2019 Jan 20

Try to wake some here apologize to him. Thanks very much. And thanks very much. Some of you he guessed who helped around all the various Community engagement of ants and evening sessions here with a pizza in the burgers are those of you here. Perhaps you'll hear for the first time because of that maybe you saw a Facebook ad or got handed a fly during the week at the train station. Come along all that you will run as I was events is God there is God silent is God kind and and as a result of that you've decided to come so far that come along to church specially if this is your first time at the church. I hope it's been fine for you. So far Salt is a church that really has. I've known about salt and pray for salt before it even existed and it's always been a church that has been made up of people who love Jesus themselves and so want to help as many people as possible hear about him and try and sink for a how can we do that in the way? We are running a church so that if Outsiders coming and then not excluded by Idina House Church that is wonderful for the regulars, but I only and writing for the piece that's your experience. Of course along the way there's any questions you have about anything that's down the prayers to seeing the teaching. You're very welcome to come and brought those on the contact account check to me anyway. Is that the front wheel of to explore your questions and your uncertainties and what it means to find out more about Jesus? It's great to be here before I dive into the same tonight, which is what part 1 the next week will be one of the regular stop speaking about what's going to like pop to last year. I had the exciting opportunity to have a book published Christian book published. And that's the first time I've done that I was one of those cases where I wrote a book because I wanted to read the book and it hasn't been written yet as far as I could say and so I'm going to guess my publisher and it's cold the good life in the last days making choices when the time is short and we have some copies apart from those benches over there. You can come and grab one write down your name and email and I'll give you an online payment instructions light up. But the blood clot tells you what the books about it's about the tension between living a good life in the world. Now life now knowing that life is to be enjoyed in the God made the world good. But also how does that relate to the tension between that and dying to ourselves? But Jesus calls us to take up our cross daily and follow him and to be willing to sacrifice ourselves for his purposes in the world. How do those things fit together? How do you be serious about God without burning out? How do you enjoy God's world without becoming selfish? I saw this book explores how we think about those issues those challenges of the most important stuff and the tie dye stuff, but then it explores the challenge of decision making because indicted I lost the question is can I ever justify me time? Can I have a justify the time where I like going skateboarding a bouldering? Single just binging Netflix. Is that ever justifiable? Can I have a justify as a Christian not spending more time loving the poor sharing God's message running yet. Another Bible study. How does decision-making work and I was dying to die challenges of the mundane the hobby the most important things and so I had that question book to try and answer for myself as well as for all those so if that sounds interesting to you can conflict through it or you can later a mile address grab a copy and I'll tell you later had to pay for it or if you have an audible account. It's on there as well. So you could even listen to the audiobook version the right by yours truly. Weird isn't enough of all that in any profits from that just got back into my regular pie working with University students in her about it. So I'm not making a whole separate traffic on the note that really anyone ever makes any money off books, but it just becomes missionary support back into my regular work was thinking about spiritual Divine things that make sense to ask for Spiritual help. Doesn't that happen. Try again now and we'll dive into this thing. Heavenly Father we pray for ourselves and for one another in this room, you know where each of us are at full of doubts or full of confidence, maybe just listening into these prayers because we don't believe in you we pray for all of us. We pray that to die. You would speak through your Hollywood by the power of your holy spirit that we can know something more about you and about ourselves. That you can remove any kind of hotness Tobias that pushes you away. And Mike is hoping to hear. What is true. And what is good and what is right? I might cast a spinning to dismiss anything that is false or is wrong help me speak plainly truly and clearly and help us. Listen. Well, we pride in Jesus name I mean The things up in front of Cher on the Thursday Friday Saturday not since we've run these kind of guest of ants with the pizza and the and the bag is has been signed. But the wonderful message of Christianity and a church like salt to a cheese are there is a God has a purpose has a design. It has a meaning. It has a direction. What a wonderful.

