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Freewill And Hitting A Deer
While I was driving into work yesterday, I was making my plans about what I needed to get done when I got into the office. Being able to freely make plans is one of the many abilities that we humans have that God has blessed us with. We are not merely robots or computers which can only do what they were programmed to do. We are freewill beings who can not only react and make choices in the moment, but we can also make plans for the future. Yet, God is still in control. It is why we have verses in the Bible such as:
Proverbs 19:21 (HCSB) – Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the LORD’S decree will prevail.
About halfway into work, God prevailed over my plans…
BOOM!!Out of nowhere, a deer jumped out in front of my car.
StepsI was ok. I pulled over and put my flashers on. My plans were now thwarted. I wasn’t going into work. My steps now involved walking around my car to check the damage, waiting for the police to arrive, contacting my insurance company, getting my car fixed, getting a rental, etc. all instead of getting done what I had planned on getting done in the office that day. If there ever was a verse which described the situation, this was it…
Proverbs 16:9 (HCSB) – A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps.
Fortunately, no other drivers were involved and the damage to my car wasn’t too bad. Unfortunately however, the deer lost its life.
A Paradox?These two simultaneous realities: our freewill and God’s sovereignty are not paradoxical; they are not mutually exclusive. It is true that we are the sole authors of our plans, not God. Yet, He can either thwart them or use them for His purpose. I can say this with confidence because we have examples from the Bible which talk about this. Take the novel ideas that came from the people of Judah and Jerusalem, and not God, during a sad time in their history…
Jeremiah 7:30-31 (HCSB) – “For the Judeans have done what is evil in My sight.” This is the LORD’S declaration. “They have set up their detestable things in the house that is called by My name and defiled it. They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Hinnom in order to burn their sons and daughters in the fire, a thing I did not command; I never entertained the thought.”
Jeremiah 19:5 (HCSB) – “They have built high places to Baal on which to burn their children in the fire as burnt offerings to Baal, something I have never commanded or mentioned; I never entertained the thought.”
God’s people came up with their own plans, which God Himself “never entertained.” God though, shockingly decided to not stop Israel but to instead have their plans actually come to fruition. It seems crazy to allow people, especially His own chosen people, to do such despicable things. We grapple with this whenever we ask or think…
“Why does God allow evil?”But, as one prophet reminds us…
Isaiah 55:8-9 (HCSB) – “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.” This is the LORD’S declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
On a side note: The Hebrew word for “plans” in Proverbs 19:21 and “thoughts” in Isaiah 55:8-9 is the same… מַחֲשָׁבָה (Strong’s # h4284)
God’s PlanMany centuries later Paul would clarify why God had allowed Israel’s to plan to reject Him during their history to actually happen. It was to benefit the whole world…
Romans 11:11-15 (HCSB) – I ask, then, have they stumbled in order to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their stumbling, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. Now if their stumbling brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full number bring! Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. In view of the fact that I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if I can somehow make my own people jealous and save some of them. For if their rejection brings reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?
Just to back up Paul’s point that God did not intend to have His people stumble “in order to fall,” even at the time of Isaiah, here is what that same prophet wrote in the verses just before what I had quoted earlier which spoke about how God’s thoughts and ways are different from ours…
Isaiah 55:6-7 (HCSB) – Seek the LORD while He may be found; call to Him while He is near. Let the wicked one abandon his way and the sinful one his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, so He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will freely forgive.
God’s plan all along has been about making Himself approachable for both Jews AND Gentiles, regardless of what we might plan as a group or as individuals. Israel freely planned on rejecting God. God planned on using it to benefit all of humanity. I had freely planned on getting to work. I guess God had planned on using it for me to write this blog?
I’ll leave you with this encouraging quote from Paul when he had addressed the crowd at the Areopagus in Athens, a long time ago, with the hope of getting them to grasp how wonderful He is…
Acts 17:26-27 (HCSB) – From one man He has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. He did this so they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.
Godspeed, to the brethren!
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Categories: Churchie Feeds
A Unique Blessing
I just read Song of Songs, as I do whenever I get to it from my never-ending circuit of reading through the bible in its entirety. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read it since becoming a believer 24 years ago, nor can I say how many different bible versions I might have read it from.
