the LAMP GOSPELS

Originally the title of our blog was "the gospel of Matthew according to LAMP"; however, it has been changed to the "LAMP GOSPELS".

Reading more about relativism it occurred to me that:

"the gospels cannot be in accordance to us; instead it must be us whom are to be in accordance with the gospels". 

Furthermore, as partners with the gospels, the result simply becomes:

the LAMP GOSPELS

Lee Strobel has written a book called "the Case for the Real Jesus". In his book, he interviews Paul Copan, PH.D in the chapter titled, "People should be free to pick and choose what to believe about Jesus".

Strobel's discussion touches on the 2005 CBS survey, observation, that 8 out of 10 individuals shop for faith and custom tailor, God, Jesus, or whatever religion their path leads them on, to fit their personal preferences. 


In the realm of ideas; relativism plays a large role. When it comes to ideas between one another, we have the free will to form our own individual opinions. A commercial world has evolved into a do-it-yourself, customized, bundle, packaged, integrated services, feature and benefits consumption society. Couple that with values, attitudes, beliefs, and behavior absolutely follows accordingly. So it is no surprise that many take the same approach to their pursuit of faith, religion, spirituality, atheism, or otherwise.

One must be in accordance with God our heavenly father through Jesus Christ, who was crucified, and died for our sins then, now, and for all eternity.

 There is no other alternative. 

Relativism is certainly important within it's own applications. In terms of viewpoints, perspectives, philosophies and otherwise. However, relativism is always changing, adapting, evolving, never ending.

Relativism according to Sir Karl Popper, whom I consider an authority on the matter, as discussed in "of Clocks and Clouds" he proposed:

We as beings are problem solvers, and intellectually always evolving. Sir Popper's scheme is as follows:

1. Problem or situation is identified. "It is hot outside."
2. A temporary solution is determined. "Wear light and cool clothing."
3. Errors and Omissions. "I forgot to consider how bright it is out here. The glare is heavy."
4. New Problem. "I need to find something so I can see better."

Feedback loop ongoing.

Relativism is inconclusive; however, God is truth, and that is conclusive. Relativism cannot be applied to God. We were made by God and certainly given free will, however, we are not entitled to custom tailor God. Who are we, to ascertain who or what God should be and dictate the terms of the relationship.

God is beyond our comprehension, and we are a speck in His world, that He created. Yet in spite of our disrespect, ultimate selfishness, et all, God loves each of us, again, beyond our own comprehension.

You can argue all day long about the theory of evolution etc., Darwin, Descartes "I think, therefore, I am"....

So what, there where giraffes with short necks, and they evolved to have longer necks.

Budweiser had canned beer, and evolved to the "long neck" bottle. When you where born you had to walk, before running...at least such was the case for most of us. If you ran first..that is another topic...

All these examples are adaptive and changing, God does not change, God is constant, God is truth.

Therefore we conclude that this will not be Matthew in accordance to LAMP, instead this will be the LAMP in accordance with the gospels, or simply the LAMP GOSPELS. 

Furthermore, this is presenting the Descartes philosophers/followers with yet another problem to solve, and another loop on their never ending road of relativism.

as Jesus Christ, the Son of God, said, "I AM WHO I AM".

SUCCESS, HOW AND THE COSTS

This post is one that reads well, yet sounds easier than it looks.

Success. A term measured in numerous ways.  After more than 25 years of learning my own craft, I will admit that this is not the first time I have encountered words of similar wisdom. The initial thought is to implement the words of wisdom, and not three days have passed and the new urgency of the moment has me knee deep in alligators. Thereafter the entire "success factors secret sauce" is diluted daily with the new fire of the day.

one model we like:

Sure you say to yourself, "not me, I am organized, a planner, strategic." That may be so. Whatever, you believe is your edge, more power to you, you are gonna need it. What I have found is even the best laid plan is and will be subject to disaster and chaos. Why, because chaos is the rule rather than the exception.

A plan, method, process, is always subject to refinement, and modification. The plan and method forms the routine and structure that built with consistency, fortitude and together with the right people and God as a partner, increases the likelihood of success in the face of the greatest of storms.




I once heard a pastor say, "Love God with all your heart and soul and you can do anything you want." Realize that, this means accountability, and responsibility to God as well too. No plan together with God can fail.

Nevertheless, whenever we get up and go, the enemy howls the wind, the waves white cap, and the environment becomes chaos. Chaos, at least until you sit back down, where the enemy, smiles and says, "now that's better".

Instead, you are encouraged, to step out of the boat as Peter did, and inside the chaos look to Christ and with Faith, walk on water. The storm will end that is for certain, the question is what will be the end result?

Here to follow is the snap shot of the information forwarded to me from a guest who is an avid Rick Warren reader. Rick certainly walks the talk, and whatever he is doing is working.

My prayers to all whom put this into action. Send us a message if there is anything you would like to share and we will deliver it up in future logs.

