What is Real?

Realness, authenticity, genuineness.

These are words that all hit a chord in me.  I love people being open, and, call me creepy, but I can usually detect when they're not.

I have a read a lot of articles on being real - I've talked it, heard the songs (Stain Glass Masquerade, anyone???), seen the memes, the gifs, the videos.  I have also given it a good deal of heart and head consideration and this is what I think.

Because what bothers me is how being real is different to almost every person you meet.  Yes, we are all different, but we are all also humans.  We think, we feel, we have triumphs, and we fall.  We were all made by the One God - whether we acknowledge the point or not - and one day we will all face eternal life or eternal death.  These things are true.  They are the reality of all of us.

The thing about reality is that you cannot change what was your reality.  The past is in the past.  It is set in stone.  Does that mean it controls the reality of your future?  No.  It may have influence because actions - whether your own or the actions of others - have consequences, but the only only person on earth who has control over your reality is you.  This not to say that you can control every circumstance that comes your way, and it does not mean that if you deny the bad things that happen in your life they will go away.  What it does mean is that you can control how those circumstances affect you.

To me, being real and describing your reality is so much more than what is happening in your world right now.  I think being real goes beyond what anyone can see, what you feel, and what you think about yourself.  Let me explain.

We all have struggles.  We're human.  One of mine is that I am convinced that people don't really like me that much.  Even as I type it, I smile at myself.  It is so stupid!  Right now, I don't think much of it at all, but as soon as I am around other people, I have to fight with myself in my head constantly to avoid retreating completely so that I don't annoy anyone, or so I tell myself.

 The reality of this life is that there are two kingdoms at war - two very real kingdoms, and they both want you on their side.  In order to get to your soul, they have to get to your head first, then your heart.  These two are the pathway to your soul.  The mind is an aggressive battlefield.  Whichever kingdom - the Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of Darkness - that you give ground to will eventually become your reality.  This does not mean that the other kingdom ceases to exist, but that it has a weaker and weaker influence on you as you continue to give ground to the kingdom you choose.

This is not to say that if you have discouraging or deprecating thoughts, you are not a Christian any longer, but know this for certain: God will never discourage you.  So the moment thoughts of self-deprecation and discouragement to come, shut them down and tell them Who you belong to.

Reality is made of the kingdom you choose to give ground to.  Some time ago, I was hurt and offended by something someone did to me.  For quite a long time - nearly a year - I struggled with seeing that person.  I didn't want to see them.  I could hardly stand to think of them because it opened up the wound so deeply and it hurt too much.  After a long time, I was given a word from a godly minister friend of mine - who had no idea what I was struggling with - about dealing with hurt and taking my heart to Jesus to be healed.  It took time, but nearly a year on from that moment, I can confidently say I no longer hurt from that wound.  It has left a scar, and I am reminded of it when I see this person.  But I also had to make a decision concerning how I treated the person who had hurt me.  From the very start - even when I was still angry and aching so much - I decided that my hurt was something that no one outside the family needed to know about, because I needed to treat the person with the love and grace of Jesus.  This became easier as I healed and I have been able to grow and flourish beyond the pain that was inflicted.  It was not easy - it was excruciatingly hard.  I had to lecture myself in my head, 'I refuse to inflict pain like it has been given to me.  I am a Child of God, and I love others as I have been loved by Him.'  And the funny thing is, the more you tell yourself something, the firmer you hold to it, and the more you believe it.

Because of this experience, I find that love now flows from me more freely and openly than it did before.  This is not to say that I never lose my patience, never resent someone, but forgiveness comes easier now.  Because of my determination and reliance on God - sometimes only expressed through prayers of tears because words could not come for the pain - my joy and my peace abound.  In fact I have been able to determine that this whole painful period of my life has been absolutely instrumental to my growth in God, and the Fruit of the Spirit in me.  I choose to be kind and good and gentle to those around me.   I try my utmost to be patient and faithful in all I do.  Self control guides what I say and who I say it to.  All of this is like a muscle - the more you exercise it, the stronger it gets and the easier it comes.

I am not claiming to be perfect, or better than anyone else.  I have struggles.  Everyday, I have struggles.  My struggles are very real.

BUT.

