The gods are dying

1 Corinthians 15: 1-28 Matthew 28: 1-10

The Gods are dying. They stagger around, bouncing from wall to wall like a B grade actor in a death scene that he just can’t get right.. Gasping for breath, aching to live for just another day. Yet oddly they are blind to their sickly nature and are full of their pride saying “I’m a God – nothing can stop me – worship me, bow before me.” While all the time their gaunt paper-like skin and empty eyes betray their words as lies.

If you listen carefully… you can hear them. Moaning, weeping and wailing.

Can you hear? Is that the death rattle of communism?

Communism; that God who promised that all people would be free and equal. There would be no suffering; the state would wipe every tear from their eyes. But the state it turned out couldn’t even wipe its own mouth.

The juice of first fruits of the harvest dripping from their mouths corner as those leaders who of course were equal – just more equal than others - feasted, ignoring the starvation of those they had said they would care for.

Did you hear that crash! Democracies blind and bewildered giant has just tripped up on its own feet again. Let the people decide, the people know what they want – or do they?

Let’s look at New Zealand’s example of the populous making up its mind. Oh dear... But still the giant stumbles on saying come to me I have the answer, I have the way, I will give you the life you want!

Is that the cry of Mr Feel Good? Yes it is. I recognize his war cries “if it feels good do it”. And “how can it be wrong if it feels so good?” But all his followers have different ideas of what “feels good” – don’t they? What it is that they should do to get their kicks. And all of them ignoring that following behind Mr Feel Good is his big sister Consequences and boy is she mad.

The Lord of Science is calling to us now. Trust in me, believe in me, put your faith in me and I will give just the facts but apart from that I have for you nothing – absolutely nothing. No life, no meaning, no hope no ever after. Go to him believe the Lord of Science, who for some strange reason keeps changing that which is fact or not every year or so.

I have heard another god, a small god, people only listen for a short time and it only squeaks out occasionally, here and there. The God of denial. Recently he denied truth and said “Hey, guess what? Judas was a good guy. Forget that which you have heard from reliable sources, from people who actually were there. Listen to me I was written by Gnostic heretics hundreds of years after the fact.” Deny, deny deny.

Ah but there is the other god, yes we all know it, we all listen to its sirens call. Money, money, money, Of yes it’s so funny, in that rich mans world. Every modern appliance can be yours, happiness can be yours, fame can be yours just get the money, gather it in, bring it to yourself, hold it caress it never let it go until it gives you what you want. All the time you think you are getting more but in the light of the day you see it’s been bleeding you dry, leaving you empty and soulless, with just things surrounding you that may give pleasure but no love.

All the gods cry out, staggering from place to place. Unfortunately they take people with them. They at times seem so alive but they are dying. The gods are dying.

Another God died once. But where this one is different, is that this one was real. Jesus. Jesus was the most real thing that has ever been and ever will be. Jesus, unlike the other gods mentioned was not a construct of humanity. In fact humanity was constructed by Him!

His death began the same way all our deaths begin. He was born…

Away in a manger, in a little town of Bethlehem, on that silent night. We have all heard the retelling over and over. The worlds media lets us pay lip service to some of the events but…

do we dare tell them the crux of the matter,

can we break through the walls of doubt and tell them the truth.

That on that night all those years ago. The event of history occurred?

God the creator of the universe. The one and only real God, He who spoke the words that made all things seen and unseen. That the creator humbled himself and became part of his creation.

God became human. Born helpless and dependant on the care of Mary and Joseph. Threatened by the evil Herod, had his glories sung by the Angels, given kingly gifts by high born wise men, and worshipped by mucky, fresh from the paddock sheep herders

God came here. He didn’t stay in his heaven, he came down to be God with us.

Let us then skip forward 33 odd years. In fact we are in good company when we do that. The Apostles and Nicene creeds do the same thing. As if even if you miss out, and have not heard any of Jesus’s teaching as long as you get these three things right about that God Jesus then you are saved.

Jesus was born, Jesus died, Jesus rose again.

Yes Jesus died. He had power in himself to avoid it. As a human he could run away and hide. As the son of God, at his command he could call on more than twelve legions of Angels to rescue him, but there He was in the Garden of Gethsemane, getting ready to die.

That night in the garden, something was happening that had never happened before. The real God was dying.

The one that allowed us to make our own little gods. The one who lets us turn to him after all we’ve done. And this God – this Jesus did not want to die.

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.” He prayed. This cup of suffering let it be taken from me. If it is possible don’t let me die.

“Yet not as I will, but as you will.” What an answer. We might ask for god’s will to be done on many things in our lives. Your will be done for this job, this car, my health, but we’re talking about life and death here.

And not a pretty, easy or graceful death but violent, painful and humiliating death. Jesus knew it was coming, and He knew why it was coming.

It was coming because of you, because of me, and the because of the person next to you. Our sin, that we all do day by day, minute by minute has a price – death. But Jesus knew in the garden that his death would pay the price for us.

The prophet Isaiah wrote hundreds of years before Jesus was born

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

So pierced, crushed, wounded and then finally on the cross die he did.

Not faint or fall unconscious to then wake up and run off the France with Mary Magdallen. Jesus died

A simple proof of this was the spear that was pierced into Jesus’ side as he hung on the cross. If you have a hole in your side that goes into your lung then the blood that comes out will actually be a pink froth. Like soapy water coming out of a sponge that you squeeze in your hand. The lung is a gathering of very small sacks, quite like a sponge, and those sacks hold the air to be transferred into the blood. Pierce that lung/sponge while breathing and there will be froth. But if you are dead and not breathing then your blood and pneumo-thoracic fluid – a water like substance that surrounds the lungs will flow from the wound.

