we should find His Treasure and in our ears we should hear His Call. In the surroundings and in what happens in the world we can see the Works of God. Those who want to follow the son of the Creator shall be able to feel His love. They shall find all the more reason to trust V more than any human being.
Trusting God we do not need to find all answers to our questions now. We trust Him to such a degree that we do
not need or demand all the answers. We trust and obey, even when we do
not understand and even when we cannot see the finish line.
> Please do find also to read: It's Not a Blind Faith
Wednesday 20 August 2014
Friday 1 August 2014
A rebellious movement founded on a fake?
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| English: Icon of Jesus Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
There are many people who want others to believe that Jesus Christ did not exist and that Christianity is build upon a fake.
It might be strange that those people who wants us to believe jesus from Nazareth (Jeshua from the tribe of David) did not exist are running high with other historical figrures where less writings and information can be found than the one they scorn.
Many also consider early Christianity as a rebellious underground movement until Roman Emperor Constantine made it his religious practice in A.D. 312. We do agree that Constantine's conversion, based on what he viewed as a victorious sign from God prior to going into battle, and his demand to the preachers of Christ that they would agree with the empire its system of worshipping, made that the movement became more attractive because lots of attitudes could be continued and worship became no different than they knew already from the Roman and Greek worshipping, having now a three-une god to their liberty.
Having Christendom made in an official religion of Rome in A.D. 380 did more for the spread of Christianity than any proselytizing efforts conducted by the Apostle Paul. Though the religion that was subservient to the Roman Empire, beard little resemblance to the radical teachings of Jesus.
The first-century Gospels did not want to give a correct historical day to day overview, but presented those teachings of the man the writers considered to be the Messiah.
The gospels indicate that Jesus was a historical figure.
Myths and even legends normally involved characters placed centuries in the distant past. People wrote novels, but not novels claiming that a fictitious character actually lived a generation or two before they wrote. Ancient readers would most likely approach the Gospels as biographies, as a majority of scholars today suggest. Biographies of recent figures were not only about real figures, but they typically preserved much information. One can demonstrate this preservation by simply comparing the works of biographers and historians about then-recent figures, say Tacitus and Suetonius writing about Otho.writes Professor Craig S. Keener in the Huffington Post.
Contrary to some circles on the Internet, very few scholars doubt that Jesus existed, preached and led a movement. Scholars' confidence has nothing to do with theology but much to do with historiographic common sense. What movement would make up a recent leader, executed by a Roman governor for treason, and then declare, "We're his followers"? If they wanted to commit suicide, there were simpler ways to do it.
One popular objection is that only Christians wrote anything about Jesus. This objection is neither entirely true nor does it reckon with the nature of ancient sources. It usually comes from people who have not worked much with ancient history. Only a small proportion of information from antiquity survives, yet it is often sufficient.Those who want to find more about the existence of this cult figure may look further at the new series Why think that (1) … Jesus existed?
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Wednesday 23 July 2014
2014 August 17-23, 25th Anniversary Ontario Christadelphian Bible School
Ontario Christadelphian Bible School
encourages
a spirit of family unity for parents, teens, young children, and elders
alike. The natural and peaceful setting serves as an inspirational
backdrop as members of the school enjoy family fellowship in the Lord
Jesus Christ.
The theme verse for this year's Bible School is Psalm 121:1-2
Adult Teachers:
Bro. Bill Yake
Bro. Matt Swift
Bro. Josh Lindeblad
Young Adult Teachers:
Bro. Scott Wentworth
Bro. Colton Walker
Bro. Mike Robinson
We're pleased to have a good sized group already registered for the 25th anniversary and we want to make sure everyone knows there is plenty of space at this facility and we want you to be there, too!
Please go to the OCBC website to register - OCBCBibleSchool.com
The theme verse for this year's Bible School is Psalm 121:1-2
"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth."Lord willing you will be able to attend OCBC 2014 this year and help us celebrate our 25th Anniversary! Our heavenly Father has blessed OCBC with a fantastic venue: Camp Starlight, Starlight, PA. The 385 acre campus includes its own private lake, many recreational facilities and is surrounded by the beautiful Pennsylvania Pocono Mountains. Lord willing, check-in will begin at 3:00 pm on Sunday, August 17 and the school will end on Saturday, August 23.
