Why would a good God punish so many fir eternity.

Read this passage. Consider yourself the watchman, the gospel to be a trumpet, the wicked to be the lost, and Israel is the world. Then tell me who is to blame for some not entering Heaven's door.

Ezekiel 33:1-33 NIV

The word of the Lord came to me: "Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: 'When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head. Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head. If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone's life, that person's life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.' "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to the wicked, 'You wicked person, you will surely die,' and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved. "Son of man, say to the Israelites, 'This is what you are saying: "Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?"' Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?' "Therefore, son of man, say to your people, 'If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person's former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person's former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous person who sins will not be allowed to live even though they were formerly righteous.' If I tell a righteous person that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done. And if I say to a wicked person, 'You will surely die,' but they then turn away from their sin and do what is just and right— if they give back what they took in pledge for a loan, return what they have stolen, follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil—that person will surely live; they will not die. None of the sins that person has committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live. "Yet your people say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' But it is their way that is not just. If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, they will die for it. And if a wicked person turns away from their wickedness and does what is just and right, they will live by doing so. Yet you Israelites say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' But I will judge each of you according to your own ways." In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month on the fifth day, a man who had escaped from Jerusalem came to me and said, "The city has fallen!" Now the evening before the man arrived, the hand of the Lord was on me, and he opened my mouth before the man came to me in the morning. So my mouth was opened and I was no longer silent. Then the word of the Lord came to me: "Son of man, the people living in those ruins in the land of Israel are saying, 'Abraham was only one man, yet he possessed the land. But we are many; surely the land has been given to us as our possession.' Therefore say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Since you eat meat with the blood still in it and look to your idols and shed blood, should you then possess the land? You rely on your sword, you do detestable things, and each of you defiles his neighbor's wife. Should you then possess the land?' "Say this to them: 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: As surely as I live, those who are left in the ruins will fall by the sword, those out in the country I will give to the wild animals to be devoured, and those in strongholds and caves will die of a plague. I will make the land a desolate waste, and her proud strength will come to an end, and the mountains of Israel will become desolate so that no one will cross them. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I have made the land a desolate waste because of all the detestable things they have done.' "As for you, son of man, your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, 'Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.' My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice. "When all this comes true—and it surely will—then they will know that a prophet has been among them."

Spiritual dehydration

Ezekiel 3:26-27 NIV

I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious people. But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says.' Whoever will listen let them listen, and whoever will refuse let them refuse; for they are a rebellious people.

When I read this I immediately ask God to do the same for me. To open my mouth when I should speak, and to cause my tongue to stick to the top if my mouth when I shouldn't. I wonder though what changes in me that I shouldn't speak sometimes. I see the answer here.

Lamentations 4:4a NIV

Because of thirst the infant's tongue sticks to the roof of their mouths

From this I know that without water specifically of a Holy nature I should not speak. I need to have living water flowing in me. Where does this water come from? It comes from Jesus Christ.

John 7:38 NIV

Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them."

So not only do I need to prayer earnestly that God would speak through me, but also I need to search His word to be filled of His living water. Lord I pray that you would give all your servants a craving for your living water just like King David had.

Psalm 42:1 NIV

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.

When I do receive your gift of water let me proclaim it aloud as you see fit. Let your inspiration energize me to sing your praises.

Psalm 119:172 NIV

May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous.

He is a Savior in the Silence and Lord over the lonely.

Many associate loneliness with silence. I too have felt this, and personally its hard to understand. What i have learned is that silent stillness is a perfect place to talk to God. We live in such a loud over stimulating society that we forget how great quiet can be. I hope to talk soon.

Lamentations 3:27-28, 31-33 NIV

It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is young. Let him sit alone in silence,
for the Lord has laid it on him. For no one is cast off
by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction
or grief to anyone.

Christian celebrity crushes

I don't really want a seat on the Tim Tebow bandwagon, but if christian girls have a man to crush on rather than a pasty sparkling vampire or a 16 year old "music" heart throb, than I'm all for it. The only problem is what if this causes some faith filled females to set their sights too high? Not every christian is called to be in the spot light, pray ironically, or go to a foreign land. Where's the love for Jerry the volunteer stage set up crew member who is slightly balding and prays with both knees down?

