Thomas Aquinas, a Roman Catholic priest, philosopher and theologian, penned these words more than seven centuries ago. On one hand I find it to be somewhat of a religious cliché that falls short in many ways. Surely a person of faith wants and desires explanations. When we are hurting the most we often desire an explanation concerning the things that are happening. So, in that sense, Aquinas can be misunderstood when he says that "no explanation is necessary".
Mike posted a prayer at Daily Prayer that you can pray with him. Please pray for my friend Mike.Last Thursday I went in for surgery for my pancreatic cancer. I believed and prayed right up to last minute that surgery might be possible and that this could be God's way of healing me. But I found out that the cancer had spread and it would do no good to operate. What that leaves me with is either God is going to do a miracle (I believe in miracles, but I believe God does them according to His will. I have no reason to be convinced He will do so in my case), or it is my time to go home. I appreciate all past prayers and all continued prayers, and I am trusting God for His will in this situation.
"Do you believe in the Bible?"I answered like this:
"Of course I believe in the bible ... all Episcopalians believe in the bible".I hadn't practiced my faith in years but I wasn't going to let her get the best of me.
"Do you believe in evolution?"I told her that all intelligent people believe in evolution - it is science!
"Then you don't believe in the Bible!"I quickly retorted:
"Well, I don't know about that but whatever the Episcopalians believe is what I believe."That conversation really shook me because I had never read the bible and really didn't know what it said about evolution ... or about anything else for that matter. This haunted me for months. The idea that I had been an Episcopalian for most of my life and I really didn't know what the bible said really bothered me. In April 1976 I gave my heart to Jesus and almost immediately began reading the bible. I ate it up ... it was like food for me ... and within a year had read the whole bible. My life began to change as God used the scriptures to teach me how to live.
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)The way that the Holy Spirit uses the scripture to speak to us is simply amazing. He lifts the words off the page and penetrates the deepest recesses of our hearts. I have found the Bible to be a great source of comfort in times of trial. It has been a great encourager when I have been depressed. But reading the bible is more than a quest for knowledge ... reading it has done more than informing me about it's contents ... it has introduced me to God and helped me to know Him ... to know His ways ... His love ... His mercy and compassion. Reading the bible helps us know God like nothing else can.
Religion comes naturally, even instinctively, to human beings, a massive new study of cultures all around the world suggests.I expanded the word 'religion' to 'believing in God' in the title because it is a bit more specific. I think that many disagree with this study and would say that we are not born with the ability to believe in God. To atheists the idea that all have some kind of belief is a bit ludicrous. Yet there are religious people who believe that people are born without the ability to believe and God grants some the ability later in their lives.
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Studies around the world came up with similar findings, including widespread belief in some kind of afterlife and an instinctive tendency to suggest that natural phenomena happen for a purpose.
"Children in particular found it very easy to think in religious ways," such as believing in God's omniscience, said Trigg. But adults also jumped first for explanations that implied an unseen agent at work in the world, the study found.
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"If you've got something so deep-rooted in human nature, thwarting it is in some sense not enabling humans to fulfill their basic interests," Trigg said.
"There is quite a drive to think that religion is private," he said, arguing that such a belief is wrong. "It isn't just a quirky interest of a few, it's basic human nature."
"This shows that it's much more universal, prevalent, and deep-rooted. It's got to be reckoned with. You can't just pretend it isn't there," he said.
I was planning to post something else today. Then I realized that today is Stephanie's birthday.Never Been Here Before | neverbeenherebefore.blogspot.comTell us a bit about yourself.
I’m a child of God, a daughter of the King. I work in ministry. I’m from Nebraska, and have lived in 5 states since I was 22. I like coffee a lot. Jesus, too. I have a ridiculous nail polish collection and way too many Kate Spade hand bags. I play guitar, though not well. I sing a bit better than that. I love bluegrass music and like to belt out the high notes when I can. (As long as no one else can hear me.) I love to read and teach people about Jesus. I’m currently doing that in Kansas, where I work for an awesome church.Share a few sentences or a paragraph about your blog.
