Tuesday, April 29, 2008
LIFE AND OUR POTHOLES
Good morning friends…. it looks like we are on the uphill swing of things and the weather is coming around nicely! I read an article the other day that really sparked my interest and I would like to share one of the fine points it had to offer…you have probably read in some of my previous posts about positive and negative energy…. and also maybe you have heard me say thoughts become things. Well, the reason that I can say that thoughts become things is that all that is around us and all that we experience is compliments of our thoughts. God did not feel the world into existence he spoke it into existence…. but I am sure that you can understand that he had a plan and that all starts with thought. Every invention from the wheel to our modern day comforts started with a thought, an idea, a plan, and someone’s dream to bring it into existence. Now, true not every invention or creation of mans is good, but remember that all have been permitted by God. He says that he created both good and evil. It is up to use to know the difference. Now, one of the points that I would like to share with you is this…. imagine you go on a journey and in your travels you come into the perfect place or city. All who abide in this city work together and live in peace and the only thing you have to know about is the huge pothole on 4th avenue. So you knowing this drive the streets admiring the beauty of the city but you are kind of starting to worry about this pothole. You start by thinking well if it is large I should be able to see it and you continue on driving…. When you haven’t seen it yet you start to think and actually look for it…. and as you drive farther on you become worried that you may not see it…what happens if I fall into it eew that could hurt and possibly damage my vehicle…. Now after a short while you are actually worked up about this…. while driving you came into a beautiful neighbor hood with gorgeous mansions and great estates…and you start to really just enjoy the view…. But in the back of your mind is this huge pothole…WOW! Hun look at that place…. that is gorgeous…. your wife screams and you are startled WHAM you fall right into that hole….
This is what we do on an everyday basis; we concentrate so much of our energy on the bad around us that we really fail to see the beauty around us…just as we do in the people that are in our everyday lives.
Ok I love little exercises…. here is another that you can try out that also has done great things in my life. At first you are going to say man all of these exercises.. I don’t have that much time on my hands…. Friends let me tell you after a while the little exercises are going to be so natural to you that you won’t even realize that you are doing them…but you will see drastic improvements in you!!!!
All right friends here it is…. let’s start with the people in your lives; this seems easier to do because they are a more black and white type image. Let’s say you have a coworker or friend whom has those little things that bother you. …Things that aren’t drastic just get under your skin… Take out a pen and paper think about that person…. Write down the things that are great about that person…. This may take a few minutes at first but focus on ONLY the good traits of that person…think of what they mean to you. Now get another piece of paper and write down the bad things about them…. this wont take as long primarily due to the fact that the list isn’t any where as long as the first…. compare the lengths of the two now if the bad is longer than the good this probably isn’t a healthy person to deal with…. but if the good out weighs the bad then you are ok. Now take the bad list and throw it away burn it or how ever you want to dispose of it…and reread the good list…. focus on these points…. what happens will amaze you and leave in astonishment as you watch the changes. Remember beauty and pothole…. good and bad positive and negative…if you put a magnet over a pile of nails it will draw them to it. If you focus on the good in people you will be a better person and draw more good people to you.
With love and may God bless..:)
p.s. also another little saying that I like is this…..where your focus is there your attention goes…..:)
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20 comments:
this weary traveller fell into a pot hole while looking for the place that God created good and evil. could you give me a hand out?
Well I hope this road map helps a little.Pro 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Dear Sir,
In your article, you said that "He says that he created both good and evil." referring to God. In response to Saul, you referenced Proverbs 16:4 as your basis for God creating evil.
While the Bible begins with the glorious creation of this world (Genesis 1-2), you can't help but notice as you read those chapters that God created everything good. Now, my question here is, "If God created everything in this world good, where did He create evil? And why would He create something that was not pleasing to Him?"
Secondly, in your reply to Saul, the Scripture reference you used is not referring to evil, but to wicked people (notice the use of the definite article). This Scripture is referencing the end result of a person's work and thought (see verses 1-7 as context). The ASV says: "Jehovah hath made everything for its own end; Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil." McCord's "The Everlasting Gospel" says: "Yahweh is working in everything to accomplish his own plans, yes, even the wicked to reap trouble." No reference in any translation that evil is created.
So how come there is evil? Let me suggest that 1.)Man brought it upon himself (Genesis 3), 2.) That evil (the same thing as sin) is a product of our lusts or desires (James 1:13-16).