Hardcore worship

After attending a hardcore concert last night and reading this passage. I wonder if when God speaks it sounds alot like a heavy metal concert.

Job 37:1-5 NIV

"At this my heart pounds
and leaps from its place. Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice,
to the rumbling that comes from his mouth. He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven
and sends it to the ends of the earth. After that comes the sound of his roar;
he thunders with his majestic voice.
When his voice resounds,
he holds nothing back. God's voice thunders in marvelous ways;
he does great things beyond our understanding.

A piece of perspective

We all go through life trying to prove ourselves to society's "norm" By trying to dress fashionable,  sliming down to other's standards, and conforming to the beliefs of others. My response to this facet of society is my deep need to be different. Yes some might consider me a "hipster" for not conforming where I don't have to.(mainly my brother) bur honestly I can't help it. I refuse to accept that I have to dress a certain way to impress others. So I choose to dress how in a way that leaves me both comfortable and confident.  When I am told believe a certain theology I choose instead to anylize it to see if I find it true. The truth is one of the facets I believe God loves me for is my perspective. Some look at life head on where I choose sit upside and look at it from a new angle and in the end im happy for it.

Constantly considering confidence

Sometimes I feel as confident as a lion. Attiring as I walk showing off my big glorious mane. Truly my confidence flows straight flows straight from the Holy Spirit. But sometimes I fear that I speak as a fool. That I let my human brain take over.  My greatest fear is that I might become a false teacher. I never want to become like the lion in this verse: Ezekiel 32:2b ESV

"...You consider yourself a lion of the nations,

but you are like a dragon in the seas;

you burst forth in your rivers,

trouble the waters with your feet,

and foul their rivers.

What I have realized is this step in the process is a good thing. If I am constantly reapplying myself to God's word it keeps me from taking the way that simply seems right to me
This is crucial because Proverbs 14:12 ESV

There is a way that seems right to a man,

but its end is the way to death.

Another way I can prevent become a false teacher is by refusing to boast in myself by presenting weaknesses when ministering. The whole time being grateful of my shortcomings.

Turning that weakness into something that shows God's strength.

2 Corinthians 11:16-17 ESV

I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. What I am saying with this boastful confidence, I say not with the Lord's authority but as a fool.

When I do share my trials the point is not to depress them with tear jerking stories. The point is to share the moral to the tale God wrote with your life. This is one of the big reasons for Job's testing with fire.

Job 36:15-16 ESV

He delivers the afflicted by their affliction

and opens their ear by adversity.

He also allured you out of distress

into a broad place where there was no cramping,

and what was set on your table was full of fatness.

So I encourage all those who care for those around them. To constantly be learning, always examining your path, and embrace trials not in a sense that pain is good. Just simply that learning is always precious.

Mortal Righteousness.

Just had a time of soaking. There were some people talking in the room. So i had to block the out with music. I felt moved to stand up and worship so I did. Then the music cut out. So read job 29,30, and 31. I read how Job did Jesus like things and for it he was clothed in righteousness and justice. Similar to how the priest Joshua was clothed in Zephaniah 3. I see some of Job's righteous acts and I think of some things I have done. Have I attained righteousness through the gift of Jesus by letting Him have control of my Life? I believe so. I do slip up sometimes, but the blood of Jesus covers my very definite short comings. I am so grateful for that.

Not all scripture is profitable.

Not all of the Bible is the in fallable word of God. Yes, I did just say take this for example: Job 11:13-15 NIV

"Yet if you devote your heart to him
and stretch out your hands to him, if you put away the sin that is in your hand
and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then, free of fault, you will lift up your face;
you will stand firm and without fear.

It sounds very true. But is it?

This passage was spoken by one of Job's friends. If you read the bugging of the book you know Job's misfortune had nothing to do with his righteousness. Be careful what you read in the Bible. Even Satan twisted it around to tempt the son of man. Especially be careful what is preached to you. Take anything you are taught with a consireable amount if consideration.

