The Race and the Torch

The Race and the Torch

As you read the Bible, you will find so many references to your life being compared to running a race. We are told to run with patience the race that is before us, always keeping our eyes on Jesus (Heb. 12:1). The next verse then points us to Jesus and the way He lived His life.Carrying the Torch

Paul so often compares life to a race. He told Timothy that “…if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules” (2 Tim. 2:5)—we must get on the track and stay in our lanes! He urged the Corinthians to run the race in such a way that we may obtain the prize. He then contrasted the rewards received in the Grecian games with the one we will receive. “They do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown” (1 Cor. 9:24-26). They received a crown made of olive branches, but we receive the crown of eternal life and righteousness.

Every four years we watch as modern athletes compete for Olympic medals. One of the most exciting races is where teams run relay races by passing the baton from runner to runner. The race is often decided by which team is most successful in passing that baton. If they drop it, they do not stop running but pause long enough to pick it up and then resume the race. Many who watch the races find this one to be the most exciting one.

We use a similar phrase in our culture. In the ancient Greek races, there was a lighted torch passed from one runner to the next. In our day it metaphorically refers to transferring one’s job, knowledge and responsibilities to others when one retires. If you are a Christian, it can refer to you in your spiritual life of service and insuring that when your life ends the work will still be done.

The design of Christianity is for those who are taught to teach others and to teach them to teach others. Paul taught Timothy the gospel and then urged him to take that which he had learned and pass the “torch of truth” to them. “The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2). The torch was passed from Paul to Timothy to faithful men then to others. There is a sense in which we now have that same torch!

Palm Beach Lakes began a century ago, and we celebrate our 100th anniversary. We owe a debt to all those who over the past ten decades have faithfully served the Lord. The torch is now in our hands. We owe a debt to those who have gone before, but we owe an even greater debt to those in the future. God help us to faithfully pass the torch to others!

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Access to God Through Jesus

Access to God through Jesus

In Revelation 4:8, the four living creatures cry out, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” God is holy; He is above and beyond all created things. He is unknowable unless He reveals Himself to us. “For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11). No created thing has direct access to God. “No man has seen God at any time” (John 1:18, 1 John 4:12). Paul affirms this also in 1 Timothy 6:16: “who only hath immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power eternal. Amen.”

This was one of Job’s many problems. He begged for access to God, but never got what he desired. When God showed up, it was not to give Job access, but a stinging rebuke. Job said, “Wherefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:6). Job remained cut off from what He was ultimately seeking from God. He did not find a mediator that could intervene on His behalf before God (Job 9:33).

Job’s problem is all of humanity’s problem. Who may approach God? Thank God for Jesus! He resolves this problem by being both God and man. John wrote further in John 1:18, “the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” Jesus literally interprets who God is for us so that we may know and have access Him. “For through Him we both have our access by one Spirit unto the Father.” (Ephesians 2:18). What a great blessing! If you pray to God today, thank Jesus.

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The Importance of a First Impression

The Importance of First Impressions

Sometimes when you meet a person there is just something about them that sets them apart from others. There are those negative people who impact us in such a way that we find it difficult to see their souls and the potential they may have in Christ. On the other hand, there are those to whom we are immediately attracted, and we want to get to know them better.First impressions

When God became man, He was like us in so many ways. He took on Himself the frailties of mortals, suffered like we do and was tempted in all ways like we are. However, the first impression He made on others could never be forgotten.

When He was only twelve years of age, He was separated from His parents, and they finally found Him in the holy temple talking to the religious leaders. The Bible says that when they found Him, He was “…sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers” (Luke 2:46-47). The first impression He made greatly impacted all those who heard Him.

The same is true of the impression He had on the multitude who heard the Sermon on the Mount. “When Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His teachings, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matt. 7:28-29). In His first discourse in the synagogue in Nazareth, “…all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth” (Luke 4:22). Not all accepted His words in the city where He had grown up, and some of them sought to kill him by throwing Him over a cliff.