Just like the bible says it did when the Roman soldier pierced the side of Jesus to see if he was dead or not. Sounds like the Romans had a lot of experience in killing people.

There’s something to think about next time you do the dishes.

Jesus, He who was fully God, He who was also fully man was dead. Dead and then buried.

Buried in a tomb that had to be borrowed.

Dead and buried in a borrowed tomb with a guard placed outside it to make sure no-one did anything untoward with the body.

There he was, Friday, Saturday and then Sunday. Under normal circumstances he’d be beginning to smell.

So those woman on early Sunday morning who went to his tomb, must have been brave. To go there they had to confront the soldiers to not only let them in but likely also to ask them to help move the stone so they could go in. Once in there they knew they would have to struggle against not only seeing but also smelling the dead body of the one they loved and worshipped. But when they got there the stone had been moved.

Christmas is unique to history. God became flesh. The crucifixion though is vital to history as the punishment that brings us peace was paid. But on that Sunday morning the total and ultimate pinnacle of history, the event that defines all things past, present and future occurred. Christ is risen!

Without that event, his birth, his life, his death would be meaningless, mere dust in the wind. Without it, as Paul wrote, we would still be in our sins; we would have no hope and should be pitied more than anyone else there is.

Christ is Risen! With that event, it shows not only has the price been paid, it has been accepted fully. Our punishment, death, has been defeated its sting and bite have been nullified and we have a future.

After our deaths, as Christians, we shall, in God’s timing, be resurrected. We are not going to be angels. We are not going to be going to some sky palace and live on fluffy clouds. St Peter is not waiting for us at the Pearly gates to decide if we are allowed in or not.

Jesus was the first fruits of the resurrection. Like the first ripe apple you take from the tree prior to harvest that shows what is following in bulk – so is Jesus. His resurrected body, as described in the scriptures, is like that which we shall be given. He ate, he had form that could be touched, he could appear suddenly in locked rooms and go quickly from one part of the country to another.

Jesus is our salvation, with his birth, life, death and resurrection he is our all in all.

Christ is risen! Our God lives. Jesus lives. That is the truth.

So… why do we bend down and worship before these other staggering dying Gods?

Democracy, communism, materialism, hedonism, all of these things are dying gods. Gods made by man and flawed by man.

Humanity which is sinful, cannot guide or lead itself, there may be grand systems, but at the core there are still humans who, separate from God, follow and seek the old old lies.

Lies that ignore the real God who lived, died and is there for them.

So why do we bow down to the modern appliance and listen to the Lord of Science? The real God said “I am the Lord your God and you shall have no other gods before me.”

Today let us remember the gift that is Christmas, our shame that is the crucifixion and not only today but all days the victory and hope that is the resurrection.

Our God is an awesome God, Our God reigns, Our God lives.

Fearful Symmetry

Because the Cd player in my car is broken I had to dig out some old cassettes to have music to play. I found Fearful symmetry by Daniel Amos or DA as they called themselves then.

I listened to it today as I drove around the Summit Road on the Port Hills, and I was just taken back.

I first heard this music in the summer of 1990, I'd been a Christian for 4 months, had biked down to the Christian book store and saw this odd looking tape on the shelf, I had a quick listen and was just amazed, I'd never heard anything like it Christian or non-Christian. Cycling home I had it in the walkman and that was the beginning.

I did not know at the time that Fearful Symmetry was tape 4 in the 4 part Alarma chronicles.

Who knows what other gems my trek through the cassettes will find.

Breaking News! Adolf Hitler was assasinated - opps no he wasn't it's been fixed...

A bit of fun science fiction.

A wiki forum from the year 2104 from the International Forum of Time Travellers.

Here is a snippet.

International Association of Time Travelers: Members' Forum Subforum: Europe – Twentieth Century – Second World War
Page 263

11/15/2104
At 14:52:28, FreedomFighter69 wrote:
Reporting my first temporal excursion since joining IATT: have just returned from 1936 Berlin, having taken the place of one of Leni Riefenstahl's cameramen and assassinated Adolf Hitler during the opening of the Olympic Games. Let a free world rejoice!

At 14:57:44, SilverFox316 wrote:
Back from 1936 Berlin; incapacitated FreedomFighter69 before he could pull his little stunt. Freedomfighter69, as you are a new member, please read IATT Bulletin 1147 regarding the killing of Hitler before your next excursion. Failure to do so may result in your expulsion per Bylaw 223.

At 18:06:59, BigChill wrote:
Take it easy on the kid, SilverFox316; everybody kills Hitler on their first trip. I did. It always gets fixed within a few minutes, what's the harm?

If I could sing... Over the hills and far away

No No no - it's not Teletubbie time. Over the hills and far away is a song from the 80's by hard rock legend Gary Moore from his wild Frontier album.

Here is the video:


Here Are the lyrics

Over The Hills And Far Away


They came for him one winter's night.
Arrested, he was bound.
They said there'd been a robbery,
his pistol had been found.

They marched him to the station house,
he waited for the dawn.
And as they led him to the dock,
he knew that he'd been wronged.
"You stand accused of robbery,"
he heard the bailiff say.
He knew without an alibi,
tomorrow's light would mourn his freedom.

Over the hills and far away,
for ten long years he'll count the days.
Over the mountains and the seas,
a prisoner's life for him there'll be.

He knew that it would cost him dear,
but yet he dare not say.
Where he had been that fateful night,
a secret it must stay.
He had to fight back tears of rage.
His heart beat like a drum.
For with the wife of his best friend,
he spent his final night of freedom.