Consider the source

Becareful when receiving counsel from anyone. It's that Job was blameless before God, but why then did his friends accuse him of wrong. The God they believed in was humanly just. Where in fact justice is not seen in this life. Life is hard because that's the world we live in. So be careful where you get your wisdom from. Our of context this verse could changeinds in the wrong way.

Job 8:5-7 NIV

But if you will seek God earnestly
and plead with the Almighty, if you are pure and upright,
even now he will rouse himself on your behalf
and restore you to your prosperous state. Your beginnings will seem humble,
so prosperous will your future be.

How's your day going?

Dont question your day with "Am I having a good day or a bad day?" instead consider "How is God testing me, and how should I answer? "

"What is mankind that you make so much of them,
that you give them so much attention, that you examine them every morning
and test them every moment?

Funeral protests

I've been thinking about the funeral for a fallen soldier,specifically the protesting. I think if we truly believe Westboro to be lunatics we should just ignore them. They will probably take any negative reaction to their actions as persecution. Persecution for their beliefs would only motivate to do more. We should maybe hold a prayer service for them.

Sent from Heaven

Don't get down on yourself not everyone is a super Christian in fact we all come short of measuring up to God's so amounts of faith don't really matter I hope this verse makes sense replace "manna" with "faith " or "money" or anything sent from Jesus

Exodus 16:17-18 NIV

The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.

Prayers are thoughts solely focused on you.

Lord, I feel a little lost. I look around at my life, and I see a place I am not familiar with. It is a land that is foreign to all that is me, save for a small portion. That tiny fragment is the place you dwell in Lord. Recently I have labored earnestly to remove from inside all that rebels against You ,  but i feel my foe is closing in again attempting to surround me. I am growing tired of your sweet honey. Lord I pray you would renew my hunger for your word.  Let all that my senses can perceive stand poised like a watchman. Earnestly seeking YOU.  I still am lost to how I should reach Eden. I know it will take time. My heart sinks from lack of vision of the outcome of this task. I can however know the benefit of a restored relationship. If we were reunited my heart would sing for joy, but even still my heart can not comprehend your plan. I trust you Lord. Show me an opportunity. Until the day all this yearning is completed, I will refuse any kind of man and woman union. Still holding out a hand of caring to all. Make full use of my freedom that is a blessing of my season of solitude. Knowing that one day I will trade many options for the option of one on whom there is no other option. Lately I have planned some mischief on my night bed. At the present i feel no grief or guilt. I know that if I can't be sure it is what is right then I should not even risk it. I pray that you would pull back on my reigns stop me short of fling off the plateau of temptation. Give me strength to endure the battle. As I stand under your banner let me always remain on your narrow path. Break my will. Let the righteous man fall 7 times more. Release me of everything in the world. Bestow upon me all that can be given from your store houses.

A brief history of Bible relationships

In the Bible I dont see any set standard for a spouse. Every couple seemed to have a different story. Abraham and Sarah were companions. She was his prized posesion. Isaac had a wife that was a diligent worker. Jacob went to the right source and was blessed for it. Esau rebelled against what his parents wanted for him. Moses disobeyed the law and married someone from another  nation, yet God approved. Boaz married because of jewish law. David won a wife from his ability to make war. Abigail won his favor by speaking to King David's stomach. The list hoes on and on. What you can see though each story is a little different. So apart from the obvious need for a potential mate to obey God like you do. What important?  Well each of these men had different wives, for different reasons. Also they had different achievements and goals. So why not look at the goals God has for your life and pick a spouse that will help you attain that goal.

Passion 2012 sarcasm

Fact about passion 2012: 7 people have already had sex under the dome. Studies show the bigger the congregation the more sin is committed while preaching. It's starts out with 0-25 people. Some gossip will occur. With 40,000 people odds are some will probably get shanked. Probably during the offering. While two people fight over stealing it. Sorry Mrs. Jones your husband atleast died doing something he loved. Best usher we ever had.

