I keep alluding/referencing to this summer, when I started my walk. During my last blog, on apologetics, not meaning sorry, but one defending my faith, (all my “concerning” blog along with Dear Mus, are apologetics), I described Some of my experience, for the ones who didn’t read that extremely long post here it is: When I use to go to Church because, I had to I did not like going, that is true. I stop being forced to go around the time I was seven, and I didn't start going back to Sunday morning church till October 19th, 2008, the day I was baptized (excluding a very small amount of time with friends or something). I got saved earlier that year late summer time, when I went to youth group with my friend, Brandon. God will always put people in your life to help you grow with Him, Brandon one of those people for me. I always considered myself a Christian, but I didn't know Him, I just knew of Him. It wasn't in till this summer when I truly craved that relationship, was I saved. I doubted that I was truly saved at first, because I didn't have that moment when I dropped on my knees in near tears, that I found Him, like many people told me was there saving experience. I was save never the less, God made that abundantly clear. I have matured greatly since I was seven, I now get so amped, completely hyped to get closer with Him anyway I can, youth group, spreading the gospel, just living for Him, and yes Church.
I can’t stress enough everyone’s walk is different, I can’t tell you how to walk only that you know if you are walking towards Him, why speak what you know to be false. Find the way that works for you. It was discouraging; at first I didn’t have the “typical” saved experience. Looking back on it now I find this to be for two main reasons. One all people are unique so if I were to fall to my knees, I personally would be doing it for society, letting others influence my reactions, try to keep you actions and reactions Godly. He is in your heart so follow your hearts of heart.
Secondly hitting closer to home for me, I was trying to trick myself, that I didn’t go eighteen years of my life not knowing the Lord yet, claiming to be Christian, a follower of Christ. How can you truly follow someone without having a relationship with Him, without truly trusting or believing in Him? I remember I was almost embraced to tell people, because it’s off putting to realize you have been a hypocrite. I would were the Jesus T’s, and rep. that cross, but I didn’t even know what the cross meant. Yes I know it was what Jesus was crucified on, but who doesn’t; I didn’t know what it truly meant to thrive for His presents. Ask yourself if you know what the cross means; what it means to be a follower of Christ, do you try to live a holy life style? I am not talking about going to church on Sunday or trying to maintain the image of Christianity, I mean do you put Him before ALL you do? I am not one to judge no mortal is,[ How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.] Luke 6:42, I am saying examine closely the speck in your own eye, how much of your vision does it possess? After a true look at ones own faults, while trying to improve your vision you my help you fellow (wo)man. This does not mean you can now judge the person, just condemn the sin. My views on this are explained in more detail in my first blog “Worthy to serve Him”. The very basics of Christianity are you saved, not have you recited a salvation verse, or memorized the bible, but do you put your faith in Jesus Christ? Are you knowingly living a double standard by tricking others, or perhaps tricking yourself but know, no one can trick the all knowing God.
Hi Kevin, Came across your blog and see that the 'scientific heavyweights’ have been attacking your posts. Oh! how they love the sound of their own voices. Big words, big ideas. Put it down to my ‘older’ age but plain English is not their strong point.
ReplyDeleteI want to commend you in what you are doing. It is honouring the Lord in your thoughts and comments. It is only when you ‘experience’ the presence of God that this life makes sense. The first question in the catechism is “What is man’s chief end’. In modern terms “What is his purpose in life?” the answer “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.” May you experience God’s presence to the full.
I teach statistics and Design of Experiments techniques to engineers in a major aerospace company in the UK. I have been working with data for more years than I care to remember. One thing I have discovered is that all theoretical models are wrong and some are useful. Remember that the vast majority of people who throw ‘scientific facts in your face’ have been told by OTHERS that these are 'scientific facts'. In Wikipedia it says this as part of the explanation of science: “Using controlled methods, scientists collect data in the form of observations, record observable physical evidence of natural phenomena, and analyze this information to construct theoretical explanations of how things work.
True science is when you can replicate something by experiment or from observation. Most theories about the creation of this universe and the evolution of man are made by man’s ‘opinion’. Put a PhD in front of the name of the person doing the ‘research’, then the research becomes fact and therefore by default science.
In statistics a big ‘no no’ is to extrapolate beyond your known data range. Just a cursory glance at some 'evolutionary facts' show that the APE to MAN links that have been ‘found’ have been in the main fabricated.
Remember that you are taught things in high school and university and in the main nobody checks the validity of the things that are being taught as facts. I have for over 20 years been asking students of mine how they learn to do their jobs and 95%> say that somebody showed them. How do they know that it is the right information that they are being given. They cannot know, and I have never had anyone say that they went back to first principles.
Anyway just wanted to say keep up the good work. May the Lord bless you, as he promises to bless those who are not afraid to stand up for him.
Final comment: Never believe that an Atheist has no faith! They have a great faith in their own ability, in their own power, and in their own intellect. You can never win an argument against such people, as their eyes & hearts are closed to the truth and only the Lord can open them.
In my walk, the Lord met me when I searched for him. He gave me enough statistical evidence to prove without a shadow of doubt that he was real. He met me in a way that he knew he would get my attention through facts and data. To others my conversion story might be seen as made up, but I know it is true. So do not get stressed when you get attacked for your beliefs. Pray for those who come against you. Put it back to the Lord in prayer so that ‘the invisible guy’ to some sceptics, but our Lord and Saviour to us, will soften hard hearts and make these sceptics examine what they believe to be facts.
Let them prove for themselves that God is not real, and in their quest they will find this loving God waiting to meet them. We do not believe in a fable, we do not believe in a myth. We do not have religion with the Lord, or a relationship with the Lord. We have him with us as our guide, friend and lover of our souls. We abide with one another.
A good Irish name is Kevin, so from one Irishman to another with an Irish name, but more importantly citizens of heaven can I say ‘the Lord bless you’.
Trevor