God's Not Dead

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
Psalm 42:2
New International Version (NIV)

       My wife and I recently watched the film God's Not Dead finding it to be highly moving, inspiring, and entertaining.  This is the kind of film entertainment that the Christian community needs more of rather than the kinds of immoral and Godless entertainment often offered to audiences.

       Regarding the critical response to God's Not Dead, Wikipedia says:

The film has been panned by critics, currently holding a score of 16 out of 100 on Metacritic indicating "overwhelming dislike", based on six critics,^[8] and a rating of 17% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 18 reviews as of May 2014.^[9]

        The article goes on to cite other negative responses by the critics.  Would we expect much else from media spokespersons who continually rip anything related to Christianity while giving raves to films that promote lifestyles of sin and debauchery?  

         A few positive words are given from Christian sources, but even some members of the Christian community are critical of this film.  To me their arguments are weak.  I would wonder why Christians would not be wanting to come together rather than debate petty theological issues thereby discouraging some from seeing the film and detracting from the positive values the film attempts to convey.  No wonder that the anti-God advocates look askance at purveyors of the message of the Gospel.

         In contrast to the generally negative reviews given to this film one can look on the Amazon site where reviewers have given the film over 2400 five star reviews in contrast to the 150 one star reviews and comparatively small numbers in the other star ratings.  Audiences generally respond well to this film and seem to want this kind of entertainment as indicated by the over $60 million in profit the film has made so far.

        If you haven't seen God's Not Dead yet, I'd encourage you to read about it to see if it appeals to you.  If the film sounds like something you'd like to see then I recommend purchasing or renting a copy.   Consider it a vote for God-inspired entertainment.  I'm looking forward to more of this sort of thing from the Christian backed entertainment industry.

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
Romans 1:20

New International Version (NIV)

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Pray Like You Mean It

Prayer is the language (Photo credit: Lel4nd)

The Lord will command His loving kindness in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life.

Psalm 42:8

New King James Version (NKJV)

        A wandering mind can be a tough thing to keep reined in.  That's my experience at least.  There will be times when I find my quiet place and moment when I fully intend to focus on prayer, then my mind will wander off to my concerns and worries and I'll momentarily leave God out of the conversation.  It's somewhat difficult to control since this is the way I tend to think.

        The daily distractions that we face can often make guided focused prayer a bit of a challenge.  Our conversations with God should be directed toward Him.  Prayer life can easily turn into a ritualized rote of recitation if we don't put our mind into it.   We should be guided by the spirit within us, but we should think about where the spirit is leading us.  Prayer is not about empty words with no thought behind them.

         We have much to be thankful for and many reasons to offer up praise to God.   All that we do in our prayer and praise life should have meaning and purpose. 

What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.

1 Corinthians 14:15

English Standard Version (ESV)

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The Ultimate Peace

Jajce waterfalls (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;
All Your waves and billows have gone over me.

Psalm 42:7

New King James Version (NKJV)

       God speaks to us in many ways.  What He says to us is not always what we want to hear, but it is what we need to hear.   His words have purpose.  His messages have meaning.  Pain, suffering, and sorrow are unpleasant, but the turmoils of life are like rocks in the river and jagged crags over which waters pass on their journey to the sea.  The bumps in the road are often what we need to jostle us into wakefulness.

       Quiet rooms or secluded spots in natural settings can be refreshment to the soul.   Meditative moments are encouraged to bring us in touch with ourselves and our relationships to God.  We are bombarded by the media telling us of the things in this world that we might have a tendency to fear or worry about.   People around us can create apprehension and fretful concern.  Take heart that these things are temporal and fleeting.   What doesn't kill us makes us stronger goes the old adage.  There is much truth to that.

         No matter what the world lays on us to add to our troubles there is always a refuge for the soul, a restorative of the heart and body, a place to hear that still small voice from the heart of all creation.  Close your eyes and breathe slowly, evenly.  God will carry you over the tumultuous waters of the troubled world.  Peace does not come from this world.  Peace comes from God.      

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27

New King James Version (NKJV)

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Worship God!

Sexta/Viernes/Friday-POSER-Deus - Dios - God
 (Photo credit: Caio Basilio)

My tears have been my food
    day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
    “Where is your God?”

Psalm 42:3

New International Version (NIV)

      I think a good many people believe that God, if He exists, is aloof and doesn't care about us.  We often hear the scoffers say things like, "If God really cares so much then why does he let bad things happen to the world".   Maybe it's time to stop blaming God for the bad things and start recognizing the bad choices that people have made since the beginning of time.

       We can question the goodness or the aloofness all we want, but it still doesn't make us any better or absolve us from taking responsibility for the wrong things that we do.  Evil, pain, and natural disaster are all part of a process that started with our first rebellion against God.

        Bad things will always happen in the current order of the universe.  God is good. The future is good and we should rejoice in that.

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.  God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

John 4:23-24

New King James Version (NKJV)

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Where Can I Find God?

Gods Own County (Photo credit: tricky (rick harrison))

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
    When can I go and meet with God?

Psalm 42:2

New International Version (NIV)

           I'm not quite ready to leave this life.  Not that I'm so in love with the things of this world that I'd never want to leave, but I see life as a wonderful gift that God has blessed me with and I'd like to make the most of it.   Special times with family and friends are something I treasure.  Watching my children and grandchildren grow and flourish is a great reward to me.

          I know that God is here with me, but I want that absolute presence.  Heaven waits, but how long must I wait?   It would be comforting and joyous to walk with Jesus, to talk to him, and to sit at his feet listening to his teachings.

         But God has not abandoned us.  We have prayers and meditation that can bring us closer to him.  God speaks to us through His Word in the Holy Bible.  Comfort comes through the Holy Spirit.   God's presence is all around us in nature and the vast universe.

           Wait patiently.  God is here and our time in eternity is coming if we are receptive to God in our life.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Revelation 3:20

English Standard Version (ESV)

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How Well Does Self-Reliance Work?

Rock Gap Rd, West Virginia
 (Photo credit: D.Clow - Maryland)

As the deer pants for streams of water,
    so my soul pants for you, my God.

Psalm 42:1

New International Version (NIV)

        We are often encouraged to be self-sufficient, to rely on no one for help.  In one sense this concept is a good one.  Other people can be notoriously unreliable at times.  Government and society often allows those in need to slip through the cracks.   The world of big business can be very accommodating when trying to gain new customers, yet suspiciously silent if the customer's needs outweigh the company's profits.  

         A certain amount of self-sufficiency is not a bad goal for which to strive, but in our world it is a rather impractical idea that mostly exists in the realms of idealistic dreamers.  Few of us want to retreat on our own to live alone in the wilderness to subsist on what the Earth can provide and what our own ingenuity can muster.  I know that I'm not ready for that kind of lifestyle.  I enjoy civilization too much.

        But no matter how well we can sustain ourselves whether it be on our own or within the parameters of societal living, there is more than the comforts of our physical well-being to take into consideration.   We cannot neglect the spiritual needs that dwell innately within us.  We may think we are fine without God, living comfortably with others and believing that our mind holds all the answers and the power to a happy life.  However there is always an empty spot that can only be filled with that one thing necessary to having a complete life--God.

        God will provide.  Will you acknowledge that you need Him?   When the ultimate emptiness that is within you becomes evident to you, will you concede to letting God carry you to the life-giving Stream of Salvation.    When your body thirsts, you seek water.  When you are spiritually empty, what will you do?

 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.   I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.   I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:11-13
New International Version (NIV)

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