And the goalie was there is not silent. God has spoken made himself known as showing the Bible as we open up these words as we hear about it. We can begin to unhook all these black on black. Buchanan's doing and what it means for you and me to get to know God and leave in line with that greatest of all realities to wonderful floor, right? There is a God it's not silent and molding that last night. We punted the fact that the Christian message tells us that The God Who is there who's really there the god whose speaks to us when he speaks tells us he's kind gracious Municipal loving how wonderful and so it really kind of exploring that more to not pulling some of those threads together and maybe exploring some of the so what towards the end about time to get up.

four headings that I will take us through in this some what's called like part 1 and those headings are first of all, there is a God secondly God is personal. Sudley Goldy's in himself interpersonal and forth God speaks to us. What's interpersonal? And God speaks to us.

Some of this will be pulling up stuff from the last few knots and then circling back on that. There is a God I foundational plank of Christian religion is that there is a God in the beginning As we soar. Genisys rating and the John rating in the beginning the foundational plank of the Christian religion. If it's true it really is right that they have Foundation level that is I don't thinking is to really think rightly and live rightly is to realize that behind us and around us in the forest is the reality of a God who is there? That is I think sometimes many of us especially those who grown up in a white Australian what western culture I'm often in a kind of cultural history. God is like a sort of a good hypothesis is the Y Richard Dawkins puts it a thing that you come to later you sort of God and I would imagine that each of us and just lays individual rational numbers who kind of white top and Got Roots rational to know. Well, I guess there's an external world, I guess I think therefore I and thought I'd like what else do I know? What else can I do to you since I should have filled out from that and then eyesight. Is there any usefulness to me? And I called hypotheses. Are there any phenomena that suggests that could do you call hypothesis? Is there any understanding or did you sing that make helps me need? It sounds quite calling for Australian to side.

So useless extra hypothesis. Yeah. It's like a CD drive. Just never had a useful anymore.

But if it really is a god this is tricky thing we're going to do it because that's way trying to be rational and philosophical. We're going to give it to realize what reality might be and if there is a God then God is not this tack on pipe offices later, but actually gold is at the center of everything else you say we got to realize that the assumption that the starting price for knowledge is the individual thinker that's that in itself is an arbitrary siding place. It's not really you don't really begin with in the beginning May that's actually really in the beginning met my family the last the world my feelings has much more to in the beginning. I live there's a God the starting price of old thinking is in the beginning. There is Ultimate Reality.

I'm gold 16 in Ultimate Reality. Not just in the beginning and individual finger.

It's a tricky thing, right? That's why philosophy the study of philosophy University. That was my major is a university student in the end. The study of philosophy is the study of the limits of Philosophy by philosophy alone. There are limits to that. I need to call is true. If there is a God out there then that is I found a tional properly basic thing as a starting point for everything else. I might have evidence towards the existence of God proves that suggests the existence of God, but ultimately to begin with I thought that's what part of investigating religion kind of his you have to sort of as you investigate religion put yourself into the world of what if there's a God, you know, what would be a lot and that's how you been investigated and then you come out here and go back to where you were a guy. What is that you want to think that but you got to you got to his sense into ring to it to contemplate it from the right point of view in the beginning. God created the heavens and the Earth. That's the starting point. I think it's true. Let me step into the water. That's true. What an amazing thought that my life my being my stinking. My hole is not just

it's not just an accident. Just chaos. It's not just whatever truth we can make of it and has a lot of purpose Elijah significance.

And the challenges is that might be true. Here's the challenge if you're not a Christian. What the Bible goes on to say lighter in a price lock for example, a book called Romans is that we suppress the truth about God something in the human heart and spirit has turned from God and shuts him out. Sonic be open to that that if there's a God I might not want there to be a god. And so I have to pry a weed strange pray like God. I know if you're there, but if you are there. Wind back that hardness I might have to not want you to exist.

