Wednesday, June 28, 2006

CHRIST HIMSELF ­ THE CONTENT OF CHRISTIAN FAITH

CHRIST HIMSELF ­ THE CONTENT OF CHRISTIAN FAITH
By: Major W. Ian Thomas

There is something, which makes Christianity more than a religion, more than an ethic, and more than the idle dream of the sentimental idealist. It is this something, which makes it relevant to each one of us right now as a contemporary experience. It is the fact that Christ Himself is the very life content of the Christian faith. It is He who makes it "tick." "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it" (I Thessalonians 5:24). The One who calls you is the One who does that to which He calls you. "For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). He is Himself the very dynamic of all His demands.
Christ did not die simply that you might be saved from a bad conscience, or even to remove the stain of past failure, but to "clear the decks" for divine action. You have been told that Christ died to save you. This is gloriously true in a very limited, though vital sense. In Romans 5:10 we read, "If, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." The Lord Jesus Christ therefore ministers to you in two distinct ways - He reconciles you to God by His death, and He saves you by His life.
This, however, is but the beginning of the story, "for if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, (now an accomplished fact,) we shall be saved (as a continuing process) by His life" (Romans 5:10). The glorious fact of the matter is this ­ no sooner has God reconciled to Himself the man who has responded to His call, than He re-imparts to him, as a forgiven sinner, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and this restoration to him of the Holy Spirit constitutes what the Bible calls regeneration, or new birth. Titus 3:5 and 6, ­ "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour."
From: The Saving Life of Christ, Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House. ©1961.

Friday, June 23, 2006

This just cracks me up!!

This just cracks me up!

I have been reading a comic called “Get Fuzzy”.


In this a guy named Rob has a cat named Bucky Katt … who thinks he is smarter than Rob and Satchel the dog. Meet the characters here.

What has been cracking me up is the last few strips have been about England and that Fuzzy does not think it exists…

Now, I think I relate to it from Rob’s perspective… how do I get this cat to understand the Truth (LOL!)

Yet, I bet many of you will think I am more… Bucky Katt. LOL!

#1 link

#2 link

#3 link

#4 link


Blessings!!!!
iggy

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

More on the last topic

More on the last topic

I found this interesting articles… some are not even PM/E/e and are saying basically what I have been preaching here.

No Room for Personal Truth By Dr. Bruce Prescott

Another thought is that of why is propositional truth need to be so cold and objective? It seems to run contrary to the Creeds of the faith let alone the Truth of the Incarnation. These versions are all taken from Creeds of Christendom

The "Rule of Faith" as recorded by Irenaeus:
. . . this faith: in one God, the Father Almighty, who made the heaven and the earth and the seas and all the things that are in them; and in one Christ Jesus, the Son of God, who was made flesh for our salvation; and in the Holy Spirit, who made known through the prophets the plan of salvation, and the coming, and the birth from a virgin, and the passion, and the resurrection from the dead, and the bodily ascension into heaven of the beloved Christ Jesus, our Lord, and his future appearing from heaven in the glory of the Father to sum up all things and to raise anew all flesh of the whole human race . . .

The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.
And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And we believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. AMEN.


Of course The Apostle John had this to say. 1 John 1:1. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. NIV
I see that at least for me that Truth must be found in the Person of Christ, and only to be possessed when that life indwells us.

Blessings,
iggy


Tuesday, June 20, 2006

What is your faith built on? Incarnational Truth vs. Propositional Truth pt 2

What is your faith built on? Incarnational Truth vs. Propositional Truth

Ok, I am getting braced for the assault! LOL!

I found this phrase with John O’Keefe on his discussion group and think it is very much the same as I have been saying.

Is your faith built on the Bible and that being a group of Propositional truths grouped together?

Or is your faith built on the Incarnation?

Do you find Jesus in the Bible?

Or is the Bible your source of truth?

I see that Jesus is God, and this God was revealed throughout scripture… and as the bible points out (in red no less!), all scriptures points to Jesus!

Luke 24: 25. He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
26. Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?"
27. And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

Then this Person, meaning Jesus being God incarnate… is Truth incarnate.

I see that the Bible is more than a group of propositional truths grouped together. I have built my faith first on the foundation of Christ… I filter my Truth revealed by Jesus through the Bible to match what has already been revealed and reason it out with Jesus (Who is alive!) as to how this revealed truth works out in my life. I do not live my life by the book so to say, but by the Life of Christ and then backed up by the bible…

The issue is many try to find life in the Bible… and He is there, yet just like the Pharisees of old they search and search and try to find life from the scriptures… Jesus had this to say!!!!