Over the hills and far away,
he swears he will return one day.
Far from the mountains and the seas,
back in her arms he swears he'll be.
Over the hills and far away.

Over the hills and,
over the hills and,
over the hills and far away.

Each night within his prison cell,
he looks out through the bars.
He reads the letters that she wrote.
One day he'll know the taste of freedom.

Over the hills and far away,
she prays he will return one day.
As sure as the rivers reach the seas,
back in his arms he swears she'll be.

Over the hills and far away,
he swears he will return one day.
Far from the mountains and the seas,
back in her arms he swears he'll be.

Over the hills and far away,
she prays he will return one day.
As sure as the rivers reach the seas,
back in his arms is where she'll be.

Over the hills,
over the hills and far away.

Over the hills,
over the hills and far away.

Now this is a good song to have in your repertoire. If you ask for requests and some heckler insinuates that he wants you to go away by yelling out "Can you sing Over the hills and far away" then you can just say "No problems" and let the drums kick in. ...budda de budda...

I'd also have to say that this song is also on my "if I could play guitar list", I don't really appreciate the story of the song having been on the nasty end of infidelity, but the song just rocks.

I first heard this song back in the late 80's, I had a mullet and black stovepipe jeans. (I'll never fit into either of those again). The whole album just was great so I'm sure I'll post a few more songs from it later. I liked Queen but my main interest was Pet Shop Boys and the Art of Noise at this time, so I'd have to say it was Gary Moore that started my interest in things that rock.

In my set list - this is the opening number.

Rock on dudes!

Muppet Danny Boy performed by Beaker, Swedish Chef and Animal

Ok I'm a date late for St Patrick's day. But this is too good to pass up.

Thanks to boingboing for this.

Eat my flesh, drink my blood

Tonight I'm going to summerise the sermon I just heard because it was so good. I had other plans relating to Palm Sunday and holy week but tonights talk was really really good.

It was based around this reading, it's from John chapter 6:

25When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?"

26Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."

28Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"

29Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

30So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'^[c]"

32Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."

34"Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."

35Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

41At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." 42They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?"

43"Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered. 44"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.'^[d] Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. 46No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. 50But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

52Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"

53Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." 59He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

It comes quickly after the feeding of the 5000 (5000 men probably 15000 men woman and children), and so the idea of bread and similarities between Jesus and Moses are very fresh in the minds of the roman oppressed Jews.

Then Jesus goes and says this! wow what is He going on about. If you ask 10 people 9 of them will likely say Communion.

Here are three reasons to think that communion is NOT what Jesus was talking about.
1. Timing. This was months if not years before Jesus had the last supper, the imagery of the body/bread blood/wine was not in peoples minds and would have meant nothing to them.
2. The wording. Not once did Jesus mention wine - only His blood. And he kept saying Flesh - in the last supper Jesus said body.
3. (And this is the biggy) If you take this as being about communion then it means if you don't have communion then you are not saved and not going to heaven. i.e. in order to go to heaven you have to do something (take communion)

This last point flies in the face of pretty much the entire rest of the New Testament. It is our faith in Jesus and what He has done that saves, not anything we do or could ever do.

So what is He talking about. Especially in verse 54.

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

Sounds a bit like cannibalism if it isn't communion.

Well the answer to that is to just go back 14 verses to verse 40. in the same speech.

For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

Did you notice the similarity? Namely ... shall have eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day.

Jesus is saying that eating his flesh and drinking blood is a metaphor, for doing God's will by looking to Jesus and believing in him.

You'd think with the number of metaphors and parables Jesus told people would start to pick up on this, but no. All through Johns gospel we read of Jesus using earthly things as metaphors to teach a spiritual truth and then people mistake Him and think He is being literal. Born again - you mean get back in the womb? I am living water - can you get me drink of it? etc Here Jesus says eat my flesh, drink my blood - immediately after saying believe in me and the people think he is literal and start to leave Him.

Communion does not save you, Christians are not cannibals. All we are, are people who recognize we sin, and have faith the the work of Jesus at Easter has paid the price and is the punishment for our sins. We believe in Jesus Christ. He is our salvation.

Bad Sci-fi physics.

I once read a Simpsons comic where the geeks that Homer helped at university got money to make a sci-fi movie and they did so according to proper physics. Of course everyone was disappointed when there was no sound in space, no fire in the explosions and the journey to nearby stars took several years. In the end only the geeks and The Comic Book Guy are left in the theatre as everyone has walked out.

You have to have some fantastical elements to make it interesting but not always. Serenity did very well with having no sound.

Anyway over here they decided to write a report card on a few items of physics. They looked at the following...

• There's no sound in space
• Not all planets have Earth gravity
• Planets should have diverse climates, instead of one unified climate across a "desert planet" or "forest planet."
• It shouldn't be too easy to communicate with alien creatures, without some kind of high-technology "translator" explanation.
• And it definitely shouldn't be too easy for humans to interbreed with aliens.
• Humans exposed to vacuum without a spacesuit shouldn't explode or shatter. And a "hull breach" where the ship's crew is exposed to vacuum should kill everyone instantly.
• You can't have fires in space, unless there's oxygen leaking out somehow.
• Asteroids or other objects shouldn't be able to float close together without falling into each other's gravity
• People shouldn't be able to dodge lasers and other speed-of-light weapons
• And there's no reason why someone would move in slow-motion in zero gravity.
• Faster-than-light travel is probably not ever going to be possible.

Follow the link and see how they rated 18 big name movies.

That don't impress me much...