There is a God. God is personal the second thing I want to share with you, but the God who is there. It's not just a force and energy a Cause. But a personal thing that's the Bible's message metaphors used to describe God God is is coral powerful sure. But yeah, but is also called father. bridegroom King shepherd helper Warrior even personal descriptions of God. In the Bible, we do have God cold Creator and how powerful and and and Holly any turn on someone but God is love. God is wisdom. God is truth. God is good and his Mercy College Justice even got his jealousy got his anger things that we sharing is persons you and I are people who have to tell the truth or truth to lie can be rightly. I'm jealous of things. We are responsible to God. Well Christopher and compassionate I've Googled in NY. I'm gone is personal the when we are wise when we are truthful when we are kind we are sharing in something. But stretches right back into the personhood at the heart of all things.

This is why Christianity is quite different to Islam. Went with the picture of Allah and Islam. He is called Justin merciful. But when you dig a little deeper into Islamic theology does not the same complex personal character to Allah in the end the justice of Allah. Is what his will looks like to those who judged and the mercy of our is what he's he's will it looks like to those who happened to be blessed. Where's in the Christian Bible? We find a God who is Personal relational in guys who is Father who is even lover described like that. I just described reasoning angering regretting being pleased delighted glorifying.

College describes free-wheeling acting erratically necessity of fight Or this world isn't just the booze out of the necessity of God's being. God chose to craft and create God works and reacts and interacts and wheels. Which means then? The God is knowable. If you got your Bible say on your comforter with them come with me to acts 17 at 17, which describes the sense in which the Creator God who is there is personal God who is that can last for not merely be absorbed. Or I'm dwelt upon but known. acts 17

best 24v made the world and everything in it is the Lord of Heaven and doesn't live in temples built by human hands by human hands raw that God himself gives everyone life and breath from one man. And I told the Nations that I shouldn't have it the whole of you knocked out their appointed times in history the boundaries of a land and God did this so that I would seek Him and perhaps reach out for him and find him though. He's not far from any one of us for in him. We live and move and have our being It's one of you run power to David said we are his offspring a little later on he speaks about God command and calling people to turn and repent God is Not Whipple on and Acts chapter 23 van the same person. Who is Boo just been reading from their speaking again about the whole counsel of God.

Bus 27 of chapter 25 not hesitated to Proclaim to you. The whole wheel of God God is knowable his mind and will is knowable.

I get up I appreciate a contrast between Christianity and an Islamic view of the world is not the contrast between Christianity and an Eastern religion view of the world in Hinduism or Buddhism Ultimate Reality is not personal. It's a wand A1 the Sora a somethingness which is a nothingness which you know and start alternate reality is to lose your personhood and Obi realize the illusion of causes the suffering and the troubles to think that you are discreet ten distinct and personal actually ultimate salvation is to see the truth that you are dropping a larger ocean. Ultimate Reality and spirituality is not rational mental personal and relational.

By contrast with the Christian view of the world The God Who is there is a God who is personal? And then actually Ultimate Reality involves personhood will knowledge relationship. persons day for MATA on a fundamental original and ultimate level persons Matta knowing cosas loving person serving and caring and providing for persons. Call personal recording himself is interpersonal. The Christian vision of God is that there is a we didn't go to himself dynamism relationship in God's being is not a lonely for so energy or Oneness, but I was actually what we see it came to be in Genesis chapter one where we read about in the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth. I need a full motion MD and the spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said Genesis verse 3 let there be light his spirit and his word. There's something in those very selfish passive instill but active Spirit word. In the New Testament is what you were reading Jones gospel. It picks up on this very same and selling John chapter 1 in the beginning was the word of God in the beginning, but we didn't go there is gold in this world.

A little later and John this stuff gets exploded on impact. Just listen to this strange language Little John Chapter 14 verse 6. You can come to these passages if you like or just listen along Jesus says of himself Jesus and the way the truth and the life no one comes to the father except through me. If you know me, you will know my father as well from now on you know him before you have seen him. One of Jesus followers said Lord Jesus show us the father that will be enough and Jesus says don't you know me anyone who's seen me? Has seen the father don't you believe that I am in the father and the father is in me down a little further. He goes on and says if you love me and keep my commands, I will ask the father and he'll give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever the spirit of Truth. And throughout the next few chapters of This Book of John he speaks again and again at this reality of god father son Spirit one. God Brian stop one God but three persons within God God father God Son God Spirit, and the father is not the song spirit in the spirits. Not the Sun. But we didn't go there speaking and hearing and loving and being loved and leading in a buying and an understanding and delighting and glorying before the world even began. There wasn't no lonely being with no one to love but God himself was loved alot Glory word.

