Archive for February, 2007
You are currently browsing the Philip K Stone blog archives for February, 2007.
15
Feb
2007
A Landmark in my Journey
Today for me is rather significant in my life, I’ve hit the age that qualifies me for cheaper car insurance, I’ve also been reminded that I’m now in my late 20′s Today – already!. As I reflect on the 25 years that God has blessed me with on this earth I have so much to be thankful for, heres just a few:
- My upbringing in a Christian home
- For a Wise, Encouraging & Godly Grandfather
- My Salvation at the age of 6
- For Being Fed, Clothed & spoiled all my life
- For My Job, Education
- For a Beautiful Friend in my Wife Amy
- For Two Adorable Kids, Ben & Maddie
- A Home, Furniture & the odd Holiday
- A Church that Blesses Me and My Family
- The Best Friends in the World!
- A Great Health
to mention a few, its been nice today just to ponder over memories, some that make me smile others that well up tears in my eyes, But I thank God for His Faithfulness to me on this Journey called Life. I’m excited at the future because I know its in His Hands, I Just hope that For the Next 25 years (God willing) to have as much fun as I have had in the first 25!
Happy Birthday to me!
14
Feb
2007
Preaching Parables
I Love reading about Jesus in the NT, so many stories about Him and so many stories told by him. But Sometimes I wonder in the Church in General have we tried to complicate Jesus Teaching, Instead of accepting His Words as truth, we end up creating new Theologies from sentences taken out of context, Many Theologians are good at picking and preaching the points that they agree with and quite keen to leave the truth that doesn’t fit their criteria for their man made religion. We hear talk about what denomination you are in, then its are you a Calvinist or Armenist, then of course what view do you hold on the Second coming?
My question is why do we debate stuff that creates division and confusion, Sorry to say this and its maybe gonna seem more harsh than its meant to be but Satan is the author and lies and Confusion, He seeks to kill, to steal and destroy. Could it be that Satan is trying to trick Christians by confusing them, dividing them, causing church splits etc. When Jesus Spoke, He Spoke in Love, when He Healed, He had compassion. Instead of Creating new segments in Christianity we need to Focus more on following Jesus, believing the Bible both the bits that we find easy and also the bits that are harder to grasp, believe and understand. But in Gods time we will.
In life we are on a journey that will cause us to have edges cut from us, we will need to be constantly reshaping ourselves as God Develops us into the people He Desires us to be. Things that You may struggle to accept and believe will in time reveal themselves to you, Sometimes I think Church splits are caused mostly by impatience, instead of staying with those who are needing a mature believer to walk beside them they rush off to create a ‘holier than thou’ club.
Jesus Teaches us to make disciples and I believe every believer has that responsibility, today I ask the question, who are you discipling?
If you were to ask people about understanding the words of Jesus Spoke in Parables you would find that Children from no age will understand them just as well as those a lot older. But you take the same range of people to many churches today and You can understand why many churches have sleeping congregations, or why churches have small attendances at Bible Studies etc.
I like to think of myself as a simple person, and for me if Jesus Did it, We need to do it, So Next time someone tries to start an argument just ask what did Jesus say about that? If Jesus didn’t talk about it then it probably isn’t worth wasting time on.
Keep it Smple – Keep it Real!
13
Feb
2007
Power in Invitation
Have you ever sent an invitation to someone, maybe a wedding or a party or some sort of ceremony. That person comes because not only have they been sent an invitation but also because they know the people inviting them really want to have them present. They are allowed to be there, Be present and involve themselves in the event.
When I was reading in Matthew over the weekend I come to Ch.8 v 34 were the City People came to meet Jesus after He had sent the demons over the cliff in a herd of pigs. They asked Jesus to leave the area, and its borders. I wonder was this because they seen A Power above any human ability? I wonder was it because they were scared that they wouldn’t be in control, or maybe it was because there was much Sin in this city and the thought of Jesus cleaning it up didn’t appeal to them.
I remember reading about a town a few miles from my home that at the start of the 19th century the church leaders met together to pray for the Power of the Holy spirit to Leave the town, when I drive through the town now it always feels dead, business in the town isn’t great, many borded up shops, and not to mention much demonic activity, family breakups, crime, alcohol, drug and sexual abuse in the town to mention a few problems.
The churches at time were afraid of loosing control of meetings, loosing control of their people, yet its Gods church so why are they trying to restrict and restrain God.
I Believe in our Lives we need to invite God, not only into our hearts when we become Christians, but also to invite God into our homes, Marriages, Workplaces, Churches, Towns, Housing Estates, By us inviting God into these areas we are getting rid of satans grip on areas and we are allowing God to come and work and move in his Power and might, Today I urge you to invite God into every area in your life, As I prayed an Invitation to God driving through my home town last night I could feel a dynamic power as I prayed, So Please for Gods sake, for your families sake and for This nations sake invite God into everything we do and everywhere we Go.
When Our community Invites God to come in the fulness of his Power I believe there will be a significant increase in signs, wonders and miracles! To the point were our faith will be built up and increased to believe God for every impossibility to become a Reality.
