CMZ Blogz

Mr. Atheist, It's My Turn

2009-10-22T18:06:00.008-04:00

Atheist:

"The bible, and Christianity, is full of hate, murder, rape, stoning, killing, sacrifice, fear, anger, jealousy, ridiculous laws and bigotry. It encourages slavery; rape; murdering others; war; blindly worshiping a hateful, jealous god who is neither omnipotent, omniscient nor omnipresent; misogyny and retribution, among many other amoral activities and traits. It is not historically accurate throughout, and steals heavily from neighboring, competing religions of the time.

The bible, and Christianity, is inflexible and close-minded, especially against any contradiction to it. So we went through millennium ofrepression and the Dark Ages because the church destroyed or hoarded all books and learning. Where would we be if we had never experienced the fear and ignorance of the Dark Ages? Much further along than now, that's for sure. In my opinion, religion is brainwashing: evil and harmful."

(he says a bunch of other stuff too)

*** The Response (in love you see) ***

Interesting views. I have a few minutes so I thought I'd share some thoughts. I believe in the book as you call it. Though I have not alwaysbeen a believer I am now not simply because someone says this is the truth, but because I have experienced hearing the word and it being activated in my life.

Here are a few mis-conceptions:

1. Not all, but a lot of Church's in fact, are dry and do not preach/teach properly because the spirit of God is no where around. -the Bible speaks clearly about spirits/demons/powers/ principalities etc. The Holy Spirit is the only one that glorifies Christ whom intercedes to the Father. John 14:16, John 16:13.

2. You cannot prove anything. Don't be confused thinking you will get far either side of the conversation. Because The Bible also teaches that those who have hardened hearts will not see the truth anyways. Take Ex 4:21 for example. Or even Pharaoh.

3. God is not always gentle. God is love, but don't confuse the kindness for weakness. If you see the examples in the old testament of floods and people getting stoned it's because that was the price of sin. God is Holy and Just. Because of our sin we have disconnected ourselves with the Creator; we were never made to be without relationship with the

Father.

4. God loved us so much He sent Jesus Christ. God made a way that we could reconnect with Him and gave the purest example of just how much He cares. Through the life, teachings, and blood of Jesus Christ we can have forgiveness and as we adapt the mind and spirit that is Jesus Christ we get more power over the worlds influences to do things contrary to what God requires of us. John 3:16

5. Many believers mis-represent the gospel of Jesus Christ and turn many further from it or those who already believe get discouraged. (In response to the story you shared of your friend who kids were misbehaving and parents doing drugs.) Maybe they were recently saved and God has begun a work in them, not for any of us to judge. But I'm here to tell you there is a remnant, a body of believers that have relationship and not religion.

I know that I was at a low point in my life and no one else came through for me except calling out the Jesus Christ. I'm connected to a spirit lead ministry now and the power of God is apparent and undeniable. Witchdoctors and Shamans in Africa even start believe in Christ because they see a power greater than theirs. I pray you all would see 20/20. God loves you that much He made a way to come back, that is absolutely loving, poetic, and everything else you say it's not.

Something I think about is when I didn't believe many years ago, I never made it a point to disprove other peoples beliefs. I wonder what is your drive to disprove Christ and not someone else like Allah? The Bible says you cannot serve two masters, either you serve the true living God or you serve the world which is enmity with God. Rom 8:7. Sin will only focus on destroying, confusing, and stealing that which is truly of God ...that's why.

Peace.

Press to Pray! - a personal cry to the Lord

2009-07-12T19:03:00.001-04:00

God what is it going to take to get us to pray. I don't want to fall asleep like the disciples did in the greatest

time of need for prayer. If we don't pray, we will die spiritually, our relationship with the Lord will slip away, and no friends nor family nor anyone else will get a chance to see that Jesus Christ still lives, God's real, and life after death is very certain. Real believers pray, period. Lord help us.

That is my cry to God to help me to pray.

Not a 'say grace for the food' prayer. I mean pray for the vision and for souls to be saved.

Openly I declare I believe and am not ashamed, ever. I need His grace to even pray. I don't care what anyone thinks of me. I look at the men in the Bible and they didn't care for anything except one thing, "Lord what do you say about me." What is your purpose for my life, I must lose the desire to be in control. I must lose my image and be in your image. I don't want what the world offers. I only desire to have a mindset that searches and longs for what God wants.