My God is also real.  He has done amazing things in my life and while I do have real hurts and struggles in my life, to me, my joy and peace are even more real because I have experienced the comfort and the power that occurs when I choose to operate in the fruit of the Spirit, instead of my emotions.  Emotions are so shaky and unreliable.  Love - God's love - is unfailing.  His joy is never ending, and His peace is unshakeable.  If you see me, and I look happy and confident and peaceful, it's because I am.  I might be hurting and sad inside, but the joy and peace that comes from the Holy Spirit is so much stronger than the emotions I happen to be feeling that day, so I choose to live out of His Spirit rather than how I feel.  Paul wrote in Philippians 4:4-9:

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

I have such incredible respect for the person who comes out of a difficult time and it only comes out afterwards that they have been struggling.  Apart from a few close confidants, no body else knew.  "But you were so peaceful!  How was it you didn't tell anyone?"

They answer, "I didn't need to - God's love, joy and peace sustained me.  His Spirit comforted me.  He provided a few close people to encourage me and He encouraged me Himself."

Learning...

I learned an important lesson tonight... when God tells you to do something, go and do it.

You can kick and scream on the inside, but that won't change His mind - He's calling you.  Get up and go.

You can offer yourself and God all the excuses in the world, but just like Moses, the calling won't change.

In Esther, Mordecai tells his young cousin the queen, that if she does not do what she has been called to do, God would deliver His people by some other means, but she and her father's house would be wiped out.

God's plan never fails.

I repeat that - God's plan never fails.  What He wants said will be said.  What He wants done will be done, no matter the means.  The one who misses out is the one who said no.

Tonight at church, I was supposed to pray and prophesy for the youth of the town.  I had the word on my heart, and my spirit was burning, but I held back, too nervous.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.  (2 Timothy 1:7)

How I wish I had obeyed straight away!  I am sometimes so afraid of not having the right words, or being 'up the front', that I miss the opportunities.  I know without a doubt that I had been given the word that needed to be said because not long after this, someone else stepped up and said exactly what I had on my heart.  And after the service, my pastor came and gently told me that I had been supposed to pray.  It was nothing we had pre-arranged - it was God telling her and me that I had a job to do.

God's word still went forth as He intended.  I was the one who missed out.  

As I said, I learned an important lesson: don't fail to do good.  Listen to the voice of God and act on what He says.  Don't be left with the 'what-if's.  Pray that your trust will grow.  Lean into and on Him, because He won't fail you.  Don't be the one to miss out.  <3

Gratitude Tag

I was tagged by +Clare Farrelly from Clare's Spot to do the Gratitude Tag.  I like this one - no rules, and a worthwhile object.  ;)  So thankyou, Clare for tagging me, and here it goes!

1. What is your favourite quote or verse that reminds you to be grateful? 

The verse that jumped to mind was Colossians 3:15.  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.   
The other verse is Psalm 150:4.  Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 


2. Who are you grateful for?

I am really thankful for everyone in my life - for my parents and siblings; for all my friends; for the people who I serve with; for the people in my church; for my pastor; for the people at band... the list goes on and on really - I am so blessed with the people in my world!


3. What life events are you grateful for?

I am very thankful that my parents decided to homeschool me and the Sibs (that's our nickname for the eight of us collectively.  XD)  I know that the lifestyle we adopted has shaped me to be who I am today and it's something I hope to pass onto my own children one day.

I am also extremely grateful - more than words - for more recent events in my life in which God has called me closer to Himself and called me to ministry.  It still amazes me that He would want me... it's been an exercise of trust, but I hope that I can portray His love and freedom to others throughout my life.


4. What is something you are grateful for but often times don’t think about?

Food.  Where would we be without it???  Oh and air - and a good home and education.  We really take a lot of things for granted, don't we?  Clean water and coffee are a couple of other things.  :)


5. What are you going to do to show people your gratitude towards them?

Does anyone else find this question a little odd??  Maybe it's just me... I guess I'll keep serving them, and serving God.  Also my two top love languages are quality time and receiving gifts, so I often use those to love others as I assume they'll appreciate it as much as I would.  XDD



I'm going to tag +Jessica Dempster  and +Joy C.

Time to Stop Waiting

I have always imagined what it will be like on my wedding day: how I will feel, how Mum and Dad will cry bitter-sweet tears with me, how I will take a new name.   Thanks to Pinterest, I have most of the details planned as well - my dress, the bridesmaids, the decorations, the photo shoot.  

