Saturday, June 26, 2010
Ritual, Structure, Dreams, Visions, etc....
Some people think that ritual is evil in and of itself. But who are we to judge someone's heart? It's all about intent. Ritual can become an idol, yes, if we put it before God. And do we need to have dreams, visions, etc... to be Christian? Daniel prayed three times a day, religiously. That sounds like ritual and structure. I guess God fed him to the lions then. Seven times a day David worshiped God, like a monk. But, I guess God didn't visit favour on him either eh? What about St. Francis (Assisi)? When did God speak to him? When he was in the middle of a very structured style of prayer? I guess he wasn't rewarded with a vision then. And, speaking of visions and dreams and stuff, must we have them to be a Christian? Whatever happened to blessed are those who believe not having seen?
Epilepsy?
William Ramier wrote
at 3:23am
When Jesus cast out the "demons", something went into the pigs. Was it epilepsy?
at 3:23am
When Jesus cast out the "demons", something went into the pigs. Was it epilepsy?
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Who cares what they think?
William Ramier wrote
at 3:20pm
"They Came to him and said, 'Teacher, we know that you tell the truth, without worrying about what people think. You pay no attention to a man's status, but teach the truth about God's will for man. Tell us, is it against our Law to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor? Should we pay them or not?'"
Mark 12:14 (TEV)
They knew that He told the truth regardless of what people thought; we should all be like that (telling the truth without thinking about what people will think).
at 3:20pm
"They Came to him and said, 'Teacher, we know that you tell the truth, without worrying about what people think. You pay no attention to a man's status, but teach the truth about God's will for man. Tell us, is it against our Law to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor? Should we pay them or not?'"
Mark 12:14 (TEV)
They knew that He told the truth regardless of what people thought; we should all be like that (telling the truth without thinking about what people will think).
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Me, Judge?
William Ramier wrote at 4:52am
On more than one occasion now, I have been accused of judging somebody. When confronted with this accusation, I reflect on what has been said. I don't believe that I have. God loves everybody equally. They have the same chance of salvation as I do. I can't look at somebody and tell if they're bound for hell. Sometimes I think that what is actually going on is that they judge themselves. They look at my Christian life, and become angered. It reminds me of the scripture that says help your enemy and you heap coals on him. I think they look at the wrong in their life, which they themselves see as wrong, and look at my Christian life (what they actually see is God's light shining through me) and judge themselves. (And, people who do wrong hide from the light because the light shows everybody their sin). If they only knew; I am not good. I am as deserving as anybody of a one way ticket to hell. It's Jesus who paid the price for my sins. That's the only reason. It's because I'm a Christian that I try my best to live a good life. It's not to earn my salvation. Because, we can not earn salvation through works. I myself see my sins, and am ashamed. They are ever before God. Jesus did all this for me. Trying to live for him is a very little thing to ask.
On more than one occasion now, I have been accused of judging somebody. When confronted with this accusation, I reflect on what has been said. I don't believe that I have. God loves everybody equally. They have the same chance of salvation as I do. I can't look at somebody and tell if they're bound for hell. Sometimes I think that what is actually going on is that they judge themselves. They look at my Christian life, and become angered. It reminds me of the scripture that says help your enemy and you heap coals on him. I think they look at the wrong in their life, which they themselves see as wrong, and look at my Christian life (what they actually see is God's light shining through me) and judge themselves. (And, people who do wrong hide from the light because the light shows everybody their sin). If they only knew; I am not good. I am as deserving as anybody of a one way ticket to hell. It's Jesus who paid the price for my sins. That's the only reason. It's because I'm a Christian that I try my best to live a good life. It's not to earn my salvation. Because, we can not earn salvation through works. I myself see my sins, and am ashamed. They are ever before God. Jesus did all this for me. Trying to live for him is a very little thing to ask.
Have Reverence for God!
William Ramier wrote at 4:26am
"You call him Father, when you pray to God, who judges all people by the same standard, according to what each one has done; so then, spend the rest of your lives here on earth in reverence for him."
1 Peter 1:17 (TEV)
"You call him Father, when you pray to God, who judges all people by the same standard, according to what each one has done; so then, spend the rest of your lives here on earth in reverence for him."
1 Peter 1:17 (TEV)
Do you have to have a Road to Damascus Experience to love Jesus?
William Ramier wrote at 4:22am
"You love him, although you have not seen him, and you believe in him, although you do not now see him. So you rejoice with a great and glorious joy which words cannot express, because you are receiving the salvation of your souls, which is the purpose of your faith in him."
1 Peter 1:8-9 (TEV)
"You love him, although you have not seen him, and you believe in him, although you do not now see him. So you rejoice with a great and glorious joy which words cannot express, because you are receiving the salvation of your souls, which is the purpose of your faith in him."
1 Peter 1:8-9 (TEV)
Trials?
William Ramier wrote at 4:20am
"Their purpose is to prove that your faith is genuine. Even gold, which can be destroyed, is tested by fire; and so your faith, which is much more precious than gold, must also be tested, so that it may endure. Then you will receive praise and glory and honour on the Day when Jesus Christ is revealed."
1 Peter 1:7 (TEV)
"Their purpose is to prove that your faith is genuine. Even gold, which can be destroyed, is tested by fire; and so your faith, which is much more precious than gold, must also be tested, so that it may endure. Then you will receive praise and glory and honour on the Day when Jesus Christ is revealed."
1 Peter 1:7 (TEV)
...
William Ramier wrote
at 3:46am
"A perverse man stirs up dissension,
and a gossip separates close friends."
Proverbs 16:28 (NIV)
at 3:46am
"A perverse man stirs up dissension,
and a gossip separates close friends."
