Theocentric Musings

I wanted to talk today about "Thorns", I had realized in conversation with a friend that I had studied this topic for so many years, but I had never actually placed my thoughts down on pad, or in this case into the 0s and 1s of my blog; so, today is the day I tackle the subject. Firstly, I want to make it abundantly clear that Paul's thorn in the flesh was not "sickness", any teaching claiming it was sickness is untrue. I wont go as far as saying it is satanic in origin, but it is promoted by those that have been misled. We are speaking of a man that walked in healing in such a powerful way that fabric that touched his skin would be used to heal those miles away. He had no problems when it came to healing, there is not one documented time he failed in healing.  Someone may say "hold on, what about Timothy (1 Tim 5:23)?" But in that case I believe the issue was simply something similar to what happens if an American goes to Mexico and drinks the l...

This is a great post by way of my friend Frank Viola, you can visit his blog here, http://frankviola.org/2012/05/21/howtocorrectanother/ , enjoy: How (Not) to Correct Another Christian By Frank Viola When I was a young Christian in my late teens, I was “rebuke-happy.” I had no problem confronting and correcting the faults of others. The people I looked up to modeled this to me, and I benightedly followed their example. I knew the Scriptures well; so I was cocked and loaded for bear with my Bible verses in hand. Some of my favorite texts at the time were those in Proverbs that say wise people love reproof and fools hate it (Proverbs 9:8; 12:1; 13:1, etc.) As I grew in the Lord, I came to some painful discoveries. One of them was that I had no idea how to correct another believer in the spirit of Jesus Christ. And I did more damage than good with my “corrections.” Another was that God didn’t want me correcting everyone else, even when I spotted faults and flaws in others ...

Many times I get accused of "following man" due to what I share, and my beliefs. The interesting thing about that is that almost 100% of the time it's an accusation from people who's core beliefs have only been taught by "man" the last 100-150 years or so. If you study history you would find that most modern beliefs were taught only by man and usually they served a purpose, 9 times out of 10 a ne gative purpose, fear, oppression, control, superiority complex, judging, hypocrisy, us against them, slave/master relationships, man on a pedestal, etc.   My beliefs are actually historically in tune with the church fathers, the ones who wrote scripture that people have placed on the highest pedestal, yet when you espouse the beliefs of those that wrote that worshipped bible, you get told you are not biblical. Confused yet? Yeah, I don't get it either. My beliefs, and what I share from wise men and women of God, empower people, they guide them into heali...

Jesus is the same, yesterday, today, and forever... 2 Kings 1:10 And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. Luke 9:54-55 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. Hmmm. #thinkaboutit

So, I'm "friends" online with a great many people. The majority probably don't believe the things I do, yet I have connected with them. I've had a few people come to my page and rebuke me throughout the years, both publicly, and unfortunately rudely. They've made comments that I'm a know it all, I am forcing my beliefs on everyone, I think people need to believe everything I believe, I think my  version of Christianity is the only right one, etc. This while they are on my page. Let me reiterate, I have a great deal of online friends that don't believe what I believe. I don't go to their pages and rebuke them for their beliefs. They come to mine. I'm a know it all trying to force my way on everyone. I will reiterate again, they come to my page and rebuke me, I don't say anything on their page. I share things on my own personal page. I don't go to their pages and accuse them of anything. I'm accused of being a know it all, I am for...

Just a quick comment to all those who come across my page, no one in particular, just a blanket statement to all in general.  If you want to rebuke someone on their own page, even justifiably so, making snide or rude comments to them* kind of takes away any credibility of yours and makes you come across as a douchebag. Sorry, not sorry, it's true. This is why the world hates Christians, not be cause they hated Jesus, but because a great many Christians behave like the biggest buttholes with no revelation of how much they are acting like jerks. They treat their own so badly with this rotten behavior, I can just imagine how bad of behavior they use when they are dealing with the lost. Notice that I spoke of "behavior" not them themselves, they are of Christ, and even when they don't behave accordingly, they are still completely His. We all fall short sometimes, but we need to take responsibility for it and look to and rest in Him to behave how He would. Hope you unde...