What is God saying about 2012?

As I have been meditating and prayerfully preparing for the coming year, I believe First Corinthians 4:1-5 is a strong text for followers of Jesus to consider for the upcoming year.

There has been so much speculation and sensationalized theories about 2012. Everything from an economic meltdown to the apocalypse and the end of the world scenarios.

Here are five powerful truths from God's Word to consider for this upcoming year:


1. Above all, we are servants of Christ and we are to take His gospel to the world (verse 1).

2. For 2012, be faithful to God (verse 2).

3. Let God alone judge things. Don't even judge yourself (vv.3-4).

4. Do not make premature judgments. Judge nothing before its time (v.5)

5. God will expose the hidden dark things in us and God will reveal our hearts (v.5)

Maranatha!

N. T. Wright on Jesus

N. T. Wright latest book "Simply Jesus" tries to take up where "Simply Christian" left off or maybe more accurate, tries do something similar in presenting Jesus to the modern world in a way that simply makes sense. I actually like "Simply Jesus" better than Wright's earlier work. I am only about half way through it but Wright gives so many insights into Jesus teachings, that alone is worth the price of the book. Wright is known for keeping things close to the Jewish culture of Jesus day and has an engaging way of us possibly getting a glimpse into the mind of Jesus in the ways he looked at things from a Jewish perspective.

Some of the engaging ideas that have huge discipleship implications is looking at the world with an apocalyptic vision, reading the Bible as a kind of "resistance manual" and living way in such a way that heaven and earth connect. When it comes to God's heavenly kingdom on earth, don't miss it!

Evolution Revisited:

I watched the new "Planet of the Apes" movie this summer and I thought it was the best sci-fi movie of the year. The special effects were great and the story was good. The difference of the new movie with the original was monkeys are given a serum that makes them smarter in this new movie. The future will be man against the apes. The original story line was simply monkeys evolved into apes which did not have a major part in this new movie.

I find it interesting that so many people put their faith now into science to solve all our problems and evolution is viewed by many as a fact and not just a theory any more. Many people have told me they did not want to see this movie because it was about apes. If evolution is a fact, why not go then? If many Christians have separated their spiritual life from their secular life, I can't help but wonder if many evolutionists have not done something similar? They believe evolution is true but live their life in such a way that ignores its implications?

While many modern Christians have no problem any more connecting science to their faith or making their faith very scientific, the problem of lack of discipleship and Christians living a disciplined life for the Lord seems to be really losing ground these days. One would think if science is really the solution, why are our spiritual lives not getting any better? Maybe surivival ethics versus a love ethic make strange bedfellows?