Prayer and humility, to be humble before the Lord, and fasting is the only thing that can break the fleshly grip on our minds. Believers that don't pray are lead astray. Read, pray, reach.

James 4:10 - Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

-- Reaching out to others with the gospel of Jesus Christ is a humbling method for me. It is also an expectation God has on us believers, so more can know Him in a real way.

-- He will lift you up, in other words God is able to restore our joy and strengthen us by His indwelling spirit. But first we draw near, humbled, mourning, and asking for forgiveness.

-- It's so easy to get off track, thinking we can live on our own. Just be quick to repent and recognize the wrong turn, then swiftly turn back to God for direction again!

Philippians 1:21 - to live is Christ, to die is gain

-- Die to yourself and your selfish ways and to take on the mind of Christ. Paul is saying this is gain.

John 3:30 - He must increase, but I must decrease.

-- Put God first always. Less about me and more about Him. What He wants, what He desires, what pleases Him.

-- Besides. Who are we among millions of others? Always trying to make a name for ourselves and even if we achieve we still are yet another dieing star. After the cameras and lights, fame and fortune. You're back to being as naked as you were when you came into the world. Galatians 6:3 - "For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself."

-- Our expectation of return on what we do for the Lord should not be selfish. Knowing our name is in the book of Life is enough. God never promised by reference to riches. Though sometimes a man of God is blessed substantially and there is nothing wrong with that. Let's just make sure our character is right and our value and our heart is set on what is eternal!

*Now go spend time with God and read the Bible! (as if I'm almost talking to myself, I'll be taking my own advice)*

http://www.biblegateway.com

CMZ

Barely Held Together

2009-06-02T18:32:00.000-04:00

I'm just going to get right into it. I like my job and I enjoy working with everyone in my department which both are important if you don't want to be at work all day only wishing you were at home. Today at work I have finally seen the unveiling truth about the workplace.

Let's just say I still like my job. . .

I have been so naive. Why have I denied for so long that people are not backstabbing, smile in your face, pretentious tyrants? I must have been living in a fantasy world where people go to work and actually have people in leadership positions because they know how to lead. In this world you also smile at your co-workers because you're happy to see them and not because you gotta show "face" and play the "game" they call brown-nose.

Someone please run my blood through a freezer to lower it down from boiling point because I'm trying to understand what would drive a person to accuse you of some things just to cover their own butt. Don't bother correcting them, even in the nicest way or you'll just get the 'gameface' look and the gators will come out to eat you later.

My friends (Christian friends) say, "it really shouldn't be that way, but it is," and another commented "haha, you are still just a puppy Christopher." Well, what does this all mean? Because I have no problem doing what I'm asked to do by the boss. But, when the boss wants to jump into the department which they don't know the first thing about, I'm suppose to shut my mouth and play by the new rules? What happened to me getting a say? I guess democracy doesn't fall far from the tree.

Okay so my conclusion is I'm just going to go to work, do my job, smile even if it's not how I feel, make small talk that earns me bonuses, and eat crap to keep the flies away!

..I still like my job. And the people I work with, but please Lord don't let me say what I really want to say, because I will regret it later.

Or maybe I can just find a way to say, "why don't you let the people that actually do the job select a leader to decide what would benefit the department and customer care," ..in love.

okay, CMZ out.

Don't Celebrate Prop 8

2009-05-27T00:51:00.000-04:00

CNN is doing a special on Prop8 and has news about the protesting in California (about gay rights to marriage if you don't know). -- Well I do plan to write a blog about this, in the meantime let me tell you what this is going to boil down too. -- God can honor a man and woman becoming one, but if you choose same-sex marriage, then just have the state give you a certificate but God is not in it! period. your thought?

As it has becoming a touchy subject to some and to others they have already taken a side. As a believer in Jesus Christ I obviously oppose gay marriage. But for everyone that may be confused about why you are hearing so called "Christians" out there say it's okay, I plan to clarify this. don't be confused. Christ would never stand for it.

They will say "oh God is love and he loves everyone and the same-sex can love one another too." It is true that God is love, but the same God that is full of love, grace, and forgiveness, also destroy Sodom and Gomorra and also flooded the earth.

If you have a same-sex partner, I want to encourage you that Jesus does love you and He's mercy and grace are sufficient for you, but repent and ask for help to change. The truth will set you free.

People can not judge you and Christian's especially should not point finger. I know myself included I wonder how God even continues to allow me to live. Be reconciled back.