Proverbs 16:28 (NIV)
Have Faith
William Ramier wrote
at 5:01pm yesterday
"Our steps are directed by the Lord; he strengthens those in whose way he delights. If they stumble, they shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds them by the hand."
Psalms 37:24-25 (BAS)
at 5:01pm yesterday
"Our steps are directed by the Lord; he strengthens those in whose way he delights. If they stumble, they shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds them by the hand."
Psalms 37:24-25 (BAS)
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Zeal for the House of God
William Ramier wrote
at 2:33pm
"When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, 'Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!' His disciples remembered that it is written: 'Zeal for your house will consume me.'"
John 2:13-17 (NIV)
at 2:33pm
"When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, 'Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!' His disciples remembered that it is written: 'Zeal for your house will consume me.'"
John 2:13-17 (NIV)
Sometimes I wonder.
William Ramier wrote
at 2:14pm
Sometimes I wonder how long it will be until Anglican Bishops will need to have secular jobs to pay their bills, like vocational Deacons.
at 2:14pm
Sometimes I wonder how long it will be until Anglican Bishops will need to have secular jobs to pay their bills, like vocational Deacons.
Father Guide Me
William Ramier wrote
at 2:04pm
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be always acceptable in your sight LORD, my strength and my redeemer. Amen.
at 2:04pm
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be always acceptable in your sight LORD, my strength and my redeemer. Amen.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Religious?
William Ramier wrote
at 2:08am
Atheism is the Devil's religion:
"Do not let anyone deceive you in any way. For the Day will not come until the final Rebellion takes place and the Wicked One appears, who is destined for hell. He will oppose every so-called god or object of worship and will put himself above them all. He will even go in and sit down in God's Temple and claim to be God." 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 (TEV)
Enlightenment?
"Remember that there will be difficult times in the last days. People will be selfish, greedy, boastful, and conceited; they will be insulting, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, and irreligious;" 2 Timothy 3:1-2 (TEV)
at 2:08am
Atheism is the Devil's religion:
"Do not let anyone deceive you in any way. For the Day will not come until the final Rebellion takes place and the Wicked One appears, who is destined for hell. He will oppose every so-called god or object of worship and will put himself above them all. He will even go in and sit down in God's Temple and claim to be God." 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 (TEV)
Enlightenment?
"Remember that there will be difficult times in the last days. People will be selfish, greedy, boastful, and conceited; they will be insulting, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, and irreligious;" 2 Timothy 3:1-2 (TEV)
Too hard on yourself?
William Ramier wrote
at 1:26am
We all know how people judge each other. However, sometimes we're harder on ourselves. This jumped out at me:
"Now, I am not at all concerned about being judged by you or by any human standard; I don't even pass judgement on myself."
1 Corinthians 4:3 (TEV)
at 1:26am
We all know how people judge each other. However, sometimes we're harder on ourselves. This jumped out at me:
"Now, I am not at all concerned about being judged by you or by any human standard; I don't even pass judgement on myself."
1 Corinthians 4:3 (TEV)
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Save the Lord's Prayer?
William Ramier wrote
at 11:03pm
I've been mulling this one over for a while. Some time ago, the Liberal government in Ontario decided to get rid of the Lord's Prayer in the legislature. I even heard some Christians say that they agreed with this. Their reason was that if people are forced to say it, they don't mean it. They don't respect it etc.... This is the same reasoning that had God's name removed from the Bible. Anyway, I think it stinks of atheism and secularism and anti Christian sentiment to name but a few things. This country was founded by Christians. God is in our constitution. Canada was founded on the belief in God. The sad irony is that, as we remove more and more of our Christianity from our society, we breed more and more atheists. Removing the Lord's prayer to be more tolerant toward others is not a Christian value; it's a republican value. Why is that more important? I'm not saying we should advocate theocracy. But this land was founded on God by Christians, not republican atheists. I'm just trying to support and grow the faith; and, I see it being eroded everywhere in our society.
at 11:03pm
I've been mulling this one over for a while. Some time ago, the Liberal government in Ontario decided to get rid of the Lord's Prayer in the legislature. I even heard some Christians say that they agreed with this. Their reason was that if people are forced to say it, they don't mean it. They don't respect it etc.... This is the same reasoning that had God's name removed from the Bible. Anyway, I think it stinks of atheism and secularism and anti Christian sentiment to name but a few things. This country was founded by Christians. God is in our constitution. Canada was founded on the belief in God. The sad irony is that, as we remove more and more of our Christianity from our society, we breed more and more atheists. Removing the Lord's prayer to be more tolerant toward others is not a Christian value; it's a republican value. Why is that more important? I'm not saying we should advocate theocracy. But this land was founded on God by Christians, not republican atheists. I'm just trying to support and grow the faith; and, I see it being eroded everywhere in our society.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Believe Without Seeing
William Ramier wrote at 1:03am
"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy," 1 Peter 1:8 (NIV)
I was reading 1 Peter the other day, and this jumped out at me. It reminds me of something from one of St. Paul's letters where he says something about faith being believing without seeing. So we can believe without seeing.
"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy," 1 Peter 1:8 (NIV)
I was reading 1 Peter the other day, and this jumped out at me. It reminds me of something from one of St. Paul's letters where he says something about faith being believing without seeing. So we can believe without seeing.
Why Change?
William Ramier wrote at 12:59am
It annoys me to see Church leaders and others struggling so hard, and changing everything, to make the Church relevant in the world today. They don’t get it. It’s not the way we worship. It’s that we worship. Nobody believes in God anymore, not in Western society.
It annoys me to see Church leaders and others struggling so hard, and changing everything, to make the Church relevant in the world today. They don’t get it. It’s not the way we worship. It’s that we worship. Nobody believes in God anymore, not in Western society.
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