OK a few years ago Shania Twain bought a big hunk of property near Wanaka (You'd like the town - I think bits of it were in Lord of the Rings). Shania being the nice wee lass that she is decided to donate a slice of that land for a walking track.

Our illustrious leader Helen Clark is up there on the track with Shania for a photo opportunity. A journalist covering the event asks Helen. "So what is your favourite Shania Twain song?"

...to which she replied...

"I'm a Mozart fan, I'm a Mozart fan,"

Sorry Helen but in regards to your preparation for the event... that don't impress me much.

If I could sing.... Guilty

Todays song would come around halfway through my setlist. It is by the band Daniel Amos, who of course is fronted by Terry Scott Taylor as mentioned before.

The song is Guilty, and it is one of my favourites from the Motorcycle album. This is one of the songs that has split the DA fanbase. There seems to be at least one on each album and this is the one from motorcycle. Sorry no youtube, or iTunes links I can point you to for this one, only the lyrics.

Guilty

from the album "MotorCycle"

Words and Music by Terry Taylor
©1993 Twitchen Vibes Music / Brainstorm Artists Int'l. (ASCAP)
Well I'm in a mess
What can I do?
yeah, I've second-guessed
so have you
but I've been all wrong baby
Ad nauseam baby
I'm gonna break the circuit,
put aside all my disguises
Don't run away screaming out
or worse, start laughing now that I'm

(chorus)
Guilty (take me back)
Guilty (take me back)
Guilty (take me back)
Take me back now
that's all I ask now
Take me back 'cause I'm guilty

Couldn't face the wrong
in myself
So I condemned
somebody else
You were in reach baby
I've been impeached baby
I'll plead for your acceptance
so I can walk the straight line again
What a big grim process this is
but I can't hide any longer cause I'm

(chorus)

Absolve me from the wrong I've done
Lay your hands on me and I will overcome
heal me now
and seal me now
in your gracious love
your fathomless love
'cause I'm

Guilty, Guilty

Well I'm on my knees again
and I got my heart in hand
Girl I pray you understand
I'm a tired and broken man

Guilty, Guilty

I'll make it simple as I can
to say exactly what I am
I'm guilty baby, I'm guilty baby,
I'm guilty, guilty, guilty

Guilty, Guilty

I'm not the man I used to be
and it's so easy girl to see
I caused you misery
so let the judgment fall on me
and I'll tell you honestly
for the record here's my plea
I'm guilty baby, I'm guilty baby
I'm guilty, guilty, guilty...

Apart from the bridge with the absolving it is a guy singing to his baby, his girl saying he done wrong I'm guilty.

Musically in the fully and lushly produced motorcycle album, the album that has a theremum (sp?) and songs that segue into one another, layers and guitar battles this song stands out.

It's harsh, it's jarring, it's coarse. Terry screams I'm guilty I'm guilty! with the harmonies and smoothness of the rest of the album this one sticks out like a broken thumb, painful and obvious.

And that is why I like it.

Being guilty is painful.
Being guilty is harsh
It is jarring
It sticks out

You don't like being guilty.

Look at a lot of the apologies these day. I'm sorry my actions caused you to feel that way, I'm sorry you are hurting.

They are are apologies when you aren't apologising, pure cop outs and not facing up to the coarse harsh facts.

Where is the "I'm guilty I was wrong I'm sorry for what I did"?

The song is so honest in it's approach to guilt. Julie Millar in her song "My Psychiatrist" had this line.

I thought that when I felt guilty my mother was the cause
Now I find the reason is only that I was.

I am the cause of my guilt you are the cause of yours. We cannot blame our childhood, or the way we were raised, or how rich or poor we are... we make the choice each time we do wrong things and if those things hurt someone we are guilty baby.



...and the song also shows the only way out of guilt.

Forgiveness.

In his screaming, in his desperation in the agony of his calling out I'm guilty - he is calling out for forgiveness.

Forgiveness - The only balm that will soothe the burning guilt.

To all the people who read this that I may have hurt.

Take me back 'cause I'm guilty.

TenNapel gets a movie deal and the book isn't even out yet.

I just spotted at Ain't it cool news, the TenNapel website and Peter Chattaway announcing that the new Doug TenNapel graphic novel has had it's movie option sold, and that Sam Raimi is down to direct.

I'm looking forward to this. Both the movie and the book.

I got into Doug because he is also a fan of Terry Scott Taylor, and Terry is my number one favourite musician (One of his songs will be my if I could sing songs later today). Terry did the soundtrack to a few of Doug's video games (Neverhood, Skullmonkeys and Boombots) and Doug did the artwork on a couple of Terry's albums ("the best of" and BibleLand). Doug also created Earthworm Jim.

A little bit after all this Dougs first big Graphic novel came out (Creature Tech) I had money so I amazon'ed it and loved it. How can you not love a story that has lines like

"My peers claimed that the giant space eel did not exist! They said I was crazy! Now that I have spent my fortune on a laboratory in the wilderness, swapped hands with a demon, and called a giant space eel to earth perhaps they won't think I am so crazy after all!!!"

Only two of Dougs stuff I have not enjoyed immensely Gear and Black Cherry the rest I heartily recommend - go spend money now!

Internet arguments

I nearly got dragged into another argument on the internet today. I've been taking part in usenet, email discussion lists, forums and blog comment discussions since 1996. (Over over a decade!).

I've seen people change, but it hasn't come about through one craftily worded email/post (or even 10). It has taken years. Sometimes in the discussions the people have not changed position but they have come to understand each other better and it's not a big deal anymore.

