Markers

Colt begins by making the claim that Jesus has “markers.”

“You mean like the ones you color with Colt?”

“Ya, Dad.”

“Well Colt, where are these markers?”

Colt then places both hands, palms up and points to the palm of his right hand and then his left.

“Why would you have something against this Stephen?  Jesus had piercings in his hands from the nails.”   Yes, this is exactly what John 20 shows when Thomas says he won’t believe until he places his finger into the mark of the nails.  The problem is not with the nail prints, the problem is with the location of the nail prints.  Historically the hand was known to be up to midway up the arm.  Thus, Jesus would not have been pierced in his palms, but instead, he would have been pierced in his wrist.  This is biblical and historical for two reasons.  First, had Jesus been pierced in his palm he would have slipped off of the nails because his palms could not support his weight.  Second, the bones in Jesus’s hands would have been broken and this would have gone against the fulfillment of the scriptures.

Halos

Ya, dad.  Everyone in heaven has lights around their head.”

These lights are supposed to be halos.  These halos are the kinds depicted in Touched by an Angel when Roma Downey quotes her most famous lines “I am an angel, sent by God.”  This doesn’t make sense to me for a couple of reasons.  First, is that did not come into Christian art until the 3rd or 4th century and is started with Christ and eventually made it to all the saints.  Second, if God’s glory is the source of all light, and halos can be seen, wouldn’t this mean that the glory of the halos would outshine the glory of God?  I know that this could be a non sequitur argument, but the argument can still be made.  I don’t know how bright the glory of God is, but if it shines so brightly that there is no shadow, how could one see a halo?

Pearls

“Ya Dad. The gates were gold and they had pearls on them.”

This could be a misquote on behalf of the father, but because it was in the book, I have to take it as what Colt actually told his dad.  The problem with this statement is that it goes against Revelation 21:21.  ”And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl”  [emphasis mine].  This verse shows that the gates did not have pearls (plural) but a pearl (singular).  This is in opposition to what the Bible clearly says about Heaven.  So why would God show Colt multiple pearls on a gate, but show John that the gates had one pearl?  The answer is obvious, he didn’t.

Conclusion

Now to be honest, I don’t want to throw the baby out with the bath water.  Heave is for Real, but we shouldn’t rest on the “experience” of a kid.  Instead, we should open our Bibles and read for ourselves what the Word of God says.  God’s word is the final authority and so to save time and heartache, it might just be best to pick up a book that speaks on what the Bible says about Heaven and not a kid.  In my opinion, Heaven by Randy Alcorn is a much better choice.  He uses scripture (in context) to back up everything that is said.  Heaven is not something he experienced, but something that he’s studied;  not from a kid, but from the Bible.

I am grateful for your desire to see me grow in my sanctification by feeling the need to find my spouse for me. I know in many ways I have lead you to believe that it is your job to find the perfect woman to fit my needs and to be a great helper for me. I know that whatever woman you had in mind for me would have been perfect.

As of this moment though, your responsibility is relinquished in finding my spouse. Your friendship has meant so much to me, so please do not hear me saying I do not value your friendship, I do. I will gratefully accept any wisdom you have in helping me understand what it means to be in a relationship and would love to talk to you more about things other than my relationship status.

Perhaps at this point, you are questioning my sanity as most do, including myself, but I have thought this through. Because you feel the need to find my spouse, in some ways it has caused our conversations to consistently turn to my relationship status. In many ways, these conversations make me feel inadequate and less in your eyes, though I hope you don’t think of me any less because of my singleness.

The main thoughts that go through my mind when you ask me “You’re still single and not pursuing anyone and you’re fine with that?” is that you either think that I am incapable of finding a spouse or that I am gay. Trust me. I am neither. I am waiting for my timing to be in time with God’s. He will provide a spouse for me and I will be grateful for His provision.

For now though, I am single and I plan to keep it that way. I know this comes as a shock to you and trust me, it shocks me the more I think about it, but I am learning contentment through this time in my life. I would love to continue our friendship and for you to get to know me outside my singleness. Thanks for the time you have invested into our friendship.

