In 1 Timothy, chapter 2, we hear that Jesus came to our need just in time. In other words, there was no better time for him to have done his work. What a concept!
Some people might call this perfect timing. Almost every day, something seems to happen to me just in time. Yet, I still get impatient. I want to control the timing. I just want God to be the conduit. How often I must mess up some really good blessings, just so I can control timing.
On a different note, I know I will meet someone this week that will need me to be there just in time. God can use me to be there. If I am all wrapped up in controlling my time, I may miss these moments
as well.
Control rarely happens just in time to do anything. That is because my perspective is too small. I can't always get out of my own world to clearly see yours.
Raymond C. Province, M.A.
Celtic Ozark Solutions
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Sunday, May 31, 2009
A Social Gospel for the Internet
I spend a lot of time working and playing on the Internet. Social media sites have given us all a brand new way to connect with one another. One of the great joys of my life is being able to find old friends on sites like Facebook, MySpace, Plaxo, and others. It has become part of my community of friends and family. The fact that I have not personally meet everyone I was chatted with on the Internet means nothing. As people begin to adopt more software like Skype, we will see even more of one another.
As a Christian, I believe I have a responsibility to share my faith in all things. This would logically include my interactions over the Internet. There are far too many people abusing this electronic form of community. Good role models need to be available. I know that my friends from other faith traditions share this view. I would content we all have a social mandate to share the love of God in our interactions on the Internet.
In today’s times, there are at least two distinct philosophies on how we go about “sharing the Good News” in any setting. On the one hand, we have what I like to call the “methodology of the mouth.” We share personal convictions about being Christians, and we ask others to consider doing the same. We ask others to become Christians through the acceptance of Jesus’ role in cosmic history. This role is very evangelical in nature.
On the other hand, we also share our love of God in what I like to call a “social gospel.” It refers to our actions, and our beliefs working hand in hand with one another. This type of philosophy says that our actions must match what comes out of our mouth. It ways that Jesus did more than show people a way to salvation.
These two philosophies are not mutually exclusive. Indeed, they should work in consort with one another. It is simply a way to help one understand where the emphasis is often placed. It is like putting a magnifying lens on a small flow, so you can see it better.
Here are some things we can all do to better share a social gospel across our blogosphere:
1. We can remember that God created this world, and we have been left in charge of its care. Until we know exactly when God plans on coming back, we have been asked to be the world’s caretakers.
2. We can remember that God came to redeem our world, and we have been asked to continue that path of redemption in our actions and words.
3. We can joyfully accept the blessings of community, sexuality, marriage, and the family. In our current times, I believe we need a broad definition of family: we all need to raise our neighbors children by example. We need to be careful what we share on the Internet, what we forward in emails, etc. You never know where that will end up.
4. We can commit ourselves to the rights of men, women, children, youth, young adults, the aging, and people with disabilities; to improvement of the quality of life; and to the rights and dignity of all persons. We can participate in the on going discussions of these topics in our favorite blogs, chat rooms, new pages, etc. We can blog about them, write articles on them, make videos about them, etc.
5. We can be an advocate the right and duty of persons to work for the glory of God and the good of themselves and others and in the protection of their welfare in so doing; in the rights to property as a trust from God, collective bargaining, and responsible consumption; and in the elimination of economic and social distress.
6. We can use the Internet to promote peace throughout the world, to the rule of justice and law among nations, and to individual freedom for all people of the world.
Ray Province
Ray Province is a retired minister and IT programmer in the healthcare industry. He writes about issues effecting life in the Ozarks at The Celtic Ozarkian. You can reach him at contactus@celticozarkian.com or @celticozarkian on Twitter
As a Christian, I believe I have a responsibility to share my faith in all things. This would logically include my interactions over the Internet. There are far too many people abusing this electronic form of community. Good role models need to be available. I know that my friends from other faith traditions share this view. I would content we all have a social mandate to share the love of God in our interactions on the Internet.
In today’s times, there are at least two distinct philosophies on how we go about “sharing the Good News” in any setting. On the one hand, we have what I like to call the “methodology of the mouth.” We share personal convictions about being Christians, and we ask others to consider doing the same. We ask others to become Christians through the acceptance of Jesus’ role in cosmic history. This role is very evangelical in nature.
On the other hand, we also share our love of God in what I like to call a “social gospel.” It refers to our actions, and our beliefs working hand in hand with one another. This type of philosophy says that our actions must match what comes out of our mouth. It ways that Jesus did more than show people a way to salvation.