Abortion is okay Biblicaly

Children of destruction. Mentally im a fan of abortians. Isaiah 54 I'm starting to understand the analogy of labor pains used by the Old Testament prophets.(Micah 4:9-10) It's like sin conceives thoughts, ideas, and memories that evil in nature. They bury down deep inside like a seed planted in the womb.(Micah 2:1-3) Pregnant with sin from false gods and worthless idols I realize calamity is not long off. Thanks be to God by the blessings of the cross. The fetus of sin is a still born child in my head. I never have to face a reality where I am responsible for my misdeeds. Yes I go through labor pains, but only to remove from my life mine and the devil's illegitimate offspring. I pray I never again invest time in deeds of destruction. Deeds that have previously left scars on my belly that are a constant reminder of the filth that was ripped from my womb.

The six people you will share the gospel with.

The Six people around you. Ezekiel 25-29 Ezekiel is a prophetic book that reiterates the message of how and why God is pushing Isreal. In these chapters it discusses the nations that surrounded Isreal. It shows why they were doomed to distribution, and also why Isreal was spared from complete destruction. This can be a metaphor for those people we are around daily and us as well, and why we are showed mercy. In Ezekiel 25:1-7 we see our first example. Ammon represents all those who laugh off Christianity as a joke. They laugh at our faith in the unseen. Their laughter brings happiness for a time, but eventually their laughter will run out.(proverbs14:13) Our best action here is to simply be there to catch them with the Gospel when life gets tough, and they are willing to receive it. In Ezekiel 25:8-11 we have the Moabites. This nation is a mirror for many in our own county. Most in America they have a shallow knowledge of Christianity that they see in many of us, but because what they see is similar to them they see no reason to change. So they simply continue their lives as such. Praying to God that they barely even know. (Revelation 2:13-17) Our best tactics to overcome this mindset to live set apart. Cast off anything that unnecessarily makes us look like the world. Makes them see the difference in us. So they can make the change to accept Christ. Ezekiel 25 : 12-14 Here we the Isreal's brother nation of Edom. Descendants of Esau. They are the ones that may be brothers in Christ or simply those who hold a grudge against the Church. They were wronged by some christian in their life and now are vengeful against all things God. Think of how the character from the good samaritan parable. I doubt he would have been very receptive of a priest or a levite words. How can we overcome this level of hate? I Peter 2:11, 12, simply enough we live attractive gospel centered lives. Make yourself a servant to them win them over with love. Ezekiel 25:15-17 Here e we have the Philistia. They are the classic enemy of Isreal. They are naturally antagonistic to the Christians. Similar to many other characters on the Bible. Luke pharaoh refuses to free God's people, or the pharasies looking to trip up Jesus constantly. (Luke 6:27-36) so in defiance of their hate. Protest with love. You can not go to far to make the happy. Be kind almost to the point of shaming their malice. Do this any you have a chance to melt their hearts. Ezekiel 26,27 Tyre is one who is too busy with this life. As you can see Tyre is very invested in this world. Rich beyond measure by the toils of this life. Working hard to what goal tho? In Ecclesiastes 2 we see the futility of life's pursuits. In the end no one can find that "apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?" (vs25) Even if after hearing words as these they still cling to the fruit of their deeds. Do not worry their glory will run out with time. Be patient and wait for their gs and let the Truth of the Gospel catch them like a safety net. This glory will always be there waiting for them. (1 Peter 1:24, 25) In ch. 28 we see the King of Tyre go farther to say that he is a God. This could be considered to be the mindset of an atheist. They believe they are above belief in God. Their pride will not allow them to bow before God Almighty. David the man after God's heart has an answer he says in Psalm 53 it takes wisdom to follow God and only a fool will turn away from true divinity. What can we do? Hurling insults at them will do them no good. The riches of the gospel is wasted on their ears. (Matthew 7:6). The answer is found in a familiar passage (Romans 12:9-21). Let God soften their hearts. Pray for wisdom to find the right opportunity to speak to them wait on God's timing. We see the fate of those who have ears to hear in Ezekial 28:24-26. All those who accept His offer are like in grafted branches. Added to the nation of Israel we share in their blessings.(Romans 11:16-25). But alas those who do not take the opportunity are wood used for a different purpose. (Matthew3:10) This is a hard truth to accept, but it is justice. But most importantly it is a delayed, voluntary one. The truth is it is our responsibility to spread the good news. (Ezekiel 33)

Shine reflection

This may not look like much, but it is. It's the reflection of a haircut I had my boots shined simultaneously.

