Crazy Theological Thoughts

In Genesis 40, there is one of the most balanced stories in Scripture. Often times God either shows the people bad things because of their sinfulness. Other times God shows his mercy and steadfast love for his people. God does not often give us a story with both life and death. Maybe I am wrong. Joseph was placed in Prison under a false witness, but immediately was raised to be in charge of the prison. Now he finds two very distraught. The Cup Bearer and the Chief Baker had previously angered the King of Egypt. But Joseph desires to help them. God is the one who interprets these dreams. Joseph merely speaks the interpretation. Here comes the balance for these two officials. The first is the cup bearer who will be restored to fill Pharaoh's cup. This interpretation is seen as good in the eyes of the Chief Baker. But the Baker does not find a good interpretation. The Baker will be killed and the Cup Bearer will be restored. The Cup Bearer's and the Chief Baker's ...

I listened to a Hindu this evening who told us that the Soul Never Dies. This struck me as an interesting saying. Humans are Body and Soul together. This is what makes us human. When a person dies, their body and soul are separated. The Soul does not die or stop existing. The Soul exists separate from the Body. These need to be connected again in the Resurrection of the Body. The Resurrection of the Body joins body and soul together. Then you go into either everlasting Death or Everlasting LIFE. So you could say the Soul dies, but it does not stop existing. People often desire for things to come to an end. They would rather stop existing than to face everlasting death. I can't blame them. The idea of re-incarnation is not something I would settle for, but the idea of the Soul that does not die. The Soul that is not destroyed. But this has to make you think there could be something worse then not existing. The idea of Everlasting Death is something that truly should b...

Many people ask Jesus to heal them in the Bible. The Gospels often have people being brought to Jesus to be healed. They lay people on cots so that they can touch his garment. Even St Peter has people laid out on cots to have his shadow cast upon them and be healed. But this morning I was looking at John 5. The question of Are you willing to be healed? Jesus comes to a Man who was there who had been an invalid for 38 years. Jesus says to him, "Do you want to be healed?" It is not someone coming to Jesus but Jesus comes to them and asks him if He wants to be Healed. Do you want to be Healed? The man does not say, "Yes." Most of us would squirm at the response. It would be different if you are in a wheelchair or walking. Most People think they are relatively healthy. Thus, people do not think they need to be healed. But think about it. We are all invalids, dead people, and we can not do anything for ourselves (with regards to Salvation). We are just like the guy who c...

Thinking about the concept of a Great Tribulation, I thought about Matthew 5. Jesus repeatedly tells the people of God they will suffer. All the people of God suffer because Satan is trying to destroy Faith. This is one of the key points to Job. You see that Satan is trying to cause the Saints to Suffer. He goes to great extents as he prowls around like a roaring lion. Matthew 5:11-12, "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Many people want to make a point about falsely accusing you. These same people would point out it must be suffering on account of Christ. Do Christians suffer on account of Christ? Do Christians only suffer because of their own sins? The answer to both these questions for me is yes. When you are a Christian that means your suffering is because of your faith. But ...

Many people are attached to names. Most people even have nick names. Some people even shorten their name. Parents now a days have to come up with unique names. But what is in a Name. In the Bible the LORD has many names. These names reveal something about him. Jesus Christ reveals a lot about this man. But your name does not determine who you will be. Jonah is a Dove but he does not seem like a Dove. Not everyone lives up to their name. I know that I have not lived up to my Name. But at the same time I do feel blessed. Because the name that was placed upon me is more important than my Name. God places his name upon his children. Just like your parents give you a name. This is to claim you as his own. He has purchased you with his precious body and blood. It is the Name of Jesus Christ the LORD who has delivered us from evil which shows us our proper relationship. Jesus Christ is our LORD and savior. He is the savior of the Nations come. He is the one who places the N...

Our Parents tell us many things. Some of them often tell us, "Do what I say not what I do." But it is hard to listen to their words verses their actions. Most of us will listen more to their actions. People will follow in their parents foot steps. "Adults tend to recreate the childhood home in which they were raised. There seems to be an almost natural instinct to want to recreate one's family of origin. Even though that family may have been troubled, the old patterns and relationships have become a part of the adult's behavior and perception." It is very difficult to brake the pattern. Whether this is abuse, alcoholics, or divorce. Part of recognizing the cycle is forgiving your parents for their sins. Forgiving your parents can help you understand their struggles. Then you can pray for help from God. But the most important thing is that we can find support in the church. Also, counseling can help. The Sins of the Parents are repeated by their children. But...