Sincerely Yours
Stephen

Death causes me to be confused. When I say confused, I don’t mean the generic term confused as in terms of being conflicted. I literally mean confused, or “with fusion.” With the death of one who does not know Christ, we should not be confused, we should mourn. We should mourn because that person will never know life. We should mourn because that person will never know Jesus. We should mourn because that person will spend the rest of eternity apart from a God who knows and loves them.

Yet, with the death of a Christian, it is hard not to be confused. This is one of the few times in life that our emotions are conflicted against each other, and they shouldn’t be. It is with the death of a Christian that these conflicting emotions should be fused, come together. On the one hand, we feel grief of the deepest sense on “losing” a brother or sister. We are sad because that is a life lost to those who love. At the same time, though, we are joyful because what person is with Jesus. The joy of knowing that one’s struggle with sin is over and that that person is in the presence of Almighty God is indescribable.

This is what it means to be confused. We don’t let our emotions conflict with one another as though they are fighting and one has to win. Though it may feel as though the grief will never let go and our joy is being overtaken, we must not let our emotions win. It is at these moments in which we must be confused. We must let the grief and the joy fuse with one another. Eventually, the grief will begin to loosen its grip. Eventually, the joy, that seemed so lost early on will begin to take a turn for the better. And while the grief that was so strong in the beginning, will never go away, our insurmountable joy in God will not let go. And while there will be times of grief, there will be many more times of joy.

One day, you will die and people will grieve over your death. Will they grieve knowing that you will be lost for an eternity, or will they grieve with hope?

Another thing that I love about this commentary is that Sproul takes the time to explain the entire book. When opening the different chapters, the passage of scripture passage that will be covered is first. Then, Sproul works his way through the passage pointing out all of the details. It really helps that this book was a sermon series that he preached through at St. Andrews.

Overall, this is definitely a great resource for those studying through this book. I would highly recommend this to not only pastors, but also lay members.

Please, don’t get me wrong, I am thankful for those who stood out on the hill showing what abortion is all about. I am grateful that they were willing to take the ridicule that they received to help this who have not only had an abortion, but maybe to change the mind of one who was thinking of having one. But should this be the method?

I am also not saying that I agree with complete passivity. We, as Christian especially, should be ready to help those who are helpless, weak, hurting, and afflicted. We should not take a passive role in an area as prominent as this. To be passive about this issue would call into question ones own salvation. I know that sounds harsh, but throughout the Bible Christians are called to help the helpless and off all people who are helpless, an unborn baby ranks the top of the list. So if one is not helping even the most helpless, do they really know the Helper? This is going too far off topic.

Back to the issue at hand, should we protest abortion in a way that is as in your face as this, or is there another way? What are your thoughts?

First, create small notes within the text of the Bible that show what the Bible says about taking action. For instance, when we read in the gospel of Matthew to “Go into all the world” make a note saying what the action is and how to live out that action.

Second, get a color scheme. What I mean is, there are thousands of verses in the Bible that mention these five characteristics. Get one color for each characteristic and every time that characteristic appears, highlight it. For example, every time one sees the word “go” that verse is highlighted in green. So when one reads “‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.” The first portion that has “go” would be highlighted in green, baptizing them would be in orange for serving, and teaching would be in purple. This in-depth scheme mint be a bit much, but it’s a lot better than nothing.

Finally, I would suggest getting together with Operation World and having facts and figures of how one can pray for the nations. In this way, Thomas Nelson is being proactive in helping others pray, rather than telling people to pray and not giving resources.

If one of the authors for Thomas Nelson reads this and has any other questions, I have other suggestions that aren’t as weighty.

Because of all of this, I am giving this Bible a 1 out of 5.

The first change has happened in church. Back in late December I was given the opportunity to direct Praise Factory. Praise Factory is a children’s program our church has on Wednesday nights. This has been a huge growing experience for me because I am now the one making decisions on how we are going to do things and finding ways to interact with the kids and make Praise Factory fun. Not only make it fun, but ultimately to make the kids grow in Christ. That’s the entire purpose of Praise Factor is to help the kids seek Jesus Christ in everything they do, by seeing Jesus in everything they do. This has also helped me to understand leadership a lot better. I cannot demand respect from the people who are working alongside me. Instead, I have to serve them and pray that they will serve with me to ultimately serve Christ in Praise Factory. So this has been a huge growing experience.

