every single time....

 

continues *here*

God is Not Dead

Post by Chris Marcha.

interesting lil video i saw on fb.

kudos to people that back up their choices with reasons

short film, craftly directed, but raises good points :P

Doubt | Question | Seek

Shelley Segal is an Australian singer songwriter. Woot! Aussie music.

This is of particular interest.

Her debut single "Saved" from Album "An Atheist Album"

" I don’t claim to have all the answers or that my world view is without flaws. I just want to encourage genuine skepticism, inquiry and discussion when it comes to important issues.

I believe that no opinions or beliefs are beyond criticism, no matter how sacred they may be.

I can handle having my views scrutinised and challenged. In fact, I welcome it."  - Shelley Segal.


I totally agree with questioning, reflecting, even doubting one's own thoughts and world views, to then truly put it up for scrutiny. And if it stands. Let the truth prevail =P

whether you are religious or not religious, you should still be thinking .."Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" 1 Peter 3:15

curiously enough I am a Christian. The person of Jesus Christ has won my mind questions and heart questions. It's worth digging into or at least questioning =P 

woah ._.!

Nine Year-Old Recaps The Entire Bible from neids on GodTube.

Just woah. What memory and insight. Well, if you dunno what the Bible is about, this kid gives a very concise outline of the entire thing from memory 0_0
I encourage you to click and watch. If it's not your world view, that's fine. But my point here is, he does a very good review/outline of what is actually in the book.
even adults who attend sunday services every week, probably cannot articulate it in this manner.

Prayer Night

This Friday at youth group instead of Bible studies on a specific passage and discussions off that, we had corporate prayer.
Praise God He has given us this gift of prayer and the ability to reach him no matter what our circumstances!!

For those who were away, on the night we explored John 17, where Jesus prays to God the Father.  Context - his discipline were nearby and this occurred before Jesus was arrested, to be then later crucified.

Four key points you could draw out were in verses:

3. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

11. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.

17. Sanctify (set-part, process of making holy) them by the truth; your word is truth. (and we can follow Christ example of being set apart v.19)

 22. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one

Notice the order and how it applies! First we must KNOW God, before we can love him. How do you love someone without having first taking the time out to know them personally? This kind of love isn't "i love cake, I love Ryan Gosling, I love holidays" *cough*, but it's the love that is rooted in action - you love, therefore you are committed to that person, and out from that flows your desire to demonstrated it through action - trust and obedience.

As a result of following Christ it's becomes obvious that our world views differ greatly from the world's egocentricity in regards to relationships, money, status, career ... pretty much all aspects of life. Although we are living in this earthly world, it seems so strange to us through God's lens, for we are indeed not of the world, but the Kingdom of God. Called to be very different for a reason and it's not surprising persecution will follow. Though we aren't alone in our Christian walk, so far from perfect, God sanctifies us, a continual gradual process as we cling to him and what is good, so that in the end, we give him glory as the united body of Christ!!

No matter what denomination, what cultural background, what period in history, let that not stop us from doing God's will, of loving him and loving others. What a gigantic task!

Victor's thought on prayer on the youth group blog =]
http://scghyg.wordpress.com/2012/04/24/why-pray-to-a-sovereign-god/

article feature

The Age 15/4/12

The Godless Delusion *link*
By Chris Berg

THE contemporary atheist movement has a scorched earth strategy: chop down Christianity, root and branch. I don't believe in God either, but this strategy is entirely counterproductive.

thoughts all round in Melbourne as the Global Atheist Convention comes to town,
kinda reminds me of a carnival.
but for the mind
things to see, exhibits to inspect, lifestyles to challenge
all very interesting questions indeed.

worth pondering indeed

article feature_

Alain de Botton: Why I am not a Christian

below is his conclusion. (link for full article..)

I have never prayed, and I don’t believe in anything supernatural, yet I believe that once faith goes from a society, there are particular dangers that open up. We don’t need to fall into these dangers, but they are there and we should be aware of them.

For a start, there is the danger of individualism: of placing the human being at the centre stage of everything. Secondly, there is the danger of technological perfectionism: of believing that science and technology can overcome all human problems, that it is just a matter of time before scientists have cured us of the human condition. Thirdly, without God, it is easier to lose perspective: to see our own times as everything, to forget the brevity of the present moment and to cease to appreciate (in a good way) the miniscule nature of our own achievements. And lastly, without God, there can be a danger that the need for empathy and ethical behaviour can be overlooked.

