A Good Idea

"Since you are God's idea, you are a good idea!" --Max Lucado This is Holly's blog about God / God-stuff. (And sometimes she'll talk about other stuff too!)

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Why the World Sucks

According to Genesis, the world was perfectly created and all was “good.” There was harmony between God, the earth, and humans because humans were created from the good earth. It may be presumed from this text that humans are God’s favourite creation because it is the only creation which was made in the likeness of the Creator. It is also the only creation on earth which actively demonstrates the ability to choose to follow God. This choice is demonstrated by the trees that God had put in the middle of the garden: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It would seem that God’s only rule was to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which makes sense. The only reason why rules are created is to keep people from doing something “wrong,” but the only wrong thing that the humans, Adam and Eve, could do was choose against God. One day, Eve was standing near the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and a serpent (which the Bible says is Satan) is there as well. He tricked Eve into thinking that she could be like God if she ate from the fruit of the tree, knowing good and evil. (The ironic thing about this deception, in my opinion, is that Eve was already like God, made bearing his image and only doing what was good.) Eve thought that the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil looked tasty and thought it would bring her wisdom, so she took it and ate it. She gave some to Adam, who was with her. It was at this moment that they had “broken the rule.” They had decided to do whatever they thought was best instead of remembering that God knew what was best for them. This is the first sin – the first time that someone went against God’s say-so. Adam and Eve should have known that God was like their parent, only making that rule to protect them. They felt ashamed of their current state (nakedness) immediately after eating the fruit. They made themselves clothing out of fig leaves and hid themselves when they heard God in the garden. When questioned, Adam and Eve confessed the way many children do when they are caught breaking the rules, “Yeah, I did it, but it’s not my fault! He/she made me!” God responded with a number of curses that many people say are either consequences or punishments, but I say that they are both. (For example, the serpent’s curse involves a punishment in that his tricking Eve would not automatically cause him to be cursed above all animals, and a consequence in the sense that it is only because he had tricked Eve that God needs to have someone come and save humanity from the serpent’s trickery and the sin they’ve fallen into.) As a result of these curses all harmony and perfectness is broken – this is the reason why bad things happen in the world. The reason for gender inequality is because of the consequence for Eve’s actions: the fact that she will, in sin, want to be above her husband, but God will not allow it. The harmony is also broken between humans and the earth in that, as punishment, the earth would produce thorns and it would be harder for them to cultivate the land. No longer would it simply produce for them. The reason for death in the world is that it is a consequence of sin. God warned the first humans not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or else they would die, and they ate anyway. He says to Adam that they no longer have eternal life and that now, because of their actions, they will return to the dust that they were created from. He also initiates the killing of animals to provide clothing for his creation, showing that he still loves them. The Enuma Elish, a Babylonian religion, has a different answer for these questions. There was a goddess named Tiamat (meaning “chaos”) who was split into the heavens and the earth. The gods decided to make humans as their slaves and so took the blood of the god Kingu (who was an evil traitor) and the mud of Tiamat and created humans. Therefore, the earth and humans are inherently evil and chaotic because they are made out of evil and chaotic properties. This would be the reason for death, inequality, and evil in the world: People are just like that. With why the world sucks aside, what I personally find perplexing is why no one seems to ask why good things happen in the world. To those who believed in the Enuma Elish I would ask this question: Why do good things happen in the world? How can anything good come out of people who are so inherently rotten? Perhaps there is an answer to that question that we didn’t go over in class, but as a Christian I’m glad that I have a God who is so perfect and loving that he extends what Paul calls “common grace” unto all of humanity, allowing good things to happen even to those who hate him, and that because of Jesus he extends mercy unto all of his creation should they choose it. ~holly Kwasek

