a simple man of God
Hopefully making theology simpler to understand! (2 Corinthians 1:12)
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Moving things
Like literally. There is a short break happening with this blog, because my wife and I are moving.
Your homework, then, is to think of an analogy which describes the nature of the Trinity. ALWAYS FUN TIMES!
God bless you until we converse again!
Science and other things
I am diligently working on several things for upcoming blog entries, but in the meantime here is something from Bob Blincoe, director of Frontiers Missions, about the origins of science. I strongly suggest you read it. It is kind of interesting, if you ask me!
“How and Where Science Originated” (<— Click that!)
I also attended a talk by Christopher Yuan yesterday. I will be posting some of his points here in the future (after I polish my notes a little!). Some of his points reminded me of a couple of my posts (found here and here), so you will not be reading too much that I have not said before!
Much love and blessings!
Daniel
Do you know where there are any personages of historical significance around here?
Earlier I talked about Bill and Ted demonstrating the most excellent story ever told, and really how we just need to always be ready to explain our faith to anyone we can.
If God can use this guy ...
Today is a short but sweet message.
Bill and Ted were two young men who lacked many intellectual capabilities, yet they changed their world (and ultimately the galaxy) into a peaceful and prosperous one.
You may already know where I am going with this …
If two know-nothings can change their world with a tiny bit of help from God, how much more do you think you can do? Believers in Jesus Christ are given His power through the Holy Spirit. You can deny He still works in us today. You can even deny that miracles still happen. I love to break it to you, but the Holy Spirit does indeed still work and perform miracles through His people.
Do not think for a moment that you are not good enough to ever do anything. With the power of the Holy Spirit working through you, you can make drastic changes to your own little part of the world and maybe even the rest of the world!
Remember that Billy Graham was a boy who heard a message in a tent and went on to become the most famous evangelist in the world. Bill Gates is a college dropout who is now one of the richest people in the world. Barack Obama is the son of a Kenyan foreign student and a middle-class woman, yet today he is the leader of the free-world.
Do not think you are any less. Jesus did say “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31, NIV … and I suggest reading the entire chapter).
You can do anything through the power of Christ. You were meant to do great things, even if it is “merely” being somebody’s friend.
The Gospel According to Bill & Ted
In 1989 and 1991 some movies were introduced to the masses: Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey.
If you have not seen either of these totally excellent movies, you should. Why?
Bill & Ted tell the Gospel
For starters, look at their two famous quotes:
- “Be excellent to each other.”
- “Party on, dudes!”
You may be asking “What do those have to do with the gospel?”
“Be excellent to each other” is clearly a rewording of “Love your neighbor as yourself;” and “Party on, dudes,” is clearly a call to live a righteous life, and I will argue for “Love the Lord your God with [everything you are]” as being included in living a righteous life, dude.
As far as the story of Jesus Christ …
Here is how Bill and Ted tell the story of our Lord
First, they enter time … travel.
Second, they interact with humanity in amazing ways and teach many people truths about life.
Later, they are killed and go to Hell (a “non-non-non-non-NON-Heinous!” place … which, really is wrong unless you add one more “non” in there).
After defeating Death (at board games!) they ascend to Heaven.
They have a helper (Station!) who equips them to fight evil, whom is beaten.
Through their “ministry” (rocking out!) they change the world which eventually becomes a utopian place of peace and prosperity.
In case you missed why this is relevant …
God entered time as Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus performed many miracles and performed many amazing things, and He taught people truths about Life.
He was later crucified by the very people who should have worshiped Him (those people are really all people, but specifically the Jews in this instance) and many believe (though, in fairness, not all do) that He then descended into Hell.
Three days later, Jesus overcame death and the grave once and for all proving He is God and justifying all who believe in Him in faith.
Forty days later He ascended into Heaven, and ten days after that sent a Helper (Holy Spirit!) to equip the saints (all who believe in Christ).
Through the ministry of His people the Church He has changed the world, and He will one Glorious Day return to change this world into His Paradise!
I may be a little crazy, but you have to see the connection!
My real point today is that we must always be ready to share the gospel using whatever means we have available. The Apostle Paul did it. I just shared an example.
Now that I have had some fun, what are your favorite stories that remind you of the Gospel?
Childlike foundation manifests into discipleship?
I am the second guest blogger I believe and just wanted to give a huge thanks to Mr. Klem for permitting me to post as well as a huge thanks to God for saving me through the perfect work of Jesus Christ on the cross and resurrection.
I work as a lifeguard and this idea all of a sudden jumped into my head on a break. Is it important become childlike to understand the importance of discipleship? I teach children for a couple hours each day how to fine tune their swimming abilities and there are two constants in my class, “ooooo teacher watch me” and “oooo I want to go first.”
