Comments on: Calendar http://wearenextgen.com/2009/06/summer-calendar-232 Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:24:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jon http://wearenextgen.com/2009/06/summer-calendar-232/comment-page-1#comment-17 Jon Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:25:56 +0000 http://wearenextgen.com/?p=232#comment-17 For whatever reason, I don't really like the term Leap of Faith. I don't think it's a real "leap", in the sense that we are just hoping something is out there. It's just a guess or haphazard nonsensical belief. Christian beliefs are not like skating on thin ice....hoping that it is thick enough to hold you. There is plain evidence to the existence of God through creation, historical and archeological evidence etc. Romans 1:20 puts it plainly, "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." I think telling an non-believer that Christianity is a "leap of faith" just help them to justify that it's just like believing in a fairy tale. It's also relieves their responsibility to God (in their minds) as it's just a leap of faith. I think it's more of a surrendering of self and humility that leads to salvation versus throwing out the "leap of faith" term. I haven't had much success with that. With non-believers, we need to be willing to listen and ask them appropriate questions that will lead to consider that God exists and a relationship with Him is possible. If it is possible, then are they willing to Trust Him? Just my 2 cents. For whatever reason, I don’t really like the term Leap of Faith. I don’t think it’s a real “leap”, in the sense that we are just hoping something is out there. It’s just a guess or haphazard nonsensical belief. Christian beliefs are not like skating on thin ice….hoping that it is thick enough to hold you. There is plain evidence to the existence of God through creation, historical and archeological evidence etc. Romans 1:20 puts it plainly, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” I think telling an non-believer that Christianity is a “leap of faith” just help them to justify that it’s just like believing in a fairy tale. It’s also relieves their responsibility to God (in their minds) as it’s just a leap of faith. I think it’s more of a surrendering of self and humility that leads to salvation versus throwing out the “leap of faith” term. I haven’t had much success with that. With non-believers, we need to be willing to listen and ask them appropriate questions that will lead to consider that God exists and a relationship with Him is possible. If it is possible, then are they willing to Trust Him? Just my 2 cents.

]]> By: Blake Arrington http://wearenextgen.com/2009/06/summer-calendar-232/comment-page-1#comment-16 Blake Arrington Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:11:16 +0000 http://wearenextgen.com/?p=232#comment-16 YHWH (yahweh) is the only God who comes down to man. It says that Jesus humbled himself to come into the world as a little child. Jesus had everything he ever needed in heaven but out of compassion for men's souls he gave up a great portion of his glory. Just think about heaven and how big God is. He is bigger than the universe. Jesus is God and he gave up a lot of the endless knowledge, and power to come as a man. He gave up his power (God like atributes) to a great great great degree, but he did not give up his authority. In every other religion man is trying to make his way to God and spirituality on his own. Man is reaching to the sky through all kinds of religions. It is Jesus in Christianity that reveals that the one true God reaches down to us first. Most people on earth try and reach God in their own power. They are prideful and want to say that they had some sort of good they did to impress God. God is not impressed by anyone, but does God have to be impressed with us to love us, No. It is in God's nature to order the universe. Man has gone out of this order into sin. God loves us by bringing us back into order for our own good that he might impress himself and be glorified to say, "It is I who have done this great thing on my own," and we simply say, "yes, he gave all the power and love for us to become better than we were, and live forever in his presence." God shares his presence of pure satisfaction with himself the son and spirit, with us as an act of love that we might feel what he feels and be moved by this feeling or conviction to bring people to him that he would glorify himself in everyone who believes. YHWH (yahweh) is the only God who comes down to man. It says that Jesus humbled himself to come into the world as a little child. Jesus had everything he ever needed in heaven but out of compassion for men’s souls he gave up a great portion of his glory. Just think about heaven and how big God is. He is bigger than the universe. Jesus is God and he gave up a lot of the endless knowledge, and power to come as a man. He gave up his power (God like atributes) to a great great great degree, but he did not give up his authority. In every other religion man is trying to make his way to God and spirituality on his own. Man is reaching to the sky through all kinds of religions. It is Jesus in Christianity that reveals that the one true God reaches down to us first. Most people on earth try and reach God in their own power. They are prideful and want to say that they had some sort of good they did to impress God. God is not impressed by anyone, but does God have to be impressed with us to love us, No. It is in God’s nature to order the universe. Man has gone out of this order into sin. God loves us by bringing us back into order for our own good that he might impress himself and be glorified to say, “It is I who have done this great thing on my own,” and we simply say, “yes, he gave all the power and love for us to become better than we were, and live forever in his presence.” God shares his presence of pure satisfaction with himself the son and spirit, with us as an act of love that we might feel what he feels and be moved by this feeling or conviction to bring people to him that he would glorify himself in everyone who believes.

]]> By: Amy http://wearenextgen.com/2009/06/summer-calendar-232/comment-page-1#comment-13 Amy Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:47:07 +0000 http://wearenextgen.com/?p=232#comment-13 This is lovely Christine. I especially like the ending, where you repeated "know Him." - There is no greater thing to know our Creator, who's love we cannot fathom :) -Amy This is lovely Christine. I especially like the ending, where you repeated “know Him.” – There is no greater thing to know our Creator, who’s love we cannot fathom :)

-Amy

]]> By: Alli http://wearenextgen.com/2009/06/summer-calendar-232/comment-page-1#comment-11 Alli Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:50:54 +0000 http://wearenextgen.com/?p=232#comment-11 This is something that I have stumbled over time and time again in debate with my sister in law, who is not a Christian. This gave me a new perspective on talking with her though. Its her decision, I cant make it for her. I can plant some seeds, but she decides whether or not she wants to make the leap of faith or not. Sometimes it is really hard trying to talk to her, because she is sooo rooted in her beliefs of well, i dont really know what (bits and pieces of different religions). The last time i was visiting her, we had this conversation again over, who is God? and she just couldnt imagine that her God would send people to hell. Its just an ongoing struggle, Soo if you could please keep Jen in your prayers, that her heart would soften and be receptive to God's power :) Thanks so much! I am soo excited about this website and the future blog posts! This is something that I have stumbled over time and time again in debate with my sister in law, who is not a Christian. This gave me a new perspective on talking with her though. Its her decision, I cant make it for her. I can plant some seeds, but she decides whether or not she wants to make the leap of faith or not. Sometimes it is really hard trying to talk to her, because she is sooo rooted in her beliefs of well, i dont really know what (bits and pieces of different religions). The last time i was visiting her, we had this conversation again over, who is God? and she just couldnt imagine that her God would send people to hell. Its just an ongoing struggle, Soo if you could please keep Jen in your prayers, that her heart would soften and be receptive to God’s power :) Thanks so much! I am soo excited about this website and the future blog posts!

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