I’m not a regular blogger. I wish I was, but I find the process of writing often painful, so perhaps that’s why it’s not a regular activity for me. But that really is the point of my blog. I write when I need to process something difficult I’m going through. The title, “Never Been Here Before” acknowledges that I am always changing and transforming (thanks to the work of the Holy Spirit). I often look back and what I’ve written and don’t recognize it. This is the essence of being human and an artist: we, in the words of Derek Webb, are “constantly covering the material of another person” Meaning, we’ve changed since we created that art. So every place I am in is a place I’ve haven’t been and never will be again.Share a URL link to one of your favorite blog posts and it is a favorite.
https://neverbeenherebefore.blogspot.com/2009/04/deliberate-sin.htmlWhere do you find your inspiration to blog.
I think this is a favorite post because it was the first time I realized that by constantly labeling myself as a sinner, I was putting all the emphasis in the wrong place. Am I a sinner? Absolutely. But that’s not the end of the story. It was the beginning of the formation of my philosophy of ministry and a greater understanding of God’s story and my place in it. By reminding myself that I am a saint, I am giving glory to the one who conquered the sin, not the sin itself.
To be honest? Usually pain. Writing has always been like this for me, and I’ve been writing since the 6th grade. The most tender and wise moments I’ve been given were the result of pain in my life. But I am also occasionally inspired to write about pop culture from a Christian perspective. So strong emotions and convictions are more broadly what inspire me to write. There’s a line from the song “Breathe” by Anna Nalick that comes to mind, “2 AM and I'm still awake // writing a song // If I get it all down on paper, it's no longer inside of me // Threatening the life it belongs to” I write when I have to. Usually the compulsion is pretty strong and won’t leave me along until I process it and write it out.Share your favorite quote and how it affects you or speaks to you.
What is to give light must endure burning – Victor FranklShare a paragraph about anything that you are passionate about.
This speaks to me because it, in many ways, illustrates the Christian life. We live in the “already/not yet” – the place of already being forgiven and not yet fully restored to glory in heaven. Living this life knowing things aren’t the way they are supposed to be is complicated and messy. And living it with authenticity hurts, because it means acknowledging and confronting all that is broken. Instead of focusing on easing that hurt (which is typically where idols are born) we should focus on giving light: the light of Jesus Christ. We must lean into the struggle and face the burning, because this is what makes a difference in the world.
I am passionate about critical thinking in the Christian sub-culture. Because I don’t think there should be a Christian sub-culture. I think that by labeling things “secular” and “sacred” we are drawing a line that God never intended for us to draw. Everything is sacred because God created everything. (Have we perverted some of those things? Absolutely. But that’s another paragraph.) The fact that God is the creator of all things is what makes something sacred, not how many times the word “God” or “Jesus” is used in the lyric or the script. I believe the Christian sub-culture was born out of fear of being more tainted by sin than we already are. I also believe that by putting ourselves in a Christian bubble we are ignoring the Great Commission to go out into the world and make disciples. Relational evangelism is the most effective way to not only share the gospel with someone, but to be the gospel to someone. And that means entering in to the messiness of their lives to show them Jesus. (And let them see your mess, too.) We can’t do that in a bubble. But to step outside of the bubble requires discernment and critical thinking that we often are too lazy, ill-equipped, or too afraid to do.Thanks to Stephanie for sharing in my Q&A forum. Send me an email if you are interested in participating.
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| Andy and his Family |
Andy Bondurant | AndyBondurant.comTell us a bit about yourself.
I’m a full-time pastor, part-time writer who lives in Shawnee, Kansas. In addition to pastoring and writing, I also have a small t-shirt company (also at AndyBondurant.com). Every shirt has a story or purpose, and every shirt sold helps send a child to school.Share a few sentences or a paragraph about your blog.