I have watched this movie several times and always seem to come out with a new perspective. I thought it was great the first time I watched it and this quote just makes it so Compelling. "Faith is a gift that I have yet to receive." The academic that understands the power of faith. It can not come from us but always finds its origin in God. A franchise which one could say causes a threat to Christianity (Especially the Catholic Church). Here they reveal the truth. Religion is only what man says about God. But true faith finds its power in God. Someone once explained the idea of DOCTRINE is what God says. But Baptist Doctrine or Lutheran Doctrine is what man says. Man only has a limited understanding of God. But all we need to know is that our Faith saves us. Jesus Christ died for the forgiveness of all sins. The Holy Spirit through the means of Grace establishes faith in our hearts and minds. This faith is not created by me, but by God. The Grace of God is to establish faith ...

I wonder if we should really call it the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. They already had the Knowledge of Good. They were in a proper relationship with God. They were even conducting their lives according to his Will. They knew nothing of Evil until she ate that fruit. Maybe not quite then until she doubted the Word of God. One might even say stopped believing the Word of God. The tree only gave them knowledge to know what is wrong in their own eyes. Was it wrong to be naked? No, it was shameful. They recognized their shame and hide from God. To give someone the choice to do evil is just like saying Evil is Good. If something is Evil you tell them not to do it. Otherwise it is Good to do. If it is wrong to hit someone, then you do not tell me, "If you feel like it then it is okay." (Bad Sentence) Get the point? You tell someone something is wrong and then punish them for doing it. Now sometimes the punishment does not have to be carried out fully. Their is no such th...

Matthew 2:8 when the Holy Innocents die at the hand of Herod's Army. They are told to Kill the children. This passage is cited from Jeremiah 31:15 which is a text of Hope. When we hear Rachel weeping it is because of the lost sons of Israel. The people of God who are dead. But their salvation has been saved. Jesus makes his way down to Egypt. In Jeremiah the text is surrounded by Joy. v. 13 "Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and old men shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow." The Innocents in Matthew are considered by most to be in heaven. They suffered a little in life. The Mothers are the ones whose suffering continues. The Lord shows us he desires to bring comfort yet, they will not be comforted. The women who allowed their children to die have committed a grave sin. But it is all of us who should weep with Rachel for the Lost Sons of Israel. But we should be comforte...

No Medical treatments. I don't want to suffer anymore. Or I don't want grandma to suffer any more. No Medical treatments. What is a medical treatment? Is oxygen or air? Is Food? Is water? Is a bed? How far do you define treatment? I can very much understand Food and Water to be defined as Medical Treatment (as long as it is administered by a Doctor or Nurse). But I would wonder if you could go further. The Hospital provides a bed for Grandma. The Hospital provides Monitors. The Hospital sometimes will provide an oxygen Mask. Is this Treatment? (I would also state most Hospitals pump in purified air.) No Medical Treatment. Take them out of the Hospital to save a bed. They are using good clean air. This is a waste of resources. No Medical Treatment. Just remember that also means no drugs. I can understand the with holding of some medical treatment. But one must weigh the tough choices. I always remember Patch Adams, "You treat a disease you win, you lose. You treat a Person ...

The LAW is that which commands us to do something. You can talk about our response or you can talk about our works. The LAW demands Action. But it has three ways it affects people. I like 3 affects or 3 applications but "uses" is the more common way. The 1st use is called Curb. Just like a curb keeps cars on the Road most of the time the LAW helps to Curb our behavior. The 2nd use is called the Mirror. Just like when you or I look in the mirror in the morning, I see the Monster I really am. The LAW helps to Show Our Sins (SOS). The 3rd use is called guide (by some). When you go on a hike you have a guide to help you so you don't get lost. The Guide also helps to point us in the proper direction. The LAW reminds us the right way to Act. Where we go from here. These three uses of the LAW are often understood to ways we use the LAW. Thus, for someone who needs help staying on track we point to the curb. When someone is proud of themselves or just feels good we turn to the Mi...