These two philosophies are not mutually exclusive. Indeed, they should work in consort with one another. It is simply a way to help one understand where the emphasis is often placed. It is like putting a magnifying lens on a small flow, so you can see it better.
Here are some things we can all do to better share a social gospel across our blogosphere:
1. We can remember that God created this world, and we have been left in charge of its care. Until we know exactly when God plans on coming back, we have been asked to be the world’s caretakers.
2. We can remember that God came to redeem our world, and we have been asked to continue that path of redemption in our actions and words.
3. We can joyfully accept the blessings of community, sexuality, marriage, and the family. In our current times, I believe we need a broad definition of family: we all need to raise our neighbors children by example. We need to be careful what we share on the Internet, what we forward in emails, etc. You never know where that will end up.
4. We can commit ourselves to the rights of men, women, children, youth, young adults, the aging, and people with disabilities; to improvement of the quality of life; and to the rights and dignity of all persons. We can participate in the on going discussions of these topics in our favorite blogs, chat rooms, new pages, etc. We can blog about them, write articles on them, make videos about them, etc.
5. We can be an advocate the right and duty of persons to work for the glory of God and the good of themselves and others and in the protection of their welfare in so doing; in the rights to property as a trust from God, collective bargaining, and responsible consumption; and in the elimination of economic and social distress.
6. We can use the Internet to promote peace throughout the world, to the rule of justice and law among nations, and to individual freedom for all people of the world.
Ray Province
Ray Province is a retired minister and IT programmer in the healthcare industry. He writes about issues effecting life in the Ozarks at The Celtic Ozarkian. You can reach him at contactus@celticozarkian.com or @celticozarkian on Twitter
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
30 Days of Joy Ebook Launches
After two years of work and research, and multiple class sessions, I have been able to finally launch my new ebook, 30 Days of Joy: From the Wisdom of the World. I am excited to share this book with you all. Here is a little about my new ebook:
I teach small group sessions at church all the time. During one class session, we were discussing new topics that we would study together. I was almost blown away by how many people wanted to know more on how to be happier, more joyful people. I started doing some research, and a small group session was born.
I wanted to do something different. I didn’t want to just do a “canned presentation” from only one perspective. So, I decided to do the classes from a variety of religious and philosophical perspectives. I went back to the ancient wisdom literature of our world, and found just what I needed.
The ebook I am launching tomorrow a.m. is the culmination of that project. The book provides daily lessons on creating more joy in life. There are quotes, scriptures, etc. and discussion to read. The lessons are designed to be read in less than 5 minutes. Some questions and a prayer are included. Perfect Twitter food!
The lessons may be short, but the thoughts will take you all day to ponder. There is also a journaling exercise for each day. In 30 days, you can truly change the amount of joy you have in your life. Try it out.
Want a peak at the book? Here ya go http://ping.fm/NTT1b
I teach small group sessions at church all the time. During one class session, we were discussing new topics that we would study together. I was almost blown away by how many people wanted to know more on how to be happier, more joyful people. I started doing some research, and a small group session was born.
I wanted to do something different. I didn’t want to just do a “canned presentation” from only one perspective. So, I decided to do the classes from a variety of religious and philosophical perspectives. I went back to the ancient wisdom literature of our world, and found just what I needed.
The ebook I am launching tomorrow a.m. is the culmination of that project. The book provides daily lessons on creating more joy in life. There are quotes, scriptures, etc. and discussion to read. The lessons are designed to be read in less than 5 minutes. Some questions and a prayer are included. Perfect Twitter food!
The lessons may be short, but the thoughts will take you all day to ponder. There is also a journaling exercise for each day. In 30 days, you can truly change the amount of joy you have in your life. Try it out.
Want a peak at the book? Here ya go http://ping.fm/NTT1b
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Easter Morning
It is Easter morning, and we find ourselves waiting for Jesus. We always celebrate the fact that Jesus of Nazareth “rose from the grave” in a bodily resurrection on this date. This has become the tradition.
I suspect, though, the the disciples were doing the same thing on the first Easter morning that we are doing now: waiting on something to happen. It is in the “waiting”, I believe, that we can find a great lesson about Easter morning. Let us consider how it is we wait upon Jesus.
We may wait like the disciples waited. Jesus was dead, and the disciples were in fear for there own lives. Despite the fact that Jesus had taught them of his inevitable death and coming again, they simply missed the point. I am not sure anyone was truly expecting Jesus to come again. We was laid to rest, and the women would come on the first Easter morning to finish preparing his body. Mary is even astonished at his coming, as she becomes the first to see him. Maybe be come today like Mary and the disciples: astonished at the story.