I grew up in Olathe, Kansas (KC Suburb), and I’ve lived all over in the Kansas City area - from downtown to suburbs to rural. My wife, Kia, and I have been married for 20+ years, and we have 4 children.
In my spare time, I play and coach basketball and soccer, I binge watch The Blacklist, and I watch/listen to the Kansas City Royals.
A little known fact about me - I am related to the bad Bondurant boys in Lawless (my grandfather’s first cousins).
I've found most people struggle to connect with God, so I created a tool to take the first step down the path of peace of mind and heart.Share a URL link to one of your favorite blog posts and why it is a favorite.
I write about life, leadership and faith. Every person has a story to tell through their life. The story only comes through finding freedom. The way we become free is living intentionally.
I write about how to live a free and intentional life, so you can tell a great story.
http://andybondurant.com/2015/05/13/the-goliath-principle/ :: I had a professor in college who filled in for the regular prof while he was on sabbatical. In his 80s, Dr Metz was completely real. His response to a question so impacted me, I still can’t get it out of my head 20 years later.Where do you find your inspiration to blog.
Daily bible reading, podcasts (Bethel sermons, This American Life, Serial, Andy Stanley Leadership, and more), reading books and news articles, observing life around meShare your favorite quote and how it affects you or speaks to you.
I’m not a big quote guy. I tend to forget them as fast as I hear them. Here’s one I’ve enjoyed lately -Share a paragraph about anything that you are passionate about.
“Dream big dreams. Small dreams leave no room for miracles.” That’s my version of this quote from Dottie Boreyko, “Dream big dreams. Small dreams have no magic.”
Anything bigger than me requires help from others and God. Big, bold, outlandish dreams require God to come through. I love that thought.
This week, I released my first eBook. It’s a collection of 30 devotions. It’s free, and I would love to share it with you. Sign up for it here: http://bit.ly/1XklPZi
I found Greg's post to be a short but powerful reminder about how we must live. You can read it in full here.If we take seriously the passages from the New Testament about voluntary suffering, it could be argued that the Church’s willingness to suffer cuts to the heart of what it means to manifest the kingdom of God.
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The willingness of God’s people to suffer out of love for others—including our enemies—rather than use coercive force against them must still be considered the ultimate expression of God’s love and the ultimate resistance against the patterns of this world.
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By removing the cross from the center of what it means to be a follower of Jesus, we eliminate the most fundamental distinction between these two kingdoms.
About 20 of us left Kansas City for a two week trek in early 1987. After stops in Dallas and Los Angeles we transferred planes and boarded a Philippine Air flight to Manila. On our way out there I struck up a conversation with Sister Celestine, a Roman Catholic nun serving in Manila. As I stood in the aisle, I shared my faith with her as she sat in her seat. We talked about our love for the Lord. As we were talking Rene, one of the gals in our group, joined our conversation. Sister Celestine spoke to us about her ministry to unwed pregnant moms in Manila. Rene and I shared about our adopted children. An atmosphere of divine appointment filled the air.You can read the all eight reasons here. This aspect has always resonated with me. The transformation of lives back then and now testifies to the resurrection of Jesus. The change in my own life testifies to it as well.The disciples were almost immediately transformed from men who were hopeless and fearful after the crucifixion into men who were confident and bold witnesses of the resurrection.
Their explanation of this change was that they had seen the risen Christ and had been authorized to be his witnesses. The most popular competing explanation is that their confidence was owing to hallucinations. There are numerous problems with such a notion. The disciples were not gullible, but level-headed skeptics both before and after the resurrection. Moreover, is the deep and noble teaching of those who witnessed the risen Christ the stuff of which hallucinations are made? What about Paul’s great letter to the Romans? I personally find it hard to think of this giant intellect and deeply transparent soul as deluded or deceptive, and he claimed to have seen the risen Christ.