Allegory?Over the years I have attempted to get a better understanding of this little book by both listening to sermons and podcasts about it, and by reading scholarly articles and commentaries. I even read a whole book about Song of Songs many years ago by Watchman Nee, where he dissects it verse by verse. What I have concluded in this search (at least for now) is that the more common explanations from both the traditional Jewish and Christian perspectives which make this poetic description of two lovers into an allegory of some sort, doesn’t seem appropriate. Especially, since the bible itself never makes such a connection. Honestly, I’m just not convinced that it goes much beyond the fact that it is merely a racy, Hebraic styled poem. Here is how one Old Testament scholar describes how the two traditions have handled Song of Songs, while also hinting at the underlining challenges of its subject matter…
“Famously, the erotic nature of the Song constituted a challenge for the framers of the canon, both Jewish and Christian, and their response was to read the poems allegorically—in the case of the early rabbis, as the love between the Holy One and Israel, and in the case of the Church fathers, as the love between Christ and the Church.” — The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary by Robert Alter
A Unique BlessingThis last reading however, something struck me for the first time which might point to why God gave us Song of Songs. For whatever reason, this scene popped into my head after reading it once again…
Mark 12:18-25 (HCSB) – Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and questioned Him: “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaves his wife behind, and leaves no child, his brother should take the wife and produce offspring for his brother. There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying, left no offspring. The second also took her, and he died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. So the seven left no offspring. Last of all, the woman died too. In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be, since the seven had married her?” Jesus told them, “Are you not deceived because you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven.”
…and it got me thinking:
“Is it possible that God is maybe just giving us through this little book a poetic picture of the beauty of the process of a man and a women becoming one-flesh, which is solely unique to this current age?”
Think about it, the bible in its very first chapter says this…
Genesis 1:26-28a (HCSB) – Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female. God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth…”
And then, in the second chapter it goes into more detail…
Genesis 2:21-24 (HCSB) – So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to come over the man, and he slept. God took one of his ribs and closed the flesh at that place. Then the LORD God made the rib He had taken from the man into a woman and brought her to the man. And the man said: This one, at last, is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called “woman,” for she was taken from man. This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh.
Here’s where I’m going…
Maybe, Song of Songs is just a reflective pause in the middle of our bibles, which is meant to show us that the God who created us understands on a deeply human level the beauty of the becoming one-flesh process; and that in addition, it is a unique blessing which can only be experienced by us in the current temporal age where we should just embrace it while it can be enjoyed.
However one might attempt to understand the significance of Song of Songs, it does make sense why in two other books associated with Solomon being their author as well, we have this…
Ecclesiastes 9:9 (HCSB) – Enjoy life with the wife you love all the days of your fleeting life, which has been given to you under the sun, all your fleeting days. For that is your portion in life and in your struggle under the sun.
Proverbs 5:18 (HCSB) – Let your fountain be blessed, and take pleasure in the wife of your youth.
Godspeed, to the brethren!
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Categories: Churchie Feeds
Elementary – January 19th
Worship Video
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And don’t forget to follow Kidz Rock on Facebook and Instagram!
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Preschool – January 19th
Worship Video
Check out our ongoing resources for each age group: And don’t forget to follow Kidz Rock on Facebook and Instagram!
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Collide – January 19th
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Elementary – January 12th
Worship Video
Check out our ongoing resources for each age group:
And don’t forget to follow Kidz Rock on Facebook and Instagram!
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Preschool – January 12th
Worship Video
Check out our ongoing resources for each age group: And don’t forget to follow Kidz Rock on Facebook and Instagram!
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Categories: Churchie Feeds
Collide – January 12th
Check out our ongoing resources for each age group:
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And don’t forget to follow Kidz Rock on Facebook and Instagram!
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Categories: Churchie Feeds
Collide – January 5th
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And don’t forget to follow Kidz Rock on Facebook and Instagram!
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Categories: Churchie Feeds
Preschool – January 5th
Worship Video
Check out our ongoing resources for each age group: And don’t forget to follow Kidz Rock on Facebook and Instagram!
The post Preschool – January 5th appeared first on Church of The Rock.
Categories: Churchie Feeds
Elementary – January 5th
Worship Video
Check out our ongoing resources for each age group:
And don’t forget to follow Kidz Rock on Facebook and Instagram!
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Elevate Worship Night- January 19th
Join us for a night of worship led by our Young Adults Worship team. We will be focusing on walking in the Spirit.
