Tiger's Milk Bars....and other musings

Do you ever come across a time in your life when you just think to yourself, "Man, I am very funny. Like for reals." I haven't had one of those times yet, but I imagine a time when that fantasy becomes a glorious reality.

I have gotten close, like the times I point out the ridiculous connotations that food brands promote. For example, yelling really loud in the middle of the supermarket that Tiger's Milk doesn't really sound that appetizing, wondering aloud what is next, Whale Milk? I have actually been a strong proponent of introducing whale milk to the general public. I mean, think about it, whales are huge, so milk from them will be greatly abundant. Whales are mammals too, so they can't be ALL that different from cows or goats or other milk bearing creatures. We may be able to stop world hunger....err....thirst, with the advocation of whale milk, but I digress.

Other times, I may verge on humor by pointing out something usually pretty obvious, but still sort of unusual. "One of your socks is longer than the other!" is one of my favorites, but when people wear pants, thus hiding their socks from view, I do not get to employ it. At these outbursts, some people laugh, but not enough for me to be funny.

I also like to dance funny, but that just makes me look stupid, so don't ask me to dance.

I believe my best attempt at comedy is found in my random notes that I leave for people around the office, such as this one I wrote for my friend Bry,
"Bry,
If we were lost on a frozen planet I would allow you to cut open my stomach with a lightsaber and scoop out my entrails so you could sleep in my still-warm corpse, keeping you safe for the night. That's how much you mean to me.
Stephen"

True, I realize I "borrowed" the essential first half-hour of The Empire Strikes Back, but I believe this showcases my potential.

Or this one I wrote for my friend Emma,

"Dear Emma,
You remind me of Raisin Bran cereal, only instead of two scoops of raisins, you have two scoops of friendship. Not sure how much a scoop is.
Love,
Stephen"

I am still not sure how much "a scoop" is, but I trust it is a substantial amount for it to be a selling point of the cereal.

Ssee what I mean? While I know you didn't think in your mind, "Wow, this guy is really funny," you maybe chuckled at a point or two along the way. But this doesn't qualify me, at least in my own mind, to be considered funny.

Over time, I have come to realize my capactiy for humor arises out of situations. I cannot create funny on my own. Abundant humor does not flow from me as it does some of my other friends, *cough Jon, *cough. I must have outside aid from the world, after which I pounce on it like a lioness would a sickly gazelle, only the lioness is a lion that is me, and the sickly gazelle is comedic situations.

On another note, I really like the movie Homeward Bound, but it always makes me cry for some reason. Darn you, Shadow. I always knew you could make it out of that mud pit. You ARE NOT too old!

Michael J. Fox was the bulldog.

The Second Coming Of Christ

Speculation abounds in Christian circles concerning the Second Coming of Christ: what it entails, when it will be, who will be involved, what will specifically happen- and unfortunately this information is not revealed in the Bible. What we can know about the return of Jesus does not come from formualation, theorizing, and date-setting, but from what is said in the Scriptures, and this is not very extensive. Firstly, "...the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night." (I Thes. 5:2) The second coming of Christ will be sudden and unexpected. Akin to the Genesis flood, Jesus says, "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark." People will be going about business as usual, nothing will seem out of the ordinary, but this will be the time the Son returns. Many dates have been proposed to be that of the Lord's return, but they have all been proved false. Only God knows the time he has chosen for his return to earth. Secondly, the Lord's return will be visible and physical. Just after Christ's ascension, two angels told the gathered disciples that Jesus will "come in the same way [they saw] him go," (Acts 1:11) that is, descending from heaven. Revelation tells us that "he is coming in the clouds, and every eye shall see him." (1:7) It will not merely be a manifestation of Christ or aspects of himself, i.e. his teaching, or morality, but the physical resurrected Jesus of Nazareth, crucified and risen. (Grudem 1092) Thirdly, the second coming of Christ will have eventual eternal results, judgement for the unbeliever and eternal life for the believer. Jesus will establish a new heaven and new earth, and the old will be destroyed with fire, ushering in eternity of fellowship with God for the righteous, and eternity of separation from God for the unrighteous. (Grudem 1095)
What should the Christian do with this knowledge, albeit not the most intimate as there are some things we simply cannot know, surrounding Christ's return? How should he live based on what he can discern from the Bible and the Holy Spirit? Many Christians believe that a sense of urgency should arise, a need to create intentional relationships with unbelievers. I disagree. I believe that attitude should already be prevalent. I believe that the Second Coming of Christ should effect no major change in a true believer's life. It is unknown when Christ will return, thus I believe he could arrive at anytime. Who are we to say something must precede his coming? In a way, is that not date-setting? Our Great Commission from the Lord, given in Matthew, is "go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit."(Matthew 28:19) I believe this should not change in the face of the Second Coming, but that it should fuel our desire to see more people come to know the power and grace of the Lord. Our desire to see God glorified through changed lives, should increase in intensity due to the uncertainty of the times. As I mentioned before, intentional relationships are key, that is, living in such a way that you are an intentional witness to an unbelieving world for the Lord Jesus, above reproach and properly displaying the love and grace of Christ. Words should be spoken without fear. Acts of kindness, mercy, and grace should be done with love and an emboldened spirit. Conversations and lifestyles must reflect a change of mind, heart, and soul, one that God effects. The Second Coming should not change the way you live your Christianity out in the day-to-day world. It should be preached as a comfort to those already saved, not as a tactic to win converts. People need to see the alteration from sin that a personal relationship with the Lord brings about. That is true witness.

