One Called Life

So sweet!

2011-04-08T22:50:40.814-06:00

So sweet!

Thanks Michael, I appreciate the illustration. I ...

2010-08-18T10:46:40.908-06:00

Thanks Michael,

I appreciate the illustration. I have no doubt that God has a desired will for my life that may well have existed from the beginning, but I cannot think that that will would demand that I would commit sin in order for it to be accomplished. Rather, I tend to believe that God is wooing me towards his will -- not forcing me, but rather -- leading me towards it. When I sin, I attempt to thwart God's will but in His great love, God is able to transform the consequences and circumstances of my disobedience into yet another opportunity for me to repent and draw closer to Him. His mercies are new every morning -- Great is His faithfulness...

Additionally -- God is far more interested in my relationship with Him than what I can do for Him. If I screw up my choices and fail -- God's plan isn't going to fall apart. He will still accomplish his purposes -- the question is will I repent and return and choose to participate in His purposes or will I attempt to rebel or hide or reject His ongoing activity in me and all around me.

Dear Stry, Here is a very good anti-predestinatio...

2010-08-17T15:58:14.032-06:00

Dear Stry,

Here is a very good anti-predestination argument formulated by a Catholic priest who is a former Calvinist himself, Fr. Paul Rothermel...

PROPOSITION:
A true Calvinist teaches that everything that happens has been predestined before the foundation of the world. Thus, according to Calvinism, because I have free agency and no true power to choose contraries (i.e., free will), I do voluntarily what I could never do otherwise.

Thus, "My sins last week happened; they were certain to happen; and they were predestined before the foundation of the world. I freely did evil, but I could not have done otherwise."

A true Calvinist admits this. Yet St. Paul teaches that, with every temptation, God has made a way to escape from committing the sinful deed (1 Cor 10:13). Therefore, the question for the true Calvinist is:

"Which way did God, in fact, provide for you to escape the temptations to do the sins you committed last week, if indeed you are so inclined? That is, if you have been predestined before the foundation of the world to do it?"

This is a clear hole in the Calvinist position, forcing one to conclude that Calvinism cannot be reconciled with St. Paul.

Clearly, if Calvin is right and one is predestined to commit a particular sin before the foundation of the world, God could not have truly provided a way out of that sin for you to take.

How could He if you were predestined not to take it? So, either Calvin is wrong or we are dealing with a God Who feigns offers of deliverance from temptation.

So, which is it? Is God a fraud or is Calvin?

Many thanks to Mark Bobocore.

IS VERY GOOD..............................

Awesome!

2010-05-08T12:33:51.665-06:00

Awesome!

Thanks for your comments. Our world is so full of...

2010-03-03T22:47:40.434-07:00

Thanks for your comments. Our world is so full of people and corporations who spend billions trying to influence people to believe or think a certain way. It only takes a little apathy for us to become what they are projecting for us. We often don't even know why we want or like something because we aren't aware of our influencers.

Thank you for the post! I'm looking forward t...

2010-03-03T09:20:01.043-07:00

Thank you for the post! I'm looking forward to hearing more from you!

Earlier in the year, I heard from God that the TV shows I was watching were shaping me too much. Even though it was subtle. As a Christian, it's easy to let life just continue without realizing that some of what you are doing is hurting your relationship with God.

To much of the world and not enough of God, I hav...

2010-03-03T08:19:45.441-07:00

To much of the world and not enough of God, I have found that in all areas of my life there is so much conflict from the world compared to a christian walk. But only in the times where i pray and ask for wisdom and grace is when i see a calming effect in my life.
Thank you for the post.