Speaker: Eileen Krahn
Set List: You Are Good, Firm Foundation, Lord Send Revival, Whole Heart (Hold Me Now), So Will I, Made For More, What a God, Omemma
Time: 7:30pm-9:00pm
Location: Youth Room
See you there.And don’t forget to follow Engage Young Adults on Facebook and Instagram!
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Categories: Churchie Feeds
Navigating Life through the Lens of Faith- January 16th
Thursday, January 16th- Navigating Life through the Lens of Faith
Unsure of how to start your year? Join us this Thursday as we reflect back on God’s faithfulness and use that as the foundation of decision making. We will have guest speakers joining us.
Time: 7:30pm-9:00pm
Location: Youth Room
See you there.And don’t forget to follow Engage Young Adults on Facebook and Instagram!
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Categories: Churchie Feeds
High School Ministry – January 13th
This Week
Anti-Social Movie Night!
Friday, January 17th @ 7:11pm-10:00pm
Come hang out and watch a movie!
You get to vote and choose.
Next Week!
Catchphrase!
Friday, January 24th @ 7:11pm-10:00pm
We are playing catchphrase this week!
May the best team win.
In 2 Weeks!
God Save the King!
Friday, January 31th @ 7:11pm-10:00pm
This awesome LARP game will have you solving
riddles to conquer the throne or having you
defend the King to save the kingdom.
First, please download Discord for your device! You can do this by downloading the application here.
Second, add yourself to our High School Ministry Discord Server by clicking THIS LINK.
We will keep you informed on what’s coming up AND spontaneous hangouts!
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Categories: Churchie Feeds
Threshold Jr – January 13th
This Week!
U-Puttz Cost: $22
Wednesday, January 15th @ 6:30pm-9:00pm
Glow n’ dark mini golf, laser tag, numper cars!
We are heading to U Puttz with a chartered bus at 6:30pm
Click here to register (required).
Click here to fill out COTR Activity Release Form (required).
Click here to fill out the U-Puttz Waiver Form (required).
Catch Phrase!
Wednesday, January 22nd @ 7:00pm-9:00pm
We are playing catch phrase this week!
May the best team win.
God Save the King!
Wednesday, January 29th @ 7:00pm-9:00pm
This awesome LARP game will have you
solving riddles to conquer the throne or have you
defend the King to save the kingdom!
Here’s what you need to know:
First, create a Discord user by downloading the application here.
Second, sign on to our Threshold Jr Discord server by clicking here.
You’ll be up to speed throughout the week!
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Categories: Churchie Feeds
Fellowship Night (Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 7:00PM)
FOCAS (Fellowship of Christian Adult Singles) 30+ Event
Fellowship Night
Sat Jan 11 at 7:00PM in the Youth Room
Please check our Facebook page for any updates.
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Categories: Churchie Feeds
Threshold Jr – January 6th
This Week!
Darkroom Games!
Wednesday, January 8th @ 7:00pm-9:00pm
Join us for some darkroom games,
a short message and small group!
U-Puttz Cost: $21
Wednesday, January 15th @ 6:30pm-9:00pm
Glow n’ dark mini golf, laser tag, bumper cars!
We are heading to U-Puttz with the bus at 6:30pm.
Click here to register (required).
Click here to fill out COTR Activity Release form (required).
Click here to fill out U-Puttz Waiver form (required).
Catch Phrase!
Wednesday, January 22nd @ 7:00pm-9:00pm
We are playing catch phrase this week!
May the best team win.
Here’s what you need to know:
First, create a Discord user by downloading the application here.
Second, sign on to our Threshold Jr Discord server by clicking here.
You’ll be up to speed throughout the week!
The post Threshold Jr – January 6th appeared first on Church of The Rock.
Categories: Churchie Feeds
High School Ministry – January 6th
This Week
Darkroom Games!
Friday, January 10th @ 7:11pm-10:00pm
Join us for dark room games, a short message and small group.
We will have prizes to be won!
Next Week!
Anti-Social Movie Night!
Friday, January 17th @ 7:11pm-10:00pm
Come hang out and watch a movie!
You get to vote and choose.
In 2 Weeks!
Catchphrase!
Friday, January 24th @ 7:11pm-10:00pm
We are playing catchphrase this week!
May the best team win.
First, please download Discord for your device! You can do this by downloading the application here.
Second, add yourself to our High School Ministry Discord Server by clicking THIS LINK.
We will keep you informed on what’s coming up AND spontaneous hangouts!
The post High School Ministry – January 6th appeared first on Church of The Rock.
Categories: Churchie Feeds
