Tag Archives: 2019 Biblical Faith

Christian Soapbox

I Don’t Follow Jesus

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I Don’t Follow Jesus

“What!? No.” I know what you’re thinking, but I’m not trolling you. And remember, even though I don’t follow Jesus … keep loving people like He did and treat them as you want to be treated. Don’t try and scroll down to see what my aim is here. Does it surprise you? I mean…

I think John L. Cooper said it best—

“More and more of our outspoken leaders or influencers who were once “faces” of the faith are falling away. And at the same time they are being very vocal and bold about it.” (link)

And it only makes sense according to the Christian Post—

“Back in the 1930s, only 5% of Americans did not identify with any religion. In 1990 that number had risen to 8%, a modest increase after more than half a century.

But these last years have brought a dramatic change. By 2008, the number of Americans not identifying with any religion had risen to 12%, and by 2012, it had risen to 20%, with the number among millennials around 30%.” (link)

So this should not come as a surprise to you if it does. Especially if you’ve read how dark my previous post was. I mean, come on. I’ve been in the pits of unquenchable fire and suffering. I guess now the question is whether I truly EVER followed after Jesus? Some might think that my believing was in vain and only wanted something to gain. That I NEVER truly believed.

I would disagree and counter you misunderstand the enlightenment of your own faith or have not been enlightened to the truth of the gospel altogether. Just because you read that I don’t follow after Jesus does not mean that I wasn’t enlightened by the truth of the gospel, see I still know the truth and that is what should make this statement alarming.

The real question is—

Can the person turned away from their faith in Christ re-enter the Christian faith?

Sense we are talking about me because I’m selfish. The answer to that question for me is “no” because in my case I’ve confessed to taste the heavenly gift that made me a partaker of the Holy Spirit. So it is impossible for me to be renewed again to repentance since I again crucify to myself the Son of God and put Him to open shame. Don’t believe me, check out Hebrews chapter 6 in your Bible.

It is the Holy Spirit through the inspired words of the Bible that speak with authority … I’m just a messenger.

That is what happened to Judas Iscariot. Judas held onto his thievery at heart, did not confess this sin. To do this leaves the “believer” (by association) in this case, Judas Iscariot, vulnerable to Satan’s influence (John 12:4-6) and ultimate possession. This is why it is so important for professing Christians to not sell their soul for the cost of their sin not confessed.

38 John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. 40 For he who is not against us is for us. 41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward. (Mark 9)

49 John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us.” 50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is ]for you.” (Luke 9)

I’ll confess that I used this title to especially peak the interest of those who thought they knew me to catch them like a fish. Because it’s the kind of friend I am, it’s what I do, that’s my humor and getting a rise out of my friends is quite fun, I admit. Not with the intention of destruction of course, then there would be an issue.

I wasn’t lying about not following Jesus, but I do follow after Jesus with all my heart, soul, strength, and mind. So brothers and sisters in the faith, don’t hinder me just because I’m not following after the style of gospel in you. Don’t hinder me just because you think there are enough christian resources out there for me to get plugged into one without having to startup a recourse of my own. Don’t hinder me…

In Love.

Nathan Dooley

Christian Soapbox

The “Bridge” Illustration (Introduction)

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Featured photo: Ben Jacobi www.bdjphoto.com  (Natural Bridge)

 

The Bridge Illustration

(Introduction)

Let there be curiosity.

Do you ever wonder about your beginning?  Your parents’ parents, their parents, on and on? And how about your existence, living at this present time with a detailed conscience that defines who you are and whats more; a consciousness about yourself, others, and God? What about your end, when you die? Do you wonder about that? Or how about the future, the end of your children and their grandchildren? Are you wondering, will you wonder…?

Before the Beginning of Man

Moses of the Bible was a man who wondered. He wondered at the sight of a burning bush (Exodus 3) that would not be consumed. This bush changed Moses’ life! I can hear you christian critics now “it wasn’t the bush…” neh neh neh

 

 

 

 

 

tenor

 

Disclaimer: I (Nathan Dooley) am not an ordained minister…yet. It could happen one day. Just saying.