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i like this ALOT hahaha

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As the leper has patches on his skin which repulse those around him and force him into isolation, so we have patches on our heart that cause repulsive behaviors. For this reason, we need to go to Jesus, as the leper in Mark 1:40 does, and say, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." I understand that some people have a problem with saying to God the if you are willing part of that request, but it is the most important part of it. The Leper's request was one which humbled himself in the presence of God. Anyone can make God his/her genie and say, "God, make me clean!" The art of making requests to God is in recognizing that we are subject to his will; it's not the other way around. The Bible tells us in verse 41 that Jesus is filled with compassion when we bring this request to him, and we expect this to mean cleansing. But it doesn't always. I have found that there are two ways that God responds to us when we bring this type of request to him. The first is the more obvious of the two, the one that I have been speaking about. Reading on, the Bible says that Jesus "reached out his hand and touched the man. 'I am willing,' Jesus said. 'Be clean!'" Immediately after Jesus said this, the leper was clean of his disease. This is the response that we constantly expect from God, the reason why we think God is always willing to make us clean, and the reason why we blame our problems and life-struggles on him. It is because of this expectation that so many people are disappointed with the answer to their prayer. People forget that God is our Creator, and therefore our Master, and we must submit to His will rather than asking Him to adhere to our own will. Yes, God wants us to be healthy and what not - that is why He has prepared His kingdom for us and the reason why there will be no more pain or suffering when we get there. However, we tend to forget that we are not there. We are here. We are sinners. We are proud. This is the reason why God sometimes does not cleanse us, but rather responds in a second way. In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul explains the second response that we so often forget. He explains the reason why we must include if it is your will in our requests to God. Paul wrote, "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me" (verse 7). There is some dispute as to what Paul's thorn really was. Many say that his thorn was ceaseless temptation, others say it was eye problems, or a speech disability, constant opponents...the list could go on, and some people get stuck in trying to figure out what Paul's thorn was without giving any thought to what their own thorn is. Paul pleaded three times with God to remove this thorn. What are you constantly pleading with God to remove? My thorn is a strong tongue, as described by James 3:1-12. I am constantly fighting the temptation to loosen the reigns on my tongue and let it speak freely. Everyone has one, so what is your thorn? Have you ever given up on God because of your thorn? Many people do. They think, "I have prayed and prayed and no change has come. Even God cannot take the thorn from my side." We can all learn from Paul because he reminds us that God does not always grant cleansing. In regards to our thorn, God replies to our request as He replied to Paul. He says to us, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (verse 9). And so, God will either cleanse you of the patches on your heart, or God will allow Satan to torment you for His own good purposes and always within His perfect will. But how do we respond to these two completely different answers to prayer? Cleansing is a really big deal. If you pray to God that the leprosy of your heart is removed and it is, you have a great blessing on your hands. In Bible times, the cleansing of leprosy is seen as something only God can do because it was tied to spiritual sin and proves His deity. The same is true for the leprosy of the heart. What do you do with such a great blessing? Jesus tells the cleansed leper in Mark 1:43, "See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." When God cleanses us, He doesn't say that we should go boast about it to everyone. Rather, he wants us to show people that we have been cleansed by our actions. That is not to say that if you have wronged someone that you should not apologize for it. But you should not say, "I'm sorry for this and that, it was wrong of me. Now see how God has cleansed my heart? I prayed to Him and see what He has done? Blahblahblahbragbragbrag." I believe the correct response would be to say, "I am sorry for this and that, it was wrong of me," then show them with your actions that God has cleansed you. If they say to you, "What brought about this change?" then you should reply, "God has shown me grace and cleansed my heart." They will believe you because you have shown them how God has worked in you, and it will become a testimony to them of how mighty God is. About the thorn in our flesh, I would go so far as to say that everyone has or will have one. When you go to God and say, "If you are willing, you can make me clean," and He replies, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness," how are you to respond? The response to this answer to prayer is practically opposite to the response to cleansing. 2 Corinthians 12 talks about how Paul was given great revelations. The thorn in his side was to keep him humble; to not become haughty, but to remember that it was God alone who made him who he was and that it was God alone who provided such wisdom for Paul. So that we do not become haughty, conceited, too proud, or exulted above measure, we must delight in our weaknesses (verse 9-10). Rather, delight in them and boast about them. Boast about the thorn in your side so that people can see that it is God alone who has provided great and amazing things in this life for you.