Alain de Botton was born in Zurich, Switzerland in 1969 and now lives in London. He is a writer of essayistic books that have been described as a ‘philosophy of everyday life’, and have been best-sellers in 30 countries. Alain also started and helps to run a school in London called The School of Life. His latest book, Religion for Atheists, is out now. He was talking to Sarah Lothian.


interesting read.
splat levels_
the article mainly deals with
.religion and its role in society - 1 level
.religion at a person level
well one things for sure. we live in an egocentric world. It's ALWAYS ABOUT ME!!!
which is a shame. it's been that way probably since the world existed. survival etc etc

Matthew 22:35-40 When the religious teachers at the time, super egocentric, pretty much using religion to their own advantage and conveniences questions Jesus.

"One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Hmm... i hear many people say yer religion is good as it can make a better world if you take bits and pieces of it. Take the teachers, leave out the God part. >.>
If God existed then he probably just wants us to concentrate on the message of "love". And no doubt people would be more than willing to agree , we are to love one another by placing others first. It could/would make the world a better place. It's the opposite of greed, lust, gluttony, wanting things to run things at our own desire, being closed minded etc etc.

But oddly enough, the first part of what Jesus said is very much largely ignored. Sure love is all good, but derrr.. Jesus did challenge everyone above all place God first ><" Irony, God is so very ego-centric too. haha. It's all about HIM!
If you wanted to work backwards then, a follow up question would be, why does God deserve all our energies? What are the reasons, and are they good enough. (at this point the objective/facts/knowledge slowly blends down the funnel of perception/personal/subjective)

Ahh the continuum of objective-subjective fascinates me.
People fascinate me
People fool me
People flabbergast me


anywho...
other topics would be of interest include religion and the universe (all those why and how questions, and its relevance) , religion and philosophy/consciousness

I appreciate this article

By Julian Baggini
Titled Atheists, please read my heathen manifesto
I don't necessarily agree to the words in the article, but at least thoughts been put into it.

I acknowledge that atheists are a gaining a rather negative connotation is society.
*shrugs* when it really shouldn't be.

But what attributes to this is new atheism, where its literally atheism that doesn't think and just proclaims things without thorough research, reasoning and tackling of the questions of 'Is there a God' for example. When one just blurts out when one pleases their opinions but doesn't back it up, of course that is annoying and peeves people off. (ps. this is not the contention of the above article)

It's kinda similar to situations where you inquire further and people respond with "because I think so, because that's the way it is" That's really annoying.
Side track_
almost similar to "what's your favourite food?" but not quite, since everyone's taste buds are different and you would have no idea what the other person is sensing. truly.
But in the case of religion and a God (which is objective - this is the premise being set), therefore all the more efforts reason should be applied to it.

Neh, I prefer how 16th, 17th and 18th century atheists - people that do not believe in an existence of God - responded and tackled the issue.
What the heck is wrong with modern thinkers. Why aren't sober minded people getting the attention.

oh wait i know.

the world just wants to hear what their itching ears want to hear.
granted.
its easier

and probably a can't be bothered attitude/it's not important enough to fight over attitude, if non-extremist non-believers are content with the way they live.

.sigh.

good questions indeeeeed

oh my ...0_0

this a really challenging read, not in terms of the words but it resides in the content. And again, its nothing to do with the author of the article...

Missing the Point: Breivik, Christianity and Videogames

http://flickeringcolours.net/v2/2011/07/missing-the-point-breivik-christianity-and-videogames/

twisted...><"
didn't see those three things coming up in the SAME article ever! =/

so what's the deal with Easter?

a long weekend
a break
easter bunnies
chocolate eggs
some religious thing..

those are some elements that pop to mind for people when easter comes and goes. But how did it start? Is it just another Hallmark holiday, do buy into the cards and gifts of consumer goods for everyone? or is that just what it has turned into >.>

anywho, I'll try to give some insight into what Easter means and its origins.

Easter is a Christian related celebration/weekend that reflects the last days of Jesus Christ (son of God, who was completely man and God at the same time) walk on earth. Being fully man he suffered like us, endured hardship and is able to relate to us. Being fully God at the same time, rendered him abilities such as divine insight, healing, purity - he was without blemish/sin/wrong doing. Fascinating. (not something everyone agrees upon but I'm sharing the story of Christ for who is was and is and ever will be)

What was the deal for God having to come down to earth as Christ to greet and meet us or the people back in the day 2000 years ago. He could have just stayed in the heavenly realms and let us be, kinda like the human concept of some supreme being set this world into motion and forgot about us or just starred through his magnificent microscope at the pitiful human race for his own amusement. But the God revealed to us in the Bible was not like this.

