My Online Faith Journal

    During our Sunday service on December 23rd, pastor Rick talked a little about how he believes that world events are telling us that things are moving towards Christ's return.  He talked about Gog and Magog and about how he believes Russia or a Russian alliance will attack Israel.  I thought it was an interesting detour in a service otherwise filled with children singing and a theme around Christmas since it was two days away.      It got me to thinking about Christ's return, which I have stated numerous times that I think is near.  Jesus himself said in Matthew 24 that "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of man." verse36-37.  I thought about what that statement means when Jesus talked about the days of Noah.     Here is a description of the times of Noah in Genesis 6:6 "The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the ea

In Ephesians 2:10 it says, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."      When I think about what God has led me through in my life, I rarely think about this in terms of what God is doing or thinking of myself as God's workmanship.  But, it is clear that from the Bible's perspective, that God allows some things into our lives in order to create in us the kind of person he wants us to be.  An example of this is in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 when Paul says,    And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me-to keep me from exalting myself!  Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might departm from me. And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness"    So, when Ephesians talks a

      "Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life is reveled, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory." Colossians 3:2-4, NASV       For the first two chapters in Colossians, Paul has been telling us that Christ is preeminent in our lives.  He has been saying that all we need is Him and we don't have to add anything else to our faith.  This is a common theme in Paul's word since many people find the grace of God to be "too simple" and want to add laws and restrictions.  Paul says that while these things may make a person look religious, it doesn't really help.        Now, in chapter three, Paul is going to go on talking about setting your mind on the Spirit and not on the flesh.  He uses this idea of "putting off" and "putting on" to illustrate what he means.  Years ago, when I taught this passage, I t