Another area that I have been growing in has been in school. To update everyone on the school situation, at the end of last semester I found out I did not make it into the accounting program at UTC and because of this I had to change programs at the last minute. By the “last minute” I mean I was setting up classes three days after classes started. After sitting down and talking with an advisor, I felt as though pursuing a degree in education would be the best degree to shoot for. It actually didn’t add any time to the amount I was going to already be in school. My degree will officially be in Secondary Education with a concentration in English. This degree actually plays into the first change in that I’ve been able to use ideas that have been taught in my education classes and use them in Praise Factory with the kids, which has been really helpful.

The last change has been in my job. While I’ve been there for more than three years I am still learning things about my job. The major thing I’m learning is that God uses the most random times, when I’m not expecting it, to speak to me the most. For instance, a couple of weeks ago I had the chance to talk to three agnostics about Christ… in LifeWay! It’s crazy to think that of all things these guys would do on a Saturday night would be to come into the store.

One of the reasons I’ve started noticing this is because of a saying, that I’m about to butcher, that my boss introduced me to about a month ago. It goes something like “Lord wherever we look today allow us to catch a glimpse of you. And whenever others look at us today let them catch a glimpse of you.” When I first heard that I was shocked because I don’t often think in those terms. Instead, I think Who is going to be graced with the presence of Jesus today through me? Ya, I know, never do I think that I might be seeing Jesus in others.

All this to say, God has been growing me a lot. At times I feel like butter stretched over too much bread, but after a little while it seems like the bread gets smaller or I find easier ways of stretching.

1. Read their Bible more
2. Be more health conscious
3. Do more good deeds
(Although not always in this order.)

I always make my resolutions and about midway through the year see that I am not keeping them or completely fallen off the bandwagon.  While both you and I are considering our resolutions for this year, take time to read this article from Jonathan Edwards.   These are his 70 resolutions.  Not just for the new year, but for his life.  Rather than tackling the list all at once, it may be good to take a few of these and make them a part of your resolutions this year.

“Being sensible that I am unable to do any thing without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him, by his grace, to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.

Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.

1. Resolved, That I will do whatsoever I think to be most to the glory of God, and my own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration; without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved, to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved, so to do, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.

2. Resolved, To be continually endeavouring to find out some new contrivance and invention to promote the forementioned things.

3. Resolved, If ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.

4. Resolved, Never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God, nor be, nor suffer it, if I can possibly avoid it.

5. Resolved, Never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.

6. Resolved, To live with all my might, while I do live.

7. Resolved, Never to do any thing, which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.

8. Resolved, To act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings, as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God. Vid. July 30.

9. Resolved, To think much, on all occasions, of my dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

11. Resolved, When I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances do not hinder. xxi

12. Resolved, If I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.

13. Resolved, To be endeavouring to find out fit objects of liberality and charity.

14. Resolved, Never to do any thing out of revenge.

15. Resolved, Never to suffer the least motions of anger towards irrational beings.

16. Resolved, Never to speak evil of any one, so that it shall tend to his dishonour, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.

17. Resolved, That I will live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.

18. Resolved, To live so, at all times, as I think is best in my most devout frames, and when I have the clearest notions of the things of the gospel, and another world.

19. Resolved, Never to do any thing, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour before I should hear the last trump.

20. Resolved, To maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.

21. Resolved, Never to do any thing, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.

22. Resolved, To endeavour to obtain for myself as much happiness in the other world as I possibly can, with all the power, might, vigour, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.

23. Resolved, Frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs, and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God’s glory, to repute it as a breach of the fourth Resolution.

24. Resolved, Whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then, both carefully endeavour to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.

25. Resolved, To examine carefully and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and so direct all my forces against it.