So today, this guy on a forum posts something unsubstantiated, I call him on it and he replies I'm sorry you feel that way. Umm feel that way ?I called you on the facts on emotions. And as I'm getting ready to craft my reply and thus end up late for work, the last 10 years strikes me. What I say and how I say it is not going to change this guys mind. His unsubstantiated comment is based solidly in his world-view. I'll tell him the facts later, yeah for sure, but I'm not going to change the opinion until the person has been changed. Don't get all worked up in the arguments and discussions.

So all you internet newbies (or is it noobs you wipper-snappers call each other?) all these arguments - get over it, listen, learn and take the time to changes them, not the arguments. And to change a person it takes a friend not a logical diatribe.

Acts Chapter 10 – People…

Cornelius was a devout and God fearing centurion who was a member of the Italian Regiment. He lived in Caesarea was about 100 km Nor-North west of Jerusalem on the coast Cornelius and his family not only believed in God but acted on their belief too – giving to those who were in need. A Roman, in the Roman army, living in a Roman named town, believing in God, not the roman gods. This for starters make Cornelius different but then an Angel comes to him and says that God remembers him and that he should send for Simon Peter. And so he does – he sends servants and yet another devout soldier.

Now Peter was at Joppa – Joppa is about 50km west of Jerusalem and is also on the coast. Peter like Cornelius was a man of prayer and as such he was doing so when a vision came to him. Up until this point the only people that had become believers were Jews, Samaritans and people who as part of their conversion took on the Jewish law of not eating unclean foods – and if male – being circumsized. At this time if Cornelius’s servants came to Peter and told him to go to unclean gentiles he likely would have said no – so God prepared him with a vision. And then the Holy Spirit just to drive the point home – told him the people were there and he was to go with them

Peter arrives at Joppa, he sees that they are gentiles and reminds them it is against Jewish law to be with them but that God has reveled to him he is not to call anyone clean or unclean. Cornelius then tells Peter the tale about the angel and Peter realises God’s love for all the peoples of the earth – which if he had had a good read of the Old Testament we would have known anyway. (The Lord had after all told Abraham that all the peoples of Earth wold be blessed through him.)

Peter then summerises the gospel for these people – perhaps to confirm to himself that they are believers, perhaps to make sure they know what it was they are to believe but the short answer is that the Holy Spirit came on these people and they visibly showed signs of it.

The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit has been poured out even on the Gentiles. – ummm… can you blame them for being astonished? They found out the truth of Jesus and took up the rules and laws of Jewish custom to be part of it – even to the point of getting bits cut … I think if I was in their position I’d be astonished too – to put it politely…

And so at the end of this chapter we have the rhetorical question “Can anyone keep these people from being baptised” they were baptised and no one had to do anything extra – just believe.

Well that is what happened with Cornielius and Peter – what can we learn from it and how can we apply that to our lives today?

The first thing I from this I think we need to look at is the prejudices of Peter. He was raised according to Jewsih law and customs. He was taught from birth that all those who were not Jews were unclean people – not to have anything to do with them. It’s the way he was brought up that these gentiles are unclean disgusting god-forsaken creatures.

Every now and again… weekly… daily people or peoples un-named hassle me a bit because I was not born in Christchurch. That’s fine I can live with it – it’s just joking around – not serious…but… a decade and a bit ago when I lived in Rangiora one of my friends was someone who was brought up in England. In Southland where I was brought up we eat a lovely yellow vegetable call a swede. Swedes are great raw or cooked. But in England swedes are pig food. If sold in supermarkets – you’d find them in the pet food aisle with the label – unfit for human consumption. She was brought up to see them as pet food – I was was brought up to see them as yummy food. So one day she was around and I was cutting some up to prepare for tea and the look on her face – total horror. And then when I took a raw bit and ate it – she was nearly vomiting with disgust – when I offered some to her – she ran away. It was afterwards that I found out about the whole pet food thing – I’m really not that insensitive.

When Peter was told to go to the Gentiles – through his years of conditioning he may well have wanted to vomit with disgust – but God had told him… “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” So he struggled through until it was made clear to him when he saw the believers at Ceasarea – and to really hammer the point home the Holy Spirit came upon them. The message got through. And a good thing too – I suppose if Peter had not gone the Lord may have sent another – I’m just glad we don’t have to go through the Jewish law and ceremonies to be a follower of Jesus.

So here is a question for us all – Saint Peter walked with Jesus for 3 years and had the Holy Spirit within him yet he had prejudices…what are our prejudices? I have not met anyone here that I got the impression was racist – but who are we uncomfortable around? There is a large list of possibilities other than races, homosexuals, prostitutes, polititions, people with physical or mental handicaps, or people who support super 12 teams other than the crusaders. Maybe being with non-Christians make you uncomfortable – and indeed I know some who don’t like to be around Christians – even when they are Christians themselves. I’d guess that we can all think of people that although they don’t make us want to vomit with disgust – we just don’t really want to be around them too much.

What does God have to say to us about his matter? “Do not call anyone impure that God has made clean” Or to put it another way. “Love your neighbour…” - that’s one of the two greatest commandments that one – “Love your Neighbour” And who is your neighbour – well Jesus answered that question be telling the story of the good Samaritan. All the great religious people did not show love on the poor mugged Jew – but the Samaritan did – and went the extra mile too. Jews and Samaritans hated each other like the blacks and the Klu Klux Klan. So who is your neighbour that you are commanded to love – everyone – even people you hate and make you want to vomit in disgust.

So what can we do about it – when we encounter people we don’t like, or people who do things we don’t like? …things that make us uncomfortable.