Then there is my life after the wedding... enjoying sweet time with my husband as newly weds; making the precious discovery that we are expecting a baby (twins... maybe...??); meeting our little one for the fist time; building a house for our family; raising the children - many of them! - at home and instilling the Word of God into them; watching them grow up and follow their vocation in life...

The list goes on.

I have other lists as well.  Lists of baby names, lists (and maps) and what I would want in a dream home, lists of countries Australia can adopt from; lists of qualities I would want in a man...

Because you see, none of those dreams are possible without one important person.  I have spent literally hours of life, starting from when I was very young, daydreaming about spending the rest of my life with a special man, but I don't even know if I've met him yet.

I've done what I'm sure every young girl has done at some point.  We call it 'watching'.  We are good at 'watching... especially in church. We are indeed watching - like a hawk.  Does he bow his head to pray, or is he distracted by the noises around him?  Does he like children?  Is he good with children?  Is he involved in a ministry?

Yes, I've done the watching thing.  I am often impressed by what I see in some of the young men, and I start wishing that someone would take notice of me... and maybe ask me out...???

Nope.  Not yet.  So I wait some more, hoping all the time, that someone would come and just show a little bit of interest in me.

This has pretty much been my story for the last couple of years.  Waiting, hoping, waiting, hoping, waiting...

Seeing friends find someone special... and waiting... waiting...

Then God stepped in.  I guess I always assumed that my gifts of nurturing and interacting with children, etc. was just a shoo-in for being a wife and mother, and that God would pick me early seeing as I had all the right skills on the resume.

A few months ago I had a major revelation.  Ready for this???

I was called to wait on God, not wait for a husband.

I know, it seems obvious and I knew it in my head but revelation is something that strikes the heart.  This fell into my heart so strongly, so gently, that I knew it was from God and I started pursuing Him more than I ever have before.

But I still dreamed.  The watching game reduced in intensity, and I grew very content with my stage of life.  Still keen to meet Mr. Perfect (whoever that is!) and live happily ever after, but at peace.

Then God called me into ministry.  I said yes, and my dreams shifted to doing field placements... for about five minutes, and then people started asking me where my studies in ministry would take me.  I answer honestly.  "I don't know, I just know it's the next step for me."

Well, that opens a whole new smorgasbord of daydream opportunities.  In every position I tried to imagine out, though, I could only see myself supported by and supporting a husband.  And the old familiar longing began to rise again.

Than God made it very clear.  He said, It's time to stop waiting.

It's time to stop waiting.

I don't believe this is God telling me to go and initiate a relationship or anything like that - if He does, I'll do it - but rather a reminder that the more time I spend dreaming and longing for something outside of His timing, the less effective I am for Kingdom purposes.  How can I study ministry properly when I am worried about who will minister along side of me?

I still think marriage in my my story somewhere - but not yet.  Can I bargain with God, who gave me my life and talents, as to how and when I will use them?  Perhaps there is a season where I am more effective for the Kingdom when it is just me and Jesus.  Maybe I am wrong, and God plans for it to be me and Jesus for the rest of my life.  That's fine too.  Finding peace in doing the will of God and walking in His ways is far worth the sacrifices faced along the way.  <3

Un-named Poem

Yep: another one.  ;)  This poem was inspired by a conversation on Google plus about make up and how girls today seem to use make up to completely do themselves over - almost like a daily mini plastic surgery procedure.  As I was thinking about it, I realized that the over use of make up goes so much deeper than wanting to look nice... it comes from insecurities inside, and as I mused on this, my heart just went to the girls trapped in such a mindset.

So here's a poem about it, because that is the way I best express myself.  :)  I kinda thought it would be nice in a song, but I can't compose for the life of me, so if anyone gets some inspiration, you're welcome to it.  ;)



I stand in front of the mirror
And examine myself at length
Can they all see the guilt I read
Beneath my phony strengths?
I reach and grab my bathroom bag
That contains my mask inside
With a little work I’m finished
I can show the fake me outside

So dress me up so they don’t know
Who I really am, who I really am…
If they could see the ugliness, the plainness, the decay
I’m certain they would all turn and walk away.

I smile as I walk the street,
But it’s painted on my face
The pain inside is screaming out
From a world full of disgrace.
What if I left my mask at home?
I could try it and just see…
No I can’t – I couldn’t try
I’m afraid of the real me.