That's at the heart of the universe is love.

Is communication is dynamism is relationship.

These things and not just precious to us as humans because we procreate and because we cooperate then I'll just things that are good for us beneficial and useful for us in our Evolution Rene's. What is the beyond that deeper than that as we leave out of relationships? And now if this is true, then we're experiencing something of divine realities. The personhood and relationship and love and communication that the Beast is a spiritual spiritually based that. the weather guy with you guys next to charity and compassion and service and education and and when I'm involved in cooperation and collaboration in love and affection and romance and kindness and commitment to courtesy

I'm working out in my small part of the cosmos something of the very nature of God.

Dave, huh? Aaron Chester acts of selflessness as a spiritual discipline of selflessness which benefits in attaining a higher reality. And I just figured I'd an act of selflessness as a discipline that helps me. The acts of selflessness and love for others in itself is a profoundly spiritual thing. It's amazing Rich deepthroat. how to spell God's personal impact Scotty's interpersonal

and God speaks to us.

Back in Genesis again. We read about how God spoke the world into be another different understandings of how explicitly Genesis should be understood in its mechanics, but clearly a poop and it's in it's riding and it's Silas decide. God made everything. God made everything good and God made everything by his word. God said let there be let there be let them by his word. He might the world in other words hold it is his called self-expression. How is the wasn't going someone else the other not while I'm gone, by the way?

Cuz the answer is he has that's one of the things with the Stars shout at us every time we see them. God is God is my Resort is working overflow of his self expression. smoking in every language in their glory and Majesty God speaks the world into existence is all these self-expression, but then towards the end of Genesis chapter 1 verse 26 how God speaks. two human beings So God said let there be light with ABC's Let There Be animals like to be human called in turns to the humans and says, let me talk to you.

Be fruitful fill the Earth and subdue it as my rules in Rochester and understanding and wisdom in my image. I bless you. God commands and instruct them in Chapter 2 about finding the knowledge of Good and Evil in him and his word.

Genesis chapter 3 is a story which describes the Brokenness and Corruption and ruin in a weld. As being an act of not listening to God speaking. So that famous story of the tree in the snake is a story of what does the snake say in Genesis 3 verse 1 did God really? Psy You mustn't do this. God does not go Dino side. Did God say he's the reason why God said Don't listen to what God said. That's the story. But then all the ruin and sadness and curse and Brokenness and death and trouble and all the Brokenness and at the fact that we feel so lost and cut off from God, because our original parents down in God's word rejected both would put their fingers in there. It is to God's word.

the storyline of the Bible becomes than the Wonder the card doesn't then roll up to the universe and start again. But he keeps begging. And it keeps speaking words of Mercy. and of Hope and a future God keeps speaking into a world that's pushed him away and into a world now of of blood and War and rape and violence going to keep speaking to say I'm not finished yet.

I'm going to put this plan. Like a track that a hole through that would take a whole lot of time and said we was come to the car next to that plan. Which again is in Jones gospel. Don't tap the one that is called a spoken and and promised and worked across these massive chunk of the parts of the Bible that tells the story and then retails it in poem in Provence song and and and in all sorts of styles and wise we can arrive at the time of Jesus in John chapter 1 It says, you know, I'm in the beginning was the word the word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning through him all things were made without him. Nothing was my that's been hiding him was Lot in that lot was a lot of all mankind the light shines in the darkness for The Dauntless hadn't understood it. But then get this that would that might the world that God that my little things that won the way were ejected. Check this out first full-time. The word became flesh and made his dwelling Among Us. Which scene is Glory? The glory of the one and only Sonic came from the father full of grace and truth.