John 5: 37. And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38. nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39. You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40. yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

Notice that Jesus says that the Father’s word does not dwell in them? If the word does not dwell in them then they could not understand! Yet it because they did not believe the one the Father had sent… meaning Jesus. We need to first come to Christ (vs. 39) to have the Life… then as He dwells in us, we can then understand the scriptures and how they testify about Jesus.

It was after the resurrection of Jesus… and His revealing of Who He was and is… that the Scripture made sense.

John 2: 22. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

So, again I can not say I see the bible as a group of propositional truths that I am to live by as I see that scripture itself testifies that I am to live by the Life of Christ… in that I then can understand and grow in the knowledge of Grace and Truth.

Blessings,
iggy

I Have Been Pondering Something

I have been pondering something.

This year or at least the last couple of months I have had some people who disagree with me on what I have written… or rather what they presupposed me to have written.

Let me explain:

I have no problem with someone disagreeing with me. In fact I find it a great opportunity for myself and the other person to get to know each other, and talk it out. I have found God works out the “disagreement”. Often it is not that we disagree, but only that we are standing at either end of the topic. And with that it can take time to see that we agree but express it differently.

Sometimes in the course of conversing my mind may change, and though I don't go back and change the post, if one follows the conversation they will see, out of the conversation, development out of the original post. Does that make sense?

I am first to acknowledge that I often do not respond and often react. In that please remember I am only human! LOL! Really I have come a long way from where I was.

My issue is with those who come not to converse and discuss a ‘disagreement’ but rather come with the idea that they are all right and I am all wrong… just because they see “PM/E/e” somewhere. It seems to not matter at that point what I say. I am an apostate to them in my association as an “emerging”.

To me their argument is like this.

“I have just read, Nevada has recently declared it illegal to let your child sit on your lap while you drive. The law now states that for the child’s safety, the child must be restraint in a car seat in case of an accident. Though I love my child and love to let them sit on my lap I see that it should be illegal to let your child sit on your lap in the car while driving in any state.”

Now, I have found that if I said that the accusation from someone would be. “That iggy just said that he supports the state to not allow children to sit on their parents lap.”

Then quote me like this:

“Though I love my child and love to let them sit on my lap I see that it should be illegal to let your child sit on your lap.”

Which I did say, but it is then taken and put into a new context and then twisted to mean something I never said at all… then I say, “I never said that, I said, “Though I love my child and love to let them sit on my lap I see that it should be illegal to let your child sit on your lap in the car while driving in any state.” Which is replied with, “You are a lair!”

I agree that in the “new context” that was created, that I am then a lair… but not in the original context. LOL!

The next thing I found is that the argument is then around me being a lair or not! Here are some reasons for that. I think there is much wisdom here.

I found this article in which Brian McLaren points out some reasons this happens.

I will just give an excerpt here I really recommend reading the whole interview:

“Darren King: It is no secret that you have your fair share of critics. I think many of us realize that your critics often misrepresent you and your beliefs. I'm wondering if you could offer some insight as to why and how this misrepresentation takes place? How can those of us within the conversation be on guard against doing the same thing to others?

Brian McLaren: It's great you ask that last question, because I'd be more sad to see those of us who share this connection to respond inappropriately than I would to see the unfair criticism increase. As I said earlier, this is a real temptation that I and many face right now. I hope people will pray for me, and for all of us. Even if we avoid being overtly defensive or aggressive, it's too easy to become passive aggressive or to let the jabs come out in some sideways fashion. Lord, have mercy.I also think you're wise to ask why so much of the criticism is so inaccurate. It's good to try to understand the causes of things like this - and not just react. Let me do a brain dump of some of the reasons that come to mind, in no particular order. And it's important to say that I don't present these as diagnoses of any particular individual - just as general possibilities. And we're not talking about legitimate questions and dialogue, even vigorous debate: we're talking about the mean-spirited stuff that causes critics to make wild statements that even their friends would say are over the top.

1. Sometimes, I or others have not spoken charitably or wisely enough, and people have felt criticized or attacked, so they have responded with counterattack. In these cases, I am reaping bad fruit from sowing bad seed, and the pain of their unfairness can lead me to repent for any times I'm unfair.

2. Many religious communities feel under threat. Their numbers are declining. Their young people are leaving. Money is down. When any individual or organization feels threatened, it's easy to become testy, grouchy, or mean-spirited.