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Humans are Born of a Sinful Nature?

When our super-great ancestors, Adam and Eve, sinned for the first time the world became tainted. Many people believe in something called "origin sin," which states that humans are born with a sinful nature. But is that true? Are we born sinful? Ephesians 2:1-3 says, "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others." People use this scripture to back up the fact that we are all born sinful. The reason for this is that Paul says that "by nature" we were sinful and deserving of God's wrath. However, there are two main definitions of the word "nature" that apply here. The first defines how a person is involuntarily, because of his birth. The second is used to describe how a person's characteristics, or their voluntary choices separate from birth. Paul is obviously using the word "nature" in the latter sense. This is made clear by observing that, in context, he does not have his eyes set on how these people were born. Rather, he sees how they have chosen to act, and therefore that their nature is sinful. To say that this verse teaches origin sin is a perversion of doctrine, for Paul himself says in Romans 3:23 that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." and that God made man upright, but that they "sought out many schemes." (Ecclesiastes 7:29) If from birth, people were broken, then how can they fall? They cannot have already fallen. Furthermore, Genesis 1:26-27 states that God makes us in His image. If you say that we are created sinful, what are you saying about God? Your beliefs would not coincide with the Bible, for James 1:17 says that "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." And children are, indeed, a gift from above. A good and perfect one. Praise be to God that when these baby's grow and learn how to behave from their sinful environment, they can cling to Jesus and will become a new creation!

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2 Corinthians 6:2-10

"We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything."

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I Am - Nichole Nordeman

Pencil marks on a wall, I wasn’t always this tall You scattered some monsters from beneath my bed. You watched my team win, and watched my team lose Watches when my bicycle went down again. When I was weak, unable to speak, still I could call you by name And I said Elbow Healer, Super Hero, come if you can. You said, I am. Only sixteen, life is so mean What kind of curfew’s at 10 pm? You saw my mistakes and watched my heart break Hears when I said I’d never love again When I was weak, unable to speak, still I could call you by name And I said Heartache Healer, Secret keeper, be my best Friend You said, I am. You saw my wear white by pale candle light I said ‘forever’ to what lies ahead Two kids and a dream, with kids that can scream Too much it might seem when it is at 2 am. When I am weak, unable to speak still I will call you by name Oh, Shepard, Savior, Pasture Maker, Hold on to my hand. You say, I am. The winds of change and circumstance Blow in and all around us So we find a foothold that’s familiar. And bless the moments that we feel you nearer. When life had begun, I was woven and spun You let the angels dance around the throne. Who can say when, but they’ll dance again When I am free and finally headed home I will be weak, unable to speak Still I will call you by name Creator, Maker, Life Sustainer Comforter, Healer, My Redeemer Lord and King, Beginning and End I am. I am. --------- A girl sang this song in church and it made me cry! haha XD Seriously, I love it ^^

