I'm Back!!
~~~~UPDATED
Ok, so college was a lot busier than I expected it to be. Dumb me...getting a highly technical degree and yet still thinking I would have free time. *rolls eyes* Oh well. I'm back in my hometown for the summer now, and I'm ready to dive back into blogging! God poked me this morning about getting involved again and making the most of the technology at my disposal, so here goes. I hope to be writing a lot again, as well as participating in some lively debates. =) Check back often to see what's new. Also, check out my personal blog at:
http://nwtoflorida.blogspot.com
~~~~UPDATED
I have gotten settled in (for the most part) at college, so I think I can safely re-open my blog! I need to do some updating of my profile, but I anticipate writing again soon, so check back often to see what's new!
Ok, so college was a lot busier than I expected it to be. Dumb me...getting a highly technical degree and yet still thinking I would have free time. *rolls eyes* Oh well. I'm back in my hometown for the summer now, and I'm ready to dive back into blogging! God poked me this morning about getting involved again and making the most of the technology at my disposal, so here goes. I hope to be writing a lot again, as well as participating in some lively debates. =) Check back often to see what's new. Also, check out my personal blog at:
http://nwtoflorida.blogspot.com
~~~~UPDATED
I have gotten settled in (for the most part) at college, so I think I can safely re-open my blog! I need to do some updating of my profile, but I anticipate writing again soon, so check back often to see what's new!
posted by Thomas at 5:49 PM
10 Comments:
Cool, Its nice that you have a blog to post things so we can check up on you. lol.
Hello Thomas!Glad to know that you have a blog!It was really interesting to read all you've posted!
Hey! He's back! :)
Can't wait til you start posting again...
Say, Thomas, All this military imagery is going to frighten your new Russian friends. The Russians like athletics. How about some good athletic imagery.
Your politically correct friend.
Athletics is a nice thought, but the spiritual life is not about just "winning the game;" it's about war! That's the whole point of the blog. =)
To everyone else, I apologize for not posting anything yet....I'm working on it!!
Hey cool blog, I'll be looking for your next post.
I find it so strange and disquieting that followers of the "Prince of Peace" are so caught up in the war and military imagery.
Anyone that follows the teachings of Jesus would abhor violence, and the atrocities that war causes.
They couch their words in terms relating to their struggle with rightousness and sin, but are easily swayed into bringing death and distruction to the enemy real or imagined.
Thomas is on a slippery slope believing that war is a nobel cause, not destroying Gods creations.
No one wants to see their family hurt.
"What so ever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do onto me."
It's not a question of politically correct, it's MORALLY correct not to use these terms.
As a fellow who signed up for duty in SE Asia, I thought the Special Forces were true to their motto "Liberators of the Opressed".
However, I was just a hired gun to do someone elses dirty work.
There are some things in life that you cannot "Un-See".
When the true words of God fill your life there is only compassion and kindness for others.
War, even if only a metaphor, has no place, and is an obcenity in and of itself.
Instead of using words like "fighting" and "war" one should strive to seek shelter in God from any evil that encroaches upon us with prayer and mindfulness.
May the peace and blesings of God be upon you all, this day and forever.
Dear friends,
There is a lot of controversy caused by the war in iraq and also (probably partly as a result) by Thomas' use of war analogies to talk about christian living.
War is a terrible thing. Many videos glorify wars, but I believe they are very sad. God didn't invent this world to have wars, but sin entered, and so we will always have wars, in the physical and spiritual realm.
I do not wish to argue about the wars going on in the middle east; I am certainly not knowledgeable enough to debate for either side on that issue :)
We cannot, however, escape the fact that as Christians we are called to spiritual warfare.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace, yes, amen. However, He said, "I have not come to bring peace but a sword" and "Mother will betray daughter and daughter will betray mother because of me" (okay, so I'm not sure I quoted that exactly... it's in matthew 10, I think...) Jesus did promise peace to his followers "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives." (John 14:27)
Does this seem like a huge contradiction?
He gives us His peace, but we still live in a war-torn world.
My brothers, my sisters, we will, because of our faith, be persecuted in the physical and spiritual realms.
There is spiritual warfare that is going on, whether the church wishes to pay attention or not.
But our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, authorities, the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm. (ephesians 6:12)
I'm not saying go out there and fight those who disagree, what I AM saying is recognize that there is spiritual warfare, and we are "soldiers of the Lord". We are commanded to put on our the Full Armor of God (see Eph. 6)
Jesus is Prince of Peace, yes, but the world is being controlled by the prince of darkness. our enemy (in the spiritual realm) is a dangerous one. He fights to control us and make us ineffective for the kingdom and to keep the rest of the world in bondage. We combat this enemy with the Sword of the spirit, the word of God.
Our leader in this battle is our king (see isaiah 59: 15-20, it is so cool!)
As much as my heart yearns for peace in the entire world, and as intense as spiritual battles get, I know it is not time for that type of peace yet. I rest in the peace God gives us, and the strength he gives me to carry on. at the same time, I cannot ignore the spiritual battles going on around me, to do so would let down my brothers and sisters, and would open myself to the enemy's attacks. (but our enemy I am referring to is not flesh and blood. Those flesh and blood "enemies" need to be loved, blessed, and prayed for, as per the command of christ. Even if they comes at us with a sword. But I speak without experience.)
So, to close this long, very rambling comment, I just want to say that we do not need to fear any enemy, because our God is the prince of peace, and do not worry my friends, because when this is all over (and I mean the end of this world) There will be a new heaven and a new earth and the Son will replace the Sun, and He will wipe every tear from your eyes, and there will be no mourning, and we will be at peace.
May the Lord cause his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.
Thanks for the comments, guys. I also need to apologize for not posting more recently. College life is busy...*sigh*.
In terms of spiritual warfare, I would totally agree with Lana's comment. Yes, Jesus is the Prince of Peace, but this means that He will BRING peace, not that He advocates peace at any cost. Think about it. The world will never have peace while Satan and his angels are loose, so there will always be war until the end of time. However, Jesus will bring peace at the end of time when He locks the forces of evil away once and for all.
Wow, you said what I was trying to say in like a tenth of the space! :)
(Perhaps college writing classes will teach me to be more concise...)
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