Spiritual Warfare

by Stephen Byrne
Verses taken from Holy Bible, New International Version
Citations (where noted) from Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem

Spiritual warfare is often not realized or not understood properly amongst Christian communities, even ones strong in the Lord. What is spiritual warfare? Spiritual warfare is the battle between the armies of the Lord and the armies of Satan for one, and I also see it as the struggle between righteousness and unrighteousness, both within an individual person's soul and conscience and in the unseen spiritual realm. How should a believer respond and act accordingly to the concept and actuality of spiritual warfare?

First, understand who the enemy is. The Bible tells us as believers our fight is not "against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12) We war against the devil and those spiritual forces who place their lot with him, not against man here on earth. The devil is the prince of this sinful world. (John 14:30) Revelation 12:10 calls the devil our accuser, the one who before God decries our sins and declares us unworthy of salvation. Our enemy is strong, and we cannot defeat him alone, but our Lord is stronger, and with Christ we can triumph. Christ declares in John 16:33, "Take heart for I have overcome the world." Our enemy is also the evil desires within us, the carnal desires of the old self that war with the new self given in Christ, as well as the temptations the sinful world creates for us. (Grudem 421) (Romans 6) (I Cor. 10:13) The fight is difficult, but our God is faithful.

Second, understand what the battle is ultimately about. The battle is not for land, for resources, or any reason a human war may be staged, but for the ultimate destination and condition of human souls. Satan, desiring to have plenty of company in hell, wages battle with "great wrath, knowing he has but a short time" (Rev. 12:12); whereas, the Lord desires all to be saved, and for none to experience separation from him in hell. (I Tim. 2:4) This battle should not be mistaken to be between those of equal powers, however. Satan is infinitely inferior to God, and the Lord is already victorious and will be even more so in times to come and passes this victory onto us, his children, through Jesus. (I Cor. 15:57) Thus, the believer can walk in strength and fearlessness, for their God is in control and has assured victory. Through this victory, Christ has given us the authority to withstand and rebuke these supernatural enemies. (Luke 9:1) This authority stems from Christ's championing death on the cross, and this also provides us the basis to engage in spiritual warfare, as a member of God's family. We do not have anything to fear in demons. (Grudem 428) The Holy Spirit in us is stronger than any demonic power or strength, (I John 4:4) and has given us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love. (2 Tim. 1:7)

Finally, what is the Christian's responsibility in spiritual warfare, if the battle is already won? We have an opportunity to minister to those conflicted in spiritual warfare, whether through counsel, prayer, or direct intervention. (Grudem 430-431) In order to be effective in our ministry, we need to be walking with God and take full advantage of the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling us. (Grudem 432) In victory over our spiritual enemy, it is vital we should not rejoice that we have triumphed over demons, but that we have salvation in heaven. (Luke 10:20) Christians also need to utilize opportunities in ministry to those spiritually oppressed to preach the Gospel, yet in every instance, whether a new convert is won or not, give full glory to Jesus. (Grudem 433).

Spiritual warfare can be a complex subject, because of its difficult concept, as well as its intensity. However, it is important the Christian be aware of it, since it affects his own spiritual walk and his witness to unbelievers. With Christ the victory is already won, but many lost souls are caught between the warring factions, and many are on the losing side. For the Christian, the battle is best fought on his knees, his best weapon the power of prayer.