Daily Thoughts about God Posts

By John Fischer
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Some readers have wondered why I would quote the likes of Woody Allen andRabbi Kushner, or make mention of Jimmy Buffet and certain Hollywood films in my devotionals. Aren’t devotions supposed to lead us away from the world to focus on something higher? It’s true that looking away from the world may represent an element in our devotion to God, but certainly not all of it.

All truth is God’s truth,” is something that has stuck with me since I first learned it from Dr. Arthur Holmes, former head of the philosophy department at Wheaton College. Because God created the world with a full set of natural laws, scientists and philosophers who may want nothing to do with a belief in God can indeed make observations and conclusions about life that can be supported by a biblical point of view.

For instance, I know nothing about the faith of the artist I met who paints silk shirts for Jimmy Buffet and his band, but the man taught me how to see the light from the sun in late afternoon in such a way that left me worshiping God. That truth belongs to God. The man may believe in Karma, Buddha, Elvis or Scooby Do; it doesn’t take away from his adding to my worship of God.

You might be wondering why this is important as a devotional thought. It’s important because it could potentially turn your whole day into onecontinuous devotional thought. Here’s how. It’s all according to how you perceive it.

First, we don’t have to look away from the world to worship. This is good news since we all, of necessity, have to pay a good deal of attention to the world in order to live here. After all, the world is our address. If I can pay attention to the world and to God at the same time, I can turn more of my life into worship? potentially, all of it. I can have my devotions at work, at the movies, at the ballpark, at the gym, or during my commute. I don’t have to stop what I’m doing to focus on God.

Secondly, our ability to find truth in our culture provides points of connection that prove valuable to our mission, which is to tell others about Christ.

The clearest example of this in the scriptures comes by way of Paul, who when he was in Athens addressing the Greek Epicurean and Stoic philosophers, chose things from their culture (words of their own poets) and even their pagan religion (an idol to an unknown god) to help convey his message about Christ. He didn’t say, “You’re all wrong.” He said, “You’re right about this, this, and this… now based on that, please consider the following…” (Acts 17:16-34)

All this to say: Keep your eyes open and your spiritual insights working at all times. You will find more opportunities to worship God and celebrate the truth, and more chances to connect the truth of Christ to a culture that may have left the door open on the subject without knowing it.

Question: Should we embrace our culture, or flee from it, or approach it from some other more complete & biblical angle?

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2008/06/09/jf_according-to-you/

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JOHN FISCHER, as Senior Writer with PurposeDrivenLife.com, has specialized in a daily devotional that now reaches an audience of over 400,000 people five times a week. John’s career spans over thirty-five years of distinctive ministry, first as a singer/songwriter, recording artist and pioneer of\ Jesus Music, then as a best-selling author, and currently as a popular speaker at conferences, retreats, churches and colleges/universities nationally.

You can contact John at: john.fischer@mac.com or visit his website: http://www.fischtank.com/ft/about.cfm

Thoughts by All thoughts by John Fischer Thoughts by Men

By: John Grant
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“Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.� 
John 1:3-5

Last fall the 50 millionth Bible rolled off the presses at the Amity Printing Company in Nanjing, China. That’s right….. here in China. The establishment of Amity Press was truly one of God’s miracles. During the horror of the Cultural Revolution in the 1960’s and 70’s, all churches in China were closed, most demolished. Bibles were banned, confiscated, burned and destroyed. Who could have imagined then, that a Bible press would be allowed in less than twenty years.

Amity press was established with donations from supporters of Bible societies around the world. It was a dream for China’s Christians. The government could close the churches and burn the Bibles, but they could not extinguish the Word and the faith from the hearts of Chinese Christians.

As God said, there will always be a remnant. Of the 50 million Bibles printed, 42 million have been distributed in China, more than any other single book. What was once banned is not the nation’s number one best seller. China is growing in population, but also in Christianity. Today twenty three percent of the world’s population lives in China and it is estimated that nearly one hundred million are practicing protestant Christians along with another twenty five million Catholics. There are now nearly as many practicing protestant Christians in China as in the United States. Today, there are many churches being built.

While we were in China, we had many wonderful experiences, not the least of which was the dedication celebration for the opening of the Amity Press addition that will now allow the printing of twelve million Bibles a year. We also visited a local congregation and presented Bibles, as we also did at the Catholic seminary. There is such a hunger for Scripture among the Chinese and our efforts and Bibles were so welcome.
 
We met with Chinese Christians to encourage them, but they encouraged us. We also met with some of the top leaders of the government who oversee SARA (Social and Religious Affairs) and got assurances of their support for the Christian movement in China.
 
The Chinese constitution was recently amended to provide that the encouragement of religious activities is wholesome and healthy for the nation, something we do not have in our constitution. The Cultural Revolution was devastating for the church, but that is mostly behind them now and as God promises, there will always be a remnant.
 
You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2008/06/05/jg_extinguished/

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John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney. He is an active writer and frequent speaker.  He can be reached by e-mail at John.Grant@johngrant.net

Thoughts by All thoughts by John Grant Thoughts by Men