I think the first question we need to ask ourselves is: Why do they make us uncomfortable. Is it because what they are or do is outside our comfort zone – or is it because what they do is sinful. If it is that we are not used to it then the problem is ours – we have to learn to be tolerant. If the cause is that the actions are sinful then we need to know there is a limit to tolerance and the problem of our feelings as we shall see is still ours.

Outside our comfort zone. – this is our problem. If the person or their actions is something that is not sinful and just something we are not used to then it is up to us to “get over it”.

· The first thing to do really is be honest with your self. Look at the issue objectively and identify why am I feeling this way? Admit this lack of love to God – “repent” of it and ask for His help to get over it.

· After that there are two things help me to accept being with those I am uncomfortable with.

· We are not all perfect. Or to put it more accuratly – we are not perfect AT ALL. Due to the fall we begin our lives in a state separate from God. Our natural inclination is to that which is anti-God. We are sinners and all need Jesus. You may think some need Jesus more than you as you were brought up right put that’s just pride talking – you need Jesus just as much. When we realise and accept that we are not perfect it is easier to accept that other people are not perfect either. Just as they do things to annoy you – so are you doing things that annoy them. I do support the Crusaders but as much as it pains me to admit it – the Australians do have some good rugby players too. That’s just the way it is in rugby and in real life. I am a Christian and seek his will but sometimes I don’t get it right and other people do - and vice versa. Look at the positives positives and the negatives are easier to cope with.

· We are all different. Once when I was at a work colleugue and I were having a jokey sort of conversation about relationships between men and woman. I said that men have it difficult because we have to try and understand the vagueness of all that which is woman. She said Ha – not a chance woman have it worse trying to understand men. Then a workmate interrupted with “You think you have it difficult my relationships are nightmares – Gay men are so difficult to deal with”. It was then that I realised a lot of the difficulties in human communication and relationships – not just in the romantic side but in all things – it’s because we are different. Some are of course more different than others and Yes there are major differences between men and woman and how they think, feel and approach matters – but every person on this planet is different to every other person on this planet. If you get into a relationship/ friendship with someone – while it is necessary to have somethings in common you are never going to be a clone of each other. We are all different. It is those differences that cause conflicts, arguments, misunderstandings and uncomfortableness.

· Lets take movies for example – and just from a guy point of veiw. Not all guys like Science fiction movies, not all like action movies, not all like thillers, some enjoy chick flicks. One or two guys around the world didn’t even like Lord of the Rings. And good on ‘em too – if we were all the same can you imagine how boring it would be?

So what about people who you don’t like being around because what they are doing is a sin?

These people we need to break into two categories – are they Christian or are they not?

· If they are not Christians – that you know for a fact that they do not accept Jesus as their lord and Saviour – with all that encompasses. If they are not Christians and they are sinning – well…? What do you expect? The Bible calls those who have not yet accepted Jesus or have rejected him as those who are living in the kingdom of Darkness, of being children of the devil. To sin is their – and was our – natural response. After all without God’s boundaries – what is morality? Is it what the majority of the country says is moral? Is it what the polititions say is moral? History shows worldwide and in New Zealand that both are wrong.

So if they are not Christian and you are uncomfortable – then it is a valid uncomfortableness – but one you also need to get over. Non-Christians still come under the command to be loved. Of course the greatest way to love them is to lead them to Christ – but even if you do the best you can and they choose to reject Him – they still need our love. Paul said in 1cor5:12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the Church… god will judge those outside. It is not our place to hassle non-Christians due to their sin that is God’s job – ours is to bring them to Christ and love them anyway – if you can stop the sin along the way then that is a bonus – it is something to try for as well – but without Christ as their guide and the Holy Spirit it’s a tough task.

· If they are Christians and sinning – now that is a different matter. I’m not talking about a one off sin or transgression but one that is continual. The Corinthian church had problems with this. Paul told them to judge them and if they continue to expel them from the church. Does Paul’s command to judge them contradict what Jesus said to Judge not lest ye be judged? – I don’t think so. In Matthew 7 when Jesus says do not judge, because the same measure you judge others will be used to judge you – and to not point out the speck of dust in your brothers eye when you have a plank of wood in your own. Jesus is talking about hypocritically judging others. Judging a non-Christian for sinning when they are after all a non-christian and don’t know better, or for judging a fellow Christian for looking at woman at the beach when you are doing it yourself. That is hypocritical.

· The New Testament is full of Paul, Peter, James, Jude and John telling other Christians to stop sinning. They were not being hypocritical in it. They were honest in their own failings, they judged in humility and love and they did so for Christ and his Church – not for self-rightous glory seeking. Our attitude should be the same.

Over all with every person in no-matter what situation we must remember the golden rule – Treat other people they way you would want to be treated. Love is a verb – a doing word – not just an emotion. If you are uncomfirtable with them be nice to them just like you would want people to be nice to you.

It all really boils down to tolerance. Not tolerance as the liberal thinkers of our day see it – where we should accept all people no matter what they think, are, do, believe or say – as long as they are not hurting others. But a tolerance with bounderies. Yes accept and love all people but there are limits. Are they Christian or not? They need to be. Are they sinning or not? They need to stop.

Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil. Those who tolerate without boundaries are doing this. They call those who try to keep God’s moral decrees as being intolerant and wrong and they say that which is a sin is not as long as it does not hurt others. Isaiah says woe to these people they will be Judged by God.

But if somebody is doing wrong and it’s not hurting anyone else, is that a problem? C.S Lewis in his book Mere Christianity uses this example. We are all a fleet of ships on a voyage if we do not keep our ships in tip-top shape then our steering systems or engines will fail and we will crash into each other even if we don’t want to. You may not be hurting others with your sin – but you are hurting yourself and your relationship with god. Eventually you will crash and hurt others.

