Islam Loves Jesus?

In response to a Christian young man whose "Why I love Jesus and Hate Religion"You Tube video went viral, a young Muslim responded with the Muslim version found here. How do Christians answer such false claims by Islam and do so in a way that is theologically powerful- visually compelling and done in the same uber cool musical genre? Here's how "Why I love Jesus but Reject Islam". This is a wonderful response and chock full of the theology of God the Son-who he is and what he has done. No stone is left unturned and I am just thrilled with the outcome as I am sure you will be too. My friend James White of Alpha & Omega Ministries teamed up with Ivey Conerly ( http://www.ivhisson.com/ ) to produce this  Christian response.





It would be more than enlightening for every Muslim who watched the Muslim edition to watch the Christian response-that way they(you) would know what Christianity REALLY teaches about Jesus-Son of God/God the Son.

2012 Bible Reading plan

It has been my delight to discover professor Grant Horner's Bible reading plan, taking me on a wonderful journey through the Bible in a year. I first read about the plan from a tweet by Nathan Bingham(if you don't follow him on Twitter-you should as he tweets a wealth of resources daily). That tweet led me to the  Ligonier Website where Nathan has compiled a list of great Bible reading plans. After looking at all of them I chose the Horner plan because of Professor Horner's explanation of what this plan has done in his own life-and what it can do for others like me.

Much to my delight I also found that Tim Challies( who explains the plan Here) is inviting us all to use this plan on a FaceBook page, and now I am doing this with a group of more than 1000 other people and can post comments about the day's reading etc. It is a real blessing to see what others are learning and discovering too.

The final icing on the cake for this reading plan is that there is an app. for your iphone or ipad that you can download for free-it is called Bible Bookmarks. Go to the app. store and download it and you can track your daily progress from your device. The beauty of this is that you don't have to write anything down. Just click  the done button and you are moved on to the next day's reading. You can also do your daily reading from the app. and you can choose from 4 different Bible translations for your reading.

I have done the reading and tracking for day one-all those beautiful chapter ones that we love so much. I had a hard time not parking in the passages, which defeats the purpose and the beauty of this plan. The strength of this plan is what it will do for you as you continue to use it. It will be an awesome tool for comparing scripture with scripture. You will be in 10 different books of the Bible and you will see how the whole of God's Word fits together in unity. Professor Horner urges us not to do a Bible study but to read methodically through at a comfortable pace. He has been doing this for 24 years, you can read his testimony about it here pt. 1 and here pt. 2.

So if you haven't settled on a plan for this year-you may really like this one. Let me know what you think.

The Lamb Of God

At this time of the year most Christians pause to think about the Babe in the Manger. We stop and think about why Christ came to the earth-and often we make much of ourselves by thinking it is all about us. I need a reminder daily that Christ's coming and dying and rising is first and foremost for God. Jesus came for the Father-he came to do his Father's will.

One of the beautiful titles for Jesus is "the Lamb of God". He is God's lamb. Spotless lambs were for sacrifice, and that is what he was and what he did. When Mary and Joseph presented him to Simeon for circumcision in the Temple at 8 days old this is what Simeon said to Mary  (Luke 2:34-35)" And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed  (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." Mary was informed when Jesus was 8 days old that a sword would pierce her soul over this firstborn child of hers.


John the Baptist said of Jesus "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" John 1:36. Jesus came to die-the destiny of that baby in the manger was to die for sins-as God's lamb.

Let's look at a few of the places where Jesus is called lamb.

He is our Passover Lamb: 1 Co. 5:7

He is the Lamb without spot or blemish: 1 Peter 1:18-19

He is the Lamb who is worthy to open the scroll with its seven seals in the book of Revelation: Rev 5:6-10

 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying,
"Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth."


He is the Lamb who is worthy of worship: Rev 5:11-14
Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,  saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!"And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down and worshiped.