He left Nazareth and went and taught in the synagogue in Capernaum for several weeks. What was the impression He made there? “And they were astonished at His teaching for His word was with authority” (Luke 4:32). The story does not end here. Read the gospel account of His life. It happens again and again.

We may not always make the kind of impression Jesus did everywhere He went, but the very fact that we know Him impacts how others see us. Salt that is really salty and light that is not hidden under a bushel impacts all that they touch. The impact that His apostles had on others shows this. Shortly after Pentecost they were arrested and brought before the Jewish counsel. The Bible says, “When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). Think carefully about the first impression you make on others!

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DINOSAURIOS HACE MILLONES DE AÑOS ¡

DINOSAURIOS HACE MILLONES DE AÑOS ¡NO LO CREO! 

Un plato con humo

Descripción generada automáticamente con confianza bajaLa paleontología es la ciencia que se dedica a estudiar los fósiles más antiguos. Es esta misma disciplina la que nos guiará con humildad a un mejor entendimiento de uno de los descubrimientos más trascendentales del último siglo con respecto a los dinosaurios.Dinosaur

Millones de Años.

 En una larga lista de diapositivas Howie Baum compila bastante información presentando su material como “facts” (hechos). En su diapositiva número 7 establece 165 millones de años para la existencia de dinosaurios. [1] Por otra parte Richard Dawkins ha sido una voz muy respetada dentro de las filas del ateísmo como biólogo evolutivo, etólogo y zoológo. [2] El profesor Dawkins aparece en una caricatura  muy jocosa pero con un intertulio real en donde se muestra a Richard Dawkins dando una charla en la Semana de Escritores y Lectores de Wellington. Un dinosaurio aparece en escena y dice que tiene partidas de nacimiento que demuestran que vagaba por la tierra hace unos 6.000 años. Richard Dawkins le dice a la audiencia que no le crean una sola palabra porque los certificados de nacimiento son todos falsos.  Según el profesor los grandes dinosaurios vivieron hace 200 millones de años.[3]

Millones de Años, destrozados por la Ciencia.

La muy reconocida paleontóloga  Mary Schweitzer sacudió la comunidad científica en el 2006 cuando publicó su grandioso descubrimiento y es que después de 68 millones de años” bajo tierra, un Tiranosaurio Rex encontrado en Montana fue desenterrado, el hueso de su pierna fue roto en pedazos y los fragmentos se disolvieron en ácido en el laboratorio de Schweitzer en la Universidad Estatal de Carolina del Norte en Raleigh. “geniales creaturas”, dijo ella, mientras miraba la imagen en la pantalla[4]. Ella descubrió que en los rastros de sangre había células que aún preservaban colágeno entre otros químicos que obviamente no sobreviven millones de años.

De un nuevo estudio publicado en 2015 otro reconocido paleontólogo en “The Nature Communications” y dirigido por Sergio Bertazzo del Colegio imperial de Londres, muestra una vista extremadamente ampliada de una garra de terópodo de 75 millones de años, tomada de la colección del Museo de Historia Natural de Londres. Cuando los investigadores rasparon pequeños trozos del fósil y los observaron con un microscopio electrónico, encontraron estructuras diminutas que se parecen mucho a las fibras de colágeno presentes en nuestros propios ligamentos, tendones y huesos. Claramente esto respaldaba las publicaciones de su colega Mary Schwitzer.  Pero nos preguntamos cual fue la respuesta que obtuvo de la comunidad científica en ese momento. Observe que al igual que este Señor la respuesta de la mayoría fue muy similar es decir; vacía, sin argumentos de peso sino una sabor a frustración. Thomas Holtz le contó al Smithsonian sobre artículo de 2006 en cuanto al descubrimiento de Schweitzer. No hacemos todo este esfuerzo para sacar estas cosas del suelo para luego destruirlas con ácido”.[5]

Millones de Años destrozados por la ciencia…implicaciones.