Tolerance with boundaries is not a wholesale acceptance of all things no matter what but one that is laced with grace and forgiveness. You can learn from others differences and become a better person yourself. As we get to know people of what ever kind then tolerating their differences becomes easier. In The Simpsons episode Dancin’ Homer. Homer is taking the family to live in Capital City – but Lisa doesn’t want to go. The city is too big and complex she says “and all the people in Springfield know us and have forgiven us.” And we know that the Simpsons have a lot to be forgiven for – but the point is the same – when you get to know someone their differences are easier to live with and to enjoy.

Just like Peter in Ceasarea – when someone becomes a Christian no matter what the differences or background may, be the Holy Spirit fills them and we are all cleansed by God . Like Peter asked – can we stop anyone coming to Jesus just because of our prejudices – the answer STILL is no – we cannot.

In communion services for the last 2000 odd years Christians of all races, backgrounds and diversity have been celebrating and remembering the one thing that is the same between us all. We all need Jesus. Rich, poor, old and young we all need Jesus His death upon the cross paid for our sin and opened the way for us to be in a relationship with God. No other way can do it.

Caffinated Beverages

Mmmmm coffee.

Well actually yuck blurgh coffee. Don't like the taste of the stuff. It has a great smell, I could smell it for hours on end (and often have) but when it comes around to the taste - no thanks.

Ditto tea. Don't like the taste of that either.

In fact overall I'm not a fan of hot drinks, when I do go out for "coffee" or such I'll have a white hot chocolate or a hot blackcurrant, no mocca-chino-frappa-latte for me thanks.

But I do have a way of getting that caffeine fix. Coke, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, and V . mmm V. Love the stuff.

For those not in NZ... V is your basic caffeinated "energy" fruit drink. But they don't call it caffeine they call it guarana (which is caffeine). It has as much caffeine in it as a strong cup of coffee and costs a dollar less for a bottle.

I'd have a bottle of that a day, at lunch, every day of the week. It kept me bouncing, awake and alert for the afternoon. Around 4:30 though it starts to wears off and you can really feel the drag.

For lent though I decided to give up caffeinated beverages.

The first week days were tough, tired, sleepy and headaches, and ended up with a migraine. Once I detoxified my body started to adjust to the changes and I'm amazed.

For starters I'm falling asleep at night quickly and staying asleep. I used to go to bed at 11:30ish and not fall asleep, maybe 1 or 2 hours would go by before I'd drop off, and then I'd be restless for the night before the cursed alarm goes off at 7:35 am.

Well now I go to bed 10:30, fall asleep by at least 11 and the majority of the time wake up with the alarm at 7 the next morning (and boy am I busting to go...).

I am getting less headaches overall, can cope with the afternoons, not falling asleep in front of the TV in the evenings (as much).

In fact... I think that after lent I might just stay on the no caffeinated drinks policy. Maybe the odd Coke or Mountain Dew now and again. Life is just a biot better that's all.

And I'm saving $17.50 a week.

Song Wednesday, If I could Sing... It;s all coming back to me know.

OK don't mention it's Thursday, I may have mentioned it before but I think I got away with it...

Hi and welcome to our second edition of Song Wednesday. Today is a another song in the series of "If I could sing this is one of the ones I'd sing"

For those who know my rock, and alt-rock styling may be a little surprised with this one. I've enjoyed from the first day I heard it.

The song is It's all coming back to me now. And it's the Celine Dion version not the Meatloaf. Yes you read me correctly I like the Celine Dion version. Meatloaf wrecks the song.

Here are the lyrics. Are here is a link to the youtube video.

"It's All Coming Back To Me Now"

There were nights when the wind was so cold
That my body froze in bed
If I just listened to it
Right outside the window

There were days when the sun was so cruel
That all the tears turned to dust
And I just knew my eyes were
Drying up forever

I finished crying in the instant that you left
And I can't remember where or when or how
And I banished every memory you and I had ever made

But when you touch me like this
And you hold me like that
I just have to admit
That it's all coming back to me
When I touch you like this
And I hold you like that
It's so hard to believe but
It's all coming back to me
(It's all coming back, it's all coming back to me now)

There were moments of gold
And there were flashes of light
There were things I'd never do again
But then they'd always seemed right
There were nights of endless pleasure
It was more than any laws allow
Baby Baby

If I kiss you like this
And if you whisper like that
It was lost long ago
But it's all coming back to me
If you want me like this
And if you need me like that
It was dead long ago
But it's all coming back to me
It's so hard to resist
And it's all coming back to me
I can barely recall
But it's all coming back to me now
But it's all coming back

There were those empty threats and hollow lies
And whenever you tried to hurt me
I just hurt you even worse
And so much deeper

There were hours that just went on for days
When alone at last we'd count up all the chances
That were lost to us forever

But you were history with the slamming of the door
And I made myself so strong again somehow
And I never wasted any of my time on you since then

But if I touch you like this
And if you kiss me like that
It was so long ago
But it's all coming back to me
If you touch me like this
And if I kiss you like that
It was gone with the wind
But it's all coming back to me
(It's all coming back, it's all coming back to me now)

There were moments of gold
And there were flashes of light
There were things we'd never do again
But then they'd always seemed right
There were nights of endless pleasure
It was more than all your laws allow
Baby, Baby, Baby

When you touch me like this
And when you hold me like that
It was gone with the wind
But it's all coming back to me
When you see me like this
And when I see you like that
Then we see what we want to see
All coming back to me
The flesh and the fantasies
All coming back to me
I can barely recall
But it's all coming back to me now

If you forgive me all this
If I forgive you all that
We forgive and forget
And it's all coming back to me
When you see me like this
And when I see you like that
We see just what we want to see
All coming back to me
The flesh and the fantasies
All coming back to me
I can barely recall but it's all coming back to me now

(It's all coming back to me now)
And when you kiss me like this
(It's all coming back to me now)
And when I touch you like that
(It's all coming back to me now)
If you do it like this
(It's all coming back to me now)
And if we...