Step #1 - Determine your present position
Step #2 - Be specific about what you want
Step #3 - Look for God's promise
Step #4 -- Ask God to help you
Step #5 -- Identify the barriers
Step #6 -- Create a step-by-step plan
Step # 7 -- Be patient and persistent
Step # 8 -- Enlist a team for support
Step # 9 -- You must pay the price

For more details read more

FINDING PEACE

YOU WILL NOT FIND MY PEACE by engaging in excessive planning attempting to control what will happen to you in the future. That is a commonly practiced form of UNBELIEF.  When your mind spins with multiple plans, PEACE may sometimes seem to be within your grasp; yet it always eludes you. Just when you think you have prepared for all possibilities, something unexpected pops up and throws things into confusion. I did not design the human mind to figure out the future. That is beyond your capability. I crafted your mind for continual communication with Me. Bring Me all your needs, your hopes and fears. Commit everything into My care. Turn from the path of planning to the path of Peace.                          1Peter 5:6-11         Proverbs 16:9        Psalm 37:5,7 This was a reader's devotion this morning.....and if you are living from one day to the next, this message from our Lord brings such comfort and hope to us.  Unconditional love from our Lord...promises that we can believe in and trust with complete unlimited Peace....if we follow His direction to the path of peace....releasing all of our unbelief...taking it back from the enemy of lies...We don't know what the future holds but, we do know WHO holds the future...and it is far better than we could ever imagine.........This is not our home

GUNS, SLIDES, AND BREAD

In Matthew 16 the Pharisees and the Sadducees came to Jesus again and tested him by saying, "give us a sign, give us proof that you are God."

Jesus, did not play into this. He told his disciples beware of the impure yeast of these men. Jesus is reiterating the theme of diligence, excellence, and the notion of what I will term: SLIDE.

When we are at 100%, in our Family, in our lives; letting the slightest distraction make it's way through can have a larger impact than we at first, realize. The SLIDE little bits at a time slowly misdirects one off course in our lives, and before we know it we are at less than 50%.

We must realize that it will take over 100% effort to get back up to 100% from this point in the SLIDE.

THE PASTOR AND THE BURNING BIBLES

The right to stand for one's opinion against gays and abortion is a free right. The proposition to burn the Koran, certainly infringes upon the freedom of religion and is not in accordance with the teachings of Christ. Relationship, Faith, and the greatest of these is Love, none of which this action demonstrates.

My opinion as to why this is getting media is to make a mockery of Christians and to marginalize believers in Christ so that the enemy can spur more confusion and doubt throughout our world.

Christ is to judge, not us.

Furthermore, this only enables lawmakers to increase lawmaking. What I find unacceptable is that the website was unplugged in the name of a terms of service agreement violation. This is where the right to express one self has been violated.


PUBLIC ARTICLE:



(CNN) -- Military personnel threw away, and ultimately burned, confiscated Bibles that were printed in the two most common Afghan languages amid concern they would be used to try to convert Afghans, a Defense Department spokesman said Tuesday.

on March 3, 2009, at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.

The unsolicited Bibles sent by a church in the United States were confiscated about a year ago at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan because military rules forbid troops of any religion from proselytizing while deployed there, Lt. Col. Mark Wright said.

Such religious outreach can endanger American troops and civilians in the devoutly Muslim nation, Wright said. "The decision was made that it was a 'force protection' measure to throw them away, because, if they did get out, it could be perceived by Afghans that the U.S. government or the U.S. military was trying to convert Muslims," Wright told CNN on Tuesday.

Troops at posts in war zones are required to burn their trash, Wright said.
The Bibles were written in the languages Pashto and Dari.

This decision came to light recently, after the Al Jazeera English network aired video of a group prayer service and chapel sermon that a reporter said suggested U.S. troops were being encouraged to spread Christianity.

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The military denied that earlier this month, saying much in the video was taken out of context.

"This was irresponsible and dangerous journalism sensationalizing year-old footage of a religious service for U.S. soldiers on a U.S. base and inferring that troops are evangelizing to Afghans," Col. Gregory Julian said.

The military says a soldier at Bagram received the Bibles and didn't realize he wasn't allowed to hand them out. In the Al Jazeera video, which shows the Bibles at the prayer service, an unnamed soldier says members of his church raised money for them.

The chaplain later corrected the soldier and confiscated the Bibles, Wright said.
Military officers considered sending the Bibles back to the church, he said, but they worried the church would turn around and send them to another organization in Afghanistan -- giving the impression that they had been distributed by the U.S. government.

That could lead to violence against troops or U.S. civilians, Wright said.

Al Jazeera English, a Qatar-based international news service, said its reporters tried to get a response from military officials for its story but were unable to do so.

The U.S. military air base at Bagram is home to thousands of troops from all branches of the U.S. military. The vast majority of the troops do not leave the base and are in various support roles for U.S. troops across Afghanistan.

BIBLES, GUNS, SOLDIERS, AND WAR, NOT PERMITTED TO MIX

Soldiers unable to spread Christianity in a Muslim country. The soldiers fight for freedom, yet are inherently not free. the soldier is shooting to kill what difference does it make? An army fighting for Christ could well be even stronger, not weaker as the Generals may fear.

Such organizational behavior would have to be well developed prior to the engagement of battle to execute upon nevertheless. However, when one pulls the trigger, no doubt can there be as to for what this action is being performed.

The message is evidence to me that freedom is on the SLIDE. How far will it be left to go, before we realize we have been slow roasted. By the time we know it, the effort required may be extremely large. This is a wake up call brothers and sisters. We must come together as a nation, regardless of race, or religion, and put our differences aside to stand together.

Three branches together are stronger than one. United as one we must stand to stop the SLIDE now.