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Words of Life

The tongue is a powerful thing, as we are taught in James 3:7-8 where it says, "All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison." We use our tongue to do terrible things. We use it to blame God for our problems and break His commandments. We use it to discourage people. We use it to tell mean or sarcastic jokes.1 We use it for slander and deceit, to lie and to judge, to boast - the list goes on. So what does the Bible say about how to use our tongues? 1. It says that we will live long and prosper, so to speak, if we keep it from evil2 It also says that it is wiser to hold our tongue rather than speaking many words, yet if we are righteous the words that we do speak will be wise.3 2. The Bible clearly outlines in Proverbs 6:16-17 and 15:4 that our tongues should not utter lies. (For those who would argue that white lies are okay, a white lie is still a lie.) It teaches that "a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit". That alone should make you want to stay away from lying, but in case it doesn't, the author of Proverbs also notes that there are seven things that are detestable to the Lord, and one of these things is lying! 3. “Yes," declares the LORD, "I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, 'The Lord declares.' ”4 (Jeremiah 23:31) In this verse, God is dealing with the issue of false prophets claiming their dreams and such are the oracles of God. If God hates lies, then He's clearly even more opposed to lies that pertain to Him! Proverbs 18:21 teaches us, "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." So which will you choose? To speak life to people by encouraging them in Christ, or to send them to their grave with your words? ---------------------------- 1 However, even good jokes when taken too far can end up hurting people, even if one doesn't notice that's the reason why they're hurt. "Humor so sharp you don't even know you're bleeding." 2 Psalm 34:12-13 "Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies." 3 Proverbs 10:19 and Psalm 37:30 4The Hebrew word for "declares" in the phrase "the Lord declares" is used only in the Hebrew language to communicate something that comes straight from God Himself. This is the only verse in the entire Bible that uses the Hebrew term with someone other than God.

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Victorious is that person who knows how to make stepping stones out of stumbling stones

John Maxwell

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Pollination fascinates me, especially with my experience in the garden center. Also, the roses were especially beautiful today!

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Robin update 3: there are now 2 eggs! We moved the nest into trees today; I hope no other animal finds them! Go robin go!

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Remember that nest from the other day? The robin layed an egg!

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Mark and Matthew's Bedtime Story

Tonight I told Matthew and Mark a bedtime story. They really enjoyed it, and i had fun telling it, so here it is =P "Once upon a time there were two boys, Matthias and Markias. They were walking through a forest when they found out about a mystery monster! All over the place there were people and dinosaurs and animal friends hurt! 'What happened to you guys?' Matthias asked. The reply was that a monster was hurting them, but no one knew what it looked like! The only trail it left behind was a trail of poop. Matthias and Markias gave their friends medicine and helped heal their wounds, then followed the trail of poop, hoping to find and defeat the monster. They followed it for a very long time, and came to a stop when they left the forest and walked into a huge field. And in the middle of the field was a big, black monster sleeping! Matthias and Markias ran towards the monster but when they got closer they fell to the ground laughing! It wasn't a monster after all. It was a big pile of poop! While the two of them were still laughing about it, the pile of poop got up and roared! The mystery monster was a poop monster! They screamed and were scared, but then had a good idea. Markias turned to Matthias and said, 'Toilets lead to the lake! Lets make him follow us to the lake!' They ran away from the monster and on the outside they looked afraid, but on the inside they were brave warriors. They ran for miles and miles and finally got to the lake. The jumped in a started swimming. Sure enough, the poop monster followed them in yelling, 'FEE, FYE, FOE, FUM! I COME FROM A GIANT BUM!' He ran into the lake and realized that the two boys had defeated him, good poop monster police came and took him to their underwater jail (where it smelled really bad) and locked that mean monster up for good!"

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I picked these for my Holly.

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Dating Myself - Poetri

Everywhere I go, I see cute people with ugly people And I can’t help but to ask myself, “what does she see in that guy?” Inner beauty? Well I have a whole lot of that. I see these happy couples and I used to think, “what do I have to do to get a girl like that?” And then that evolved into, “what do I have to do to get a girl?” Now I’m exhausted from thinking Fatigued from trying to convince myself that I’m worthy of another being Tired of looking but not really looking so it doesn’t appear that I’m desperate Weary of being afraid to tell someone that I’m interested In fear that they will avoid me Consumed from being alone No longer will I be at the mercy of women to like me No longer will I try to look my best for women that don’t know that I’m in love with them No, all that is finished. Finito. Complete-o, no more-o From now on, I’m dating myself I mean I’ve already talked to myself so I know my conversations will be good I’ve always said I wanted to be with someone that’s just like me Well, there’s no one more like me than me It’s not like I’m dating my cousin or nothing I looked it up. There’s nothing in the law books that say a man can’t date himself I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before I amaze myself sometimes I laugh and joke with myself on a lonely day Praying hard for better days Now we can get through the rough times together No one to impress but myself I mean I’ll probably still play games with myself Cry to myself, lie to myself ‘cause I hate to hurt myself’s feelings I’ll only be looking out for myself though But you know how women are Once they see you with someone, all sudden, now they wanna get with ya All sudden I’m that cute guy that is dating someone now Well I assure you I’m not doing this to make other women jealous I am completely happy with myself I like myself. I think I’m attractive. Plan to be with myself ‘til the very end Or until someone better comes along