Lets get this clear straight off, I like the song and it's story, it has no personal connotations. In fact when it first came out I was happily married, during the time of my bitterness after the divorce I still liked the song, and I still like it today. I'm not pining for some lost love, pining for the fjords maybe but not that.. All it is, is that would love to be able to belt out the notes giving the emotion and power in this song how Celine does it. I do like many Celine Dion songs (hate the titanic one...) but this is my favourite that she does.

The song was originally writen by Jim Steinman and they were thinking of putting it onto Meatloafs Bat out of Hell II but they went for a different song instead (It did get onto number III though).

Today however is the first time I watch the music video and that puts a whole new swing on it. Just from the lyrics I got the story as being a woman has gotten over for the guy who left her (or she kicked out), and when he returns she remembers all the good times and wants another go. In the video the guy is dead and his ghost is back to make out and she remembers the good times.

I'd say my interpretation of the lyrics is correct from this bit here..

But you were history with the slamming of the door
And I made myself so strong again somehow
And I never wasted any of my time on you since then

He left, she got over him... none of this you died I got over you, now your ghost is back.

Anyway If I could sing you would expect this in my set list - maybe as the last encore...

Things are not looking good for Labour

As this is a non-commercial blog I am allowed to show my displeasure towards the Labour party in such a way that I might actually be trying to convince you not to vote for them. Labours draconian Electoral Finance Act would make it otherwise illegal for me to say ... "Yes the latest polls show they are going down and will crash hard! Keep up the struggle against them"

If I had ads on here and gained money from this blog then it would mean any time I say "Don't vote Labour" I would be in breach of the law.

But here is an interesting graph - it shows a summery of all the polls taken since the last election.

The sort answer is that things are looking bad for Labour and good for National - remember National fought against the EFA all the way and has promised to repeal it "by lunchtime" if elected.

I'm looking forward to having freedom of speech back again. Roll on the November election.


Thanks to Kiwiblog for the summery.

Theology sunday - I believe that Jesus Christ is the truth.

Lets start with the Truth shall we…

In John chapter 18 Jesus and Pontius Pilate were talking. Jesus had been brought to Pilate to be given the death sentence and, for what ever motives, Pilate was trying to get Jesus released. In the discussion Jesus says that His kingdom is not of this world. To this Pontius says. “You are a king then!” Jesus Answered “you are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

“What is Truth?” Pilate asked. Jesus did not answer at that time. I wonder sometimes what inflection Pontius put into his voice with that question.. was it sneering? Was it seeking or maybe it was sarcasm

So let us ask with a seekers heart “What is truth?”

The dictionary has this to say… “The facts, correct, not invented or wrong, accurate.” With this as being what truth means I think it is ludicrous when in talking about spiritual matters people say to me “Well Christianity is your truth and this is mine” I just want to be blunt with them and say what a load of Politically Correct... double talk. That statement is rubbish.

The truth is the facts, it is correct and accurate. The truth cannot be more than one thing at a time if the two things are mutually exclusive.

Aristotle was a Greek man who lived before Christ was born and developed a logic system, called Artistolian logic. One point of his logic system is that:

A ≠ non A at the same time .

Something cannot be something and something else at the same time.

1 does not equal 2.

An apple is not a banana .

If I say Jesus is God and someone else says Jesus is not God then one of us is wrong. Logically one of us does not hold to the truth.

So when they come out with the statement in an attempt to try to agree to disagree “That is your truth and I have mine” I want to scream at the illogic. Even Mr Spock would want to Vulcan neck pinch the person into a quivering mess of jelly for saying something so silly.

The correct way to say we differ would be “Well you have your opinion and I have mine.”

Opinions can differ. For example. It is my opinion that hard core rap is an unintelligible distortion of noise. I have friends whose opinion is that hard core rap is music while their opinion about the music I like, is that it is an unintelligible distortion of noise. Well that is your opinion and I have mine.

This type of opinion is called subjective. Subjective opinion is based upon personal feelings. I feel this you feel that. Subjective opinions can differ. You can argue, or even politely discus, the merits of hip hop versus country and western till the cows come home but taste is a personal thing …. and both of you are wrong ‘cause alternative rock is way better than that stuff anyway.

But then we get to Objective Opinions. Objective opinions are not biased they are fair and not swayed by your personal feelings. For example, It is my objective opinion that Canterbury has a better rugby team than Southland. The facts are the facts. Personally I don’t want it to be that way but it is. Subjectively I say Southland rocks, but objectively I say they need help.

Objective opinions are based upon the truth and therefore can be wrong if someone does not have a grasp of what the truth is.

So going back to our statement of opinions when we discuss spiritual matters is the divinity of Jesus a Subjective or Objective opinion? Is the discussion that Jesus is Lord and God based upon facts and the truth or is it based upon personal feelings?

Jesus existed. He walked on this earth, he spoke to people, he ate with them, he made friends, he made enemies. He is an object He is not a feeling. Opinions about Jesus are to be objective opinions not subjective.

Well you have your opinions about Jesus and I have mine people say and the answer back to them is that one of our opinions is wrong.

I know that Jesus Christ is the Truth