Recite a no one's ever seen God taught one. And only son himself is God isn't closest relationship with the father has made him nine. Wow, come into the world. That's the Christian message. That's what he said. It will be all about in a few months that God not only didn't abandon the world but doesn't even stand at a distance offering advice and counsel but into into it taking on flash on Humanity coming to us in a limitation in a suffering in a doubt in a documented. He coming right in with us that God speaks not just in his creation not just in Prophecy in Scripture. but in full human form God comes Among Us. And not just to be among us.

butter coming out place to take in himself out of guilt and shame.

To bring forgiveness and Reconciliation to us. Is God a personal God interpersonal God who speaks? And speaks of how even his interpersonal nature Godfather since God the sound like all the spirit. to bring reconciliation to Wicked human rice to bring peace and cleansing and Hope

what a precious Jewel the living words of the God who speaks the hope that this brings.

But then I'm packed more of that next week in part 2. But let me tell you that some implications of this as we close.

application number one Worship and spirituality then. Is to hear the words of this God. And trust them. And I buy them worshiping spiritualities to hear the words of these go to trust them and to a bathing. In the end my attitude to God and Divinity and spirituality is my attitude to his words. He speaks accounts. I on spiritual but I got no time for God's words. I sure my spirituality and listening and learning and grasping in following encrusting.

Call Papa spirit in his word about his son. I made him here which is why I sought Church sits at the front here with a simple lectern or not A simple a car fancy wooden pretty like to decide we meet God in his word and why we invite us over to sing together without words in one voice as we seeing cruise and woods.

Spirituality for Christianity involves woodless moments and emotional overwhelm overwhelmingness, whatever the noun would be. But it's also articulate conscious personal.

It's sub Christian. It's cheap and unseen a Christianity which is older ritual or is all emotion or is all in counter and he's not my full self ha feeling life mind would relationship all encountering God in his word. implication number one implication number two

location number two as God speaks a word of guilt and forgiveness

the first thing on my mustard

to come back to God

is to turn from that which I am guilty. and to trust In that by which card offers forgiveness it God's word to me is that guilt and forgiveness? And then that the first thing that you're here and you want to figure things out with God, it's not just about being a bit really just now I gotta guess what? I'm really just now, but it's about to face the fact that I am in the wrong with all those pants in front of it told me what's on me from that. And then trust in God's forgiveness. Yeah, what does it mean to become a Christian? Will that's it? Turn formica. That witches might be guilty before God and Trust in God's offer forgiveness in Jesus.

I lost a bowl out of the Christian Life the Christian privilege. Enjoy is not merely hearing his word abide in his word but is sharing his word. That's the opportunity to be out of sight of others. Not only do I have things to give in to love. Baraka amazing news for you about God's love. It's the vehicle privilege that I can give the gift. At the message of God's love that's why this church runs events lot latest ran the seven Arts events. That's why. That's why we pray that in the relationship God puts us in we might be able to open their mouth and say yeah, I went to church on the weekend Oakley conversation that we're praying in the middle of that. We can tell others describe truth. Have you come to say something in the beauty of God's love? Have you been a Christian for years? But keep that to yourself one of the most wonderful things you can do is say to someone else High. Let me share with you one of the deepest things in my life.

Can you say let's pray together showing?

a Heavenly Father Thank you so much for making yourself known making yourself known in kindness and in love and as we get to know what you'll like. May we become more like you. And express your love in a live sand without words to your glory and our joy. In the name of Jesus I'm in.