3. These stressed communities might love us if we offered the three easy steps to keeping their young people, or to bringing in lots of the unchurched. But when they listen to us, we tell them we don't think there are three easy steps. We tell them needed change will require deep rethinking and hard work and some pain. Some of them don't want to hear this, so there's probably a reaction to complexity and unwanted news that causes pain and creates a pained response.

4. Many of these folks, I think, have been trained unconsciously to work by fear. Fear (along with guilt) is a primary means of motivation in many religious communities - the fear of being rejected, corrected, looked down upon, or called "liberal" or some other epithet. It's weird to see "emergent" now become an epithet for these folks! When some of their young people - maybe their sons and daughters - are attracted to what we're doing, they understandably wish they would stay "in the fold," so to speak. So, they attack a few of us to make their flock be afraid of associating with us. It's a survival thing, I guess. In that case, the criticism is not even aimed at us: it's aimed at those in their fold who might leave or question things or work for change.

5. Many of the harshest critics come from fundamentalist religious traditions where hot and inaccurate rhetoric is acceptable whenever doctrinal matters are in play. That's just the way certain kinds of fundamentlists do business, and they have done so for centuries - Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, whatever. They've been trained in it, almost as a form of discipleship. They may even enjoy it, like an art form or sport. And they feel they are serving God when they do it, so it gets passed on from generation to generation. You can't blame people for this, since it's almost instinctual.

6. Some critics are playing to their constituency. They aren't trying to educate or correct us. After all, if they wanted to be heard, they're smart enough to know they should take more care to be accurate and charitable. But they're writing to show their strength and boldness and maybe their rhetorical cleverness to their community, proving themselves to others, or perhaps to themselves.

7. Some of them have never read or listened to us, but are reacting based on hearsay. So, they believe what they were told, and they're passing it on, since they trust the people who told them.

8. Some of it is just plain old sin, but sin of a particularly religious sort. Some famous person once said, "For bad people to do bad things, you just need an opportunity. For good people to do bad things, you need religion."

9. Some people are probably acting out of sociological or psychological scripts they don't even understand.

10. More significant than any of the previous possibilities though, there's some work in "systems-sensitive leadership" that I've found very helpful. The main book (of that title) is out of print and unavailable, but the idea is that people think and behave in the context of thinking systems. At certain levels - there are eight levels in the book I'm thinking of - people respond to perceived threat or disturbance with physical violence. At higher levels, the violence progresses to verbal, and eventually, of course, moves beyond violence altogether. Back in the Inquisition era, and even in the Reformation era, there was a lot of physical violence in response to doctrinal differences. So it's progress if the worst we get is some name-calling! And if we can respond with grace and good humor, perhaps we'll help our religious communities to move to some higher levels.”




Again, I have no issue if someone disagrees with me. If one looks at the links I have one will find people who regularly do not agree with me! Like Dan Carter, who in the course of discussion on our disagreements I have found to be very generous and Gracious.

I heard a quote which I am not sure where it came from, but it goes something like this.

“If two people agree totally on every point on everything, one of them is not necessary.” With that my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I do believe you all necessary for Christ Himself found value in you, enough to die for you, and then to rise again and give you Life Eternal!

Blessings,
iggy

Sunday, June 18, 2006

I found this interview interesting!!



I found this interview via, faithmaps.com



http://pastortad.blogspot.com/2006/05/drfrank-page-answers-questions-for-sbc.html


This guy gets it!!

Dr. Frank Page: “I see many valuable contributions to the SBC coming from the Emergent Leaders Movement. I believe it is a positive thing to see a broader number of participants in our convention’s direction. I personally applaud this movement. I do want to speak a word of caution about a harmful message that possibly could come from the movement. As our convention seems to be breaking into a multitude of disparate groups, there is the possibility of an entitlement mentality coming forth. As I will say over and over, this convention does not belong to any one group. We are at the table by God’s grace and mercy. We must be very careful to feel that any of us are entitled to any power or influence at all.”



Blessings,
iggy

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Born Free Presentation

This presentation would be what I wouldconsider the “foundation” of my belief structure.

Please view this link.

Born Free Presentation

Blessings,
iggy

A Question About My Blog Links

A Question About My Blog Links.


Miss Sara had asked me what links on this blog reflect emerging thought. I thought it easier to just post this than to use the comments.

Sara,
Sorry, I did not catch part of your question... but no not all I have linked to are, or of emerging thought. Many might even be against it... but the links below will give you a good overview of some radical and some more conserviative side of emerging thought... I would say i am conserviative radical... LOL!

