Church Blog (Page 56)
Rebellion
By Kevin Hogg A sister in Christ was speaking about the attitude of rebellion that is slowly creeping into society (for a multitude of reasons). This got me thinking about Korah. The story of the rebellion of Korah is recorded in Numbers 16. The rebellion of Korah demonstrates the grim consequences of usurping the authority of God and of those whom He has chosen to be leaders of His people. Korah was the eldest son of Izhar, who was the…
The Lure
By Kevin Hogg I love spiders, they fascinate me. From the big scary looking ones, as large as my hand to the cute little jumping spiders. Some of them are fast and agile, colourful, drab, they are built to purpose, from eyes to their fangs. Some are patient, coiled springs, waiting for their prey. If you have ever taken the time to really look at the web spinners and their intricate webs, they are amazing. They are designed to ensnare;…
Learning to Discern#4. “Red herrings.”
I remember an old preacher saying, “A fool can ask more questions than a wise man can answer.” I’m not sure that I am anywhere near being the wise man, but I have been that fool. As Jacob desperately wrestled with the Angel of the Lord, I have desperately wrestled with the contents of the Bible. As I daily grapple with the text, it ever draws me into the struggle to try to fully understand the twists and turns of…
Learning to Discern#3. “Open to Debate.”
I was introduced to John Clayton’s “Does God Exist?” material early in my Christian walk. Listening to his cassette tape lectures was an enjoyable experience—until he presented his theories on “Theistic Evolution.” He did not convince me that God used a Darwinian Evolution model to create the world, but he did let me know that varying views of Creation existed in the Lord’s church. At Bible College, Howard Scott introduced me to Josh McDowell’s book, “Evidence that demands a verdict.”…
Learning to Discern#2. “Equipped to discern.”
On rare occasions I have sat in the Lord’s church and listened to preachers and teachers say things that are not found in the scriptures. When challenging these teachings, I have, without exception, been assured that what was taught “is believed by many and needs to be heard.” I am not averse to discussing ideas at variance with my own, but when the congregation is being publicly taught things that are not in the scriptures, something must be done. The…
Learning to Discern#1. “Wisdom has its limits.”
As a child I asked my mother to explain why the ‘real’ mother had told Solomon to give her baby to the lady who had stolen her child. My mother’s explanation, though quoting the given biblical reason, did not convince me of any wisdom on Solomon’s part. The problem lay in the fact that my 8-year-old mind couldn’t accept that a mother would ever give her baby away, and especially to a baby thief? Naturally, time opened my mind to…
Where from here?#6. “Unplugged.”
The recent Facebook blackout raised more than a few eyebrows. One had to wonder how such a leading Tech-giant could be shut down at all. Surely all the best online engineers work for them, anyway. Some have said it must have been an inside job, and others have pointed the finger at hackers. I’m sure there are logical reasons, but one thing we can all agree on is that the millions upon millions of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp users were…
Blinded
By Kevin Hogg As I sit squinting in the bright sunshine today, I am dwelling upon online conversations with various individuals from the last few days. Specifically, a retired American attorney who happens to be a grandmother. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. As my children roll their eyes muttering, you only go online to argue with people. Not technically true most of the time. Invariably the usual suspects from the atheist/agnostic community join in the conversation. Usually my first…
Where from here?#5. “Holding pattern.”
I wish that air travel could be as exciting today as it was the first time I took off on an aeroplane. That was a thrilling experience. I still love the take-offs, but the confined conditions in economy class for up to 14 hours does dampen the spirit a little. Though, things could be worse. Add in baggage delays, extra security checks and long immigration queues and you start wondering why you left home. When flying, one thing that I…
Changeable
Kevin Hogg I am looking out the window and waiting for our weather to improve. If you have been in Auckland for any length of time, you realise that Spring time in Auckland is fickle. We get a hint of the warmer days to come, then winter like events intrude to remind you of what it is capable of doing. For those who don’t know Auckland weather, it is usually temperate. Our winter lows are about 2deg C (Clear skies,…