The story of a man who comes to his doctor and says he is dead. Joe comes to his doctor very upset. He tells his doctor, "I am dead." The doctor is frustrated and tries to convince Joe he is dead. "Are you dying?" But Joe says, "No, I am already dead." The Doctor then continues along a different line. He says, "Dead men do not bleed." Joe responds, "Of course dead men do not bleed." The doctor grabs a needle. He then takes the needle and stabs Joe. Joe sees the blood flow from his finger. Joe then exclaims in a loud voice, "Dead men do bleed!" This story is generally used to show how deep our assumptions go. We often times believe something so deeply that even proof does not change our opinions. The truth must be told. This is very true with regards evolutionist. The proof is staring them in the face every time they watch X-men . When we look to our faith we have to ask the many questions of who is telling the truth. Are you r...

Many people think they live in the land of the living. All the people up and walking around them. These people are active and alive. Therefore, we call this the land of the living. Hades then becomes the land of the dead. But the problem is that we are all dead. These are dead people walking around. When Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they died. This no longer was a land of the living but of the dying. We are all dying. Everyone who is conceived will die. It has been noted that 100% of people born will die. The leading cause of death in this world is life. These only help remind us that we are all dying. Everyone walking and talking around you are the walking and talking dead. We are all dead in our sins. All people are sinful and unclean. All people are dying. We have a terminal disease. This is not the land of the living, but the land of the dying. You are all dying. The Land of the living is the Resurrection of the dead. Let us l...

Every Sunday I hear three texts read. All of these three texts have some kind of connections. Some people think about the Gospel lesson only. Some people think these texts are directly related to the Sunday. But for some of us we know that they are connected by the Word of God. Take any three texts from the Bible. You can take texts from the Old Testament or New Testament. You do not have to take a lesson from the Gospels. But these three texts will have something in common. These texts will all point us to the truth of the Gospel. They will reveal a unified position concerning Scripture. All of scripture is unified. Jesus tells us the passages that talk about him. The Old and New Testament are written for the same reason John writes his Gospel and the same reason he writes revelation. Jesus has instructed the writing of these books to show himself. God has revealed himself in many and various ways. He has done this so that he can also reveal himself in the one way, truth and life. Hop...

What does salt actually do? Some point to the seasoning of salt, to add taste to your food. Some point to the use of salt to preserve meat or other foods. Some point to the salt of the dead sea. There are also additional people who take note of all the salts. When you add acid to a base you get Water and salt. Salt has many different compositions. The Salt of the Earth is a special thing of the earth. In northern Africa people use salt to buy gold. Salt mines are worked because it is the most valuable minerals. Salt has value. In water throughout the globe water is contaminated by Salt. Is Salt a good thing or a bad thing? Matthew 5 states, "You are the salt of the Earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet." Humanity is the Salt of the Earth. In the fall we have lost our taste or status. But how can this be restored? When we come into...

In America Racism has driven us for centuries. Even today Racism has deep roots in all its citizens. If you do not think you are racist ask yourself if you own a colored TV. I know that I have racism tendencies. But I work hard to love those of every Race, Color, and Creed. I recently watched the Movie Hotel Rwanda having wanted to watch it for a couple years. The movie tells the story of division of Racism in African Rwanda. It reminded me of several things. If everyone is the same color there is still racism. The Star Trek episode with people having either Black on the left or Right side of their face. Any chance we have to make distinctions people will be divided. God has painted us and formed us differently because he is Pleased with these differences. God loves diversity and in some senses Individuality. But desires all these different parts to be joined together. In Christ all Christians are one Body. We have one Lord, one Faith, and one birth in Christ Jesus. There is neither s...

In Dante's Inferno (I am told) this sign hangs over the Gates of Hell. The great news someone told me is that it only hangs over Hell. Many people feel like this sign is hanging over their own head. The Sign that reads "Abandon all hope." Do you ever think that this sign is over your head? There are times when people commit sins, they feel they have Abandoned All Hope. God only allows those in Hell not to have Hope. You can trust that god gives us hope over all our sins. Jesus Christ has died for the sins of everyone. Hope is not lost until Christ locks us in Hell. Hope is Abandoned for those people in Hell. But for those alive or as some say in the land of the living have hope. Jesus Christ is the hope for the World. I am really writing this down to remind people to not allow anything to stop us from pointing people to their Hope. It does not matter whether you have killed someone. Some people who helped others die lose Hope. But you have no reason to Abandon Hope until ...