I wish I could be accepted as the person that I am
But if they saw me warts and all would they want to be my friend?
Maybe I’ve got this upside down, perhaps the step to strength
Is opening up, and letting down, and revealing them my weakness.
Just perhaps they are all like me – afraid to show the dirt
Maybe by my opening up, we could all start to heal from hurt.

The Best Laid Plans... Are in His Hands!

The best laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft agley

Or so they say... and so it would seem at times.  How often we have had to cancel a much anticipated visit for a child who got up sick; or the times we have had to scrounge up dinner from who knows where because someone (no names mentioned!) left the food unattended and let it burn to the point of no return.  And some days just go so completely haywire, you wonder why you even bothered getting out of bed that morning.  

As unbelievable as it may sound, the Lord is in charge of those days too: just waiting for you to lean more into Him, to ask for His peace and strength.  But that is not what I was going to write about.  I was going to focus more on life plans and how sometimes they just don't go the way you imagined, planned, and even wrote down they would.  

Spend ten minutes in the company of a young child, prod them with a couple of questions, and you will get the full run down of what they plan to do when they are grown up.  Oh!  Far distant blessed day!  Will it never come?  I remember planning my entire life what I would do after school - the options were widely varied from year to year, month to month - dare I say... day to day... ;)  I remember a few of those options: a florist (hay fever galore!), a map draw-er (I HATE art) and a professional tennis player (I can't think where I even got that idea from!  Asthma!)  Needless to say, none of those options were long term commitments.  A friend of ours once said that kids change their dreams as often as they change their underwear, and I am inclined to agree with her.  ;P

   A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.  (Proverbs 16:9)

I love this verse - perhaps because I have experienced it in my own life... It is so comforting to know that everything we do is in the Lord's control, and if we are in sinc with Him, He will guide us wherever He wants us to go.  The Lord's will is not based on whim.  He has planned our ways before the age of time, and has woven our story into the tapestry of eternity.  The right opportunities will arise, the right people walk in, the right words spoken exactly when we need them to.  Why?  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  (Romans 8:28)  We are called, and if we follow, He will orchestrate our lives to bring about the best for us, and we will live a blessed life on earth and an eternity in heaven.  This is not to say we will never have hardships in our lives - of course we will!  That is the result of sin, and just because we are saved does not exclude us from them either.  It just means that when we face hard times, we will have hope and a source of peace from which to draw daily refreshing strength.  And we can be sure that the best will result from suffering, although we may not know what that is this side of heaven.  Who knows how many lives we may touch without us even knowing?  It is an exciting thought... Enough so to make me want to trust God with the rest of my life forever!  :)

There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.  (Proverbs 19:21)

Training and Mission Grounds

Just now, as I sat in the lounge room with my laptop, it suddenly occurred to me: my blog is a year old.  Fancy that!  It's amazing how time flies, even when you feel like you haven't been doing much.

Not that I haven't been doing anything, but sometimes the little everyday things can add up to nothingness because they are everyday, you forget about the little things that make up your life and how each in their own way - with the people you love - they make the emotions and the memories that stay with you forever.  If you were to ask me what I have been doing, I would probably answer something along the lines of, "Not much - maths, chemistry, biology, literature, modern history, online drivers tests (yes - I'm still trying to achieve the five perfects in a row!) and just everyday life stuff."  It doesn't sound particularly exciting.  I wake up every morning and painfully try to open my eyes with the thought I have to get up - but I don't want to do everything again!  Once I'm into it, though, it doesn't seem nearly as bad.  (With the exception perhaps of biology. Blergh!  I'd just as soon leave that out, but if I am heading to a future in doula-naturopathy, I guess it is something I will have to learn!)

It is easy to wish these days away - and I am ashamed to say I have done it many times.  We can be encouraged, however, for we know that nothing happens without purpose and that God is constantly guiding our lives, molding and shaping us to who He wants us to be.

 "Do not despise these small beginnings, for the lord rejoices to see the work begin..." (Zechariah 4:10) 

He rejoices over the work He begins in you!  And what's more, we read in Philippians that the work begun inside of us will be completed until Jesus returns, for the work that is inside of you is far richer, far more valuable and far more important than the work you achieve throughout your life.  I firmly believe (even if I struggle with it myself) that everything in life, especially the mundane things that you really hate, are God's training ground for us.  He is building up the character in us that reflects Christ so that we will be ready for the ultimate work He has for us in our lives.