Adult Teachers:
Bro. Bill Yake
Bro. Matt Swift
Bro. Josh Lindeblad
Young Adult Teachers:
Bro. Scott Wentworth
Bro. Colton Walker
Bro. Mike Robinson
We're pleased to have a good sized group already registered for the 25th anniversary and we want to make sure everyone knows there is plenty of space at this facility and we want you to be there, too!
Please go to the OCBC website to register - OCBCBibleSchool.com
Monday 14 July 2014
Faalangst, en angst voor het onbekende
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| (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Faalangst, en angst voor het onbekende
worden altijd verslagen door het geloof.
- Georgette Mosbacher
Thursday 10 July 2014
Believing what Jesus says
How many people are really willing to believe what Jesus says. In Christendom we do find many Christians who prefer to keep to the traditional doctrines of the doctrinal churches, instead of willing to take the words of the Bible like they are written there.
What does it mean to you when Jesus says God is greater than him? What does it mean when he says we do have to pray to God his Father and do not may worship him, but should give all honour to the Only One Divine God, Creator of heaven and earth?
Jesus concentrated himself on the words and works of his heavenly Father and asked others not to focus on his (Jesus) works, because he (Jesus) could do nothing without his Father. Jesus his focus was on his heavenly Father who had appeared above him and had spoken "This is my beloved son." How many Christians are willing to accept those words of God Who spoke about His only begotten son?
Do you want to focus on the doctrines of the many churches, or are you willing to focus on the Word of God as it is presented to the world in the Bible?
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Please read also: A Different Life Focus
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| Evangelistar von Speyer, um 1220 Manuscript in the Badische Landesbibliothek, Karlsruhe, Germany Cod. Bruchsal 1, Bl. 1v Shows Christ in vesica shape surrounded by the "animal" symbols of the four evangelists. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
The barrier to fully accepting Jesus’ words is the cost involved in following him and his teachings. To follow his teachings, and the teaching of the Bible at large, requires a different type of focus. That is, one not focussed upon material or present benefits, but rather upon following the truths of God no matter what the present cost, because something far greater has been purposed and promised by God.You as a Christian or as a unbeliever, what do you want to come to believe? Where do you want to put your focus?
What does it mean to you when Jesus says God is greater than him? What does it mean when he says we do have to pray to God his Father and do not may worship him, but should give all honour to the Only One Divine God, Creator of heaven and earth?
Jesus concentrated himself on the words and works of his heavenly Father and asked others not to focus on his (Jesus) works, because he (Jesus) could do nothing without his Father. Jesus his focus was on his heavenly Father who had appeared above him and had spoken "This is my beloved son." How many Christians are willing to accept those words of God Who spoke about His only begotten son?
Do you want to focus on the doctrines of the many churches, or are you willing to focus on the Word of God as it is presented to the world in the Bible?
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Please read also: A Different Life Focus
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Flowing out from a genuine spiritual “heart”
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| Illumination of Christ before Pilate Deutsch: Jesus vor Pilatus (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Much of the New Testament illustrates the endeavour of Christ and the Apostles to make this happen. Yet in the centuries that followed the purity of the “new wine” has so often been diluted and polluted. We must recapture the purity of the “new wine” if we are to be wondrously blessed in participating at the return of Jesus in “the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9)
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.
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.
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:
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.
- God’s revealed purpose with both mankind and with the earth: God's Plan
- The revealed Creator of heaven and earth: the Elohim Allah God: Jehovah
- 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.
- Human being, animals and plants, the elements in the universe.
- 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.
- 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:
- Chapter 1 - General Introduction to the Blog Basic Bible Teaching: The Core Teachings of the Bible.
- 1.The Core Teachings of the Bible 1. TheCore Teachings of the Bible
- The Core Teachings of the Bible Chapter 2 - Self-Awareness – and the Choices this Awareness Brings?
- The Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth
- The Core Teachings of the Bible Chapter 2 - The Common Human Experience: 1. The Common Human Experience
- Is There a Greater Purpose to Life?
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The Christadelphian magazine 150th anniversary
This month is the 150th anniversary of The Christadelphian magazine.