They enter my class with no relationship with me and are given to me by their parents and the children are to trust me with everything they have. They hope I teach them the right things in order to preven them from losing their life and thus learning a ton about swimming so in the future they will prosper and even teach others what they learn. Sounds a lot like the good news of the gospel right?
I was speechless when I was thinking about the importance of becoming like children and then also the link it has with discipleship. How many of us approach God in the same way that my students approach me? They want me to watch them go under water, watch them swim, wave down their parents before they swim so they can watch, and go first so they can show me they have been practicing.
How often does that happen today? Do we go before God and say hey watch this, wave him down so he can always watch us, become overwhelmed with emotion that we want to show him we have been practicing what we are learning?
Francis Chan in his Book titled Crazy Love(2008) says, “Nothing compares to being truly, exuberantly wanted by your children”(55).
So is it important to God to be like children? According to the Book of Mathew,
‘I assure you’ He said, ‘unless you are converted and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'(Mt. 28:3).
Also, Peter gives us a look into another referrence into the the importance of childlike foundations,
‘like newborn infants, desire the unadulterated spiritual milk, so that you may grow by it in your salvation'(1 Peter 2:2).
How greatly underestimated are these two verses, ‘become like children and like newborn infants’ wow. How often today do we look at things through the lense of the world or approach things with what other people say? Rather, God tells us that unless we become like children, we will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Thing about the implications of that statement. Become like children, to depend completely on God, to need him to survive, and to want to make him proud because we are his children. Children can not defend themselves, supply food, shelter, and love for themselves. They depend wholeheartedly on God simply because their lives depend on it. There is no other option. Isn’t that true for us today no matter what age we are? Our lives depend on what he offers us, where we are headed, as well as how we respond to the world around us. BUT IT DOES NOT STOP THERE!
Hebrews gives an insight to the importance being childlike, but also how it manifests into discipleship,
‘for by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic princliples of God’s revelation. You need milk, not solid food. Now everyone who lives on milk in inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature- for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil’ (Heb. 5: 12-14).
Discipleship is IMPORTANT! Think anything else? Go search the scriptures and look at the example of Moses,Jesus, the apostles, Paul, Timothy, just to name a few. The Bible is drenched in examples of people like you and I learning from others who know more then they do, and then taking that knowledge and sharing it with people. Discipleship brings about a lasting bond that allows dependence upon one another to thrive. Accountability manifests under discipleship. Do you not think THE BIG 12 did not tell each other what they were doing?
I heard a quote once that said always have a Paul and a Timothy in your life. Continue to learn, and why not disciple someone if you know more then they do. That will create more able bodied individuals to spread the knowledge of Jesus Christ. That is a win win in my eyes.
So does childlike foundations manifest into discipleship? I would argue absolutely. I want to seek God everyday and say to him “ooooo watch this” and “ooooo I want to go first.” Along with please teach me something I can share with others.
Sending my Blessings,
Your Brother in Christ
Weekend Words and Sunday Stanzas – 04/17/2011
It is Palm Sunday! The celebration of the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem of Jesus to start His Passion Week!
How about something that considers the majesty of God:
God can be found
daniel m klem
from the farthest galaxy in the universe
down to the smallest insignificant quark
from the most memorable bible verse
to the most outstanding missionary work
from the tallest and highest mountain peak
to the deepest gulch in the vast abyss
from the smallest creature that is frail and weak
to the strongest monster of both man and fish
from the smallest newborn baby in all time
to the greatest man that has ever been
God can be found in every reason with rhyme
and is working from without and within
Taken from the book simple words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m klem, p. 112.
We Are Called
I wrote a poem this past week, and I thought I would share it. Think If We Are the Body by Casting Crowns:
We are called to be the hands and feet of Christ.
We must remember that they reached out to heal hurts.
We must remember that they carried the good news.
We must remember that they touched the lepers.
We must remember that they went to the cross.
We must remember that they took nails for sinners.
We are called to be the Body of Christ.
We must remember that it embodied grace.
We must remember that it held the sick and dead.
We must remember that it loved through our hate.
We must remember that it removed all our sin.
We must remember that it took our place.
We are called to be ambassadors of Christ.
If His hands and feet were pierced on the cross,
If He touched the unclean and destitute,
If He showed love and grace to each of us,
If He gave His life to show this to the world,
Then are we portraying the true Jesus?
I just started thinking about “Jesus’ hands, feet, and body were bruised and scarred; so how come so many in the West rarely show their scars and bruises?” The poem just kind of flowed out.
If you like, I can keep posting poetry I write. Just let me know. It will take a few Facebook likes and comments here and on Facebook for me to consider it, though!
Grace and Peace!
©
a simple man of God
Do we truly love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths? Maybe I can help with the mind part, at least! This is Daniel M. Klem, apparent poet, reluctant yet passionate Disciple (Peter?), and foolish man attempting to understand theology!
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