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YC Alberta 2009: Live it Loud

I am totally obsessed with YC. I never want it to end, and when it does I immediately look forward to next year's! YC is a Christian youth conference run by Extreme Dream Ministries where "our denominational differences are set aside as we become one in Christ"1. The conference lasts three days and even though the event started back in 1994 with 500 people, Extreme Dream now ministers to approximately 16,000 young people annually! This year the event preached that if we want to follow Christ, we need to start "living it loud" so that our relationship with our Saviour can expand. So how exactly does one "live it loud" in our society? How do we pull away from everything our society tells us to be and live how Christ wants us to live? Though there are many answers to this question, the main sessions focused more on understanding grace and forgiveness properly so that we can allow God to transform us, as well as overcoming lustful desires. Side sessions focused on how to spread the gospel efficiently, overcoming issues with self esteem and self mutilation, and getting away from things in our culture that are against what God teaches us in His word.2 So now that you know about YC Alberta 2009 and it's main focus, I can introduce to you the day of Friday, May 22 2009! After a spectacular display of fireworks and break dancers (A.K.A. the YC kick-off), the David Crowder Band walked on stage in front of their grand audience. This would come as no shock to those who do not know what YC is all about. They would probably tell you how Rexall Place, the home of YC Alberta, was created for the soul purpose of entertainment (eg. hockey, concerts, etc). But the David Crowder Band was not on stage for a concert appearance but to lead worship. As prayer and praise songs erupted from 16,000 mouths, Rexall Place lost it's reputation as a building dedicated to entertainment and became a church.

1 Taken from the YC Alberta website in the "About YC" section 2 I did not attend any of the side sessions, so I won't be talking about them in my blog. I've heard that they were really good though!

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A Story About Two Men on a Bridge

I was walking across a bridge recently. I spied this guy who looked like he was ready to jump off. So, I thought I’d try to stall him until the authorities showed up (or at least until I had time to put film in my camera). “Don’t jump!” I said. “Why not?” he said. “Nobody loves me.” “God loves you,” I said. “You believe in God, don’t you?” “Yes, I believe in God,” he said. “Good,” I said. “Are you Christian or Jewish?” “Christian,” he said. “Me, too!” I said. “Protestant or Catholic?” “Protestant,” he said. “Me, too!” I said. “What kind of Protestant?” “Baptist,” he said. “Me, too!” I said. “Independent Baptist or Southern Baptist?” “Independent Baptist,” he said. “Me, too!” I said. “New Evangelical/Moderate Independent Baptist or Conservative Independent Baptist?” “Conservative Independent Baptist,” he said. “Me, too!” I said. “Calvinistic Conservative Independent Baptist or Lose-Your-Salvation Arminian Conservative Independent Baptist?” “Calvinistic Conservative Independent Baptist,” he said. “Me, too!” I said. “Dispensational Premillennial Calvinistic Conservative Independent Baptist OR Historical Premillennial Calvinistic Conservative Independent Baptist?” “Dispensational Premillennial Calvinistic Conservative Independent Baptist,” he said. “Auugghh!!! You heretic!” I said. And I pushed him over.