It began life in July 1864 as The Ambassador of the Coming Age, changing its name in
1869 to The Christadelphian, and under seven different editors a total of 1,800 continuous monthly issues have been published to date.
To mark the occasion a special 16-page centre section has been added to the July 2014 issue, reflecting briefly on the history of our community as seen through the pages of the magazine. For those who do not subscribe, individual copies are available from the Office and online. http://buff.ly/1oABJer
It began life in July 1864 as The Ambassador of the Coming Age, changing its name in
1869 to The Christadelphian, and under seven different editors a total of 1,800 continuous monthly issues have been published to date.
To mark the occasion a special 16-page centre section has been added to the July 2014 issue, reflecting briefly on the history of our community as seen through the pages of the magazine. For those who do not subscribe, individual copies are available from the Office and online. http://buff.ly/1oABJer
Monday 7 July 2014
Goede mensen en verborgen christenen
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| Lenin (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
In de landen waar men houdt aan het economisch systeem dat gebaseerd is op het idee van eindeloze groei houdt men er graag aan vast dat die landen waar men niet aan de mantra houdt van ‘meer, meer, meer’ of waar men er aan houdt om alles te delen met elkaar, dat daar geen plaats zou zijn voor een Christendom.
Op 29 juni gaf de paus in Il Messaggero, een lokaal dagblad van Rome een interview, waarin hij voor sommige mensen andermaal straffe uitspraken deed. In dat interview wordt de paus onder de neus gewreven dat hij “zoals Lenin spreekt”. Daarop antwoordt Jorge Bergoglio het volgende.
“Ik kan alleen maar zeggen dat de communisten onze vlag hebben gestolen. De vlag van de armen is christelijk. De armoede staat centraal in het Evangelie. Nemen we Mattheüs 25, die de procedure aangeeft op basis waarvan we zullen beoordeeld worden: "Ik was hongerig, dorstig, in de gevangenis, ziek, naakt." Of kijk naar de zaligsprekingen[1], een andere vlag. De communisten zeggen dat dit alles communistisch is. Ja, oké, twintig eeuwen later [kunnen ze dat beweren]. Dus, wanneer je met hen spreekt, dan kan je hen zeggen: "maar jullie zijn eigenlijk christenen.”Al eerdere had de paus in La Stampa gezegd dat hij in zijn leven al veel marxisten ontmoet had
“die goede mensen waren”.
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| English: Cardinal Jorge M. Bergoglio SJ, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, celebrating mass at the XX Exposición del Libro Católico (20th Catholic Book Fair), in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Español: Cardenal Jorge M. Bergoglio SJ, Arzobispo de Buenos Aires, celebrando misa en la XX Exposición del Libro Católico, en Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
De marxistische ideologie is volgens hem verkeerd en bovendien zal je in zijn doctrine niets terugvinden over strijd of over klassen, laat staan over klassenstrijd.
Hij gelooft niet in de werking van de vrije markt (de onzichtbare hand) en de zogeheten trickle-down-theorie waarbij voordelen voor de rijken - zoals belastingsvermindering - uiteindelijk ten goede komen aan de armen.
Het is een totaal verkeerde opvatting om telkens te denken dat zij die tegen de ongelijkheid zijn en dat als oorzaak zien van alle sociale wantoestanden, communisten zouden zijn.
“welvaartprojecten die bepaalde dringende behoeften voldoen, moeten beschouwd worden als louter tijdelijke antwoorden”.Prioritair voor hem zijn de werkloosheid en de kloof tussen rijk en arm.
Het is een onverholen kritiek op de neoliberale koers die gemeengoed geworden is bij de politieke elite. In rechtse kringen beschouwt men de uitspraken van de paus Franciscus als oubollig en radicaal. Maar het is natuurlijk ver gekomen als zelfs de sociale leer van de kerk al radicaal overkomt.
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Vindt ook om te lezen:
- Vrijheid van mens en centrale plaats in ons wereld- en mensbeeld
- Marx, het Volk, Religie, Christendom en verwrongen ideeën
- Kuddedier doet liever wat het niet mag
- Hoe de rijken de wereld regeren
- Virussen van onze maatschappij
- Wat betreft Waar ELKE mens recht op heeft
- Stichters van de Nieuwe Wereld en Godsdienstvrijheid
- God meester van goed en kwaad
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