The Hurt Locker has been selected as one of the greatest movies of Last year. This movie truly does keep you on the Edge of your seat. The Drama and Action are great. Even the Filmography is a plus. But it starts off telling us War is a drug and ends with telling us sometimes you Love only one thing. Not to put down Alcoholics but I believe most people are addicts. Some people are addicted to drugs, others from this movie War, and yet others Religion. Religion can give us a rush and emotional Drive. People can become addicted to many different things. I would hope that people would find true love in God. God desires to be the one we truly love. Love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your mind. The problem is we have become addicted to many things in our life. The world around us pulls us in many directions. Here we find the thoughts of adrenaline rush during times of War. Something they feel like they can not live without. The Hurt Locker is a grea...

When do you have Value? When did you start to have Value? Did you have Value when you were born? Did you have Value when you were conceived? Do you still have Value today? Will you have Value when you are old and in the Nursing Home? God gives people Value. Everyone has Value. Value is based on how much people will pay for it. It is also determined by who made it. Value is never determined based on what the thing does for itself. The Value is based on the one who uses it, buys it, or makes it. Your Value is based on God who created you. Your Value is based on the price God paid for you. The Death of His Son on the Cross. Jesus died on the cross Paying his precious body and blood for our sins. God knit us together in our mother's womb. God is the one who made us. We all have value because God gives Value. He is the one who says that no matter who you are you have Value. God provides Value for all people. It does not matter what sins you have committed. You still have Value. God give...

Some think this is a new thing. We make cows that produce more milk. We produce cows that are more fertile and grows bigger. We bread corn, beans, and wheat that with stand chemicals. We have Genetically Engineered many things. Animals are not the only thing we Genetically Engineer. No, I am not saying that Plants should not be Genetically Engineered. But we have been Genetically Engineering Humans. Today we are telling people who have Genetic diseases not to breed but to adopt. We even desire to breed with people who are better looking. Someone once said, "A 1 breeds with a 1 and an 8 breeds with an 8. Sometimes a 1 might lower to a 3 or an 8 work up to a 6. But an 8 never breeds with a 1." This is based on Hotness level. Genetic Engineering is done all around us. This is not something New. Look back to the British class system. Look before that to the distinction between Nobles and plebes. Is this Genetic Engineering to make these distinctions? Now this is interesting becau...

Everyone gets what they deserve. The theory of Karma is that people will get what they deserve. When someone does something wrong, then they will have trouble or get what is coming to them. Many people think this. If I do something wrong, God will turn against me. This is what most people believe. I on the other hand tell people that this is not true. But when bad things happen to me, I turn to my sins. Does this make me a lier? Do my sins cause the problems in my life? Yes, but a specific sin does not bring about a specific problem. If I kill someone then I go to Jail. But if I stab my neighbor in the back that does not mean I will be put in chains. Here is the struggle. People do equate problems to sins. Sins do cause all our problems. All the injured, sick, and dying are there because of sin. But there is not a specific sin that causes blindness or cancer. There is not a symptom connection but these sicknesses are symptoms. Here is the great deal. Sin leads to problems in the world....

Matthew Chapter 5 again Jesus tells us who is blessed. He has a list of several different blessed groups. Those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger, the merciful, the pure in heart, peacemakers, and the persecuted for righteousness sake. Jesus tells us that all these different people are blessed. People hunger and search for righteousness because they are looking for God. People are pure in heart because God has sanctified them. Jesus is not telling us how to be or what to be like. But he takes us from people suffering misfortunes. People who mourn or are made outcasts are the people Christ has come to save. People who can not see righteousness are the people who will be persecuted on account of righteousness. Christ is blessing the people who he calls. St Paul and St Peter would even reflect the love of Christ to call and bless people. God the Father desires all his children to call upon him. He calls his people to call upon him. They should call upon him in every trouble pray prais...

Interesting discussion tonight about dusting off old relationships. We have always put people in the past. We stop thinking about them. Sometimes we even think that they no longer exist. But the real point is to remember, those people we were able to share the Gospel with. God has placed many people in our lives. He has placed them there so that we may share the forgiveness of God. There are people in our lives just like the old pair of tennis shoes or chores in the back of our closet. All those things in the back of our closet are left to correct dust. Their are people who have also been turned to dust in our lives. People we have been waiting for the proper time to reveal the Gospel to them. We need to take the opprotunity when it comes. Part of this is remaining active in other people's lives. Christians in the first century would hide their beliefs from others. They would not openly tell other people because of the threat to their lives. Yet, Christians today in a ...