26. Resolved, To cast away such things as I find do abate my assurance.

27. Resolved, Never wilfully to omit any thing, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.

28. Resolved, To study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive, myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

29. Resolved, Never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession which I cannot hope God will accept.

30. Resolved, To strive every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.

31. Resolved, Never to say any thing at all against any body, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of christian honour, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said any thing against any one, to bring it to, and try it strictly by, the test of this Resolution.

32. Resolved, To be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that, in Prov. xx. 6. ‘A faithful man, who can find?’ may not be partly fulfilled in me.

33. Resolved, To do always what I can towards making, maintaining, and preserving peace, when it can be done without an overbalancing detriment in other respects. Dec. 26, 1722.

34. Resolved, In narrations, never to speak any thing but the pure and simple verity.

35. Resolved, Whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.

36. Resolved, Never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call to it. Dec. 19, 1722.

37. Resolved, To inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent,—what sin I have committed,—and wherein I have denied myself;—also, at the end of every week, month, and year. Dec. 22 and 26, 1722.

38. Resolved, Never to utter any thing that is sportive, or matter of laughter, on a Lord’s day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.

39. Resolved, Never to do any thing, of which I so much question the lawfulness, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or not; unless I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.

40. Resolved, To inquire every night before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.

41. Resolved, to ask myself, at the end of every day, week, month, and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect, have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.

42. Resolved, Frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism, which I solemnly renewed when I was received into the communion of the church, and which I have solemnly re-made this 12th day of January, 1723.

43. Resolved, Never, henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s; agreeably to what is to be found in Saturday, Jan. 12th. Jan. 12, 1723.

44. Resolved, That no other end but religion shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. Jan. 12, 1723.

45. Resolved, Never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan. 12 and 13, 1723.

46. Resolved, Never to allow the least measure of any fretting or uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved, to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eye; and to be especially careful of it with respect to any of our family.

47. Resolved, To endeavour, to my utmost, to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented and easy, compassionate and generous, humble and meek, submissive and obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable and even, patient, moderate, forgiving, and sincere, temper; and to do, at all times, what such a temper would xxii lead me to; and to examine strictly, at the end of every week, whether I have so done. Sabbath morning, May 5, 1723.

48. Resolved, Constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or not; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.

49. Resolved, That this never shall be, if I can help it.

50. Resolved, That I will act so, as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.

51. Resolved, That I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, That I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.

53. Resolved, To improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.

54. Resolved, Whenever I hear anything spoken in commendation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, that I will endeavour to imitate it. July 8, 1723.

55. Resolved, To endeavour, to my utmost, so to act, as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven and hell torments. July 8, 1723.

56. Resolved, Never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

57. Resolved, When I fear misfortunes and adversity, to examine whether I have done my duty, and resolve to do it and let the event be just as Providence orders it. I will, as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. June 9, and July 13, 1723.

58. Resolved, Not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness, and benignity. May 27, and July 13, 1723.

59. Resolved, When I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July 11, and July 13.

60. Resolved, Whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4 and 13, 1723.

61. Resolved, That I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it—that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, &c. May 21, and July 13, 1723.

62. Resolved, Never to do any thing but my duty, and then, according to Eph. vi. 6-8. to do it willingly and cheerfully, as unto the Lord, and not to man: knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall be receive of the Lord. June 25, and July 13, 1723.

63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true lustre, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, To act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. Jan. 14, and July 13, 1723.

64. Resolved, When I find those ”groanings which cannot be uttered,“ of which the apostle speaks, and those ”breathings of soul for the longing it hath,” of which the psalmist speaks, Psalm cxix. 20. that I will promote them to the utmost of my power; and that I will not be weary of earnestly endeavouring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and Aug. 10, 1723.

65. Resolved, Very much to exercise myself in this, all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness of which I am capable, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him, all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance, according to Dr. Manton’s Sermon on the 119th Psalm,. July 26, and Aug. 10, 1723.

66. Resolved, That I will endeavour always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking, in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.

67. Resolved, After afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them; what good I have got by them; and, what I might have got by them.

68. Resolved, To confess frankly to myself, all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

69. Resolved, Always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.

70. Let there be something of benevolence in all that I speak. Aug. 17, 1723.”

Taken from Desiring God Ministries