12
Feb
2007
Filling Gods House
I’m sure if you are a Christian, You like me have got a Heart Desire to See Gods house Filled with people, not just Believers but seekers to. People who are searching to find Truth. While over the years Churches have employed just about every type of evangelical presentation thinkable, preached the Gospel as creatively as possible and Shed Tears in Pray for the Lost there Still remains One Way of Filling Gods house, But it will Take more than our efforts to see Churches filled with seekers.
When we read in the Bible about Jesus Preaching or Peter etc Preaching there is always the sentence that Signs & Wonders followed after the Preaching.
When The miraculous Comes and I believe its just around the corner and when it becomes the norm for people to get out of wheelchairs, Tumours Dissapear, The blind See and the Lame Walk to mention a few Miracles, then Gods House will be filled! Lets continue to Pray for The Atmosphere of Miracles to Break through the Unbelief that has polluted the western world and sad to say the western Church.
Today God Says ‘Know the Truth and the Truth will Set you Free!’
God is Purifying his Body the Church and as it becomes Clean God will Release his Power & Glory in Ways we couldn’t even imagine!
12
Feb
2007
Reply to Anonymous
Hi to Anonymous
(who commented on “don’t do that” with ‘I would ask you to look at what you wrote 21/11/06 surely that is judging. Maybe if there was a lot more of the holy Christians with their King James bibles this world would be a better place. The bible has not changed but sadly the church has’.)
I don’t plan to start a debate with the famous petty topic of the KJV, I could give many reasons for not personally using this version, the truth is that the only way any Christian will ever grasp the Bible in its fullness is to go back to the original Greek and Hebrew Scripts. Lets take the words in the KJV that are in Italics – They are simply a best fit word. Not the true meaning word, this was interpreted at a time when many words that are now in existence in the English Dictionary didn’t exist.
The KJV reminds me about why Jesus taught in parables, so that the simple and those who would listen and live it would hear and apply it, not the scribes and Pharisees who argue and debate who is the greatest? among themselves. For me many modern versions NOT all (May I stress) enable the Bible to be understood and digested by everyone, the whosoever in society, unlike the KJV were I find many preachers never mind Christians getting confused because they treat the KJV as the original text creating confusion in their Teaching, Beliefs and Churches.
Many Bible Theologians now suggest that the NASB is the most accurate text available, But I would say to anyone searching for a Version – Find one you can use and understand, Research the version, then try it and see if it enhances your Bible Study, if not then it is not a good choice!. One thing I would say about the Message for anyone that uses it, Please use this a tool to enlighten and develop your study, while it is extremely accurate, And I know from reading about the author its very accurate as Eugene Petersen is a Greek and Hebrew Scholar, but It is very modernised and some meaning has been lost in parts although I would be the first to say that Meaning has been found in many verses that never had meaning for me in any version prior to reading the Message.
May I also add, when talking about Judging, if you have not read another version other than the KJV then I suggest you get off the bandwagon of second hand theology that hears one speak against something then people agree because they just like the person that said it. I have never accepted as Gospel anyone’s preaching, opinions or views, that’s why I take notes, to go and study it further so that I can discover Gods riches and teachings in scripture for myself. “Work out YOUR OWN Salvation” Phil 2v12b KJV
Remember its the Bible that has the final authority – not a King James Version – which of course we all know wasn’t even the first translation anyway. If you want to be a holy Christian I urge you to get rid of your KJV and learn Greek and Hebrew, obviously your more into standards and knowledge than relationship and reality with God. What I would say is I am glad that the church has changed (although I will agree that some churches unfortunately seem to be changing for the worse – but mostly they are changing for the better)
I am not sure what fellowship you belong to, but I know at my own fellowship people are hungrier than I have ever seen before, More expectant, they now have a greater Fear and Reverence for God, more Time for God, they are more knowledgeable about the Word and most importantly have a Greater Desire For God to play an active role in their everyday life – Now if change is all bad, what’s that? If the bible doesn’t create change in You or your church I Pray that it does, Salvation and Life with Jesus is all about change. The Fact is You are not perfect! Nor me, nor anyone. Don’t get stuck in a comfort Zone!
If you create an atmosphere in your life for no change, maybe its a waste of time reading your Bible, praying for people etc, as these things will result in change, maybe you have found barriers in your prayer life, I would consider looking at this as it may be preventing breakthrough in your life and in your families life.
My Concern for Christians isn’t really what version they read, or who has the nicest Bible, or the trendiest Leather Back, My Concern is that People read the Bible they have. To many Christians Don’t Read their Bibles, It makes me wonder How they can call themselves Christians if there is no Christ input into their lives.
In reference to my entry on the 21st November 2006 ‘Interruptions can become divine moments’ I not really sure what I’m supposed to have judged?
May God Bless You All the Days of your Life!
Please do send me an email {philipkstone@gmail.com} or if you want to meet for a chat over a coffee - I would love that!
NB Opinions published in this blog are my own, which I have discovered and learned in my Journey through Life!