It's been I'm trying to come up this way can be a part of his summer nights event bunch of community engagement stop with the church has been people members here been trying to I just disconnect the papermoon gong and loving and be friendly as well as let them know that this is a church but thinking about these big questions what's garlic and wants to thinks about them in a way that will help people have never thought about it before we haven't thought about them in a long time or haven't thought about them from a Christian point of view to try so I come and think about the with us and so we've done this evening events where I've spoken at those and we've asked the question is God there is God silent is God kind spoiler alert. Yes. No. Yes. And he's spoken about his wonderful kindness to us in some ways to not stoop that stuff all out together. If some of you have been a part of that over the last few nights, this will be a refresher as well as I'm removing that conversation forward again as well and all this stuff is Extraordinary that's true. And it's as bad as deep as you can go is not so I let some Begin by daring to ask God to help us as we think more about these things. I'll pray. Heavenly Father, you know, if you want to hear in this room, you know, those who are not even sure about your existence and sewed and pray for those who doubt and wonder and Ponda those who trusted you and followed you for many years and decades. As we come to you now we ask for your blessing in your help. That way might be able to understand know who you are what you say to us what that means for us. And they're all of us whether it's coming to grasp something or being reminded of things a game. When I ask that you bless us this evening a private ice my speak truly lovingly and wisely and the way my listen well for our good and your glory we ask these things in Total Source there is a God. There's a going out there that I wake up in the morning and the alarm goes off kill the alarm snooze on the phone. And then rather than just going by I could actually say wow. I've woken up until well that has meaning that has purpose that it is about something. It's not just me surviving and it's not just me making a meaning to help me get through it. But there was a beginning. Jive meaning to everything else. There's a name that everything's heading towards. Wow, so I can know about this gone understand his purpose fun meaning and guidance The God Who is out. There is Gould his kind. What sword does that change my mind my life. Extraordinary that's what I thinking about to not end of next week as well. Actually across two weeks. What's called lock hot one Tonight Part 2. I'm team who's running this evening you speaking next week right unpacking this a little further. And in fact, I think after that into February South Church is going to be looking at one of these gospels of Jesus. And so you'll be exploring more of what God block by saying how God shows himself in the life of Jesus. I took right time to be exploring these things are continuing on in these things tonight. I just want to begin this exploration. What's the four headings? There is a God God is personal. God is in himself interpersonal God is in himself interpersonal and loss of our God speaks to us. God is there. His personal God is interpersonal God speaks to us locations of these things as a y closing. There is a God. There is a God is the Christian message to the foundational plank of the Christian religion is God in the beginning is Genesis passage says in the beginning God. I need the truth. Then that's actually a foundational plank for old being an old thinking. You'd like to meet you for not being white Australian culture. So you could say then a lot of us think about God is a thing that kind of comes a bit later on that you should have begin life just as you and I all of us just start off as in the beginning me this individual thinker and I kind of just it's like I wake up and then go where am I what's going on? I'm here that you all day and then I have to think at what's rational from there. That's the tradition of thinking that we're kind of raised in and saw God becomes Richard Dawkins closed at a god hypothesis that maybe as I wake up and stop thinking I asked well, it's reasonable to believe in my existence Your Existence we can deduct out principles of Science and Technology in philosophy and sociology. Is there a place for a god hypothesis? Is it useful? Is it provable? I'm talking a lot of people in a place like a stray Leah end up signing. Look to be honest. I just haven't seen any use for belief in God. Yep, that's right. My God cannot fanfic Forest. There's a place for that kind of philosophical method is very useful, but it's it's not the only way to stop thinking not necessarily the most rational way to stop thinking and if there is a God that it's definitely not the place to stop thinking because if there's a God then actually we need to do like a flip around and go actually goes before me so that when I wake up, I'm already in a world. I'm already in relationships. I'm already in time. I'm already in being a being an ultimate lyrics in God who is being with a capital B A who's in the beginning? Who's the creator? That's an equally rational way to start thinking and answer why the many millions of people of thought through history. But the starting point is going to be made in God's world. And then I still need to be skeptical reflective intelligent thoughtful questioning. Because you see if there is a God it says weird if you are like this might be sitting hit you say I don't believe in God or sceptic. They could be a god. It's a good hypothesis you going to do this thing as you investigate this where you've got to go if it's true then it's foundational it properly basic. It's almost like as I investigate Christianity, I'll go to step into it. And what would it be? Like if there was a god? What would it mean if there was a God and even his the challenge if there's a God wants a Christian. Then the Bible tells me all the parts that that we suppress. The truth about God is a human rice pot about floors and out faults and out a file is is it also human beings of turn from God said not As long as I investigate Christianity from a lynx, I'm never going to see it clearly. I have to do this thing of stepping in a little and almost kind of almost crying God if you're there. I don't think you're that what am I even doing right now talking to the Tooth Fairy because I realize that I may actually have pushed you away. So, please overcome that hotness and might be open to that truce.

