God's word

How can we distinguish God's word from our own desire?  We always hear some whisperings inside our heart but we are not sure where those words come from.

Merry Christmas

I heard it is not respectful to say Merry X'mas, because X isn't Christ. Also simply saying Happy Holiday isn't the best. So, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone.

Brokeback Mountain

I want to watch this movie. Is it bad for Christian to do so?

Setting rules

When a church sets a rule that is a combination of:
1. you don't like
2. you don't believe this rule reflect the true meaning of the Bible
3. this rule have a negative effect on your participation in church

What is the best way to approach this problem? Is changing church a recommended solution?

Off topic: 有感而發

當一個女人狠下心腸, 她會比男人更決絕. 不知聖經有否提及. (同我老婆無關.)

Contemporary vs Hymnal

What music should we use in worship? Is it a personal preference? Is it a trend and style?

Right or Wrong

I just realized that "Not all Bible translations are created equal". Do you know where "brothers and sisters" is used in the Bible?

Matthew 18:35
My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart. (New American Standard Bible)

This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive a brother or sister from your heart. (Today's New International Version)

That's what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters[a] in your heart. (New Living Translation)

The newer Bibles are easier to read. At the same time, they are adding additional meanings to the words (eg brothers). What is right and what's not?

Wrong Questions

This morning I went to Sunday Worship. The pastor mentioned about a few question in a passage of the Bible. The questions were something like this:
Why Jesus is on on God's right hand side
Why don't we need to care about this or that
etc...

The pastor tried to solve these questions steps by steps, based on other reading in the Bible.

Now I look back some questions I posted in this Blog, I find a fundamental difference. The pastor is looking into the detail for the Bible. But my question seems to challenge how true the Bible is, or the moral of God.

I start to feel I am asking wrong questions ...

Off topic: 19 ways to stay young

Mr. H. sent out this Chinese article about 19 methods to stay young. Well, technically, it is impossible for anyone in Joshua Fellow to achieve all 19 methods. So take it easy.

Wars & Religion

I once invited R. to come to church. R. told me he felt a lot of wars nowadays are due to religious conflict (so I guess R. politely rejected my invitation). I said those were bad examples. Christianity itself doesn't suggest using wars to solve any problem. Is my statement correct!?

Jesus

Jesus knows our feelings because He's been to the world. However, he didn't get married. He didn't have children. How can he understand the problem of being a husband and father?

If there is a God, why there are Wars?

Before I became a Christan, I liked to ask the question in the title? I hope this can shut up anyone who tried to convict me to go to church.

After I become a Christian, I heard this explanation: "God give mankind free will. It is not God creating war, it is mankind themselves cause the problem".

I also heard this explanation: "God allowed wars happened because HE has HIS plan."

But deep in my mind, I always think war is the most lousy method to solve any problem. And I believe as long as God want to, HE can achieve his plan by not allowing war. So this leads to two question that I don't really have any answer:

1. Is war (or dead) itself not really a big deal in God's mind (This is not a negative comment). Perhaps our fresh need to die one day anyway. God's may has bigger plan to save our souls.

2. Does this combination preventing God to stop war, even with HIS almighty power?
a) Allowing free will of mankind
b) Processing HIS plan

Sometimes I saw two young siblings fight each other, and the parents has no idea to control them. I feel pity for the parents. You can't beat the kids. You teach them, they don't listen, what can you do? But when I see how Super Nanny disciplines the kids. Then I start to think there are always some ways to stop child fight in a peaceful way. Perhaps I shouldn't compare Super Nanny and God. And perhaps spreading the Gospel is the way to teach mankind?

Hubble Mosaic of the Crab Nebula

This image is a "Giant Hubble Mosaic of the Crab Nebula", one of the top Yahoo news recently. The size is 6 light-year wide. What a amazing creation. I remind me how small the ability of human. This also remind an incident happened in Joshua Fellowship a few years ago.

In one fellowship gathering, we talked about the 7 days of God creation. I was a bit shock that God create the "Earth" before the "Big Light". They concludec the "Earth" means the planet we are living. And the "Big Light" is the Sun. This conclusion contradict to all of my science common sense. Without Sun, how can the Earth survive? The gravity is gone and the whole Solar system just can't exist? I speaked out my question in the Fellowship. At that time, a person quietly said:

"I believe the Earth did exist before the Sun ..."

"Because the Bible says so!"

