A modern skeptic:

“But the new rebel is a skeptic, and will not entirely trust anything. He has no loyalty; therefore he can never be really a revolutionist. And the fact that he doubts everything really gets in his way when he wants to denounce anything. For all denunciation implies a moral doctrine of some kind; and the modern revolutionist doubts not only the institution he denounces, but the doctrine by which he denounces it. . . . As a politician, he will cry out that war is a waste of life, and then, as a philosopher, that all life is waste of time. A Russian pessimist will denounce a policeman for killing a peasant, and then prove by the highest philosophical principles that the peasant ought to have killed himself. . . . The man of this school goes first to a political meeting, where he complains that savages are treated as if they were beasts; then he takes his hat and umbrella and goes on to a scientific meeting, where he proves that they practically are beasts. In short, the modern revolutionist, being an infinite skeptic, is always engaged in undermining his own mines. In his book on politics he attacks men for trampling on morality; in his book on ethics he attacks morality for trampling on men. Therefore the modern man in revolt has become practically useless for all purposes of revolt. By rebelling against everything he has lost his right to rebel against anything." 

-G.K. Chesterton.

Exclusively Inclusive

Truth, by definition is exclusive. But the Gospel message of Christ Jesus is inclusive of everyone who believes! 

11 In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.  (Ephesians 1:11-14)

When we consider this world we live in, with all of its pains, and sorrows, losses, shortcomings, and failures. It can be overwhelming!  It might even feel as though God who has created all of this, has somehow remained distant from human suffering. One must ask ...has He?  When we look at the evidence we see that Jesus, who said the things He said, and who claimed to be whom He claimed to be ...God. We might ask "...if that is God, then what’s He doing on a cross?" In His great love, we see that on the cross, God has NOT remained distant from human suffering, but has become part of it!

3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,[a] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.[b] And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

-Romans 8:3-4

Christ has encoded Himself into our world, and was born into this world, and has spoken, and He has made the way for us back to Himself. Back to His Eternal Kingdom. Along with the Cross of Christ, comes the Resurrection of Christ. The two most pivotal points in history. The cross of Christ brings together the Judgment, and Justice of God, at the same time, and space is demonstrated, the forgiveness, and the Love of God. The Resurrection confirms His victory over death, and hell. If those who were opposed to the work of Christ, wanted to kill the movement, all they had to do was produce His body.

This quote is a story told by Billy Graham about his conversation, and meeting with the first post-war Chancellor of Germany; Konrad Adenauer...

"I was invited to have coffee one morning with Konrad Adenauer before he retired as the Chancellor of Germany. When I walked in, I expected to meet a tall, stiff, formal man who might even be embarrassed if I brought up the subject of religion. After the greeting, the Chancellor suddenly turned to me and said, “Mr. Graham, what is the most important thing in the world?” Before I could answer, he had answered his own question. He said, “The resurrection of Jesus Christ. If Jesus Christ is alive, then there is hope for the world. If Jesus Christ is in the grave, then I don’t see the slightest glimmer of hope on the horizon.” Then he amazed me by saying that he believed that the resurrection of Christ was one of the best-attested facts of history. He said, “When I leave office, I intend to spend the rest of my life gathering scientific proof of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” It was the fact of the resurrection of Christ that called the disciples to go out as burning young revolutionaries to change the world of their day. They preached that Christ is alive. This should be our message, not only on Easter, but on every day of the year."

"Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,"

-John 11:25 

God, the Universe and Hawking. 

By John Lennox.

Even So Come!

I can't get enough of this!

"There will be justice, all will be new, Your Name forever, faithful and True. Jesus is coming soon."

At War

          

I’m at war recently, and it weighs me down … that is until the moment, I realize that Christ has already won the battle for me! And ultimately for Himself. That it’s not about me… it’s His-story! With a heart of repentance, I only need to rest, and trust in His accomplishment… and know that I am His!

Then, and only then does my soul find rest! The rest (faithfulness, good works, picking up my cross daily) will come naturally, from a grateful heart.

Praise be to the One, and Only God, the very same Lord Jesus Christ! 

"I the Lord of sea and sky

I have heard my people's cry

all who dwell in dark and sin

my hand will save." 

His hand, has saved indeed! 

He giveth more Grace...

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,

He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;

To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,

To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources

Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,

Our God ever yearns His resources to share;

Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;

The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,

His power no boundary known unto men;

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

Annie J. Flint

1866 - 1932

Union of contrasts

“He was the meekest and lowliest of all the sons of men, yet he spoke of coming on the clouds of heaven with the glory of God. He was so austere that evil spirits and demons cried out in terror at his coming, yet he was so genial and winsome and approachable that the children loved to play with him, and the little ones nestled in his arms. His presence at the innocent gaiety of a village wedding was like the presence of sunshine.

No one was half so compassionate to sinners, yet no one ever spoke such red hot scorching words about sin. A bruised reed he would not break, his whole life was love, yet on one occasion he demanded of the Pharisees how they ever expected to escape the damnation of hell. He was a dreamer of dreams and a seer of visions, yet for sheer stark realism He has all of our stark realists soundly beaten. He was a servant of all, washing the disciples feet, yet masterfully He strode into the temple, and the hucksters and money changers fell over one another to get away from the mad rush and the fire they saw blazing in His eyes.

He saved others, yet at the last Himself He did not save. There is nothing in history like the union of contrasts which confronts us in the gospels. The mystery of Jesus is the mystery of divine personality.”

– James Stewart, Scottish theologian 21 July 1896 – 1 July 1990