For the Bible begins with this fat that before anything else before my life. My bae my mind at the ground of old. It is in the beginning. God Are Jones gospel put it that we read in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God he was with God in the beginning through him all things were made without him. Nothing was made that has been dyed in a sense in the part of the speaking out an expression of God in his word.

And that's true. That's wonderful news. There's meaning there's purpose there since I told about something. It's not just this. Kaos store in the middle of stumbling around twice for is Elijah story that were part of What if it's true?

The Bible says Christianity teaches. There's a God that teaches that The God Who is there is personal. God who is there is nothing Melia force or causation or energy or a philosophical hypothesis that The God Who is there?

The metaphors in the Bible that used to describe God I speak about God is life in Eternal Father. word grulla, bridegroom lava king warrior Shepherd helper

there are attributes things about God, what are the things that goes like some of them or Abstract God is merciful. Holy of powerful present Eternal philosophers call those things and theologians called in the incommunicable attributes incommunicable ones that make God God God omnipresent omnipotent. Someone angry when it comes to things which are threatened things went awry some good when they threatened These are cold communicable attribute because you say that things that we can can be communicated to us. Whenever I choose to tell the truth rather than by the law. I hold the on post truth truth anus whatever I choose to be compassionate and gracious or stand for what is right and just whenever I am angry about Injustice or when are the Toronto and Ann & Dunn & Noble I'm reflecting something about God's law. I forgot his personal. Just a creative force that I experience the effects of like being knocked over by Great Wave the catches You by surprise. But it was also the great. That's sprung everything into being as a personal one. I'm sorry as I speak truth as I love as I listened as I care as I'm wise as I'm honest I sharing something of the nature of the god at the center of the universe. Sorry strong theme in Christian theology at the point at which for example, there's a point of difference between Christianity and Islamic thinking about God as a lot of similarities between Christianity and Islam this point Islam is much stronger on a lot as the one as the powerful whose will is all yes. The Quran says he is merciful and Josh But if you begin to read a little deeper about what that means within an Islamic view of life. It gets close to being the justice of Allah is his will inexorably working its way out when it condemns those that it passes by and his Mercy is his will working its way out when it works feel good. But there's much more of an almost fights kind of Dimension to the Islamic vision of God. By contrast Christianity has a very strongly personal vision of God so that there is so much not merely the refrain the god of the Bible is Moses Lynn jazz music from Jazz most affluent just put extended poetry in description and story about a dog who Grieves and who designs and who rejoices and who glories and he loves strong descriptions of mind and person so he can be described as a father as a Seeker as a as one wooing and loving and bringing back and grieving.

God is personal.

takoda's nobbel knowable on this personal kind of level say it in the towards the end of this Genesis chapter one will come back to this way. God speaks to human beings go to speak to human beings haven't spoke in the whole world into being as a closing creating being he then speaks to his creation. And service 20, I'd God blessed human beings and said to them. A similar thing. We say down in Chapter 2 we're going again speaks to human beings in verse 16 of chapter 2 the Lord. God commanded the man spoke to the man.

A passageway of refer to several times and the events over the summer nights. Is assuming that's recorded for us in the New Testament in the Bible. Where in the Bible in Acts chapter 17. We told him that God is a Creator you made the world and everything in it. The law doesn't leave in temples built by human hands. This is at 17-24 volume enhancer himself gives everyone life-breath everything else from One Man United Nations that I shouldn't have at the house and knocked out there a point of times in history the boundaries of their lands and God did this. So people would seek him about to reach out and finding that was not fine for anyone of us for any God. We live and move and have our being a some of your own Poets of said we are his offspring.

