Moving Day!

This BLOG has Moved to our new location, www.patrikin.wordpress.com.

Click this link and check us out (and tell your friends).

Cheers!
fritz

Same God, Different People

*NOTICE* Patrikin is moving, tomorrow, to www.patrikin.wordpress.com! Check it out and let me know what you think!
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Today's Post:

"Every Scripture passage is inspired by God. All of them are useful" - 2nd Timothy 3:16a

There is a noticeable difference in Bible passages - some show God angry, others full of love and compassion. Why the difference?

Some believe the Old Testament God is not the same as the New.¹ Others teach it's man's understanding of God that evolved and continues to do so - essentially rewriting scriptures for our day.

The Church has always taught God is the same, has not changed, and all scripture is equally inspired.

The Old Testament is the only Bible the early church had. They didn't say, "Hey, we can do better than that!"

The difference is relationship.

Example:Vandals think I'm a bad grouchy man when I call the police on them, but my family thinks I am wonderful when I give them Christmas gifts. It's the same me, the difference is relationship and their actions. I am more complex than either view. Sometimes I have been known to let my children suffer the results of their actions when I think it is in their best interest. I then seem to have become a mean grouchy man, but I haven't really changed.

God has different relationships with different people groups but he is the same God. He has always been compassionate but our sin evokes justice. In Christ the justice is satisfied and we can walk with God in peace.

"[W]e have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" - Romans 5:1b

- fritz

^{1 - Marcion of Sinope, 144AD}

Not Tempted to Eat Worms

*NOTICE* Patrikin is moving in the next few days to here! Check it out and let me know what you think!
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Today's Post:

"[E]very man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." - James 1:13b-14

I've never been tempted to eat a worm, they just don't appeal to me - but there's something in a fish that calls when they see one. It's not the worm, it's the fish.

It's the same way with us.

Example: We have a handicapped child who is always drawn to the donut/coffee table at church; he can't keep his hands off and can't stop with one. We can't blame the church, they're not tempting him - he has the problem.

It's the same with any temptation. God and society are not doing it to us, we are. We have the responsibility put down our pride, recognize our problem areas, and avoid situations that allow us to be corrupted.

God will help by providing an escape route but he doesn't make us take it.

"God is faithful ... When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." - 1st Corinthians 10:13b-14 (New Living Translation)

The devil doesn't make me do things, I move my own body, and always have a choice.

- fritz

Conspiracy Theory

Conspiracy theories are rampant! The world bankers are plotting this, the Rothschilds are planning that, the government is secretly conducting one thing and another.

It has always been such and they may all be true! But there there is a higher planner!

Take a moment to read what the Bible says about that,

"Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,
from the plots of evildoers.

They sharpen their tongues ... aim cruel words ... shoot from ambush ... encourage each other ... they say, “Who will see it?”

But God will shoot them with his arrows ... turn their own tongues against them and bring them to ruin"
- Psalm 64:2-8 (NIV)

A friend years ago told God in prayer, "Lord, since you are going to be up all night anyway, I'll let you worry about that; I'm going to get some sleep."

-fritz
*NOTICE* Patrikin is moving in the next few days to here! Check it out and let me know what you think!

Following Faith - Step 5 (Time)

"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." - Hebrews 11:13

There is one final step to following faith - time!

Faith followers of the past did not all receive during their earthly journey what they were wanting, neither did they all receive immediately. Sure, by faith Abraham received his son, Daniel didn't get eaten by the lions, and incredibly small armies defeated incredibly large enemies, but the Bible also points to others who received their reward later.

Some children never come to Christ while their parents are alive, yet those parents hold on in faith because of a longer view of life than their breathing.

God is for eternity, our life is for eternity, faith is for eternity.

Be willing to take that last step, the step of time.

- fritz

Shoe Throwing

"Judah is my lawgiver; Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe" - Psalm 60:7b-8a

Throwing a shoe in middle Eastern culture was a sign of intense disrespect, and it is really bad when God says he will (figuratively) throw his shoe over a whole people group!

Fact is, God judges by people groups, even now.

Notice the term,"nations" in this verse and who said it:

When the Son of man shall come in his glory ... before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them [the nations] one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats" - Jesus (Matt. 25:31-32)

There is one exception!

"[P]ut on the new man ... where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all." - Colossians 3:9b-11

Those who put on Christ are his people group regardless of where they come from.

"thou ... hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation" - Revelation 5:9b

Jesus' redemption crosses all boundaries, people groups, and genders.

Thank God for Christ!

- fritz

Following Faith - Step 4 (Confession)

"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." - Hebrews 11:13

There is always a spoken element to following faith.

A careful reading of scripture points this out. For example, when Jesus taught on removing mountains by faith he said,

"if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done." - Matthew 21:21

Or when a women who couldn't stop bleeding for 12 years came to Christ it reads

"For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole." - Matthew 9:21

But confession alone isn't enough, there are three (3) steps that must come before. Many start confessing before they're even convinced what they want is even possible.

And what did the heroes of faith confess? That they were only passing through to a better place! They weren't trying to be friends with this world but living with eternity in mind.

- fritz