Christian Perspectives on Peak Oil

POAlex

This is another beautiful hymn. May it be a blessing to you tonight.

"Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
that calls me from a world of care,
and bids me at my Father's throne
make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
my soul has often found relief,
and oft escaped the tempter's snare
by thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
thy wings shall my petition bear
to him whose truth and faithfulness
engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since he bids me seek his face,
believe his word, and trust his grace,
I'll cast on him my every care,
and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share
Till from Mount Pisgah's lofty height
I view my home and take my flight.
In my immortal flesh I'll rise
To size the everlasting prize.
And shout while passing through the air,
'Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!'"

Alex

Peleg · Heavy Crude Joined: May 20, 2008 Posts: 391

Thanks Alex.

I love these cartoons you keep coming up with. as I wrote earlier today I was also thinking of the cistern verse. I am not able to argue against a young earth either, but for different reasons than some might think. The question really becomes one of God's existence and omnipotence. He could have created the world 6 seconds ago and decided in His wisdom that we ought to believe otherwise. I never fight anymore with young earth proponents. The point is Jesus Christ: crucified, dead and buried, raised from the dead three days later, ascended to heaven where He is now seated at the right hand of the Father. There are many non-essentials to salvation that have become dogma in various denominations. What I mean to say is that they are not clearly defined in the scripture. My take is, if it is mentioned there is a purpose or some value that we can gain from it, but it may not be mentioned by the Holy Spirit for the same purpose we like to set it to. We require the Spirit to know the Bible. God must introduce Himself to us and we venture forth in faith.

When we see that through the church age many great and wise saints have honestly disagreed on these things I simply leave it to God to sort out. The message of the gospel is plain in the Scriptures. You need know only how to read and have the Holy Spirit open the eyes of your heart to find God through the Bible. Bishop Usher's timeline breaks down when we get to the later portions of the Kings and such leaving a margin of error. Oh that we might understand that the Bible speaks as much by it's silence as by it's words. But who do we allow to intepret that silence? Is it God's spirit crying Abba Father, or is it our flesh twisting everything to its own ends? But many things are more innocuous than this.

I share freely my faith even into particulars but it is not any kind of christian imperialist mantra. I think alot of where Christians strive against each other is that so many want to believe and know every detail and so if they are impressed that speaking in tongues brings them closer to God it is far too easy to think of those who reject it are not so close to God. There is a fine line though between love that speaks the truth and has conviction founded on trust in Jesus Christ and something people often call love which actually rejects God who is love.

A long time ago I was hitchiking up highway 25 in New Mexico and I was picked up by a man who sold icons to the Eastern Orthodox Church. He was an odd fellow and I cannot vouch for his character but he did tell me one true thing. 'Like Jeremiah, you will be searching for God all of your life.'

I dare not trust anything else but the solid rock of Jesus Christ. All other questions will be answered and I will not destroy the work of another man who has built in such a way as long as the message of the gospel is correct. In fact the point of Christianity is to grow up into mature believers who can enter into conversations without being blown hither and yaw by every wind of doctrine.

"The one who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the witness that God has borne concerning His Son. And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life."

1 John 5:10-12

What color the furniture is on the fifth floor of the New Jerusalem is a question easily answered once our trust in Jesus Christ has secured that blessed hope and we enter by the gates of that city along with all those who will rejoice forever in Him.

mystiek

Great posts Alex and Peleg. I often hum (quietly) hymns such as the one you just posted while I'm working-its really uplifting. God bless you two-have a great evening.

Ludi

mystiek

I would but I don't want my staff to quit on me (lol)!

Peleg · Heavy Crude Joined: May 20, 2008 Posts: 391

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25785089/

Sinaiticus coming to an internet near you, oldest complete text of the Bible.

I am generally impressed already with the online Bible study tools that are available for free. Greek Interlinears and such. It was one of the reasons I chose recently not to buy a GIT, $65 versus free is not too hard of a choice given the way I use that resource.

Peleg · Heavy Crude Joined: May 20, 2008 Posts: 391

It is on my heart to add a couple studies to the thread.

The first is a Bible study on evil. Lance Morrow wrote a book about evil and it has inspired me to put down a Biblical teaching on evil. I think it will be useful.

The second will be a study on hearing God's voice. Alot of Christians are drifting in to the sad state of thinking that God does not speak to His children. Now what kind of Father would He be? Did I leave my daughter a signed letter on the day of her birth and then moved on? No, I talk to her everyday.

I'll be working on the first this week and probably post it by Friday for eveyone's comment and added insight.

God bless you all. Yours in Christ,

Peleg

POAlex

_________________
Things are not hopeless

Do you know the Saviour?

POAlex

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
[Matthew 11:28]

Alex
_________________
Things are not hopeless

Do you know the Saviour?

joelcolorado · Intermediate Crude Joined: May 25, 2008 Posts: 649

This has gotten so far off the topic...come on ppl

lper100km

This thread has never been on topic. In all the posts there has not been one that I would consider to be relevant to the OP. There has been nothing to enlighten us on what a Christian approach or response might be in the face of dwindling oil resources and concomitant activities including environmental pillaging, economic warfare, extravagant consumption etc etc.

It's just been put up as a vehicle for Gandalf (Peleg) to offer himself (as he actually stated somewhere) as a resource to show us the way to salvation and by implication, to damn us for ever if we don't pay attention. Somewhere along the way it became a mutual admiration group for Gandalf's hymn singing, cartoon addicted circle of accolytes.

All I ever got from reading this thread was the hubris of (in paraphrase) 'I'm more Christian than you, I'm rapture ready so ***** the rest of you.' Some perspective. So much for the relevance of Christianity to the real world at least as expressed by these (hopefully extremely untypical) followers of the Lord.

Ludi

I can't sing a gospel, I'm a white chick
_________________
"...powerdown so soft and fluffy you'll think you're living in a pillow..." - jboogy

vision-master

Waiting for the Son Razz

_________________
Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.

yeahbut · Heavy Crude Joined: Oct 30, 2007 Posts: 286

vision-master