 

 

And I would agree with you…definitely not the “bush” that changed his life; it was the appropriate tangible object to use for the presence of God and His awareness to a specific problem which Moses’ gets insight, clarification, prophecy, and power to be a solution. He became the man [vessel, or instrument of God] to deliver his fellow Hebrew people, the people of God, Israel, from Egyptian slavery to a promised land of milk and honey. He brought forth what we are now dissecting in the 21st century (Exodus 34:27)—the first five books (Genesis—Deuteronomy) of the Pentateuch (Greek) or Torah (Hebrew) Bible. The scripture in the photo above gives me a bit of insight into what Moses discovered from God, the beginning before the beginning of man (Genesis 2:4-6). If you have not realized by now, this is not your typical “”the “bridge” illustration”” you’d find through research as shown below:

bridge ill research

Which is some awesome content worth looking into! But I want to go further and deeper because this bridge stretches “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12)…

…, from past to future, beginning…to end.

To get back where I’d left off. I think it’s important to note that Moses had a very important entrepreneurial trait, he was a risk taker. When realizing that the bush was not consumed by the fire could’ve reacted like “AWE HAIL NAW, NOPE, NOT HAPPEN-IN!” and ran away. But he didn’t do that; it was more like, “let me check this here awesome burning but not burnt bush out, mmm-kay.”. Funny aside, actually, and quite literally according to the NASB of Exodus 3:3—”I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.”

QUESTION:

WHAT IS A RISK YOU’VE TAKEN OR WOULD TAKE THAT HAS OR WOULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE? WRITE IT IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.

Take a risk with me now. For those of you who do not believe or are otherwise on the fence about believing in God, this is your burning bush moment. Your name is being called. Go meet God. Matter of fact, envision this:

You type “Go meet God” in your google maps (which could also be your nearest “Barnes & Noble” or “Half Price Books” that have Bibles available) and then hear my navigating voice upon your arrival at a Bible location, “you have arrived at your burning bush”. Get it, instead of “destinat…

weird face

Alright never-mind, that was weird, scratch that:

You type “Go meet God” in your google maps (which could also be your nearest “Barnes & Noble” or “Half Price Books” that have Bible’s available) and then hear my navigating voice upon your arrival at a Bible location, “you have arrived at your burning bush”. Get it, instead of “destinat…moving on.

 

But seriously. Take the risk to go meet God. Check out this link for the BibleGateway, or install the YouVersion bible app on your phone, find your nearest library or book store; it’s all at your finger tips, but read the Bible to hear the Word of God and listen with all that you are and everything you’ve got (heart, mind, soul, and strength). Why take the risk? You might ask. Because death pricks at the conscience of the living. Our life is an experience that feels on fire, yet not consumed. I believe that death bears testimony of a wrong doing in history where we as a created being of God missed the mark and are due justice. I also believe that God was completely prepared for such an event and that is where we’ll find Christ, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let this introduction of the bridge illustration peak your interest to discover your faith and take the risk to believe in the God of the Bible, the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because without faith to believe, you will not understand what is to come. Thank you for reading the >introduction<! Now go meet God and I’ll hope your back for <part 1>!

Christian Soapbox

Preaching from Heaven

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Featured photo: Ben Jacobi www.bdjphoto.com 

Soon the season will change and with it its’ colors. As the weather turns cold, the leaves of the trees fall to the ground with a message from heaven. One leaf says, “This is what it’s like to fly.” How can this leaf bring a message of flying having never flown? The leaf says, “If you knew the tree of which I fell, you would know what it’s like to fly.” There are many trees and leaves and every leaf comes from one tree. Of all the trees and leaves, why is it that this leaf seems to know what it’s like to fly and not the others? The leaf says, “Because those leaves came from only trees of which know what it’s like to fall.”

Search the menu to learn the game. Without any research or bible, guess the book and chapter to the scripture verses above; comment below, shoot a text or email. I’ll be in touch.