Mine survivor

The sole miner survivor released one last comment about the tragedy. I find this lines are pretty touching and inspiring:

"We were worried and afraid, but we began to accept our fate," he wrote. "Junior Toler led us all in the Sinners Prayer" — a prayer for salvation of one's soul.

McCloy wrote. "The last person I remember speaking to was Jackie Weaver, who reassured me that if it was our time to go, then God's will would be fulfilled."

All 12 trapped miner died except Randal McCloy, who had been in comma for about a month after the tragedy.

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Why God wanted to become human

Someone asks me this old question: Why God need to turn himself into human (Jesus) to save us?

My interpretation of the question is: why God need to use such strange way to save human being? Any practical reason? My answer is to show HIS Love. And in the old time people need to kill animal to erase their sin. So Jesus do it all using his holy blood. But my answer isn't too convincing I guess ...

But now I have question too. In the old testimony, why need to kill animal to erase our sin? It is not their fault. And they have animal right too.

What can we do?

What can we do/not do as a Christian?
1. Can we watch movies?
2. Can we smoke?
3. Can we drink wine?
4. Can we play mahjong/Big 2?
5. Can we play video games?
6. Can we become a businessman?
7. Can we become insurance agent, financial adviser or any job based on commission?
8. Can a Pastor drive a sport car?

I won't list every possible question.  However, we've got to find a general rule of thumb on these issues.

Applications

This is a quote from Pastor Paul Sheppard on a radio promo:
"Stop talking to people who have your problems and start talking to people who have your solutions."
While this sounds right, do we have any Bible reference for this?

singing

When we sing a song in church, quite often the music lead asks people to sing like this:
- girls sing 1st part
- guys sing 2nd part
- then sing together

Any particular reason we like to do this so often? I think of a few:

1. let people to catch a breath
2. so we know how bad guy can sing
3. more variety
4. Bible teach us to do so !?

The World? The Spirit?

1 John 2:15-16:
15 不要愛世界和世上的東西。人若愛世界，愛父的心就不在他裡面了。
16 原來世上的一切，就如肉體的私慾，眼目的私慾和今生的驕傲，都不是出於父，而是從世界來的。

Romans 12:2:
2 不要模仿這個世代，倒要藉著心意的更新而改變過來，使你們可以察驗出甚麼是　神的旨意，就是察驗出甚麼是美好的、蒙他悅納的和完全的事。

Ephesians 2:2:
2 那時你們在過犯和罪惡中行事為人，隨著時代的潮流，也服從空中掌權的首領，就是現今在悖逆的人身上運行的靈。

John 15:19-20:
19 你們若屬於這世界，世人必定愛屬自己的；但因為你們不屬於世界，而是我從世界中揀選了你們，所以世人就恨你們。
20 你們要記住我對你們說過的話：‘僕人不能大過主人。’他們若迫害我，也必定迫害你們；他們若遵守我的話，也必定遵守你們的話。

Romans 14:1-6,12,15,23:
1 你們要接納信心軟弱的人，不要論斷引起爭論的事。
2 有人相信所有的食物都可以吃，信心軟弱的人卻只吃蔬菜。
3 吃的人不要輕看不吃的人，不吃的人也不要批評吃的人，因為　神已經接納他了。
4 你是誰，竟然批評別人的家僕呢？他或站穩或跌倒，只和自己的主人有關；但他必定站穩，因為主能夠使他站穩。
5 有人認為這日比那日好，也有人認為日日都是一樣；只要各人自己心意堅定就可以了。
6 守日的人是為主守的，吃的人是為主吃的，因為他感謝　神；不吃的人是為主不吃，他也感謝　神。
12 這樣看來，我們各人都要把自己的事向　神交代。
15 如果你為了食物使你的弟兄憂愁，你就不再是憑著愛心行事了。你不可因著你的食物，使基督已經替他死了的人滅亡。
23 但如果有人存著疑惑的心去吃，他就被定罪了，因為他不是出於信心。凡不是出於信心的，都是罪。

James 4:11-12:
11 弟兄們，不要互相毀謗；人若毀謗弟兄，或判斷弟兄，就是毀謗律法、判斷律法了。如果你判斷律法，就不是實行律法的人，而是審判官了。
12 立法的，審判的，只有一位，就是那能拯救人，也能毀滅人的　神；你這判斷鄰舍的，你是誰呢？

1 Corinthians 6:12:
12 甚麼事我都可以作，但不是都有益處。甚麼事我都可以作，但我不要受任何事的轄制。

Philippians 4:11:
11 我並不是因為缺乏才這樣說：我已經學會了，無論在甚麼情況之下都可以知足。

Genesis 1:28

1:28 And God gave them his blessing and said to them, Be fertile and have increase, and make the earth full and be masters of it; be rulers over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing moving on the earth.

1:28 神 就 賜 福 給 他 們 、 又 對 他 們 說 、 要 生 養 眾 多 、 遍 滿 地 面 、 治 理 這 地 ． 也 要 管 理 海 裡 的 魚 、 空 中 的 鳥 ． 和 地 上 各 樣 行 動 的 活 物 。

Sometimes I feel Genesis 1:28 is the 1st task God gave mankind. But in recent years, I heard all the news about global warning. Sometimes I wonder, do we all screw up God's 1st assignment to us?

Global Warming Capable Of Sparking Mass Species Extinctions

Quarter of Species Gone by 2050

Limit Atonement

I remembered someone mentioned about this concept long time ago.  But I forgot until today bible class.  Jesus died for the believers only.  How does this conflict with the Bible?

Can you feel the Love

A few years ago, I often chat with a co-worker, who has a daughter, about childcare stuff. She expressed the strong relationship between her and her daughter. I told her I can UNDERSTAND the love between a mother and a daughter. But I can not FEEL it.

Now I become a father, I can feel this love. It is totally different than just understanding it.

I am thinking about my relationship with God. I read Bible and listen sharing from bro/sis. I have no doubt that Jesus has deep love to me and everyone in this world. But do I really feel his love? How do I feel more his love?

Once Saved Always Saved

We had a Bible Study last Friday and we touched on this topic again.

The passage we studied was Hebrew 6:6-8. Our understand of the passage was that once you put shame on the name of Jesus, you are nailing Jesus on the cross again. There will be no way out.

Guess who?

"It is fascinating. In the West, you have bigger homes, yet smaller families; you have endless conveniences -- yet you never seem to have any time. You can travel anywhere in the world, yet you don't bother to cross the road to meet your neighbours," he said.

Do you think the above words are quite meaningful? Can you guess who say that?

Dalai Lama.

I am not a big fan of Dalia Lama but sometimes I feel what he says is quite insightful. Now as usual I have a question: Is it OK for a Christian to like words from other religious figure?