But guess what!  God also believes in learning on the job.  That's right!  Where you are now is just as much God's work for you as the 'ultimate task' He is building you up for!  I have dreams of being a doula but I believe my ultimate task is someday to be a wife and a mother of many children.  I believe adoption is in my future and training and homeschooling my children will be a main mission field.  But right now, my job is to serve and minister to my immediate family.  Not only to I get the privilege of inputting into their lives, but it is a training ground for the 'one day'.  

Trust God!  He knows what he is doing and will direct your life if you submit to His will and allow Him to shape you.  It's not easy - I know that, but I have also learned that it is so worth it to let go and let God.  I pray you will have peace throughout your life's journey and contentment where God leads you... He loves you and will never forsake you... I can't express everything I am trying to convey, so I'll let God do that for me.  :)   This is one of my favourite Psalms - I pray it will bless you richly and eternally.  :)

Psalm 91

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;

My God, in Him I will trust.”

3Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler

And from the perilous pestilence.

4He shall cover you with His feathers,

And under His wings you shall take refuge;

His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

5You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,

Nor of the arrow that flies by day,

6Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,

Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

7A thousand may fall at your side,

And ten thousand at your right hand;

But it shall not come near you.

8Only with your eyes shall you look,

And see the reward of the wicked.

9Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,

Even the Most High, your dwelling place,

10No evil shall befall you,

Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;

11For He shall give His angels charge over you,

To keep you in all your ways.

12In their hands they shall bear you up,

Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

13You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,

The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

14“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;

I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

15He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will deliver him and honor him.

16With long life I will satisfy him,

And show him My salvation.”

God is Still God (even though I'm being pounded!)

"God!  Where are you?!  I need you, and this is the only way I know how to reach you, but I can't feel you and I don't know what to do!"  We've all prayed that prayer.  Sometimes it feels like everything is happening all at once and we can't find our way out.  God is there, but is He still watching me?  Is He really holding me and loving me?  You answer yourself: "Don't be ridiculous!  Of course He is!  He said I will never leave nor forsake me - are you completely faithless yet?!"  But even thoughts are overwhelmed as head wars with heart, and you end up in desperate tears, your heart screaming out: Oh God!  Please give me some assurance of your presence and your peace!

I've been there - we all have at some point, I think. It is a wretched condition that leaves you feeling completely wrenched in two, weary and utterly alone.  Circumstances close in closer, and again I cried and pleaded for relief and assurance.  But words fail to describe the anguish of soul in these seasons of the Walk.  If you have lived it, you know what I mean.

Why do I feel so wretchedly overwhelmed and distanced from God?  Sometimes, life goes through seasons of plenty and blessings.  Then the seasons change and drought comes.  Sometimes it is longer than other times, but the comfort is that seasons always march on.  Australia is in the second month of winter now, and the days are chilly, but this year winter took a long time to come.  By the middle of June, the days were still in the mid twenties Centigrade.  It felt like the cold days were never going to come, but they did according to the promise of God in Genesis 8:22

“As long as the earth endures,

seedtime and harvest,

cold and heat,

summer and winter,

day and night

will never cease.”

What a beautiful promise from God! Here in lies the assurance we need in the times of drought and hardship: God is God.  He is always in control.  When my world seems to be spinning out of check and everything is chaotic and quickly going from bad to worse, God is the God who created me and my world - I know He ultimately in charge and will bring me through.

Lately, our family has been reading through the book of Daniel as a study.  The theme of Daniel is that God is God and He is in control.  If you think about it, Daniel had many times throughout his life when he needed to remember that.  The seasons of his life occurred in quick succession from highs to lows and back again.  Here is a brief outline of what Daniel's life consisted of:

• Son of a noble in Israel
• Captured by Nebuchadnezzar and taken as a slave to Babylon
• Was wise and became ministers of the king's service
• Predicted and watched as the king lost his mind
• Triumphed as the king turned to God as the High King
• Was demoted when Belshazzar became king and stole the gold goblets from God's temple
• Interpreted the writing on the wall and was lifted to third position in the kingdom
• Lost position that night when Babylon was overrun by Medes and Persians
• Became a favourite of King Darius and was raised to second in kingdom
• Betrayed by fellow princes and thrown in Lions den
• Saw the miracle of God in the lion's den and came back to work for the king.