He is the Lamb who will pour out his wrath on the sinful rebellious world: all of Rev 6
Rev 6:16-17 
calling to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"


He is the Lamb to whom Salvation belongs: Rev 7:9-10 
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,  and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 


He is the Lamb who is the King of King and Lord of Lords: Rev. 17:14
They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful."

He is the Lamb who is the Temple and the Lamp in the New Jerusalem: 
Rev 21:22-23          
And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.  And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

He is the Holy Lamb who guarantees that nothing sinful will ever enter the eternal state -once he has purged and punished all sin.   Rev 21:27
But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.
ESV
 

I think many times we have such a sentimental view of the Lamb of God-when actually we should worship him in holy awe and reverent fear. He is the One who died for our sins-was raised for our justification and is coming again to judge the world and put away sin forever-He is the Living God. For those who are not written in His Book of Life-it will be a fearful thing to fall into His hands at the day of judgement.

Christmas is a wonderful time for you to repent of your sins and embrace Jesus Christ(the babe in the manger-who grew up to be the Lamb of God)as the Lamb who died to forgive your sins and give you everlasting life. The real gift that God gave to us that day long ago is the Lamb of God-the Savior who would save his people from their sins. Sad to say-but the world has little desire to worship that One.

Who Is Really In Charge Here?

It seems like there are periods in our lives when trouble just comes in buckets. This can be especially frustrating to those of us who want to be in control-and don't want any surprises in life-especially the bad kind. It doesn't take too long on the road of life for us to understand it does not work that way.

Whether you are a Christian or a non -Christian-whether you are rich or poor-it makes no difference. We have very little control over what is happening in our lives sometimes. This is especially true when it comes to illness-accidents-or sudden reverses in finances. We just can't stop bad things from happening. Christians can pray and God will hear-but He may not answer our prayers the way we wanted-our pressure and misery may not be relieved(in the time or the way that we desired).

I have come to love Job and his discoveries about God in the deep trouble that God sent his way. I love too the example of the Apostle Paul-God said that Paul would suffer much for His sake-and he certainly did. These are just 2 examples of men in the Bible who suffered greatly-held on to God-and did not sin in the midst of it all. I have to remind myself often-that God and God alone is fit to take the Universe's throne-I am unfit to rule even my own little portion of the world.

In the end I am more than happy to relinquish what I never had in the first place(control of my life circumstances) to the One who is Lord-Savior-and Father. One thing we can know for sure-the Judge of all the earth will do right-because the believer is in the hands of love. No matter how dark the path may seem at certain times-we can rest assured that tender mercy and loving-kindness surround us. The One who cannot lie has promised-and He is Himself our treasure and our reward.

I have been thinking about this because my hubby's 85 year old mother has cancer and must undergo surgery this week. This has happened within 2 years of her losing 2 of her 3 daughters(my sisters-in law) to breast cancer. My husband's health is poor and stress is bad for his heart(he has Congestive Heart Failure). I could gripe and mope and complain -but it wouldn't help. What helps are the promises of God that cannot fail. I can rest in Him and trust him to keep what I have committed to Him. The Word of God is the cure for every doubt-every fear-and every worry that we have. That my soul knows very well!

In closing I will quote a few verses of a great Psalm-after all the Word of God is what we need to give one another-when trouble comes.

 Ps 30:1-5
0 I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
and you have healed me.
3 O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
and give thanks to his holy name.
5  For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.
 Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
ESV

Celebrating the Excellencies Of His Name at "Daily On My Way To Heaven"

I wanted to give a link today to a wonderful series this holiday season from some of our favorite blogging friends. The posts are being written by Becky and her guests-and they are beautiful and uplifting.

Won't you join me daily at  Daily On My Way To Heaven  and take full advantage of this feast for the eyes and soul? The photography alone is reason enough to visit Becky's blog-not to mention the rest for a weary soul!

Thanks Becky-and all of your guest writers-we love and appreciate what you do.

You can also get to "Daily On  My Way to Heaven" by clicking on the "Doctrines in the Kitchen" button on my side bar-and it is linked in my blog roll-so enjoy!