It worked really well after the Super Bowl to talk about the Saints winning. But now after the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devils have won. Duke is a religious institution. Duke is better known for its Basketball team. Just ask the football coach. Duke found victory on Monday over the Bulldogs. I have always been interested in Mascots. The Blue Devils always seem to be winning. Not just in the case of Duke which has not won since 2001. But in the world around us. It always seems the Devils are winning. The Devils are over powering the people of God. We see suffering throughout the world. Most of the suffering is not even in the United States which brings the most complaining. Good Friday is the day when it appears the devil Wins. The Devil even feeds the crowds to taunt our Lord. The Devil feels that victory is at hand. But on Good Friday even we know that Victory is won with the words of Christ, "it is finished." The Devil sees his true defeat on Easter Morning. But still the ...

I think I have talked about this before, but it struck me again today. If I see something or know something to be true is that a belief. What takes something from a belief to a fact? Many people try to prove the bible. Many people try and prove Evolution. But if you prove something then it means less, doesn't it? A belief is something we hold dear. Christ says believe in me and him who sent me. Christ also says he is the way the truth and the life, but he never calls himself a fact. When you are staring in the face of a man dying on the cross you can not deny his existance. When you put your hands in his side and hands, you can not deny his existence. But when I look at Christ it is by faith. I believe in Christ. I do not believe in Evolution. Facts are things that are proven repeatedly. But this also means you have to trust your eyes and sources. Faith or belief is also trusting your sources. All of the facts you believe you know come down to trust. You have to tru...

Today is Easter, the Day when our LORD Jesus Christ was risen from the Dead. He rose on a Sunday morning as the first fruits of the Resurrection of the Body. I have always been interested in people who believe they will go to heaven when they die. People seem to desire to go to heaven. I do not desire to go to heaven. I desire to live with Christ. Christ Jesus shows us that he will not live without his body. Jesus visits with the disciples in his body. Jesus is true man and man is not just a soul but body and soul. God first formed the body and then gave that body life. So he will give our body life again. He will raise us up on the last Day. He will then judge the living and the dead. This is why we confess in the creed I believe in the resurrection of the dead and the life everlasting. Eternal life with Christ is the goal. It is not heaven or living a long life on earth or in the land. It is the resurrection of the Dead and life everlasting. Easter is the day we celebr...

Holy Saturday, a Day some people celebrate by an Easter Vigil. The point of Holy Saturday is a day without Christ. Christ is dead and buried. Christ is the one buried in a tomb. Christ died for our sins. Christ is buried like other dead. He yet will rise. Someone once asked why did God put your eyes in the front of your head? Why are your eyes on the front of your face? There is only one answer, because he wants us to see where we are going. he does not want us to look back but ahead. On Holy Saturday we could spend the entire day mourning the death of our LORD. When a Pope dies we can spend the entire time mourning the death. When your friends or family members die you can spend the rest of your life mourning. The other option is to look forward. Move on with your life. Mary and John should have moved on with their lives. The women should have moved on with their lives. All of us should have moved on. But then we find out why we can't because there is life. There is life after dea...

Many people tell me that Christians only have to show up to church on Christmas and Easter. Christmas and Easter are the highest days of the Church Year. But I have long struggled with that. There are two days in the church year that stand out to me. These days have been celebrated every year since the Ascension of our LORD. I may be wrong but I very much think that these are the two highest days of the Church year. Easter and Good Friday are the highest. Easter most people will agree has been celebrated since that first night when Jesus showed himself to the Disciples. Even since that morning when they saw the empty tomb. But Good Friday is the day our LORD suffered and died. This day is the day the serpent is crushed. This is the day our sins where paid for. This is the Day of our Atonement. This is the day of our release from sin. This is the Day the price was paid. Many people tell me that you can not celebrate Good Friday without Easter Sunday but I believe many churches have cele...

Passover is celebrated once a year. This celebration was a remembrance meal. The sons of Abraham remember their deliverance from slavery. The Sons of Abraham celebrated God answering their prayers. The people of Israel gathered in homes to eat a feast of Victory. God delivered his people from slavery. God told the people to celebrate this feast in Remembrance of what he did. When the children would ask why do we do this? The parents would inform their children. A lot of Christians do not celebrate the Passover. Most Christians do not give the passover a second thought. But the passover is the most important meal anyone can eat. The problem is that most people do not eat it properly. Most people do not know how to eat it properly. Even those who know the all the rubrics do not necessarily believe all that comes with it. What is this Bread? What is this Wine? What is this meat? What is the sacrifice? What do you remember? What do you receive? Are you Forgiven, forgiven indeed? This could...