We don't know what ended up happening to Daniel, but seeing as he was probably a teenager when taken to Babylon, and the exile lasted for seventy years, he probably died there.  (Chapter one records that he remained in Babylon until the first year of Cyrus, but then we read in chapter 10 of a prophecy he received in the third year of Cyrus.  Either 'remained' refers to his time in office, or, even though he would have been approaching ninety years old, he made the trip back to Israel that was sponsored by Cyrus.)    As you can see from the outline above, you can see that Daniel had many times in his life when he must have been overwhelmed by fear and grief.  But he always - always - remained faithful to his God and King, and he knew without a doubt that until his time was up, God would protect him from anything that this world (or Satan) could thrown at him.  And because of this faithfulness and his wisdom, Daniel has a few references to be proud of: he is the recommendation of the queen (Daniel 5:11), the jealousy of the other nobles (chapter 6) and - most wonderful of all - he is the beloved of God.  (Daniel 9:23)  And that, my dear friends, is all we need to remember when under trial and hardship.  I am the beloved of God.  He is in control and He will bring me through when I continue to wait on him.

Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

(Isaiah 40: 30-31)

To conclude, I encourage you to watch this music video - it is one of my favourite songs from Colin Buchanan and reminds us of the encouragement of comfort that comes from trusting in God in the hard times.  God bless you and hold you always!  :)

Ps.  I am terribly sorry about the formatting of this post - I could not figure out how to make it all match and it insisted of jumping to different formats from paragraph to paragraph.  Hopefully you can all still read it fine.  :)  - E.K.D

Christian Philosophy Essay

I had to right an essay that compared the philosophies of the six major worldviews around: Christianity, Islam, Cosmic Humanism, Marxism, Secular Humanism, and Postmodernism. I started with Christianity, and though an essay is supposed to display what you know, I learned so much about Christianity in writing it, that I really wanted to share it with you.  This is just the Christian Philosophy section - I haven't written the others yet!  :)

Christian Philosophy: The Way, the Truth and the Life 

Many Christians like myself were raised knowing the Truth about God, life and the world.  We even studied different views like evolution and mythology and how they fall short of the Biblical account of the world around us.  Despite all this, one only has to stick a toe out into the world and -BAM! - one is hit on all sides by conflicting world views and philosophies and it can be difficult to sort one from the other.

The important thing to remember when confronted with different worldviews is the Truth.  People often say that Christianity is just a religion and has nothing to do with the philosophies of the world or anything outside the box marked 'religion'.  On the contrary, we find that in Jesus, all of Philosophy is complete and perfected.  Philosophy strives to answer at least three basic questions: who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going?  Please note that these questions don't apply on just the personal level: they apply to everything around us as well.  (For example, we could ask "What is the world? Why is it here? What will happen to it?")  In John 14:6, Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life."   In less than ten words, all of the philosophical questions are answered in one word:  Jesus.  

The Way - Where am I going?

This statement of Jesus' is just half the verse.  The other half says, "No-one comes to the Father except through me."   It is part of human nature to stop and ask oneself at some point in life, "Where am I going?"  and although some people don't realize it, it is not a physical destination they are referring to.  Within us is the instinct of eternity and our spirits know that there is something to come after these shells of ours die and disintegrate.  But where are we going?  Well, we have options - two options:  1) Heaven and eternal life, or 2) Hell and eternal suffering and death.  While it doesn't seem that there could be much of a deliberation over the two, many people just don't know how to get to where they want to go.  Jesus told us that He is the Way.  Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."  John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."  How is this possible?  How can believing on Jesus save us from hell?  Before Jesus came to earth, people had no hope.  They were under the Law of Moses which only served to show where we fall short of God's holiness.  People made animal sacrifices for their sins, but being only animals, their blood could do nothing more than appease the wrath of God until they sinned again.  Every day, people fell short of God's glory, and every day, people died.  That wasn't what God wanted, but there was no one perfect who could die for sins that were not his own.  That's what Jesus did.  Jesus is the second person of the Trinity, so He is equal with God: indeed, He is God.  He became human and took all of our sins on Himself and died.  That in itself is amazing, but it didn't fix our problem.  It wasn't until three days later when Jesus rose again that death was defeated and we could have access to everlasting life.  All we have to do is repent of our sins, ask humbly for His forgiveness, and He gives it to us freely as a precious gift.  That righteousness and forgiveness given us is our token into Heaven to live forever with our Lord.