We may wait like little children. I can remember growing up in a Methodist Church. It was full of people dressed to the hilt. The place smelt like Easter lillies, and was dressed in purple. It was what we had always done, but still did not make complete sense. Even the songs took some time to learn. I can remember singing an old hymn with the words, “up from the grave he arose, with a bunch of dirt between his toes!” On some level, it was easier to remember, and made more sense. Maybe we come today like kids, not quite understanding the message.
We may come today like Thomas Thomas “the Doubter” may be the way we come to Easter morning. I would not call Thomas a doubter as much as I would call him a scientific sceptic. The biblical passage about Thomas says it all: Thomas wanted proof! Wanted something he could see with his eyes, or touch with his hand. Maybe we come today wanted some kind of scientific evidence. Only only issue here is that there is none. You can almost find more evidence to the contrary, via the many conspiracy theories that evolved through the years. Here are just a few: Jesus did not die, but was snuck out of town, Mary went to the wrong tomb, the gardener moved Jesus, the disciples moved Jesus because they needed him to appear as if he had risen! Get the idea?
In all these ways, we can come to the Easter morning we celebrate today. I have no doubt I will sit next to people who will bring all these perspectives to what we celebrate today. These are very normal perspectives.
Our Issue Is that there is only one way to come to Easter. Whether by accident or intent, Easter can only be celebrated through the eyes of faith. We cannot use our best powers of reason, observation, intuition and get ourselves back to God. Rather, we must come in the eyes of faith to how God has been revealed in the resurrection.
We are confronted with the stories of faith, and asked to accept them. This is not blind foolishness, though. We are asked to believe in faith as God’s spirit makes it become real for us. Just as there is no real value to the Bible without a living God behind it, there is also no Resurrection without the power of the living God that made it happen. God expects us to come to Easter on God’s terms!
There are many things in life I believe in that I cannot prove. There are many things I accept that I do not completely understand. So, today, I come to Easter morning through the eyes of faith, to allow God to speak to me on God’s terms. I have never been disappointed.
Happy Easter
Ray Province
Ray Province is a retires minister and owner of The Celtic Ozarkian and This is Life in the Ozarks, which chronicle life in the Ozarks. He is an IT programmer by trade, and also freelances in website development, SEO, and social bookmarking strategies for internet marketers. You can contact Ray at contactus@celticozarkian.com or @celticozarkian on Twitter.
I suspect, though, the the disciples were doing the same thing on the first Easter morning that we are doing now: waiting on something to happen. It is in the “waiting”, I believe, that we can find a great lesson about Easter morning. Let us consider how it is we wait upon Jesus.
We may wait like the disciples waited. Jesus was dead, and the disciples were in fear for there own lives. Despite the fact that Jesus had taught them of his inevitable death and coming again, they simply missed the point. I am not sure anyone was truly expecting Jesus to come again. We was laid to rest, and the women would come on the first Easter morning to finish preparing his body. Mary is even astonished at his coming, as she becomes the first to see him. Maybe be come today like Mary and the disciples: astonished at the story.
We may wait like little children. I can remember growing up in a Methodist Church. It was full of people dressed to the hilt. The place smelt like Easter lillies, and was dressed in purple. It was what we had always done, but still did not make complete sense. Even the songs took some time to learn. I can remember singing an old hymn with the words, “up from the grave he arose, with a bunch of dirt between his toes!” On some level, it was easier to remember, and made more sense. Maybe we come today like kids, not quite understanding the message.
We may come today like Thomas Thomas “the Doubter” may be the way we come to Easter morning. I would not call Thomas a doubter as much as I would call him a scientific sceptic. The biblical passage about Thomas says it all: Thomas wanted proof! Wanted something he could see with his eyes, or touch with his hand. Maybe we come today wanted some kind of scientific evidence. Only only issue here is that there is none. You can almost find more evidence to the contrary, via the many conspiracy theories that evolved through the years. Here are just a few: Jesus did not die, but was snuck out of town, Mary went to the wrong tomb, the gardener moved Jesus, the disciples moved Jesus because they needed him to appear as if he had risen! Get the idea?
In all these ways, we can come to the Easter morning we celebrate today. I have no doubt I will sit next to people who will bring all these perspectives to what we celebrate today. These are very normal perspectives.
Our Issue Is that there is only one way to come to Easter. Whether by accident or intent, Easter can only be celebrated through the eyes of faith. We cannot use our best powers of reason, observation, intuition and get ourselves back to God. Rather, we must come in the eyes of faith to how God has been revealed in the resurrection.