Pues como hemos notado anteriormente no hay manera razonable de que los dinosaurios daten de miles de millones de años. Los creacionistas parecen tener respaldo bastante solido después de este importante descubrimiento. Algunas implicaciones están en juego y por eso ateos como Richard Dawkins insisten con gran ánimo a que el mundo académico les continué escuchando a pesar de que la evidencia ahora levanta sospechas. Aquí algunas de esas implicaciones.

1.     Fósiles de dinosaurio han sido encontrados en todos los continentes. El hecho de su extinción tras un evento catastrófico y añadido un menor tiempo en vez de millones de años son elementos circunstanciales que compaginan mejor con el relato del diluvio fechado hace unos 6000 años atrás.

2.      Si el relato del diluvio se sostiene no solamente con esto sino en rastros de sedimentos marinos como por ejemplo en el gran cañón del colorado sugiriendo una inundación global, ratificaría a la Biblia como un documento verdadero y auténtico.

3.     Si la Biblia es un documento auténtico la declaración del Génesis en el 1:1 que le atribuye a Dios la existencia de todo sería la disyuntiva que dejaría como falsa la teoría de la evolución. Además, declaraciones acerca de Jesucristo como la de Juan 1:1 y su deidad deberán de ser aceptadas.

4.     Pasajes como Salmos 19:1 estarán en lo correcto al decir que es el necio quien dice en su corazón que no hay Dios. Porque este hecho la ciencia estaría contradiciendo a los “necios” pues no aceptar la validez de la evidencia no es un método científico valido para ser una oposición responsable.

Estas cuatro implicaciones son lo suficientemente fuertes para hacer enojar a los ateos y agnósticos. El mundo antes del diluvio era radicalmente diferente de donde emanaba la violencia y la inmoralidad. En el Nuevo mundo que Dios estaba creando después del diluvio los dinosaurios no podían ser parte. Así que sus huesos son testimonio vivo de que un día Dios tomó una decisión radical y nos afirma que su carácter no ha cambiado y que un día nuestro mundo igual que el de ellos, también llegará a su fin.

REFERENCIAS

1.     https://www.uc.edu/content/dam/refresh/cont-ed-62/olli/dinosaurs.pdf

2.     https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Dawkins

3.     https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22699007

4.     https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/dinosaur-shocker-115306469/

5.     https://www.vox.com/2015/6/9/8748035/dinosaur-fossil-blood-proteins

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Be Married to Christ and Bear Fruit

Be Married to Christ and Bear Fruit

The Bible uses many symbols to describe our relationship with God and Christ. The church is described as a body and Christ is the head (Ephesians 1:22, Colossians 1:18). Christ is King and his people are his kingdom (Revelation 1:5,9). Christ is the cornerstone and the church is the building (1 Peter 2:4-8). Christians are adopted into God’s family and are his sons and daughters (Galatians 4:5-6). The most “mysterious” symbol, however, is that of husband and wife. The apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God” (Romans 7:4). He also references this relationship in Ephesians 525-33.married to Christ

Do you see yourself as married to Christ? Do you own Jesus as your husband? Years ago, evangelist Marshall Keeble encountered a woman who came to be baptized in her wedding dress. He asked her if she wanted to change before she was immersed. She answered that she wanted to marry Jesus in the same clothes that she married her husband. He baptized her, wedding dress and all because she understood what she was doing.

Christians are married to Christ and the church is the bride of Christ. This means that Jesus is our husband. What does a husband do? As Paul says in Romans 7:4, “that we should bear fruit to God.” Just as it is impossible for a woman to bear fruit without a husband, so also, it is impossible for a Christian to bear fruit without Christ! The fruit are our good works in Christ Jesus (John 15:1-8, Galatians 5:22-23). Without Christ, there are no good works.

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