Follow-up to my stance on same-sex civil unions

Hi Everyone,

I recently posted an article outlining my views on same-sex civil unions.

It was never my intention to make claims or try to convince anyone. I was simply explaining my current viewpoint to those friends who asked for it. The link was only given to people via private message.

I have since recognised that my words may have offended or distanced some people, and for that I am sorry.

I want to thank everyone who commented or wrote back to me. I value your insight highly. I have recognised that in certain areas my viewpoints were simply incorrect, and I will take the time to educate myself further on this issue, and re-align my ideas where necessary.

All the best,
Chris

Growth, Wisdom, Perfection, Evolution and Being Wrong.

I am currently thinking about these two blog posts and how they relate to my own nature.

http://vialogue.wordpress.com/2008/07/11/the-blogospheres-puberty-choir-jesus-creeds-advice-to-young-bloggers/

http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/2011/06/did-you-see-garances-post-yesterday.html

Throw into that mix this video. Not a great public speaker, but she does have a point worthy of meditation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QleRgTBMX88

Hot Pursuit

Let me be consumed with zeal.

YouVersion

I've been using the YouVersion iPhone bible reader app for quite a while now, but just realised tonight that the YouVersion website is sweet!

Signup for free and start posting notes on scriptures as you read them. Then connect with me:
http://www.youversion.com/users/chris-gillis

Recommitment

Me to God.

Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

Tonight I lay before the Throne of The Almighty. This is where I belong. This is where my heart finds rest. If I could be granted only one request, it would be that I might lie here for eternity.

On Eschatology

The book of the Revelation of St John is a rather bizarre and incomprehensible book. It is clear that in some respects it is a picture of the relationship of God and the Church. It is also clear that it is predictive of future events.

The issue is that it doesn't describe these future events plainly. Rather it uses a style of writing referred to as "apocalyptic". It is full of metaphor and word pictures. Combine the style of writing with the natural understanding difficulties caused by language and culture differences between then and now, and it is rather difficult to speculate about the exact way events will occur. That has not stopped people from trying. Many Christians seem to be obsessed with unearthing the secrets of the way things will occur.

Here is something to think about. History has already shown us this scenario. The Old Testament is full of references to the future Christ. One of the clearest is in Isaiah 52-53, but it is only clear in hindsight. Instead of talking about "Jesus" it talks about "The Suffering Servant". Other scriptures talk of a coming King.

By the time Jesus arrived, everyone was speculating about what was to come. Religious people had spent their lives wrestling with the predictive scriptures and had huge political investment in the idea that a king was coming, and SOON! They had very specific ideas of how it was all going to come to pass. But when Jesus came they didn't recognise him.

By contrast there was a man named Simeon who had a beautiful connection with God. He was so close to the Holy Spirit that when Jesus was just a child, Simeon recognised him in a crowded place and correctly declared Him to be the Salvation of God. Here was a man that wasn't in a library working out timelines based on scripture; but was out in the world conversing with God every day and ready and attentive to what the Holy Spirit would show him about the PRESENT.

What I'm trying to say is this. Don't be ignorant of the scripture, but don't spend all your time focusing on the distant future, to the neglect of what the Spirit would show you about the present. The most important thing is developing a personal connection with God; and learning to converse with Him. If you have that, you can trust Him that whatever comes, He will be with you.

Some people seem to think that if you aren't prepared for the "endtime", then you will probably die; unlike those wise people that have emergency food rations and hidden bunkers in the wilderness ready for the rise of the "beast". To that I retort, Matthew 6:25-34. "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Trust God.

Dear Blog

I miss you. Writing my thoughts is fun, but I have no time to spare lately. Those playing Chess or Scrabble with me online know that I let it sit for over a week before I take my turn.

I will return to you after Schoolies is finished. I will have more time to spare then. Especially between Christmas and New Years.

I want to tell you about my brief trial of Mafia Wars and how they have created a culture of addiction in order to make maximum profits, and how a religious cult could use the same techniques. I want to tell you my views on whether Christians should be rich (A.K.A. Prosperity). I want to tell you about how cool Jamie Oliver is.

But here is something quick. The question I am pondering is this. Should I buy a Camera, or a Car? A Camera would open so many possibilities for me, and would result in a LOT more work. I have an ABN now, so I think I could write it off on tax, as long as I upload my photos for sale. But I really need a car. This one is giving me some major grief. Just spent 1.5G on it and still not working properly.

Oh well. I'm not worried about it. I'm being looked after well. ;)
Probably best to leave these decisions til after Schoolies.