That is the god of the Bible old Eternal. Holy beyond the bobbin Transcendence is personal and now all of a sudden so he's not just a force we get knocked about by like a wave not a riddle or a puzzle that we can never access. not an energy or a mystery, but also a personal thing that we can no hear from understand however imperfectly Still understand without minds and a person's relationally.

I spoke about a contrast between Christian religion and an Islamic religion Hinduism Mason religion.

It did not view of reality Ultimate Reality is is non-personal. It is a great one that I alternate reality is to discover the illusion of all the different nests all the different persons in rocks and chairs and microphones and everything else had to discover that actually the deeper truth is the deepest truth is that I ultimately that's one less of a nothingness of a something listen and and the cause of all that suffering is that we forgot that

In such a few person food and personal interaction and compassion and love and kindness are ultimately to escape attachment and then ultimately a time and impersonal and result. in the beginning that wasn't personhood and in the end they weren't they But Christianity is true that in the beginning there was a personal God and it went away listen to learn and speak and know and love them and understand we are sharing something of that communicable attribute sharing something in the nature of reality and in the end they will be persons knowing god knowing one another glorifying God together.

amazing sword

but sometimes head Christian say something along the lines of Christianity is not about religion. It's about relationship slogan. It's the two eyes that make it and there's a truth in that it won't you think Christianity is about is me for Melissa going through ritual motions to The Helpful slogan Not about religion about relationship. They just names, what is Christianity is not about an emotional going through the motions. It's about Mindless emotional ecstasy.

But that's not relationship. I bet you made it seem to sit there just go. When someone who is who is your lover and you say I want a relationship with you and you never speak to you never listen, you never think you have at all. So if you just soak up the vibe is of Love. Well, that's Car one. Stead, isn't it isn't the whole point of a relationship to speak into Tolkien to Southern to Waukon to live? Christianity is all about religion, but about relationship which means it's not just about Vibes an authentic feeling. It is about that, but I'm supposed to be genuine listening to God about being God speaking back to him. following his y

College interpersonal is the third point guard Isaiah called his personal God is interpersonal this navigate date.

The gold we met in the Bible is is not like a solitary want to cut a digital one where these are the zero ideas among one God but is he might have heard the term Trinity Prime? You'd try Unity within God there's this eternal relationship. You see something of it into that and it's very very beginning verses that we had read in the beginning called The Creator created the heavens and the earth and the spirit of God was hovering over the waters and God spoke with Debbie lot. God create a spirit word. And it gets picked up on in that Jones gospel radio that we had in John chapter one where the wood. God said. God said God said when we get towed in the beginning Genesis 1 in the beginning John 1 was the word and the Word was with God. And the Word was God he was with God in the beginning screw the word all things will not even without him. Nothing was made that has been knighted with in God. That is bad. Speaker brasswood or elsewhere in John's gospel goes on to speak about God the Father God the son God the spirit. Did your comforter in the Bible you might want to come across the John chapter 14 where these things get unpacked still more John chapter 4 today. Otherwise just listen don't have to follow everything. You'll get the get the vibe of this profound reflection on the nature of God. John Chapter 14 verse 6. Jesus says aww by Jesus in the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me John 14 + 7. If you really know me you will know my father is well from now on you do know God the Father. You've seen him Lord show us the father one of just Jesus disciple says that would be enough first and then Jesus asks get a lot of this don't you know me Philip even after I've been among you such a long time anyone who has seen me has seen the father. How can you say show us the father don't you believe that? I am in the father and the father was in the words. I say, I don't speak to have my own authority while the father living in me who is doing his work a bit lighter on Jesus also speaks at the spirit and verse 15 John 14 verse 15. If you love me Jesus Is My Command and he'll give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever the spirit of Truth the world, except him because it's not the same as him know knows him, but you know him but he lives in you and will banging you. I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you before the on the world won't see me anymore, but you will see me because I leave you leaving me on that. You'll realize that I'm in the father and you are awesome. And you Jesus now will be able to come God is in Jesus and Jesus will come in the spirit. And it goes on further into John 15 John 16 his idea of the father and the son and the spirit in relationship of Love of obedient satellite of Glory of joy in the very nature of God.