How To Be A Christian Without Being A Jerk

Faith in real life

Generosity Water fashion show

March 6th, 2009

modelI have never been to a “real” fashion show in my life. I attended one tonight at a benefit for www.generositywater.com, a great ministry I support, that provides wells for clean drinking water in Africa,  Central America, and beyond.

So, I know it is fashion models and all of that, but they have an attitude that is quite interesting. Most have a bit of disdain when they are walking down the runway, as if to say, “Of course I am beautiful, what were you thinking?”

Then to meet them afterward, I was pleased they were so gracious. I even got a picture of a guy (I believe from Italy)  I thought was the type of “hunk” my daughter would appreciate. I didn’t take any pictures of female models because a few people knew me, and “why was I scoping out the babes anyway?  “Oh, well…

soul again

March 4th, 2009

Antonio Villaraigosa was elected to a second term as our mayor here in LA. This is no surprise, but it is interesting he used the word for the day from the blog in his speech. He called LA residents, “souls.”

It is good to know alcalde Villaraisgosa is reading the blog!

soul

March 3rd, 2009

In Genesis 2:7, after God breathes life, we read, “…and man became a living soul.” The word for “soul” is related to “breath” and “spirit.” The man created is a spiritual being. A “soulish” creature. Our connection with God begins when life begins. God gives this life when we are conceived.

What does it mean to you to realize we all share the same Father?

nostrils

February 27th, 2009

photo-231

In Genesis 2:7, God “breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils…” The word, “nostrils,” is the same word as the word for “anger” in the bibilical language.

What is the relationship between these two?

I do know that if you are angry your nostrils flare up a bit!

dirt

February 26th, 2009

“Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the  ground…” Genesis 2:7 informs us that God molded the first man from the dust of the ground. The word for “ground in the biblical language is adamah. So, God formed adam, meaning “humankind” out of adamah, meaning “soil or dirt.” Who knew Joe Dirt was so deep in it’s theological meaning?

day or day?

February 24th, 2009

Genesis 2:4 reads,  This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made earth and heaven. Heaven and earth are the universe. Everything. And according to this passage, everything was created “in the day.” One day?

In the biblical language the same word for “day,” “a twenty four hour period,” is “day,” “a period of time.”

This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the period of time that the LORD God made earth and heaven.

Hmmmm….

blessing

February 23rd, 2009

In Genesis 2:3 we read, Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. As I mentioned in a prior post, the verbs here are in the continuing present. We are in the “seventh day,” and God is continuously blessing his creation.

How God blesses his creation is up to him. What we know is this. God uses us in this process.

Ask yourself this question:

How am I currently being a seventh day blessing?

not done, yet

February 20th, 2009

Genesis 2:1 in the New American Standard Bible (a very literal technical version) is, “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts.” In the original ancient language the verb is present active. The correct interpretation is,

“Thus the heavens and the earth are being completed and all their hosts.”

Verse 2:2 is the same situation.

“And God is finishing the work…”

Changes a bit of the perspective, doesn’t it?

The work continues and we are in “day seven.”

How To Be A Christian Without Being A Jerk

Faith in real life