In the beginning he created the world with care, thought, love and a particular order, creating man in his own image having dominion over the animals and land before resting on the seventh day. He created pretty much paradise and best still Adam and Eve (the two/first humans at the time) were able to enjoy this wonderful place in the presence of God himself! Just wow. imagine that. God just walking up to you a physical presence going, hey how's it going? That's goes the gist of Genesis 1-2.

They were able to take and eat of everything in this garden but from a particular tree. God created them intelligent beings with free will to make that choice and honor Him. Sadly, of course, we didn't heed to his advice and ate of that fruit of that particular tree, and were cast out of this garden. We clearly are no longer in paradise. Sin entered the world, meaning just rebellion against God and our distance against/from God. The world we live in, isn't such a pretty place, mainly because humans fail, greed, jealous, lack of love for each other and nature etc etc. Corruption is everywhere and no on is perfect, we can't help it. Even times when we go about doing a "good" act/deeds the intentions behind such an act of sacrifice/help could boil down to self gratification. We want to others to look at us, being good, pride, attention, boastful nature ...our hearts are just filled with malice. Whether conscious or subconscious, I do am guilty of this.

It comes down everything is about me attitude, I stuffed up therefore I can fix it. You aren't relevant to me, I'll ignore you. I want this, I desire that. Life it seems revolves around "I". So, the whole old testament first half chuck of the Bible plays out a single message - that of looking forward to a Savior, to restore us to God again, back to what was "good" prior sin coming. Being so, it looks forward to Jesus coming, son of God, the only perfect one to deliver us/save us. And as we learnt earlier in the Genesis God is loving and doesn't want to see his children/us in such a state, he desires to have a relationship with us (hence putting us in his garden to be with him in the first place), so he sent Christ to pay for our sins, and that price was paid when he died for us on the cross, reflected in today's 'Good Friday' marked in our calenders.

We have to pay for our sins because there is justice. Example, we commit a crime, there is some kind of sentence. It seems in history either we take that sentence or someone else takes it for us. But no one is perfect, if another person paid for your wrong doings, then who's blood will pay for theirs? and it just keeps going in a circle. The balance of justice and love is surmounted into Christ Jesus. He was without sin, and he died for the sinful, so that we may all be set free! It was a free gift to us, he died for us even before we knew him personally to receive his gift and let him live and reign in our lives, true peace.

The story of easter doesn't end there, a Savior dying on a cross would pretty much mean the end of Christianity right there and then. Your most powerful God slain by humans, how ridiculous. Indeed, Christ was humble and went through the cross, to rise from the dead three days later. Hence our modern day easter weekend reflection. Christianity boils down to the fact that Christ did rise, he fulfilled his promises and conquered death for us.

My weekly bible study is currently going through the book of Colossians and we came across a passage that wasn't directly recounting the life of Christ's last days/Easter (like that of the four gospels, chapters Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) but it was just as relevant.

" When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." Colossians 2: 13-15

The verses encompass the message that only God can save us, and he did, for us. We have that option to choose to live a life with Christ. We are saved not because of what we bring to the table, not by our talents or good deeds or works, but by accepting the work of what Christ alone has done, his death/resurrection on the cross.
^"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2: 8-9

Paul the author of Colossians continues in v16-19.

"Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow."

Verse 16 starts off reminding us that no particular ritual or tradition or work is what saves us. "they are a shadow of the things to come" , meaning that these traditions are in itself not bad or wrong, but they shouldn't be our main focus, ie. why focus on just the shadow of the person, when they are standing right in front of you. These practice aren't necessary but they do point us to the person, that of Christ Jesus. The verses go on to paint a picture of people that disregard Christ, doing so they tend to set their world view firm in things/materials they see having lost connection to the head (a reference to Christ). The bible uses the analogue of the church ( a group of believers) as a body. Were, each person is valuable and has their part, functioning as a united whole (ideally), with Christ at the head (priority).

So the message, of Easter is a big one, of new life in Christ (salvation), freedom, joy, celebration. It's also a challenging one. Such big big concepts and changes in lifestyle are not brought about by a fluffy chicken toy or chocolate egg.

In sum, one word - Jesus

here is a link painting out the same message of salvation with images
http://bible.org/article/gods-plan-salvation