Chosen But Free

Hey viewers,

Recently i have been reading this book by Norman L. Geisler, Chosen But Free, the book is amazingly insightful. This book gives a great view about God is. Every time i read it, it just add more foundation to my faith. The first thing that i want to comment about this book is the amount scripture evidence support use. He wisely use the scripture as what it mean and explain it appropriately. I can see that this guy has a lot of respect for the Word of God.

He writes about God's will and God's sovereignty in how people argue that is not really evident and just superficial. Well that is not the case.

I really agree with his point that God's will is not superficial and the hyper-Calvinsim makes God out to be a God that does not follow His nature. Whatever that God says about himself to be he cannot change that and it will forever be the same. Like God is love or God is omniscience or God is just, etc. All that cannot be change. God does not change for us or what we think God can change. God does not need to change because He is holy and love. So please don't put God in a box. The problem is that we have such a limited view about God.

Another point that extreme Arminianism view causes God's will to be finite like you and me. But we all know that God is omniscient. God does not live in the time we are in because He is the creator of time. Free will is giving from God because he wants us to make the choice in whether to follow Him or not. The problem about this is that is hard to truly understand God. He is too really comprehended. We are only able to see glimpses of Him and His power.

The idea to try to discover God would be a huge dilemma. The evidence from history, philosophy and scripture is not enough. The area on relationship with God’s will and free choice of human beings will remain a mystery. We can try to come up with ideas on the issue but this cannot come with reason alone.

Overall, this book has giving me a great insight to this issue. I feel that if are to really need to know God better. We have to read the Word of God more in-depth with prayer asking the Holy Spirit to guide us and creating a stronger bond with Our God. We have to let God’s revelation grow in us. Questioning the scripture and listening to the Holy Spirit is the beginning in understanding God.

Worship in Question

Hey,

I believe about worship to be a personal thing with God. Worship do not just come down to singing praise and hymns songs. Worship should be lifestyle in the Christian life. Worship is something that should be amplify to show Christ in one's life. It is a personal growth in relationship with Christ. It is "how do you show your love for Christ?" to the him (Jesus Christ) and the world.
In this style of worship, everyone who is a Christian has to participate in the church or have something to prove their love for Christ.
I like to see churches to go back to the Bible ways. The 1st century church. Beginning in Acts 2:42-47:
⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

This shows the ideal church worship setting. We should not be 21st century church with new rules and setting our own ideas about church. We should be a church that centers in Bible foundation and be 1st century church in the 21st century setting.
For every Christian, should be a growing more becoming of Lord Jesus Christ to image him. To grow more in sanctification.
We Christians have to grow from the time we first convert to Christianity because once converted we are like newborn babies.
I like the Biblical truth that my Prof Ergun Caner say about the stages that a Christians should go through. Base on 1 Peter 2:1-10

1. Convert - this stage the convert craves for spiritual milk. And they act like a baby because they are new.
2. Committed - This stage the committed knows how to feed him/her-self like doing devotion, participation in church. Willingness to grow. The act of a youth.
3. Compassionate - This stage the compassionate is willing to share his/her life with others. To do God's work like doing ministry and lead others. The know God deeply. They act like young adults.
   
4. Crucified - This stage the crucified is wanting/letting Jesus Christ guide their life. They give up their rights of their life to just follow Lord Jesus Christ will in their life. They show the importance of Christ more than their life. They act like adults.

The worship that is shown by a Christian is personal. One to one with God. A growing relationship. And as a body of Christ, each part plays an important role. Let's be 1st century church in 21st century. It's time to grow up. Be real for Christ.

Jesus Christ loves you

My Testimony

Hey world,

I want to share to you all in how I became a Christian.

I grew up in a Christian home. My father especially is the head of the church as Senior Pastor. So I grew up thinking that I was a Christian. But that was not the case. At the same time, I did not like being a Christian. The reason was that every time I was around my fellow Christian people I was being pressure by them. I was being pressure because people presume that I would be like my dad. I did not like growing up at all. I did not want one thing to do with Church. All my life I felt alone. I did not have real friends. The day I became a Christian was something real special. The experience totally change my life whole. I had a real friend that help me know Jesus Christ. The portion of scripture that caught my life and attention was this, John 3:16-17, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." From that scripture I was amaze. Someone actually died for me, so I won't be condemn. All this time I thought I was a Christian because I was being a good person. Me being a good person did not fill the loneliness in me. I had no inner peace in me. Until I readied some more verses. I continue reading another verse and it hit me, John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives." From that I just had to give my life to Jesus Christ. For someone to die for me because he loves me, is totally worth the try to know him so I can receive the peace that I want in my life.

From that moment, my life has never been the same. Having this relationship with Jesus Christ is awesome and it's a journey.

I hope this testimony would be helpful to you.

Love,