Welcome to my personal opinion!

How has your point of view been determined? On what do you base your belief system? What shapes your opinions?

All of us look at our world around us and interpret what we see based upon our most basic beliefs. This perspective is often referred to as our "worldview." We see what goes on in the world and our world view determines whether we think those things are good or bad, positive or negative. And that worldview also determines how we will react to everything that we encounter. So you see, it really is a matter of perspective.

Up front I will confess that I hold to what is known as a Biblical Worldview. My commitment to the Bible as being the Word of God, and my faith in the One revealed to us in that totally unique book and through His Holy Spirit has provided the lens through which I view the world around me.

So, if you choose to read what I have written there will likely be some things you will agree with and some which you will not. That will be determined by your own personal worldview.

My hope is that what I write will challenge you to better understand what you have chosen to base your worldview upon, and if it is not based on the unchanging Word of God, that you might become convinced, like I am convinced, that His Word is truth and serves to guide the believer through life's journey toward the "abundant life" Jesus promised in John 10:10.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Start with the beginning!

"In the beginning God . . ." (Genesis 1:1). It would seem that any other opening statement to the Bible just wouldn't make sense. Everything finds its beginning with Him. Someone has said that God is the subject of life. Eugene Peterson, producer of the modern paraphrase of the Scriptures, "The Message", says this in his introduction to the book of Genesis: "If we don't have a sense of the primacy of God, we will never get it right, get life right, get our lives right. Not God at the margins; not God as an option; not God on the weekends. God at center and circumference; God first and last; God, God, God."

Truly, life just doesn't make sense without starting with, staying with, and ending with God. No wonder there are so many self-help and spiritually-oriented books at the bookstore. No surprise that millions are lost in their addictions to drugs, booze, porn, work, chat rooms, shopping, and more. No shock that news reports are filled with stories of mass murders, suicides, gang violence, and millions of abortions. Without the understanding of life as God explains it in His Word there is nothing solid for the unbelieving to grasp ahold to.

What can we as Christians do to help these who are struggling to find out what life is supposed to be about? Let me suggest a few important actions:
1. First, pursue an evergrowing relationship with God. You cannot lead others to a place you've never been. Also, once you seek to be the salt and light Scriptures exhort us to be, Satan will throw everything he has at you. Your only protection is your realtionship with God through Christ.
2. Love the hurting and seeking people you encounter. Sincere, unselfish love is the key which will open their hearts and minds to the message you wish to share . . . that God loves them and wants to give them new life -- life that has meaning and makes sense; life which never ends.
3. Live in purity. Your life will either show proof of the truth of God's Word or it will become a stumbling block. I hate the thought that I might be the one who serves as a barrier to someone's knowing Christ as their Savior and Lord. My life will never be perfect this side of heaven, but it can be a strong and positive influence. I pray it is!

There is no need to wander aimlessly through life. Go to the One who has all the answers (no, not Oprah!). Discover the wonderful adventure which is life lived God's way. You'll never regret it.
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