So then, I have one last question for you. "What purpose does it serve, to say that God, who is pure and good and has no shadow of turning (James 1:17), created evil when His track record proves otherwise?"
Christian
hey cristian, long time no talk.:) have a simple question for you, are you saying that man created evil?
Hey ho, Christian & Fred, got your coffee?
Say, I forgot Saul. Howdy!
Hi Fred; I think if you would read James 1:13-16 you would have your answer. All of God's creation was good therefore he did not create evil because evil is not good!
Hey to you too anonymous!
Dear Fred,
Yeah, I've been a little tardy lately, Life you know :). I have been busy with my blog at
http://indepthchristian.blogspot.com/ and with reading Josiah's blog at http://doomandgloomchristianity.blogspot.com/ and with general spring-time chores.
Let me respond to your question with another question or two. "Is sin evil?" and "Did man create sin?"
Christian
p.s. I deleted the previous post because I noticed I had not pasted Josiah's blog address correctly. Christian
Somehow I have read and reread this post on potholes. Something keeps catching my attention. As who ever is driving through the city, it seems that it is when he takes his mind off of looking for the pothole that he finds it. When he is actually looking at the beauty around him? Maybe not.
Christian,yes sin is evil, and no man did not create evil.
Christian,yes sin is evil, and no man did not create evil.
Fred: I am still trying to climb out of this pothole. If God did not create evil as Christian pointed out and man did not as you say, maybe you could help me out by telling me just where evil came/comes from.
Please help, it is beginning to rain!
Saul are you saying that man created evil?
Fred: I was only asking where evil came from. Can you help me find the answer?
Dear Fred,
If you read through the creation of this world in Genesis 1, you will notice several phrase repeats. 1.) God said; 2.)God saw that it was good; 3.)evening and morning were the ___ day. At the end of creation in verse 31 of chapter 1, "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was VERY GOOD (emphasis mine). And the evening and the morning were the sixth day." That phrase "very good" in the Hebrew means (very) "From the same as H181; properly vehemence, that is, (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication wholly, speedily, etc." (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible with Hebrew and Greek) and (good) "ṭôb
tobe
From H2895; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well): - beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, X fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, X most, pleasant, + pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well ([-favoured])." One might say very pleasing to God (the one looking upon it).
Now for a couple of simple questions "Is sin/evil in any form, pleasing to God?"
and a second, "Where in the creation account does it say that God created sin/evil?"
And this brings up a thought question: "Why would God need to create sin/evil?"
Christian
Saul and christian, I don't know where sin came from, to be honest. The Bible says that God created all things in heaven and on earth, as you (christian) pointed out in one of your earlier comments. Also it doesn't matter to me where it came from, it is sin and it is evil.I will say that man brought sin into this world when he disobeyed God, but sin was around before the earth was made.
Fred, I can completely understand where you are coming from, but let's try this tack. Let's say some woman has a baby and she says to you, "This is your baby." But it really isn't your baby, and you in no uncertain terms tell her (and the judge) 'No, this is not my baby." And she says "Well, it's here, and you are gonna take the blame, and pay for it." You see, the devil (Satan) is the author of sin I John 3:8, not God, and the blame needs to be laid at HIS feet, not God's. If I tell some one "If you sit/play in that mud puddle you are going to get muddy" did I cause them to get that way if they so choose to do so? Of course not.
anonymous, I agree with you 100% we have to take the blame for our actions. In no way shape or form was I blaming God for what I do.
Fred, I believe you would not want to lay the blame for something bad you do/have done on someone else. Folks who are honest would not, and I feel that you are honest. I'm also hopeful that it helps to see that even if we don't always understand the wherefore and whathaveyou of something putting the 'blame' on an innocent party doesn't solve the problem, nor does it make it necessarily true. God did not create evil. The Bible speaks of Satan as the 'author' of lies, murder, and evil things--God is holy and pure. My puzzlement is why is it necessary to impugn the holiness of God, and why is it important to any one to force something on God that isn't true? (for example why is it important for you or me,or anyone, to accept the idea that God created evil?) I'm just trying to understand. Why is it important to anyone to force God with the blame for evil? Jesus was totally innocent, sinless, and perfect He paid a price for you and me. Unless, as it has been said, God created the sin in the first place. If God created sin, then He had the obligation to remove it, and then Jesus didn't pay the price He deserved it. How shameful is that?
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