The Six people you offer the gospel to.

The Six people around you.

Ezekiel 25-29

Ezekiel is a prophetic book that reiterates the message of how and why God is pushing Isreal. In these chapters it discusses the nations that surrounded Isreal. It shows why they were doomed to distribution, and also why Isreal was spared from complete destruction. This can be a metaphor for those people we are around daily and us as well, and why we are showed mercy.

In Ezekiel 25:1-7 we see our first example. Ammon represents all those who laugh off Christianity as a joke. They laugh at our faith in the unseen. Their laughter brings happiness for a time, but eventually their laughter will run out.(proverbs14:13) Our best action here is to simply be there to catch them with the Gospel when life gets tough, and they are willing to receive it.

In Ezekiel 25:8-11 we have the Moabites. This nation is a mirror for many in our own county. Most in America they have a shallow knowledge of Christianity that they see in many of us, but because what they see is similar to them they see no reason to change. So they simply continue their lives as such. Praying to God that they barely even know. (Revelation 2:13-17) Our best tactics to overcome this mindset to live set apart. Cast off anything that unnecessarily makes us look like the world. Makes them see the difference in us. So they can make the change to accept Christ.

Ezekiel 25 : 12-14

Here we the Isreal's brother nation of Edom. Descendants of Esau. They are the ones that may be brothers in Christ or simply those who hold a grudge against the Church. They were wronged by some christian in their life and now are vengeful against all things God. Think of how the character from the good samaritan parable. I doubt he would have been very receptive of a priest or a levite words. How can we overcome this level of hate? I Peter 2:11, 12, simply enough we live attractive gospel centered lives. Make yourself a servant to them win them over with love.

Ezekiel 25:15-17 Here e we have the Philistia. They are the classic enemy of Isreal. They are naturally antagonistic to the Christians. Similar to many other characters on the Bible. Luke pharaoh refuses to free God's people, or the pharasies looking to trip up Jesus constantly. (Luke 6:27-36) so in defiance of their hate. Protest with love. You can not go to far to make the happy. Be kind almost to the point of shaming their malice. Do this any you have a chance to melt their hearts.

Ezekiel 26,27

Tyre is one who is too busy with this life. As you can see Tyre is very invested in this world. Rich beyond measure by the toils of this life. Working hard to what goal tho? In Ecclesiastes 2 we see the futility of life's pursuits. In the end no one can find that "apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?" (vs25)
Even if after hearing words as these they still cling to the fruit of their deeds. Do not worry their glory will run out with time. Be patient and wait for their gs and let the Truth of the Gospel catch them like a safety net. This glory will always be there waiting for them. (1 Peter 1:24, 25)

In ch. 28 we see the King of Tyre go farther to say that he is a God. This could be considered to be the mindset of an atheist. They believe they are above belief in God. Their pride will not allow them to bow before God Almighty. David the man after God's heart has an answer he says in Psalm 53 it takes wisdom to follow God and only a fool will turn away from true divinity. What can we do?  Hurling insults at them will do them no good. The riches of the gospel is wasted on their ears. (Matthew 7:6).  The answer is found in a familiar passage (Romans 12:9-21).  Let God soften their hearts. Pray for wisdom to find the right opportunity to speak to them wait on God's timing.

We see the fate of those who have ears to hear in Ezekial 28:24-26. All those who accept His offer are like in grafted branches. Added to the nation of Israel we share in their blessings.(Romans 11:16-25). But alas those who do not take the opportunity are wood used for a different purpose. (Matthew3:10) This is a hard truth to accept, but it is justice. But most importantly it is a delayed, voluntary one. The truth is it is our responsibility to spread the good news. (Ezekiel  33)