The Truth – Who am I?

One only has to take a brief glance around our culture to see that people suffer from lack of identity.  Some call it humility, but identity is not pride.  God says of himself, “I am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator, your King.” (Isaiah 43:15)  That one sentence is full of identity: it reveals to us Who God is and it establishes Who He is so that all of creation can have no doubt – He is Holy, Creator and King.  But there is no pride in that identity either.  God is incapable of pride: it goes against His very nature. 

The other problem with our culture today is that when someone lacks identity, they often try to find it by copying someone else, which if one thinks about I doesn’t make sense at all.  That isn’t identity.  Actually it is quite the opposite.  Dressing like Elvis Presley, or maintaining your body to look like Michelle Bridges reminds people of the original person and gives the glory back to them.  Do people think of you when they see Elvis Presley’s suit?  Or do they think of the rock-star himself? 

Identity given by the world is fickle because the world is fickle and the fads that the world promotes are also fickle.  None of it lasts and even the most celebrated celebrity has his or her moments of doubts.  In fact, it is not uncommon to hear of actors, singers, models, sports personalities and so on who battle with drug addictions, alcohol issues, anorexia nervosa, etc. and of the celebrities who actually die from these issues because they have depression or they have to have the image of someone they are not.

What a terribly sad way to live!  If that is the best that the world can give us, is it really worth it?  What if the Holy Creator King gave us our identity and told us who we are to Him?  1 John 3:1 says “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”  The son of a king is a prince, and the daughter of a king is a princess: how much more when we are the sons and daughters of the King of Kings!  Romans 8:17 continues on that picture. “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ…”  What a wonderful promise to us! 

In Mark 12, we read the story of how Jesus is challenged concerning whether or not taxes should be payed to Caesar.  When Jesus asks for a coin, He notes that Caesar’s image is on the coin and then concludes the object lesson with, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give to God what is God’s.”  When we are God’s children and carry His image in and on us, and strive to imitate Him in all we do, people around us will see the difference in us and, just as people think of Elvis Presley when they see his suit, people will know that we are God’s and the glory will go back to God.  The chances are they might even want to know how to get that for themselves.

The Life: Why am I here?

This question is twofold: Biologically, why am I here? and for what purpose am I here?

As Christians, we know that on the sixth day of history, humans were created in the very image of God.  What does that mean?  It means that, although we have physical bodies and God does not (John 4:24), we have natures that resemble the nature of God.  Of course, this was blemished when Adam and Eve sinned, but we have a nature of justice.  We love and long to be loved.  We are relational and rational.  We can communicate, and express hope, joy and disappointment.  We feel when we are hurt or encouraged.  We have a sense of humour.  We can imagine and create.  Compare this to everything else in creation, and you will find nothing that quite compares to us humans.  He created us and breathed into us the very breath of Him who is Life and we became alive.  It is hard for us to comprehend this, because we live in an age where everything ought to be explained scientifically, and science just can’t explain life.  We know it involves DNA, but DNA on its own doesn’t equate to life.  There is an extra boost of something that makes us alive.  That something must be the incredible, creative power of God – we just can’t explain it any other way.

The next question is one that many people spend their entire lives trying to figure out: For what purpose am I here?  This does not refer to your individual gifts or talents or callings, but rather to the vocation of mankind in general.  Part of our nature as human beings is to have a purpose to fulfill, and God knew this.  He very graciously provided us with a book that addresses this very issue: the book of Ecclesiastes.  Ecclesiastes is the recordings of a man (presumably Solomon) who went out into the world to discover the meaning of life.  First, he tried wisdom.  Then he tried pleasure, then wisdom again, then work.  Next he tried solitude, achievement, success and lastly riches.  He came up with the same conclusion for each.  “This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”  Finally at the end of the book, the writer states what man’s purpose in life is.  “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the duty of all mankind.”  God created us to have relationship with Him.  Yes, he had angels, but the angels were created for service and worship, not intimate relationship and communication.  Hebrews 1:14 says “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”  Angels cannot inherit salvation – they are the servants of those who do: us!  No, God wanted people he could love and communicate with in a close friendship.  That is the purpose of mankind: to be in communion with God and to keep His commands and fear and glorify Him forever.