What a strong faith. I can only admit I am no match at all. Total respect!

But still, will it be possible that we interpret Bible incorrectly? Can Bible and Science help each other to explore the truth of God's creation?

God-guided Evolution

I used to hear someone argue God-guided Evolution theory ...

"If God can create something from his word, why so troublesome need it to be evolute?"

When I heard that, I have this image in mind: God says: "I want this". Then Boom! You see some smoke, then something is there. See, how easy it is!?

But look at anything in the earth, which are created by God. We never see anything appears with a boom and smoke (except in cartoon). For me, I don't think God show us something in one way. Then use a total different way to create them. So, even the Bible say God created everything from his Word, I tend to believe there is a process in between.

Dilemma

Some Christians like to use logics and science to explain Bible. However, when they found contradictions, they would say sciences has limitation. It gives me an impression of 輸打贏要.

Limbo

I think Christian does not have a clear answer on this either. We don't really know where will people go if they had never heard of Gospel before they die. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051130/od_nm/pope_limbo_dc_1

A quiz on my faith

I always doubt how strong my faith is. A couple days ago it came to a test (or perhaps just quiz).

My daughter was sick for a week. For last several nights, I need to wake up constantly to hold her to ease her nose congestion. Holding a 20 pounds for such a long make my muscle very tired.

Two nights ago, while I were sleeping. Suddenly my whole body was tensed. I couldn't move my arm or legs. My eyes were closed, but I felt an Evil face right on top of me. And heard it said something like ... " I got you this time".

My first impression. This was "Press by Ghost". I never experienced this before. I remember quite clearly the following was it my mind at that time.
1. Man, finally I get this experience
2. I were not worrying too much because never heard people get killed in this situation, but it was uncomfortable feeling.
3. Due to my curiosity, I wanted to open my eyes to see what does "it" really looked like. But I were quite afraid so decided not too.
4. My baby was sleeping next to me (wife slept in different room to gain better rest). I kind of worried what it would do to my baby.

I tried hard to move but I can't. I felt I sweat from head to toes. First I pray God and Jesus to help me. Then I yelled to it, "In my Lord Jesus' name, I command you to get away of me". Actually I was in very high confidence at that time. I was pretty sure "it" will be scared of Jesus name. But it still didn't go away, so I prayed for Jesus mercy again... After a few tries of praying and yelling, it was gone and and I could move again. And then I opened my eye ....

My baby was fine. The room was normal, nothing changed. I touched my face, no sweat. So it seemed to be just a dream, yet so real.

It was a dream most likely. But I were quite glad that I had such confidence in God even if my dream. I think this was a scary yet nice experience.

Question from non-believer

I met a uncle on the Thanksgiving day. He does not believe there is God. I avoid arguing with him as I don't think I am well equipped. His questions are:
1. He won't believe in God until he can see Him.
2. If there is God, he wants to win lotto next week and he will build a church for Him.
3. Bible is not true as it is merely a book written by man.
How would you talk with a person like this?

An important question that bother me for sometimes. Why Christian is told not to read other religious book? Chinese says "Real gold isn't afriad of fire". To understand the ultimate truth shouldn't we read soemthing in different angle !?

My only explanation is because Christianity is faith based. We then should aviod anything that may shake our faith. Man, if this is truth it is quite opposite to my science thinking at work. My brain may need to have switch A/B mode.

Will it be possible that some Bible writers were humorous and put some jokes in between? I always feels Peter is very funny, or at least some description on Peter make me laugh. To extend this thinking, will it be possible that God is also humorous? If there is a lot of joy in heaven, will we find jokes there?

Sometime I think of something, want to ask someone. This passion maybe cool down if I wait until meeting friends in church, so this blog is very helpful. But for today, I don't have any question yet.

Are we searching for God or is God searching for us?

Should we consider Christian a religion or not? Is Christian based on rules like other religions?

When you were a non-believer, what are the words that you feel uncomfortable with?

Can God create a rock that He cannot lift?

If God loves us, why doesn't He allow us to do whatever we want?

Is the God from the Old Testament and New Testament the same God? Old Testament describes wars between Israel and other nations and God was behind the scene. The New Testament describes love and Jesus told us to love one and other.

Probably I should start a constructive blog after being a "Mad Dog Daily Reporter" for some time. I think it is good to collect some Christian Q & A. There is no definitive answer here but I hope we can understand the Bible better.