Yes, it has been a while. I just don’t have anything interesting to post about. If I said that I had a few minor troubles in one of the websites I’m working on, you’d be bored in a heartbeat. So yeah. Nothing interesting. But maybe this time I have something.
Remember that blood donation day? I still have that bruise on my arm. Though healing nicely, my arm looks a little suspicious to an untrained eye. It’s a good thing that I have long sleeves that I can wear until the bruise heals up for good.
Have been trying to get into Smallville lately, as they have Lois Lane in the cast (no clue for how long). I was fortunate enough to tape the season premiere and it was cool to see Clark Kent fly! :)
Had some talks about God with a co-worker again today. I am truly convinced that this dude could be a preacher; he talks up a storm! And he makes good points as well. Made me think, too. Is there such a thing as ‘pre-destiny’?
I Have Cramps 
Hope your arm heals up soon :)
We’re finally getting the 3rd season of Smallville in 2 days and I’m SOOOO excited! I think you guys are on the 4th season? Ooo I want to see what Lois looks like, I keep thinking she’d look like Teri Hatcher since she played Lois on ‘Lois and Clark’ ages ago XD
I personally don’t believe that we are pre-destined. Just because God knows what will happen to us already doesn’t mean we don’t have the ability to choose. God has chosen all people to be his people, but we can choose to reject that. I know that others might argue the point, but life would be pretty pointless if we didn’t have free will.
This is my faith too.
Read Romans 9 and tell me what you think of it. It certainly made me think.
Addressed to the Jews
At the time that Romans was written, the Christian Jews were having a hard time with the fact that Jesus loved the Gentiles. The Jews were used to being God’s “chosen people.” God chose a people in the old testament in order to establish a nation of faith. Once Jesus came into the picture, salvation and access to God was opened to everyone. I think that Roman’s 9 isn’t saying that only certian people are chosen by God for salvation to the detriment of others. I think it is confirming that the grace of Jesus opens the door to all nations and people. Paul is trying to make the Jews understand that being Jewish isn’t enough anymore. They have to put their faith in Christ. It is passage that is addressing the snobery and racism of the age.
Re: Addressed to the Jews
This is why I love Christianity so very much.
Thanks for sharing this Lara. By the time I read this, I was at work and there’s no bible here. And I can’t remember on the top of my head, Roman’s 9. (and I deserve a slap because while I love to read the Christian bible and believe in it, I don’t go to church much).
Re: Addressed to the Jews
For Marie: Here’s the passage you can read online: Romans 9 – NIV Version.
Lara, thanks for sharing. :) I hope you don’t mind talking about this topic, because it’s quite interesting. :) Here are some points that made me ponder a lot.
From this passage (NIV version, because I seem to understand it more in this version), that’s why I was asking about ‘pre-destiny’:
11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad–in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls–she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”[4] 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”[5]
So, in saying so, that even before they were born, Esau was already destined to “serve the younger”!
To continue why He did this:
14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”[6] 16 It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”[7] 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
And it goes on. Doesn’t it pertain to ‘pre-destiny’? Though we do have free will, it will not make us avoid of what is to come as God has planned for us.
It was like Jonah, where his destiny was to preach to the people of Nineveh, yet he resisted. What was the result? He was swallowed by a whale! If he didn’t resist, he wouldn’t have been in there in the first place.
My hubby did say that even so, Jonah was able to be more confident and was stronger to face the people of Nineveh after his experience in the belly of the whale. So, perhaps God already knew that Jonah was weak, and knew Jonah was going to resist so that Jonah can learn of confidence and strength in teaching?
It boggles the mind, I tell you. :)
Re: Addressed to the Jews
Leiza, thank you hon. Couldn’t get into it because of work today, but I guarantee you I’ll be all over this whole topic first thing in the morning. (Don’t feel so good right now, might be getting a cold and it was a very long, busy week).
Don’t be surprised if I make another comment here tomorrow. (Though I know you and Lara are by far probably the experts).
God and Jesus have been very good to me in my deepest, darkest, saddest, moments and I OWE IT to my own existence to get into this tomorrow morning.
Thanks again.
Yep
It certainly does boggle the mind.
Re: Yep
Lara, Leiza, still, through prayer in Jesus’s name, our lives and ultimate destiny can and do change. God did give his only begotten son. No?
To some degree, there surely is a purpose for us all such as Esau, but we have the free will of faith and belief in Jesus and what can become of our lives through that faith and belief.
I’ve had some personal experience along that line too. A bit shy to write it here, but maybe later in a locked post.
Re: Yep
I still think that we have the ability to choose even if God has a specific purpose for our lives. However, I cannot begin to understand how God works or why he does what he does. I am confident in the fact that Jesus is all I need, and He will explain everything else to us eventually. I’m glad that you’ve had experiences in feeling God’s hand in your life. I love to look back and see how he’s guided and encouraged me.
Re: Yep
Amen then. And yes, God’s hand in my life has been strong. In ways that truly, and utterly almost belong on Ripley’s believe it or not. But I do believe, and I guess that’s why. :)
Pity I don’t attend church as I’m sure it would greatly enhance my ability to see just what a gift that ‘hand in my life’ as you put it really has been.
Hmmmm..
Going to have to read that now. I know this is odd, but what is Smallville?
Todd Sawyer
Never mind. Just came to me, lol. Have a good one.