We are confronted with the stories of faith, and asked to accept them. This is not blind foolishness, though. We are asked to believe in faith as God’s spirit makes it become real for us. Just as there is no real value to the Bible without a living God behind it, there is also no Resurrection without the power of the living God that made it happen. God expects us to come to Easter on God’s terms!
There are many things in life I believe in that I cannot prove. There are many things I accept that I do not completely understand. So, today, I come to Easter morning through the eyes of faith, to allow God to speak to me on God’s terms. I have never been disappointed.
Happy Easter
Ray Province
Ray Province is a retires minister and owner of The Celtic Ozarkian and This is Life in the Ozarks, which chronicle life in the Ozarks. He is an IT programmer by trade, and also freelances in website development, SEO, and social bookmarking strategies for internet marketers. You can contact Ray at contactus@celticozarkian.com or @celticozarkian on Twitter.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Human Suffering: In Search of Answers
I recently taught a Sunday School Class on the topic of human suffering. Just like people that have lived for thousands of years, we still find ourselves perplexed by the reality of human suffering.
We find ourselves perplexed because of the classic contradiction of ideas that Leibniz call "the theodicy." I put the concept together this way: 1) We all taught that God is all knowing, loving, powerful, etc. 2) We find ourselves in a world of suffering. No matter what one's answer might be, this is the classic formulation of the answer.
Here are some of the classical answers to the question: 1) God is not all powerful, and does not have the ability to stop all suffering, 2)God is not all loving, 3)God uses suffering as a way to punish us for wrong doing, 3) a kind of theory of atonement, i.e. we must make up for our sins---and if we do not we are punished. None of these make anyone feel particularly good.
This is always made the most sense to me: 1)we have the freedom to choose, 2)God lets us "wrestle' with our proverbial "demons", even to the point of tragedy, 3) the world operates by a series of "physical laws' which cannot be changed all the time, 4)this life is not the fulfillment of my "existence; there is more to come.
So, I do blame humanity for the Holocaust. We could have done more to stop it. I do not blame God for the hurricane that destroys my home. That same hurricane is cooling global water tempuratures. I do blame myself for the bad choices I make. Finally, I deal with much suffering in this way: I have a choice not only to "act" correctly, but I have a choice to control how I think and feel about the bad that happens to me.
I invite you to comment with your thoughts.
Ray Province
Ray Province is a retired minister and owner of The Celtic Ozarkian, a website that chronicles life in the Ozarks. He is an IT Programer by trade, and freelances in SEO, website developments, social bookmarking, and blogging on things he loves.
We find ourselves perplexed because of the classic contradiction of ideas that Leibniz call "the theodicy." I put the concept together this way: 1) We all taught that God is all knowing, loving, powerful, etc. 2) We find ourselves in a world of suffering. No matter what one's answer might be, this is the classic formulation of the answer.
Here are some of the classical answers to the question: 1) God is not all powerful, and does not have the ability to stop all suffering, 2)God is not all loving, 3)God uses suffering as a way to punish us for wrong doing, 3) a kind of theory of atonement, i.e. we must make up for our sins---and if we do not we are punished. None of these make anyone feel particularly good.
This is always made the most sense to me: 1)we have the freedom to choose, 2)God lets us "wrestle' with our proverbial "demons", even to the point of tragedy, 3) the world operates by a series of "physical laws' which cannot be changed all the time, 4)this life is not the fulfillment of my "existence; there is more to come.
So, I do blame humanity for the Holocaust. We could have done more to stop it. I do not blame God for the hurricane that destroys my home. That same hurricane is cooling global water tempuratures. I do blame myself for the bad choices I make. Finally, I deal with much suffering in this way: I have a choice not only to "act" correctly, but I have a choice to control how I think and feel about the bad that happens to me.
I invite you to comment with your thoughts.
Ray Province
Ray Province is a retired minister and owner of The Celtic Ozarkian, a website that chronicles life in the Ozarks. He is an IT Programer by trade, and freelances in SEO, website developments, social bookmarking, and blogging on things he loves.
Friday, March 20, 2009
New Website For Moms Launches
Robin has had a chance to help promote a new website for moms. The original intent of the site was to be a network for moms who homeschool. On further inspection, the developers figured out there was lots of good information that could be used by any mom. We are asking our readers to take a look at the website, to see if you would have interest in being a regular part of their informational network. You can follow this link to the site for more information: http://tinyurl.com/homeschoolnet
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