Like I said, most are friends. Like Levi (emergent)
Punk monkey (emergent)

Some are from the Church of God as I find of interest that they are debating about a new reformation. This is part of what I believe... I do not see that The Reformation ended... or has come to pass... but i see it as something that must and should be the duty of a Believer of Christ to consider... what the “sound doctrine is “over” man made". What part of doctrine comes from tradition or just ones preference... such as CoG's position being debated on instruments used in worship.

Some might even be opposed to the emerging thought… I will not speculate on whom.

I have a link of Irenaeus on Free Will that talks about free will… I am not a Calvinist, nor Armenian.. Yet, I believe in eternal security, and free will. I will save Calvinism and Armenianism’s short comings for another time.

People to People teach Grace… I have a link to them to listen to Bob George. Also I have a link to their “Born Free Presentation” which is a pretty good straight forward presentation for salvation. Again, I love Bob George yet I would not agree on all points… He teaches the exchanged Life… as well as Major Ian Thomas.



For the most part again the rest are friends or other ministries of interest to me… also I have an online Christian Radio station that helps indie Christian artist get airplay. But this is the list I would say would give you some insight to emerging thought. If you have any other questions please ask.

Blessings,
iggy





Sad to have to do this.

I have decided that only those who are registered with Blogger can post on my blog. This is to put an end to abusers as they can be reported.

I wish that I did not have to do this...

So yes, I did cut Ben off, but please feel free to register and return Ben, and begin your diatribe of abuse some more... But be warned I will report it for what it is.

If you decide to actually converse without your continued lying and false accusations I will allow you to continue but I will not tollerate abuse not give you a forum to abuse me or others.

Blessings all in Christ,
iggy

Sunday, June 11, 2006

THE BRICK

THE BRICK
I received this in my email…I do not know where it originated nor if it is a true story, yet I think it as inspirational.
Blessings,
iggy


THE BRICK

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown.

The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?" The young boy was apologetic. "Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do," He pleaded. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop..." With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. "It's my brother, "he said "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up."

Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."

Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay. "Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful child told the stranger. Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy! push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home.
It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: "Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!" God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.


Friday, June 09, 2006

I walk the balance between Heaven and Earth

“I walk the balance between Heaven and Earth
Sometimes I soar, often I slip - but I am never alone.
He caught me; reached all the way from sky to sea
He pulled me out of that ocean of hate, that enemy chaos,
the void in which I was drowning.”
Psalm 18 - The Message

Blessings,
iggy

Monday, June 05, 2006

I have an affliction

I have an affliction


I suffer an affliction which I have written a bit in the past about. Not a physical one, which, yes I do have not one but many. Yet, this is one that rises up to alarm me and cause me some internal conflict.

I have never claimed to be educated, though I have spent much time reading and studying the scripture. I do not know Greek or Hebrew, yet I have a trusty Strong’s concordance and a basic understanding on how words are constructed. With these tools, God has shown me much.

My affliction is that I become tossed back and forth between the desire fro higher credentials, or even to have some or to remain as humbly uneducated as I am. In my mind I cross from trusting God completely and/or supplementing with more knowledge. Can God use both? YES! Yet, I also see many highly educated persons doing great things for God. Yet I also see many who have become puffed up with “knowledge” and though greatly blessed with education do not “understand”.  One may say, “I know Greek.” Or “I know Hebrew.” And I say GREAT! Yet, the Pharisees did also! Some spoke to Jesus Himself and did not “understand”. So, Knowledge in itself can not bring understanding.

“Knowledge + experience” can bring clarity and bring one closer to “understanding”, yet, one can “experience” and “know” and still not understand. One can experience riding a motorcycle, but yet not understand “being a biker”. One can “experience the great outdoors”. Yet, that experience can be but a taste of the understanding, yet not give one open clarity to understanding the experience.

Many stood at the cross, believers, unbelievers, mockers of Jesus and lovers of Jesus! Yet, all stood with knowledge and experience as they witnessed the cross and Christ Crucified. Yet, even in that “Karios” moment, which would not only leave an imprint on all that were present, but also leave an imprint on time and eternity, they still lack understanding!

It was only after the Resurrection and only after Jesus had shown Himself to these and explained what the Resurrection meant, did the disciples gain “understanding”. How?

Through their relationship with Jesus Who revealed Himself to the disciples!

So, again, the affliction is to get more education, which there is nothing in itself wrong…. Or to continue to rest in the purity of Revelation that comes from my relationship with Jesus.

Blessings,
iggy