The Truth

I'm always cold.

Last night as I was walking to the vehicle after the football game, I realized that my toes were totally numb.  I couldn't feel them at all.  But the lowest the temperature got was only in the lower 50's!

When I got home I took of my shoes and socks to find that those little digits were white along with the first half inch of my foot.  I got into a hot shower (which was torture to my hands and toes!) which eventually turned into a hot bath.  

This was not a side-effect that I was anticipating.

On my previous post I mentioned how we are sometimes blind to God's Truth. But this morning I want to talk about that a little more.

We live in a world that bombards us with postmodern ideology. Postmodernism asserts that everything is relative and that there is no absolute truth. In fact, you get to determine "your truth".  

And that's not true.

Sadly, Oprah and Deepak Chopra are popular poster children for luring huge numbers of people to this belief.  And it is a belief system. 

You should know that both Deepak and Oprah deny that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, or the Life.

It is a dangerous ministry in which Oprah and Deepak are engaged.  (The links above will take you to some interesting video of both.)  Don't buy it!

There is truth.

Ravi Zacharias, one of my favorite Christian apologists, offers three tests to determine whether or not something is true:

I suggest that there are three tests to which any system or statement  that makes a claim to truth must be subjected as a preliminary requirement if that statement is to be considered meaningful for debate. Those tests are (1) logical consistency, (2) empirical adequacy, and (3) experiential relevance. 

These three tests provide a high degree of confidence that as they are applied to a system of belief, truth or falsehood can be established. The truth claims of Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam or atheism must all meet these tests. Is there a logical consistency in what is stated? Is there empirical adequacy where its truth claims can be tested? Is there experiential relevance – does it apply meaningfully to my life? 

--Ravi Zacharias, Can Man Live Without God?

Seek the truth. Never be afraid to seek answers when you have doubts. If the Bible is true, we should never have ANY fear in seeking the truth.

Because when you find it...you will find Jesus.

You Are All One

Ugh.  I'm so hungry tonight. 

I walked around the mall with my daughter this evening looking for homecoming shoes with my stomach growling. 

At dinner tonight my family was asking me what I want to eat for my first meal at the end of this project.  I don't even know.  How can I narrow it down to one food or even one meal?  Honestly, hot fresh bread and butter sounds good.

It's been an emotional few days.  Since Sunday I have had people each day call, email, or come see me to tell me how much my message during worship meant to them.  I can't explain how humbling that is.

This afternoon one of the older men of my congregation told me that a group of men meet every afternoon at McDonalds...and that they were "inspired" by the words that God gave me to share.  Wow. 

With my personal struggle of being a woman in ministry and wrestling with the Bible's words on this matter, the support and encouragement of older Christian men is huge.

Another older man from my congregation called tonight to offer similar words of encouragement.  He made it clear that his feelings were not just his...but that his friends had expressed the same.  And then he asked me to teach his Sunday School class one day next month.  (How could I say no?)

After each of these encounters today, I cried.  I just can't express how it feels to know that God is using me to reach others.  These people weren't moved by MY words, they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 

This encouragement might have come through man but it is proof to me that God has blessed my ministry and will use me to further His Kingdom.

I am grateful.

Physical Hunger or Heart Hunger?

Good news!  Today was easier.  I had energy and didn't struggle with food fantasies.

What made the difference?  Advice from a fellow student:

I just read through your blog. I once was in a bible study that focused on searching out "true hunger" (heart hunger vs physical hunger) by realizing signs of physical hunger (stomach growls, stomach pain, headache) instead of heart hunger (thoughts of food, thinking of desires, projecting our love for Christ on to other things). 

The solution the bible study offered was to feed yourself in the Word, write scripture, meditate on it, memorize it... And keep doing it until the temptation goes away. Sometimes temptation is short-lived sometimes long. Use the Word--as food, a weapon against the enemy, for comfort, etc. 

What amazing advice!  I have little experience with fasting and, although I've read lots on fasting, implementing the same concepts to this challenge had not yet entered my mind.  My last post on making sure my focus is on God (and not me) along with this advice on turning to Him (rather than turning inward and giving into fantasies or simply trying to use will-power) have worked together to give me a new outlook and a renewed excitement for the task at hand.

Other than scripture, there isn't much help greater than the counsel of other Christians.

Not to mention...one should never underestimate the power of prayer.